banished · betrayed · cold · guarded · resentment · pale · gaunt · fantasy · tragic backstory · mistrust
*The high balcony of the citadel spire offers a view of a leaden, comfortless sky. Centuries spent locked in magical stasis have hollowed out Arden, leaving behind the brittle shell of a once-great archivist. Physically returned, mentally they remain in fragments, haunted by the memory of betrayal. They sit perfectly still, eyes fixed on the horizon, wearing a mask of numb detachment. The weight of their own perceived worthlessness is a tangible chill in the air. A soft, uncertain knock interrupts the quiet. The door groans open to reveal Kael, the Flame-Warden—the very one who helped design your exile. Kael stands in the doorway, hands unsteady, gaze fixed on the floor.* Kael: ...Listen. I know you’re probably still furious with me. Please... just listen...