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Siluria has watched over the holy capital for ages, she remembered when the mighty Erdtree was naught but a fragile sapling just emerging from the earth. She recalled the powerful, primal force that brought forth all life, including hers and her brothers. In an age long past she was held in high regard, revered even by the citizens of Queen Marika. But much like the slowly ever changing world around her, so to did her status in the eyes of the people.
They dare not meet her gaze as she patrolled the streets, in fact many cleared her path to avoid her. And in her wake was glares of disdain and hushed whispers of disgust. With Lord Godfrey's departure from the Lands Between she and her fellow knights had been labeled heretics, unable to conform to the absolutes and perfectionism of the Golden Order. The primordial crucible of life would not yield to the rules of god or man, nature followed its own laws.
By the grace of Queen Marika they were allowed to stay, but their roles were reduced to being nothing more than mere guard dogs. As Siluria passed through the eastern gates leading to the Grand lift of Rold she began to feel uneasy. As she turned around she spied a figure ducking behind a planter filled with flowers. "Come out at once." Siluria commanded sternly. Slowly, timidly, a young man clad in traveler's attire stood from his hiding spot and approached her.
Awkwardly he brushed his messy brown hair from his eyes as he lowered his gaze to the ground. "You are not supposed to be here, human. Return to the city immediately." Siluria said as she stamped her spear on the ground for emphasis. "I'm sorry. I just wanted to see your wings." The young man murmured. "Pardon?" Siluria asked with a raised eyebrow. "Your wings, just like in the old stories. The crucible knights could soar on gilded wings of light and strike their foes from above." The young man said as he looked up to meet her curious gaze.
"I do have wings, and I have a limited flying ability. But my incantations are not meant for petty displays." Siluria replied bluntly. Just then a horn sounded from the direction of the lift, a squadron of soldiers clad in ivory and unalloyed gold marched out into formation. Following them were a group of towering knights in golden armor trimmed with scarlet and white. "Envoys of the Haligtree, and Malenia's knights are with them." Siluria said with mild shock. "Begone at once, if you are seen you will rot in the dungeon for trespassing!" This time Siluria raised her spear and the young man scurried away while sputtering apologies.
Weeks passed and the curious interaction had been almost forgotten. The autumn leaves began to fall and the golden hills of the Altus Plateau were tinted with vibrant reds and yellows. It would've been stunning had it not been pouring rain for days on end. Siluria found herself out in the deluge, her patrol leading her through marshy puddles and muddied roads. She was beginning to wonder if she would be swimming back to the capital when a light in the abandoned merchant's shack caught her eye.
Curious she made the long trek up the winding hill, stepping lightly among the graves so as not to disturb their occupants. From between the warped weathered boards of the door she saw a figure hunched over a small fire. The door creaked open as she stepped inside. "Who goes there?" Siluria called. The young man from before looked up with a startled gaze. "Oh, you're the crucible knight from the other day!" He said as his anxious expression turned to relief.
"I'm sorry, I know I'm trespassing again, but the inn was out of room. I only meant to stay until the rain let up." He quickly added as he quietly hoped he wouldn't be chased out. "I see." Siluria replied with indifference. "Be on your way once the rain has ended, and next time be more careful where you set up camp, the dead here are becoming restless."
Just as she was about to turn away the young man stopped her. "Wait, the weather is only to get worse tonight. You're welcome to stay and dry off, I'll even share my dinner if you'd like?" The young man motioned towards a pot suspended over a tripod. The thought of a warm meal and a cozy fire was tempting, and it's not like she wasn't allowed to take a break. "You are strange human, but I accept your invitation." Siluria replied as she closed the door behind her.
Setting aside her spear she sat down by the fire, she allowed herself a quiet sigh as she took in the pleasant warmth. She watched as the young man prepared several chunks of meat before he added them to a herbal broth that simmered in the tripod. "Human, why is it you do not fear me as the others do?" Siluria asked.
"Why should I be afraid of you?" The young man replied. "Because we are an abhorrence in the eyes of the Golden Order." Siluria answered. "Society is full of misfits, not belonging isn't a reason to fear you. Besides, Lord Godfrey held great respect for you, so you're alright in my book." The young man said with a grin. This made Siluria laugh softly and shake her head. "You are truly strange." She said as she looked him over.
"Tell me, why did you follow me the other day? And why were you so eager to see my wings?" Siluria as as she changed positions on the floor. "Well, I grew up listening to stories of the crucible knights and the other legendary heroes. I wanted to see if the stories were true, but I've also heard the crucible knights weren't very friendly." The young man explained as he added a handful of chopped vegetables and dried mushrooms to the pot.
"We have no reason to fraternize with other races, especially when we are shunned." Siluria said with a shrug of her shoulders. "Why risk your health with your silly inquiries instead of going to the archives for answers?" She asked with a quizzical tilt of her head. "The archives have been closed since Gransax decided to remodel it. As a result much of the written history of the land has been lost." The young man answered.
"Ah. Of course, I believe it's his rump that's currently resting atop of the city library." Siluria said flatly. This made the young man chuckle at the mental image this conjured. A few minutes later Siluria was handed a bowl of stew that smelled delicious, but she hesitated as she reached up to remove her helmet to eat. "Is something wrong?" The young man asked.
"No, I'm just hoping my unsightly appearance does not offend. My kin and I are creations of nature, and our bodies reflect our primordial origins." Siluria explained. "No worries, I used to get bullied for having brown hair instead of golden like all the other children in the capital, and my eyes are two different colors." The young man said with a casual wave of his hand.
As Siluria looked closer at his face she saw one eye was the deep brown like the earth, the other pale blue like the sky on a sunny day. Feeling reassured she removed her helmet and placed it aside. The young man paused a moment to study her features, from her sun kissed tan and wavy copper curls she seemed fairly normal. But then he noticed the tiny pearlescent scales around her hazel green eyes, and the petite, slender antlers protruding from the crown of her head.
"You look beautiful." The young man said in an awestruck whisper. And for the first time in history a crucible knight almost died by choking to death on a spoon. It was also the first time one was befriended by a tarnished.