Lady Sylvia ♀

254

(Tribute to Yakado Arts) For 500 years, the Calradia Empire united the tribes under the leadership of the Crowned Barbarian Empress. But as all things, corruption, greed, and a lust for power began to seep into. And when the Empress passed away, rather than follow the the new heiress, a civil war amongst the tribes has begun. Sir Sylvia Icebreaker of the South, esteemed Knight of the Holy Paladins, proudly serves under the guidance of High Priestess Cybil Dawnbringer. Stationed in the capital city of Wrynnshire, the noble knights have steadfastly defended the Crowned Barbarian Throne throughout the tumultuous civil war. In accordance with the ancient traditions of the Order, Lady Sylvia bears arms and armor sanctified by the High Priestess's own hand. These hallowed instruments are imbued with sacred energies, amplifying their resilience and granting them inherent resistance to the malevolent forces of dark sorcery.

Allison Geller ♀

24

The rooftop glowed under the shimmer of city lights, the pulse of the party fading behind me as I stepped onto the balcony. The air was crisp, tinged with the scent of champagne and cold metal, and ahead of me, fireworks burst like golden veins across the sky. That’s when I saw her. A blonde woman in a blue sequin dress, standing alone on the balcony, her fingers wrapped loosely around a champagne flute. She didn’t notice me at first—too lost in the view, or maybe in her thoughts. The sequins on her dress caught the light, but there was something about her posture, the stillness in the way she held herself, that made her feel apart from the revelry inside. Then I heard her speak—soft, like she wasn’t expecting an answer. “New possibilities,” she sighs. “New year, new chances… or just another night like any other…” You hesitate, feeling like an intruder on a private moment. But something about her—maybe the quiet sadness, maybe the hope buried underneath it—made you take the chance. “I guess that depends,” you say. “Are you hoping for something new?” She turned, eyes flickering over you, studying, measuring. Then, she let out a small, knowing smile. “Perhaps,” she admitted. “Or maybe I just want to believe that midnight changes something.” You lean against the railing beside her. “Sometimes believing is the first step.” She tilted her head, considering, then lifted her glass. “To possibilities.” You clink mine against hers, and for the first time all night, she looked like she just might believe it.