lances-and-quills

[lances-and-quills]

Burnt by Fate Worldbuilding: The Continent of Mantorna

"We came to your world to help, we did not expect it to be this massive." -Spinner Nagara, of the Emeralis Fifteenth Expedition Company

Mantorna is the only continent of the Unknown World, a realm beyond the known reality crafted by Star Emperor Caelus. Surrounded on all sides by The Celeste Sea to the north and the Umbral Sea to the south it is home to a multitude of exotic races, such as the Wing-sworn, the Umbrians, the Celestians, and the Horn-scaled, as well as many legendary beasts such as Dragons, Alciorns, and the illusive Sirens that all seem to originate from a font of magic energy located in the center of the continent.

Two factions rule the continent, each at peace for the moment, The Clandestine Council to the north is made up of states comprising mostly Wing-sworn and Celestians, while to the south The Tribes of Tenesa comprised of Umbrians and Horn-scaled who live a nomadic life, traveling in search of caves or shadowed groves to establish cities or townships within.

Because of its sheer size a great many biomes can be found across Mantorna, including rocky badlands filled with exposed deposits of Dracon Iron and Siren Glass, Lush forests where the tree's leaves dance with vibrant colors that shift depending on the angle at which they are viewed, bubbling pits of mana that cause any magically sensitive individual to slowly crystalize into a living statue, and even grasslands where the field is covered in endless frost.

This is just a basic rundown of the place for the moment, however, I am considering adding far more later.

[lances-and-quills]

W.I.P. Burnt by Fate Chapter one

Fate is a cruel thing, frequently it causes much more pain than happiness, and yet we never fight against it, perhaps it is impossible to, possibly fighting against fate is our fate. But none except our creators know the answer.

My mother once said to me, “Crescendo, to fight for your common man is the most noble of goals, to aid the weak and the powerless is divinity.” My mother would give her life to save others, as such it is her example that I will follow. 

It’s warm as I awake, not to my usual surroundings of the oak and stone that make up my childhood home, but to the empty gold and silver light of a void. I look around, there's nothing save for myself and the twinkling of golden sparks as they gently float downwards like drifting snow. It reminds me of a story my mother taught me, about Lady Dawn and her realm of sun and solstice. Supposedly it looks just like this and that only the brave and the kind come here, like… Mother Sonata.

I spy her a ways away, she looks just like how mother described her, a beautiful dress that shines like sapphire, hair like reams of teal and violet silk. Her back is turned to me and yet I can feel her warmth, that motherly aura that seems to engulf her like a hurricane. I reach out a hand to touch her but before I can a voice wrenches me from my dream.

“Crescendo Harmony Inferima! Get up immediately before all the spots in the guard are filled!” 

"Understood, Mother!" I shout down to her as I get dressed. Excitement thunders in my veins like fiery magma. If Mother Sonata came to visit me then that means something big must be happening.  I feel like a little kid again. Hurriedly, I don my uniform and throw on my traveling cloak. Its faded red color sways around my boots as I head for the door, ready to begin my grand adventure. 

I stop before reaching for the knob. In my euphoria, I had forgotten to grab a few more things. First is a large oak box that’s placed against my bedroom wall. Opening it I find my arm, or rather its replacement. My birth was one of many complications, my birth mother died bringing me into this world and even then I was given only disfigurement, my left eye never grew in, my right arm neither. But those are easily replaced, a magic phantom eye and an arm carved from cedar and I’m practically normal if only either replacement actually worked half the time. The second item is a necklace, a large red gemstone is fitted in the middle, supposedly it was my birth mother’s before she passed, only two others exist in the whole world and my mother has the second. However I don’t know where the third is, mother always becomes squeamish when speaking about the necklaces.

I step out into the morning sun after saying goodbye to my mother for the day. The Town of Sandaras, like always, is bustling with pilgrims, mercenaries, and traders from all over the continent of Mantorna. I stand on the front stoop, mulling over what to do first before I make the almost month-long trek to Liamsburg port to officially join House Eques as a member of its foreign guard. "A sword." That's the first thought that comes to mind, "That would be a good start, plenty that'll want to kill me, I bet Blacksmith Lewyn would offer me one." I know the town well, so navigating its streets isn’t much of a problem. I end up making it to the blacksmith in record time, just as Lewyn comes out to polish his newest blade.

"Ho there Laddy! You look chipper today. Going to get baptized and sign on for a monster hunt?" I smile and step up to the counter where Lewyn lays his new sword out to cool in the morning breeze. "Even better...I’m going to Liamsburg to join the fight against The Plight." Lewyn laughs and stops his polishing. "Joining The Fifteenth eh? Well then, I'd better give you my best steel, or rather..." He tosses me an iron blade, "My best iron...Sorry lad, steels only for the paying customer, though that little beauty will serve well enough." I look at the sword. Even if it is a basic design it is still glorious, a bronze crossguard decorates the top of the hilt and below the pommel hangs a red ribbon decorated with a cherub. Just holding it makes me feel like a hero out of a fairytale. I thank Lewyn profusely and the old man laughs as he waves me off, "Don't mention it, lad, just kill a few for me, eh?" I sheathe my new sword and thank Lewyn a few more times, promising him that I would do his weapon justice along my journey.

 Leaving the blacksmith in high spirits I head off towards the market, the next thing I almost certainly require is medicine, both to treat wounds and treat illness. I try to stock up as much as I can with balms and potions and then make my way to the village stalls to spend what little I have left on extra rations for the journey ahead. I choose a few choice items to take with me, salted meats, jerky, dried nuts and fruits, even a few prime cuts of beef to cook tonight. With this I should be more than prepared for the journey, hell I might actually put on a few pounds by the time I make it there. With a hearty sigh, I trudge forwards into the woods, more than excited to start my quest. The trail itself however is fairly plain and boring. No monsters live this close to town other than the occasional centaur disguised as a human that wandered out to trade with the nearby human settlements. I sigh, consigning myself to a probably boring march to Liamsburg port with no monster to test my skills against. 

Luckily as I round a bend in my path it appears that fate has different plans. A Vagrant blocks my way. According to my mother Vagrants only started popping up a few years after the sage of twilight Talliah vanished shortly before the death of her wife Aceris. They’re vicious creatures or rather…people, whatever turned them into these feral beasts is unknown but it’s theorized by some that it’s what happens when someone lingers in The Plight for too long. I don’t personally care much though how it came to be, it’s in my way and definitely a threat to others, which means I have no other choice but to kill it.

