[ Year 128 . MM / DD

Visitation to the Ashen Court ]

The sound of footsteps reverberated loudly inside the hollow halls, high walls painted in pale chalk white and decorated with nothing but velvet rug laid across wooden floorwork. The minimum lighting dimmed the entire atmosphere – though with no candles on sight, being able to see itself is quite the extraordinary feat. They were several feet below the surface, after all.

At the end of the passage was the chamber of the Ashen Court’s ruler. A lady whose appearance was, if described by regular people, resembling an ethereal being. Silky white skin accompanied by equally pale, long straight hair, adorned in monotone flowy robes. Her lips were barely tinted in a rosy pink shade, and long lashes added a certain charm to her already distinguished presence.

Christoph, however, found the figure to be eerie.

“... Woman.”

How could he not? Her eyes, while seemingly kind when shut closed, highly resembled a fox’s when exposed. There was an unspoken mutual agreement that they both hated each other’s guts, though he admitted that he found pleasure in their shared sentiments.

Unlike the dimly lit hallways he walked through, the woman’s private chambers were considerably bright – again, probably lit by some magical contraption as candles were kept out of sight. Whereas white would appear tainted by the red-yellowish hue of the candle flames, the room appeared to be as white as snow and kept furnished to the minimum. As if the door had magically transported them to a completely different realm, it would’ve been enough to throw anyone off. (But not Christoph. He kept calm even on his first visit down there.)

“Unpleasant as ever are we, Christoph? I made sure you were aware of my name last time. And the time before that. And before that one, too,” she said in the rhythm of her steps. She was heading to greet Christoph, who had finally reached her chambers after her summoning.

“I call you whatever I want,” Christoph replied curtly.

The woman in white – Tia – chuckled. Despite her earlier complaint, she wasn’t particularly hurt. Of course she wasn’t. She had known Christoph far too long to be bothered by his unchanging surly temperament.

“You seem to be in a particularly bad mood, Christoph? Is your boy causing you trouble again? It truly is a shame I haven’t the power to observe him running around outside your little cage you call home. I’d love to know more of what he does out there.” She was cut short when Christoph threw a dagger-like glare. If he had brought his sword, she was sure he would’ve had it on her throat.

It was in her favor they never rendezvoused outside her own territory.

She made a small cough and politely smiled, dropping a little ‘excuse me’ before the man lost his patience. “He showed up in my dreams. A divine intervention, but still unfinished.”

‘He’ was a sensitive topic. One that isn’t spoken between the two Lords standing in front of each other. It was also quite a long story – but to keep it short, the reason he and Tia were working together at the moment was due to a slight disturbance, or rather, the likelihood of a prospective disaster about to ravage their lands.

At the beginning of their republic, the same time the kingdoms fell apart and the former nobles lost their titles, it was prophesied that one was to bear a curse that would burn down their country into ashes one day. Unfortunately, that day had drawn near, with the only person able to read what was ahead, alerting Christoph. That person was this woman.

It was a heavy matter of national security. One that Christoph was to stop at any cost. However due to the political stance of the republic’s top leader, Christoph couldn’t convince any of them that this potential danger was anything they must prevent to the best of their abilities. And thus – he decided to act alone with the White Lord.

Today, she had summoned him in accordance with the prophecy.

“... Go on.”

“I’m sure you are aware, but when my dreams are still partial – it means there is a chance it may not come true. It means the wheels of fate can still correct itself at any given time.” She took a step closer towards Christoph, cupping his face with her hand, who in return averted his gaze, unamused. “And I’m reminding you this for you to avoid any rash behavior, Christoph. Consider the consequences of your actions.”