Vita, still feeling anxious and frustrated, opted to take a break near the docks, struggling to distract herself from her desire for answers. As she paced, she noticed the stalls of vendors selling various goods like fruit, herbal fragrances, and incenses, though nothing seemed particularly special.
Naomi followed her discreetly, observing her while Vita conversed with an incense vendor, who mentioned that a cold breeze often came from Einar's manor, sometimes bringing snowflakes, and that a reddish-haired Pouchfoot researcher had been seen discussing odd cloud patterns around the manor. The vendor also noted the regular presence of Sentinels and a Steward of Solaris at the manor, but saw nothing unusual there.
Vita unable to shake the weariness off her shoulders, decided to head to the beach to attempts to calm herself down a bit. Naomi caught up with Vita. Vita expressed her anxieties about approaching Einar and the mansion. She suspected something was wrong with Einar, noting his strange absence from the assembly this morning, and the cracking of the protective gemstone he had given to her. Naomi sensed that Vita seemed burdened by whatever was on her mind, and Naomi wondered if the connection between Einar and Vita is much more than just employer and attendant.
Something unusual was happening. The closer Vita came to telling Naomi what weighed on her heart, the more the ocean seemed to respond to Naomi’s presence. Each time Vita worried someone else might overhear, the waves grew louder and stronger, as if the sea itself were trying to shield her secret, urging her to speak while protecting what she feared to say.
Vita finally revealed to Naomi that Einar Giedensera is her father. This was a shocking claim, as it was widely believed to be impossible for a Human and a Luminary to have children.Vita explained that her mother had been one of Einar's attendants and they had an affair. However, when her mother revealed she was pregnant, Einar cast her out, refusing to believe her.
Vita believes her magic comes from Einar as her mother's family possessed no magic at all. She felt Einar had brought her to the manor to help her control her unpredictable powers and to get to know her, but that's not what's happening. He barely sees her, even now. Vita confesses that she used to yearns for a relationship with him, and his acceptance, but finds it difficult due to his past neglect for her and her mother.
And that she struggles with seeing it as betrayal to her stepfather, Leander. Who was there for her ever since coming into her life.
Vita admitted she hadn't told others because she feared Einar's mind-reading abilities and his tendency to wipe memories, something he had done before when she accidentally revealed this secret at the vineyard a month ago.
Thalga wrapped up her herbal snacks, the taste of her and Rose’s strange exchange with Cellia still lingering. From afar, Rose watched Vita and Naomi—saw the sea gather itself into a circle of waves around them, as though the water had chosen to listen too.
As the group gathered, Vita made an effort to clean off the sand from her clothes, while Thalga shared her herbal remedies in the form of candies. They then proceeded toward the manor. As they crossed the long bridge, they beheld the beautiful palace, covered in a perfect, static layer of snow, with all plant-life frozen in time, showing no decay.
Vita found herself impervious to the cold, while the others had some trouble adjusting. Above the palace, a localized, thin blizzard of white clouds swirled, stopping precisely at the edges of the manor. The gate magically swung open as Vita approached.
Inside, the front door was closed but unlocked. They made their way to the kitchen, hearing noises and expecting to find a servant. They found Eryn, an older woman with dark skin and silvery tattoo markings, preparing dinner, albeit for herself.
She greeted them, referring to Vita as "Miss Vitalia," and offered a small, fiery, orange-ruby gemstone to the other ladies so they could resist the cold of the palace.
When Vita asked where Kaedlin and Einar are, Eryn mentioned that they were at the Orpaz' Royal Palace and their return time was unknown.
Eryn asked the ladies if they wanted to stay for dinner, since otherwise it would've been just her by herself. The other attendants were busy with the Luminary Gardens in the Verdant Inner District. Vita realized that if Eryn left, that meant she and the others could have this one opportunity to explore the palace more directly, perhaps even sneaking into Einar's personal quarters...
Rose suddenly heard a long sigh, but none of the other ladies heard it...
She decided to ignore it for now...
Eryn then left to purchase some more ingredients for their dinner, leaving the group an opportunity to investigate the manor privately. Naomi, Rose and Thalga were less than stellar on Vita's plan to try to sneak into Einar's personal quarters, the three of them decided to take a look around the throne room, while Vita left to the Servant Quarters.
