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OP
OP
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2021
"You're right. Let's get some rest," Lumi said, her voice soft as her gaze lingered on the two of them. With a gentle wave, she bid them goodnight, her expression warm but tinged with an unspoken heaviness. The thought of returning home didn’t entirely sit well with her, though the idea of reuniting with her siblings after so long did bring a small sense of comfort. "Sleep well, Wrynn and Varre," she added with a faint smile before turning on her heels and retreating to her room. The warmth of the shower enveloped her like a soothing embrace, washing away the tension that had clung to her throughout the evening. As the remnants of her nerves dissolved, she felt lighter, refreshed, and ready for the solace of sleep to claim her.
Lumi had always been an early riser, a habit ingrained in her youth and one she maintained with quiet discipline into adulthood. After gathering her belongings, she stepped out of her room, unsurprised to find Varre nearby. "Good morning, Varre," she greeted, her tone calm but purposeful. "We won't take long to eat before setting out." When they crossed paths with Wrynn a short while later, she offered him a polite "Good morning" as well. True to her word, they made quick work of their meal, eager to begin the journey toward her kingdom. She couldn't help but feel relieved that they’d be traveling on horseback rather than enduring the trek on foot, sparing them the strain and allowing for swifter progress.
The weather had softened, the heavy snowfall giving way to delicate flurries that drifted lazily from the skies. The air was crisp but pleasantly mild, with little to no wind to bite at their cheeks. Perched atop her horse, Lumi ran her fingers gently through its mane, her touch tender and reverent. She patted its strong, graceful neck with care, her voice soft as she whispered, "Thank you for letting me ride you." Her words carried genuine gratitude, treating the horse not as a mere animal but as a trusted companion. Her gaze shifted to Wrynn and Varre as she called out, "We ready?" Without waiting long for a response, she took the reins firmly in hand and gave them a decisive flick, signaling her horse to move forward. With a steady rhythm of hooves against the earth, the journey began.
Fortunately, they had packed enough food rations and water to sustain them throughout the journey, as stopping for a proper meal would have cost them precious time. If they wanted to reach the castle by sundown, they couldn't afford delays. "We're almost there," Lumi announced, her voice cutting through the steady rhythm of hooves on the ground. Though Varre was already familiar with the route, she wanted to keep Wrynn informed. He might not have traveled to her kingdom -or even this region - before, and she preferred to keep him in the loop.
The weariness of the long ride began to settle in. Lumi could feel her horse growing fatigued, its pace slowing with each passing mile. Her own thighs ached from the unrelenting hours in the saddle, but they pressed on, encouraged by the sight ahead. As the sun dipped lower on the horizon, the distant kingdom finally came into view. Its towering structures glowed softly, their lights illuminating the surroundings like a beacon of warmth and welcome in the encroaching twilight.
Perhaps it was the anticipation of reaching their destination that made the final stretch feel agonizingly slow. Yet, as soon as they arrived, the trio wasted no time in guiding their weary horses to the stables, ensuring the animals were well cared for after their long journey. With the horses tended to, they stretched out their stiff, aching muscles and allowed themselves a moment to recover before making their way to the grand entrance of the castle.
Just as Lumi raised her hand to knock on the towering doors, they burst open with an excited clamor. Her younger brother and sister - her twin siblings only a year shy of twenty - practically launched themselves at her, enveloping her in an enthusiastic and much-needed embrace.
"Lumi!!!" they cried in unison, their voices filled with joy and relief. Her brother, now towering over her, easily wrapped her in his arms, while her sister, only slightly shorter, joined in the embrace with equal fervor. Lumi couldn’t help but laugh softly, the warmth of their affection melting away the fatigue of the journey. For the first time in a long while, she felt truly at home.
"Guys, you're going to suffocate me!" Lumi exclaimed with a lighthearted laugh, though her arms instinctively wrapped around both of them, pulling them into a tight embrace. "So much has changed since I last saw you," she whispered, her voice softening. "Oh, how I've missed you." She could feel the sting of tears threatening to fall, but she held them back, not wanting to linger too long on the time they'd spent apart.
After a few more moments in their embrace, Lumi stepped back, her expression warm as she gestured toward Wrynn. "This is Wrynn," she said, her tone turning formal yet fond. "He's my classmate and has been traveling with me. I know I don't need to say this, but please show him the same hospitality and kindness you’ve always shown me." Her siblings nodded eagerly, their smiles brimming with curiosity as they turned their attention to Wrynn.
"Nice to meet you, Wrynn. I'm Lexi," Lumi's sister greeted warmly, offering a graceful curtsy as she acknowledged him with a polite smile.
"And I'm Luca," he introduced, bowing respectfully before straightening with practiced ease. "We have dinner prepared in the grand dining room, but if you’d prefer to freshen up first, let us show you to your room." His tone was welcoming, his demeanor calm and collected - a stark contrast to Varre's often brusque nature.
