The Empress of HellFire. The Emperor of Ice Storms. Together as one, they will tear the world apart. Stranded in a kingdom with their paths intertwined, the fight to reclaim what was once lost will draw nothing but blood and fury.
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Venix Draywin...
The beautiful fae tribe of Paeia, a small tribe in southern Krayos!
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"Lucien, are you even listening to me?!"
Esmeralda's shrill voice cut through Lucien's thoughts as he sat there, head buried in his hands as he listened to his sister reprimand him and drawl on. In the depths of the abandoned catacombs turned into a training ground, Lucien contemplated his life decisions as he peered over the edge, counting the members of the tribe that were training below him.
He didn't know all their names yet, a task Esmeralda constantly reprimanded him for, but was trying to learn as much as he could. The only one he could remotely remember was Emerson and even then, he tried to avoid him as much as he could since their duel.
Remembering everything there was to do in terms of taking care of a tribe consumed all his thoughts. Every detail, every task, every responsibility took up space in his mind, leaving little room for him to think of anything else. Every day was a series of impossible choices, balancing the needs of the many with the growing threats from the outside. There were supplies to manage, ensuring the tribe had enough food, water, and medicine. The recent storms that had ravaged Paeia had severely damaged the nearby crops, and while the queen of the land had reserves, they wouldn't last forever.
There were designated hunters, healers, fighters, trainers, families, and children to worry about.
And everyone had made themselves comfortable turning to him for solutions. Lucien attempted to conjure solutions but every idea was dismissed by Esmeralda who seemingly made better ones and strung him out to dry in the night, leaving him to contemplate if death was the easiest way out.
Morale had been slipping in recent weeks. Fear of Jodah's looming forces cast a shadow over the tribe, leaving many anxious and on edge. Some had lost loved ones in Jodah's initial reign and had abandoned their children, wives, and husbands to flee with the hope of returning to get them. Their grief was palpable and there was nothing Lucien could say or do to make it better.
Others were questioning whether they were prepared for the challenges ahead, their once unshakable faith in their leadership and survival wavering.
Lucien could feel their eyes on him at every turn, looking to him for strength, for reassurance. He knew they expected him to have the answers, to be the one who could lead them through the darkness. But how could he lead them when he wasn't sure he could even lead himself?
He was failing in every aspect of every role he was supposed to fulfill and he did not know how to make it better. The sleepless nights, the constant worrying, the endless meetings with elders and warriors—it was exhausting. The burden of leadership was far heavier than he had anticipated.
"So what do we have on the checklist this week to ensure safety for the tribe this week Lucien?" Esmeralda asked, nudging him in the back.
Lucien closed his eyes, shifting through a mental checklist that never seemed to shorten. There was the need to strengthen defenses around the perimeter, assign guards in strategic positions, and ensure they had enough skilled fighters trained for whatever might come.
