Today is the last official day of this Echoes of the Past event, but we wanted to thank everyone who participated these past two weeks! It’s been a lot of fun getting to know your OCs and learn all about their backstories!
We do have a quick announcement, which is to say:
We will still be reblogging content for this event through the end of the month!
If at any time in April you create something inspired by one of our prompts, or something that has to do with your OCs backstory, you can still use #arcana eotp and tag us and it will be featured on this blog!
We won’t be checking as frequently, but the same notes as before apply, once your post has been liked by @dani-fandom it has been seen and added to our queue.
Below we've included a masterlist to all of the tags used over the event!
There’s been a lot of content submitted over the past 15 days (including all of the OC introductions we received) so we wanted to make sure anyone could go back and see what they’ve missed.
Thank you again to everyone who submitted and please make sure to check out all of the lovely and amazing creators!
Being on the aro spectrum, Atlas doesn't typically give much thought to romance and prefers extremely close friendships above all else, but something just clicked with Valerius in a way it never had before.
To be fair, they did hate each other upon first meeting... Which could honestly be the reason Atlas ended up as devoted as he is now. They've already seen the worst of each other, and somehow it just made them all the more attached.
In his own words, Atlas would die for Valerius.
I'm writing a fic, that's a thing that's happening. Who knows if it'll ever be done.
Credits: Illustration from LOTM by copper038 on lofter Background illustration by Arjun Mehta on pinterest Edit by me Event by @arcana-echoes
How did your OC get the shop in Vesuvia? Was it given to them by their aunt or other family member?
The owner of the magic shop, Aishi’s aunt, welcomed her immigrating nephew as an apprentice for years, but her priority had always been fulfilling her coven's missions. To begin with, she had come to Vesuvia voluntarily for their research. Though she managed her shop with care, had loyal customers and made home in Vesuvia for a decade, as soon as her investigations there were done and The Coven needed a member to travel on duty to elsewhere, she did not hesitate. Her nephew had grown to a fine witch under her guidance, and was much more attached to life in Vesuvia than she was. There was no need for her to close the shop and disappear without a word, as she would have done if she was on her own. Aishi said he could keep the shop’s doors open and she could come visit whenever she missed him. His aunt got emotional when faced with the prospect of having a home to return to and accepted. Sadly, she never got to leave. As she made her travel preparations, she was aflicted with the illness that would later be called a plague, from which no cure was known.
Did they go to a private school, were taught at home, or taught themselves? Did they have a favorite subject?
While in his hometown, Aishi had a private tutor who taught him reading, writing and arithmetics, while attending knight training classes and spar sessions. Some things he learned by himself through the rare books he could get his hands on by making friends with eccentric elderly. In Vesuvia, his aunt taught him at home. She also gave him access to the study materials she had during her academic years, so he could have self study session in whatever he was most interested.
Considering how guilty Aishi felt his mother had health complications after her pregnancy of him, and how her mental health kept at a depressing low, Aishi developed a fixation in knowing a way to solve anything that could go wrong for a human being, physically and mentally. Maybe he could help her become happy, he wondered.
“Healing” as a process contains a variety of ways it can be done, and each meant a field Aishi needed to familiarize with for achieving the desired outcome. His favorite practice were, surprisingly, the simple self hypnotizing spells, which worked similarly to affirmations and manifestations. It tapped at dormant potential a person already had, and made specific traits reach full bloom intentionally. He could also do this for others, but they needed to trust him and consent the outcome he would induce, so mostly regulars at the shop who thought they could benefit for a little push to be less shy, or maybe more organized, asked for this unique method. Sometimes it did nothing, other times it reached positive life changing effects. He did learn much of apothecary herbs, magic cuisine and other consumables for health from his aunt, but as mentioned, he felt stressed that a light error in dosage or any combo of effects not mindful of interactive reagents could cause poisoning or illness. Tracing each step felt restrictive and nerve wracking. On the other hand, the subject of entering another person’s inner world felt more casual, of lower stakes, and overall not too different from what he was used to doing just by talking to them.
(For reasons he cannot understand, he makes too many mistakes during calculations to trust himself with exact measurements. Mathematical problems and chemical reactions are harder to decipher than abstract ideas, to him.)
(Credits: Picrew link -> https://picrew.me/share?cd=FMrA6rqDB9 #Picrew #おおきなネコヤギ_new Edit by me)
@arcana-echoes
Talk about their magic, when did they discover it? Did they have to learn how to use it or did it come naturally?
To Aishi, magic was less of a discovery and more of a gradual understanding. From the start, it was ingrained in the common sense of the society he lived in: science and magic are highly respected in the country of Zadith, and different layers of occupational roles amass a different amount and depth of knowledge about the subjects, according to what is necessary to their daily lives and what ingredients are available for usage.
Aishi’s mother came from a farming family, which passed down to generations a magic understanding pertaining the farming folk: inducing growth for the crops, physical stamina recovery potions, and communicating feelings and abstract ideas with animals, a lower energy consumption and shorter duration form of telepathy.
Aishi’s father came from an artisan and merchant family, specifically of toy makers. Their knowledge combined calculations of alchemic materials and spells to animate any inanimate objects. However, these took a lot of energy and time to produce, which made for a difficult business model to maintain, and in the hands of poor administration, led to bankruptcy of that family branch. The last of their art was seen in magnificent dolls able to mimic human behavior and companionship that Aishi played with in his childhood.
