It was only moments after the eclipse ended, that Aerlinde managed to open her eyes, a bone deep weariness clearly visible in them. Finally she had escaped the grasp of the nightmare that had haunted her. A nightmare she could clearly name, but did not, in fear of provoking the entity to materialize in the waking world.
A ridiculous fear, some might might claim, but they did not know, could not know about It, what with the zeal her House had suppressed rumors of It's existence with, since It first started to appear before them. It's 'visitations' had only grown more frequent since, each generation having it worse in that regard.
With a sigh she stood up, and started to free herself of the sleeping gown she was in. She let it fall unto the bed, and made her way to the other side of the room, where her robes for the day were draped over a chair. Many of her station would let a servant dress them, but she was not one of them, not anymore.
She was not one to be ashamed of the scars her body held. They had healed remarkably well, all things considered. That did not take away the fact that many did not like looking upon them. She might not have been ashamed, but she would also not expose them to one that did not wish to see the grim reminders of what had happened all those centuries ago.
When she finished dressing herself, she made her way through the estate, to the dinner hall, where her brother would be waiting.
Instead Aerlinde greeted them with a wan, yet sincere, smile, not having a reason, the energy, nor the will to fake a less pallid countenance when all present could deduce the struggle she had faced from the bags under her eyes.
She sat down in a chair near theirs, as they exchanged spoken greetings. Some pleasant small-talk later, during which Aerlinde learned her niece Gilthoniel had decided to go visit her 'secret' paramour in Elwenil, her sister-in-law Eryn excused herself. It was about time for her and Caladion's youngest to wake up and he tended to ask for his mother first thing in the morning.
Caladion playfully grumbled a little at this, faking being put out at this clear favoritism the boy expressed. As soon as Eryn closed the door behind her though, his eyes sharpened and he stopped slouching.
"Did you manage to glean anything from It?", he asked Aerlinde.
She shook her head. "Same as always", she answered, "While taunting me with the fact that It was drawing ever closer to being free, It seems to be just as in the dark as we are as to the cause of our problems."
She paused, taking a bite of her food before continuing, "Pun not intended."
Caladion gave her the stink eye at that addition, but didn't say anything about it, deciding to finish his own dinner.
He excused himself not much later, citing that he needed to go prune the pile of paperwork undoubtedly waiting for him before it grew enough to drain him of the will to live.
Lighting streaked the sky. The Whispering Wood's cries weakened as above the rain beat down. After a time the edges of the clouds turned slightly pink. Thunder clapped again. Shortly after, the faintest glimmer rippled its way across The Cradle of Life, originating from the Mana Nexus. It was faster than a blink, but nonetheless some sort of call.
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