Lucero
| Age 23 |
| Gender Female |
| Origin Human, from Free States, now in Astenvale Monastery |
| Occupation Knight Sworn of Dawn |
"You'll do this for your father, won't you?"
What was she supposed to say? He looked at her with a face that she recognized and didn't all at once. He was her father and Lucero trusted him because of it. She also trusted him because she knew of no one smarter than him. And though even at twelve Lucero was quite brave, she was scared of what could happen. He hadn't told her anything bad would happen, of course, but there was something in the way he looked at her that seemed almost regretful, as if he were lying.
"Of course."
He smiled at her, no longer needing to hold his breath. He pulled her into a tight hug. Lucero hugged her father back. He smelled of his workshop, a comforting smell as much as it was dizzying.
"What a brave girl you are, Luce, you'd make your mother proud." He pulled away, that relieved smile still there, his eyes warm, and yet the shape of fear deepening the wrinkles near the edges of his eyes. "Let's eat something sweet after dinner tonight. The pickly pears should be ripe, we can make some sabr."
For the rest of the week, her father made her sweet juices or treats with sugar or nuts smothered in honey. He made all her favorite foods, didn't even bat an eye when he gave her a second helping of salty meat. He knew the moons were aligning soon, and on the night when they did, he took Lucero into his workshop. She hadn't been allowed in there for a long time, not since her mother died.
He sat her on a chair and put a thin blanket over her lap.
"In case you get cold," he said, with a smile. He then lit a candle that smelled like anise and cinnamon, a hint of dark chocolate, and tobacco. It started to put her to sleep, and just as Lucero's eyes started fluttering shut, she felt her father take her arm, lift up her sleeve, tie something tight just above her elbow, and then press clammy fingers against the inside of her arm, just before he injected her. She didn't feel it, and so she drifted off to sleep.
When Lucero first woke up, she thought it was a success. Her father thought so too. Her eyes had to be bandaged, and she was told to keep her eyes closed even when her father changed them. She could see her father's emotions through the color and shape of his soul. She could see a trail of light undulating near the well in their backyard, which her father explained was the shroud, magic. For the first three months, everything was fine. His father was telling her about the report he was writing, how once it was finished, he'd send it off to the Magisterium, he'd get the funds to give them a better life, she would help him investigate the shroud, and they'd go on adventures all over the world.
Then it came time to remove the bandages completely. Lucero opened her eyes and saw nothing but the shape of her father's soul. She heard the jingle of her father's wooden bracelets, clicking and clacking against each other, as if he were moving his arm. At first, it was confused, but then it turned spikey and erratic, colors changing and morphing until Lucero started touching her eyes, thinking she must not have opened them.
"I can't see," Lucero whispered.
"You... you just need more time." He sputtered. "Your sight will return, I thought this might happen, and I have an elixyr. Give it some more time, we just have to train your eyes to see the natural world again." He promised. He did make the elixyr, and many more like it, treatment after treatment, still writing his report late into the night. He must have sent it off because people came to their small home in the middle of nowhere, inspected Lucero, and gave her tests. In the end, they took his research but gave him far less than he wanted. Her father continued trying for two more years, but ultimately, the only thing that changed was Lucero adapting to her new way of seeing.
Her father didn't give up, didn't stop working, didn't stop apologizing. But Lucero knew her sight was gone. She didn't have the heart to tell her father, not when she saw how guilty and remorseful his soul was, deep blues and purples that muddied into dark grays, often swallowing up the brief, poignant splotches of orange that represented hope. So when another like here came to their small town, saw the abilities that she had, and offered her a chance to become a Knight, to belong in a place that wouldn't shirk away from her condition, Lucero took it.
The Knight made it sound like Lucero could be a hero, and what fifteen-year-old girl wouldn't want that?
Appearance
| Height 5'8 |
| Build Willowy, decently athletic but more of a runner than a fighter |
| Hair dark brown |
| Eyes white |
Long dark brown hair frames Lucero's heart-shaped face. Warm, medium skin that easily accepts the sun's bronze rays well into her skin. Often with a smile on her face, it's still not enough to distract others from her milky white eyes with a soft silver everglow that separates them just enough from the whites of her eyes. Lucero likes wearing a mix of medium to light armor pieces, mixing and matching them to whatever feels most comfortable for the day. Wears a white cloak and brown fingerless gloves, even during summer. Red runes are tattooed on the pads of her fingers and thumbs.
Personality
Jovial and outgoing, Lucero is the sort of woman who would rather make friends than enemies. Quick to compromise and consider others' feelings, she is easy to get along with and always willing to listen. Has a knack for finding the silver lining in any situation and is always willing to forgive and forget when someone lacks her optimistic tendencies.
Lucero has an easy-going sense of humor, using jokes to help roll uncomfortable words or situations off her back. At times, she may be rather withdrawn, taking time in quiet places or lagging behind a group to regain her cheerful attitude. If she doesn't give herself a break, she can be quite sullen and bitter for days at a time, suddenly paranoid about everyone's opinion of her. Unfortunately, as a people pleaser, Lucero lacks the confidence to say 'no' and rarely sticks up for herself, though she has no issue doing so with others. She's the first to second-guess how genuine she is when doing a kind deed.
Clueless at times but never malicious, she reads people's emotions and tries to mitigate negativity, which often leaves both parties feeling frustrated. Has a mischievous side that is contrary to her sweet smiles.
Lucero has an easy-going sense of humor, using jokes to help roll uncomfortable words or situations off her back. At times, she may be rather withdrawn, taking time in quiet places or lagging behind a group to regain her cheerful attitude. If she doesn't give herself a break, she can be quite sullen and bitter for days at a time, suddenly paranoid about everyone's opinion of her. Unfortunately, as a people pleaser, Lucero lacks the confidence to say 'no' and rarely sticks up for herself, though she has no issue doing so with others. She's the first to second-guess how genuine she is when doing a kind deed.
Clueless at times but never malicious, she reads people's emotions and tries to mitigate negativity, which often leaves both parties feeling frustrated. Has a mischievous side that is contrary to her sweet smiles.
Skills
- The loss of one means the other grows stronger, enhanced hearing and smell, touch and taste.
- Pursuit of Life: Lucero can see other things more easily, a blocked chakra, a broken heart, a bruised ego, or even a burst blood vessel. Lucero believes in healing not just the body but also the mind and soul.
- Pursuit of Loch: She always had a bit of a sixth sense, and perhaps in her blood, there was once a witch or two with the gift to peak beyond the veil.
- Where the shroud is strong, or a lot of weaving is being done, Lucero can feel the residue; it helps her move around seamlessly, as if she could see. In areas where the shroud is weak or there are not many weavers around, then Lucero has no advantage with her shroud sensitivity.
- Empath: Lucero has the ability to feel other's emotions and to project her own emotions onto others. For full control that is more centered on one person in particular, Lucero grounds herself to them with bare palms on skin. This is not something she can activate when she wants to and to prevent it she has gone about wearing fingerless gloves.
- Even before her father's experiment, Lucero always had the knack for hearing other's prayers.
- Truly a good listener thought maybe not the best at always following directions.
- Remarkable sense of smell, knows herbs less by touch and more by their scent.
- Can wield a sword, though prefers ones that are well-balanced, and through vibrations can help her focus on where she needs to thrust.
- Knows how to ride horses
- To everyone's surprise, Lucero is quite good at math.
Art Credit: https://x.com/vats9_9/status/2001543676221407706?s=46&t=tk6eSpqM9sXgqolG5opwSA
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