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Disillusionist
I'm excited to see where you take these two! I know they're in good hands.
1. I hadn't put much more thought into it besides the supposed balance and the fact that they're both Justices. On paper, they're compatible. I suppose in some ways, it speaks to the Order's approach: if it works on paper then it should work in practice.
2. Okay, there are three directions I think this could take for the most
oomph. It's either Damhan, with some one-sided pining on Araila's part (let's be real, Damhan is being noble and sad and might not notice subtle affection), Trixa, with a pinch of doomed by the narrative (she's the Butterfly Paladin and can't butterflies be so terribly fragile?), OR Hiareth, whose amnesia carries that lingering sense of something being wrong and puts her in conflict between Nyx Coven and the Luminaries (not that she knows it). The options have so much flavor. Choose whichever one floats your boat, or go rogue if you think of something just as rich!
3. It was not romantic for Mahavi and that paladin, but somewhere in this blurry place between mentor and mentee/colleagues at work. I don't have a name for the paladin in question or many details, but I imagine it as the pair of them working well together, seamlessly, and having their world rocked by this accusation. And honorable as he is, Mahavi can't stand to see justice misapplied. So he works his tail off to prove this paladin's innocence just as much as this paladin works his tail off to do the same with more limited freedom and resources. Honestly, they probably still keep in touch despite no longer living under the main body of the Order together.
4. They were sort of...placed together. Araila's defeat of the emperor was the catalyst for founding the Luminaries as a branch of the Order and establishing them on Isle Heliodoros, and Mahavi was assigned to be a complementary force in this establishment. They likely knew each other in passing, as Justices are few and far between enough to know of one another, but they weren't particularly close. Their interests and talents don't align very closely, and while they respect the Order's rationale for making them Justices, they don't like to do things the same way. Short version, they were cordial and tolerated one another, but felt no keen desire to grow closer in a romantic or platonic sense. Maybe an occasion difference of opinion with a little heat beneath it, but nothing explosive or of significant gravity.
5. GOOD QUESTION, I love your questions! Pysia is something of a matchmaker and she knows about their mutual hesitancy (and also supports that hesitancy, because she's a romantic who likes to believe she knows a good match when she sees one). She's closer to Araila, who's probably confessed these things in person, but can read Mahavi relatively well without needing him to spell it out or get personal about it.
Arvess would frown upon their reluctance if she found out. She's a diplomat at her core, and heavily values keeping the peace. Their refusal to accept things would make her concerned for smooth relations with the Order, not to mention the possibility of distraction and deteriorating relationships with other clans. It doesn't have to be a loving union if it is a useful and intelligent one.
Silke knows, but she's a spy. If anyone knows about Araila's forbidden interests in another dragon, it would be her. If anyone has somehow discovered Mahavi's doubts in his own words (whether talking to someone else, in a private journal, anything), it would be her. She doesn't care strongly, but she trades in secrets. It could be valuable down the line, or it could be worthless. Only way to know is to keep it to herself and see how things play out.
Vasani is so reserved she would probably be the only one Mahavi tells. She doesn't pry, just lets others sit with that which they must reflect on, and the Font is the perfect place for that. With her own reservations about her own purpose, she doesn't pretend to hold the answers, but her advice is probably to choose what feels
right. Feelings can be tricky, of course.
Lyunas would simply have a heart attack and perish if he knew. Then rise from the dead and demand they make amends for their foolishness. Very traditional and stiff like that.
Neroma would never be able to keep her mouth shut. Do not tell under any circumstances unless you want the whole world to know.
Maybe it's better that way, I still haven't managed to format and properly add my last order ^-^''
