HOUSE MARENO | A Daughter's Departure

[sarahbarah 7105]

 

Spoiler

 

 

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The morning of her departure was cold and gray, but the harbor of Trident’s Peak was alive with noise and clamor. The groaning of ropes and the cries of seagulls overhead were near-deafening in the quiet of that early dawn. Eirene stood upon the weatherworn docks with her satchel clutched tightly beneath one arm, peering up at the vessel that would carry her far from home for the very first time in her life.

 

She first thought of Gerald, and all the mischief her younger brother seemed capable of conjuring from thin air. The halls of their home would no doubt grow quieter in her absence, though she suspected Gerald would find some new calamity to occupy himself with soon enough. And Sirius, mute as ever, yet somehow among the sassiest souls she had ever known. Eirene pictured the unimpressed looks and the pointed stares that somehow conveyed entire arguments without a single spoken word. Naturally, she found herself quietly missing him already. Caerine, too – loyal and devoted to whatever she had set her mind to. For years, Eirene had admired the way she carried the burdens of their house and sought to lead House Mareno to a more prosperous future.

 

Her thoughts wandered then to Hannibal, and to their endless bickering that seemed, in hindsight, comforting in some strange way. She could imagine the smug grin plastered across his face as he mocked her for looking so terribly sentimental upon that dockside. A fond smile stretched across her features, despite how terribly he did annoy her sometimes. She wondered whether he would miss arguing with her half so much as she would miss arguing with him.

She thought of Aurelian and Kusi, too, and all the butterflies they had chased and catalogued together through gardens and meadows all across the continent of Azuras. How many afternoons had been spent debating colors, markings, and names while the world around them seemed wonderfully small and simple? Some day, they would finish their encyclopedia.

 

There were Junayd and Zayd, whose kindness lingered within recent memory. Though they hailed from a people far different from her own, there had never been any difficulty in understanding the compassion they bore. In a world so frequently divided by differences, their warmth felt universal. It was the sort of goodness that transcended borders and languages in their entirety. She thought of Friedel, too. There had always been something grounding about him – his honesty, perhaps, which was scarce amongst the courtiers of the palace. Friedel spoke plainly when others dressed their words in silken pleasantries, and Eirene found comfort in that sincerity, too. Duncan came to mind as well, along with his endless love for their favorite band, Landskar. Eirene could hear him now, passionately rambling about songs, lyrics, and performances with the sort of enthusiasm that was impossible not to indulge.

 

Ithmere, Martin, and Cosette. The adventures they had embarked upon seemed rather minuscule beneath the shadow of her imminent departure. Too did those memories linger within her heart, cherished and held dearly: reckless wanderings through crowded streets and frolicking in distant fields. Though Ithmere and Eirene had squabbled in recent years, she could not help but think fondly of the girl’s pious, stubborn nature. Ithmere possessed the sort of devotion that remained undeterred even amidst hardship and strife. Naturally, they had not always seen eye to eye, but Eirene found herself missing that earnest spirit far more than she expected. She thought then of Lajka, and those coy little smiles that always seemed to conceal far more than they revealed. Eirene pondered if she’d be a Templar by the time she returned; somehow, the thought suited her strangely well.

 

For a fleeting moment, she wished she could abandon the ship entirely and remain behind with them all. Nonetheless, the duty of weight far exceeded that of her longing. and Eirene’s mother, Circe, had raised her beneath the sturdy, suffocating weight of expectation. It was well-known that the women of House Mareno were not afforded the luxury of idleness. Even now, Eirene could almost hear her mother’s voice urging her onward, stern but proud. 

 

She thought of the Empress, then. Her presence was the sort that filled an entire room with little effort; something expectant, commanding, and authoritative. Eirene had always found something oddly comforting in it, even when it intimidated her. Valentiná carried herself with the certainty of someone who expected excellence, and somehow that severity had always felt motherly to Eirene; motivational, if anything. 

 

 

Eirene’s gaze settled upon the distant horizon, the vast stretch of sea pulling her from the sentimentality of her thoughts. She was a daughter of House Mareno foremost. There were expectations upon her shoulders and obligations she could not cast aside, even if the leaving hurt more than she had initially imagined. Her house had entrusted her with something greater than herself: the chance to heal and one day to serve her people.

 

She stepped onto the boat, the wooden planks creaking softly beneath her boots as the harbor winds tugged at loose strands of braided, flaxen hair. Behind her lay the world she had always known: her family, her companions, her quarrels, her laughter, and her home. 

 

She would return. It would only be two years, after all; a speck in comparison to a swathe of her lifetime. The thought comforted her as the boat gently drifted from shore. Home was not lost – merely distant for a brief time. 

 

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Issued by the House of Mareno

On this 7th day of Dragon’s Roar, 653 A.A.

· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·

HEED, LEAL SONS OF HOREN; 

It both pleases and saddens the House of Mareno to announce the departure of Lady Eirene Mareno to the Aeldinian Academy of Medicine for Gifted Youths. For two years, she shall learn the mastery of surgery and medicine, pursuing that most noble calling of preserving life and tending to the wounded and sickly.

Though her absence shall be dearly felt within the halls of her kin, House Mareno takes great pride in knowing that she journeys forth in service to the Empire and the generations yet to come. We bid our beloved daughter farewell, knowing that she departs as a girl of promise and shall return as a woman of great skill and virtue.

May the Lord preserve her upon the seas.

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HH, Circe Mareno,

Lady Regent of Myrine and Lady Seneschal of the Celosian Court

 

OOC NOTE:

Spoiler

hello!! 

As many folks may or may not know, I’m getting married on Saturday (omg wow!) Additionally, I’ll be spending time with friends, family, and future in-laws, preparing for the wedding, and then going on my honeymoon. After that, I’ll be flying to California to begin my move out there and settle in, so I’ll be quite busy and won’t (nor do I want to) be on LOTC during this time, hence why I made this little rp post to explain Eirene’s disappearance for the next two weeks.

 

To those who have played a part in Eirene’s story thus far, it means a lot to me, especially as this is my first major reintroduction to human larp after I quit the server last year. I appreciate you all and look forward to continuing rp when I return from my hiatus. 

 

If you need something urgently from me (idk why you would, but if you do), you can dm me on discord @ sarahbarah, though be warned that it’ll probably take me a few days to respond. : )

 

I will see you all when I get back on the 27th! Much love xo

 

[TaraJess 2848]

ENJOY YOUR WEDDING SARAH CONGRATULATIONS I LOVE YOU SO MUCH MUAH MUAH MUAH

[garentoft 9265]

13 minutes ago, sarahbarah said:

Duncan came to mind as well, along with his endless love for their favorite band, Landskar. Eirene could hear him now, passionately rambling about songs, lyrics, and performances with the sort of enthusiasm that was impossible not to indulge.

Duncan puts on his favourite Landskar record.

[erictafoya 3276]

My bad guys

[EmiliainWonderland 2309]

CONGRATS! BEEN ROOTING FOR THIS MOMENT FOR A LONG WHILE NOW!!!

[Frisket 4537]

“Handle this next challange with grace…”

 

The echos of the High Witch ring through Eirines mind.

 

Spoiler

O7 and God bless you and what ever future brings for you friend!

 

Good LUCK!

 

[Sr_Dimentio 584]

"Hey! Who am I going to mess with for 2 years!? I wanted to sell that parasol!" Jack Swiper, scoundrel thief and sworn enemy of Eirene groaned "Oh right I hate more people... But still! That brat..." He mumbled angrily, walking away

 

Spoiler

Congraaaaaaaaats!!!!