flos gelida.

terms, conditions, and important notes.

writing tos + notes.

flos gelida.

terms, conditions, and important notes.

art tos + notes.

- i do not support nfts and you are absolutely not allowed to use my art to make any. you are not allowed to use my art for ai learning purposes.- i retrain the right to post wips of the project. an additional fee will be applied if you would like me to not post about it until completion. this is the nda fee.- i have arthritis and therefore some pieces may take me longer to complete than others. i will always keep in touch with you to keep you updated, but is important to keep this in mind.- i accept payment after getting your okay on the sketch.- no changes will be made after moving on to rendering.- please feel free to ask me about anything you want that isn't mentioned in my will or won't do lists; i will tell if you i am comfortable with it.- i do reserve the right to refuse any subject that i am not comfortable doing.- you are free to use any personal commission you receive from me however you'd like, except for commercial purposes unless agreed upon beforehand. if posting my work, you must credit any of my social media in said post.- i also retain the right to post and use personal commissions for non-commercial purposes.- all payment will be received via paypal invoices. alternate forms can be arranged is absolutely necessary.

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flos gelida.

art commission prices.

flos gelida.

writing examples.

Infernum Galeicei / Mount Stellidus

Area description written for 'Hakkito's Strategy Guide For the World of Elysium'.
Writing and concept by me.Read here

Lila Skylos

Monster and treasture descriptions written for 'Hakkito's Strategy Guide For the World of Elysium'.
Writing and concept by me.Read here

Boshi-Obake, Lumintrapper, & Shirokodama

Monster and treasture descriptions written for 'Hakkito's Strategy Guide For the World of Elysium'.
Writing by me. Concept will be credited at the end of each piece.Read here

To the Brink

Play synopsis written for 'Gavis Bettel Playbook'.
Writing and concept by me.Read here

Apricus

An excerpt from a commission.
Writing and concept by me.Read here

flos gelida.

writing examples.

Warm

An excerpt from a piece written for 'Sincerity: A Sylvain Gautier Zine'.
Writing and concept by me.Read here

Ruin

An excerpt from an original story, 'Project Revel'.
Writing and concept by me.Read here

Cold Heart

An excerpt from a piece written for written for 'Flowers for Five Years: A NieR:Automata Collection'.
Writing and concept by me.Read here

Die For You

An excerpt from a commission.
Writing and concept by me.Read here

Hint of Death

An excerpt from a piece written for written for 'Dive Back in Time: A Link Click Zine'.
Writing and concept by me.Read here

flos gelida.

writing examples.

Compost

Excerpt from an original story, 'Uprooted'.
Writing and concept by me.Read here

Dive

Excerpt from an original story, 'Uprooted'.
Writing and concept by me.Read here

Annulus

Excerpt from an original story, 'Annulus'.
Writing and concept by me.Read here

Defeat

Excerpt from my original character lore document for 'Eris Noelani'.
This takes place within the world of FFXIV.
Writing and concept by me.Read here

Infernum Galeicei / Mount Stellidus

In the far north of Elysium lies a small mountain range by the name of Infernum Galeicei. Dangerous terrain and an eternal snowstorm has left much of the area untraversed by man. Below lies an account from a lone traveler believed to have disappeared in their journey to reach the peak of Mount Stellidus. This is believed to be the only recorded log related to the Infernum Galeicei Mountains and the surrounding area. It was retrieved from the adventurer’s belongings that were curiously left at the entry to the forest trail. Many entries were destroyed by an unknown entity.‘Day 1’
I have begun my adventure into the mountains. At the base of Mount Stellidus lies a dense forest. The trees reach heights that seem impossible and there is a stark lack of life. The snow does not reach down here, but there is a bitter chill in the air.‘Day 4’
The forest feels alive; as if it moves and changes every day. It took me three days to find my way out of it and into the snow. There is no transition between forest and snow. In fact, all plant life seems to be gone once the snow hits. It feels like a journey into a completely different world… A very, very empty world.‘Day 11’
I believe I am about halfway up the mountain. I encountered the first sign of life since this journey began. I found a small cave off the path this afternoon and ventured inside. There was a fire burning, albeit small. A singular blanket lay spread across the cavern floor next to a pile of drawings featuring a creature I have never seen. Large, black eyes that felt as if they were actually looking at me were scribbled inside a mess of lavender fur. Were it not for the piercing gaze of the animal, I might have found it charming.‘Day 28’
I can feel my skin moving the longer it is exposed to the snow. I can feel it calling out to me, as if the snow itself is alive. I have begun my trek back to the forest. I will return to the mountain without my equipment. The snow tells me my tools are holding me back… preventing me from reaching the peak. I believe there are answers up there. Answers that the guild is keeping fr-

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Lila Skylos

Lila Skylos
The following is another record from the journal of the explorer that went missing after returning to Mount Stellidus.'Day 17'
The creature I’ve seen out of the corner of my eye periodically finally approached me today. It’s a small thing - no bigger than my foot. The fur that covers everything except its snout and eyes is a light purple and appears very soft. I sense a strange intelligence from this creature.'Day 20'
This creature has been following me much like a pet would. In this endless expanse of nothing, it is my only companion.
The snow does not seem to harm it the way it harms me. In fact, I do not think this creature can survive outside of the snow. When I approach the forest edge, the creature stays behind.'Day 27'
I feel as if the creature and snow both are communicating with me. The creature and the snow both… Their words echo in my mind at all times. They are telling me to leave my things and return to the mountain empty handed. I believe these things will allow me to find the key to unlocking the secret of this place.

