Bittersweet Horizons by Mushussu -- Fur Affinity [dot] net

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September 5th, 2025- Maintenance Complete and Update!

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Bittersweet Horizons

By Mushussu,
posted 2 years ago Stonkered Stormy

He had done it.



Over a decade of toil, hard work and perseverance. He had finally graduated in his craft, becoming that which he had always wanted to be, a saviour of the many; a doctor of the highest regard and qualification. All those hours suffering away with bloodshot eyes under a late night lamp, the sleepless tossing and turning under warm sheets, the early morning struggle, the frosty walks through his ancient home all leading up to this one vital moment where his achievement was boiled down to a piece of laminated, materialistic property in his claws. His stare at the concealed paper is long and hard...It all came down to this frail sheet. However, he knew it was not the true reward, the true reward still lay out there, beyond the boundaries of his home, beyond the limits of those shimmering stars he so fondly kept company during those late, studious nights. He knew what he had to do.



That fateful day came around like the end of an era, the sunlight creeping over the mountains, the skies shedding their snowy tears over the stone with red rays imbuing and reflecting off of the crystalline mountains, bathing that homely valley in its eerie, yet fond crimson farewell.



His goodbyes within his urban sanctuary were short and swift, yet steeped in bittersweet sorrow; he would likely never return here, to the place where his very existence began, to the people that raised him, friend and family alike, even the very buildings themselves were of a familiar stroke, and hurt to turn away from.



Castelia knew he had to leave though, to do the most good in this pained universe, he had to expand his horizons, and thus his wings grew out to their maximum breadth, beat thrice and carried him far away from his homeland. One final stop, onto the peak of one his favourite mountains, he gazes over his shoulder in one last forlorn look over his glimmering homeland. A smile on his face, yet frigid tears on those cheeks all coexisted into one final, lamenting moment.



Turning his head away and thieving that view from his eyes, he descended the other side of the cliffs and vanished, never to feel the bitter chill of his home through silken feathers ever again. But this was the price he knew he had to pay, the toll for all he wanted to be, no matter how his heart currently bled with sorrow.



And yet, deep inside of him...Somewhere, there was excitement, a feeling of a bright future, the wonder of the unknown, the thrill of being able to live life in a way he had never known about before this moment.



Forget not, while one horizon sets behind you, there will always be another ahead of you, eager to welcome you and see all that you are.



Musical accompaniment.

Thanks for reading my little short story. This is another of my Xalakai featured called Castelia, in what might just be one of the most beautiful pieces of art I have ever had the pleasure of commissioning. It is a forlorn moment, Castelia studying hard to be a interplanetary doctor, achieving that goal and having to leave his home behind indefinitely. This illustration captures the moment he looks back on his homeland for the last time, right before moving on; it's quite evocative, especially for me given how passionate I get about my characters, world and artworks.

The artwork is credited to

k_dromka who went above and beyond to bring this picture to life, they are absolutely incredible and I highly recommend that you go and view their gallery.