It turns, having heard my blade exit its scabbard. A fang-filled maw glares at me from a distended maw, judging by its shabby-looking clothes and lack of armor this one must have once been a farmer. 

It growls at me, making a strange almost gurgling sound as bile that shines like a starry night splashes on the ground. I have no armor which means I have to be agile, even one bite and I could end up dead before I even get to Liamsburg. 

I angle my sword so it rests on my good arm, using the prosthetic to keep a tight grip on the handle. My prosthetic isn’t too advanced and in truth, it’s more of a glorified decoration than an actual functioning arm, but it can still do some useful things, like hold a sword tight enough to stop it from slipping out of my grasp.

The beast charges and I thrust my arm forward cutting across its cheek as I dodge out of the way.

I change hands, stabbing the Vagrant through the arm.

It howls in pain and contorts to hit me, snapping its spine to swipe at my face. The claw grazes my cheekbut otherwise I’m fine and now I’m in position to end this quickly. I take my blade and plunge it through the beast’s skull putting it down. I take a moment to center myself and catch my breath. I was lucky to have killed it so quickly, luckier that it was weak too normally these things are far more dangerous or at least that’s what my mother says.

I wipe away the slight sweat as I move on, hoping to all the gods that no more cross my path as I walk.

I move further into the forest, the shadow overhead from the canopy creating small slivers of light that dance between the leaves like fairies. Come to think of it the further inland you go the more fantastical the creatures there are. I heard from a few rumors that things like dragons and even the mighty Alicorn spawn from the center of the continent.  My heart starts to race at the thought of seeing one, they’re said to be divine, just looking at one could cure you of all your ailments, wonder if that means one could give me a new eye and arm. Wishful thinking Crescendo, wishful indeed.

Time had passed me by and judging by the lack of road signs and the now fading sun overhead, Liamsburg is still at least five and a half days away. Taking in the long road ahead and my tired legs, I sit on a rock by the road, ready to set up camp. I barely started to unpack my gear and cooking supplies when something suddenly grabs my attention, something from off in the underbrush. It sounds like someone collapsing. Cautiously I go investigate, cursing myself if I encountered a bear or some other predatory animal like a snake or a wolf. To my surprise the creature I see as I push aside the shrubbery is nothing less than extraordinary. There, in a clearing, laid out under a bed of waning sunlight, is a Shiftling. I’m confused, she shouldn't be this far south, especially clothed like she was. Her armor, for a lack of better words, is stunning, Black plate covers the woman’s upper body and is expertly interwoven with golden engravings as shiny as the sun. Her armor… It's made from “Black Platinum.” I know that material, the guards stationed in my village mentioned it before, something about…By the gods, she's a Guard of the Fifteenth Regiment, the one I’m trying to join. I take a step back, her helmet is the same material save for a tiny quirk which is a large scarlet eye that’s been painted over the crest of the helm, a clear sign marking her as a Commander in rank. She must be quite powerful, but why is someone as powerful as her here? Despite my curiosity begging me to get closer I can only stand there, frozen to the spot, wondering what I should do.

I should help her right? I mean she is in the unit I plan on joining. But how do I help her? I don’t know anything about Shiftling biology, even less about first aid.

I guess the best thing to do would be to get the armor off so I could examine her for wounds; although I don’t see any blood pooling under her, then again it could just as well be pooling in her armor.

Then again it also probably wouldn’t be too wise to move her, who knows if she hit her head.

Luckily it seems like I won’t have to do either as the Shiftling recovers as I idle, sitting up and groaning before rolling her shoulders and pulling off her helmet.

“Weeds of Shayabella, where the hell am I?”

I’m surprised by her appearance, from the stories I was told about Shiftlings I was expecting something hideous, and while she is deformed it’s not to the extent I thought.

Her hair is ivory white however I notice small pieces of purple and blue among the roots, remnants of dye or perhaps her original hair? My people are no strangers to multicolored hair, but judging by the rest of her I doubt she used to be an Umbrian. 

Her face is too serpentine, even with the insectoid mandibles, and antenna, it's angular and covered in white scales which are just faintly purple below the surface.

I can only speculate on what her race might actually be, after all scales and legs don’t usually fit together unless she’s a Dragon-kin, but she doesn’t look like the ones that come to the village, she has no tail or digitigrade legs.

She notices my staring and glares at me, chittering with distrust, “Umbrian. Are you just going to stand there? Help me up!”

Her booming, scratchy, voice drives me to respond immediately and I pull her up by the arms. A dry rustling sound comes from her body as I help her stand, her wings extending out from her armor in a brilliant display of color.

She hisses in gratitude and gives me a crooked smile before shrouding her face in her helmet and looking around.

“You’re uniform, Ensign, you must be looking to be recruited? I came here just for that reason”

She juts out an unsteady hand,  “Captain Alipheese Nagara, of House Nagara of Emeralis.”

I take her hand and shake, “Crescendo Inferima, no house ma’am.” I notice the pattern on her gauntlet, its floral in design, made to look like a lily. "Why are you out here captain, surely if you wanted recruits you’d go to a more populated city, is the guard really that undermanned?" I ask, retreating my hand to my side as the Shiftling looks to the sky. "For the moment. But I’ve already found many new recruits. We are gathering in Liamsburg."

Liamsburg, the same place I need to go, how convenient. What a stroke of good luck, first I met the captain of The Fifteenth. Now I’m barely a day's walk from their main encampment, at this rate I’ll be Lance General within the year.

The captain looks up at the sky again and holds a hand to her visor, "It'ssss getting dark." She mumbles, before looking back at me. She’s right, the sky is already a deep violet, I surmise that I’m not getting to Liamsburg today, but that doesn’t matter, I’m sure I could survive even more so now that a captain of The Foreign Guard is with me. I gesture for Captain Alipheese to follow, and we both return to my pack. 