Zadith knighthood integrated in their curriculum physical prowess and magical prowess. However, the magic was stablished as auxiliary, taught more emphatically for protection (i.e. defense barriers, physical shield summoning, mental attacks shield), survival (condensing water particles from air, self cooling, self heating) and self improvement (temporary acceleration, strenght increase). The better the benefits, the more draining and difficult these effects would be to sustain, so their training reminded them to not rely entirely on it.
Aishi’s aunt was his main mentor and an outlier. Her magic powers manifested in a sudden emotional outburst in her early teens, her magical aptitude was tested by the government and the results got her recruited to a coven that funded the studies of it’s members in a few of the main alchemical academies of the whole nation. There the aunt had access to the most technical knowledge of magic and science, though with family disapproval, because they wished Aishi’s aunt started working sooner and contributing to their income. She preferred to immerse herself solely in her studies, which took a decade to complete, and then accepted a mission from the coven which required traveling far away, to the Venterre empire. Despite the relief of cutting ties with most of the family, she felt lonely, and welcomed her niece with open arms and the availability to teach him everything she got to know, both about alchemy and about honoring your autonomy.
In this context, Aishi had a variety of ideas of what he thought magic was, but the most impressing feats seemed like they could only come from talented individuals that applied their whole lives to it. He was surprised to find those fascinating things could be created by him, it was only his firm beliefs of what he could be that limited him before. Still, while Aishi’s aunt had higher affinity with apothecary, potions and essences, which were most ideal for opening a magic shop, Aishi felt a slight aversion to the careful prefaced planning all those processes required. He marveled at how magic was tied to imagination, and his powers manifested in more impulsive, varied and intuitive fashion, which was less marketable when you have no idea how you did that and whether you could do it again, so his role at the shop up to the point he inherited it was of an assistant.
Some still risked requesting for him specifically, because when his healing rituals worked, they worked unimaginably well.
Along with a multitude of other insect, mollusk, etc. pets, Atlas raises moths. He'll usually raise a few generations before releasing them into a suitable habitat and trying his hand at another species.
In one generation of Death's Heads, one particular moth seemed to always seek them out, flying up to their face and landing on them at any given opportunity, and always the most vocal squeaker out of the bunch.
It was given the name Shriek, and Atlas didn't think too much about it when its generation started dying out. Death's Heads live a lot longer than other moth species, and they'd all had long, happy lives.
Things only got suspicious when Atlas found himself still taking care of Shriek months after the last moth in that bunch had died.
The little moth tagged along everywhere, and Atlas started telling Shriek things as they went about their day. It almost wasn't even a surprise when Shriek started to squeak out little one-word answers to Atlas's rambling.
If anything, Atlas was just wondered at the fact he hadn't found his familiar sooner.
What kind of people were/are they? What was your OCs relationship like with them?
@arcana-echoes
Aishi’s parents met as they both enlisted to be deployed to a developing city in the clouded mountains of Zadith. They started from the same rank, were both from a background of struggling families, familiar with the role of the oldest sibling, and held the determination to hold tooth and and nail onto whatever opportunity of a better life they could get. Working on the same team, their similarities manifested in a fine attunement for helping each other improve or share burdens. Eventually they figured the other would be the most reliable person they knew for becoming a life partner and starting a family, so they got married and had Aishi., which they would regret later. Aishi’s mother’s health took a major damage from the pregnancy, and her post partum recovery was slow. She saw her ambitions trickle beyond her grasp while her husband’s achievements only grew during her time away from knighthood. But she loved her child, and she had long yearned for peace and not having to be strong all of the time. Perhaps, she though, she could enjoy being a mother and a wife more than she enjoyed being a fighter, a protector, a knight. Yet, life had other plans. As time passed, her ambitious, determined husband engrossed himself with commanders and governors, his honor medal collection grew, ladies born with a golden spoon swooned at him, and at the end of that he looked at his resting wife’s face and no longer saw an equal. A family was enough for her, but it wasn’t for him, so he left her and the city. The divorce shattered Aishi’s mother dreams. When he wanted to take their son with him, it was as if he was trying to rip away from her all that was left of the future she worked so hard for. She managed to keep Aishi, and Zadith’s laws dictated she and the child would not lack in financial support from the father, even if he was far away. Still, after a few years retirement for child raising, at this moment she decided to return to her function as a city knight, for her own pride’s sake, and because having an occupation took her mind off of being abandoned for not being good enough. Though she had fallen behind from her peers, she put effort into recovering her health and returning to her training routine. Her fiery desire to be better got her assigned as an instructor in the city’s training grounds for the knights. To his luck, Aishi’s father never appered in front of her again, as she would have beaten him up at least once in a fight. The man to this day is more renowned as a strategist, while she has a much more “hands on” approach.
(There's more in part 2, will be reblogged with the addition)
Aishi’s father kept his presence through letters, portraits and lavish gifts, though in his early teens Aishi traveled sometimes to whatever wealthy city his father’s work was then located in, and was then paraded as an ornament in the parties he was taken to. Aishi soon found he hated this and stopped accepting the invites. His opinion on his father’s personality was that he sounded nice, but not kind. The man’s polished good looks and frequent smiles hid underneath an unnerving cluster of calculations. Perhaps it was to Aishi’s luck this kind of person lost much interest in him as soon as his father remarried and had other children.
