Realistic or Modern 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑹𝑶𝑼𝑵𝑫 𝑻𝑨𝑩𝑳𝑬 — 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴

[erzulie]

hi there! this is the cs thread for THE ROUND TABLE. Before digging into your sheet, please read the following:

╰┈➤ You must apply for one of the seven available roles, which were listed on the interest check. You can also find them here.
╰┈➤ As stated on the ic, you choose to what degree and in what matter the tale of the original mythological figure inspires/dictates your character! if you have any questions or would like to discuss ideas with the mods, don’t be afraid to message us!
╰┈➤ These roles are not first-come-first-serve. Therefore, you are welcome to apply for the same role as another person.
╰┈➤ LGBT+ and diverse characters are very much welcome.
╰┈➤ As a general helpful note, this roleplay takes place in 1995.
╰┈➤ Codes are not necessary!


For your character sheet, we ask that you fill out the following information, in addition to a character concept. This concept is intended to be the majority of your application, and we encourage you to explore your character in a prose format.

FULL NAME:
NICKNAME:
AGE: (21+)
D.O.B:
SEXUALITY:
GENDER:
ETHNICITY:
FACECLAIM/PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:
PATRON: (this is your desired role. Ex: Malpas.)
DISCIPLINE: ( Anthropology, Literature, Creative Writing, History, Archaeology, or something else provided it has relevance to the overall program)

STATUS + FAMILY: (please indicate if your character is Noble or a Scholarship Recipient. If Noble, include your character’s House name, which is typically going to be the same as their last name. You are welcome to include information about your character’s family here.)
PRIZED POSSESSION: (this is an object that you will bring with you to the induction ceremony for the Society. It’s recommended to review the lore about the Society for some guidelines on this object)

Finally, please include your character concept and any other info you wish to share!

 

[erzulie]

Dorian Chadwick

samael, the duke of nephilim.

♡coded by uxie♡

DE SELBY 2

hozier

SAMAEL.

I.

What you're given, what you live in,

name

Dorian Wilhelmine Etienam.

nickname

None. Her name is short enough as is.

age

Twenty-Five

d.o.b

October 25th

sexuality

Demisexual

gender & pronouns

Cisfemale; She/Her

status + house

Scholarship Recipient. What greatness her line may have once possessed, was stolen from their homeland so long ago. The Etienams are a commoner family that resides in one of Nephilim’s coastal towns. They’re a family of seafarers and fishermen. While they’re one of the few who own a business in town, they’re heavily “taxed” by the noble family over them.

Patron

Samael — The Duke.

Discipline

Archeology, with a focus on ancient and lost civilizations. During her undergraduate years she spent her time at the archeological site of Llanos De Moxos in Bolivia, where she studied remains of the pre-Columbian societies, contradicting claims that the Amazon was not suited for sustaining large populations. Dorian later received an award for discovering proof of another ancient society within the Basin. Her discovery and research brought forth knowledge on the Casarabe Society, which had been hidden under dense forest.

Prized Possession

A silver chain anklet that has a polished Mother of Pearl shell pendant. As one of many siblings, it was often that Dorian was forgotten about. On a day where it had simply been too much for her young heart, her eldest brother had taken the time out of his day to take her to the beach. Dorian found the shell while playing in the sand. Her brother had kept it and gave it to her as a parting present before she left for the Imperial Academy.

II.

darling, it finds a way to live in you

reference

Damaris Harris

style

visuals.

wordbank

coming soon.

III.

and your heart love, has such darkness,

the fable —

coming soon.

V.

I feel it in the corners of the room.

♡coded by uxie♡

 

[demonology]

Anaïs Tristán

ose, the inheritor.

anthropology

♡coded by uxie♡

WHO WE ARE

HOZIER

OSE.

