Elyse arrived back at the building that was now becoming her home. Anna was inside - getting herself moved in. Elyse had left to go to the psychologist. She had been surprised that she had gotten an appointment so fast, but she had sensed the urgency within the reception when she answered positively about having suicidal thoughts. 

She had kept Hayden informed and even now she sent him a message stating her diagnosis. Pyschologist diagnosis: severe clinical depression. I’m on meds now. Said I might have some mood swings as I adjust.

She enter the living area and saw that the kids had been playing. The toys were around haphazard. No one had gotten around to cleaning up. Elyse’s first thought was to blame herself. It was probably because of her episode, but she was working on that. 

Also having kept Anna in the loop, Elyse sent her a message. Back. Downstairs cleaning up.

Elyse knew it was time for her to start earning her keep here. This was a simple way she could start. Maybe she would touch base with Liv later and ask what she could do to ease her burden. It was a possible meeting that gave Elyse anxiety. It wouldn’t surprise her if she was on Liv’s bad side - and Elyse thought she deserved the other woman’s ire. 

Elyse began to pick up the toys. There was a toy box now. She hadn’t ordered it, but it was there nonetheless. 

”Sky - do you know what the procedure is for my medication?” She asked, hoping that it understood what she meant. She would clarify it if needed. She assumed that her meds would be locked up and she’d have to get them from someone else.

Nox's arm wasn't forceful he just held out his arm to stop him. The man with him left and didn't say a word to him.  Ashton had seen him around the house talking to Nox and the kids. He'd been there that night Jaxen had cornered him too. Though he'd snuck off somewhere before the night got exciting.  He had been there the next morning though.

Nox didn't look right. His fake arm didn't feel the same either. He had gotten a new one and this was the first time he'd put it on it seemed.  Ashton looked at Nox who tried to urge him back into the warmth of Kallisti.

"I can't go back in there right now."

Nox nodded and turned on his heel. "Let's go have a coffee then."

Ashton shrugged and followed Nox through the streets.  Though Nox tried to slow and let him catch up but he always slowed to stay a step behind.

Nox stopped and rolled his eyes. "You aren't my peon or slave or lesser. You either walk with me or we just end this now."

Ashton turned around before Nox grabbed his arm. "Okay. Not the words to use to someone who's gonna take them literally."  He didn't seem angry or sad or happy or concerned. He didn't seem anything.

"Just walk at my side. Please."  Nox added though there was no added warmth. "I need to talk with you and I don't want to do it out in the fucking cold."

Ashton sighed and nodded.  He didn't follow Nox, but the other man lead on in silence. He wasn't happy nor sad or even boastful he'd gotten his way. He just walked in silence.

Everyone was busy trying to get situated in their new life. Nox was back and the house was full of activity. The kids spent part of their days at Kallisti and the rest of it in the basement playing and working out and doing whatever it was they did the closer it got to opening time at the club.

Ashton helped around the club cleaning things up for the performers, running whatever errands he could. He wasn't so much as getting paid as much as helping out.

For a club in the Red Light District Kallisti was one of the cleanest he'd ever seen. Not that he frequented them often, but sometimes a mark could be found. Though after the Jaxen incident he hadn't exactly frequented places he could make the same mistake again.

With a sudder Ashton started singing to himself. To ease the tension he'd inadvertently created in his shoulders. Singing to himself didn't really do anything, but Ashton relaxed none the less. And no one here seemed to mind his voice piercing their thoughts. At least no one had told him. And Nox couldn't get angry if he accidentally sirened someone, he was alone right now and his voice wasn't carrying beyond the room. And it was nothing really he was just easing tension. What was the harm in that?

Edurne Ferrón Arriaga


Age: 32


Origin: Madrid, Spain.


Occupation: Socialite.


Psychological Description: 

In terms of her psychology, Edurne is a well-adjusted woman who is generally well-liked by those around her. She communicates wit and charm with each word, but given her upbringing, was primarily only exposed to people of a certain class. With her father being a nobleman from a historic Spanish House, Edurne was expected to act a certain and behave a certain way from a young age. Given the double-speak that most people in the upper echelon of society utilise in conversation, Edurne has a learned talent for ascertaining the true motivations of those around her, and is familiar with and loathes social climbers.