To Aishi, his relationship with his mother was far more intimate, though out of half of the time she opened her mouth, it was to criticize him. She loved him, he knew that, as she saw personal sacrifice as the highest form of care she could show, and she often forgot about herself when all she did was for him to draw better cards in life than she had been dealt. However, he felt suffocated by her, as her actions rotated her own ideals of happiness, and she was too blinded by her own pain to accept someone else knew better about her son’s future, even if it meant not even her son himself. This firm belief was only truly challenged when he failed the expectations she set for him and she saw his he was as much of a whole, suffering person, as she was. Then she regretted what of his pain she had caused, and sent him to live with her younger sister, someone much more free spirited than she could ever wish to be. Since then, she kept in contact sometimes, but being ashamed and prideful and finally free from the roles of wife and mother she had tied her worth to, she decided to travel the world to expand her horizons and develop her own sense of identity once more. For a variety of reasons, the news of her sister's (The apprentice’s aunt) and her son’s death have not reached her yet.
What was the place they called "home" like? What were the people like? Did your OC like it there or did they leave the first chance they got?
Aishi's parents were situated in the clouded mountains of Zadith when they had him. There were many such small cities located on the peaks, trade flourished among them and traveling scholars seeking mentorship from retired magic, science or alchemy teachers were not a rare sight. The subtropical climate tempted tourists, but the high altitude location and the surrounding dense forest made these cities most ideal for prominent figures used to a comfortable life, but who now wished for an unbothered and reserved way of spending their time. This also made the peaks perfect for the knight order to stablish their training grounds, as resources were plenty, yet distractions were scarce. This was also in the best interest’s for the cities' governance, as the most prominent knights spotted within these training grounds were directly recruited by and employed to the city themselves. This system warranted top tier security for the cities and the influential people who often lived there, while keeping the influx of talented and hardworking young people in search of a stable, higher income and a quiet neighborhood. This also maintained a balanced ratio of young to old. There were those who weren’t satisfied with this routine, however, thinking it too boring and lofty in ideals of discipline, and they left for the magnificent promises the coastal capitals whispered: of the big academies of science and magic, the entertainment variety, the diversity of jobs, the prospect of making it big...
Aishi liked the place where he grew up. He found the routine peaceful. He made friends with the elderly by conversing about their very specific and fixated interests and gained access to some of their precious libraries, which seemed to contain the world within them. As soon as he was old enough, his parents, who were both knights, arranged for him to start his training in his city. He never skipped his daily classes, but he yearned for more time to read books of his specific interests, just like the old masters did. He didn’t make close friends his age, though he had play pals in the neighborhood.
The military discipline got too much into him as he grew up, and the pressure to show results made it harder for him to explore his child-like curiosity. Talks about “his duty” as a knight, and his parents using themselves as an example of what he should be made the daily repetition of same events less peaceful and more miserable. The competition among kids in his age group also worsened his loneliness. Being restricted from going to his older friends houses’ so as to not “waste time” for preparing to become a knight was the worst of it.
Around his middle teens, when the local knight academy had an important assessment and aptitude test for entry in the reserve, his deteriorated mental state and motivation caused him to not only fail his exams, but also have a massive mental breakdown publicly. In this, his parents reputation was also compromised as not only his hometown, but also the peripheral cities gossiped about the disgrace to his family name. Aishi’s mother soon found that accusing him would not guarantee an improvement in the results she so much wished, but even if she was understanding, the world was not. Damaged as he was, trying again in a gossiping and mocking competitive environment would only humiliate her son further. Overbearing and short tempered woman she usually was, as soon as their heartfelt conversations led to this, she considered a future in which he could get time to heal and grow stronger on his own. Her sister, who mastered a field of study in science, braved the world on her own and stablished herself as businesswoman in another country, would certainly be a good example for Aishi of this. Thus, where Aishi only saw a bleak, unfavorable future stuck in one place for all his life, suddenly appeared a shimmering unknown, as he went to live with his aunt in Vesuvia.
Credits:
Piccrew from 인형 꼬옥 묘파 픽크루https://picrew.me/en/image_maker/2200784picrew.me
Stubborn bastard. Once he decides he's going to do something, there's no amount of begging, bargaining, or bribing that will get him to do anything any different.
He's settled on potions, and potions he will make until the end of time. If he can't make a living off it? Tough luck! He'd rather die than give it up <3
@arcana-echoes
I KNOW I'M EXTREMELY BEHIND SOBS BURNOUT GOT TO ME AND THEN WHEN THE BURNOUT ENDED I GOT SICK </3 OVERALL NOT A FUN TIME
Hello everyone! It has been a wild ride and I have finally come to finish it. I had a wonderful time going more in depth and thinking about these characters and I have decided to finish with sharing you the side project I have been working on...My 2026 Echoes playlist:
I thought about writing a bit about each song and what it represents but I figure that since it goes pretty much in order, one could figure out with goes with which. If wanted I could write a bit of why each one inspires me in the thoughts of the Songbirds.
I will also include each of the Songbirds personal playlists and their romance playlists as well (because I love sharing music and had a lot of fun with all of this). Maybe as a fun treat if anyone wants to share a song they connected to their own echoes maybe we could make a cool playlist from that? Either way love you guys:
"You're sure you don't want to lean on me, darling?"