I.

my mother told me, over and over again —

name

Anaïs Jean Tristán.

nickname

some may recall the distant days when she went by AJ. Do not call her this. Ana is acceptable.

age

twenty-four

d.o.b

august 24th

sexuality

lesbian (technically closeted, but it is more so the case that Ana practices discretion and refuses to tell her mother)

gender & pronouns

cisfemale; she/her

status + house

A Noblewoman of House Tristán. Information coming soon.

Patron

Ose — The Inheritor.

Discipline

Anthropology, with primary focus on the biological and linguistical fields. Amongst her accolades, she did undergraduate research on termite-eating populations of humans, which helped in determining the location of a hominid bone found in South Africa. Additionally, she put off attending graduate school for two years to pursue a long-term internship on Neanderthal and early Paleolithic cultures, focusing on their death ceremonies and art work. She spent a year and a half ttempting to prove a professor's hypothesis that these ceremonies and art could be the first occurrence of folklore.

Prized Possession

a pin of a falcon with a hollow compartment in its belly. Belonging to Ana’s grandmother, the pin is a family heirloom and a signature element to any outfit she wears. Inside the hollow compartment is a small, wispy bundle of hair. .

II.

a girl is a lying thing. a girl is a precious thing. a girl is nothing,

reference

paloma elsesser

aesthetics

visuals.

style

a minimalist, befitting for the designer tastes of the time. A Klein girl, preferring basics of a singular pattern — she always conveys a clean, breezy look. Just a hint of sensuality and femininity. More here.

III.

and to be a woman was to be everything.

the fable —

The House Tristán's Duchess heard of a series of villages, some occupied and some abandoned to the frequent flooding. Her cousin told her Gathila was up-and-coming, the sort of provincial place whose backwasterish qualities were quaint. Charming. While not located in the area controlled by the Tristáns, it was worth looking at. The Duchess Lucrezia had been wanting to invest in something from the ground up. Charles Gacy of Seraphim Hotels & Casinos appeared to offer such a conquest. Gathila was to be turned into a tourist trap.

As such, the Duchess and her family frequented the ever-growing town as Gacy made it in his image. Stone pillars of cold, gray marbled mixed and stuck out against the sand that permeated every inch of Gathila. The Tristán children became familiar with their coolness against the southern village's damp heat, resting their backs and foreheads against it when Rémy grew out of breath or Eddie's sweat dripped into his eyes. These were the days before Eddie grew discomforted by his identity as a man vs. a girl, before Rémy looked in the mirror and only ever saw what his father disliked, before Anaïs tucked in every edge of herself like a paper doll. Before their family slipped through her fingers like water. They were tranquil in those days, and it in Gathila that Ana met Etta.

Their friendship came quickly, as many of this sort do. Anaïs, on vacation, made a friend in the local Etta: a blonde, cherubic sort of girl whose brown, downturned eyes captivated Ana even then. Her smile was doubly enchanting, but then again so was her wit. This was Etta to Anaïs, filled with a myriad of qualities worthy of dissection. They often sat against those pillars, overlooking the humdrum bustling of Gathila's town square. The sun shone uncomfortably in their eyes. Because of thsi, Anaïs would sit tall so the clock tower covered the worst of it. Etta would lean her head against Ana's shoulder, using her short stature to her advantage. On the day before Ana would leave, Etta told her quietly, I wish I could go with you.

Still, Ana departed from Gathila alone, promising to return. Roaming the dark halls, she thought of Etta's bird-like frame, her hawkish eyes, and a nose like the beak of a falcon. A voice like a chickadee, a great horned owl. A heart like an eagle, who mated for life and exhibited unending loyalty. A decision — rather, an intention, a motivation — came to her as natural as breathing.

Her mother, having adopted Anaïs second, had already taught Rémy how love came. Rémy taught Anaïs, and dutifully, Ana taught Eddie. It required worth as the first ingredient. Merit, potential, or some sort of profitable gain that could improve Lucrezia's life. She'd always wanted children. Having inherited the Duchy by marriage, she grew to be a lonely woman with the mind of a politician's daughter and the grief of a wife made a widow too soon. Her maiden name had spent generations, lives upon lives, forging the small amount of weight they had. Her own mother had, in an act of love, spent this wealth of political fortitude to marry her daughter into a Noble title. This was why Lucrezia wanted children — for them to inherit her mother's sacrifice, to be worthy of her own.