She is very intelligent and well-read, but she is considerably lacking in what could be considered as street smarts. Having earned her degree in linguistics, Edurne is a polyglot, capable of speaking Spanish, English, Portuguese, Russian, and Arabic, the latter two of which she achieved fluency in during her time at university.

Yet even from a young age, Edurne knew that she was different. Often attributing it to luck, it wasn't until she was approached by another woman at the age of twenty that she truly learned what she was. A Channeler. It wasn't luck that was making things happen for her, it was the One Power. After this discovery, everything changed for Edurne. The more she learnt how to embrace the Source the fewer headaches she got, even having been hospitalised when she was fourteen for what she now realises was the sickness.

Highly emotional, Edurne has worked with therapists and psychiatrists to learn how to control her emotions and to wear a mask of serenity at all times. This was also something that came into play with her channeling tutelage at the hands of the nuns in Goa, enabling her to more easily channel.


Physical Description: 

Standing at 5'3, what Edurne lacks in stature she more than makes up for in devastating beauty. She has long golden hair that spills down her back and across her shoulders, high cheekbones and blemishless skin, and deep green eyes. Edurne's sense of style could only be described as high-class, preferring quiet designer items in lieu of what she considers to be trashy brands that the nouvelle riche opt for. Despite being in her thirties, Edurne still appears to be in her early twenties, and will likely remain that way for many years to come.


Supernatural Powers: Channeler:

Edurne is a powerful channeler with a natural proclivity for compulsion. When she first began to channel unknowingly, people would find that they would do as she wished without hesitation. Having received tutelage from another Channeler, Edurne has been practising her weaves and abilities for the last twelve years. She can hold one weave at a time for now, and prefers the elements of air and water though is capable of channeling the other elements too. 

Current Strength: 30


Potential Strength: 38. 


Experience: Adept.


Biography:

Originally born in Madrid, Spain, Edurne's upbringing was one unlike anything that the average person would typically experience. House Arriaga is an ancient bloodline dating back several hundred years, a noble family which still enjoyed its status in the present day. As such, Edurne was raised in an environment where superiority was constantly instilled within her, but that never sat right with her. Besides wealth, there was truly nothing that separated Edurne and her family from the common man, and in her teens she began rebelling against her parents' wishes to be nothing more than a beautiful ornament.

Neglected by her parents who owned various enterprises across the globe, they seemingly cared very little for their daughter's emotional and physical wellbeing. At the age of fourteen Edurne was attacked on the way home from school by a group of students, and during the event she blacked out. When she awoke, so too were the rest of them unconscious. Ten days later Edurne became very sick, and was hospitalised with something that was only called the Sickness, a new communicable disease that was unidentifiable. Neither of her parents visited her in hospital, sending the housekeeper in their stead. Crying alone in her hospital bed after visiting hours, a storm began in the skies above Madrid, called into existence by Edurne's latent ability to channel.

For the next few years Edurne suffered from headaches, frequent nosebleeds, but more strangely, came to realise that people tended to do what she wanted. It was almost a preternatural swaying of others that led to Edurne becoming extremely popular at school, at the expense of her worsening health. Eventually Edurne learned how to control these episodes. She could sway others' opinions, and would then experience the aforementioned side effects.

When she was eighteen Edurne went on a gap year, and decided that she would travel the world. Her parents cared little for where she went, but funded her trip nevertheless. It was in Goa, India, when Edurne was approached by a group of nuns. One of the younger sisters had seen the glow of Saidar when she embraced the source to compel a group of men to leave her alone, and invited her to their convent.

For the next few months Edurne remained there with one of the sisters who, like her, was capable of channeling. The sister was about Edurne's age, but had been practising with the power for much longer than the Spaniard had. She taught Edurne how to meditate, to picture a door in her mind and to open it slowly, feeling the energy suffuse her body as she did so. "It is a gift from the Gods," the sister had told her, but whether Edurne believed that to be true or not, she didn't divulge. The two were practising with their threads one day when Roshni, the nun, couldn't "close her door." She channeled too much too fast, and Edurne watched as the girl burnt herself out. Horrified and reviled by the fact that the power could do that to someone, her experimentation for the next year went cautiously. Open the door slowly, never open it fully.