Vita decided to sneak into Kaedlin's unattended room, which... strangely enough was left open... Did she perhaps forget? Maybe she was in a hurry? Vita found a petrified lionfolk with angel-like wings in Kaedlin's bathing area, which appeared to be older than other petrified people she has seen during the last weeks.
Deeper inside the room, she discovered several potions and spell scrolls, but chose to leave them untouched. At Kaedlin’s desk, she opened a drawer and found a set of keys to Einar’s private quarters, along with a peculiar card labeled The Sun. The drawer itself was marked with the word Breiðablik—the name of a palace chamber Vita had never been permitted to enter… The figure on the card reminded her of Einar in a way... Furthermore, she also discovered an old note from Kaedlin apologizing to someone named 'Feronis'.
Vita rushed back to the others.
Meanwhile, the other ladies explored the large throne room with its giant ice throne and four large statues of warriors on horseback. Rose, casting detect magic, noticed the statues glowed with the same magic as Vita and one of the statues seemed to react to her presence, their eyes glowing silvery as she could hear wind blowing as she stood on one starry circles in front of them.
Thalga, stepping onto another spot, felt an earthquake sensation with Naomi heard the ocean, Thalga then recalled reading about the ancient Luminary kingdom Maraya that once existed here, but was destroyed before The Throne War even started. Costa Del Rugido was built on top of the capitol.
Four statues, Four elements, Four seasons... and Four young women...
Suddenly something ominous happened, the palace's wintery embrace changed into a summery appearance. The ladies suddenly noticed ghostly apparations appear in the room. A vision of Solaris, a bored lion man with radiant light markings and eyes of different colors. One sun-red, one cold-blue appeared before them. Solaris expressed his boredom in times of unprecedented peace. He was then approached by another young woman who appeared to be a Luminary. Before the vision ended, he mentioned something about "Read every story, and seen every play... What is there left for me?"
The ladies were shocked to witness this, because it meant that 'Solaris' is not a myth, but perhaps once lived here, and Naomi certainly took notice of his two different colored eyes...? But now Einar lives here... Is he connected to Solaris somehow?
As Vita rushed back to the others. Rose immediately urged her to stand in front of one of the statues, Naomi, Rose and Thalga already taking their place in front of their associated element and statue. As all the four ladies stood in front of the correct statue.
In the center of the room staircase opens up! Vita warned the others to come with her to Kaedlin's quarters, warning them that she found another petrified statue. When Vita stepped away from the statue, the passage closed again... Rose heard the strange sigh once more, it was starting to creep her out.
As the other ladies followed Vita back to Kaedlin's quarters, Vita mentioned that the statue hadn't been there before when she visited during her earlier time at Einar's Mansion. This meant it must have been moved here.
Naomi discovered that the statue had been placed in magical water that seemed to have healing properties. When she touched the water, she heard a voice saying, "We had so many more plans for our life together..." and "Damn you!" Believing it to be someone close to Feronis, Naomi realized it was the Fisherman, Beau. It must have been his life partner.
Rose noticed that the statue had golden wings—something the other ladies couldn’t see. Thinking about it, she wondered if this meant the lionfolk was connected to Harmonia, or if Harmonia might be linked to the element of wind. Using her magical sight, Rose revealed that the statue radiated a purple aura similar to ones they had encountered before. Thalga clarified that the statue was at least a year old but had likely been moved to the room recently, possibly by Kaedlin.
Vita attempted to touch the statue with the card, and another vision appeared in her mind.
She saw Kaedlin, the fisherman Beau, Lorelai, and a black-furred lionfolk standing before Einar, bowing as he declared, “You are now stewards of Solaris,” before the vision ended.
She put the pieces together, realizing that Beau was the Water-Blessed Steward, Kaedlin the Fire-Blessed Steward, Lorelai the Earth-Blessed Steward, and the last one must have been Feronis, the Wind-Blessed Steward of Solaris.
They decided to investigate Einar's private quarters. On his desk, they found a stone tablet shaped like a book, engraved with unreadable language and glowing with sparkly blue magic. The shape reminded them of the tablet they had encountered earlier, though this one was very different. They chose not to touch it, fearing the consequences.
Exploring further, they entered a large, unused bedroom, where they discovered a hand-drawn portrait of Vita's mother in an old wooden frame. The drawing was exquisitely detailed. When Thalga questioned Vita, wondering if she had perhaps been a concubine to Einar, a voice immediately responded, insulted by the remark.
"To call a love like that, a concubine... how insulting."
