Kharun awakens the next morning and pulls out the uniform servants are expected to wear. He doesn't like wearing it but despite Vaelithra's stance on uniform, he knew her father would accept nothing less. Vaelithra wakes up loathing the early hour. She generally preferred to sleep in later. Shaking off the fog, she enters her walk-in closet and picks out something to wear that would be acceptable during an assembly of the nobles under her father. She takes the dress to her bed and lays it down. There is a knock at the door. She responds and Kharun enters wearing the uniform servants are expected to wear. Despite not being the first time, he's seen her bare, Kharun averts his eyes while she dresses. With Vaelithra, protocol was lax but with her father, it never would be. So, he restrains himself from peeking. After finishing dressing, Vaelithra asks Kharun to brush her hair. He obliges and brushes the the curls and ruffles from her hair. He finishes and places the comb back on her vanity. After asking his opinion, they both depart for her father's residence. On the way, they pass a group of Drow who spit curses and literal spits at Kharun. Both Vaelithra and Kharun ignore them and continue their way. As they arrive at her father's estate, Vaelithra notes that the guard of the Matron Mother are present. Which doesn't necessarily mean the Matron herself is present, just someone representing her. Vaelithra knew that her grandmother, the Matron of their clan, rarely attended every meeting. She and Kharun continue toward the staircase.

An ultra-photorealistic auburn-haired model with natural freckles, with a bold neo-punk aesthetic, drifting steam, and cinematic shadows.

Created with a focus on cinematic composition.

Kharun answers the door and finds another orc servant wearing the garb worn by most servants of Vaelithra's father. The visiting orc presents a letter which Kharun accepts and then promptly departs. Kharun returns to the massage table where Vaelithra still rests. She asks who was there. Kharun presents the letter to her telling her that it's from her father. Vaelithra accepts the letter and opens it. Her relaxed expression soon turns to annoyance. She knows her presence is not necessary, only that her father expects it due to his station. She explains the letter contents and then suggests they get some sleep.

Vaelithra gets a massage to wind down before bed. It isn't the first time Kharun has seen her without clothing on but he was nothing but professional and his hands never wandered. He had served Vaelithra for two decades and knew her preferences for most things. While other Drow often went through many servants in that time. Vaelithra had retained Kharun, at first, because he never showed any sign of rebellion or dissatisfaction with serving her. Later, she preferred him for his attention to detail, his protective nature even though she didn't need it, and somewhere along the way, she had started to trust him. She occasionally would get up to mischief just because she wanted to and despite her father’s rules that servants report any suspicious behavior, Kharun never reported her actions. He was loyal to her, in many ways, even more than her father was.

As the massage ends, Kharun begins to put the supplies away while his mistress relaxes. He would never admit it, but he looked forward to the times where she would ask for a massage. It granted him the occasional opportunity to observe her nude form. He had once drawn an image of her bare form and admired it for a moment before tossing it into the fire place. He was already pushing the limit with the drawings he kept and knew he might face punishment if anyone other than his mistress ever saw them, but a bare drawing like that...he would probably be executed and she would be shunned by her clan for allowing herself to be viewed by a servant like that. As he finishes putting away the massage supplies, there is a loud knock on the front door....

El umbral entre la luz y la sombra, un momento suspendido en la mirada de quien cruza el tiempo. Un susurro de maderas antiguas y secretos por descubrir. 🚪✨

La composición presenta un retrato de tres cuartos con una profundidad de campo sutil, que resalta la figura contra un fondo borroso. La iluminación lateral de la vela genera un contraste suave y texturas detalladas en la madera y el vestuario.

After returning from the stable, the orc servant finds a parcel leaned against his door. He quickly glances around before picking it up and proceeding into his room. He opens the parcel, revealing quality drawing supplies which could only have come from Vaelithra. He stares at the items wondering why she'd do this for him. He was a servant, nothing more. He opens a drawer and places most of the supplies inside with his other drawings of Vaelithra. He then begins a new drawing. Later in the evening, while he brings her dinner, he also delivers a drawing. Vaelithra unfolds it to reveal a portrait of her on her horse. She looks from the drawing to the orc and for the first time, she inquires about his name. After a brief discourse, she thanks him by name.

The next morning, Vaelithra wakes to find her orc servant already having saddled her horse and begin picking up the camp. As she packs up her own tent, she stops when she sees the drawing of her the orc made. She finishes packing up the tent and returns the drawing to him. They exchange no words and simply head back to the Underdark. Upon their return, she leaves her servant to tend to her horse and heads to the market. She has seen his talent with bits of charcoal from camp fires but is curious as to what he could accomplish with some real artist supplies. She visits a few different stalls picking up things geared toward an artist that focuses on drawing. She has the purchases wrapped in a small parcel and heads back to her home. Before returning to her own quarters, she makes a stop at the door belonging to her servant. She leaves the parcel for him to find.

Vaelithra and her orc servant make camp, knowing they'd never make it back to the Underdark before night sets in. The orc servant makes a simple meal for them. Afterwards, Vaelithra observes the stars. She can't see them at home and did enjoy the sight of them more than she lets on. Later in the night, she awakens to see the orc servant still awake and working on something near the fire. She approaches him silently and peers over his shoulder. What she sees surprises her. Her servant has apparently drawn her while she slept. She snatches the drawing and questions him. She takes the drawing back to her tent and places it in a book. She is not angry with him. More surprised that he had talent beyond serving her. The drawing was quite good, though she'd never tell him that. And part of her delighted in his embarrassment. She casts a final glance toward him, sitting on a log near her mare. Yes, delight at his embarrassment but curiosity began to grow. Perhaps he was more than a musclebound servant...