Valerie's expression darkened as she began to speak, her voice low and nostalgic.
"Veyna and I grew up in a faraway kingdom called Shangani—that's where we were born and raised. As twins, we were always together. We came from a wealthy family, but we couldn't have been more different. My sister was drawn to combat training, always chasing strength, while I just wanted to travel the world and capture its beauty. I loved art—still do. I dreamed of sketching every unique thing I found."
She paused, her eyes clouding over. "One day, when we were twelve, we wandered into a forest. I had spotted a rare bird and asked Veyna to help me find it. I wanted it for my arts. But instead… we were ambushed by bandits."
Her throat tightened. "As daughters of nobility, they checked us for valuables. Veyna, thinking she could handle them with her training, fought back. She tried to protect me. But one of the bandits cast a fire spell and… she was burned. Badly."
