01 | Whispers of Destiny

POV: Starflesh

I stared out at the fiery sky, watching the majestic dragons soar through the air. The vibrant tapestry of colors danced across my eyes, a symphony of blue, black, red, orange, and brown. The creatures soared like fiery meteors, their wings slicing through the wind. I felt a sense of longing and admiration for their freedom and strength.

"Why are you sitting out here alone?" a voice asked me. I looked up to see the King's gaze met with my own. He sniffed and said, "Just wondering what my purpose is in life."

I sighed as I sat in the courtyard of the King's palace. It was a moment of reflection and contemplation. I felt like an outsider looking at a world I could never fully understand. Gazing at the dragons flying overhead, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the beauty and mystery that surrounded me.

As he settled beside me, his words lingered in the air like a haunting melody, stirring a tempest of conflicting emotions within me. I could feel the familiar glitch in my demeanor, a telltale sign of my inner turmoil bubbling to the surface. It was a sensation I often grappled with when faced with annoyance or anger, a reminder of the power that lay dormant within me.

In that moment, as his presence threatened to unravel me, my mind drifted to a place of ancient magic and hidden truths. A shroud of secrecy enveloped me, shielding my true self from prying eyes. With a subtle flicker of my thoughts, I concealed my features behind a veil of enchantment, a mask to hide the bewitching allure that lay beneath. The curse that bound me was both a gift and a curse, a double-edged sword that held the power to ensnare hearts with a single glance.

The king, oblivious to the intricate web of illusions I spun around him, remained oblivious to the depths of my deception. I held my true nature close, guarding it fiercely against his unwitting advances. For I knew the peril that awaited any who dared to gaze upon the visage that lay beneath the facade. Love born of enchantment was no love at all, and I refused to be ensnared by the whims of fate.

In the dance of shadows and light, I stood at the crossroads of destiny, torn between the allure of the unknown and the safety of the familiar. The echoes of his words lingered in the air, a tantalizing promise of a future fraught with uncertainty. But as the wolf within me stirred, I knew that my path was my own to forge, and the heart that beat within my chest would not be swayed by the siren song of false affection.

And so, with a steely resolve and a flicker of defiance in my eyes, I turned away from the king and towards the horizon, where the promise of freedom beckoned like a distant star. In that moment of clarity, I knew that my destiny was mine to shape, and that the power of my heart was a force to be reckoned with. For in a world where magic and reality intertwined, the truest magic of all was the strength of the spirit that dwelled within.

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POV: Starflesh

As I stood outside the imposing gates of Besigath, the war college that loomed before me like a specter of uncertainty, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease settling in the pit of my stomach. The sudden shift in the king's favor had led me to this moment, a moment that I had not anticipated nor desired. The Riders Quadrant was a place of legends and heroes, a realm where bravery and sacrifice were revered above all else. But for me, it was a place of apprehension and foreboding.

The two girls before me, a stark contrast in size and demeanor, seemed to embody a sense of camaraderie and sisterhood that tugged at my heartstrings. The taller one, with her confident stance and short blonde hair, exuded an air of authority that hinted at her status as a general of some sort. Beside her stood the smaller girl, a picture of innocence and determination, her eyes bright with a spark of resilience.

"Just remember to stay alive, okay?" the general said, her voice tinged with a mixture of concern and reassurance. The younger girl nodded in response, a small smile playing on her lips as she gazed up at her sister. In that simple exchange, I witnessed a bond that transcended words—a bond forged in the fires of adversity and strengthened by the unbreakable ties of family.

As I watched the two sisters share a moment of quiet understanding, a pang of longing stirred within me. I yearned for the kind of connection they shared, the unwavering support and unwavering loyalty that seemed to define their relationship. In a world fraught with uncertainty and danger, having someone to watch your back was a rare and precious gift.

"Sisters always looking out for each other," I mused silently, a bittersweet smile tugging at the corners of my lips. In that fleeting moment of camaraderie and solidarity, I found a glimmer of hope amidst the shadows that threatened to engulf me. And as I prepared to step through the gates of Besigath, into a future fraught with challenges and unknown dangers, I carried with me the memory of those two girls and the unspoken promise of sisterhood that they embodied.

As the rollkeeper handed me the scroll, a silent exchange passed between us. Without a word, I accepted the parchment and dipped the quill into the inkwell, my hand moving with a practiced ease as I inscribed my name upon the document. "Starflesh?" she questioned, her voice tinged with curiosity. I nodded in response, the shadows of my hood concealing my features from prying eyes. Though she could not see my face, I knew she sensed the essence of womanhood that emanated from me.

"Very well, good luck," she murmured, a hint of respect coloring her words as she gestured towards the gate. With a nod of gratitude, I slipped past the two girls, their gazes lingering on me with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. As I ascended the stairs, the air around me seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly energy, a palpable sense of anticipation hanging in the air like a veil of mystery.

Violet, the girl who had stood by her sister's side moments before, now found herself alone and uncertain, her eyes darting around nervously as if seeking reassurance in the unfamiliar surroundings. The color drained from her cheeks, leaving her pale and vulnerable in the dim light of the war college. Beside her, the younger girl fidgeted with nervous energy, her hands twisting in the folds of her cloak as she cast wary glances at the looming gates ahead.

As I passed by them, a flicker of empathy stirred within me, a fleeting recognition of the fear and uncertainty that gripped their hearts. In that moment, I felt a kinship with these two girls, bound together by the shared experience of stepping into the unknown. And as I ventured further into the depths of Besigath, the echoes of their unspoken fears lingered in the air, a reminder of the challenges that lay ahead for us all.

Under my hood, I locked eyes with the girl, knowing she could discern the glint of silver staring back at her. Whether she found them unsettling or mesmerizing mattered little to me.

Violet's gaze flitted away as I focused on the bridge spanning between the two turrets. The moment had arrived, and without hesitation, I chose honesty.

"Name," another rollkeeper's voice, rougher and male this time, broke the silence. I extended my hand, and as he glanced at me before turning to the scroll, a weary sigh escaped him. "Oh, you could just say your name, you know," he remarked. Without a word, I spoke my name, and he echoed it: "Starflesh." A simple nod sufficed.

With a wish of good luck, he gestured towards the park, and I lowered my head, feeling my hood slip slightly. Swiftly readjusting it to cast a shadow over my face, I caught Violet introducing herself as "Violet Sorrengail." Her name now etched in the air, marking her presence.

A stout man's intense gaze fixed on Violet caught my attention, prompting a tightening grip on the dagger concealed in my hand, prepared for any threat.

As the scene unfolded, a blond boy attempted to bypass Violet, met with her swift retaliation. Without a word, I intervened, silently asserting my authority in the face of his aggression. The boy's fear palpable, he yielded to my unspoken warning, allowing Violet to proceed unhindered.

Together, we traversed the parapet, the wind tugging at my cloak and claws as we navigated the path. In mere minutes, we reached the other side unscathed, our resolve unwavering in the face of challenges ahead.