Skill:

Although this meeting wasn't anywhere near as explosive as their fated clash with Kuhn, there was still a palpable tension to the air, especially when the vote came around to Euphemia.
Despite sharing every physical trait, the silver-furred Shakti-Vaes sisters could not have been any more different from one another - but while they were not as close as they could have, should have been up to this point, she certainly didn't expect for her twin to... abstain.

Aurelia's expression shifted ever so slightly.

Monty was immediate in voicing his disapproval, and the way the word something hissed out between his teeth like a dagger to the heart was impossible to ignore. It was a mercy that Solulfur jumped in when she did, throwing cold water and logic on the wrathful fires of his youth while Aurelia was left for a few quiet moments to consider how she felt about the situation.

Did Euphemia think her incapable? Compromised? Washed up, even?

If she took a deep breath and dove into the secret recesses of her heart, she felt a small wound. It would close, however; of that she felt certain. It was likely only a shock in the meantime, especially coming from the mouth of a woman who was meant to be one of her more 'emotionally apt' siblings.

It is well, she said after a moment to collect herself. If Euphemia thinks it best to abstain her vote for Wisdom, then that is her choice.

Even if it was unsettling.

Your voices have been heard, and your votes cast, Aurelia continued. Euphemia will preside over Dawnbreak as our new Wisdom, with Sólúlfur set to be her Second. Tiberii will maintain her position as Power, with Brynhild working beside her as Second.

She turned toward N​ó​ttin. You shall stay on as our Courage, with Vidarr as your Second. The position suits you, and it is clear we all agree on that point.

Aurelia bowed her head and took a breath. She felt... a mix of emotions, some of them strange, some of them anxious, but mostly she felt free. It was exhilarating; even terrifying. For her to so easily relinquish control, choosing to trust in another to safeguard their pack and the delicate framework they had, she had worked so hard to build...

She was almost proud of herself.

It has been an honor to serve you all for as long as I have. One day soon, I pray we rise to a brighter dawn again, and that it will be you - all of you - who will lead us into it.

And so the vote concluded, and with an exhale that seemed to pull every ounce of air from her lungs, Aurelia forced her shoulders to relax and quietly slipped away from the crowd to think.

[she doesn't know that the world is turning just for her]

Skill: [none]

---

Her perfectly trained attention on Adonis was going to be rightfully challenged by a social faux-pas that she did not understand.

Words from a voice she was not overly familiar with filled her ears, disapproving. Something was shifting within the crowd that Euphemia could feel, even though she did not look to see the interchanges of glances, the grimaces on faces. It was likely for the best that she did not see it, and instead kept those fire-sunset eyes trained on that round, wonderful face.

Even in the face of naysayers, the beautiful mouth on that beautiful face spoke her name and claimed that when their love had sprouted, her wisdom had been the fertilizer. Votes from Solulfur, Dalmatia, and Vidarr were enough to cement the results of the election as they were.

Vidarr could not have said it better, for he had more experience with Duskguard and Dawnbreak than even Tiberii and Aurelia. He said that they should dedicate time to themselves, which was what Euphemia had wanted too, had she not?

It seemed counterintuitive to vote against her desires. The maiden wished for others to pick up their democracy, because lights who entertained long reigns tended to burn out – whether from their own efforts or snuffed out by another. Here, with the opportunity to vote, is the ability to spin the opposite reality for her sisters.

To lead was not a life sentence. This was what appealed most to Euphemia: the ability to place her entire focus on something, then set it down and trust her vision to another. She could grow, and so could the pack. With the right guidance, another member of the Pillar was ready to lead when their time came.

For that was the way of it.

Aurelia moved to speak, to close the election and raise up the new pillar with but a word. It was only at this time, at the utterance of her name (alongside Tiberii and Nottin) as the newest round of pillars, that she broke her overflowing concentration on her beloved.

A smile spread upon her lips, quite a foreign feeling to occur during a Dawnbreak pack meeting, but she was dismayed to find her happiness was unrequited. Quite quickly, Euphemia intuited that ends were left untied. Words must be said, and fast.

This was now her job, she must say something, she must speak, she must be wise. Speak now, speak–

Euphemia downcast her eyes, hoping to blurt the words out before her sister departed. Aurelia, by following in your footsteps, I hope to show how deeply you inspire me. And it is only because you paved the way, that I feel myself capable of being the Pillar of Wisdom at all.

Her sister's true offense was unrealized. Perhaps this was one of those parts of living amongst polite society that she did not understand (and under the influence of the flames, was difficult for her to consider), but no one had ever told her what to do when running against your own twin in an election. She had only done what she felt was right.

Just as she had at the last election.

Euphemia swallowed, allowing her eyes to search the crowd for the one, singular voice of youthful dissent. Quietly, she was surprised at how many members had gathered to make their voices heard. She tipped her head towards Tiberii and Nottin in recognition.

I hope that no one has cast a vote out of mere propriety. I would like to believe that everyone who said my name, or the name of any candidate here, did so because that is where their heart lies. The bookish shewolf felt the weight of the responsibility already coiled around her shoulders like a snake.

I do not ask you to understand the choices of others, but I do ask you to respect them.

Hers was a different brand of wisdom, and Dawnbreak would have to get used to the taste.

Thank you all, I will not disappoint you.

Euphemia wished to run over Adonis, to laugh uncomfortably at the intensity of what had just transpired, and then to cry with him at the result. Her opinion, which she had so long felt was inconsequential, suddenly meant so much. Her decisions, who she was at her core, had real-time effects on those around her – starting from Adonis and her sisters, to those she didn’t know personally yet.

The silvered, smiling maiden wished to do that, but with great effort, she wrested herself away from the spotlight to find the Black Sun amongst those still amongst the group. They were to work closely now.

Solulfur– could we talk?

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