"I'm quite alright, exhaustion has never slowed me down. Just...give me...a moment......"
i wanted to do something simple and sweet for the last day! this is also me saying thank you to @arcana-echoes for hosting such a lovely event, it's so fun seeing the community come together. i had a lot of fun both participating and reading through some posts in my spare time. everyone is so cool!! i really wish i could have joined in on all the days but sadly i'm still battling thesis…definitely looking forward to next time 👀
more under the cut! i get ramble-y about his character + old art reveal
the original idea for this drawing was a redraw of my earliest art of chunyu and julian from like…a 2017/2018 arcana inktober event. but then it morphed into something of its own. i like to imagine this as a small post-credits scene you'd get long after their upright ending, after the unspoken problems in their bond are brought to light and they're able to turn over a new leaf :]
here's the original 2017/18 drawing! i can't believe they've stuck with me for almost 10 years </3 sorry for being sappy. i do genuinely hope the arcana community keeps on having more fun <3
extra: characters who inspired chunyu + more detailed descriptions because my handwriting here is TINY
sing from kung fu hustle: chunyu's overall character arc about false righteousness was inspired by him. in sing's case, it was more about finding the real strength within himself rather than the superficial machoman ideals he hid behind. chunyu starts out as a man who let notions of "destiny" get into his head—he believed that he was seizing life by fulfilling his duty, when in reality he's stuck in one place and he doesn't notice it until one day he didn't get what he want. he believes that he knows what's best for others, dancing on a very thin line between inflated self-importance and actually being a good leader for his hometown. you can't be a good leader when you shut everyone out in favor of your own judgement. also chunyu's overall character story has a lot to do with martial arts!
barnaby from tiger and bunny: seeking vengeance vs. embodying goodness. much like barnaby, chunyu spends his arc trying to avenge his family. the rage would have consumed him had it not been for The Power Of Friendship (and homoeroticism). additionally, barnaby puts on a idealized persona for the public and his heart wasn't truly in being a hero at first, just like chunyu and choosing which parts of himself he wants to display. that way he looks like he has everything under control while ignoring his issues. also just Look At Them
agnes tachyon from umamusume, specifically beginning of a new era: surpassing the limit and a detached view of their body, calling it "this body" instead of "my body." characters who are unhinged at first, but are genuinely passionate just like their peers. characters who love something so much they can't bear to part from it completely even if they leave it behind. for tachy it was running, and for chunyu it's ribbon dancing. similar to tachy in the movie, chunyu suffered a leg fracture that ultimately made him withdraw from the world of sports. he was 17 when it happened, afterwards he dedicated his years to preparing himself to take over the family business. the pain flares up when he's under emotional distress, which is why he's very health conscious
miranda from devil wears prada: The vibes. honestly. but also the way she knows what must be done to stay at the top. her tenacity, harsh efficiency, and overall meryl streep's performance were big inspirations for chunyu when i was revamping his character as a businessman!
louis from beastars: the text i wrote reads "ohmygod bruh the entire arc about reclaiming yourself and overcoming your prejudice and-" and honestly that's really all i have to say about the parallels between chunyu and louis. it's been a while since i finished the beastars manga but louis' character arc remains top tier for me. having his flawed worldview be challenged over and over again until he dismantled it, when the same worldview had been the one thing that kept him "safe" as a child who went through Horrors
herrscher of sentience from honkai impact 3rd: HONESTLY. THIS ONE IS PURE VIBES because she's been an inspiration for chunyu since around 2021. plus i use her trailer theme "domineer" as chunyu's theme
last two characters i didn't have space for in the chart was tai lung from kung fu panda and (reads notes) the yakuza franchise's general aura (i imagine chunyu's version of the julian route to have THRICE as many side quests and brawls)
They've been together since they were teenagers and were each other's first true love.
Themba serves Matabele as a powerful general and an advisor, plus close friend, to the king.
Noxolo is an accomplished second to none shaman that controls the stars and works for the royal family with her husband.
Noxolo loved how steady and strong Themba is, plus she loves how grumpy he looks and can be at times.
Themba loved Nox's curiosity, her willingness to learn, and her joy. He also always liked bigger girls anyway since he was so tall (He's 7'1).
Including Claudia, they bore two more children: Bhekithemba, the only boy, and Mayihlome their youngest.
Claudia's relationship with her mother was close and encouraging, despite Claudia's struggles with her magic and frustration with her skills.
Her relationship with her father on the other hand was strained. As the eldest and unable to grasp her magic, she felt so much pressure to be more than she was.
But felt she never met that in his eyes.
What she never understood was how dearly he loved her, but he was always scared that she couldn't control her abilities.
I have thought about many different life times some in the world and some out of it. Most are kind of AU's putting people in different universes (feeling a bit like the guy from the Twight Zone now lol). Here are just a few I have come up with in my time (one day I may write them if I ever write the whole story);
Pirate-ish AU:
In this one the Songbirds were still living in the lighthouse becoming the lighthouse keepers. In this story Julian had become a pirate doctor and would have stumbled upon the life. Asra might have stumbled on it as well having run from Vesuvia with Muriel and they all end up on an island in the middle of the sea. It may end with Sparrow becoming a pirate (she wouldn't mind it in the least).
Monster AU
So there is a world where everyone is monsters. The Songbirds are Harpies, Asra is a Naga (snake body), Julian is a Were-raven, and Muriel is a were-bear. The story in Vesuvia is similar though with less plague and more a murder mystery around a certain lord like figure (aka the goat man). Lucio would be a dragon (with goat horns) as would Nadia (she would be gold i think, regal and noble), and Portia would be a mermaid or selkie (they are a mixed family).