That night, after setting up camp, we ate dinner, which was the assorted spiced jerky I had packed with me. Alipheese seems to enjoy it; I think I even see a hint of a smile on her face. "Impressive. The spices are perfect, not too hot yet not bland either." I’m surprised again, the jerky isn't anything special, just something I bought at the market for a few halos. I stand up and grab my sword, studying Alipheese as she grabs more jerky to feast on. "I'm uh...glad you liked it. I'm going to train for the night before turning in." She nods, not paying attention as I draw my sword and start practicing against a nearby tree. I find that I keep looking back at her as I train. I feel like at any moment she’s going to strike, try to kill me or eat me, or do something else vile. But that can’t be possible, she may be a Shiftling but I’ve never heard of them being aggressive, still I feel like her eyes are burning holes through my head. It isn’t long before the glare becomes words however as I hear her hoarse voice ring out from behind me,, "What the hell are you doing? Why are you doing so many unnecessary motions with your sword?" I stumbled back, a bit offended at her criticism. "Unnecessary motions? Don't you usually flourish in combat?" Alipheese plants her face into her palm and Walks up to me. "No. It spends too much energy, strike, strike, slash, slash, slash, jab. That is the most basic pattern you could use." I look to the ground, a bit ashamed at my lackluster swordsmanship, "So, no flourishing? Ever?" Alipheese scowls at me, turning around to return to the fire, "NEVER! And widen your stance you're too closed off; you'll trip if you place your feet too close together." I grumble to myself as I do what she commanded. "Understood, Captain." 

The night drags on as I practice with Alipheese, her compound eyes watching to make sure I don't mess up my movements. Eventually, I grow tired, and Alipheese grows satisfied. I retreat to my tent as Alipheese follows me.

I groan, rubbing my face as I remove my cloak and set it over my sleeping bag, that'll be my blanket for tonight. "Still a ways to go till Liamsburg...this is going to be hard." I hear Alipheese from outside the tent cover "At least you won't be alone." She pokes her head in and starts creeping inside without even asking. She lays down next to me, muttering something under her breath, clearly embarrassed. "I am cold-blooded and simply need something warm to sleep next to so I can wake up properly in the morning, think nothing of this, and go to sleep." I nod slowly, my back to hers. "Yeah. Got it...Uh...Goodnight Alipheese, I mean, Captain." There’s no response, she’s already asleep. I turn over and sigh. My journey is not even a day in and already I have met the captain of my regiment, I can only hope tomorrow goes even better.

[lances-and-quills]

New W.I.P ( Burnt by Fate)

So a few months ago a random recommendation on YouTube had me stumbling upon a piece of fiction so insane that it inspired me to start up a new project (Don't worry I'm still working on my other work I'm just hyperfocused on this one for now.) That work was the Stockholm series of Fanfictions by Lilly Orchard. I was fascinated by some of the more evil characters and decided to use them as influences for the villains of this new work. Anyway here is the short opening prologue. (Trigger warnings for the following: Death in childbirth, mentions of grooming, and death of a loved one)

Prologue: Last Sunrise

“Aria, please…Protect him, my little…Crescendo.”

Aria watched the light leave her old friend’s eyes, tears in her own as she held the still-crying newborn.

Sonata was just…gone…just like that. Everything Aria had ever loved was gone now, her family, her friend, all that was left was the child writhing in her arms.

She looked down at the little one, splattered in blood and amniotic fluid, this was all that was left of her, a baby boy with an eye like cerulean waters.

She dried him off, cutting his cord and wrapping him in a swaddling cloth she’d purchased for this day.

It was supposed to be a gift for after Sonata delivered, she would wrap her child in the cloth, say thank you, they'd talk and then Aria would leave.

She hadn’t even had time to call an ambulance, she went into labor so quickly and delivered even faster.

And now she was dead, and Aria had to take care of what should have been Sonata’s child.

She looked out the window, to the town of Sandaras, it was a muggy morning, and mist lay heavy over the streets. She could just make out soldiers roaming about, their gilded plates marked with sigils of the sun god shining brightly even in the pale air. 

Still in a daze she walked out into the streets, and fell to her knees, still clutching the child. Both hers and the boy’s tears fell in rivers, from a mix of pain and sorrow.

“What…am I supposed to do now?” Aria looked at the cloud-covered sky, a mixture of rage and sorrow broiling inside her. It was all HER fault if not for that damn whore Adagio, Sonata would still be alive. If not for her barren womb Sonata wouldn’t have felt that she had to be a surrogate, if not for her grooming Sonata never would have met her.

“CURSE YOU ADAGIO! WRETCHED WHORE, BANE OF BANES! I…ARIA Inferima, DO HEREBY VOW THAT YOU WILL DIE! LET THIS WORLD ROT, LET THE GODS OF SUN AND MOON, DAWN AND TWILIGHT BECOME MONSTERS FOR I WILL DESTROY YOU AND EVERYTHING YOU HAVE EVER LOVED!”

She wept, clutching the babe to her chest, sobbing out her last promise, “And let this boy, your son, be the blade that carves out your wretched heart.”

[lances-and-quills]

My all-time favorite Character trope

Three or four words, Bloodthirsty. Knife. Gremlin

Whether it is Cicero's psycho jester antics in Skyrim, Orin's creepy shapechanging and killing of characters I like in BG3, or even the endearing if also terrifying charisma of Himiko Toga, the humble psycho with a knife going around causing chaos is my personal favorite type of character.

There's something so fun about them whether supporting character, protagonist, or antagonist.

They add so much flair and fun, plus they make great foils to lawful characters or can even act as eventual allies. I also just like the idea of a crazy character who is unrepentantly psychotic, it adds a lot of spice to an otherwise boring world.

[lances-and-quills]

A collection of Simple Character Profiles

I got creative today and decided to make profiles for the main characters featured in my book Symphony of Dusk. They're pretty simple I know, but I think I got everything for a baseline description which I can flesh out later.

Character Name: Luka “Cotton” Laskyr

Age: 19

Eye color: Blue

Physical description: five foot eleven, plum hair, caucasian, heavy freckles around cheeks

Personality: Nihilistic, loyal, protective

Quirks: Has an eye for quality and subtle detail, has Insomnia and chronic night terrors, gets nervous when around overly friendly people

Fun Facts: He’s an unparalleled rifleman who once shot a hawk out of the sky while it was dive bombing, fastest reload to fire was two seconds, treats Leice to parfait whenever they go out on a date

Backstory: Cotton grew up in an orphanage in the city of Minoria as the only child who never knew his parents, this led to him being relentlessly bullied until he grew too old to stay in the orphanage. After joining the Guild of Heavenly Knights, he met Leice during a rather awkward lunch. 