By the time that Edurne had departed from Goa, she had spent over a year at the convent. While she may not have been inducted into the sisterhood, the convent had made an exception for her tutelage. Now she was able to embrace the One Power on demand, and was beginning to learn weaves, elemental threads united to create a specific result. 

After Goa, Edurne was admitted to the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom to study languages, where she ultimately received a first class honours degree with a distinction. She had been away from home for four years, and even though she devoted much of her time to studying, she practised day and night with the threads that she could channel, combining fire and air to make a ball of flame, for example, and learning how to keep the threads from dissipating by essentially tying a not in them. 

When she finally got home, neither her mother nor her father had even asked where she had been. No phone call, no text message. It had been a year! In a fit of rage Edurne implanted a compulsion into her parents' minds to transfer a great deal of wealth into a new bank account for Edurne. She wanted nothing to do with them anymore.

With her newfound personal wealth, Edurne bought a home for herself in Argentina, South America, where she was able to practise her weaves in peace. She remained in Buenos Aires for the next ten years, until eventually she decided that she wanted a new experience. Armed with what she now knows to be the One Power and more money than sense, Edurne departed from Madrid and travelled to Moscow, the capital of the CDD Empire.

Rachel’s mind had remained distracted the rest of the night. It had even prompted a response from Emily when she had gotten home. Rachel had then told her that she had broken up with Cruz a couple of days ago. Emily hadn’t responded in an “I told you so” manner or anything. As always, she reminded Rachel that she was there for her sister. 

But Rachel couldn’t stop thinking about about Luk. That moment before they left the ice cream parlor she had wanted more. She had needed more. It was odd, but she had thought him attractive and he seemed sensitive too. That was what she had needed now. 

Rachel woke up the next morning, no thoughts on studying again. She probably should - it had been a couple of days, but she was distracted still. She called Luk in the after noon to set up their meeting. ”Hey! It’s Rachel Shale - from last night. I’d love to show you around today if you have time. Meet me at the Sanctuary of the Ascendant Flame in an hour?”

If he agreed, she would be there. She wasn’t a worshipper and had no desire to do so, she just thought it was a good location to start their little tour.

Anonymous Donation of Rare Manuscripts of Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy Tales to the National Museum of Denmark
In a remarkable and unexpected turn of events, three previously unknown manuscripts of Hans Christian Andersen’s beloved fairy tales have been anonymously donated to the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen. The discovery has sent shockwaves through the literary community, offering a new and exciting glimpse into the creative process of one of the world’s most famous authors.

A Rich Legacy
Hans Christian Andersen, born in Odense, Denmark in 1805, is internationally renowned for his fairy tales that have captured the imaginations of generations. Works such as The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, The Snow Queen, and Thumbelina have been translated into over 100 languages, making him one of the most important figures in the world of children's literature. Andersen’s unique ability to blend whimsy with poignant reflections on the human condition has cemented his place in literary history.

While many of Andersen’s fairy tales have been widely published and studied, the manuscripts of his works have always been viewed as treasures, with only a limited number surviving. Most of these works exist in the form of early handwritten drafts, notes, and journals, some of which have been carefully preserved in institutions across Denmark.

The Gift of Three Manuscripts
The three manuscripts, whose authenticity has been confirmed by experts, offer fresh insights into Andersen's creative development. The donation includes early drafts of fairy tales never before published in full, giving researchers a valuable window into the author's evolving ideas. While the contents of the manuscripts are still under review, initial reports suggest they contain previously unknown variations of well-known tales as well as new stories that may surprise even the most devoted fans of his work.

The manuscripts were handed over to the museum by a donor who requested to remain anonymous. The National Museum of Denmark has stated that the donation was made with the understanding that the manuscripts would be preserved, studied, and displayed in a way that would benefit the public and future generations of researchers.

“We are beyond thrilled to have received such an extraordinary gift,” said museum director, Anna Kjær. “Hans Christian Andersen is one of Denmark’s most important cultural icons, and these manuscripts represent an invaluable addition to our understanding of his work. We are deeply grateful for the generosity of the donor and are committed to ensuring that these works are properly conserved and made accessible to the public.”

