memento mori

The main things going on being pictured is that the reason Ian was going out on solo patrols a lot is that he was actually seeing somebody, Aurora. She's that character I needed to design real suddenly all that time ago lmao

Aurora was a daughter of Phanuel, who had learned the truth of the curse befalling his children and had fled Anura as a result, becoming a refugee of sorts in the Silk Cradle. Ian had met her, and took pity on her plight, eventually becoming romantically involved. He'd take patrols to check up on her and bring in supplies, and discuss plans to get her to a place with more safety, intending to run away with her.

But of course, Shamura eventually found out, and realizing the threat that both Ian and Aurora posed, they killed both of them. These would be their first kills.

When Shamura reported the situation to Raziel, she did not like it, being very agitated that there was a defector within her own temple the whole time. She turned this paranoia onto Hecate, insisting she should have been more aware. Hecate didn't have much choice other than to bear the blame, having no real way to assure Raziel.

Cindy, the bat, I never had a solid idea as to how she would die. I was leaning towards it being Shamura accidentally doing it on a training mission of sorts, and being forced to lie that Cindy was showing herself to be a threat. Raziel would be satisfied with this, but Polly and Hecate would know the truth, and attempt to get Shamura to come clean.

When they attempt to, however, they go into Raziel's office, where she is in the throes of another paranoid spiral, and taking it out on Hecate. It is in that moment that in her blind rage and panic, Raziel kills Hecate, believing her to be the one behind the cracks in Raziel's order.

Obviously fearing their own life, Shamura clams up, only telling Polly what happened after consistent pressuring for a few days after.

Thankfully, a few years pass without further incident. Polly, with her almost unnatural stealth abilities, joins with Shamura in the Venom of the Moon, and they begin to go out and assassinate certain figures in the other sects at Raziel's discretion.

It's during this time that Shamura actually starts to warm up to Polly, as they have nobody else they can confide in, with their mother gone. Polly matures just a little bit, still being her bubbly self but being there for Shamura in their grief. It wouldn't be long before they become close, though it is left unclear if the bond is strictly platonic or something more--not even Shamura themself knows.

Eventually, they are instructed to find Michael's order, and kill as many people as possible, in order to cripple his Devotion.

They manage to find it, and incite a panic to take advantage of, though they only succeed in killing a couple of people (nobody of major importance to the story, I don't think), before Michael arrives and retaliates with a surprising show of force.

He fires Fervor that causes debris to rain down and topples trees, and unfortunately, Polly gets pinned under a tree. The mess makes it hard for those in the Death sect to immediately catch them, but they don't have much time regardless.

Though Shamura manages to pull Polly out from under the tree, the impact has left her paralyzed, and Shamura cannot carry her without risking being caught.

Thus, Polly asks Shamura to kill her.

Obviously they're reluctant, not wanting to lose Polly as well, but Polly reasons that she won't be of any use even if they get out of the situation, and being held captive would be too much of a risk for Raziel's order.

(Art by @ali-croft7. I regret not being able to use it for the full emotional impact I wanted, but it was still a wonderful commission)

So, Shamura does as she asks, making it quick and painless.

They go back to Silk Cradle to explain the mission was a failure, though they did locate Michael's temple.

The time between this and the sort of 'end' of all the young bishop's arcs is very hazy, but the end stands out for Shamura in particular, because unlike the other three Archbishops, Raziel is not killed by Narinder, but Shamura themself, poisoning her with their venom and watching as she chokes and seizes on the floor.

Narinder arrives a bit too late to kill her himself, but hey, one less Archbishop for him to deal with. He and Shamura have a small talk about things, before Shamura says their plan will be to take Raziel's place, and be better than she was.