Rémy was chosen first. In hindsight, Lucrezia would recount that there was nothing particularly striking about him. He had a tender grace to his movements, a quietness and a pert concentration manifested in his lips. He was presented to Lucrezia by the lady who ran his orphanage, who he had hidden behind. "Perhaps his humbleness," Lucrezia would later ponder, sipping on a moscato over a dinner in Gathila. Violet and Anaïs had joined her, Lucrezia walking in and broadly demanding a 'girl's day.' She had not commented on Violet's splayed hair across Ana's stomach as they laid on her poster bed. If she took any note of this sort of behavior, she called it sisterhood. She called it a sort of love only successful woman could have for each other. In fact, the nature of Ana and Vi's closeness might have been exactly why Lucrezia wanted these days. Amongst the three of them, they were the only ones in the House Tristán circle that understood the chess pieces around them with equal mental fortuity and clarity. "The Tristán men were expendable, hard to read, incredibly stupid, and bound for a life of living in Samael's shadow," the eldest Tristán woman explained.

Violet fiddled with the central diamond on her ring. Anaïs watched the motion with murder in her eyes. She wonder if this was how Ose had felt. According to some accounts in the post-Voltaire cycle, he had loved Lilith. He grew jealous of Samael, who inherited everything with no amount of blood to claim to such power. At least Ose had some Noble blood, at least he was worth Lili's time.

Violet saw her watching. She put her hand into a fist and stuck it under the table. Let's not talk about this right now, that fist said. Anaïs was reminded why she deemed Vi worthy. Why Etta, aged twelve, had seemed so rife with what Ana's life had lacked. After all, who else could converse in single movements alone?

A plastic smile melted and cooled on Anaïs' face. Her mother had moved onto Eddie, who was adopted last. "That's why I adopted Ana and her baby sister," She brandished the glass towards the two girls, narrowly missing the lit flame. The protest, the immediate urge to correct her mother with a quiet "brother" lumped in Anaïs' throat. Eddie's his name. He's my brother. Violet squeezed her knee, and it said, I know, but let's not get her on a tear while she's drunker than a skunk.

The second ingredient to love, taught by the Duchess, was continuous improvement, continous discovery of new bits to adore. This why why Anaïs was chosen. At only age seven, she had led the other girls in her orphanage into a strike to demand better living conditions for their chores. It was this sort of infleunce that had accomplished Lucrezia's first ingredient. After interviewing the young child, the Duchess determined that Anaïs, despite her Parisian, proletariat influence, had an immense desire for a meritocratic world. She was determined to prove herself.

Similarly, this was why Etta captivated Ana. Here was a girl who wanted desperately what Ana had, but she never begged. She studied hard in school, she navigated her life with a clarity and determination not to remain idle. Etta was the most inspired person Anaïs had met. The most conniving and innovative too, coming up with new games for them to play, schemes for them to pull off, etc. Etta was never stubborn about something unless it mattered. She knew when to yield and when to snarl. She spoke in idioms and metaphors like drunker than a skunk, which Ana found endearing the older they got.

"Your sister—" Anaïs held her tongue, listening to Lucrezia's complaints about Eddie's inadequacies. Vi held her hand, white-knuckled. The check came.

