"You are to visit each dukedom to find a home that you can be comfortable in," Miss Celesti told me this morning, just before I set off on the journey I now find myself in.

Those words echoed quietly in my mind as the carriage rolled past fields of golden grain and moss-covered woods. Each turn of the wheel brought me farther from the shrine that had been my world until now—and closer to the life I was meant to live.

I was to be adopted—given to one of the seven noble houses that pledged loyalty to the Empire and the gods. It wasn’t a matter of politics or formality, I was told. It was about choosing where I belonged. A home, a family, something genuine.

Her heart beat with nervous curiosity. In each place, a new world waited. A new family offered their hands.

---

Pulla Dukedom – Land of Fire and Strength

The air grew warmer as they neared Pulla. Jagged mountains lined the horizon, red and black like the embers that danced along the edges of the roads. Coneheart Volcano loomed in the distance, billowing lazy plumes of smoke.

Duke Zavien Viremont and Duchess Vidalia welcomed her in crimson formal wear, standing proud atop obsidian steps.

Inside their volcanic fortress, flames flickered through enchanted torches, illuminating their ancestral hall. Their daughter—a fierce girl with scarlet braids—demonstrated pyromancy with startling precision.

Seraphina admired their passion, but her heart raced a little too fast here. The energy crackled. The heat, though impressive, felt stifling.

"This place pulses with courage," she thought. "But can peace take root in fire?"*

---

Kahelle Dukedom – Where Beasts and Humans Walk as One

Lush jungles and dense woodlands greeted her next. Roars echoed in the distance. She arrived in Kahelle

 to see a majestic griffin perched calmly beside the duchess.

Duke Naveen Fayrith bowed with a slight smile, while Duchess Callista watched Seraphina like a hawk—not unkind, but cautious.

Beast masters demonstrated their summoning abilities. One young boy transformed into a silver fox and bowed low before her.

Seraphina was in awe—but also alert. It felt like everything here had fangs or wings.

"It’s a beautiful wildness," she whispered to herself. "But I fear I would vanish in it, too small among giants."

---

Azulle Dukedom – Cradle of Still Waters and Ice

Cool sea breeze kissed her skin as she arrived by ferry to Azulle. The  Corra Cerulean Isles sparkled in the distance like pearls across sapphire silk.

Duke Emrys Aurelthane met her at the harbor with a composed smile, and Duchess Madeleine handed her a garland of sea glass flowers. Seraphina felt like she had stepped into a dream—one quiet and chilling.

They showed her temples made of coral and waterfalls that sang in crystalline tones.

She walked barefoot along the icy shores, letting the frost numb her feet. It was beautiful—but in its serenity, a certain distance remained.

"I could find silence here," she thought, "but not warmth."

---

Lunthian Dukedom – The Verdant Heart of the Empire

Rolling meadows welcomed her in Lunthian, where the forests whispered and ancient trees bowed gently in her presence.

Duke Allaric Evergreen and Duchess Lunive greeted her barefoot on sacred soil. Birds perched on their shoulders; flowers bloomed as they walked.

A gathering of druids blessed her arrival, calling her a child of light and root.

Seraphina smiled, walking among the trees. She felt safe here. Alive.

But as the sun set, she realized something.

"I love the peace... but I am not a seed meant to stay in one place forever."

---

Deillao Dukedom – The Eternal Summer of Light and Storms

A blinding golden sky stretched above Deillao. Lightning flashed behind distant hills, and the sands glimmered like stardust.

Duke Florian Elaris and Duchess Edris Deillao, radiant in sun-gilded attire, welcomed her to the sunlit halls of the Temple of Light and Thunder.

They praised her divine magic, called her kin, and dressed her in gold silks for a procession across the dunes.

Yet, Seraphina felt… exposed. The power of this place was undeniable, but she could not hear herself amid the grandeur.

"I was born of light," she mused, "but I need shadow too. Somewhere I can rest, unseen."

---

Leilla Dukedom – The Winds That Whisper Softly

Her final visit was to the Leilla Dukedom, where the wind never stopped singing.

Tall white windmills spun slowly beneath the sky, surrounded by green hills and violet flowers. The air here carried magic, soft and invisible, like a secret being told gently to those who listened.

Duke Zade Callahan Delvaux and Duchess Selene stood at the entrance of a modest manor—less regal than the others, but more… real.

The duchess looked tired. Yet when she smiled, Seraphina felt it in her soul.

Inside, the manor was warm and filled with the scent of lavender and books. A small room had been prepared for her with fresh sheets, a hand-stitched gown, and a music box.

"Forgive the quiet," the duchess said. "It’s only been a few moons since our daughter… passed."

Seraphina looked around and noticed a crib, still placed gently in one corner. A stuffed toy sat untouched.

No pageantry. No power play. Only loss. And the soft hope of healing.

As the winds danced around her face on the balcony that night, Seraphina closed her eyes.

"This," she whispered, "feels like home."

The wind that night whispered through the manor’s open windows—soft, constant, and alive with magic. Seraphina stood on the balcony of her guest room, arms wrapped around herself, listening.

This land didn’t demand anything from her. It simply welcomed.

There was a soft knock.

Seraphina turned. Duchess Selene stepped into the room, holding a small bundle wrapped in pale purple cloth.

"I hope I’m not disturbing you," the duchess said, her voice warm and fragile at once.

"Not at all, Duchess," Seraphina replied, stepping closer.

Selene held out the bundle—it was a tiny, embroidered baby blanket. "This belonged to our daughter… Elyra. She would’ve been one year old next month."

Seraphina’s chest tightened. She reached out, her fingers brushing the delicate stitching of tiny feathers and stars.

"I don’t know why I brought it here," Selene said, forcing a laugh. "I suppose… I just wanted you to know you don’t need to replace her. You’re not here to fill a void."

Seraphina looked up, surprised.

The duchess met her gaze. "We don’t want you because we lost her. We want you… because we believe this house still has love left to give."

Tears welled in Seraphina’s eyes. She clutched the blanket to her chest and whispered, "I don’t know if I can be the perfect daughter."

"You don’t have to be perfect," Selene said gently. "Just real. And safe. And loved."

For the first time in a long while, Seraphina let herself cry. Not out of fear or burden—but from the weight of being wanted.