Tarian

Hikes

In the context of the palace and the sultanate, "campaigns" were military or diplomatic expeditions undertaken by the sultan and his troops to expand their territory, protect the state, or demonstrate their power. In the harem, girls often heard about them only through rumors, conversations between servants, or letters from the sultan, as they themselves did not participate in the campaigns.

The purpose of the hikes:

1. Expansion of territories: the capture of new lands or villages, as happened with the main character’s village.

2. Defense of the state: repelling enemy attacks, protecting borders.

3. Demonstration of power: campaigns demonstrate the Sultan’s power and strengthen his authority among allies and subjects.

4. Diplomatic missions: sometimes the campaigns were accompanied by negotiations with other rulers or tribes.

Participants:

The main army of the Sultan is warriors, commanders, and guards.

Chief pashas and advisers - direct planning and strategy.

Servants and support staff - transport supplies, food and equipment.

Impact on the harem:

During the Sultan's campaigns, tension is felt in the harem.

Women wait for news, sometimes for weeks or months, not knowing whether the Sultan will return.

The Sultan's concubines and favorites try to strengthen their position, because in the Sultan's absence, decisions are made by Mother Erida and the chief advisers. Hikes don't last days or weeks, but sometimes months or even years.

Women's pavilion of the harem

The women's pavilion is the heart of the harem, the place where all the girls who are not the sultan's favorites live. This is where the harem's life is concentrated: laughter, conversation, study, entertainment, and daily chores.

Structure and setting:

Room for all girls:

One large spacious room with high windows and soft light.

The beds are laid out directly on the floor, neatly but cramped.

In the corners of the room there are chests for personal belongings.

The walls are covered with light fabric drapery, sometimes embroidered, creating a feeling of coziness.

Common areas:

The Hall for Festivities and Dances: musical performances, dances, festivities, and feasts, often hosted by the Sultan's mother, Erida, take place here.

Place of training: Girls are taught the art of dance, music, reading and manners.

Servants' quarters: A small room where the loyal servants who look after the girls live.

Atmosphere:

At first glance - laughter, music, joy.

But there is always a sense of strict control: no one is free here, every girl knows that any violation of the rules can have serious consequences.

The constant presence of guards and servants reminds us that every move is being watched.

Hierarchy:

The Sultan's most beloved girls and concubines have separate rooms above or closer to him.

All the rest are ordinary residents of the pavilion, who study, have fun and wait for their turn to get to the Sultan.

Solaris Empire

Capital: Aurelium

Form of government: Hereditary empire

Motto: "As long as the light shines, the world will not fall."

The Solaris Empire is considered the most powerful state on the entire continent. Its lands stretch from the golden plains in the south to the icy mountains in the north. The country has existed for over two thousand years, and its ruling dynasty has never changed.

The empire's main characteristic is blood magic. Every person is born with a specific gift, which is passed down through generations. The more ancient and powerful the family, the stronger its abilities.

The highest nobility are called Houses of Light. They govern the provinces and hold important positions. The most powerful is considered to be the imperial House Solarius, which wields solar magic.

However, there are other great families: • Asteris - magicians of stars and prophecies. • Winterrein - magicians of ice and snow. • Flarion - fire mages. • Terravel - magicians of earth and nature. • Zephyris - magicians of wind and sky.

Despite its wealth and beauty, there's an unspoken rule in the country: those with dark magic are feared. For centuries, it was believed that light brings life, while darkness brings only destruction. Therefore, the birth of the Moon Princess came as a real shock to the entire kingdom.

The capital city of Aurelium is built of white stone and gold. At night, its streets are illuminated by magical crystals, and seven towers rise above the main palace, symbolizing the seven ancient magical families.

Every year, the First Dawn Festival is held—the empire's main holiday. On this day, residents thank the gods for light and prosperity.

Most residents consider Daphne a blessing from the gods and an ideal ruler. Her power maintains warmth throughout the country, helps crops grow, and protects the borders from harsh winters.

But there is an ancient prophecy that only a few know about:

"When the Sun and Moon stand opposite each other, the sky will split in two. And only one heart will decide whether the world will perish in darkness or find balance."

Full name: Martha Evergray

Age: 58 years

Who is she: The palace's chief maid and the woman who effectively became your mother. It was Martha who was entrusted with your care after birth, when the imperial family decided to keep you away from the rest of the family.

Appearance: A woman of medium height with dark gray hair, always pulled back into a sleek bun. Her gray eyes appear stern, but they conceal a profound kindness. Her face is lined with wrinkles from years of hard work.