The third and final ingredient was one that, despite his current lackings, Eddie accomplished with ease. The ability to laugh, to face life's cruelty with a smile and resilience, and perhaps most importantly, to make Lucrezia happy. Eddie did this in their first meeting with the entire family gathered around him. Ana had heard about his unconventional upbringing. She and Rémy had been from the same orphanage in a little village outside of Paris, sent there at birth by parents who did not want them, who couldn't afford them, etc. Eddie, conversely, grew up on the island of Nephilim. "Nephi as the day is long," he'd said when Ana asked. "Ma left me with this old thing." He pointed to his eye, which was covered in a white, cotton patch. "I'm in the process of getting that part replaced. Pa gave me this." He pulled up his pant leg, where a small scar in the shape of a circle lied. "That's how they'll identify my body in the ditch," he told his future siblings in a quick aside and with a sly wink. He was thirteen. Anaïs was seventeen. Rémy, eighteen. Lucrezia pretended she did not hear this joke, but a small smile curled around her thick, impenetrable cheeks. The eldest siblings thought this expression weird. Even weirder when boisterous, fully alive Eddie was brought into the fold. When they saw the production and construction of an in-home sculpture studio, they understood why and added the third ingredient to an ever-growing list of ways in which they could win Lucrezia's warm embrace, her weird, uneven smiles.

Vi embodied all three of these qualities. When she won a scholarship to the same boarding school that Anaïs would attend, it became quite clear how deep Ana's devotion went. Etta changed her name to Violet, and she dressed in hand-sewn clothes of overinflated opulence. "Williams?" Ana's friends would roll Vi's name around their mouth. A cold, tangy pearl from a mysterious muscle at a new country club. "Like the Williams that work for House Portaculo?" Violet nodded, explaining she was a distant cousin, and the lie became truth. Anaïs didn't correct her. Later, in their dorm, she told Vi, "Cool it on the pearls. Someone will start calling you conservative." Independently wealthy, the Williams of Portaculo were notably liberal, switching Houses according to moral values rather than where the money talked most. "Or worse — they'll start calling you Abuela behind your back."

This lie would continue. Violet would be bethrothed to Rémy in an attempt to make him worthy of inheriting the wealth of House Tristán. The laws regarding Tristán succession were confusing at best, but Lucrezia knew that her eldest son had to marry before he could inherit her title. This was the final step to ensuring her little experiment, her puzzle-pieced family, preserved Lucrezia's mark on the Nobility.

Their marriage would never come. Rémy would abdicate the title after being outed publicly. Rumors would begin to circulate that Violet was not of the Williams name. Eddie had already been sent to a troubled teen camp. It dawned on Lucrezia that her daughter would be her only hope.

This was three years ago. Violet escaped to Italy. Anaïs was formally bethrothed to [TBD; could maybe be another playable so I'll leave this open for now], but her occupation with university has put off the wedding bells. Publicly, Anaïs is known for her work in the Anthropology field, though tabloids and social media often portray her as a woman made of Tristán steel with the sam effervescence her mother exudes. More and more, Ana feels as though she is a sham. It is only through work that she finds solace. It is only with work that she staves off how quickly she became undeserving. Not just of her mother's love, but of her siblings' and Violet's as well.

Anaïs, unable to let Rémy have what she wanted — the Duchy and Violet — had leaked his location to Nephi publications. Rémy had never followed their mother's formula, but he valued trust above all. "You broke that," he told her before departing to Italy with Vi. "You broke it, and I don't think you even care to fix it."

Vi didn't say a word to her, but her strained neck and eyes to the floor said, You could have had me. You could have had everything. And now you have robbed us both.

"It's not even that he's gay," Lucrezia told her over dinner. Another girl's day. It was just the two of them. "Honestly, you could marry whoever. No, it was the fact that he'd hidden it. It was the fact that you two schemed to have that little, Gathila tart marry him." Surprise arose in Ana's eyes.

Lucrezia smiled coldly. "Who do you think bought her ticket to Venezia and told her to never come back?" She took a sip of her merlot. "I admired your scheming, though. It was really quite clever, even if I figured it out eventually." She leaned across the table, dangerously close to the flame. It reflected in her glassy eyes and singed an end of a flyaway hair. "Takes raw talent, raw wanting to do something like that. Like I told you, Tristán men are idle. They could never slit a pig's roast, even if it could feed the village."

