Princess Allura

The Blue Sea Moon isn't the hottest month of the year, but it's close--only the most hardworking students of the Officer's Academy choose to endure the merciless noonday sun in the open-air training grounds rather than seeking shelter in the cooler stone buildings of Garreg Mach Monastery. It's when the day begins to wane that most of them come out, enjoying the breezes that blow in from the surrounding mountains and make their sparring matches or tea dates bearable.

This month is a special one for the Church of Seiros, and the short nights are considered the most sacred of the year, for the Blue Sea Star is believed to be the home of their beloved goddess, and it is during this time that it reaches its zenith in the heavens. The Rite of Rebirth--a high holy day to the faithful--is due at the end of the month, and as such, the monastery is always bustling with activity. It is only natural, then, that some might want to step away from all the noise and hustle to enjoy a few quiet moments gazing at the stars. They are remarkably bright in the heart of the Oghma Mountains, far from the city lights of Enbarr or Derdriu.

A student is the first to spot the strange celestial phenomenon: lights flickering in the sky, not unlike the auroras that can be seen in the northernmost parts of Gautier territory. The student flags down a passing knight, who then darts excitedly into the cathedral to drag an unsuspecting priest away from his prayers. By the time Seteth and Rhea are alerted, the strange lights have only grown brighter, swirling and dancing in unusual patterns before the sky itself seems to open, dropping a star from the vault of the heavens to streak down to the earth below.

It's not some distant shooting star, though--the light is almost blinding to those who are staring directly at it, and there's no mistaking that whatever fell, it surely will have landed in the forests that surround Garreg Mach.