Despite finally having the blessing of all four dragons, Lemiria was not entirely certain what to do next. However, given how tight her group was, she knew one thing was for certain: Leon wasn't a bad person. Sure, he must have betrayed them to some extent, but he was still their comrade, and it was likely he was being blackmailed. Those who were members of the Magic Race and Vile Tribe simultaneously were rare, and looked down upon by the rest of Lunar due to the fact that the Magic Emperor was of the same circumstances. Several things still didn't make sense, but one thing was for certain: Lemiria and the others weren't just ready to pass final judgment on Leon just yet.
"Something must have happened in Vane, since that's when he began to act odd." Celsius suggested. "Why don't we head over there and see if we can find any clues?"
"That doesn't sound like such a bad idea." Stella agreed. "If anything, we can ask Noel what's up, or check out Leon's room. Those would be our best leads."
"So not only are we adventurers, we're detectives now, too?" Rex raised am eyebrow.
"Just be thankful we don't have to be lawyers as well." Lemiria dryly commented. Sighing, she looked at the casket they were lugging along. "We may as well bury Amber. I don't agree with everything she did… well, anything she did, really, but even she doesn't deserve to have her remains rot in a dragon cave."
Using the White Dragon Wings, the party returned to Vane. Stella and Celsius took Amber's body for a proper burial, while Lemiria told Myriel about Amber and tried to help decide things among the Council. That left Rex to go to Leon's room and also try to find Noel.
"He certainly has a lot of prints of girls in their underwear." Rex observed. Shrugging, he continued looking through Leon's desk before moving onto other parts of the room. Unfortunately, Leon didn't leave too much for him to find, and a lot to rustle through. "Man, this blows." Rex pouted, the room now a mess. "The only things left are..." He eyed the prints of the scantily clad women, and began taking them down.
"Aha, what's this?" Rex finally though he hit the jackpot, but only found a pile of books with more pictures of girls in their underwear, or less. "What is up with Leon and collecting these bromides?" Rex tossed the books aside. This was just plain frustrating.
"Leon? Are you there?" Rex's ears perked up and turned around, and Noel was standing in the opened doorway.
"Oh, crap!" Rex laughed nervously. "Um, I can explain, really! I mean!" Suddenly, Rex lifted an eyebrow. "Wait a minute, I'm innocent! You're the one who should be doing the explaining! "
"Pardon?" Noel lifted his own eyebrows.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about!" Rex accused Noel. "You and Leon are somehow from the ancient and extinct Magic Race and also have Vile Tribe tattoos! I saw them when Leon visited you last!" Rex flailed his arms about. However, suddenly recalling what Amber said back at the Blue Dragon Cave. Pounding his fist into his other hand at his epiphany, he looked Noel in the eye. "Amber had some kind of hold over you two!"
Noel stood in silence for a few seconds, before casting his gaze to the side."So, you know."
"You make it kind of obvious." Rex shrugged. "Before she died, Amber said that Leon was leaking information to her in order to save your life."
"My brother Leon and I aren't really brothers." Noel confessed, lowering his head. His voice began to tremble. "We are failed replicas of the Magic Emperor, Ghaleon." He bit his lower lip. It was difficult to admit it, but if Amber had already revealed Leon's betrayal, there was little point in hiding it. Leon was in danger. Noel had to do everything he could to help him.
"Replicas...?" Rex never heard of that term before. "You mean, you're... copies?"
Noel nodded. "The Scarlet Star met with a remnant of the Vile Tribe, and researched to bring back their leader from long ago. The Magic Race are basically beings of concentrated magic; magical symbols and equations are written directly into our cells, unlike humans, which is why we tend to be accomplished sorcerers. Unfortunately, we also relied directly on the Goddess Althena's presence on Lunar to be able to survive as we were, otherwise our life spans are exceptionally shortened." He explained, then began coughing.
"I see... being magical beings puts you at higher risk not only from the effects of magical algorithms, but also sensitive to the ecological changes present when Althena's consciousnesses left Lunar." Rex surmised. That still left the question as to why Leon was still okay, but Rex decided to let Noel finish his story.
"Luckily, before even that, Ghaleon was the last of the Magic Race, and powerful, at that, even by our standards." Noel continued, "The Magic Race began diminishing for some unexplained reason back in the days of Dragonmasters Alicia and Leticia, far before the days of Dragonmaster Dyne. In any case, I'm a failed replica, and my body is deteriorating because it cannot adjust to the magical environment of this era, as opposed to the environment when Ghaleon was still here on Lunar." The magical composition of the land has changed subtly over the past two thousand years, and while most people may not have noticed it, the Magic Tribe was sensitive enough to feel it.
"Okay, so that explains why you're dying." Rex nodded. "But that doesn't explain why Leon's not exhibiting any of your symptoms." Rex stated.
