CMU Chapter 05

Chapter Five: Crimson Memory

Poleen Juvukis, clad in Gibelê’s spare clothes, rides a borrowed horse toward Vitolêô, the cigar box tied to her belt, driven to rescue her mother Ezeldu from the Notoholis Aprelêu. Her fragmented memories flicker—Ezeldu’s smile, a man’s laughter, possibly her father—but the Forgetting obscures her past. At dusk, she stops at the Tipsy Tankard, a roadside inn, where a drunkard’s lewd advance sparks a brawl. Poleen’s predatory instincts erupt, snapping the man’s wrist and felling others with lethal precision, her strength uncanny. The innkeeper, wary of her ferocity, offers shelter but warns of Notoholis riders nearby, likely Nedrich nâ Hilêômbrâ’s men. A cryptic patron hints the cigar box holds more than cigars, tied to the Berjer tê Aprelêu’s schemes. Fleeing before dawn to evade pursuit, Poleen learns Ezeldu’s ship departs Vitolêô soon, her resolve hardened by Benê’s death and Juvukis’ Bloom’s ashes.

CMU Chapter 04 — Third Treasure

CMU Chapter 06 — (Placeholder: Next Chapter Title)