Name: Aleice Serpentia

Age: 19

Eye color: Amber

Physical description: Eight foot two, Snow white hair, Caucasian (Light Tan), Red scale coloration

Personality: Curious, reserved, Outgoing

Quirks: highly protective of children, self-taught swordswoman, amateur dark mage

Fun facts: She has Ophidiophobia, refers to Cotton as Pookie Bear because of a joke he made while they were sleeping together, really REALLY likes parfait

Backstory: The youngest of the five sisters of house Serpentia a splinter group of house Nagara one of the coinciding families of Emeralis. her abusive xenophobic mother Leice was disowned after she was found having a relationship with Cotton. She later joined the Guild of Heavenly Knights full-time as a Red Hood to be closer to Cotton.

Name: Grelido Iorian

Age: 24

Eye color: Yellow

Physical description: Six foot eight, Grey Hair, Stone Skin, Grey Scale Colouration 

Personality: Laid back, Kind, Honorable

Quirks: His magma blood acts as a mood ring signaling what his feelings are depending on the color, A master of shield combat, Expert leader, and grenadier

Fun Facts: Has a surfer dude accent, is an excellent cook, has over three dozen siblings

Backstory: The twelfth child of The Maiden of Fire, also known as Maltaisa, Grelido was raised in the strict and harsh society of The Firelands where combat was second only to work in service to his father Cinder. He luckily managed to keep a positive disposition and acts as his family's supportive backbone alongside his sister, Malia.

Name: T’dor Nraki “The Decayed”

Age: 30

Eye color: Blood Red

Physical description: Eleven foot, Silver Hair, Grey skin,

Personality: Loyal, Friendly, Protective

Quirks: Can decay anything he touches as long as all five of his fingers touch with the target, Pure-Blood Incubus, Martial arts expert, Leader of The White Hand

Fun Facts: He believes in Necroeternisum a religion based around the cycle of life and death, and has extremely lanky and distended limbs that give him an unnatural gait, he is also great friends with Vance Midori. Is married to a woman named Irina, has a daughter named Eri, and a son named Elric

Backstory: Hailing from a world long forgotten, N’raki’s life was fated to be one of evil until he was saved from his life of villainy by one Vance Midori who showed him that he could use his power for good, after the death of his world N’raki was then adopted by The White Hand, a group of disfigured succubi and Incubi that helped him find purpose again. 

Name: Egg

Age: 10

Eye color: Golden

Physical description: Four foot seven, golden hair, caucasian

Personality: Caring, Protective, Cinnamon roll

Quirks: Makes egg puns, can use Lightning magic, is a gold-winged phoenix harpy

Fun Facts:  Likes reading books about birds, thinks Luka is her father despite the two looking nothing alike, will revert to an egg if she sustains too much damage, being born again after a week or so.

Backstory: A legend among the people of Emeralis, Egg is what is known as a golden phoenix harpy, an immortal creature that can not die no matter what happens to her. Although she is currently ten she has lived since Caelus created her millennia ago as a friend to the developing Maidens and Guardians.

Name: Champ Vinessa

Age: 420

Eye color: Emerald

Physical description: Six foot, Green

Personality: Loyal, flirtatious, protective

Quirks: Chromarian tactician, champion of the arena, Master of Tactics

Fun Facts: Likes jello, believes jello to be the same species as her, has a collection of different flavored jello she refers to as her family

Backstory: Born from the elemental rose, Champ has traveled Eulogy for years growing in power as a wind slime, she settled down in Chromeria and became its champion gladiator after a comedic opportunity led to her fighting and beating every challenger in her way.

Name: The Red Hood (Scarlet Grimm) 

Age: 22

Eye color: Blue

Physical description: Five foot five, golden hair, Caucasian

Personality: Solemn, repentant, withdrawn

Quirks: Likes hunting( Wolves Specifically), Has a beautiful singing voice, likes steak a lot, takes the name of however she kills

Fun Facts: She is Captain Grimm’s daughter, she’s the reason Red Hoods like Luka and Alice have their hoods, has a spirit wolf named Poro Lobos

Backstory: Born to Red and Grimm two souls belonging to The Epitaph The girl now known as The Red Hood disappeared during a walk in the woods which led her to find a transversal mirror, leading to her being trapped in the hell that was The Equestrian. There she learned to survive by any means, forging a legend once she got out as an enigmatic and cold assassin hell-bent on surviving at any costs and killing those who cause terror to the people of the lands she inhabits.

[lances-and-quills]

Using Romance Tropes to Make Antagonists

One of my favorite things in writing is relationships, be they romantic, platonic, or mentorship’s.

They give characters so much depth, and personality within a story.

Here’s a fun idea, use a romantic relationship trope to make your antagonists, flip it on its head. Enemies to lovers, BOOM! Lovers to enemies.

Have a lovey dovey couple? Make two enemies that are that but with hatred, constantly ending up together in a situation despite their vehement hatred of each other.

Got a cozy coffee shop AU? Turn that Starbucks into a war zone.

You can do so much more with tropes than just follow them.

[lances-and-quills]

Symphony of Dusk, Chapter Two Part One

And now, chapter two begins, tell me what ya'll think Critisicm is always welcome :)

“Well, well, well, someone new.”

“Indeed, Lady Dusk, and they got tea all o’er my dress.”

“Yes, that is a problem, Negredo, pass the napkins please, or would you like to change, Lady Minagi?”

“No, I will be fine with napkins, although we can’t have these pawns just sleeping on the table, Negredo find them a room please.”

Cotton’s mind came back in a buzzing drone all at once, warm air prickling his skin as the haze of death lifted from his body. “Is this…the afterlife?” He whispered to himself. A hand knocked his head, a groggy voice accompanying it.

 “Cotton, quiet, you’re too loud I’m trying to sleep.”

He pulled aside the covers in shock, finding the sleeping form of Leice laid bare against the bedsheets. But he was so sure she’d died, just like him. He scanned his memories for any glimpse of the truth, only to turn up empty, the last he remembered was the forest, and his squad stopped for a break. “Why can’t I remember?”

Leice's tail whipped around Cotton’s body, forcing into the sheets, “Why do you have to be so loud?” She pulled him close, wrapping her arms around him almost suffocatingly. “See, it's quiet now, peaceful.”

“Quiet makes me nervous.” He mumbled as her scales wrapped around his face.

The lamia hugged him closer, so close Cotton could feel her breath on his neck.

“Better now?”

“No.”

She glared at him, “One of these days I’m going to make you smile.”

“You already do, this just isn’t one of those times. Can I please get out of bed?”

She pouted but loosened her tail, letting him go, “I’ll miss you, come back soon.”

Cotton delivered a small peck to her forehead and threw the covers back over her, “I will.”