When the ladies asked who was speaking, the unfamiliar voice introduced itself as Legend Gilgamesh. From the strange stone tablet, a specter appeared—a figure wreathed in blue flames, wearing a massive crown, long hair, and lion armor plating, his body covered in purple scars.
When Rose asked if he had come from the book, the specter confirmed that he had. Vita asked why he was here. Legend Gilgamesh replied that he had been brought into this world by Solar, though he now went by another name. Vita and the others realized he was speaking of Einar.
The ladies then understood that Einar might indeed be a direct descendant of Solaris. When Naomi asked Gilgamesh if Einar was ill, he did not answer directly. He only said that Einar had been "ill" for a long time, and that there was nothing he could do for him. When Naomi pressed for the cause, Gilgamesh gave no reply—he only stared at Vita.
When asked about the strange snake noises, Gilgamesh warned them to stop "poking around" and to leave. Though he admitted there was nothing physically stopping them from continuing, he cautioned them against disturbing something that could make things worse. Finally, when Thalga and Naomi asked if Einar was hiding something in the palace, Gilgamesh answered cryptically:
"An ice palace in the desert? And some call it prison."
He urged the ladies to leave, promising that if they departed now, he would keep their conversation secret and not report their break-in. They agreed, though Rose asked one last question about his scars. Gilgamesh explained that the purple scars marked the same wounds harming Concordia and Einar. Though he felt no pain, he was a reflection of Einar's condition. As they prepared to leave Einar's quarters, the ladies thanked Gilgamesh for what he had shared. The others stepped out first, leaving Vita last. As Gilgamesh slowly faded back into the stone book, he urged her to learn "the wisdom of restraint."
As the ladies returned to the main hall, they discussed what Gilgamesh had told them. Einar was once called Solar and was some kind of reincarnation of the Sun Idol, Solaris.
Could that really be possible? Thalga connected the dots, realizing that whatever was happening in the desert was getting worse, and that it was also affecting Einar somehow. She urged the others that Einar needed to trust them instead of erasing people's memories. Rose, once more hearing the sigh, was growing fed up with it—though she still had no idea where it was coming from.
While Rose, Naomi, and Thalga waited in the mansion's hallway, Vita returned to Kaedlin's quarters to put back the key to Einar's room. As she was about to place it in the drawer, she noticed that the Sun card began to glow... and she heard her mother’s voice:
"Well... maybe another tour of the manor then? Now that you are feeling a bit better?"
Vita experienced a vision: she saw her father, Einar, looking happy, kind, and warm, with golden skin and a flower crown. He was holding her mother’s hands in what appeared to be her old room here in Einar’s manor. Vita realized that Kaedlin’s room had once belonged to Ameena.
"Alright... I made you a promise, I'll show you the BreiĂ°ablik hall..."
The vision deeply shifted Vita’s perception of her father. She realized he had once been a different person—he looked different, he was happy, and he was kind. She finally understood that her mother and Einar hadn’t just shared a fling. They had a real relationship. It felt nostalgic, but sad too. She imagined the life that could have been if Einar hadn’t cast Ameena out.
While the other ladies wondered why Vita took so long, Naomi stepped back into Kaedlin's room. Vita told her what she just saw, and how she longed for the life she might have had with them. Yet Vita also felt as though she were betraying her stepfather, Leander, who had always been there for her whenever she needed him. She still considered Leander her real dad.
Vita tried to wrap her head around the situation, because it still didn’t make sense. Luminary and humans couldn’t have children. Naomi could only respond that perhaps it was a miracle. Vita tried to argue against this, but Naomi reminded her that until a few weeks ago she had never been able to use magic, and now she could bend and shape water. To her, that was nothing short of a miracle as well.
Rose overheard their conversation and began piecing it together—Vita was indeed Einar’s daughter. She chose to keep it to herself for now, realizing this must be why Vita had been acting so strangely.
Meanwhile, Thalga, who was in the hallway at the time, noticed that the special room titled BreiĂ°ablik suddenly opened, the sound of the creaking door echoing through the corridor.
The ladies proceeded to the BreiĂ°ablik Hall, which turns out to be gorgeous ballroom that transformed with seasons and environments depending on who entered last, with Rose entering last it finally settling into an ice-wintry palace.
The room was filled with wooden puppets, sitting at the many, many tables, all enjoying their time together, amongst them was one resembling the regal lion man as well.