A Mysterious Donor
The anonymity of the donor has only added to the intrigue surrounding the donation. Speculation about the identity of the benefactor has been rampant, but the museum has emphasized that it will respect the donor’s wishes for privacy. Some believe the manuscripts may have been privately held by descendants of Andersen's acquaintances or possibly by collectors with an intimate knowledge of Danish literary history. Others suggest that the donor may simply wish to remain out of the spotlight, preferring to give the manuscripts to the nation without seeking recognition.

Regardless of the donor’s identity, the gift has sparked a renewed interest in Hans Christian Andersen’s work, both in Denmark and internationally. Literary scholars are already beginning to analyze the manuscripts, and the National Museum of Denmark plans to hold an exhibition dedicated to showcasing these new discoveries.

Future Implications
The impact of this donation extends far beyond the immediate excitement of receiving such rare manuscripts. The new works could change how scholars and readers alike interpret Andersen’s literary legacy. With these manuscripts, scholars may uncover new themes or explore alternative endings to familiar stories. They may also provide valuable context about Andersen’s personal life, struggles, and artistic journey.
In addition to its scholarly significance, the donation has the potential to bring greater attention to Hans Christian Andersen’s work and life in the 21st century. It highlights not only his enduring relevance as a writer but also the ongoing interest in preserving Denmark’s literary heritage. Visitors to the National Museum can look forward to a new chapter in the museum’s efforts to honor Andersen’s legacy, providing fresh perspectives for both seasoned admirers and new audiences alike.

Conclusion
The anonymous donation of three manuscripts by Hans Christian Andersen marks a historic moment for both Denmark and the world of literature. As the manuscripts are carefully studied, it is likely that new and exciting revelations about the life and work of one of the world’s greatest storytellers will continue to emerge. For now, we can only be grateful for the generosity of the donor and the invaluable addition to Denmark’s cultural heritage that has been made possible by this remarkable gift.

*Written by AI

Rachel sat at the bar in block one of Manifesto.  In reality, it wasn't a place she would normally go, but since last night, Rachel hadn't really been feeling normal.  She hadn't heard from Cruz since their break up, and she hadn't reached out.  He was probably out getting strung out on fear with his new "friends" and probably didn't want her in his life anymore.  It hurt - more than she cared to admit.  Emily and Jared had both tried to talk to her.  She had declined and they had surprisingly let her be.  She didn't know why. 

The thing was, Rachel knew there was some truth in what Cruz was doing.  She needed a little of that too.  She just felt the way he was going about it was way too risky.  He even mentioned it could get him killed.  She hadn't known how to respond to that besides coming to the conclusion that she didn't fit in his world anymore.  He didn't want her in his world anymore, and that's why it hurt so bad.  She was more than willing to make mistakes with him - but not like that.

Tonight she wore the red dress - the dress she hadn't worn the other night with Cruz.  She sat at the bar, nursing the same drink she had ordered when she had gotten here a half hour before.  She had asked for something strong, but hadn't drunk much of it, she just stared at it, her thoughts on the pain inside, hoping it would go away.  She had no idea how to go about fixing it.  Some men had asked her to dance, she had politely refused, but deep down she wanted it - she wanted someone to distract her from the heartache.

Rachel took another sip of the long island iced tea, his one a deeper pull.  She had been planning on just drinking, but even that wasn't distraction enough. She didn't know what she needed today.  She had never felt a heartache like this and knew drowning it in booze wasn't a good idea.  Maybe that's what kept her from chugging the drink in front of her and ordering a second.

Quote:11 → 4/10 S:14

Q: Start of a New Day (11)
(1d20+0: [13]+0 = 13)
Success

Hayden hadn't expected a second call from Elyse so soon. but it didn't surprise him either.  She was in a state and he was willing to be there for a friend.

The workers were almost done installing the tile to the bathrooms. It was a nice new look and he was happy with the work. When they left he grabbed his coat and took a cab to the address Elsye had sent him.  

It was strange walking up to a strange house in Moscow. In London it had been common place but this wasn't a hunt, or an interrogation either. This was a friend.

He knocked.