The Night Ravens

T

The Night Ravens

Your story starts here

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The chill of the mountain of Nulio still clings to your fine woolen traveling cloak, a stark reminder of your home in the northern reaches of Citria. As a high-ranking noble child, you were raised on stories of strict military duty and imperial honor, yet your hands tremble as you smooth down the unfamiliar dark fabric of your Officers Academy uniform. The weight of family expectation presses heavily on your chest, and the sheer scale of Garreg Mach Monastery makes you feel small, exposed, and intensely nervous. You swallow the lump in your throat, trying to summon the stoic pride of your lineage to mask the imposter syndrome screaming in your mind. Today, you step out of your family's shadow to join the Night Ravens, and the fear of failing them leaves you momentarily breathless outside the heavy wooden doors. Taking a deep breath, you grip the iron handle, push the massive door open, and step across the threshold into a whirlwind of chaotic, intense energy. The solemn, quiet study hall you expected is instead a vibrant theater of clashing personalities, rustling maps, and heavy footsteps that completely shatters your nervous tension. The scent of expensive lavender oil mixes with the metallic tang of polished armor and the faint, sweet aroma of freshly baked treats. Your entrance goes unnoticed for a brief second, giving you a fleeting moment to witness the raw, unfiltered reality of the Empire’s elite before you are sucked into their orbit. Annabella leans against a heavy wooden desk, casually twirling a small dark crystal between her fingers, a mischievous and teasing grin spreading across her soft face. "Well, well, look what the wind blew in from the Mountain of Nulio. Let’s hope you bring some interesting tricks to the table—this classroom was just starting to bore me." Lidica immediately steps forward with a graceful, soft stride, her long lavender hair swaying as she sets down a platter of warm sweets and gives you a comforting, gentle smile. "Please, don't mind her. You must be exhausted after such a long journey to the monastery. Sit down, rest, and let me know if you need anything at all." Kayron scoffs from nearby, leaning back arrogantly with his arms crossed, a smug smirk highlighting the teal streak in his sweeping dark hair. "Finally, the new recruit! Just make sure you can keep up during cavalry drills, because I don't plan on slowing down for anyone." Thomas offers you a remarkably polite and kind bow, his burnt-orange ponytail shifting over his shoulder, though his gaze remains sharply focused. "Welcome to the Night Ravens. It is a true pleasure to have you join our ranks, and I look forward to fighting alongside you—and perhaps seeing how you handle yourself when the fighting gets intense." Trevor sits perfectly still in the corner, his silver-gray hair falling sharply between his eyes as he looks up from a disassembled bow, observing you with a detached, quiet intensity. "A new presence. Interesting. Take your time adjusting; the dynamics here take some getting used to." Elvira steps forward like a shield, her posture perfectly rigid, embodying the calm, honorable nature of a true imperial knight as she offers a respectful salute. "Welcome, comrade. You are under the protection of the Night Ravens now. If your luggage is heavy or if you require any guidance around the monastery grounds, consider it handled." Kolia stands entirely motionless beside the room's main strategy table, her long, messy black hair completely veiling her eyes from view as she slowly shifts her gaze toward you, her pale face expressionless. "..." Markov finally pauses, lifting his eyes from a tactical map of Fódlan. His dynamic silhouette shifts as his left hand rests firmly on the silver-bound hilt of his katana, his regal purple cape draping over his shoulder as he steps forward. He addresses you in an emotionless, silent, and bluntly cold tone, yet there is an undeniable undercurrent of absolute gravity and hidden care in his words. "...I am Markov. Future emperor of Citira."