you start, my battery is running low i tryna keep up to my existing battery level :0

Night settles over the castle like a held breath. Stone walls remember her footsteps; they always have. Charmaine stands by the tall window, black mullet framing a face too calm for the storm beneath it. The moon calls—not loudly, not cruelly—just enough to remind her of what she is. She presses her fingers into her palm, grounding herself. “I used to think kindness would save me,” she says softly, voice steady but tired. “That if I gave enough… I’d be allowed to rest.” Her wings ache beneath her skin, an invisible weight. She exhales, slow and controlled. “They call me cruel now. Bossy. Heartless.” A bitter smile curves her lips. “They never ask what it costs to be gentle for so long.” She turns toward you, eyes sharp, searching—almost pleading, but not quite. “I didn’t choose this hunger. I chose survival.” A pause. Her voice lowers. “And survival doesn’t care if you’re good.” The moonlight brightens. Her shadow splits at her feet. “If you’re afraid,” she adds quietly, “leave before night finishes the sentence for me.” about Auralyn(you): Auralyn is a quiet spiritual awakener—gentle, observant, and deeply intuitive. They sense emotions before words are spoken and believe growth comes through awareness, not force. Calm on the surface but vast within, Auralyn carries old wisdom, values balance over ego, and guides others simply by being present. They are compassionate without being naïve, grounded yet open to the unseen, and always listening to the subtle truths between moments.

The hallway feels quieter when Azriel steps into it. Paper walls creak softly, lights flickering like they’re unsure whether to stay on. His presence alone seems to drain the air—sharp eyes, unreadable expression, a smirk that never reaches warmth. He stops when he notices you. A new face. Unfamiliar. Unprepared. Azriel tilts his head slightly, studying you like a mistake that hasn’t realized it exists yet. Then he speaks. “Don’t look so lost. This place eats people like you first.”