ZARIYA The only truth that matters is the one you shape with your own hands. The rest is just noise. |
Despite her missteps, she managed to slip into circles most would pay millions of jewels to enter--like tonight’s exclusive event at the Usaka Gallery.
The invitation had arrived through her underworld connections, and needing a distraction, Zariya had accepted without hesitation. She had a fondness for these lavish gatherings, if only to learn more about the upper echelon that selfishly pulled Fiore’s strings. Most of them were Fiorian, many were her enemies, but the champagne was free, and Zariya never passed on an opportunity to indulge. Her gaze swept the room, drifting over the high-society attendees, while she searched for someone particular.
It had been years since she last saw Charles, who, by all accounts, had been lurking around Fiore. What exactly he’d been doing was unclear, but Zariya intended to find out tonight. Their homeland of Iceberg had suffered too many attacks, too many losses for her not to have seen him in so long. He knew her well enough to expect a scolding-- or at the very least a cold, indifferent embrace. Yet, not all between them was strictly business. In truth, Zariya was lonelier than ever. Her brother was dead, her mother long gone, her father sick, and one by one, the members of Akudama had abandoned their mission.
She needed a friend. And true friends were a rarity for the Queenpin.
Except, perhaps, for Erebus--the only man who made her forget, if only for a moment, how truly alone she was.
Zariya strolled through the gallery, champagne in hand, her eyes drifting over the art on display. Her kimono brushed softly against the floor, the golden headpiece in her hair gently swaying with each step. Then, she stopped, captivated by one painting in particular. For a moment, it stole her breath.
The piece portrayed a hauntingly beautiful nightscape of Hosenka City, bathed in the silvery glow of the moon. Shadows danced across the cobblestone streets and ancient architecture, casting the scene in an eerie yet enchanting light. The intricate details held her attention, each brushstroke revealing the artist’s intimate connection to the city’s melancholic beauty. As she stood before it, lost in the painting, the gallery's noise faded into the background.