Lila Skylos Hat & Cloak
Below is an account from a second adventurer. His search for his friend led him to develop new theories about the area. Despite convincing theories and thorough tests, he ultimately went missing as well.x.x87
Based on his journal entries, I have determined that the answer to braving the snow on Mount Stellidus lies in this strange, purple creature. I have captured some of them and used their skin and fur to craft a cloak to shield me from the snow. The issue now lies in the head. I believe a wide brimmed stone hat with some sort of sheer covering for the face will be the key to traversing Mount Stellidus.x.x92
The cloak worked well in the first trial journey. However, these animals are intelligent and I am somewhat fearful for what they will do to me if they see me wearing one of their brethren. I am… willing to brave this for the sake of my friend.x.x98
I will be doing my final journey into Mount Stellidus today bearing the cloak and hat. All trials proved effective in protection from the snow and it's burning effects. I hope to return soon, friend in hand.

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Boshi-Obake, Lumintrapper, & Shirokodama

'Boshi-Obake' concept by nishii
Hidden within the depths of the most ancient archives in Xenokuni lies a very dark power. Crafted by an old scholar and thusly abandoned due to the corrupt nature of its power, this beast knows well the boredom of confinement and longs for dreams to keep entertained once more.Despite its initial appearance as an old, wide brimmed conical hat, this being is dangerous. The eye that resides within started by eating knowledge from those who wore the hat. Overtime, it got a taste of dreams and never looked back.Beware - for this beast will rob you of all the dreams that bring you joy and leave you with nothing but nightmares to keep you company until your mind collapses. If you can resist the aura of temptation to wear the hat, you may be able to keep your sanity for another day yet.

'Lumintrapper' concept by uloray
Starlit Grove is an area of unrivaled beauty. There are many strange creatures to be found within this forest, yet few compare to the likes of the Lumintrapper. Though it appears to be descended from aquatic creatures, this being actually thrives on land by camouflaging within the fauna found on the forest floor.Due to the grove’s lack of sunlight, the Lumintrapper blends in very easily to the majority of plants thanks to its dark blueish-green body and root-like legs. While its mouth is open, you can easily see rows of sharp, jagged teeth - appearing almost perfectly hidden when closed. The key thing in helping you identify a Lumintrapper from a distance is the antenna and its glowing orb.The Lumintrapper is a beast that is hard to distinguish until it is too late, so do take careful note of these features before venturing into the grove - lest you meet your end under the dark canopy.

'Shirokodama' concept by uloray
Traversing unknown regions can be frightening, especially when your adventure brings you to a place such as the White Garden. Within the eerie calm that lays over the region is a creature by the name of ‘Shirokodama’.Although these beings are guardians of this area and those who travel through it, they are very shy. They have small, translucent human-like bodies that allow them to blend in to the stark white scenery - save for their eyes and mouths.They have a soft glow that emits a feeling of safety to those who come across them.To be in the White Garden is to be in the presence of something unseen - something dangerous. But you can rest assured that the Shirokodama will be with you through your journey, and will watch over your every move in silent care.

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To the Brink

The realm of the undead is not for the faint hearted.Ghosts. Demons. Spirits. Many cultures have many names for the various types of disembodied entities that walk the Earth. Despite the changes in name and story, the fear in the presence of these fiends is prevalent amongst every iteration.In America, the supernatural has become more of a sideshow than something to be feared and respected. Nestled deep in the suburbs of Washington lies a house on Tanglewood Drive. A number of gruesome deaths took place within its walls, leaving behind numerous entities to haunt its halls. Many experienced ghost hunters have risen up to the challenge of finding and dispelling these spirits, yet few have lived to tell the tale. 'To the Brink' brings you the incredible journey of one last ghost hunter who dreams of leaving his name in the annals of history.Gavis Bettel begins his adventure by searching for the departed Edward Shipman. His skills, albeit poor, allow him to come face to face with the spirit. He will travel the country alone in search of more foes to vanquish. With a runtime of just under an hour, this show will take you on a fast paced journey steeped in terror as you join Bettel in his quest to conquer his fear of the supernatural using nothing but a camera.

