Experimental Writing

Character Profile // Sigil of Velea

They looked into his eyes and thought him holy. On his head, they placed the veil and crown that marked him in deference to Velea, the goddess of love.

His eyes were like the ones from the drawings - wide with curiosity and wise beyond their years. Much like the Serpent Queen, the goddess who rose from the flaming depths of the Underground to bestow upon humankind her gift.

On his fingers, they painted her lines, the ones that traced along the pale of her arm and connected to her heart. The thin red lines wrapped around each other as they traced up, entangling the circle drawn on the left side of his chest. From the circle, white lines emerged. They climbed up his throat and across his shoulders.

They covered the art on his skin with heavy, loose purple fabric. It pushed around his ankles and buried his form beneath them. The robes were emblazoned with Velea's mark - her patron creature, wrapped around a bright red circle.

The veil covered his face and only he could see through it, from within, but any who looked upon him only saw its light grey fabric.

He did not cut his hair, unless necessary. Long, thick tresses of black fell down his back and over the robes. As was expected. The Serpent Queen was always depicted with her own locks reaching her feet - though depending on the artist, the color changed.

They gave him tasks to fulfill, to eat at the daylight and stave away boredom. To maintain Velea's temple, and care for the creatures that entered its boundaries - whether hot-blooded or cold. His affinity for reptiles emboldened the elders who appointed him. They had chosen well.

He grew up alone in that temple, with the company of statues and snakes, altars and anoles. Depictions of the goddess he acted for were carved into most of the walls, yet he was satisfied with the isolation.

Every spring equinox, the people in the village came and worshiped his goddess. They prayed for rebirth, love, and warmth. He wished he could give it to them, but he could only sit with them as they muttered their desires into his hands.

He wished to be worth more to them.