Also, I thought I might share this. A while back I wrote a prototype of the introduction to Inias. Not a single clue if any of this will make it into the final version, it is also without any choices or variables taken into account, so heavy changes should be expected. Which is why I think it’s okay to share for those curious of what Inias will be like when you first meet him (and how I’ll write his description)

Under the cut for length (tho barely over 1k) and spoilers

Another roll of thunder shakes the ground beneath your feet and your muscles draw tight, tension threaded through the cords of your spine. You recall Effie’s unimpressed words, that this “stormy night” is a storybook cliche. If this is a cliche, you’re not a fan of cliche stories.

Following the rumble, a sudden flash of light outside the window and a crack causes your vision to shake. You grit your teeth so hard they hurt. You might chip a tooth without doing anything, just trying to suppress the animalistic instincts urging your vocal cords to scream with the roar of the storm.

“So, is that your answer?” Zenos calls out over the noise, his voice snapping you out of it. You shake your head and try to focus, watching as Zenos steps into the middle of the room. Storming winds blow open the two doors and they rattle as they crash into the walls beside them. Rain pelts your face and you flinch back into safety.

Suddenly, if any other evidence hadn’t told you, you understand why Zenos is the leader. Wind whips around him, rain soaks into his clothes, and violent flashes of lightning cause the others in the room to tense, and yet he doesn’t flinch once. Back straight and jaw set firm, he stands unmoveable against the malevolent energy winding around his body. His hand twitches towards the sword strapped to his hip, but otherwise you see no movement in his stance. His voice remains strong when he speaks again.

“You know no one here can match you. How about you show yourself?” There’s a beat. The pressure in the air is palpable, you feel it in your head like your ears need to pop. You swallow hard and your fingers twitch, nearly scratching your claws into your palms with your pent-up energy to attack.

Zenos takes a breath, drawing up his shoulders as his lips pull back into a snarl. “Show yourself!” he shouts.

Immediately, thunder booms. Lightning strikes down directly outside of the open doors, mere feet away from you, but rather than hurt you, the windows burst and shattered glass flies into the room. As Zenos throws an arm up to protect his face, you make to look away but the sight before you makes you pause.

A figure stands where was once empty space in the doorway. Their back to you, the light outside highlights their slim silhouette but that’s not what your eyes are drawn to.

From their back sprouts great wings, black as a void. The wings spread out, invoking an amazingly oppressed feeling in your chest at just how much presence they have, stretching from one wall of the room to the other. As you look on in amazement, you hear a breath sucked in between teeth to your side, Day shifting to slide a foot behind him as if preparing for something. What’s got him all worked up? You’ve never seen something like this before, but it’s… incredible. You’re drawn in, the instinct to push closer, draw yourself closer tensing your muscles but you don’t move yet.

You squint, leaning forward a little as you try to see if- yes, you’re right. Right below the base of those wings are two stumps, still wrapped with feathers white as snow, the exact opposite of the fully-formed black wings stretching out from the figure’s back. A second pair? But-

A hand comes down on your shoulder, jolting you out of your daze. It’s Day pulling at your shoulder, a gentle encouragement to stay by his side. “Fallen,” he hisses, his narrowed eyes focused solely on the figure turning to face your group.

Wings sweep over broken glass and lifeless furniture as they draw in tight to the figure’s back, allowing them to fully face you and the others.

Zenos shakes his arm, dislodging tiny shards of glass from his skin like it’s nothing while his eyes meet the being’s head on.

Now looking at them head-on you see they’re- or he’s- masculine in appearance. Pale skin stretched over lean muscles exposed to your eyes from what little clothing he’s wearing. Yes, his torso is left exposed and vulnerable while a thin sheet of white fabric clings to his hips and legs, the only thing between him an indecency.

But that’s not what you’re staring at.

His torso isn’t all light skin. Marks, three on each side, vaguely follow the shape of lower ribs on his body, a black almost incorporeal in its smoky look painted- or burned on his skin.

His figure is on the tall side, but not that tall so why… You thought Zenos has a presence, but this being makes everyone in the room seem small. Even Zenos finds the distance between him and the Fallen too close for comfort, taking several slow steps back. The being’s head tilts in a curiosity of the move that almost comes across as mocking to you.

Long hair hangs in a thick braid over one shoulder, a pale blond, or it would be. Starting from the top of his head is a black looking like it’s taking over his hair, bleeding into the blond. His face is a porcelain mask of gentle masculinity as it turns, eyes scanning over the room and each face present. Those eyes… They’re haunting. No features like any mortal being’s, they’re an inky pool of pitch black that seems to swallow up any emotion. Colder than even Day’s.

You glance to your side before you realize it, a sudden desire to check your teammates are still there, still with you. To your surprise, Day’s disappeared from your side and Dani takes his place, her eyes focused completely on every movement of the winged man and not even noticing you beside her.

“Well.”

Your attention instantly snaps to the Fallen, heart skipping a beat at that voice. Masculine, but thoroughly inhuman. A deeper voice is layered underneath a lighter one, like two men speaking at once, the unearthly nature drawing a chill into the room and you doubt you’re the only one that feels it. The man’s arms start to raise, slow, challenging, but as they do his wings begin to spread out again as well. Their black slides across the wall behind them like a shadow stretches over a room as a sun sets. One side of his lips twitch almost imperceptibly.

“I’m here.”