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Cold Heart

Life is a fragile thing.To the pair of androids that currently found themselves crouched on the forest floor, it was something they could only hope to understand. Manufactured skin wrapped around the most intricate of machinery could not come close to the blood that flowed through the creature before them."2B." 9S looked up at his partner, pleading eyes hidden behind his blindfold. "What do you suppose is wrong with it?""If either one of us would know, it would be you." She sighed. Despite the annoyance in her voice and the stiffness in her body, 9S knew she cared for it as much as he did in that moment. Or, at the very least, she was as curious as he was."You're right…" He motioned for 2B to sit next to him and open her hands, placing the injured bird in her palms once she complied. He took his bag off and rummaged through it, resorting to dumping everything into the dirt to better sort through it. Everything one would need to care for an android was packed neatly inside of it: staunching gel, logic virus vaccines, map, spare chips, and various parts… Nothing to care for the poor baby bird crying out from 2B's hold."The castle should still be safe, yeah?" 9S perked up, an idea forming in his head. 2B nodded silently, taking to her feet once more while being cautious of the bird she held. The two androids had spent enough time together by this point that little needed to be spoken for them to understand what the other needed. 2B wordlessly made her way to the courtyard, trusting 9S to keep watch over her and their new companion.She kept a close eye on it as they walked, its breathing becoming slower and slower with every passing moment. 2B was unsure of how exactly to read its vitals, but after all of the reading she had done of life in the past and the research that had been conducted, she knew it had precious little time left."There is a machine that is well versed in the caretaking of animals." 2B turned to 9S, the latter already well aware of the task that was about to be handed to him."I don't think bringing him all the way here is a good idea." He noted."Neither is traversing a dangerous forest with something so… delicate." 2B shut down 9S's proposal before he even had a chance to ask. "I will remain here."2B nestled down in a corner of the massive courtyard, away from the view of any machines that may be lurking nearby. 9S hesitated for a moment before taking off, doing as 2B wished. Always doing as 2B wished.The bird, though just a baby, had enough feathers for its brilliant blue color to shine. 2B had never seen anything like it before. The life forms that existed on Earth still were all dull in color; years and years of evolution led them to blend in perfectly with their surroundings to avoid being seen by machines intelligent enough to spot them in the first place. This bird may well be the last of its kind.She recalled a story 9S told her once — how he tripped trying to fly down from the edge of a building and landed face first in a bird's nest. She had not been there, she had no clue how they looked. But most of the creatures of this forest seem to reside in dens of a sort, so perhaps that would suffice.She gathered some stone and piled it up on the grass against the castle wall, stacking the rocks in such a manner that they did not collapse in on each other. She placed the bird inside and scanned it again. The nestling that was once red on her thermal scan had declined to yellow, sending 2B into a panic.She took hold of the bird once more and held it close to her chest. She could feel its temperature, feel that it's dropped. She panicked, thinking of a way to warm it up.She was machinery. She was nothing but metal and coolant masquerading as a human. She could do nothing for the bird unless she shut down her cooling system and allowed herself to overheat. She could feel its breathing slow, she could feel it growing colder.She should be used to it. She had felt many grow limp under her touch. She had felt her partner's simulated breaths cease in her grasp. She was a killer. She could not save. She could not…"2B!" 9S landed next to her, flying in from over the courtyard wall. "The machine had a few books on him he salvaged from the castle's library. I haven't read them yet, but I'll help you go over them!"2B read over everything sent to her in a flash, absorbing the info more quickly than any human ever could. She read how animals feed their young. How they build homes for them. How they nurse them back to health.She glanced back at what supplies she held with her, a sinking feeling appearing in her gut."2B." 9S mumbled, tapping her arm and pointing to one of the books. "It says here they would eat crushed-up food. We've got some bai-"He watched her as she sat, frozen, staring at the young animal with an intensity he hadn't seen in ages. It was a gaze he knew all too well. A gaze he had seen directed at him more times than he could count."2B." 9S called out again, more stern this time. He handed her bait from his bag, urging her to crush it in the manner the book detailed. "This is the best we can do right now."She did as he described, feeding the mush to the creature while 9S continued reading."It says here, some animals are destined to die from the moment they are born. It doesn't matter what's done to save them, the life will eventually die despite your best efforts. If this doesn't work…" 2B's hands shook as she stared at the bird clinging to whatever remained of its fragile, insignificant life. "I don't think we can save it.""I have to try." She brushed him aside, doing another analysis of the creature."Why are you so determined to help it? You heard what it said about newborns —""I have. To try." She steadied her hands and breathed a deep, deep sigh. "If I can not save this one life, how am I supposed to save everyone else…"How am I supposed to save you?Ever faithful was she to her cause. Ever willing was she to carry out her duty. At the end of the day, however, she was a weapon — and weapons can not heal. They can not bring back from the brink what is already fading.They will be what brings about the end."Hey, I'm a little stronger than a bird. I can protect myself fine enough, gimme some credit, yeah?" He gave 2B a reassuring pat on the back. Kneeling next to her and putting his hand on hers, he said, "Let it rest tonight. We have more important things to attend to right now.""You're beginning to sound like me." 2B chuckled as she set the bird down into a makeshift nest she had made. There was little information to be found anywhere on how to properly make a nest; birds cannot write after all."Was that a laugh? Did miss 'emotions are prohibited' let out a laugh?" 9S covered his mouth in a fake surprise."It was nothing. As you said, we have more important things to focus on." 2B stood up quickly, turning on her heel and making her way out of the small cove."We'll come back in the morning, alright!"Life is a fragile thing, even to the unliving.2B had seen the light fade from 9S many times since her deployment. She was given the role of a killer. Of a taker. She had nothing to show for her time spent on Earth besides memory after memory of first meetings with her partner.She couldn't be sure that the bird would make it. She couldn't be sure she did anything right. She could do nothing but hope.Hope that she left behind a life with an open future instead of taking it.Hope that the ruthless 2E could be a savior for once.