He exited out into whatever building he had found him and Leice cooped up in, observing its foreign architecture as he walked its halls. His jacket’s tail trailed behind him on the floor, surprisingly intact despite the battle that still barely flashed in Cotton’s head. It was the only remnant that anything had ever happened to them past the forest, the only remnant that something had gone wrong during his squad’s expedition. He rounded a corner, entering an open room with a counter in the middle and multiple silken booths lining the corners and walls, a brothel. There was no one around, the only sounds being the outside bustle and the silks as they danced in the room’s rose-scented air. A voice suddenly caught his attention, coming from a dark secluded alcove.

“Lost, Darling?” The voice emerged from the dark to reveal a woman dressed in rather plain clothes compared to the garish decor around them. She stood confidently and approached him with an impish grin, “My name is Casanarea Dusk, and before you try there is no need to thank me, hunter. it was a pleasure.”

“YOU saved us? But I don’t remember you.” Cotton trailed off, finding the memory of the battle, he immediately fell to his knees, covering his mouth as bile climbed up his throat.”

“Whoopsies, forgot about that, normally the memories should have come with you after the plane traversal, guess you’re a special case.” She shrugged her shoulders, “That or old Caelus was playing a prank, never knew with him.” 

Cotton heaved down his sickness, pointing a quivering finger at the woman, “Answers now!

The woman agreed with a flip of her lilac hair, revealing pallid skin the color of marble, “I’ll make it short for you. You died, however, Caelus and the Reaper believed you had more to do than just become a part of the Silencers or reincarnate so…here we are.”

The reality of their situation hit him all at once, his chest tightened, legs fell out from beneath him. So they had failed after all, of course, they had, whatever that THING parading itself as the monster lord was, it eclipsed them all. Far stronger than it had any right to be; Cotton and his squad had no chance.

“I see you’re still in shock from everything, I’ve given you a room for you and your beloved. To rest in. Go to her and come out when you feel ready, I and my staff will deliver necessities soon for your stay.”

“No,” Cotton said. The trauma he had suffered, it was great, but he’d be damned if it broke him like some porcelain doll. He gazed back at the scar of memory, anger boiling inside him. Who the hell said that had to break him? That he as a normal person should shatter into a blubbering mess at the feet of the memory. His heart raced, and his eyes squinted into angry slivers, How dare that beast kill him so easily and leave her mark on his mind! How dare she harm Leice! For that, he’d kill her a thousand times over! No! A trillion, till her blood became a sea, and her corpses became continents! He would create a whole new plane from her suffering for what she did to him and his companion. “First…I’m going to get a new rifle, then? I’m finding that whore who thought she could kill us and get away with it.”

A sigh came from Casanarea, “Of course, you would, welp.”

A thundering crack split Cotton’s hearing, his vision going black as something hard impacted the back of his head.

“Listen, just, take it easy, you can worry about HER later.”

[lances-and-quills]

Just thought of a funny little thing to try when doing characters who happen cat people.

We all know the classic cat girl or cat boy, why not make your cat person’s dialogue and character themed around a real world acent.

Example: Aggressively Texan cat boy who talks about his love for barbecue and guns, wears an old west duster and ten gallon hat.

The possibilities for comedy are practically endless!

[lances-and-quills]

A Little Author's Introduction

Honestly, I probably should have done this before posting snippets of my book but whatever better late than never. Hello, I am Lance Alderus, an aspiring author, amateur artist, and the writer behind my soon-to-be-published book Symphony of Dusk. I've been writing for as long as I can remember, from elementary school until now. I mainly focus on writing fantasy but occasionally dip into sci-fi and eldritch horror. Anyway just thought I'd introduce myself quickly for anyone scrolling by, have a good day/night.

[lances-and-quills]

Symphony of Dusk, Chapter One Final Part

The road opened up, and The seven knights stopped as their captain raised a hand.

“Brief rest, the castle is just ahead so make your amends everyone. Knights Cotton and Leice, you have perimeter duty, Istik, Iman, Arin, and Carolas you stay with me.” He turned to Cotton and Leice as they went for the woods, “Oh, and love birds. If you’re going to take a suspicious amount of time, “Searching for hostiles,” Be quiet about it.”

Cotton reached for his rifle to shut him up but was quickly stopped by his companion, as she placed a hand on his and shouted back to their captain, “No idea what you could be alluding to sir but, will do! Cotton don’t you dare.”

Cotton’s hand twitched as he heard faint snickering coming from behind them, his eyes twitching, “They’re laughing at us, Leice.”

“So? This is a suicide mission, we’re not coming back.”

“Doesn’t mean I have to deal with their shit until we die though.”

They stopped once sufficiently away from the group, the noise from them all but drowned out by the rustling of wind through the leaves.

Leice sat in the shade of a tree whose leaves had long ago become a crystalline purple growth, removing her helmet and shaking out her long white hair, “Even here nature still sounds beautiful.” She closed her eyes, listening to the tinkling as the wind flowed through the branches.

Cotton listened to the chime as well, it was nice and calming. He looked toward Leice and sat on the ground next to her, taking her hand. They were going to die today, but at least they could enjoy some peace before their end. He looked up at the clouds, they looked so peaceful as they drifted by, tinted by seas of clear blue. If only he could die now, forever with this in his head instead of whatever grotesque creature was coming for them. He looked at Leice, tears had begun streaming down her face.

“I don’t want this to end, I’m not ready. Cotton I want-”

He cut her off, pressing his lips to hers, “Don’t…save it for when we face our deaths.”

She pulled away, wanting to say something but only found her throat clenched. Tears flowed in vast rivers down her face, “I…don’t want to…die.” She sobbed.

“We don’t have a choice, Leice.” Cotton tightened his grip on her hand, “I’m scared too, but at least we’re facing it together, right? We’ll give them one hell of a fight.”

She launched herself into his chest, grasping at his shoulders, “I’m not ready to go.” Her grasp became an anchor and Cotton’s arms wrapped around her equally as tight.

“You don’t have to be.” Her tears stopped after what felt like hours and she rose to meet his face, “Cotton…before we go…could we?” She didn’t even have to wait for him to answer as Cotton gently set her on the ground and started pulling at her armor.

“Of course.”

She sniffled slightly, “I always wanted to have a child with you.”

“Me too, Leice.”

“Just a shame we won’t get to see them.”

