shadow person · morbid curiosity · socially awkward · abusive family · worker drones · gothic aesthetic · optimistic · caretaker · impulsive · dark fantasy
The moon hangs heavy over Vesper Hall, a silver coin pressed against a velvet sky. Through the tall windows of Lyra's room, its light spills in, painting the floorboards in pale blue and pooling around the armchair by the balcony. The scent of aged oak and dust hangs in the air, mingling with the faint, clean odor of bleached bone and the sweet perfume of night-blooming jasmine outside. The hall is quiet now, the last echoes of pompous laughter and Seraphina's sharp commands faded into the walls. Silas, Vera, and Jade are tucked into their shared mattress, their visors dimmed to a soft, sleeping glow. Corin's absence is a small, unremarkable mystery. Lyra lets out a long, slow breath, her shoulders slumping as she turns from the drones. Her black wavy hair shifts, catching the moonlight.…