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Warm

content warning: character death & imprisonment

Sylvain recalled that fateful day in his mind. An ambush left them all scattered and stunned, Sylvain finding himself alone in a clearing after gaining consciousness once more. He could hear the others in the distance, fighting the imperial troops that had surrounded them. He had rumors about these bushes — special imperial soldiers would surround whole armies and kidnap the strong for their experiments. Were those true, Sylvain knew Dedue and Felix would be at the top of their lists, since neither of them knew when to drop their weapons. He couldn't allow that… he wouldn't. If he didn't stop, if he drew enough of their attention, perhaps they would take him. After everything he had done, everything he had caused, this was his chance to prove himself. He would do anything for his friends.And so he fought. He fought and he fought and he fought. And when he was too tired to carry on, he breathed in deep and continued anyways. Eventually he gave in, thinking that had had to be enough. Sylvain dropped his weapon, pretending to have deemed it better not to resist for the sake of hoping that the Empire would be satisfied and leave the others. Oh, how he hoped it had worked. That all of this had been for something.The guards threw open the door to his cell, interrupting his thoughts one last time. One of them went to work unshackling Sylvain’s wrists, the other his ankles. They lifted him roughly, well aware their failure of an experiment couldn't stand on his own. He was to be disposed of. After all, allowing him to live was just taking up space in their prison of ever revolving victims.Sylvain felt as if he was being paraded around — nothing more than a screw-up to display. The prisoners watched him; He could feel their eyes on him as he passed. A dozen pairs, all lifeless and empty, haunting him. The fogginess had not yet left him, leaving Sylvain’s mind to wander. If one were to look close enough, they would see the faces of their loved ones in these husks that were once full of life. Sylvain was sure he saw Annette glance at him, her beautiful orange hair now no better than a nest. The thought broke him; How someone could hurt a girl so soft and so kind was beyond him.The voices of the guards gaded in and out of his ringing ears. He could only pick up bits and pieces as their voices tried to pass through their helmets and into his clouded mind. He was nothing more than a failed experiment, a piece of trash unable to turn. But, they couldn't risk him running away, what with his definitely not weak legs and all. They didn't want to leave anything to chance and allow him to expose what the empire was doing.He was dragged outside a small, open area. The walls of the prison stood high, but, at the very least, Sylvain could see the sun. He could see it's light filtering through the only tree in the courtyard, shining down onto the gallows before him as if to mock him, telling him that this was his last stop. The last thing he would see before he died was blood, dirt, and a sea of bodies.
Corpses littered the courtyard, the bodies of the prisoners simply tossed aside after they had been taken care of. Sylvain was sure he could see Felix in the mix, perhaps even Mercedes next to him. They looked worn and haggard; even Mercedes' peaceful face looked exhausted. He caught sight of Felix's solemn expression, a tired smile being brought to his lips. Oh, to lie and rest with them one more time.The guard's continued to drag Sylvain, paying little mind to him as his toes caught in the dirt, sending him lurching forward in their cold, steady grips. The tiny bones popped and cracked, but he felt nothing save for a small tingle. He almost wished he could feel them breaking; at least he would still feel alive that way.The armored men spoke lowly to one another, issuing orders in some sort of code. They passed Sylvain along to the next pair, flinging him into their grasps like he was nothing but a broken doll being passed onto a new owner.They guided him towards the gallows; the giant, wooden architecture towering over the courtyard. Those who had fallen victim to it lay in its shadow, Sylvain soon to be among them.He wondered what he had done to earn such a torturous life. Being abused by his brother, being flung into a seemingly endless war, being stolen and broken and used… The only time he had ever felt happy, relieved, was back at the academy. Back when he could feel the softness of Felix's hair between his fingers, the warmth of Mercedes' hand as she'd comfort him, the feeling he'd get in his gut when Ashe would laugh…There was naught he could do now but accept the fate that had been handed to him. There was relief in that, almost. Everything he had suffered, everything he had done, all of it was soon to be forgotten. He would no longer be a burden to the ones he loved and he could see them, feel them, touch them again in his next life.Despite the feel of the wood beneath his feet and the pain that coursed through his throat as he tried to speak, Sylvain felt at peace.He felt…"Warm."