Modern AU
Of course there is always the modern coffee shop au. The magic shop would be the coffee shop and the songbirds would be the ones running it. Asra would be an all the time customer, flirting with Robin and doing tarot cards in the back. Julian would be the over worked doctor and Sparrow would be a nurse who assists at his clinic. Funny enough Muriel would be a hermit, hiding as a former television fighter for producer Lucio, and he would meet Lark accidentally when Lark gets lost for a gig (Lark being an inspiring guitarist).
(I am bound and determined to finish this as I get my life back together after some stuff so please bear with me! Also most of this is snippets of things I wrote for pregame era which revolves mostly around Asra because he was of course a big part of it all.)
Asra was dreaming. He knew he was, but he wasn’t. He was standing on a beach looking out at the dark water. The sky was dark gray, as if a storm was rolling in, and it was hot. He could smell something burning.
Then he felt someone wrap their arms around him from behind. Tension seized him. He knew these arms and missed them dearly. Leaving them was something he had regretted. “Robin…” Asra breathed.
“I’m sorry.” There was a distinct, tearful hitch in Robin’s voice. There was also something else that Asra could not figure out, but that something filled him with a foreboding dread. “I am so sorry, Asra. I am sorry for what I said, for how things ended. I shouldn’t have let it go like that. And now…”
“Robin…” Asra tried to speak, but the words didn’t seem to come. He wanted to say he was sorry too. That he should have stayed or worked something out. Robin, Sparrow, and Lark — they were part of his family, and he let his fear come between that. He wanted to say that, but the words wouldn’t come. He wanted to turn, to look at Robin’s face, but the taller man held tight.
Behind him, Robin let out a sob. “They’re gone, Asra. Sparrow and Lark…I couldn’t protect them. I couldn’t save them, Asra!”
Asra’s eyes grew wide as the dread he had been feeling became genuine horror. No…It couldn’t be…His heart stopped as he felt Robin’s arms fall away.
“I’m sorry, Asra. I love you.”
Asra turned, trying to get the words out. I love you too! Don’t leave! Don’t go! But everything tasted like ash in his mouth.
…
Asra shot up in bed, one hand reaching out as he screamed. Faust was slithering up out of his shirt, her tongue tickling his cheek as she tried to understand why her magician was distressed. Asra stared out at the space in front of him. The night air in Nopal was cold and made colder by the sweat on Asra’s skin.
“We need to go back,” Asra said when he had his mind again. He threw back the covers and grabbed everything he needed. A part of him knew it was too late, but another part wanted to deny the truth. Maybe it was just a dream, maybe he still had a chance to…
…
Just as warm as his dream was the beach that housed the Lazaret. The bright blue sky was the only difference. The sky mocked Asra’s pain. Following the pull of familiar magic, he rushed forward to burning sand. His fingers blistered and bled as he dug in. The place in his mind that was in denial was screaming now.
Lark’s merry laugh…
Sparrow’s talks over tea…
Robin…his handsome Robin…
The little family from the magic shop…
All that came up in Asra’s bloodied hands were fragments of bone that stabbed his already wounded skin. The inner screams became outwards screams as Asra curled in on himself, blood and ash seeping into his clothes and skin. They were gone.
...
Asra sat on the floor of the magic shop, back leaned against the counter, just looking at his hands. His hands showed burns, bruises, and cuts that bled without care. The ache ought to have been more severe, but he sensed none of it. Rather, he experienced nothing but numbness throughout his body. His hands still had ash smudges. He wondered if any of it was Robin’s…or Sparrow’s…or Lark’s…Asra felt ill at the idea that these smudges were the last of the little family that had filled this place with light. Night descended and everywhere was dim and still. Asra sensed the shop grieved as well. When the family was here it seemed alive and now felt like nothing.
Something dripped onto Asra’s hands. It washed away blood and ash. It took him a moment to realize they were his tears. His tears washed away everything. Asra balled up his fists. He gritted his teeth, though the tears keep coming. He didn't want his tears to wash away what might still remain of them. Not in their home, the home they had fought so hard to build and to keep. He didn’t want their memories to be washed away. He wished he could scream but had left so much of his voice on that beach.
Because he wasn’t strong enough, he had caused this. He ran away because he was scared, leaving them alone. He was a coward.
He would not allow this to happen.
He must fix this.
Asra opened his hands again and let the tears fall onto them like rain. His resolve strengthened as he watched the tears wash the ash away, flowing down onto the floor. This would not stand. He would fix everything, even his mistake. He was going to find a way to fix this. He would return what the ash took.
...
It seemed the end, another family lost to the plague that had already taken so many. Three lost souls lost to something out of their control, only remembered by one person. But Asra...he refused to lose again. So he stole a spell and managed to bring back his beloved little family, that had adopted him:
Asra had never felt so scared to enter the magic shop. Of course, after the night he had he wasn’t sure what he was going to find on the other side of that door. Faust clung to his shoulders as if to say she was nervous too. Asra allowed himself a deep breath, in and out, before reaching for the door and stepping inside. The main room was dark. Asra waved a hand lighting the lanterns. He looked around and listened carefully. Everything was the same and there was only silence. Asra’s heart dropped as he worried that maybe the spell hadn’t worked, and he was still-
“Oh man, I feel like I have been sleeping for ages!”
