Dollhouse

In the spectral realm of Somnium, Aurelia felt the threads of Annwyn's desperation pulling at her. She had watched from the shadows, unseen and unheard, observing the unfolding narrative of the fallen warrior. Now, she felt a strange bond with this lost soul, their tragedies and misgivings twining together in an intricate dance of shared pain and regret. The spirits had tasked her with guiding Annwyn, but how was she to do that when she herself bore the weight of her own failures? Her thoughts swirled, chaotic and unsteady as a snowstorm.

Aurelia approached the pool, her ethereal form casting no reflection on the still water. She saw Annwyn's reflection warped with pain and regret, a mirror image of the torment that she herself carried. The spirits had spoken, this was her task. “Hello, Annwyn.” Her voice echoed, even in the small space between them. “My name is Aurelia, and I am here to help you.” Her words were a gentle outstretched paw in the darkness. A glimmer of hope, perhaps, in this sorrow-filled existence. She hesitated a moment, to allow her words to sink in before continuing.

“I was born to a clan that grew into tainted beliefs. Gods were abandoned, and therefore abandoned us. Rituals forgotten, and beliefs were traded for self-serving greed. In my own way, I too have disappointed the spirits- but with my ignorance.” Aurelia paused, her cyan eyes filled with both sorrow and determination. "But we are not the sum of our failures, Annwyn. We are defined by how we rise after falling, and that's why I'm here. Not because I have to be, but because I believe you can rise from this." The atmosphere of Somnium seemed to ripple in response to her declaration as her attention fell to the pool before them.

“I died in childbirth- it was an act of mercy. My clan adopted a soul-binding ritual, and the vile individual who entered that contract with me was my punishment. But my children, they... they were innocent. My death was a sacrifice, and they live because of my repentance.” Her words hung heavy in the air between them. Aurelia turned her gaze back to Annwyn, her cyan eyes mirroring the icy pools of sorrow she found there. “But they will be doomed to ignorance as well, unless they learn the truth about our heritage, our beliefs. They are the next generation, and they can choose to break from the tainted path we tread." Aurelia's gaze softened as she looked at Annwyn. "And I believe you can also break from your past. The spirits want to give you a chance of redemption- and your salvation, Annwyn, is tied to theirs. To help them understand and reclaim our lost traditions, to guide them away from the destructive path we once walked. To be their protector. Through this, you can find absolution." Her voice echoed in the spectral realm, every syllable reverberating with a conviction that was hard to ignore.


"Aurelia Veratti"