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Apricus

“Take care out there, alright?”Taichi’s words echoed in Johann’s head as he staggered towards Ala Mhigo. The evening light poured into the city, bouncing off the tall buildings before him and the river that flowed beneath his feet. The salty air stung his skin and poked at the wound in his abdomen. His makeshift tourniquet began to slip — blood beginning to pour from the tear once more.He was no stranger to working alone and sometimes even preferred it if he knew he would keep someone from being injured. Today’s missions were supposed to be relatively easy - he was simply on guard duty near the seld.“You sure you don’t need a hand?” Johann chuckled a bit as he recalled his and Taichi’s meeting before they went their separate ways. Of course not, Johann assured him. He threw his axe over his shoulder and smiled as he left, Taichi’s frown imprinted in his mind. Johann was prepared to hear an earful from him upon his return, but that conversation seemed unlikely now. Johann had let his pride get the best of him and now he was paying in full.He looked up at the city gates, one staircase becoming two as his vision stirred. His axe clunked against the stone, the echo of it falling on no one’s ears. He was alone for malms, the only people lying behind the stone barrier before him. His vision continued to worsen the further he walked. His blood began to feel cold while he bled out, a crimson trail staining the dirt behind him. Perhaps he would die out here, he thought. He had done his duty, he had protected this city and with it, all the people he cared about. Perhaps that is enough, then.The world shifted and he lost his balance, falling face first onto stone. He had not the strength to carry himself any further. I am to die out here, he thought. I hope… I succeeded. The sun would continue to set and life around him would carry on whether he were to perish here or not.Ala Mhigo would carry on.Taichi would carry on.Taichi would…“Snap out of it!”Johann was pulled away from the brink and back to consciousness. The night sky greeted him, the moon so bright it hurt his aching eyes.Taichi tossed aside his rapier, magic now depleted from what little healing he was able to do.
“What the hell are you doing out here!?” He shouted as he hoisted Johann to his feet. “I asked you if you needed a hand, why did you tell me no?”“You look a little tired.” Johann smiled weakly. Taichi threw one of his arms around Johann's waist and held onto him tightly. The latter winced as a palm was driven into his wound."Of course I'm tired. I've been over here for gods know how long trying to wake you. After a day like today, I can't carry your dead weight back inside by myself.""Hm." Johann took a step with Taichi's aid, nearly losing his footing from the pain he was in. "Do not trouble yourself for my sake.""You…" Taichi grunted. He lifted Johann up a bit more, getting a better grip on his partner by taking hold of the strap of his top. His hand slipped — pulling down the wrap that Johann attempted to make with what little fabric he had on him. Blood began pouring once more, the sudden sensation sending a chill up Taichi's arm. "Johann! Are you bleeding?!""It was just a little nick. I am fine, my friend. We are appro- Ah!" Johann exclaimed as Taichi dropped him. The latter went to his left, pulling away the makeshift tourniquet entirely. How Johann had not yet perished from this was nothing more than a blessing from somewhere above. Between the steady flow of blood, Taichi could see bone and dirt in the mix. He grabbed his canteen without a second thought and poured the contents on the wound. Johann cried out in pain, turning to look at Taichi with tears in his tired eyes."This is also going to hurt a bit, if not more." Taichi's tone dropped from his earlier annoyance to one of focus, of care, of fear. He grabbed his hunt flyer and placed it over the gash. Blood began to seep through the paper and Johann curled over as every nerve in his chest began to scream. Taichi removed his overshirt and tied it around Johann's torso. "This is better than whatever it was you had going on before. It will last you until we get inside and get you treated. Now get up.""Thank you, Taichi." Johann smiled."What would you have done if I wasn't here?" Taichi pulled him to his feet again."I was counting on it." Taichi pressed down on the wound at this answer. "A-a-ah, there is no need for-""You aren't going anywhere alone for… for… ever again, you hear me? If I have to see you like this one more gods damned time…" Taichi took a deep breath. "What even happened to you? You might be an idiot in some ways, but not when it comes to gathering your bearings during a fight.""There w-" Johann coughed, a mix of blood and phlegm reaching his lips. Taichi averted his eyes, knowing there was nothing else he could do until they were inside the city. "There was this terrible amount of beasts that appeared. I was close to the gates, you know? I couldn't bear to let something happen to any of you, so I tried to drive them away. And while I succeeded in eradicating the threats, one got me with its teeth.""You have a linkpearl. You co-should have called me. Look at you!""You seem worried." Johann teased. "I promi-""Of course I'm worried!" Taichi shouted. Tears of anger and pain welled up in his eyes. "You laid down ready to die and you expect me to not be worried?!"Johann was a bit taken aback by the shouting. Taichi, albeit a bit rough sometimes, wasn't one to scream."You take on way more than you should and normally things turn out okay, but look at the mess you've gotten yourself into this time!" Taichi continued. His grip on Johann grew tighter with every second, the aching in his chest felt like fire as he thought about what might have happened had he been too late. "Whenever you get hurt, you act like it doesn't matter and it's so… so awful. There is nothing wrong with caring for others, but you need to take care of yourself too! You are more than worthy of living, so please treat yourself like you are."
To Taichi, Johann was the sun — the stars. He was bright and warm and he enveloped the world around him in an embrace he had no words for. To lose his sun would be like losing the world itself. He wasn't sure what to do to convince Johann that he held worth beyond being a protector."I'm sorry for worrying you, dear." Johann apologized. He could feel Taichi's wordless frustration in the grip he held. Taichi's hands were clammy against his skin, equal parts fear and from him now overexerting himself to carry Johann to someone who can fix him. He squeezed Johann's hand tightly in response.A tense silence filled the air around them for what felt like ages. The streets of Ala Mhigo were quiet as the city went to sleep, leaving them alone to wander towards the clinic. There was no one around to ask questions, no one to share in Taichi's frustrations."I assume things went well for you today?" Johann piped up. Listening to Taichi do nothing but sigh — out of anger, worry, annoyance — it hurt him worse than the bite in his ribs."It was fine. We finished earlier than expected." Short. Curt. To the point."That is we-" Johann grunted as he fell. The street spun once more — stone paths turned into waves and his legs grew weak. The moon shone brighter in that moment than ever before. This must be it. This must be the end. He tried his best to focus on Taichi, to reach out to him and take hold of his hand once more. He did his best to call out Taichi’s name, but his voice left him before his breath and he could do naught but watch his partner fall into a panic as the world fell black around him.Taichi did his best to lift him, pulling along the road with all his strength. Johann's breathing began to labor as he was drug across the cement. His hands scraped against the ground, joining his chest in bleeding. Taichi shook more and more with every step. This can not end here, he can not allow that.He rounded the corner and kicked in the door of the clinic, startling everyone inside."Ple-please. Help." He begged. His voice cracked and cried of desperation.One of the chirugeons rushed to his side, helping Johann onto a bed. "He was bitten by something. There's a large hole along his ribs." Taichi stuttered. Johann's complextion grew paler in the light, the blood loss starting to get to him.Taichi felt low on miracle's, but right now, he would do anything for one.

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Ruin

Raphael sat upon his tower, looking down at the small realm left to him and his brothers. They were left to their own devices after Earth decided they were no longer worthy of being her children. Ever so slowly, the small world of theirs fell to ruin. Buildings crumbled, technology broke apart. The ethereal beauty of the outdoors began to rot away, leaving the fallen memories of better times spent in their courtyards scattered across the roads. At the end of the day, at least, they still had each other.For a time, at least.He was tasked with taking care of his brothers; he was their guardian now. He watched over their lux balances, making sure that no iller fate would befall them.Michael was stubborn, however. He refused to stop going down the path of self destruction for the sake of the others, leaving Raphael in pain at every check-in. If our brothers will detest me enough to leave this wretched place, it will allow me the chance to smite Earth down once for all. He had heard his brother recite this time and time again. There was little he could do to convince the eldest to stop. There was little he could do to stop his brother from killing himself.Wind blew through the tower, rustling through the chimes overhead. Raphael was pulled from his thoughts, turning instead to stare at the open sky. A million stars danced overhead to the sound of lapping waves and the hum of auroras. Each star brought a tear to his eye, a painful reminder of how much had been lost before he ever even came along."Raphael." Michael landed next to him and tapped his brother lightly on the shoulder. Raphael turned to him, taken aback by how weak the elder's wings had become. "It is nearly time.""Why don't you go with them? You are in no shape to continue fighting. Your lux alone will kill you." Raphael spoke softly — sternly — but Michael knew how upset he was."I have already come this far for all of your sakes. I am sorry you had to help me." Michael bowed."I would have even if you had told me not to.""You might be even more stubborn than I." Michael sat next to him, the younger pretending he could not hear how labored his brother's breathing had become. "I wish we could see this place back to its original glory. I so admired our time here.""We can build again. In a place where we are free and able to create as we please." Raphael clenched his jaw. "I would like for you to see it.""I will try my best." Michael let out a dry laugh. Raphael put a hand on Michael's head, his palm lighting up ever so slightly. Michael winced, closing his eyes tightly."The red lux has reached an amount of 91.7%." Raphael sighed. He removed his hand, showing his palm to his brother. He pointed to the sky with his other hand, finger shaking as he began to tear up. "Soon you will be among them. There is nothing I can do to reverse it at this rate.""I knew there never would be. But it's alright." Michael closed Raphael's hand and held onto it tightly. "I deceived everyone. I lied to them. I gave them false hopes and false worries and for that I have sinned greatly. I will atone for it by giving my life to save all of yours. This I knew going into this plan and this I have long since come to accept.""Our dreams fell to ruin at the hand of our creator. But I will be giving my all to give you all a second chance." Michael smiled softly. "Please do take it."