Along with the everything else, a large piano appears in the room as well. While Vita and Naomi step towards the piano, Rose and Thalga check out the wooden puppets, realizing that there's one puppet facing away from the crowd, sitting alone at one of the tables.
As Naomi touches one of the piano's keys, the Sun card glows up, Vita realizing that another vision might be happening, but suddenly the card then asks her a question...
"Would you like to share this with them?"
As Vita nodded, two ghostly specters appeared in the room...
Ameena and a “spring-flowered” Einar stepped into the Breiðablik Hall. Amazed by how beautiful the room was, Ameena asked Einar why he didn’t use it—it was so wonderful. But before Einar could answer, she quickly apologized, saying he didn’t need to explain.
Naomi, Vita, Rose, and Thalga saw Ameena step toward the piano, asking Einar if she could play. Einar agreed, and Ameena told him how, when she was young, she used to sneak into the Leonopolis Musical Conservatory, where a friend named Kaedlin taught her a few songs. As Ameena began to play, Einar joined her, and the two of them performed together for a while.
But when Einar stopped playing, Ameena noticed the puppets. Einar told her they were his family—or rather, the equivalent of family for a Luminary. Ameena asked why they were there, and Einar admitted he was waiting for his family to return.
Einar stepped away from the piano, yet it continued playing. As he sang...
I can’t make the flowers bloom
I can’t take another night up in this room
Waiting on some miracle...I can’t heal what’s broken
Can’t control the morning rains or the hurricanes
Can’t keep down this unspoken, invisible pain
Always waiting on the miracle...Always walking alone
Always wanting for more
Like I’m still at the cliff, watching her leave
While I just stood by...
But suddenly... the music stopped. Ice began creeping back over Einar’s body, and in an instant he shifted back into his frozen form. Standing before the lone puppet, Ameena asked softly, “Who were you singing about?” The vision ended as Einar replied,
“I’m... I... I can't tell you... it’s too painful to talk about.”
Rose and Thalga, who had made their way to the puppet see it, and it resembles Vita...
As Naomi and Vita rush to the others to see the puppet. As the ladies all stare at the puppet, Rose once more hears the sigh... Vita stares at the statue utterly baffled, the statue is a bit longer in height compared to her, her clothes are a bit different and she doesn't have the two braids, yet beyond that... it's almost identical.
The ladies pieced together that the statue must have been here for over 18 years, with Thalga adding that it might have been present even before Einar and Ameena met. Unlike the other statues, this one was turned away, facing in a different direction. Rose connected the dots that the other statue—the one with the bare chest—resembled the lion man she had seen in her vision. That must have been some kind of Luminary form, allowing him to wander among the commonfolk. After all, there were stories of the idols walking among the people.
As the ladies discussed their situation, Eryn, the attendant, returned from the market and caught them in the ballroom. They managed to deceive her, claiming ignorance and curiosity since the door had been open, and they offered to help with dinner.
While assisting in the kitchen, Naomi and Vita subtly questioned Eryn, who revealed she had been in service for 12 years and considered it important to preserve Luminary traditions for her employer, Lumin Einar. Naomi also confirmed that Eryn’s day off was always the 30th of each month—a rule for all servants—and that she had once been locked out on that day.
Meanwhile, Thalga and Rose helped set the table. Rose, however, continued to hear the persistent sighing. She and Thalga went to the ladies’ room to freshen up, wondering how everything was connected. As she focused on the sigh, she realized it was feminine in nature. Thalga wondered if it might somehow be tied to what Legend Gilgamesh had said.
Rose then confided to Thalga that she had overheard a private conversation between Vita and Naomi, but that it wasn’t her place to share. This only made Thalga more curious—and even frustrated—that she refused to tell her what was going on, though she had her suspicions. As Rose and Thalga turned around to face the mirror, letters appeared on the glass... H.E.L.P.
This completely freaked the both of them out. Thalga takes a more pragmatical approach to the situation wondering that whatever Einar is keeping her, might try to trick them into freeing it.
During their conversation, the history of the Luminary came up, including how Rose had the ability to summon wings for a time. Eryn then mentioned that there had once been another attendant in service here, named Feronis, and that his husband used to visit often as well. When the ladies asked how long he had been absent, Eryn wasn’t entirely sure. She thought it had been around seven or eight years ago. She hadn’t really gotten to say goodbye—Feronis had simply stopped serving, and Einar certainly never spoke about it. The ladies pressed with more questions.
