Side Stories
Lucien decides to "embrace leisure" after Verenia offhandedly suggests he takes things too seriously.
He tries tea. He analyzes the temperature.
He tries painting.
Accidentally paints a 17-symbol ancient spell.
He takes a bubble bath and is promptly joined by three water spirits who want to "discuss emotional flow."
When Verenia finds him, he's meditating under a waterfall inside a library inside a dream.
"Lucien," she says gently, "this is why you can't have hobbies unsupervised."
He sighs. "I miss stress."
The duck (yes, that duck) gets cursed into a temporary toddler form.
Verenia panics.
Ashrin volunteers. "I've fought liches. How hard can this be?"
The duck has learned how to open cabinets.
Ashrin's armor is covered in glitter glue.
He is emotionally compromised because the duck nuzzled him once.
By the end of the day, he refuses to let it go back to normal.
"Can we keep him like this just a little longer?" he whispers.
Caelis gets jealous that Verenia reads other people's love stories.
He writes one. It's... intense.
Excerpt:
"Their gazes clashed like thunderous soul swords—his love, forbidden; hers, on fire."
He makes everyone read it.
Lucien: "This is 73% kissing and 200% legally questionable metaphors."
Ashrin: "Do these characters have names?"
Caelis: "Names are mortal shackles. Passion knows none."
Verenia?
She secretly keeps a signed copy in her nightstand.
Liora hosts a "non-romantic, platonic-only bonding night" with Verenia and the cast.
There are snacks. Truth or Dare.
Lucien gets dared to wear casual clothes. Everyone stares.
Ashrin reveals he's afraid of frogs.
Caelis sings karaoke. The chandeliers cry.
Liora: "This is what normal friendship looks like, right?"
Verenia: "If by normal, you mean emotionally revealing and slightly cursed? Yes."
They fall asleep in a pillow fort. The duck stands guard.
A magical wardrobe malfunctions and swaps everyone's outfits.
Verenia ends up in Lucien's robes (too long), Ashrin in Caelis's princely ensemble (too sparkly), and Caelis in Verenia's favorite boots and cloak (too powerful).
Lucien, dressed like a rogue, suddenly develops a mischievous personality.
Ashrin mutters, "I hate how well this suit fits."
Caelis twirls dramatically. "I feel like a goddess of war and fashion."
Verenia?
She just smirks and says, "Now this is canon."