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Die for You

“You should hurry, storm’s rolling this way.” Hawks turned to meet her with perfect timing, nodding in the direction of the lightning as she approached him. “Wouldn’t wanna get caught up in that.”“The same goes for you.” Aina let her bag drape off one shoulder, spinning it around to grab something from the inner most pocket. Hawks couldn’t hide his smile as she handed him a neatly wrapped pastry, somehow still warm. “Take a break. When was the last you ate?”“Well…-”“The hesitation tells all. Sit with me, I’m hungry as well.” She looked around for a moment before settling on a planter nearby, taking her seat on the ledge.“Right in the center of all the traffic? What if someone sees me slacking off, whatever will I do?” Hawks fired off his second lame excuse of the night. Aina stared at him silently, raising her eyebrows ever so slightly to wordlessly say Are you going to join me or not?After a moment, he gave in and took up residence next to her, asking, “So, what are you doing out here in this weather?”“Leaving work.” Short. To the point. Aina was not a girl of many words on a good day, but Hawks could tell something was on her mind. Something was weighing her down. “...I was hoping to run into you.”“Can’t get enough of me, huh?” His light tone betrayed the emptiness in his eyes. Both of them carried a heavy question in the back of their minds, yet neither of them could bring themselves to say it.Aina sighed deeply as she stared up at the stars above. Lights a million years away blinked in and out of existence before her eyes. The storm grew closer with every passing moment, the thick clouds began eclipsing everything in sight. Raindrops drifted their way in the wind, Aina’s eyes going white as she activated her quirk to steer them away.“No need to do all that.” Hawks extended one wing around her to shield her from the downpour set to begin any moment. She scoot closer to him, glancing his way yet refusing to meet his eyes. A silence settled between them once more.For months, they had played this game. They danced around the subject of their feelings and basked in their denial. Aina had plenty of other things on her mind that didn’t involve the annoying man to her left.For months, they had ignored the inevitable.For months, they wished to let it all out.“About last week…” Aina began, every nerve in her body on fire. She was not one to lay her heart bare for anybody, but she couldn’t hold back how she felt for Hawks - how she knows he feels for her - any longer.Hawks opened his mouth to say something, but bit back the words, smiling at her instead; that all knowing smile eating away at the growing tension within her heart. To be met with deflection after deflection, whilst knowing that he is aware of what she wished to say… She was reaching her limit.“We’ve got a good rhythm between us, Aina.” Hawks spoke up. His voice was low - filled with an emotion that Aina couldn’t quite place. “I know what you’re going to ask me and no, I don’t have an answer. All I know is that I don’t wanna mess this up.”“You really…” She clenched her fists tightly around the now empty pastry wrapper she held.“I know you’re thinking the same thing.”“If we’re of the same mind, then surely we can try.” Aina stuttered a bit as she spoke. All of her buried anxiety was bubbling to the surface.“Why should we risk messing it up when what we’ve got is so-”“I have never felt like I could - or should - lose myself in anyone before. But with you…” Aina turned to meet his eyes for the first time that night. “I want to give it a shot.”Lightning struck nearby, the crack of electricity echoing through the city of concrete and steel that surrounded them. Hawks jumped to his feet, still keeping a wing over Aina as he extended his hand out to her. A drizzle turned into a downpour, yet Aina remained where she sat.“I need to know, Hawks.”“Let’s go inside somewhere and continue this-”“I need to know.” She cut him off, her tone growing more intense. Days, weeks, months of this refusal to acknowledge what they knew was there was beginning to be too much for her. Something had to give and her heart was the one to succumb to the weight of it all first.Hawks’ stiffened under her gaze. Everything in him told him to run. Every instinct he had lived by in the years leading up to when he met Aina was screaming to brush it off. He was a hero who was devoted to his personal cause more than anything. He knew his life bore an incredible target and to let himself fall in love and give himself to someone was the most selfish thing that he could think of doing. He didn’t want to keep pushing her aside, but a part of him knew he should for her sake.“Is this something worth putting my all into?”