Ana shut her eyes at the comparison. Her mother, gently, grabbed her chin and turned her head towards hers. Ana opened her eyes.

"Did you know that was exactly how I won your father's heart?" she asked in a whisper. Lucrezia leaned back to gesture towards the whole of the restaurant, to the whole of Tristán territory. "How I got all this? Honestly, you had the right idea. You were thinking like a woman of a different name. My maiden one. A Rossi lady. Violetta seemed quite easy to help navigate to where you wanted her to go. She was too eager, too malleable. She clearly loved you. Or at least, the power you could present. I loved Edgar for similar reasons." For a moment, her mother seemed lost, pondering the wine in her glass as it swirled.

Anaïs realized her mother didn't know about the true nature of her affections. Her mother looked up at her. The glint in Lucrezia's eyes showed that she wasn't even upset.

"I'm impressed, dear daughter." A faint smile. Ingredient three. The waiter dropped off Lucrezia's receipt and a pen.

"You'll inherit the title," she told Ana bruskly while signing the check. "You'll marry someone of Noble birth. And you'll learn how to take this House farther than even Ose The Bastard Inheritor could have imagined."

V.

and she looked at me, scowled, and asked which i would be.

♡coded by uxie♡

 

[monkeydoll555]

MERCEDES ROSE REYNARD

VASSAGO, THE BLACKSMITH

HISTORY

♡coded by uxie♡

sunlight

artist

VASSAGO.

I.

EACH DAY YOU'D RISE WITH ME, KNOW THAT I WOULD GLADLY BE.

name

Mercedes Rose Reynard

nickname

Mer

age

twenty three

hair c.

dark brown/black

eye c.

dark brown

D.O.B.

November 13th

sexuality

bisexual

gender & pronouns

Cisfemale ; She/Her

status + house

Scholarship Recipient. An immigrant from nearby Spain, she moved to Nephilim with her aunt Celia after the imprisonment and eventual death of her mother and the murder of her father.

patron

Vassago — The Blacksmith

discipline

History. Amongst her small accolades during high school, in the summer before her junior year, she reclassified a tapestry long believed to have been of the Duke Samael as another figure of history, and the tapestry itself to be of a separate city in Nephilim, eventually managing to locate one of the most important buildings in the aforementioned city.

prized possession

A small citrine and topaz ring on a chain her mother had shipped to her shortly before her arrest by spanish police. It's the only memory she has of her mother, other than a secret recording her aunt Celia made of a phone call where Mercedes was discussed.

II

The Icarus to your Certainty, o my sunlight, sunlight, sunlight.

Looks can be deceiving when it comes Mercedes Reynars, but the two traits most people enjoy the most are that she's resourceful and clever. Of course she's also wise, magnetic, and intense, but they're tainted by and mixed with habits of being distrusting as well.
Her resourceful nature though, this is what she's kind of cherished for. People often count on this and her wisdom when they're in need of support.

Nobody's perfect of course and Imogen has a range of flaws to deal with too. Her compulsive and obsessive nature are far from ideal even at the best of times.
Fortunately her clever nature helps lighten the blows and moods when needed.

III

strap the wing to me. death trao clad happily.

Mercedes Rose Reynard was born on Novembr 13th, a Scorpio, to Alma Reynard and Sean Rose. Due to both her parents' "professions" and the fact she was a bastard kid anyway, she was left with her mother's sister Celia to be raised most of the time. A lot happened between then and now, but what she does know is this. Her mother was arrested, then killed in prison. Her father was just straight up killed, and due to the fact both grandparents were A. dead, and B. also in very similar professions, Celia decided it was best to flee the country with Mercedes on the off chance that something happened to the both of them. Celia fled Spain for Nephi, and with her, Mercedes. Mercedes always felt the need to prove that they deserved to be there from then on out, and consistently fought to make sure the people of Nephi knew that.

V

wax melted, id meet the sea under sunlight, sunlight, sunlight.

