As the relentless winter tightened its icy grip on the land, sea and sky, time seemed to stand still. With the stars, moon, and sun absent from the sky, days and moons blurred together, plunging the world into a perpetual, bare, long night.

The harsh, biting cold seeped into every crevice, making even the simple act of breathing a struggle against the frigid air for every creature.

In the Capitol, the mood grew increasingly restless and desperate. People's complaints and grievances, once mere murmurs, now swelled into a relentless tide that could no longer be ignored. Fiona, standing at the helm of the world, found herself facing an onslaught of concerns and demands.

Rulers and lords across the Map pleaded for explanations which went unanswered, frustration turned to anger, and threats began to surface. The leaders, unable to soothe their own subjects or alleviate their fears, saw their authority waning.

With no solution in sight, their patience wore thin. Talks of unity and cooperation soon gave way to plans of aggression. They threatened to invade Ormgrund, determined to take the Capitol by force if necessary. In their eyes, Ormgrund, as the seat of power, held the key to the unexplained phenomena that had thrust their world into darkness and despair.

Nobody knew the truth yet; the Master of the Sun, Yeso Sternach, died at the hands of his Hexe, Zonnestra Duvencrune, the Master of the Howling Night.

The threads of discontent weaved through the population, growing stronger and more vocal each day. Fiona, aware of the escalating situation, realized that the time for passive observation had passed. The absence of natural light sources had thrown the natural order into chaos, and it was her responsibility to address the mounting concerns of her people.

She had to act, to find a way to silence every voice against her and keep herself on the throne.

The pressing question on everyone's minds was why Fiona hadn't activated the Ormstaat. This powerful system, once initiated, had the capability to connect and manage every aspect of the globe, a feat of magic and administrative prowess that could potentially alleviate the crisis they were facing.

Yet, despite this remarkable tool at her disposal, the Ormstaat remained dormant, as inactive and dark as the sky above.

However, Fiona's reluctance or inability to activate the Ormstaat was a source of growing concern and speculation. Was it a strategic decision, a technical limitation, or something more complex at play?

Fiona found herself in a precarious political position, with her influence waning rapidly. The strategy of eliminating heretics, which she had previously employed, proved to be increasingly ineffective. Resorting to kill those who disagreed with her policies or actions had brought about a diminishing return.

Seated in her office, Fiona's thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of an unexpected letter. It was from "a friend, X. Kaspian," a term that in her world often came with layers of hidden meanings and agendas. Unfolding the letter, she discovered it contained detailed instructions on activating the Ormsaat. This was a game-changer.

Whoever was this X was indeed a strong ally.

With this newfound knowledge at her fingertips, a plan began to form in her mind. She saw a clear path to not only regain her waning political power but also to silence those who opposed her for good. She was pleased.

After thoroughly reading the letter and extracting every bit of information it held, Fiona nonchalantly froze it with a flick of her fingers, watching dispassionately as it disintegrated into frozen dust.

Turning her attention away from the now-destroyed letter, she caught sight of a maid diligently dusting her office. "You!" Fiona called out authoritatively.

The maid, startled by the sudden address, quickly straightened up. "Yes, your Highness?" she replied, nervous.

"Do we have a fairy in our staff?" Fiona inquired.

"Oh, uh, we have several, your Highness," the maid answered, trying to mask her confusion.

"Bring one of them to the pool!”

The maid, puzzled by this unusual request, hesitantly asked, "At the pool, your Highness? May I inquire what the task is?"

"There's no task. Just bring her!"

The maid nodded, understanding that further questions were unwelcome. She bowed deeply, almost excessively. As Fiona exited the chamber, the maid couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding. Which faerie would she choose? **

Mir Fado.

Vespara had been at the Capitol since Veilla and Yeso were merely sweethearts. Despite her almost childlike appearance, she was a beloved figure among the staff. Her presence brought a certain warmth and lightness to the often heavy atmosphere of the political stronghold. Thus, when she was summoned to join Fiona at the pool, confusion and curiosity swirled among her peers.

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Vespara's usual responsibilities revolved around the kitchen. Occasionally, she lent her skills to the tailors, assisting in mending and crafting garments with a dexterity that belied her innocent looks.

However, her interactions with the Dames of the Capitol had always been minimal, limited to respectful nods and the occasional polite greeting in passing corridors.

The idea of being personally requested by Fiona, especially for an unspecified task at the pool, was unprecedented in Vespara's experience.

As she made her way to the ormsaat, guided by the instructions of the maid who had delivered the summons, Vespara felt scared. She wondered what task could possibly require her presence in such an unusual location and why Fiona would specifically request her.

Her mind buzzed with questions and possibilities. Could this be an opportunity for her to showcase a hidden talent or skill she hadn't yet realized she possessed? Or was there a more mundane explanation, perhaps a simple errand or a task that required her specific touch?