"Leon was almost perfect." Noel nodded. "He is stable, but only has mastery over two elements: earth and flame. A perfect Ghaleon replica would have mastery over the four of the five base elements: earth, flame, water, and lightning. The one element Ghaleon hadn't mastered was wind. I mastered water and lightning magic, so we sort of... complement each other, in a way. Along with that, Leon's genetic make-up isn't entirely from the Magic Tribe, so he isn't as dependant on the magical composition of Lunar as I am."
"Huh." Rex absorbed this information. "Okay, but where does that put Leon? He's been feeding Amber information and Amber totally stabbed him in the back by telling all of us that he was a traitor! "
"He did that to save me." Noel lowered his head. "The last time you were in Vane, we found out that Amber had no intention of helping us, because her connection to the Scarlet Star was the scientist, Powder, who created us. If anybody has the means of extending my life, it would be him; however, we found out when he confronted us, and stated that he had no intention of helping us. We were fools to think that somebody as Amber Lutice would have the means necessary of extending my life."
"The Scarlet Star Army seems to attract bastards, don't they?" Rex thought that what Powder and Amber did was really low, even for a bad guy. "Leon left us after Amber told us about him. Where is he? That idiot is going to get an ear ache from all of us for abandoning us over something as tiny as this."
"... He must be heading toward the Mobile Fortress Grandeury."
"The Mobile Fortress Whatsit?" Rex tilted his head. "What the Hell is that?"
"Using the magitechnology that Vane's underground developed in tandem with Powder's mechanical knowledge, along with ancient texts left by the Vile Tribe scientist Taben from two thousand years ago, he crafted a giant magitechnological weapon modeled after the Grindery." Noel explained. "Powder's been secretly building it underneath the ocean, north of Vane and south of Meribia."
''Well, you're coming with us, then." Rex crossed his arms.
"There it is, ahead." Noel announced. Celsius transformed into his dragon form, which was exceptionally good at swimming in the ocean and carried the party according to Noel's instructions.
"You can see a tiny mechanical island in the stance." Celsius confirmed, "And I also sense a large structure ahead underneath the waves."
"This journey is just getting more and more unbelievable, isn't it?" Stella commented. "I have to wonder... how many times has Leon wanted to tell us what was going on, but couldn't? He was suffering all alone this entire time..."
"We all have more in common than we were first willing to admit." Rex agreed. "But one thing hasn't changed, and that is that we work best together."
Lemiria's expression remained solemn. She wasn't entirety certain she could forgive Leon right away, but she could understand where he came from. She was a failed Ausa. He was a failed Ghaleon. He did what he had to in order to survive. When it came down to it, while he annoyed her, Lemiria couldn't find it in herself to hate him. He encompassed something that she could never do… enjoy life for what it was, perhaps. Seeing him so carefree and cheerful all of the time without a care in the world, when at times it felt like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders… but now she realized that he had his problems, too. Lemiria was being selfish, thinking that she was the only one with big problems. She had to tell Leon that she was sorry. Biting her lower lip, she lowered her head as the group landed at the Grandeury.
"The doors are locked, obviously." Lemiria sighed.
"Not only that, they're reinforced not only by mechanical locks, but magical glyphs as well." Stella shrugged.
"I could take care of the mechanical locks, but the glyphs and obviously magitechnology locks are out of my league." Rex frowned.
Placing his hand on a lock, Noel and the others heard a clunking sound, and a door opened. "This must be how Leon got in." Noel ascertained. "The gates are tailored to our signature, Ghaleon's signature."
"That's one less thing to worry about." Celsius commented. "Leon can't face Powder alone. Noel, do you have any idea where they might be?"
"Unfortunately, I don't." Noel shook his head. "This is my first time actually visiting the Grandeury."
"Well, we can only move forward. By now they already know that we're here." Lemiria walked through the door.
It didn't take too long to reach their destination.
There appeared to be a grand ballroom in the Grandeury, oddly enough. Noticing Leon's figure, Lemiria and the others gave a sigh of relief
"Leon, don't go out by yourself like that!" Lemiria tried to smile. No point in punching him now. She began to approach him.
"Wait... something's wrong...!" Noel tried to warn Lemiria.
"His aura... that's not Leon!" Stella shouted.
"What...?" Lemiria took a step back, and the cloaked figure turned around. It had Leon's face, but...
"No...!" Noel gritted his teeth.
"I see that you've met Ghaleon." Turning to see where the voice came from, Lemiria saw a crotchety old man. Smiling, baring his crooked teeth, Powder approached. "This is my perfect replica." He was a man of short stature, and while none of the Lunarians had any idea how those of the Scarlet Star aged, he certainly seemed elderly. He managed to walk without the assistance of a cane, but his movements were jagged and mechanical, unnatural. His raspy voice carried a haughty tone to it.