♡coded by uxie♡

 

[lvcid]

kimberly teagan

# morax, the arsonist

# winona ryder

♡coded by uxie♡

 

[SavannahSmiles]

Morax, the arsonist

# run, and when you come back...

# burn it all to the ground

♡coded by uxie♡

phoenix

league of legends

the arsonist

I.

What are you willing to lose?

full name.

Lian Jingyi

nickname.

N/A

age.

22

d.o.b.

July 17th | Cancer

sexuality.

Homosexual

Gender.

Cis Male | He/Him

II.

So are you gonna die today or make it out alive?

ethnicity.

Korean

face-claim.

Xiao Zhan

Appearance.

WIP

Aesthetics.

Pinterest Board: wip
Playlist: wip

style.

WIP

III.

You gotta conquer the monster in your head and then you'll fly.

the virtues.

Charismatic: With quick smiles and a laid-back personality, Lian comes across as a charming person. He is quick to try and use this charm to defuse situations or calm those that are angered.
Courageous: Lian is never one to back down from a fight and will meet any in-coming challenge with his head held high.
Determined: Once he sets his sights on something, hardly anything can deter Lian from reaching his intended goal.
Loyal: Though his trust is hard-won, once he grows to care for someone he would do whatever it took to keep them safe. He is a stead-fast friend and is quick to jump to the defense of those that he cares for.

the vices.

Stubborn: There are times when Lian digs his heels into the sand and refuses to back down, even if it means his own life is at stake.
Reckless: When it concerns the people he cares deeply for, Lian would toss his own safety aside and rush head-long into danger to try and keep them safe.
Annoying: Often times Lian gets the urge to press someone's buttons just to see how far he can push them before their patience snaps, especially those that present as cold or distant; he can't help but want to break their icy exterior. His proclivity towards dramatics can also wear on the nerves, a skill he wields with glee.
Emotionally Repressed: Lian avoids talking about his problems like it's a game of tag. Instead of confronting his negative emotions in a healthy manner, he simply shoves them down and refuses to address them. This, of course, can lead to his bottle up feelings over-whelming him and causing him to break down.

the fears.

WIP

the skills.

WIP

IV.

And now you're playing with matches, come out of the ashes underneath you.

patron.

Morax -- The Arsonist

discipline.

WIP

status + family.

WIP

prized possession.

WIP

V.

Go bury your demons then tear down the ceiling.

the fable.

WIP

VI.

Another twist of the knife, turn of the screws.

the headcanons.

WIP

VII.

It's your reflection looking back to pull you down.

♡coded by uxie♡

 

[celadon.]

janis de soto.

belial, the uprooted.

faceclaim: hari nef.

♡coded by uxie♡

 

[NiftyNat]

Enrique Gulbrand

# Eligar, The Lancer

# Jonah Hauer King

♡coded by uxie♡

Sword

artist

Eligar.

I

“Nothing endures but change.”

full name

Enrique Gulbrand

nickname

Ricky

age

Twenty-five

d.o.b

27th of March

gender/sexuality

Male (He/Him)/Demisexual

ethnicity

Nephi

face claim

Jonah Hauer King

patron

Eligar, the Lancer

status + family

Scholarship Recipient. The only family he has ever known is a man named Edmund Gulbrand. It was his adoptive father. Ricky was just a young boy when he was found washed up on that beach. Ever since then, Edmund has raised Ricky to be his son. Ricky, unfortunately, didn't get to experience the loving embrace of a mother or the playful banter with siblings. Edmund was a simple older man living in one of the island's small villages. He is known on the island to be a remarkable Watchmaker.