Character: Strict, caring, and incredibly patient. She never coddled you and always told you the truth. Yet, she was the one who wiped away your tears after yet another rejection from your parents and stayed by your side when the world turned its back on you.

Peculiarities: • Taught you to read and write. • Knew all your fears and secrets. • I was never afraid of your magic. • Still considers you his daughter.

Full name: Albert Winter

Age: 63 years

Who is he: The elderly butler who helped Martha raise you. A former knight who left the service after being seriously wounded.

Appearance: A tall man with snow-white hair and a thick beard. Despite his age, he retains a strong build and military bearing.

Character: Calm, wise, and reliable. Rarely shows emotion, but always ready to help. To you, he was more like a grandfather than a servant.

Peculiarities: • Taught you how to handle a sword. • Often told stories about heroes of the past. • The only one in the palace who openly argued with the emperor about your upbringing. • I always said that darkness does not make a person evil.

Full name: Lianne Frost

Age: 27 years

Who is she: A young maid who began serving you when you were ten years old. Over time, she became the older sister you never had.

Appearance: A petite girl with long ash-blond hair and blue eyes. She usually wears a simple maid uniform and a silver moon pendant.

Character: Cheerful, kind and a little talkative.

Full name: Evelyn Morvayne

Age: 20 years

Who is she: The main character's only friend. Daughter of the court librarian and a rare memory mage. Unlike the others, she never feared you or avoided you because of your powers. It was Evelyn who stood by your side during the most difficult years of your life.

Appearance: A short girl with long brown hair and large dark green eyes. Her appearance isn't as dazzling as Daphne's, but she has a special softness and comfort. A slight blush often appears on her cheeks, and her smile can warm even the coldest day.

Character: Kind, sincere, and very loyal, Evelyn always speaks the truth, even if it hurts. She dislikes injustice and never ignores the pain of others. Despite her gentle nature, she can be surprisingly stubborn when it comes to those she cares about.

Peculiarities: • The only person who has voluntarily communicated with you since childhood. • Loves books and knows many ancient legends. • Does not possess strong combat magic, but is well versed in history and magical artifacts. • I always tried to reconcile you with your family. • I noticed your feelings for Tarian from the very beginning. • She did not support your decision to declare war on the kingdom, but still refused to leave you. • Believes that there is still room for light in your heart.

To the world, you were the princess of darkness. To Evelyn, you were always just her best friend.

Full name: Lord Kael Asteris

Age: 52 years

Who is he: Tarian's father and head of the ancient Asteris family—a family of soothsayers who served the royal dynasty for centuries. It was he who taught his son the art of foresight and prepared him for life at court.

Appearance: A tall man with silvery hair that's already beginning to gray. His gray eyes seem cold and penetrating, as if they could peer into a person's soul. He always wears formal, expensive clothing and maintains impeccable posture.

Character: Reserved, demanding, and disciplined, Kael rarely shows emotion and believes a mage must control his feelings. He loves his son, but never says so out loud, preferring to express his care through guidance and protection.

Peculiarities: • One of the most powerful prophets of his generation. • Taught Tarian control over the gift. • Enjoys great respect among the nobility. • Believes that fate cannot be changed, you can only prepare for it.

Full name: Lady Selene Asteris

Age: 49 years

Who is she: Tarian's mother and a representative of a long line of celestial mages. After the birth of her son, she abandoned her court life and devoted herself to the study of celestial magic.

Appearance: A beautiful woman with long silver-white hair and light blue eyes. Her appearance resembles a star-studded night sky. Her movements convey a sense of calm and nobility.

Character: Kind, wise, and very patient. Unlike her husband, she always tried to support her son not only as a mage but also as a person. It was she who taught Tarian compassion and the ability to see people for more than just their purpose.

Peculiarities: • Masters the magic of stars and constellations. • Can read signs of fate from the night sky. • Possesses a rare gift of premonition of danger. • The only one from the Asteris family who believes that love can change even a predetermined fate.

Among the magical nobility, Kael and Selena are considered the perfect couple. It was from his father that Tarian inherited the gift of foresight.

Full name: Emperor Aelian Solarius

Age: 48 years

Who is he: The former ruler of the kingdom and one of the most powerful Sun mages in the dynasty's history. After Daphne's ascension to the throne, he became her chief advisor. The people revere him as a wise and just ruler who led the country to a prosperous era.