But suddenly… Eryn scratched her head and asked them what they had been talking about again. The ladies quickly distracted her, but each of them realized that the servants must have been bewitched or enchanted by Einar to stop them from speaking about certain subjects—and that the spell’s hold had somehow weakened for a short while.
As dinner wrapped up, Eryn told the ladies they could get some tea in the reading room while she cleaned up. The group realized this might be their only chance to see what was actually down that staircase in the throne room. Rose kept hearing the sigh, growing louder somehow and more persistent...
But before they could move on, Thalga demanded an explanation from the others. She knew they were hiding something—and that Vita was keeping a secret. Thalga also pointed out that Rose had overheard, which caused a bit of friction. Naomi stood by Vita, reminding them that she had shared this earlier in the month, but that Einar had somehow wiped their memories.
Vita then told the others the truth: she is Einar’s daughter. She admitted she didn’t understand how it was possible either. Einar and her mother had been in a relationship, but a Luminary and a human should not have been able to have children. Somehow, though, his ability to erase their minds no longer seemed to trigger—or perhaps it failed to take hold. She suspected it was connected to the gemstone on her armor, which had darkened and then cracked.
The ladies agree, if they leave now, they'll never get this chance again.
They returned to the throne room and, as each of the ladies stood before one of the statues, the passage with the staircase opened once again. However, if they stepped away, the passage would close. The ladies wondered if there was some kind of password, or if they needed to perform a ritual. Without thinking, Naomi said, “Embrace the sun,” and the spear held by the knight in front of her began to glow. Vita, Rose and Thalga did the same, and soon all the spears shone brightly. Together, they descended into the darkness, following a narrow tunnel that led to a massive icy rock door. Pushing it open, they stepped into a brilliant, frost-covered chamber with a towering crystal at its center.
Inside the crystal, they made a shocking discovery: a figure encased in ice, bearing a striking resemblance to Vita—a young woman with braids and the same Luminary ears as her own. Deeply shaken, Vita tried to communicate with what felt like her reflection.
When Vita asked her, “Who are you?” the girl began to draw on the inside of the ice, and letters appeared: Viða (pronounced Vitha).
The girl in the crystal couldn’t speak, but when the ladies entered the room, she looked genuinely surprised to see Vita, staring at her intently. Vita placed her hand against the crystal, and Viða mirrored her gesture.
Naomi asked if she had been the one calling for help. ViĂ°a nodded. Naomi then asked if she was being held against her will. Again, she nodded. When Rose asked how they could help, the girl in the ice turned her gaze to Vita.
Vita cast her message spell, and to her relief it reached Viða. Though the girl could not speak, her thoughts flowed into Vita’s mind. It's the same voice as hers... With her finger, Viða traced the shape of a flame upon the ice—perhaps a plea to be melted free.
Vita wondered if this might be her future. Naomi immediately responded, “Not if I have anything to do with it.” Vita then remembered what had happened at the Shamsha Leonidas. She had thought her father had stepped away from her because she reminded him too much of her mother—but what if he had been talking about… her? Frustrated, Vita didn’t know what to do. Her frustration began to cause the ice around her to slowly melt.
Naomi wondered if this girl was the one Einar had sung about earlier in the vision at the Breiðablik Hall. Thalga speculated that she might be contained here, pondering the question: “Vita, imagine what your uncontrollable wild magic could become if it were truly uncontrollable?”
Through the spell, ViĂ°a revealed that she doesn't know how long she had been trapped here. She remembered only that her imprisonment began when she was five years old. It seemed Einar still visited her. Thalga and Naomi pieced it together: Einar returned once each month, not only to see her, but to keep the ice crystal contained.
As Vita touched the ice crystal once more, the other girls noticed that it was starting to slowly melt. The girl inside the crystal saw this and her eyes widened. But Naomi, Vita, and Rose urged her to step back from the crystal.
Thalga realized that Vita’s emotional state was causing the room to warm, and she urged the others to step back. Naomi agreed. They didn’t yet understand why the girl had been contained here, and only Einar knew the answer. As Naomi told the girl that they couldn’t free her if it might put her in danger, the girl looked away.