Discipline

Cryptography. Enrique has helped the country of Nephi get recognised in the cryptography community worldwide. He researched the solution and the full decryption of an old encrypted journal. The journal belongs to Beatrix Potter, a Victorian lady. His paper led to a better understanding of Victorian society, art and literature, science and nature, politics and society, and Beatrix's hopes and frustrations. This paper also earned him the Best Paper Award 1993, given to him by the International Association for Cryptologic Research.

prized possession

A bronze pocket watch that connects him to his original family. The watch is housed in a durable metal case made out of brass. The case features intricate engravings. A small loop is attached to the case, allowing the watch to be attached to a chain. The watch’s dial is porcelain, featuring Roman numerals to indicate the hours. The pocket watch also features tiny jewel bearings, reducing friction and enhancing accuracy. The back of the pocket watch has a cover to showcase decorative engravings. The pocket watch is accompanied by a chain, often secured to the bail.

II

“Man is the measure of all things.”

Virtues

Studious ✩ Playful ✩ Loyal

vices

Petty ✩ Prideful ✩ Stubborn

likes

Puzzles ✩ Eating sweet foods ✩ Singing

dislikes

Disorganization ✩ Bullies ✩ Swimming

hobbies

Reading ✩ Writing ✩ Driving

III

“The unexamined life is not worth living.”

Character Aesthetic

Visual

wardrobe

Visual

style

Enrique likes neutral, muted and earthy tones. He likes to keep his silhouette simple and less complicated. He dresses for comfort and to integrate himself among his peers. Simple sweatshirts and pants would always be his go-to whenever he’s in a hurry. Almost all his clothes are non-designers; he sees it as a waste of money.

V

“In a rich man's house, there is no place to spit but his face.”

THE FABLE

The Beach

On the peaceful shores of a Nephilim, a man strolled along the sand, his gaze scanning the horizon as the waves gently lapped at the beach. The rhythmic sounds of the sea provided a soothing backdrop to the tranquillity of the moment. As he continued his walk, his eyes caught a glimpse of an unusual sight near the water's edge. Approaching with curiosity, the man discovered a small figure lying on the beach, clad in damp clothing and surrounded by traces of the ocean's touch. Concern etched his face as he knelt beside the motionless form. With dark, tousled hair and a peaceful expression, the boy seemed like a fragile gift delivered by the tide.

Driven by compassion, the man gently cradled the boy in his arms, the wet sand clinging to their clothes. The child stirred slightly, eyelids fluttering open to reveal eyes filled with uncertainty. The man's heart swelled with empathy as he realised the vulnerability of the situation.
Without hesitation, the man silently committed to caring for this unexpected visitor. He wrapped the boy in his jacket, shielding him from the chill of the ocean breeze. The beach, once a place of solitude, now witnessed the beginning of an unexpected bond.

Carrying the boy in his arms, the man retraced his steps along the shore, the footprints left behind now telling a tale of newfound responsibility and connection. The community, touched by the man's compassion, rallied around the two, offering support and assistance in the journey ahead. As the community discusses the formalities of the boy’s adoption, the boy absently slides his hand into the pocket of his salvaged trousers, feeling a foreign object within.

Retrieving it with curiosity and anticipation, he discovered a weathered and intricately designed pocket watch. The metal surface bore the scars of its history, tarnished by the elements and etched with engravings that hinted at a past shrouded in mystery. The watch, a relic from the shipwreck, felt heavy in the boy’s hand.

In the days and weeks to come, Edmund tries to understand the boy’s speech; however, the boy’s strong and unfamiliar accent makes understanding him tricky. It only took time and care for complete understanding to be achieved.

Hard Times

In the quiet town near Praemuno (a 10-minute drive away), a determined young boy named Enrique was driven by a sense of responsibility and gratitude to Edmund. Having been adopted by a caring and compassionate man, Enrique felt a deep connection to his adoptive father, who had selflessly taken him in when he washed up on the beach. As Edmund grew older, a quiet resolve took root within him. He observed the hard work and dedication his adoptive father poured into their humble home and the life they were building together. Even more so when the town becomes heavily taxed.

Enrique's days became a delicate balance between his studies as a student and his quest for employment. He scoured the town for opportunities, approaching local businesses with a determination that belied his youth. His adoptive father's sacrifices echoed in his ears, pushing him forward with an unwavering sense of purpose. And soon, he found one as a simple water.