As Vespara approached the pool, little did she know that this seemingly ordinary day was about to turn into a moment that would change the world forever.

Upon reaching the chambers of the Ormsaat, Vespara found Fiona waiting for her, immersed in the waters of the pool. Fiona was clad in a simple white tunic. The Winterqueen extended a hand towards Vespara, gesturing for her to join her in the water.

What caught Vespara's attention most, however, was Fiona's smile. In all her time of service in the Capitol, she had never seen such an expression on the Winterqueen's usually stern and stoic visage. This smile was different; it held a warmth and gentleness that was almost motherly.

Vespara looked at Fiona's outstretched hand. The inviting gesture, coupled with the unexpected smile, made her momentarily forget the formality and distance that typically defined their interactions.

Vespara cautiously stepped into the lukewarm water, gradually making her way towards the Dame. She opened her mouth to speak, "I really ap..." but her words were abruptly cut short. In a swift, shocking motion, Fiona's hand pierced through Vespara's belly, an act so sudden and violent that it left Vespara reeling in disbelief.

Green blood began to trickle from the corner of Vespara's mouth. She had no time to react, no moment to even grasp the reality of what was happening to her. Shock and confusion clouded her senses as she looked down her belly.

What Vespara saw next would haunt her final moments. Fiona's hand emerged from her body, clutching something that emitted a soft, ethereal green glow. It was Vespara's saatgut, her very essence, manifesting as a glowing green butterfly. It was her seed, what faeries were made of—pure raw ley line energy.

In those last seconds, as Vespara's life ebbed away, the realization of what had been taken from her was devastating. Her seed, her very potential for life and rebirth, now lay in the hands of the Dame. It was a theft not just of life but of identity and future, leaving Vespara to fade away with the understanding that a part of her very being had been forcibly ripped away and claimed by another. Fiona had mercilessly and callously stolen it from her.

As Vespara's body began to wither like a delicate leaf, her life force rapidly draining away, she witnessed her saatgut – the glowing green butterfly – struggle fiercely for its freedom. This desperate battle for survival played out just inches from her fading vision.

Meanwhile, Fiona, with a sinister resolve, opened her mouth and swallowed the saatgut whole. As it disappeared into Fiona, the pool around her erupted with an intense green light, radiating outwards in a spectacular display of energy.

Ley lines, akin to veins of luminous energy, began to etch themselves across Fiona's body. Starting from her eyes, these glowing lines traced down her face, past her mouth, and over her chest, intertwining with the swirling waters around her. The spectacle was both beautiful and wicked.

The surge of energy that coursed through Fiona was unlike anything she had ever experienced. It was an addictive sensation that engulfed her entire being.

And then, the critical moment arrived – the mark of the story, an event that would irrevocably alter the course of the world.

The ground began to tremble as deep, resonant tremors shook the ground of every country in the world. Everyone around Fiona tried to find refuge.

But these were not mere earthquakes; they were the heralds of a colossal upheaval. The skies, already darkened by the Long Night, roiled with ominous clouds as if nature itself was reacting to the disturbance.

Without warning, massive fissures erupted across the borders of Ormgrund. These were not ordinary cracks in the earth but gaping chasms that tore through the landscape with a ferocious intensity. The very land began to fracture and split, creating a terrifying spectacle of destruction and raw power.

As the chasms widened, the entire landmass of Ormgrund began to shift, moving away from the adjoining territories. It was as if an invisible force was pushing the country away from its neighbours, rending it from the fabric of the continent.

The seas, responding to this dramatic shift in the earth's crust, churned violently. Titanic waves crashed against the newly formed cliffs, eroding them at a staggering rate. The water rushed into the expanding rifts, creating tumultuous whirlpools and violent currents that further accelerated the separation.

In a matter of hours, Ormgrund had become an island nation, isolated from the rest of the world by a vast expanse of the Red Sea.

The aftermath of this event was catastrophic. The seismic activity and the creation of the new sea had a ripple effect across neighbouring lands, causing widespread destruction and chaos. Entire coastal settlements like the Trial Settlement, Yeso Settlement, Moonbay, and parts of Keblurg and Spiyles were swallowed by the sea, and the ecological balance was disrupted, leading to unforeseen environmental consequences. Faewood, by some miracle, was spared from all the events.

As the dust settled, the world gazed in awe and horror at the new reality. Ormgrund, under Fiona's command, had become a solitary fortress. This radical act of separation was a clear message to the world: Ormgrund was the land of the Menschen and not of the humans. It was a sovereign entity, untouchable and isolated, a kingdom unto itself, governed by a ruler who had defied the very laws of nature - Winter officially started.

And this is the start of the Long Night and those who survived it.

END OF HEXE - THE GREAT EXODUS