## Crimson Threads The salt spray stung Marco’s cheeks as he leaned against the railing of *La Volpe*, his small trading galley slicing through the Adriatic. Dusk bled across the water, painting the sky a bruised purple above the Venetian…
## The Bloom & the Blade The scent of dried chrysanthemum and aged paper clung to Mei’s fingers. Dust motes danced in the single shaft of sunlight slicing through the high window of the Imperial Library’s Annex. She traced a…
The year was 1765. In the bustling town of York, nestled among cobblestone streets and thatched-roof cottages, stood a humble weaving shop known for its exquisite silks. Owned by Master Weaver Thomas Bennett, this little haven bore witness to an…