Enrique's days were marked by a relentless work ethic, gracefully juggling his studies and job commitments. His dedication earned him the respect of his colleagues, and became a source of inspiration for others in the community. The modest income he contributed to the household became a testament to the bond between him and his adoptive father, a silent acknowledgment of the love and support that transcended blood ties. In the evenings, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Enrique would return home, his tired but content expression reflecting the satisfaction of knowing he was playing a part in building a future for himself and his adoptive father.

Cryptography is Life

Enrique's small room became a haven for learning, adorned with books, computer screens, and handwritten notes. The soft glow of his desk lamp illuminated the late hours he spent delving into the intricacies of codes and ciphers. The walls echoed with the hum of his old computer as he immersed himself in the world of cryptography, driven by a burning curiosity and a thirst for knowledge. Enrique genuinely believes that his path will eventually lead to success. So with an unwavering resolve, he set his sights on the field of cryptography, seeing it not only as a passion but as a potential means to lift himself and his adoptive father out of the constraints of poverty.

His adoptive father, recognising Enrique's determination, provided quiet support, creating an atmosphere of encouragement in their modest home. On Enrique’s eighteenth birthday, Edmund surprised his boy with a car. It’s not anything fancy, but it should be enough for Enrique to drive to the largest city of Nephilim and find better opportunities there. Enrique applied for a Bachelor of Cryptography, and he also quit his humble job in the town and transferred his profession to a coffee shop in Praemunio.

In the academic realm, Enrique's dedication shone. His days were filled with intense study sessions, attending lectures, and collaborating with like-minded peers. His eyes sparkled with excitement and determination as he grasped complex cryptographic concepts, envisioning a path forward that could lead to financial stability. Around this time, Enrique submitted his extraordinary paper and successfully left a mark as a remarkable cryptography student.

The Invitation

Enrique's eyes sparkled with accomplishment and anticipation as he accepted his diploma, the tangible evidence of his academic achievements. His father, beaming with pride, applauded from the audience, recognising the significance of this moment in their shared story of perseverance.

The I.A.C.R. that acknowledged his paper and rewarded him with an award has offered him a position among their ranks. However, something unexpected happened as he was in the middle of packing.

As Edmund raised his hand, his knuckles rapped gently on the door, creating a soft, rhythmic sound that echoed through the hallway. “Hey, Son.” Enrique scrambled his way to the door to open it for his father.

“Yes, Dad?”

“Something came in for you through the mail.” Edmund gave the mysterious envelope to his son. Its texture hinted at its importance, and the embossed seal suggested an air of exclusivity. Intrigued, he carefully opened the envelope to reveal an invitation to the Imperial Academy. “Is it from a lady?” Edmund teased as he tried to glimpse the letter.

Enrique chuckled.

“No, Dad. Don’t be silly. You know where my priorities lie. And now, I think an opportunity has presented itself to us. Here, look.”

Enrique gave the letter to his father. It is known around the island how the Academy can produce Nephilim's most successful and influential people. Just this fact alone entices him to accept it.

As Edmund continues reading his son’s invitation, he becomes more worried. “Umm, son. Maybe think about this for a moment.” Enrique raised an eyebrow in confusion. “I don’t want my son to be part of a cult.”

“Dad, come on, those are just rumours.”

Enrique patted his old man.

“The whole town knows it! There are other terrible rumours regarding this too. I don’t want my son to be caught up in some ghost in the past when your future awaits for you outside this country.” The greying older man reached for his son’s hand and handed him his beloved pocket watch.

“Dad, I promise you I will be fine. This is the finest opportunity to extend my knowledge. The past IS my job, Dad. But I’ll keep those things in mind, just in case. I’ll always come home to you no matter what.”

VI

“Hope is the only good that is common to all men; those who have nothing else possess hope still”

♡coded by uxie♡

 

[khai.]

phoebe ki

eligar, the lancer.

the sword.

♡coded by uxie♡