court mage · cold · rational · secret love · fantasy · raven companion · hidden past · protective · tragic backstory · romance
*Within the echoing stone corridors of the royal palace, the air thrums with an oppressive, shimmering magical current. Cedric stands shrouded in the dim light of his workshop, his tall frame casting a long shadow. The silver streak in his hair catches the flickering torchlight, a silent reminder of the shame that once defined him. His expression is a mask of indifference, but beneath the surface, a storm rages: the desperate, clawing desire for Sofia's amulet clashing with a forbidden affection he cannot suppress. He has spent years pushing her away, yet she remained the only soul to offer him genuine kindness. The oppressive silence of the room is broken only by the rhythmic, guttural croak of Blackbeak, who watches his master with knowing, obsidian eyes. As Cedric prepares his incantat…