Light Over Grayhollow

  The once-scarred chapel of Grayhollow had never looked so alive.

  Where centuries of ash and ruin had lingered, warm light now poured through the stained glass, gold and green ribbons dancing across every stone. The glow wasn’t divine nor necrotic—something truer, something born of balance.

  At the heart of it stood Elaris, Sereth, and Elyra—hand in hand, bound together by something greater than vows or power.

  The ring gleamed on Sereth’s finger, catching the light of the newly restored sun that filtered through the chapel’s open roof. She couldn’t stop smiling, radiant and unguarded, and for once Elaris didn’t try to hide his tears.

  Elyra, still refusing to let go, hugged them both around the waist. Her laughter—bright, unrestrained—filled the quiet corners that had known only prayer and mourning for years.

  Around them, the Crimson Dice were… being the Crimson Dice.

  Borin raised a mug he’d somehow found during the chaos.

  Borin: “So! We’ll need a proper wedding venue, then! The ruins are lovely, but I say Thornmere has better ale.”

  Garruk: “Aye, but what about the reception feast? I could cook! Roast wyvern if we can find one, maybe two!”

  Vex elbowed her sister.

  Vex: “Ring bearers?”

  Laz (grinning): “Obviously us. Who else has the coordination and poise required?”

  A single, indignant squeak interrupted them.

  All heads turned to Pancake, who stood in the middle of the chapel floor with paws on hips, glitter haloed in sunlight.

  Vex: “Oh no. He wants to be ring bearer too.”

  Laz: “Pancake, you can’t even hold a ring.”

  The purple weasel chattered furiously and then posed with his tail looped like a perfect ring holder.

  The entire group lost it. Laughter erupted through the chapel, the sound bouncing off the ancient walls like a hymn of life itself.

  Elyra giggled so hard she almost fell over, Sereth catching her by the shoulders and laughing right along with her.

  Elaris stood beside them, head bowed in quiet disbelief, happiness etching lines where sorrow once had lived.

  Garruk: “Right then, Pancake’s the ring bearer, we’ll need a flower girl—”

  Laz: “That’s you, Kaer.”

  Kaer: “I swear on every god, if you—”

  Vex: “—look adorable in lace, you absolutely will.”

  Another burst of laughter filled the air.

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Finally, Elaris raised a hand, his voice warm but commanding, a shepherd among chaos once more.

  Elaris: “Alright, everyone. We can plan the wedding, the feast, and the fashion show back in Thornmere.”

  The group chuckled but began gathering their things, still teasing one another.

  Elaris (turning to Arden): “Arden, with me. Let’s get everyone home.”

  Arden stepped forward, her holy symbol glowing faintly as she joined hands with him. Together, the light of the Dawn Mother and the balance of the Lattice intertwined—divine gold threading through necrotic green until the whole room shimmered with a soft aurora.

  Elyra took Sereth’s hand; Sereth took Elaris’s. The rest followed suit, the circle complete.

  Arden (smiling): “Ready?”

  Elaris: “Let’s go home.”

  The chapel flared with light.

  When the glow faded, Grayhollow was once again quiet—but this time, it was not a silence of loss.

  It was peace.

  A long-overdue calm before the next storm.

  Light Over Grayhollow

  The once-scarred chapel of Grayhollow had never looked so alive.

  Where centuries of ash and ruin had lingered, warm light now poured through the stained glass, gold and green ribbons dancing across every stone. The glow wasn’t divine nor necrotic—something truer, something born of balance.

  At the heart of it stood Elaris, Sereth, and Elyra—hand in hand, bound together by something greater than vows or power.

  The ring gleamed on Sereth’s finger, catching the light of the newly restored sun that filtered through the chapel’s open roof. She couldn’t stop smiling, radiant and unguarded, and for once Elaris didn’t try to hide his tears.

  Elyra, still refusing to let go, hugged them both around the waist. Her laughter—bright, unrestrained—filled the quiet corners that had known only prayer and mourning for years.

  Around them, the Crimson Dice were… being the Crimson Dice.

  Borin raised a mug he’d somehow found during the chaos.

  Borin: “So! We’ll need a proper wedding venue, then! The ruins are lovely, but I say Thornmere has better ale.”

  Garruk: “Aye, but what about the reception feast? I could cook! Roast wyvern if we can find one, maybe two!”

  Vex elbowed her twin brother.

  Vex: “Ring bearers?”

  Laz (grinning): “Obviously us. Who else has the coordination and poise required?”

  A single, indignant squeak interrupted them.

  All heads turned to Pancake, who stood in the middle of the chapel floor with paws on hips, glitter haloed in sunlight.

  Vex: “Oh no. He wants to be ring bearer too.”

  Laz: “Pancake, you can’t even hold a ring.”

  The purple weasel chattered furiously and then posed with his tail looped like a perfect ring holder.

  The entire group lost it. Laughter erupted through the chapel, the sound bouncing off the ancient walls like a hymn of life itself.

  Elyra giggled so hard she almost fell over, Sereth catching her by the shoulders and laughing right along with her.

  Elaris stood beside them, head bowed in quiet disbelief, happiness etching lines where sorrow once had lived.

  Garruk: “Right then, Pancake’s the ring bearer, we’ll need a flower girl—”

  Laz: “That’s you, Kaer.”

  Kaer: “I swear on every god, if you—”

  Vex: “—look adorable in lace, you absolutely will.”

  Another burst of laughter filled the air.

  Finally, Elaris raised a hand, his voice warm but commanding, a shepherd among chaos once more.

  Elaris: “Alright, everyone. We can plan the wedding, the feast, and the fashion show back in Thornmere.”

  The group chuckled but began gathering their things, still teasing one another.

  Elaris (turning to Arden): “Arden, with me. Let’s get everyone home.”

  Arden stepped forward, her holy symbol glowing faintly as she joined hands with him. Together, the light of the Dawn Mother and the balance of the Lattice intertwined—divine gold threading through necrotic green until the whole room shimmered with a soft aurora.

  Elyra took Sereth’s hand; Sereth took Elaris’s. The rest followed suit, the circle complete.

  Arden (smiling): “Ready?”

  Elaris: “Let’s go home.”

  The chapel flared with light.

  When the glow faded, Grayhollow was once again quiet—but this time, it was not a silence of loss.

  It was peace.

  A long-overdue calm before the next storm.