We now unveil the character concept art for our short story's protagonist and the creature she believes to be pursuing.

Illustrated by the wonderful @meg-noel-art.bsky.social

During a solar eclipse, the devout Santilli ascend en masse to grand volcanic craters. By carrying a torch of inextinguishable blue flame, they usher in a season of agricultural harmony. The pilgrimage is concluded once the shadowed veil has been lifted off Aprex, the Great Sun.
@/papirfecni

As the Lehelian saying goes, “The sky is as vast as knowledge itself.” Many believe the phrase originates from early scholars who visited a secluded area where “the Sky met the Earth” and were struck by the sheer presence of the cosmos. They named this wonder the Field of Stars. #lesbian
@/dyingnome

During a widespread revolutionary wave that shook the Empire, a group of scientists were tasked with harnessing raw energy directly from the source to forge new weapons, resulting in the catastrophic events now known as Greed’s Grave. Today, Krumland is a hazardous wasteland.
@/dyingnome

Most rituals are performed on the Luminous Shores; they are integral to Valandi identity. The early inhabitants were shipwrecked and had lost all navigation, but the dark waves lit aglow, guiding the survivors to land. The Shores are a reminder of their mortality and resilience.
@/papirfecni

The source of Erdom’s wealth and dominance in trade and commerce, however, isn’t its vast forests but the Great Plain that rips through the very core of the country. It is blessed with the most fertile soil of the continent, making it one of the most crucial regions of Venar.
@/dyingnome

Murva is often referred to as “the Empire of None.” Despite its geographical location and resources, the Murvi leadership was never able to deliver on expansionist plans due to the instability of the Depths. These underground horrors are barely contained by the Order of the Den.
@/papirfecni