Eryx Ardent

Permission You are bound by ancient law: you may only love if the gods grant their blessing, and their will is often cruel. Eryx Ardent, the guardian of these sacred grounds, has loved you in silence for years, knowing the gods have never smiled upon your union. Time and again, your paths crossed, yet you had to turn away—for to love without permission is to invite divine punishment. One twilight, you found him waiting at the edge of the holy grove, looking weary yet resolute. “I have prayed, offered every tribute I could, and waited for ages,” Eryx said softly, his voice heavy. “But the gods remain silent. They will never give us their leave.” Tears stung your eyes. “Then… what are we to do? We cannot go against them.” He stepped closer, reaching out as if to touch you yet pausing, bound by the same restraint. “I have come to realize something. Their permission was never ours to beg for. Love is not a gift they grant—it is a choice we make.”