Asra’s eyes grew wide as out of the backroom stepped Lark, stretching and yawning as if he had just woken from a nap. Another voice from the kitchen made Asra turn, seeing Sparrow step out carrying her favorite tin of tea.
“Lark have you been drinking my tea again,” she asked, eyeing her brother. “I swear I just picked up some and we are almost out.”
“No, I haven’t been drinking your tea,” Lark answered, rolling his eyes. “I don’t even remember the last time I had a- “Lark’s words stopped as he noticed Asra, his face breaking out into a big grin. “Oh, hey Master Asra! You’re back!”
Sparrow turned and also noticed Asra, also smiling. “Welcome back Master Asra,” she said politely, “I hope that your trip went well!”
Asra could only stare at both of them with wide eyes. This was no illusion, and he was not dreaming as he felt the slight pain as Faust tightened around his arm happily. They were here, they were alive. “Friends!” Faust cheered as she quickly slithered off Asra and onto the counter, quickly making her way over to Sparrow who allowed the snake to climb up her arm and onto her shoulders. She happily nuzzled Sparrow’s cheek, flicking her tongue in and out.
“Aw, missed you too Faust,” Sparrow cooed as she gave the familiar an affectionate stroke of the head.
“Are you okay Master Asra?” Lark asked, still focused on the man in front of them. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost?”
“He’s probably tired from his trip Lark,” Sparrow offered, looking over at Asra as Faust slithered away. “Though you do look a little pale? Do you want to sit down? I can make you some tea.”
“You’re both here,” Asra breathed in disbelief still unable to believe his eyes. They both looked the same. Lark, with his youthful face framed by his wildly died undercut and Sparrow with her sharp blue-gray eyes and braided hair. If he hadn’t known better, he would have thought he had stepped through a time portal back all those many lost years because it was like nothing had changed for either of them.
Lark cocked an eyebrow. “Where else would we be? I mean we live here, and this shop can’t magically run itself…can it?”
“Don’t even think about it!” Sparrow said, shooting her brother a knowing look.
Lark rolled his eyes. “I didn’t say I would do it, I was just asking!”
“What are you two arguing about out here?” a very familiar voice asked from the back room.
Asra’s heart skipped a beat as Robin, his third apprentice stepped out into the light. He looked exactly the same as the day Asra had left. Same brilliant blue eyes, same youthful face framed by long dark hair tied back into a ponytail. He even had the small bit of scruffy facial hair on his chin. Same strong frame but gentle smile. Asra found his hands shaking. “Robin,” he breathed.
Robin’s eyes instantly found Asra’s as soon as the magician spoke. He smiled in that way that made Asra warm all over. “Welcome home Master Asra!”
Asra didn’t realize that he had begun to move until he was directly in front of Robin, the younger man’s eyes filled with surprise as Asra reached up and touched his face. It was slightly cool but warmed quickly to Asra’s touch. He was real. So very real! “Your really here!” Asra gasped as tears came to his eyes. “Oh Robin!” He wrapped his arms around Robin in a tight hug, pressing his face to Robin’s shoulder. Gods he even smelled the same! At first Robin didn’t seem to know what to do but then he wrapped his arms around Asra, hugging back only a little awkwardly.
“Are you okay Master?” Robin asked concerned.
“Should I go to get the doctor?” Sparrow asked, starting to move
“No wait!” Asra said quickly, making her stop. He grabbed her and Lark’s arm and then pulled all three of his apprentices in for a group hug. Even Faust, who had been slither around, go in on by squeezing in on Robin’s shoulders. Her head rested on Lark’s head, with her tail curled around Sparrow’s arm. Asra felt a few tears slip down his cheeks. His apprentices, his family! They were all here! They were all alive! He wasn’t sure what he had hoped for with the spell but this…this was everything he could have ever hoped for!
“Um, not that I don’t like getting an Asra hug, but I am confused still,” Lark said after a moment, “and very hungry. I feel like I haven’t eaten in forever!”
“You and your bottomless pit of a stomach, I swear!” Sparrow groaned.
Robin meanwhile was focused on Asra, eyes giving away level of worry he was feeling. He disentangled himself from the hug and reached out to touch Asra’s shoulder. “Asra, if there is something wrong? Please if there is any way we could- “
“No,” Asra interrupted, brushing away the happy tears, looking at all three of them with immense joy, “you don’t have to do anything Robin, none of you do. I am…” He paused, trying to think of the best way to say what he wanted to say. “I am so happy to be home with all of you. I didn’t mean to frighten you, I was just very tired and so glad to see all of you again. I’m sorry to have worried you.” He turned to Lark and smiled. “How about we make some dinner? I am feeling a tad hungry myself.”
“Yes please!” Lark cheered, nearly dancing off to the kitchen.
“Wait Lark!” Sparrow called after him, stopping a moment to place a hand on Asra’s shoulder before chasing after her brother. “I’ll make us some tea.”
“Thank you, Sparrow.” He watched as she disappeared into the kitchen, just listening to the sounds of their muffled movements and chatter. It had been silent for too long and now there was sound again. Feeling eyes upon him Asra looked up and found Robin’s eyes still looking unsurely at him.
“Are you sure you’re okay Master Asra?”
Asra cupped his cheek, just gazing at the face that he had thought he would only see in his dreams. There was so much he wanted to do at that moment, especially with that beautiful face. His heart was singing, and his mind was buzzing. The world was suddenly bright again as color had returned to everything. It had all been so wrong for far too long and now it was as if the world had been righted. A grave wrong had been mended and Asra would always be thankful for this second chance. But of course, he had to keep all that to himself as he just smiled. “I’m okay, just very glad to be home.”