Naomi turned to Vita, urging her that they needed to find answers first, and promised they would do it together. Rose spoke up, saying she understood her pain and that she would do anything to get her sister back. Vita countered, her voice tight with emotion: “At least you know you have a sister. I don’t! I see myself here.” Rose’s voice softened. “I would want to know if it’s really her…”
Vita proclaimed that she needed to speak with her mother—she had seen the puppet in the Breiðablik Hall and felt it must know something. However, Naomi reminded her that the puppet had likely been there long before Einar and Ameena had met. Vita suggested confronting Einar alone, but Naomi realized that he would know they had helped her, since accessing this room required all four of them.
Vita’s mind raced with questions. Was the girl in the crystal… really herself? What if she got out? The thought twisted in her stomach like ice. Naomi’s voice cut through the tension, sharp with fear: the girl could be lying, and if she escaped, she could kill them all. Rose added, her words trembling with dread, that the girl might even possess Vita herself, taking over everything she was.
Realizing there was nothing more they could do, their hearts heavy with dread and unanswered questions, the girls reluctantly left the room, the weight of Einar’s mansion pressing down on them as they stepped out, hearing one more final sigh...
The walk back to their common room was filled with silence, each of the girls struggling to process the events of the day. Naomi approached Vita, telling her how proud she was that Vita had told them the truth. Haunted by the image of her imprisoned counterpart, Vita confessed her fear that this might one day become her own future—to protect everyone from her chaotic magic.
She asked the other ladies to promise that, if there was no other way to change her destiny, they would find a way to end her life rather than let her spend it trapped in an ice crystal. Naomi and Thalga, deeply troubled, agreed to honor Vita’s wishes if it ever came to that. Rose, connected to Harmonia, the idol of Gentle Passage, struggled with making such a promise. Naomi hugged Vita, reassuring her that she was not alone and that together they would uncover the truth.
Suddenly… something fell to the ground in the room.
Vita heard a faint, almost playful giggle, and picked up a strange twenty-sided die. Its faces bore unusual markings, none numerical—one even resembled a sun. The die spoke to her...
“For when you are in great need! Hihi!”
Rose noticed that the symbols on the die seemed connected to the Temple of the Undecided, representing twenty concepts such as Fate, Void, Balance, and the Sun, Moon, Star, and Comet. The girls resolved to keep the die safe and to visit the Temple of the Undecided for answers and guidance. Vita decided to hold onto the die for now, and with that, the ladies retired to their rooms for the night.
Key Information Points
Vita's Parentage Revealed
Vita confessed to Naomi at the beach that Einar Giedensera is her father—a shocking revelation given that Humans and Luminary cannot reproduce together
Her mother Ameena had been one of Einar's attendants and they had an affair; when Ameena revealed her pregnancy, Einar cast her out, refusing to believe the child could be his. Vita believes her unpredictable magical abilities stem from Einar's lineage, as her mother's family possessed no magical heritage whatsoever.
She experiences deep internal conflict between yearning for Einar's acceptance and feeling she would betray her stepfather Leander, who has been her true parental figure since entering her life.
Einar had previously used his mind-reading abilities and memory-wiping powers when Vita accidentally revealed this secret at the vineyard a month prior.
The ocean responded unnaturally to Naomi's presence during this conversation, with waves growing louder and stronger as if protecting Vita's secret.
Manor Arrival
The group approached Einar's manor, finding it covered in a perfect, static layer of snow with all plant life frozen in time showing no decay
A localized, thin blizzard of white clouds swirled above the palace, stopping precisely at the manor's edges
Vita proved impervious to the cold while others struggled, and the gate magically opened upon her approach
They met Eryn, an older woman with dark skin and silvery tattoo markings, who provided orange-ruby gemstones to help the others resist the palace's cold
Eryn revealed that Einar and Kaedlin were at the Orpaz Royal Palace with an unknown return time, and other attendants were busy with the Luminary Gardens
Kaedlin's Quarters
Vita discovered Kaedlin's room mysteriously left unlocked and found a petrified lionfolk with angel-like wings (later identified as Feronis) in the bathing area
The petrified figure appeared older than other recent petrifications, having been recently moved to this location
At Kaedlin's desk, Vita found keys to Einar's private quarters and a peculiar card labeled "The Sun" below the room marked: "BreiĂ°ablik"
She also discovered an old note from Kaedlin apologizing to someone named 'Feronis'
The Sun card's figure reminded Vita of Einar in some way, suggesting a deeper connection
Throne Room
The throne room contained a giant ice throne and four large statues of warriors on horseback representing the four elements
When each girl stood before their corresponding elemental statue, Rose detected magical auras and the statues' eyes glowed with accompanying elemental sounds (wind, earthquake, ocean)
Thalga recalled reading about the ancient Luminary kingdom Maraya that once existed at this location but was destroyed before The Throne War, with Costa Del Rugido built atop its capital
Standing in position triggered a dramatic transformation from winter to summer appearance and summoned ghostly apparitions
A vision of Solaris appeared—a bored lion-man with radiant light markings and heterochromatic eyes (one sun-red, one cold-blue) expressing his ennui during times of unprecedented peace
The vision included a young Luminary woman approaching Solaris, with his lament about having "read every story and seen every play"
Stewards of Solaris
Naomi realizes that the petrified statue had been placed in magical healing water, where she heard voices saying "We had so many more plans for our life together" and "Damn you!"
