#kc.event

TW: Parental loss Closed Thread Takes place during the Eclipse Song: On the Nature of Daylight by Max Richter (Spotify Link)

“Call them.”

The weak, raspy words of her Mother sounded in the tense quiet of the harshly lit room. The ladies-in-waiting who were tending to the Queen grew still as they glanced toward Zahra who stood by the window. Though a talisman hung around her neck, she could still feel the approach of the eclipse; the pressure of it against her own light-based magic was a nauseating sensation in the pit of her stomach. She suspected that it might not be there at all if she was wearing a new talisman instead of an old family heirloom, but. . . she hadn’t been able to go to Hathelyon since leaving it before the masquerade at Glasswater Palace. Of course, there was speculation amongst those at the Magaesterium that this eclipse was more powerful than any other in history. It was something that magus would eagerly be seeking to verify at towers around Vailar. She’d been one of them, anticipating the approach of this moment — she’d even been working on a device meant to help them take measurements — only to now not be able to take part.

Yet another lost dream. . .

Pushing the selfish thoughts aside as guilt overtook her, Zahra turned now to motion for one of the servants to fetch the other children. There was still a great deal unknown about Thoefëa, but one of its unusual qualities was an awareness of time. The hours, minutes, seconds until the end were something her mother said she was always aware of in the back of her mind. Other details of the experience were gathered by the alchemist though they would never be able to share them. Already the only people who knew what had been done were her, her mother, the Alchemist, and — soon enough — a thief named Oggy. And soon enough. . . her mother would be gone.

Zahra felt like a hardwood tree dying from Heart Rot as she watched her siblings come and go. The lot of them were still grieving for the losses they’d suffered barely two months prior at Glasswater, and now. . .

They were losing their only other parent.

Nothing felt right in the world anymore.

Zahra felt the tears slide down her cheeks though did nothing to draw attention to them. It was her place as the eldest, and future Queen, to remain strong. To ignore the rot of grief eating at her heart and making her feel unstable, and weak, as if a breeze could break her apart. As the last of her siblings withdrew, Zahra turned to approach the bed. They’d already said their goodbyes, but she intended to sit by her mother’s side until that final moment.

“No.”

Her mother might be dying, but there was strength in that command that made Zahra stop.

“You are not going to stay here and watch me. . .” There was a pause before she continued, “That is a command from your Queen and your Mother. The alchemist and Ichika will remain, and will come to you when I’ve gone.”

Zahra wanted to argue with her. The thought of not getting to soak in every last second possible was gut-wrenching. This was not the time to be disobedient nor rebellious. She glanced toward Ichika who gave a reassuring nod. The woman had been a lady’s companion to her stepmother when she was a noble daughter and went with her when she ran off to marry a commoner, and had followed her as she became the wife of a Queen as well. It was fitting that her mother would want to spend those last moments hearing stories of her beloved wife as the attack on Glasswater had taken away the opportunity for them to spend their last days together. The other ladies-in-waiting departed in silence.

“I. . . I l-love you, M-m. . .” Zahra felt herself choke on the simple word ‘mother’ as her body shook with a sob, and she turned quickly to flee the room before she broke down.

“And I you, Zahra. . . my sweet girl.”

_________

As the eclipse came to an end, there was a knock on the door of Zahra’s suite. Wiping a face red and blotchy from crying, she called out hoarsely, “You may enter.”

Ichika stepped inside, the look on her still face speaking for her.

“Th-thank you, Ichika. C-could you let the clergy know?”

The woman gave a nod and departed, and within the half hour bells would ring out from the Basilica of Eshvar: 3 in rapid succession to let it be known that a Queen had passed. The funerary process would begin now.

Zahra sucked in a breath though as the next 2 rings followed a short time later to announce a new Queen.

Her.

When: Festival

Who: Open Starter

I should not have done this. I should not have done this. 

Keeva followed the flow of the crowd as she wound through the streets lined with vendors. There were SO. MANY. PEOPLE. The smells and the sounds were nearly overwhelming. Another festival goer brushed passed, nearly knocking Keeva’s hood down. 