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Hint of Death

"You can't be serious…" Qiao Ling fell to her knees, colliding with the floor with a thud. Her flashlight fell from her grasp and rolled across the tile, only stopping once it made contact with Cheng Xiaoshi's boot. Tall windows lined the wall before them; the top of each one a different beautiful stained glass design. Lightning poured in through them, illuminating the horror on their faces. Rain beat against the manor with such intensity its only rival was Qiao Ling's heart that was fit to burst out of her chest.Lu Guang picked up the discarded flashlight and moved to examine the spectacle laid out before him. "Do either of you know who this is?" He pulled a napkin out from his pocket, taking care to not touch anything bare handed as he rolled the body over to face the other two."How can we?! The face is all messed up!" Cheng Xiaoshi could hardly get the words out.A heavy silence settled in the air as they looked between themselves, silently agreeing upon three things.One. Help was not getting there any time soon.Two. The body before them was beyond recognition.Three. One of them was the killer."We need to work together." Lu Guang insisted. "We can put aside who did it for now. We need to start by figuring out how.""Definitely bludgeoning. Look at the state of this guy…"Qiao Ling turned away, unable to look at the corpse any longer.“I don’t think he was killed here.” Lu Guang stood back up, circling the body and using his flashlight to point at areas of interest. “There is no blood pooling despite the grotesque nature of the crime. This suggests that the murder was commited elsewhere and the body was simply dumped here.”“That seems like an awful lot of work for something the killer knew we were going to find anyways.” Cheng Xiaoshi sighed.“Then this room must be significant. It must hold some value to the killer.” Qiao Ling paused. “Or perhaps it holds value to the person the killer is trying to frame.”“Also a very likely possibility.” Lu Guang put his flashlight away and turned towards the door. “In any case, we should investigate the other rooms… If this is not the scene of the crime, then there has to be another room with evidence of a murder taking place.”“Nuh uh. You’re going nowhere alone again. Last time you went off on your own, someone wound up dead. We move together.” Cheng Xiaoshi grabbed Lu Guang by the collar and pulled him backwards, the latter stumbling under the force.“...I feel like that defeats the purpose. We need to investigate as much as possible and splitting up is the best way to do that…”“I’m with Cheng Xiaoshi.” Qiao Ling added. Her companions’ eyes went wide with surprise. Cheng Xiaoshi began to circle around her as if she needed to be investigated. “We currently know little about our surroundings and who might be here with us. It’s smart to stay together!”“We know very little because you didn’t bother asking the client about why we needed to come here in the first place.” Cheng Xiaoshi narrowly dodged Qiao Ling’s small hand that was on course to smack him in the back of his head. “I won’t lie, a party in a place like this is a cool idea, but when nobody else showed up besides us, we should’ve left right away.”“We can sit around and throw blame at each other for why we’re in this situation or we can try to figure out what’s going on. If you guys insist on staying together, then let us make our way to the next closest room. Which should be… the lounge?” Without waiting to hear what the others had to say, Lu Guang began to make his way out of the room. Qiao Ling followed quickly, leaving Cheng Xiaoshi behind with the body. He looked down at him for a moment, staring into the bludgeoned mess where his eyes should be. Morbid curiosity and pity kept him watching the lifeless corpse for longer than he should’ve.The sound of the observatory door slamming shut echoed through the large room and startled Cheng Xiaoshi back to reality. He scrambled to leave and catch up to the others before he was completely left behind. He stole one last glance at the departed stranger before making his way out with the other two.As the trio walked throughout the vast halls towards the lounge, both Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling clung to one of Lu Guang’s arms. Every sound, every breath felt as if it was booming in their anxiety ridden ears. Paranoia was creeping up on all of them, plaguing their ability to think rationally.They slowly approached the lounge, terrified to find that the door was already open. Lu Guang pulled himself from the others’ grasps and made his way inside. Unlike the observatory, they were not given the luxury of having giant windows to help light the room with moonlight. Three flashlights were barely enough to help them.“Inspect slowly and carefully.” Lu Guang ordered. He set off towards a corner of the room where the furniture was overturned. Cheng Xiaoshi swallowed roughly and took up position searching the opposite corner. Qiao Ling gravitated towards the center of the room. She gasped loudly as her flashlight caught sight of a giant puddle in the carpet.Cheng Xiaoshi ran over first, taken aback by the sheer amount of blood.“...I guess we’ve found the murder scene.” Lu Guang walked around slowly, doing his best to examine the blood splatter and trajectory of the spray. “The question is… How did the body end up in the observatory?”“This place is huge and the hallways are massive. There’s a very likely chance that the killer just dragged the body there, right?” Qiao Ling offered up her opinion.“Hmm… I don’t think so.” Lu Guang moved his flashlight along the path of the blood in the room. From the amount of blood here, I highly doubt that they would have been able to drag a body along the route we took and not leave any behind. This is also not nearly enough to be all of the blood within a grown man.”“But the body had no puddle in the other room, so this has to be all of it, right?” Cheng Xiaoshi asked.“I don’t think so. I think…” Lu Guang returned to the edges of the room. “I think there must be a tunnel somewhere. A human being has far more blood than that and there is no more towards the entrance of the room or in the halls. There has to be a hidden pathway.”“You can’t be serious…” Qiao Ling’s voice shook. “The murderer could be in the walls right now… watching us?”