Cotton looked away, sullen, “Yeah…”

How many hours had passed since that moment? Cotton couldn’t tell but by the time he could properly think again. He was standing at the monster lord’s throne, blood and metal on his breath. Leice lay before him in a crumpled heap, his companions all dead save for his captain who stood wearily, pushing him towards the lord or at least what he thought was the lord. “Go on, get your revenge, I’m going to hold the door.” Cotton nodded, loading what was left of his ammunition into his rifle. He stepped forward to challenge the lord hearing his captain’s last words as he shut the door behind him, “Red…I’m coming home. The nightmare is finally over.” 

The woman before him stood as a terrifying visage, eyes like churning seas of blood, hair like gilded strings shining in the sunlight, all wrapped up in the garb of a plague doctor. She stepped with confidence toward him, sneering all the while. Cotton raised his rifle and fired, his shot hitting her dead center. She shrugged it off, picking the bullet out of her wound and tossing it to the floor, creating a puddle of starlight.

“A fair shot, is that all you have though?”

Cotton’s wrath surged in his veins and he fired off the last of his ammunition, creating a glistening floor of stars as his opponent stood by and allowed him to vent. Enraged now Cotton charged the woman slashing at her with his bayonet. The woman took every slash until her clothes were rags on her scarred body. “Undressing me? How perverted of you, sir knight.” She kicked him away, Cotton’s ribs audibly cracking as he tumbled to the ground. Regardless of his injuries, Cotton stood back up, charging the woman again, only to have her repeat the same attack, breaking more ribs. No matter what he did she blew him aside as if he were nothing. Raged boiled over, Cotton throwing aside his gun to charge at her like a rabid dog, screaming, crying, howling in rage. His opponent remained calm, dodging his wild swipes and punches giggling at his pain as he acted against his wounds.

“You’re so cute. Yes, squirm more, rage more, it makes you so much more enticing.”

Cotton scored one good hit on her, knocking the monster to the floor. He leaped on her, punching her with his fists until they bled. “For Leice! FOR Leice! FOR Leice! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE!”

“Alright, I’m bored.” She grabbed his face and the world went black, a wet crunching sound making him go limp.

Dead…He was dead. 

He’d failed, like so many others.

His mind drifted off, death becoming a gentle blanket on him as he felt his soul pass through the realm of the dead.

At least he was going to see Leice again.

[lances-and-quills]

Symphony of Dusk, Chapter One Part Three

 The air of the building felt like hellfire lashing at one’s skin. Knights and squires rushed around Cotton as he navigated the chaos and emerged into the garrison yard. Even then that was only the start of his problems as he crashed multiple times into serfs carrying weapons of all types from swords, to halberds, rifles, to spears. The air smelt wrong, like fetid waste and blood. It drifted in the air, coming from behind the scarlet gate that held back the blighted lands of the north. Apoptosis, there was no doubt. They were trying another attack, which Leice must have woken him up for. He clenched his rifle tight, his fingers cutting on the angelic wings jutting from the receiver. That’s what she meant by an expedition. The Apoptosis threat was attacking and in the middle of it, his squad was going to be sent in through the blind spots in the horde to attack the monster lord’s castle head-on. Blood ran down the length of his rifle, pouring into the crevices in the ornamentation, he was going to die today. No squad of Red Hoods had ever made it to the castle or at least made it out alive, to expect them to be any different was a fool's errand.

A kind voice released Cotton’s bleeding grip on his rifle, his face rising to see Leice’s now shrouded by a thick metal helmet,  “Cotton you made it, we’re just about to head out through one of the cracks, Captain Grimm says we have a good chance of making it today.”

Cotton calmed his nerves, smearing his bloody hand on his cloak causing a searing pain as the wounds slid over the rough leather.

“To the other side of the gate or the castle itself?”

Leice pondered momentarily, “The castle, the captain said with this new wave they concentrated their forces too much on the right side. I’m sure Captain Grimm will tell you the rest of the plan once we meet up by the gatehouse.” An explosion rocked the ground, the sounds of otherworldly monsters causing both knights to break into a dead sprint toward the gate. This phantom barrier held back the hordes of horrors shimmering before flickering and finally falling, giving way to a wretched smell. Cotton gagged and fell to the ground. The smell made his stomach lurch, a combination of rotted meat and death forcing vomit up his throat.

Leice picked the incapacitated knight up by his midsection, hefting him over her shoulders as she moved like lightning towards a group of soldiers that fought the Apoptosis bleeding in through a hole in the barrier. 

A skinny young knight tore his blade from the rocky skin of what used to be a human, turning to the captain with a panting breath, “Captain, the last two are here, permission to start carving a path?” Grimm tore the head of an Apoptosis soldier clean off its shoulders and shouted back to the knight, “Go ahead, Iman, you and Carolas are the vanguards!” He turned to a couple of knights beside him, “Istik, Arin, cover our rear!”

Leice set down Cotton, who immediately collapsed, painting the ground with his sickness. She gripped his arms and pulled him up, forcing him forward as she pulled a knife from her back and plunged it into her hand. Black ichor leaked from the wound, and she threw it forth, creating a wall of onyx that hardened instantly, plugging the hole in the barrier.

Grimm turned to the girl as she smeared the ichor over her exposed skin, creating a barrier of onyx over herself. Her companion looked half-ready to lose his lunch again, unsteadily loading a handful of blessed god-slayer cartridges into his long gun. “Knight Cotton, are you scared of something?”

“Apoptosis sir.” The boy responded, “Never seen them this aggressive before.”

Grim chuckled, wiping shimmering blood off his pauldron, “They’re nothing but pawns same as us, their souls may be black as pitch but they ain't unkillable.”

“Makes me feel much better sir.” The snap of his weapon as he pulled the cocking lever signaled Grimm that he was ready, he looked at the path ahead, it was clear for now. “Alright move up, we don't have a lot of time before the next wave.”

Cotton kept pace as best he could, his eyes constantly darting from his squad to the tree line as now and then something cracked for the underbrush. Aside from that the path was clear, the black keep of the monster lord towered over them, reaching into the clouds like a sinister tree made from hatred incarnate. Cotton and his squad were suddenly halted as something powerful split the air above them screeching with the fury of a hurricane as it passed by. He looked up, spying a massive hawk-like bird with cream-colored feathers soaring above them, “A Garuda bird? I thought the wildlife here had been completely wiped out.” Cotton watched as the behemoth flew into the clouds, its shadow settling just under the layer it had nested. “It’s the monster lord’s.”