Shit. I definitely should not have done this. But there is still so much here I have not seen.

She quickly spotted a cart selling flower crowns and masks. Picking a lavender mask with white lace over the eyes, and a lavender and sage flower crown, she quickly exchanged what little coin she carried for her makeshift disguise. She quickly slipped into a side ally and donned her new festival garb. She checked her reflection in a nearby puddle. 

Not bad. They would probably think I’m an elf as long as they aren’t too intrusive. The horns blend in with the crown well enough. 

Keeva wandered back out into the thoroughfare. A strange sense of freedom filled her now that her dark cloak was no longer needed. She had told her tribemates that she was going to hunt the outskirts of the nearby forests and had slipped into the city to see the festivities. Not her best decision she would admit. Not even an okay decision. In fact, probably one of her worst decisions. But she was here and committed to at least seeing some of the city. Now if she could find something that looked both interesting and free.

Maybe I should ask someone, this disguise should work as long as the conversation is quick and they don’t notice my hands.

She turned to a passerby.

Hour after hour, the skies slowly darken over the world of Vailar. Once every five hundred years, a heavy, world engulfing eclipse occurs. Dragons take to their nests, their caves, their burrows, and those that choose to live in dragonkin form often find refuge in temples or magaesteriums. Those that don’t, they make easier targets.

Those with magic feel their powers waning and drained. The effects vary from individual to individual, some bounce right back once the eclipse is done, others it may take a week or two. And there are others still, others who remember the last time the eclipse happened, others who have studied at magaesteriums, who have totems enchanted to counteract and negate the draining effects of the eclipse.

Over the course of twenty four hours, the sun is entirely blacked out by Vailar’s moon. The entire event seems magical in itself and few have made guesses as to why the moon’s orbit seems to take longer on this fateful day. And every one of those guesses were wrong.

Across the world though, it is common to feel lethargic in general, the sun is energizing and the moon is peaceful. So one might feel a bit more drained, a bit more lazy than usual. However, others, like those with umbrakinesis who dwell in darkness and shadow, might feel a bit more energized or erratic.

OOC INFO UNDER THE CUT:

As his eyes scanned the masks and the costumes of the assemblage of party goers his vision settled on a singular woman. One wearing black, which only brought out the ashen white of her hair even more. He had seen her once or twice before, near the entrance and at the beginning of the party, though she had been accompanied by a similar looking man. She seemed to have shaken him off by now though, as she stood alone, a singular bird unwittingly waiting for the approach and the attack of the oncoming fox. As soon as the thought had entered his mind, it left, his mind clearing as he strode towards the woman who he had become so taken by.

“My lady... may I be so honored as to dance with the most striking woman on the night?” He questioned as he reached her, his hand offered out to her, his eyes locked onto hers, a slight dare of challenge dancing behind his green-brown irises as he waited for a response.

After dancing and socializing for hours, Aaliya heads to the gardens to take a breath. The Glasswater garden is a beautiful tended garden, filled with blooming flowers and soft, delicate fragrances. She sits down on a stone bench, her bare legs tickled by the long grass. She looks up to the dark sky, littered with thousands of stars and the bright moon. It is a beautiful night, a night of festivities, a night full of dreams... Until it turns into a dark night full of nightmares.

There is a blinding flash like sheet lightning and a fiery ball of yellow flames. Life stops in an instant. The orchestra has played its last note, the partygoers have danced their last dance. Windows shatter. Smoke and fire rush out. The shock waves are so powerful that Aaliya is thrown hard on the floor, her head hitting the edge of a fountain. She looses consciousness for a second and wakes up at the screams of people seeking refuge in the gardens, at alarms blaring at a distance. Her ears are ringing from the explosion, her vision is blurry and her head hurts like never before. She has no idea what happened. She tries to get up, but she finds it difficult to find her balance as she is pushed down by people running past her. A strong arm suddenly grasps her waist, pulling her along the running crowd.

“What's happening?” she asked, dazed.