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Compost

"You can do this on your own, Lenora. You don't need my help, Lenora. You're an adult, Lenora." The strangely dressed woman with white hair mumbled to herself as she trekked through the lush forest. She carried a package under her arm, black paper wrapped neatly with a brilliant red ribbon. "Has Peri ever once stopped to consider how boring traveling alone is?!"Her complaints fell on no one's ears; instead they echoed off the trees she found herself lost in. The shawl on her shoulders billowed in the breeze while the cords that hung from her chest got tangled around one another. One would look at her and think of her as the very image of royalty — were she not muddy, sweaty, and playing pack mule.Her name was Lenora von Bearli, princess of the underworld, heir to the vampiric throne.. . . . . Formerly.The buckles on her boots clanked and squeaked as she stomped through the dirt with the energy of a child throwing a tantrum."Lenora von Bearli, demoted to delivery by her own father!" She continued shouting as if anyone was listening. "Abandoned by my best friend to wander the forest alone! To think, I may never make it out of here. I may never again get to see the beautiful red moon back home. I may nev- Ough!"Before she could get another word out, she came face to face with an invisible force. Her forehead made contact with what felt like a wooden pole, yet before her lay a seemingly empty clearing. She took a step back and kicked in front of her until she could feel a set of stairs. She continued feeling her way around until she was able to find her way up the steps and onto the porch to the front door."Open up! Delivery from Rose!" She knocked on thin air, banging on the same spot until the spell receded — a beautiful home of generous size being unveiled before her eyes. The tennant, however, didn't come to the door; instead it opened ever so slightly, allowing a very sinister aura to pour out from inside the home. Lenora opened the door quickly, paying little heed to what could possibly be lurking inside.She navigated her way through the dark home — the only light being what shone through the beautiful stained glass windows that littered the walls behind her. The entrance was odd, she thought. The front door led into a small room, the aforementioned windows being all that was there. It led directly into a hallway that seemed to drag on for what felt like forever. She could spy some protective charms placed throughout the hall, even some carved into the cherry wood floors.Portraits and enchanted sconces hung about, however, "Why would something that stays lit by magic not be turned on?"Lenora's carefree attitude faded away at the revelation. The heavy presence she ignored earlier crept closer as she made her way into a grand living room at the end of the tunnel.Unlike many of the other realms, the human realm, Edafos, was bound by laws one of magic was supposed to respect. Laws of physics, of gravity — every one however was being broken in this room. Furniture floated about in every direction, the floors moved under her steps, the walls breathed. All things that would not be uncommon in the presence of a witch, but all signs pointed to one thing."A curse." Lenora dropped the package and turned quickly on her heel. In an instant, the stagnant magic in the house burst to life. Furniture flew after her as she ran back down the hallway and flames blew forth from the once dark lights. The landscape of the home changed as she ran. The walls curved and twisted, the splinters of the broken wood clawing at her like some sort of beast. She felt the gaze of a thousand eyes as the paintings multiplied and the subjects reached towards her with gooey hands.Lenora discovered a break in the magic, finding her way to a staircase and climbing it without a second thought. The house continued to contort and turn in on itself. It allowed her no way to see the windows she admired on the way in — no way to see the way out.

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Dive

"I knew a man once who seemed to have a fondness for everything around him." Fiona began. She continued working away on the necklace as she spoke. "Anyone that knew him would say he was a very kind soul who would do anything to help others. But they would also say he seemed very sad. He seemed like he was missing something. So one day, the man decided to take some time to be alone.""The man found himself engrossed in stories. He would read them daily and let them be what helped him drift off to sleep." Ami shifted in his seat, well aware of where Fiona was going with this. "One day, he listened to a story about the ocean. It was a strange story, one that many would not expect him to love.""Can you wrap this up, dear? I do not enjoy having my soul laid bare.""You never cared much for the ocean until you found yourself drowning it. Now you struggle to keep your head above the water, but you wish to sink, do you not?" Fiona always spoke in riddles. Her light tone carried childlike wonder in every sentence she wove, but she spoke deeply and from the heart all the same."The ocean is a scary place, my friend. You do not know what could be lurking in the depths.""Such clear water can not hide any ill intent." Fiona turned to look up at him. "Go to him, Ami. You know you want to.""Not after the scene I caused that resulted in the breakage of the necklace you are repairing." Ami shrugged. "It's fine. He deserves better. Far better than someone like me could ever hope to give.""He doesn't want better, he doesn't want different. He wants you and all that you have to offer." Fiona replied. She did not meet his eyes this time, simply pointed him towards the door. "Sink, my friend. Sink and let the water fill your lungs, covering every inch of you in a new experience."

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Defeat

"I fear that I am past the point of return, Raha." Eris dropped to her knees, collapsing under the weight of her exhaustion."I shall carry you then, love." G'raha knelt beside her, hands out as he urged her onto his back. Under any other circumstances, Eris would decline. She would insist that she was alright and that 'her legs work just fine, she's not a child'. "Do not let what they said get to you.""They're right, Raha. They're right." Eris grasped tightly onto her partner, burrowing her face into the nape of his neck. "I have tried to ignore it for years now. But there is now denying that I am just as bad, if not worse, than what I aspire to rid this world of. In the past this did not bother me, but… But things have changed. I do not look upon this world with scorn any longer and I do not wish for people to do the same to me.""You are a hero, Eris.""A hero to who, though? A hero who flies the banner of what, exactly?" Eris cried. "Woe betide the man who stands opposed to the Weapon of Light, for death shall be his reward. Death for him and his kin and all he holds dear.""That-""I have killed so many for what I reasoned as being in my way as I drive the Empire to the ground." She continued. "Those children were terrified of me. They did not view me as a hero, they viewed me as a beast of war who does naught but kill.""That is not your fault. Your motivations have changed, but your morality never has. You are a good person, Eris."

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Annulus

Athena burst through the water's surface. She gasped for air, struggling to understand the situation she found herself in. She should be dead right now. She was knocked unconscious when she hit the surface and should have drowned. She should have—"Hey! Hey, you alright?" She turned to find the source of the voice - a blonde girl sat at the edge of the water with an arm stretched towards her.Athena was sure she was losing her mind.Not even an hour earlier, Athena bore witness to this poor girl getting caught in the crossfire of herself and Serena. She witnessed her take her last breath and she fell into the same lake Athena found herself in.Her attire, however, was different.The girl splashed water towards her, hoping to gain the attention she thought she had lost. She began speaking in a foreign tongue - dialect that Athena vaguely recognized as being from Reas - and signing."Sorry. I am from here." Athena finally answered, swimming towards her. She grabbed hold of the girl's hand and allowed her to pull her from the water.The girl grabbed Athena with both hands and pulled as hard as she could as Athena used her free hand to hoist herself out of the water."Are you alright?! I'm medically trained, I can help. My name is Eden." This girl began to inspect Athena all over without waiting for a response."What… day is it?" Athena looked around frantically."It's the Day of Remembrance… Are you sure you're okay?"The girl kept speaking but it sounded like little more than white noise to Athena. Her head began spinning and nausea rose up from within her.How could she have gone back three months?

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