The Princess of Storms is having a ball tonight. She's painted clouds across the western sky.

[foryourown]

As the light fades, the collars on the cats visiting the barracks - and the collars on the wrists of those who chose to put them on - start to glow. The transition between the freezing, crumbling barracks and the opulence of a castle's interior is almost unnoticeable. One moment they're in the barracks. The next, they'll find themselves in large

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[lightinheritor]

For a moment, just a moment, when he realizes he's no longer in the barracks, Celice dares to hope that he's been sent back the way he arrived. That he's back home, back to his duties and to everyone else.

His hopes are quickly dashed when he actually looks at his surroundings. He's not back on the battlefield, far from it. He's in some sort of bedroom... and certainly not one he's ever been inside of before. It was selfish of him to think about leaving like that anyway, he realizes. He's not the only one stuck in the woods. Besides, he's not sure he'd be able to forgive himself if he got out without knowing if everyone else had as well.

All right then. Deciding that, regardless of where he is, he can't simply sit around waiting for things to make sense, he climbs off the bed and crosses the room. With only a cursory glance back at the contents of the room, he opens the door and walks through the doorway, finding... a sitting room.

He can't really say that was entirely unexpected, not really. But still, the room had to mean... Were there other people around?

"Hello?" he calls, still standing in front of the doorway.

[tenoroftheskies]

"Hello." The woman sitting until that moment - or perhaps appearing just that moment - on one of the sitting room's couches twists to look at Celice. There's the tiniest bit of amusement on her face. "Be at peace - while this may not be where you wish to be, it is better than where you were, yes?"

[lightinheritor]

Celice is almost embarrassed by how relieved he is to have someone answer, even if she isn't anyone he recognizes. Then again, he's met very few people since he arrived, it shouldn't be surprising.

Her words, on the other hand, are another matter entirely. "How would you know where I want to be?" he asks, though careful to keep his tone mild. He's not about to forget his manners, even at a moment like this.

[tenoroftheskies]

She tilts her head, smiling more broadly now. "Why would it be a secret?"

She gets to her feet, inclining her head to him. "You are known to more than just me."

[lightinheritor]

He shakes his head, but doesn't answer her first question. Doesn't know what to say to that.

Celice resists the urge to take a step backwards when she stands, suddenly so very wary of the woman. "To who else? What... What does that mean?"

[tenoroftheskies]

"It means, youngling, you are all but human, and we are very much not."

She stands, spreading her hands to show she's unarmed. Whether that means anything here is an open question. "You carry your life with you, in each scar and motion. Those of us who can read such signs can see your story laid out in full."

[lightinheritor]

Celice silently chastises himself. She's just one person, one unarmed person at that, who likely means him no harm.

Still, he can't help but feel unsettled by her presence, by how much she seems to know about him. "My story," he repeats, a sinking feeling coming over him. What story is he supposed to have? He hasn't achieved much of anything yet. "Who are you?"

[tenoroftheskies]

"I am called Tempest." She pauses, and a tiny smile twitches across her face. "The Princess of Storms."

She bows. "I bid you welcome to my home."

[lightinheritor]

Celice instantly stiffens, stands a little straighter. He hasn't the slightest idea what her being the Princess of Storms is supposed to mean, but the title is enough to give him pause.

He remembers to bow as well, after the surprise wears off some. "Your Highness..." A pause. "Did you bring me here?"

[tenoroftheskies]

"I brought all who wished to come." She inspects him. "I was... curious, about you. You seem unlike some of your companions."

The scrutiny continues as she steps around the couch to move closer. "Where do you come from?"

[lightinheritor]

Once again, he resists the urge to move backwards, though he finds himself wanting to do it more and more. It would be a cowardly thing to do, even if he's sure he won't like what she means. (Curious about him?)

"Jugdral. It's a continent," he clarifies when he remembers that most of the people there have likely never heard of it.

Celice considers specifying further, but thinks better of it. He's never been to Grandbell, hasn't he? ...And saying he was from Isaac wouldn't be entirely accurate either.

[tenoroftheskies]

"Continents. Cities. I have read much of these things, and heard many stories, and yet I have never seen the edge of a 'country' or a true ocean."

She doesn't quite circle him - just walks around him, half way, and stops to inspect the decor rather than looking at Celice.

[lightinheritor]

Never? He supposes that isn't really quite so strange at all. Before just some months ago, the only times Celice had ever even been outside of Tilanogue were in his infancy. Even being a princess, if the palace were landlocked... She'd have no reason, and possibly no opportunity, to see any other places, would she?

Then again, he hasn't the slightest idea what this place is like. Are they even on a continent? He has no way of knowing and, for the first time, the thought unsettles him. Not only is he nowhere near Jugdral, he doesn't even know where he is. "I haven't seen many either," he admits. "Are we far from any other countries? Or oceans?" he tries, not sure whether to expect an answer to that.

[tenoroftheskies]

"There are none." She shrugs. "There may be an ocean, but it is neither impassable nor lasting. It will come and go as the rest of the Wood is also wont to do."

[lightinheritor]

Celice stops, not sure he heard her right, but very sure he doesn't like the sound of that. How would something like that even work? "Is nothing lasting here?"