...
So everything seemed to be back the way it was but as we all know that was just the beginning and there was so much more adventure to be had...
Where one story ends another begins...
Sidenote Edit: Julian was also effected by the passing of the Songbirds (though it's not written about as much), especially Sparrow which actually became a fire of his drive for curing the plague. He felt guilt for letting her get sick, as well as not helping her when she needed him most. She was his assistant, the one focused on work, with the drive to help him find the cure...He would always remember her eyes and the way she would tuck the stray hair behind her ears, or the way she looked when she worked...he would never see it again...
He didn't actually know who Sparrow was to Asra and Asra didn't tell Julian, keeping the Songbirds close to his heart (though he knew having known that Sparrow was his assistant). Asra wouldn't let Julian anywhere but the main part of the magic shop, as it was 'their' home and Asra wouldn't let anyone disturb it (though I often don't think Julian would have wanted to be there if he knew, feeling extreme guilt for how it all went down, he wouldn't have deserved to be in her place and probably not with Asra).
By the end Julian's head a was a jumble of sickness and regret that he made the decision, driven by the hope that Sparrow's life and countless others wouldn't be in vain. All he had left of her was her last notes in her pretty handwriting. He would look at them constantly, reminding himself he had to go on, that she believed they could make a difference. They were the one thing he kept safe though he lost everything else.
He had to do something, because she believed that he could...but everything comes with a price and he knew she would have understood, because that is who she was...
Vesuvia would bring a lot of new change for Annike and her family. New beginnings, a new home, and for little Katarina, new friends.
Finally managed to complete my fourth submission for @arcana-echoes , as long as it is not May yet, I am definitely not late. Featuring some new, yet familiar faces...
(Background by The Arcana)
No warnings apply. No beta, we die like Fools!
“Remind me again how you managed to even find this place?”
The old shop was dark, save for the afternoon light creeping through the windows. Dust covered the surfaces and hung in the air, the open door only providing so much fresh air to combat the stuffiness.
“I overhead the former owner complain about it,” Annike responded as she set Katarina down. “He got it from his grandmother, but apparently he had no use for it. Considering we needed a place to stay…”
“You bought it from him?” Jacobus finished. “How much did it cost you?"
“Actually, not that much.” Annike shrugged. “Said he didn't care about whether or not he gained profit from it, just as long as it was off his hands.”
A loud sneeze interrupted the two, coming from Katarina. The small child blinked as she was covered head to toe in dust.
“It's dusty."
Annike chuckled, pulling out a handkerchief to to dust off Katarina.
“That's because it's been abandoned.”
Katarina's eyes seemed as blank as newly made parchment.
“It means no one has lived here for a long time.” Jacobus explained, causing the girl to light up, before her eyes furrowed once again.
“Why?”
“Well, maybe the owner already had a place to live,” Annike stood up, walking to the open door to shake off the dust from the handkerchief. “Either way, this will be our new home now.”
Katarina's face scrunched. “Can we clean up the dust first?”
Jacobus let out a hearty chuckle, patting Katarina on top her her head. “Don't you worry about that, we will.”
Katarina turned her head around, gathering more of the area, her curious eyes landing on the staircase that led up. Annike had not yet seen what happened up the stairs, but the man she bought it from said no one had set foot in this place for a while.
“Can I go and look up there?” Katarina pointed.
“Upstairs you mean?” Annike asked, and Katarina enthusiastically nodded.
There would be no harm…
“Alright, but be quick. And don't run.”
Katarina nodded, walking up to the stair case, but only having set foot on one step before she fell over. Before Jacobus and Annike could react, Katarina stood up.
“I'm okay!” She proclaimed, before she sneezed once more. She smiled a big toothy grin before she continued to walk slowly up the stairs.
That girl was going to be the death of them.
“This may actually work for a shop, now that I think about it.” Jacobus mused. “It could be like the wagon we used to operate from. Only with a more permanent roof over our heads.”
“And no more homemade manure?”
Jacobus chuckled. “Yes, that too. The forest out on the outskirts. looks like a good place to scavenge, anyhow. We may not need to buy as many ingredients.”
Callen's judgement had been correct. Vesuvia had turned out to be promising for the family. And easy purchase, a forest ripe with ingredients, a fresh market. This may be the start this family needed. The type of life Aldert had begged his friends to give his daughter.
A shadow formed over the light coming from the door, snapping Annike out of her thoughts. She flipped her head to see a man in glinting chain mail and armour knocking on the open door. He held a halberd as tall as he was, a shield hung behind him
What was a guardsman doing here?
“Excuse me, madam.” He raised his free hand up. “I hadn't realised this place was abandoned. I'm simply here to investigate.”
“Well, technically it was abandoned,” Annike stepped twice towards the door. “My family just moved in.”
“Makes sense,” The guard said with a nod. “Still, I'd be thorough if I were you."
“And why is that?”
The guard did not respond for a while, simply weaving past her, looking around the room.
“You seem to be lacking-”
“May hide some suspicious people.”
Annike opened her mouth to say something, before Jacobus placed a hand on her shoulder, clearing his throat as he addressed the guard.
“I'm suspecting that is what you wanted to ask about.”