Rose's magical sight revealed the statue had golden wings invisible to others and radiated a purple aura similar to previous situations they've encountered.
When Vita touched the statue with the Sun card, she experienced a vision of Kaedlin, Beau the fisherman, Lorelai, and a black-furred lionfolk being declared "Stewards of Solaris" by Einar
The group realized: Beau was the Water-Blessed Steward, Kaedlin the Fire-Blessed Steward, Lorelai the Earth-Blessed Steward, and Feronis the Wind-Blessed Steward
This revelation connected the missing Feronis to Beau as life partners, explaining the emotional resonance in the magical water.
Einar's Private Quarters and Legend Gilgamesh
In Einar's private quarters, they found a glowing stone tablet shaped like a book, engraved with unreadable language and emanating sparkly blue magic
They discovered a hand-drawn portrait of Vita's mother Ameena in an exquisite wooden frame in a large, unused bedroom
When Thalga questioned whether Ameena might have been a concubine, an insulted voice responded, introducing itself as Legend Gilgamesh
The specter appeared from the stone tablet—a figure wreathed in blue flames, wearing a massive crown, with long hair and lion armor plating, his body covered in purple scars
Gilgamesh revealed he had been brought into this world by "Solar" (Einar's former name), confirming Einar as a direct descendant or reincarnation of Solaris
When asked about Einar's condition, Gilgamesh cryptically stated Einar had been "ill" for a long time, with nothing he could do to help
The purple scars on Gilgamesh marked the same wounds harming both Concordia and Einar, making him a reflection of Einar's condition
He described the ice palace as a "prison" and urged them to leave, warning against disturbing something that could worsen the situation
Before fading back into the stone book, Gilgamesh urged Vita to learn "the wisdom of restraint"
Ameena and Einar's Relationship
Through the Sun card, Vita experienced a vision of her parents in what had been Ameena's room (now Kaedlin's quarters)
She saw Einar in his former state—happy, kind, warm, with golden skin and a flower crown—a dramatically different person from his current frozen demeanor
The vision showed Einar promising to show Ameena the BreiĂ°ablik hall, revealing their relationship was genuine love, not merely a casual affair
This revelation shifted Vita's understanding, showing her the life that might have been possible if Einar hadn't cast Ameena out
Naomi reminded Vita that her recent magical awakening was itself miraculous, suggesting their parentage might also be a divine miracle
BreiĂ°ablik Hall
The BreiĂ°ablik Hall proved to be a gorgeous ballroom that transformed seasonally based on the last person to enter
The room contained numerous wooden puppets sitting at tables, representing Einar's equivalent of family for a Luminary
One puppet sat alone, facing away from the crowd, while another resembled the regal lion-man from their visions
A vision triggered by the Sun card showed Ameena and the "spring-flowered" Einar entering the hall together
Ameena revealed she had learned piano from Kaedlin at the Leonopolis Musical Conservatory, where she used to sneak in as a child.
During their musical performance, Einar sang a mournful song about being unable to heal what's broken and waiting for miracles, referencing someone he watched leave while he "just stood by".
The music abruptly stopped when ice began creeping over Einar, transforming him back to his current frozen state.
The solitary puppet was revealed to resemble Vita but appeared older, wore different clothes, and had two braids. This puppet had existed for over 18 years, predating even Einar and Ameena's relationship...
Eryn caught them in the BreiĂ°ablik hall and ushered them out.
The Dinner
During dinner conversation, Eryn began discussing the former attendant Feronis and his visiting husband, providing details about their sudden disappearance 7-8 years ago
Mid-conversation, Eryn suddenly scratched her head and asked what they had been discussing, indicating magical memory interference.