Turning to Lumi with a nostalgic smile, Luca added, "Lumi, your room is exactly as you left it. You know where to find it." His words carried a sense of nostalgia, and the gesture of his hand invited Wrynn to follow, ensuring their guest felt completely at ease in their home despite the recent affairs.
Lumi had always been an early riser, a habit ingrained in her youth and one she maintained with quiet discipline into adulthood. After gathering her belongings, she stepped out of her room, unsurprised to find Varre nearby. "Good morning, Varre," she greeted, her tone calm but purposeful. "We won't take long to eat before setting out." When they crossed paths with Wrynn a short while later, she offered him a polite "Good morning" as well. True to her word, they made quick work of their meal, eager to begin the journey toward her kingdom. She couldn't help but feel relieved that they’d be traveling on horseback rather than enduring the trek on foot, sparing them the strain and allowing for swifter progress.
The weather had softened, the heavy snowfall giving way to delicate flurries that drifted lazily from the skies. The air was crisp but pleasantly mild, with little to no wind to bite at their cheeks. Perched atop her horse, Lumi ran her fingers gently through its mane, her touch tender and reverent. She patted its strong, graceful neck with care, her voice soft as she whispered, "Thank you for letting me ride you." Her words carried genuine gratitude, treating the horse not as a mere animal but as a trusted companion. Her gaze shifted to Wrynn and Varre as she called out, "We ready?" Without waiting long for a response, she took the reins firmly in hand and gave them a decisive flick, signaling her horse to move forward. With a steady rhythm of hooves against the earth, the journey began.
Fortunately, they had packed enough food rations and water to sustain them throughout the journey, as stopping for a proper meal would have cost them precious time. If they wanted to reach the castle by sundown, they couldn't afford delays. "We're almost there," Lumi announced, her voice cutting through the steady rhythm of hooves on the ground. Though Varre was already familiar with the route, she wanted to keep Wrynn informed. He might not have traveled to her kingdom -or even this region - before, and she preferred to keep him in the loop.
The weariness of the long ride began to settle in. Lumi could feel her horse growing fatigued, its pace slowing with each passing mile. Her own thighs ached from the unrelenting hours in the saddle, but they pressed on, encouraged by the sight ahead. As the sun dipped lower on the horizon, the distant kingdom finally came into view. Its towering structures glowed softly, their lights illuminating the surroundings like a beacon of warmth and welcome in the encroaching twilight.
Perhaps it was the anticipation of reaching their destination that made the final stretch feel agonizingly slow. Yet, as soon as they arrived, the trio wasted no time in guiding their weary horses to the stables, ensuring the animals were well cared for after their long journey. With the horses tended to, they stretched out their stiff, aching muscles and allowed themselves a moment to recover before making their way to the grand entrance of the castle.
Just as Lumi raised her hand to knock on the towering doors, they burst open with an excited clamor. Her younger brother and sister - her twin siblings only a year shy of twenty - practically launched themselves at her, enveloping her in an enthusiastic and much-needed embrace.
"Lumi!!!" they cried in unison, their voices filled with joy and relief. Her brother, now towering over her, easily wrapped her in his arms, while her sister, only slightly shorter, joined in the embrace with equal fervor. Lumi couldn’t help but laugh softly, the warmth of their affection melting away the fatigue of the journey. For the first time in a long while, she felt truly at home.
"Guys, you're going to suffocate me!" Lumi exclaimed with a lighthearted laugh, though her arms instinctively wrapped around both of them, pulling them into a tight embrace. "So much has changed since I last saw you," she whispered, her voice softening. "Oh, how I've missed you." She could feel the sting of tears threatening to fall, but she held them back, not wanting to linger too long on the time they'd spent apart.
After a few more moments in their embrace, Lumi stepped back, her expression warm as she gestured toward Wrynn. "This is Wrynn," she said, her tone turning formal yet fond. "He's my classmate and has been traveling with me. I know I don't need to say this, but please show him the same hospitality and kindness you’ve always shown me." Her siblings nodded eagerly, their smiles brimming with curiosity as they turned their attention to Wrynn.
"Nice to meet you, Wrynn. I'm Lexi," Lumi's sister greeted warmly, offering a graceful curtsy as she acknowledged him with a polite smile.
"And I'm Luca," he introduced, bowing respectfully before straightening with practiced ease. "We have dinner prepared in the grand dining room, but if you’d prefer to freshen up first, let us show you to your room." His tone was welcoming, his demeanor calm and collected - a stark contrast to Varre's often brusque nature.
Turning to Lumi with a nostalgic smile, Luca added, "Lumi, your room is exactly as you left it. You know where to find it." His words carried a sense of nostalgia, and the gesture of his hand invited Wrynn to follow, ensuring their guest felt completely at ease in their home despite the recent affairs.
Lexi - 797ef6
Luca- 4adede
Luca- 4adede