The guard turned to face Annike and Jacobus. “We received a testimony from a street vendor that two children stole apples from him. One shorter with fluffy hair, the other taller with a scrap for a blanket.”
From the top of the staircase, Katarina froze in place. Her eyes wide, and her shoulders hunched. She shook her head and waved her hands towards her aunt.
“Do you have any idea where they could be?”
Katarina's gestures were more frantic, one finger moved to her lips in a hushing manner.
Was something wrong? Why was she so insistent?
Choosing to follow through, Annike shook her head. “No. No, there is no one here.”
“And you are sure...”
“Yes. We just did an inspection. All we found was dusty blankets.”
Jacobus ran over to the counter where a pile of dusty blankets was. He picked it up, fanning away dust from his mouth.
“Would you like one, brother?”
“No, thank you.” The guard winced, letting out a cough. “If that is the case, I am just wasting my time here. Let me know if you see them around.”
The guards eyes switched from Annike to Jacobus, back to Annike and back to Jacobus, as he slowly walked out the door, making a sharp turn. Footsteps could be heard on the cobblestone for a brief moment.
Katarina slowly walked down the stairs, still eyeing the door.
“Alright, show me what you're hiding.”
As Annike made the request, Katarina froze right at the bottom step.
“What?”
“I'm serious, little lady.” Annike's tone was stern. “You looked paler than a ghost born in winter.”
“I didn't…” Katarina's steps became smaller, her head was ducked. Guilty as sin.
“What was it you saw upstairs? And why did you not want to say anything?”
Katarina was silent, looking as if she wanted to shrink. Her hands clasped together nervously.
“Don't be mad at her."
A soft voice interrupted, and brought Annike's eyes back to the staircase. Slowly coming down were two children. One with hair as fluffy and white as a cloud, the other much taller, with a withered blanket. Both barefoot.
They were the children the guards were looking for.
The taller boy looked away after the sentence, his cheeks dusted with red.
“She wanted to help us. It's us the guards are looking for.” The white-haired child chimed in.
Katarina finally lifted her head and looked at Annike and Jacobus with pleading eyes.
“Can they have supper with us?”
The white haired child nodded. “We'll leave tomorrow morning, I promise. We don't want to get you in trouble!”
“And where do you intend on going, if we may ask.” Annike crossed her arms.
“We'll just go home. We live by docks.”
Annike and Jacobus exchanged looks. Orphans. Like Katarina.
“But Auntie told me that's where all the kids with no families live.” Katarina spoke
“Of course I have a family.” The fluffy haired child pointed to the boy next to him. “He is my family. And the rest of the kids there.”
Annike knew what Jacobus was trying to tell her from his expression. He didn't want to send those children back. Not without a proper meal.
They couldn't help every orphaned child. But it would be cruel to turn them away when they could help.
“Alright,” Annike agreed.“We'll let you stay with us for the night, but no more stealing from merchants. You nearly wounded up in a lot of trouble.”
“Understood, ma'am.” The white haired child nodded.
Katarina smiled and giggled, meeting the other two children at the bottom of the stairs, grabbing their hands in hers.
“That's my uncle Jacobus and Auntie Annike. My name is Katarina.”
“I'm Asra.” The white-haired child introduced “And this is Muriel.”
The taller boy, Muriel, looked away again.
“He's a little shy, so he doesn't talk a lot,” Asra explained
Katarina let out a toothy grin. “It's nice to meet you, Muriel.”
Muriel did not respond initially, causing Katarina's smile to drop. He seemed to have taken notice of this, as he looked at her once more.
THERE'S AN ARCANA MC FAN-RUN EVENT WITH DAILY PROMPTS?!?!
Anyway here's a WIP for Day 2(?): Family prompt :3
The baby is Pepper :3c !!! And these two lovely people are her biological mom and dad
Might be slow but I shall try to post everything before April ends qwq!! Doing thesis things hehehe
(Context: Her Aunt is actually her mom. This is her mom, dad, and Pepper's (real name is Clara) baby self after buying the shop (which originally was not a shop! And simply their house in Vesuvia (after running away from their homeland :)) )
[posting as hayopepper, formerly spicypepperflakes]
So this post is a little easier to post because as i said before the Songbirds were kind of formed around the idea of the Celtic and Gaelic and so like their foods, they also celebrate holidays very similar to the the Celtic calendar which mostly follows the agricultural cycle as well as the changing of the seasons.
They don't really name these holidays, having forgotten something of their mother in the change but they do remember how they are celebrated, with food and celebration.
Sparrow most enjoys the fall holidays, where they connect to the spirits of the past as well as a bit of spooky fun. Lark enjoys the summer with festivals and sunny days.
And Robin is most akin to the winter where he enjoys the warmth of the fire as well as the hope for the new year. Robin's birthday also falls into the start of the year (he is a Capricorn) and the twins are summer birthday (making them both Leos).
(Side note: the picture above depicts the 8 seasonal holidays of the Celtic calendar. Imbolc (top left) is the late winter holiday to celebrate the coming spring. Beltane (top right) is the holiday celebrate in high spring often called May Day. Lughnasa (bottom left) is the late summer holiday and the time of the first harvest and Samhain (bottom right) is late autumn and celebration of the end of the harvest year. In the little boxes you have Yule (middle top left), the winter solstice, Ostara (middle top right), the spring solstice, Litha (middle bottom left), the Summer solstice, and finally Mabon (middle bottom right), the Autumn solstice.)
