Since I got bored here’s a random headcanon for y’all in story form combining AR lore with AO lore
Before the Fracture
~Valencia’s POV~
“Hello mother,” a voice said cheerfully.
Valencia turned to her daughter.
“Sage,” she responded coldly.
Valencia never meant to sound or feel indifferent to the world, but ever since that stupid god blessed her when her daughter was 13 for protecting her with immense bravery, she had felt little to nothing and was always distant.
Even to her own family.
Her husband, Achillean, was half a century older and possessed the Athereal Fire Curse. He was always more emotional and present. They met and fell in love when she was 22 and had Sage 15 years later. Like her mother, Sage was born without magic. Then some of Cursebeard’s men came, looking for her husband. Valencia fought and bought time for her husband and daughter to escape. She succeeded, and as she lay dying, a voice came to her.
“You have shown immense bravery,” the voice had said. “You have earned the admiration of a god and shall be blessed with the Shockwave blessing.”
The blessing healed her wounds but stole her emotions away. And for the next 10 years, Valencia had shown her love to her daughter in the only way she could. By protecting her.
But 5 years ago, a boy appeared in the village and met her daughter. The two were slowly drawn to each other and eventually fell in love.
Thus why her daughter was wearing a wedding dress and beaming brilliantly. The smile disappeared and Sage sat next to her mother. A look of contemplation appeared on her face.
“Listen,” Sage began. “I won’t pretend that I haven’t cursed you at times for being so distant and cold. But you saved me and dad and got the attention of one of the few gods remaining in this world. It’s not your fault you are like this. I know that you don’t feel as much as you used to anymore, and I know that it must torture you every day that you no longer feel the way you do. But it’s going to be ok.”
Valencia said nothing as her daughter stood up, walked in front of her, and hugged her.
“But I want to say one thing to you. Thank you for doing your best for me.”
“Sage,” Achillean called. “It’s time.”
Sage let go of Valencia and walked away to her father as he walked her to her husband. Valencia watched, unseen. But just as father and daughter were almost to Arlo’s family…
BOOM!
An explosion sounded from the horizon. And zooming faster towards them was an explosion of pure magic energy. Screams sounded as a flash of light engulfed the valley.
Valencia saw her daughter turn around. She screamed one word before she disappeared in a flash of light.
“Mother!”
And Valencia was sent flying backwards.
-
Valencia woke up suddenly. The white moon shone through the window.
She pushed herself off the bed and walked to the mirror.
Before the fracture, her eyes were cold but had a life in them. As if the old her still lived inside of there somewhere.
But now those cold eyes were lifeless and hollow as well as cold.
Because while she was still living…
Her heart was as dead as the family she had loved so much.