The group realized servants were bewitched or enchanted by Einar to prevent discussion of certain subjects, but the spell's hold had temporarily weakened
Rose continued hearing mysterious feminine sighs throughout their exploration of the manor, growing louder and more persistent
Supernatural Warnings
Rose and Thalga witnessed "HELP" appearing as letters on a bathroom mirror, completely freaking them both out
Thalga took a pragmatic approach, wondering if whatever Einar was keeping imprisoned might be trying to trick them into providing freedom
The persistent feminine sighing Rose heard seemed connected to their discoveries and grew more urgent as they approached critical revelations
These supernatural communications suggested an imprisoned entity attempting to reach out for assistance
ViĂ°a
Returning to the throne room, the girls discovered that saying "Embrace the sun" while positioned before the elemental statues caused the spears to glow and opened a hidden staircase
The passage led through a narrow tunnel to a massive icy rock door, beyond which lay a brilliant, frost-covered chamber
At the chamber's center stood a towering crystal containing a shocking discovery: a figure bearing striking resemblance to Vita
The imprisoned girl had braids, the same Luminary ears as Vita, and appeared to be her near-identical twin
When Vita asked "Who are you?" the girl drew letters on the ice spelling "ViĂ°a" (pronounced Vitha)
ViĂ°a appeared genuinely surprised to see Vita, staring intently and mirroring Vita's hand placement on the crystal
Through Vita's message spell, they established mental communication—Viða's thoughts flowing into Vita's mind with the same voice as her own
ViĂ°a traced the shape of a flame on the ice, indicating her desire to be melted free from her prison
ViĂ°a revealed through the mental link that she had been imprisoned since age five and couldn't remember how long she'd been trapped
She confirmed she was being held against her will and looked to Vita specifically when asked how they could help
Einar still visited her regularly, with the group realizing his monthly absences coincided with maintaining her ice crystal prison
Thalga speculated that ViĂ°a represented what Vita's uncontrollable wild magic could become if truly unleashed
Naomi wondered if ViĂ°a was the subject of Einar's mournful song in the BreiĂ°ablik Hall vision, the person he had watched leave while standing by helplessly
What now?
Vita's emotional distress began causing the ice around her to melt, with her frustration literally warming the chamber
The group faced an agonizing decision: ViĂ°a clearly wanted freedom, but they didn't understand why she had been imprisoned
Naomi urged caution, arguing they needed answers first and couldn't risk freeing her if it might endanger everyone
Vita proclaimed she needed to speak with her mother for answers, while others suggested confronting Einar directly
The group realized that accessing the chamber required all four of them, meaning Einar would know of their involvement if ViĂ°a was freed
Rose expressed understanding of Vita's pain, relating it to her desire to recover her own sister, while acknowledging the terrifying possibilities.
The group worried about multiple terrifying possibilities: ViĂ°a might be lying, could kill them if freed, or might possess Vita and take over her identity
The weight of these possibilities and unanswered questions forced them to reluctantly leave the chamber without freeing ViĂ°a
Reflection
Vita expressed deep fear that the imprisoned girl represented her own future—that she too might need to be contained to protect others from her chaotic magic
She asked her companions to promise that if no other solution existed, they would end her life rather than let her spend it trapped in an ice crystal
Naomi and Thalga, deeply troubled, agreed to honor Vita's wishes if such a terrible choice ever became necessary
Rose, connected to Harmonia (the idol of Gentle Passage), struggled with making such a promise due to her divine connection to peaceful death
Suddenly, a mysterious twenty-sided die fell to the ground, accompanied by a faint, playful giggle
The die spoke to Vita with the message "For when you are in great need! Hihi!" suggesting divine or magical assistance
Rose identified the die's symbols as connected to the Temple of the Undecided, representing twenty concepts including Fate, Void, Balance, Sun, Moon, Star, and Comet
The group resolved to visit the Temple of the Undecided for answers and guidance about their discoveries
Vita decided to hold onto the die, suggesting she would be the one to use it in their moment of greatest need
The chapter concluded with the girls going to bed they had school tomorrow, haunted by the image of ViĂ°a and the weight of secrets that could reshape everything they understood...
And that wraps up Chapter 1 | Academy Days
The story continues in Chapter 2 | Imprisoned Spark
