Chapter 1: Only two weeks

The celestial world was filled with life. In the castle of the King, there was a great party. The food and drinks were enough to satisfy the whole celestial world. However, five seats were empty. These were the seats of the celestial spirits Aquarius the Water Bearer, Scorpio the Scorpion, Capricorn the Goat, Leo the Lion and Aries the Ram. The five spirits were out on a balcony and all had sad expressions on their faces.

The party indoors was in memory of a celestial wizard by the name of Lupus Canidae, one of the first wizards to have held all 12 Zodiac keys. He was also the only one who had been able to open all the gates at the same time and keeping them open for up to 3 hours, something that requires enormous magical energy.

All 12 spirits celebrated the human that had become known as the most powerful celestial wizard, as well as the kindest. And while they all had reasons to morn his death, the spirits on the balcony mourned the most, even after 105 years had passed. Aquarius and Scorpio had started dating largely thanks to Lupus encouraging them to follow their hearts. Capricorn missed the long talks they would have on a regular basis. Leo knew that he was never fighting alone when he fought alongside Lupus who had become more like a brother to him. But no spirit mourned the day more than Aries. The man's kindness and his willingness to throw himself in front of his spirits and protect them had melted the walls around her hearth and made her fall in love.

Lupus was born in the year X659 to a celestial wizard father by the name of Latrans Canidae and a wizard mother by the name of Cristata Candiae who used fire magic. Both of his parents were members of the guild Blue Skull. They both died in the year X672 in an attack on the guild by Red Lizard. By that time he had collected Cancer the Crab, Libra the Scale, Leo and Capricorn all by himself and he inherited Aquarius and Virgo the Maiden from his father.

In X677 he left Blue Skull for a guild named Phoenix Fire. By then, he was only missing two keys to complete the Zodiac. Those two were Gemini the Twins and Aries. After two years of hard work, he finally managed to acquire all 12 keys and was named assistant master of the guild. Just days after that, Blue Skull destroyed Red Lizard and the surrounding town. Because Phoenix had an alliance with Lizard, the guild declared war on Skull. The war marked the last guild war between legal guilds before it was banned by the Magic Council and while Phoenix won, they lost 28 of their 59 members, among them was their master.

After that Lupus was named the new master at the age of 20, making him one of the youngest masters of his time. While still master of Phoenix, it didn't stop him from taking several jobs. Five years later he wrote a book detailing his live from his parent's death when he was 13, him leaving Skull when he was 18, the guild war he fought in against Skull, him becoming master and the time after that. The book also told of how to best draw out spirits strength through kindness and understanding, something he was taught by his father and held a strong belief in.

After the book he wasn't as active with work. But he still let his spirits out as often as he could and tied tight bonds with them all. However, what no one else knew was that his body was slowly tearing itself apart on the inside due to a genetic disorder from his mother's side. The disease slowly ate away at him but he still smiled at everyone as he didn't want anyone to worry. One year after his book, he named his successor and retired. And one year after retiring he passed away. The guild renamed itself Phoenix Grave in honor of him being buried behind the guildhall with a shrine.

And so the spirits watched the sky of the Celestial world and its infinite reach. Aquarius and Scorpio went back inside to try to party away the day that weight so heavy on the Zodiac spirits. Capricorn, Leo and Aries stayed on the balcony and thought back to Lupus last two weeks.

It was on the 23rd of June X686 that Lupus, Capricorn and Leo were standing on a cliff overlooking Balsam Village. Lupus was leaning on the fence while the two spirits were standing behind him, wondering why he had summoned them. His shoulder length black hair blew in the wind. His once tan skin had begun to lose color and black circles had started to form around his once lively blue eyes. He turned around to address his old friends.

"There is no roundabout way to say this so I'll just be blunt with you guys. The doctors have given me two weeks left to live." He raised his hand as a sign for the spirits to stay quiet. "There's nothing that can stop me from dying so don't even think about doing something stupid. Once I'm dead you guys and the others will have to form new contracts but I have some things I need to ask of you two. Capricorn, you will be given to the Heartfilia family. And Leo, I want you to look after Aries. Protect her like you have protected me."

"This is unacceptable!" Lupus and Leo recoiled from the sudden outburst from Capricorn, the one who normally was the calm one. "Out of every human on this earth, why can't it be someone else!?"

"Capricorn! I will not permit you to speak that way!" The calm tone in Lupus voice was replaced by the commanding tone of his days as a guild master and his eyes had gotten some life back for a powerful glare. If there was one thing Lupus hated more than anything, it was when someone wished death on people they don't know. Silence filled the area after that. Capricorn hung his head in shame while Leo did his best to keep the tears from coming out. Lupus eyes became lifeless again and his body screamed at him with the constant waves of agonizing pain.

"It's still not fair Lupus." Leo said in a weak tone before looking up with the tears finally breaking through. "You shouldn't have to die so young. You still have so much to live for and you have people who love you, humans and spirits alike." Lupus smiled a sad smile as he walked up to Leo and embraced him.

"Leo, you have no idea how much those words mean to me. I have truly been blessed to have had you by my side old friend. I love all of you."

"But not as much as Aries, right?" Leo asked in a joking tone making the human chuckle. His felling for the sweet and timid spirit was no secret from the two spirits with him. Capricorn put his hand on Lupus shoulder and spoke.

"It is a shame the law forbids spirits from having relationships with humans. You and Aries would make a nice couple my friend." Lupus released Leo and turned to look at the town again. Due to celestial law, he was unable to pursue a relationship with Aries.

Lupus turned around to face the two spirits for the last time in his human life. "Don't tell the others about this, I don't want them to worry." The spirits nodded to show their understanding, making Lupus smile at them. "Oh, and I plan to have Aries in the human world for these last two weeks. If we can't have a relationship, I will at least give her the best two weeks of her life. Goodbye my friends. See you in a different life! Close gates of the lion and the goat!" And with those words Leo and Capricorn were sent into the celestial world. Lupus turned to look at the setting sun, reminding him of his limited time left among the land of the living.

He held up 11 of the 12 keys and filled them with magical power that would send them to different destinations when he died. The only key he didn't charge was Aries key, as he was saving that for when death would come and take him. "Tomorrow starts the last two weeks. I better make them count." He said with a weak smile before heading home to rest.