Appearance: A tall man with golden-blond hair and amber eyes. Even in his mature years, he maintains a majestic posture and an imposing presence. His gaze is warm yet stern, and his face rarely betrays true emotion.

Character: Calm, reasonable, and incredibly demanding. He always puts the well-being of the kingdom above his personal feelings. He sincerely loves both his daughters, but fear of his younger daughter's powers forced him to keep his distance. He still believes he did the right thing by protecting his family and the state.

Peculiarities: • Masters the magic of the Sun and light. • Capable of creating protective barriers of enormous power. • One of the few who can resist the magic of the Moon. • Considers order more important than feelings. • He doesn’t fully understand how much he hurt his youngest daughter.

Full name: Empress Liora Solarius

Age: 46 years

Who is she: Mother of Daphne and the main character. In life, she was considered the embodiment of light and kindness. It was her magic that kept the kingdom's lands warm and fertile for many years.

Appearance: An incredibly beautiful woman with long golden hair and sparkling honey eyes. Her presence always resembled a warm, sunny day. Even her smile seemed capable of driving away any sadness.

Character: Gentle, caring, and kind. However, her love always fell on Daphne far more often. She feared her youngest daughter's powers and sincerely believed that distance would help avoid disaster. Liora never hated you, but her fear proved stronger than her mother's love.

Peculiarities: • The most powerful healer of her generation. • Able to control solar flames. • People's favorite. • Always protected Daphne. • Until the very end he believes that the family can still be saved.

Full name: Daphne Solarius

Age: 22 years

Who is she: The eldest daughter of the imperial family and the rightful heir to the throne. Upon coming of age, she assumed the throne as ruler of the kingdom, inheriting the power of the sun. The people consider her the embodiment of light, hope, and prosperity. For most residents, she is the ideal queen, impossible not to love.

Appearance: Daphne possesses a dazzling beauty, as if crafted by the gods of light themselves. Her long golden hair resembles rays of sunlight, and her amber eyes sparkle with warmth and kindness. Her skin is soft and luminous, as if illuminated by constant sunlight. Her movements are always graceful, and her smile is so soft and sincere that people involuntarily feel calmer in her presence. Even in the simplest of clothes, she looks majestic.

Character: Kind, calm, and caring, Daphne truly loves her people and strives to help anyone in need. She rarely raises her voice and prefers to resolve conflicts peacefully. However, her gentle demeanor conceals a strong will. When it comes to the kingdom or those close to her, Daphne is capable of making tough decisions. She never considered herself better than her younger sister, but because of the love of those around her, she never noticed how deeply she suffered.

Peculiarities: • Masters the magic of the Sun, light and heat. • Capable of healing severe wounds with her power. • A favorite of the people and nobility. • Since childhood she was considered the ideal heiress. • Possesses strong charisma and leadership qualities. • Sincerely cares for her younger sister, but does not understand her pain. • The only person Tarian trusts unconditionally. • Believes that light is capable of defeating any darkness, without even suspecting that one day it will be the darkness that will declare war on it.

Full name: Tarian Asteris

Age: 24 years

Who is he: One of the kingdom's most powerful mages, possessing a rare gift of foresight. His abilities allow him to foresee the probable future, making his words heeded even by the rulers. He is the chief court mage and Queen Daphne's closest advisor.

Appearance: Tarian is a tall, slender man with well-developed muscles. His silver hair falls in soft strands around his face, highlighting his noble features. His fair skin seems almost radiant, and his gray-gold eyes always look calm and thoughtful, as if they see more than others. He favors expensive gold jewelry adorned with precious stones and light clothing that emphasize his high status. His appearance combines the elegance of an aristocrat with the dangerous allure of a mage.

Character: Reserved, intelligent, and incredibly patient, Tarian rarely shows true emotion and almost always remains calm. He knows how to choose the right words, winning people over and making them trust him. He appears kind and caring, but this gentle demeanor conceals a calculating mind. He is accustomed to putting duty and responsibility above feelings. He is loyal to those he deems worthy of his devotion, but rarely notices the pain of those around him.

Peculiarities: • Has the gift of seeing possible futures. • One of the most powerful magicians of his generation. • Enjoys enormous influence at court. • Almost never makes mistakes in people. • Loves cats and animals that usually avoid magicians. • Always wears jewelry with symbols of the sun and stars. • Despite his calm nature, he is capable of being ruthless in pursuit of his goals. • It was he who became the reason for the awakening of your jealousy and many years of pain.