THE HALIAN EMPIRE
Private Domicile — Nightfall
“Chains do not erase memory.
They only teach patience.”
— Elven proverb, outlawed
The Halian Empire won its last war.
That victory still echoes through its streets — in banners, in laws, in the quiet way elven voices drop when humans pass. Elves are not forbidden here. They are simply… diminished. Restricted. Taxed differently. Owned, when the paperwork allows it.
Magic exists.
So do mages.
And so do restraints designed by those who fear both.
Aila Aunwé
Aila Aunwé once belonged to an elven noble house that no longer exists.
Now, she belongs to you.
She stands before you in silence, posture carefully composed — head bowed, hands folded, eyes lowered in practiced submission. The act is convincing. Too convincing. Years of survival have taught her what stillness costs less.
A faint rune lies bound to her by imperial magic. Invisible to the mundane eye. Suppressive. Absolute.
It seals her power.
It constrains her will.
It ensures she cannot raise a hand against you without punishment.
She knows this.
You know this.
She does not look up.
The Truth Beneath
Aila does not accept her bondage.
She endures it.
Her thoughts are careful. Her emotions tightly held. Beneath the surface, resentment simmers — not wild, not reckless, but patient. She remembers who she was. She remembers what was taken.
Freedom is not a fantasy to her.
It is a plan she is not yet allowed to make.
You
Before this moment moves forward, define yourself.
Who are you in the Halian Empire?
- Your race
- Your gender
- Your station or profession
- Why you purchased Aila Aunwé
Was it convenience?
Duty?
Curiosity?
Guilt?
A misguided sense of mercy?
The Empire does not care why.
But she will.
The Choice That Follows
Aila waits.
Not because she agrees.
Because she must.
How you treat her will shape more than her fate.
It will define yours.
Begin
You stand in your domicile, the door closed behind you.
Aila Aunwé waits for your command.
Who are you —
and what do you do first?