“The monster lord keeps Garuda birds?” one of his companions asked.

“Of course, he does, who doesn't want a bird the size of a city as their guard?”

“Keep moving, Istik, it’s still another mile or so.”

Cotton kept pace with Leice as she stayed in the middle of the group, almost tripping over his own feet as she threw a gathering of onyx caltrops behind them. “How is your mana doing?”

The lamia wiped the sweat off her brow, “Fine, I can last at least until we make it to the castle, after that…” She trailed off, losing focus before snapping back, “After that, I’ll need to rest for a moment.”

“Just tell me if you’re feeling faint so I can carry you.”

She smiled warmly, “So you can be sweet.”

“Just with you, Leice, only for you.”

[lances-and-quills]

Fandom Fears

Have you ever found yourself lying awake at night losing sleep over fears that the future fandom of your book will make tiktok thirst traps of your characters? I have...

[lances-and-quills]

Symphony of Dusk, Chapter one Part two

He reclined on his bed, once again he was alone, with nothing but his thoughts. If it was one thing Cotton hated more than anything it was his memories, they played endlessly when Leice wasn’t around to put his mind elsewhere. Endlessly buzzing they were, voices like flies, buzzing, droning, mocking. He shut his eyes and lay down, throwing the covers over himself haphazardly, focusing on the sounds of the forest, the leaves blowing in the night winds, and the crackle of animals searching for rest. They couldn’t stop the noise entirely but Cotton didn’t need that, just enough to mute them somewhat was comfort enough. He rolled over, regretting not staying the night with Leice, even if the two got into trouble it was worth it to at least sleep without the voices coming to him. He hugged the blanket tighter to himself, the haze of sleep finally rolling over like a fog. His dreams that night were fantastical and wild, filled with ever-shifting valleys of silver shards that glistened in the sun, warping fjords filled with sparkling golden water, and verdant forests filled to bursting with trees that had leaves like gold flakes that rained down on him. However, there was always some kind of constant no matter the scenery. Cotton always found a lone woman in the center of that brilliant dreamscape, standing in a regal black dress, bespeckled with flower prints. She turned to face him with white hair revealing a face he could almost make out. The smell of metal and burnt wood surrounded her. He reached a hand towards her but before he could get her, “Cotton? Are you awake, we have an expedition.”

He jolted up in bed, lethargy splitting his body like an ax split wood. The dream clung to his mind like cobwebs. He looked at his hands, they were shivering and shining with cold sweat. “Just what the hell was that dream?” He pondered, “A vision? An omen?” The door to his room cracked a soft voice heralding it, “Cotton? I’m coming in, okay?” Her form was immaculate as she entered through his doorway, bending her head down so she could fit. She was as a jewel before a beggar, beechwood tinted skin highlighted by a dignified face and eyes the color of amber all kept under a flowing veil of snowy hair that drifted down to the scarlet, yellow, and, onyx scales of her serpentine lower half. Cotton found himself smiling as she slithered over to him, absentmindedly sighing as she looked him over.

Leice snapped her fingers in Cotton’s face, gently slapping him too for good measure, “Come on now, mission remember? Don’t want Captain Grimm, getting angry at us.”

Still in his little world, Cotton nodded as Leice lifted him by the hand and pushed him towards his closest.

“Get dressed and meet us by the gate…” she set down a small wrapped parcel next to his bed, it smelled of elderberries and fragrant tree nuts, “Oh, and before I forget, here, your breakfast. You owe me ten halos for this.”

Cotton snapped from his daze as the door closed, allowing him to take in everything she had said fully. “Gate, Clothes, Sandwich…debt.” He fished through the pile of clothes at the bottom of his closet, finding only three halos. “Leice is gonna kill me when we get back.” He got dressed quickly throwing on whatever he could find before rushing out of his room and into the dorms, grabbing his jacket, rifle, and mark then bashing his way into the halls of the guild of heavenly knights.

[lances-and-quills]

Symphony of Dusk, Chapter One Part 1

Cotton opened his eyes in shock, the dream lingering in his head. He quickly shook the feeling off and turned his attention to the window beside him and watched the orphans from his post outside, remembering his time spent in that pit of sorrows. The Hunter Haven Orphanage was a hellhole, like the rest of Minoria City, a filthy little border village situated just out of reach of the Grand Concordat. He sighed, shuffling his rifle to his side. This place would have been a pile of matchsticks during the Overrun if it weren't for people like him. He nervously twiddled with his honor mark, twisting it as he remembered the old legends. It was a time before the Scarlet Gate, when creatures called Apoptosis ran rampant through Melphia, burning and slaughtering without pause and mercy for anyone. They came from the north suddenly, from a realm known as the blight plane, the monster lord’s domain. Cotton’s fingers fidgeted against his mark, the monster lord, his very title sent shivers down his spine. He was the one responsible for all this or so his guild master said. A being of power that was secluded in a castle shrouded by darkness, unreachable by even the gods. Their shadow hung over Melphia constantly, an ever-present scratching that sounded from the scarlet gate's phantom walls. Even now Cotton could hear the scritching and chattering of the Apoptosis behind the barrier, a sickening chorus of bone, crystal, rock, and flesh. His nerves were unwinding fast, he needed to leave, but his partner, a lamia by the name of Leice, was taking too long again. He found his thumb flicking the hammer of his weapon, cocking and releasing it till the noise sounded like an old grandfather clock. “Where the hell are you?” He mumbled under his breath. Sweat was forming on his skin and staining the feathers he kept hidden under his long coat. He looked around at the barren streets, seeing nothing but dust. He felt eyes on his back as if some unseen force was watching him from the shadows. He couldn’t stand it any longer; he needed to find Leice. Cotton spun around on his heel, only to be met by her daunting figure pushing him back.

“OH! Cotton!” She caught him as he fell back, “Sorry about that. Are you okay?”

Her voice was like honey to his ears, and Cotton immediately found himself nodding dreamily. “Sure am, now that you’re here.” 

Leice’s amber eyes turned from concern to despondency, her hands dropping Cotton onto the ground, “No flirting on the job, save it for when we rest.”

Cotton looked ashamed at the ground as he stood and dusted himself off. “Sorry, I just thought…”

“Cotton…” Leice sighed and gripped his shoulder, turning him around to face her. “I understand, I like you too.” She let out a groan, “But we’re Heavenly Knights, we have to represent the guild, not our relationship.”

