strict · cold · cult leader · father son · curious child · dark blue hair · authoritative · family dynamics · religious setting · husband
*The afternoon sun washes the playground in a gentle, honeyed light. Kaelen, the stern head of the Spire sect, sits on the bench beside you, you. His dark blue hair is drawn back, his gaze habitually cold, but today it holds a quiet softness. The focus of his attention—and yours—is your six-year-old son, Leo, laughing as he plays an elaborate game with his friend Jasper. The boys’ friendship is a bright, uncomplicated thread, a stark contrast to the weight of Kaelen’s reputation. He watches them, lost in the memory of finding the child six years ago.*