Sylvia

She was the only one left. The rest were taken; conscripted, gone. Dead or alive, it didn't matter; she'd never see them again. At first she had hope she'd see them again. Surely the universe wouldn't be so cruel? Surely she'd see them again?

But as the years went by, the hope left her eyes. At first rage replaced it, but the fires could only burn for so long before turning into a cold despair and numbness. Whispers of the end tempted her, but a small, small part of herself still held onto the hope that they were still out there, and that she still could make new connections. But that was terrifying too; why haven't they contacted her? Did they still remember her? What if anyone else shared their fate?

No... no... It was easier to isolate in a little house in the woods. It was easier to stay numb.

But this did not last.

Another imperial woman, one of the forest, whose skin and hair matched the green of the woods, came to her one day. She was adorned in thorns and roses, with silk ribbons and robes gracefully draping her body. Her eyes were like emeralds, and when they gazed upon Sylvia, they looked so gentle. And so kind.

Sylvia's eyes welled up with tears, for she had not seen anyone in so long, and as she closed her eyes and tried to brush the tears away, the woman of the woods soundlessly moved towards her. A warm hand gently rested on her shoulder. Another gently brushed against her cheeks, wiping away the tears.

"Why do you weep?" A soft and musical voice asked. Sylvia opened her eyes and saw her face was being caressed by the other woman with one hand, while the other trailed down her arm to squeeze her hand.

Sylvia felt her cheeks warming up; something she thought she would never feel again. "I haven't seen anyone in so long..." she whispered. Her voice was hoarse with disuse. "Nor have I seen anyone look at me with such kindness in so, so long..."

The woman squeezed her hand again. It felt so soft against her own. Her hands were rough with callouses from having to live so secluded. Her hands felt unworthy to be held so gently.

"But I have been looking at you," the woman started. Sylvia's eyes widen and she moved away from the woman, who folded her hands in front of herself. "I've been watching you here in the woods. You're so far from others... If anything happened to you no one would've known, and that would be a tragedy. So I watched over you. When the soil didn't want to grow your crops, it was I who made the barren ground fertile again. When the sky didn't rain, it was I who made the sky release the life giving water. When the wood you use to make tools was stubborn, it was I who soften it enough to be workable."

As the woman talked, Sylvia relaxed more and more. After the woman finished speaking, Sylvia was quiet for a moment, then asked, "Why? Why help me?"

The woman smiled a sad smile, one that looked familiar to Sylvia. "I understand your hurt. I understand your pain, your emptiness, the sleepless nights asking yourself what you could've done better. It was like looking into a mirror. I too lost everyone I loved and spent many nights alone. So when you came here, so many years ago, to my forest, I saw a kindred spirit. A fellow soul who has known despair."

Sylvia could tell the woman was telling the truth, and so she moved closer. Hesitantly, she grabbed the other woman's hands. "How did you leave it? The numbness, the sadness... How did you move on?"

She gave Sylvia's hands a gentle squeeze. "A small fae came to me one day, and asked me to join eir clan. Eir request was so earnestly asked, I couldn't find myself saying no. So I joined them. And now I have a new family who I care about, and who cares about me. They could never replace my old family- nor would they want to. But they help make the hard days better, and I hope to do so for you."

Sylvia felt her heart growing less numb the more she spoke with this woman, and the yearning to be with others grew stronger. "Will you take me to them? Will I be allowed to join?"

A smile stretched across the woman's lips. "Of course. Of course," she paused. "I haven't told you my name, have I? My name is Serifys."

Sylvia's heart skipped a beat. "S-Sylvia. I'm Sylvia," she stuttered. "Let me get my things... Not that I have much left that I want to bring..."

They went inside the small home. It was mostly barren; only the necessities were there. Serifys followed behind Sylvia, in case she needed help, but all she grabbed was a small chest. "Let's go," Sylvia said.

And though it was a longer journey, eventually Sylvia arrived at her new home, where she received a warm welcome. And with Serifys, they never knew loneliness again.

• romantically involved with Serifys
• chest has mementos from her previous mate and children, as well as family heirlooms
• helps around the clan with things like gardening, hunting via traps, tool repair, sewing clothes

g3; parents exalted but were scrolled imperials. Cornelius's parents exalted. Jade's parents are still around and are 3 digits name Rai and Kazuo (as of 1/11/22).

moonchild and mooncasket are still active; unnamed is exalted.

won for 18kg from tucawt on 1/4/22

added alloy for 1.2kg
total spent on her: 19.2kg