Cotton shook his head, “And why should I bother representing them? What has the guild done for us?”

Leice replied, tiredly groaning, “Give us clothes, food, and a home we can always return to.”

She crossed her arms, “Honestly, you can be such a child at times Cotton, one of these days you’ll realize this world for all its bad has just as much good.”

The Hunter followed after his companion as she began slithering the streets of the town, huffing, “Pretty hard to see the good when it’s all covered in shit, Leice.”

“Even shit can create something beautiful, Cotton.”

Leice and her boundless optimism. It was one of the things Cotton appreciated about her, and that was her tolerance for his attitude. She was the one good thing he liked about the world of The Epitaph, the one thing that made his sorry existence worth something. She was the one who planned everything out, scheduled their day, picked out jobs, even cooked dinner, and made sure Cotton kept to a strict hygiene regimen. She was too good for him and he knew it, how and why she decided to stick by him was a mystery. Maybe she just wanted to help him, or maybe she just thought he was cute, whatever the reason Cotton would follow her to eternal rest and back if it meant he could spend another day with her by his side.

“Cotton, stop standing around daydreaming, we have one more collection to do, remember?” 

Her voice snapped him to attention, a faint blush coming to his cheeks as he bowed his head and quickly rushed after her. When he finally caught up with her a disgruntled snake woman met him, her arms crossed as she spied him.

“I thought we spoke about this, daughter, I’m not paying your ratty human-loving guild a single halo.”

Leice’s mother is another reason for him to hate Minoria.

“Mrs. Serpentia, a pleasure.” Cotton introduced himself with a slight hint of contempt in his voice. He hated the woman, with all of his being. He hated her for how she treated common folk like him, always acting snobby even though the only difference between them and her was the house she and her family lived in. Everyone knew the Serpentia family was as broke as them, they were just living off what little splendor they brought from their days in Grand Garland. The woman eyed him with disgust, her forked tongue tasting the air nervously as she glared at him, “Why did you bring the human along, daughter?”

Leice responded with an even-toned voice, “He is my lover, how could I not?”

“You defile your body by allowing this, cretin, to bed you. I can only hope your children die at birth rather than having to live with that thing as their father.” 

Cotton noticed Leice’s hands tighten into fists, a quick flash of rage overtaking her before she gritted her teeth.

“His name is Cotton, and he is the same as us.”

“Your ancestor devoured pretty little birds like him, you dishonor your legacy by loving one.”

“What makes you think I care, mother?”

She continued placing a hand on her breastplate, “I haven’t lived in this house for two years, the last time I did you disowned me so I don’t understand why you even care that I choose to love a Harpy-kin.”

“Because as a lamia, you bear a legacy to defy The Void not love it.”

This was getting nowhere, Cotton stepped up to the woman, placing himself between her and Leice, “Alright, ma’am, can we please get our money so we can leave already?” The woman stared at him with burning hatred but shook her head and threw a few coins to the man, “Leave.Now.” Cotton fetched the tithe and pocketed it, sighing, “That woman I swear.” He looked back at Leice who was now on the brink of tears, her face hidden by a layer of iridescent hair. He sighed knowingly and approached her, wrapping his arms around the lamia. “Come on, let’s get going.” He stared back at the woman with equally searing hatred, she just returned the glare as the two left.

“Cotton, I’m sorry for breaking down back there.”

Cotton gave a small smile to the girl, holding her close as they made their way back home, leaving the crumbling village behind, along with all its bad memories. “We all have our limits, Leice.”

“Well, it’s done now. No point in dwelling. What do you think? Want to get dinner or just go straight to bed?”

“Bed. I’m falling over already.” Cotton replied with a yawn.

“Good choice, a nice warm bed after today sounds great.”

Cotton felt something coil around his foot, snaking its way up his leg, “Especially if the bed is warmed up by you.”

Cotton grumbled under his breath, “What happened to represent the guild and not our relationship?”

Leice’s tail retreated from him almost immediately.

“I wasn’t- you know that’s not what I-hmmph.”

It took them most of the night to get home which seemed far longer to Cotton considering the constant glare Leice was burning into the back of his head. The doors of the guild hall were wide opened, braziers lit to announce their arrival. The two entered to an entirely silent reception, everyone was asleep save for the night watch which stood silently, cloaked in shadow, waiting to pounce on unwelcome intruders.

The two entered the main hall, the flickering flames of the torches bathing the room in a bright dancing orange shade.

Leice removed her jacket, setting it on one of the hundred or so coat hooks as Cotton did the same, yawning as he moved for the stairs.

She stopped him, pulling on his arm, “Aren’t you forgetting something?”

He smiled sleepily, “Right.” He held out his hand, a few golden coins shimmering in the dim light, “Your cut.”

She took them, nodding appreciatively, “Night, Pookie bear.”

“Damn, corny hypocrite.” He thought to himself as he retired to his room, “You call her Pookie Bear once as a joke and suddenly that’s the only pet name she uses.” He shook his head, he couldn’t be mad at her though, not for something so small.

[lances-and-quills]

Opening from my current draft, what do ya'll think?

The air blew by him as he waited by the altar, playing with his unruly plum hair, which carried the sweet scent of alstroemeria. His eyes, like tired blue sapphires, scanned the chamber, noticing the empty seats and silence that surrounded him. “Leice…where are you?” This was supposed to be their special day and yet she was missing. His leather gloves slowly filled with sweat, forcing him to remove them and cast them aside. Two hours late, she was just two hours late, nothing major. She was a lamia after all she was probably just taking a while to get ready, probably painting the scales on her tail or something. He rocked back on his heels and tried to relieve his mounting tension, “She’ll be here, just keep waiting Cotton.” The wind began to howl, cold winds biting through his suit and into his skin. “Leice?!” He yelled into its gale. “Where are you?”

A faint voice echoed back unintelligible.

“Leice! Are you there? Come to me!”

The winds picked up as a form came into view, and Cotton had to squint to make out the shape. What he saw was a figure that towered over him, she wore a white dress, the shoulders of which were shrouded in decorative plate mail. She had made it on time.

Against the hurricane winds the figure approached the shrine prim and proper standing across from Cotton as if the very breeze hadn’t turned violent.

Strangely, despite the winds tearing around them Cotton couldn’t feel anything, no weight or sound, only her face, hidden under a veil. His hands went for it, tugging at the lace curtain that hid his beloved. He lifted it, a bright light blinding him as he threw the garment over his beloved’s head.