*Briella*
The warmth of the hearth in our home in Celestial Valley had a way of loosening tongues, but this night, an unspoken weight hung in the air. I sat at the head of the table with Kryzen on my right and Kai on my left. Kellen took the seat opposite me. The flickering candlelight danced across their faces as they chatted about mundane things: the crispness of the autumn leaves, Kai's latest medicinal concoction, and Kellen's plans back home. Their words flowed like a gentle stream, but none dared to dip into the river of my impending decision to accept or decline the mantle of Luna of Embervale.
"Pass the bread, will you, Bri?" Kai's voice jolted me from my reverie, his hand outstretched for the loaf sitting just beyond my plate.
"Of course," I replied, handing it over with a smile that didn't quite reach my eyes. I watched him tear off a piece. His movements were confident and carefree, so different from the swirling chaos within my mind.