"That's a perfect replica?" Lemiria was amazed at the resemblance between this Ghaleon replica and Leon. "I don't know why you built a Mobile Fortress or replicas, and quite frankly, I don't care. All I know is that you're being a pain in the ass, and we're going to stop you, Powder!"
"The Scarlet Star doesn't have any magic, but given that you excel in technology, I'm assuming that's how you came to Lunar." Rex spoke. "You don't understand the serious repercussions behind recklessly using magitechnology! You continue doing this, and Lunar will basically become the Frontier!"
Powder simply smirked.
"No... you already knew that?" Stella took a step back.
"The Scarlet Star simply ran out of magic." Powder laughed. "We simply migrate from star to star, and use up their energy."
"You are nothing but parasites..." Celsius narrowed his eyes. "Do you feel no sense of remorse?"
"There's no talking to him." Leon's voice could be heard, as he came out from the shadows from the other end of the room. "Powder is far too stubborn. It's either we stop him, or let him continue doing what he's planning. I'm against the latter."
"Aa, the failure." Powder's eyes squinted at Leon. "I have no more use for you. Ghaleon, dispose of him."
Ghaleon stepped forward between Powder and Leon, and extended his hand. A pool of energy began to form.
"Wait, he's casting a spell with no incantation?" Stella gasped, "Is he also wearing a magitech clip?"
"We're too far to do anything...!" Lemiria gritted her teeth in frustration.
"Die." Light finally illuminated the Ghaleon replica's face, revealing half of it covered in a scale-like magitech clip. With that command, out of his hand shot out a charged swirl of energy. "Energy Arrow."
"Leon!" His friends screamed.
However, in the blink of an eye, Noel was between Leon and the energy bolt. "Energy Shield!" Noel clapped his hands together and held them out in front of himself, protecting Leon.
"Noel, you can't!" Leon yelled. "If you use any more magic, you'll-!"
"I don't care!" Noel yelled back, using all of his strength to keep the energy bolt at bay. "You and Myriel are the only ones in this world who made me feel like something more than a failed experiment. If I can't protect you, even just a fraction of how much you've protected me... then I don't deserve to live anyhow!"
To Noel, he had everything he wanted in life. Leon was kind and protective of him and he was glad that instead of having to worry about a sickly Noel, Leon was off on his own adventure forging bonds with people who wouldn't be leaving him all alone in the manner that Noel was. Noel wanted Leon to be happy… perhaps, Leon didn't view Noel as any sort of burden that he despised, but Noel knew that he was holding Leon back. What was the point of being given these magical abilities if he couldn't even use them to save the people he loved? Certainly, Leon would be sad to see Noel go, but-
"Noel, you idiot-!" Before Leon could finish his exclamation, Noel's energy shield shattered and the energy arrow's remnants pierced Noel's flesh one by one, blood spewing . Noel collapsed, coughing up blood. "You idiot! Why did you do that?" Leon screamed, trying to hold Noel up from falling completely on the floor. The spell arrows dissipated, leaving gaping holes in Noel.
"Now's our chance, everyone!" Lemiria shouted, and on cue everybody charged at Ghaleon and Powder.
"Leon... thank you." Noel sputtered, holding up his hand to Leon's face. "It was nice having a real brother for a while." He then shut his eyes, as tears streaked down Leon's face.
"You... idiot!" Leon choked, holding his brother's corpse tightly. However, a flash of light occurred, and Noel's body began to dissipate. Leon felt a burning sensation all over his body, and a quick look on his arms made him realize that Noel's tattoos were etched onto him somehow. .
"Pointless." Powder sneered, as Ghaleon turned to face Lemiria and the others. With a flick of his wrists, Lemiria and the others were pushed back. Regaining their footing, Leon ran up to them, and faced against Powder.
"You've taken everything away from me!" Leon screamed. "I'm going to kill you!" Letting Noel's body go, Leon charged at Powder with his bare hands.
Powder simply laughed, snapping his fingers, and suddenly the floor underneath the party gave away, plunging them into the ocean.
Luckily, with quick thinking, Celsius transformed into his dragon self and managed to catch everybody, bringing them to the surface.
"That bastard!" Lemiria coughed, getting water out of her mouth. "He's going to pay for this!"
"I think we have much bigger problems to worry about." Stella pointed at the Grandeury. It was moving, and it's main cannon was repositioning itself
"No...!" Rex gasped, "At that trajectory, it's aiming for Vane!"
"Well, this just got from bad to worse..." Celsius bit his lower lip.
"..." Leon thought for a moment. "Powder's probably already sealed the fortress, especially given that it's mobile now. We should head to Vane and evacuate it." He regretted that he wouldn't be able to find Noel's body now, but at least he was able to be there for him at the very end. He didn't necessarily agree with what Noel did… but Leon could respect it. He wasn't going to allow his brother's death to be meaningless.
Vane was in a panic, to say the least. By the time Lemiria and the others used the White Dragon Wings to travel back, the people of Vane already knew about the Grandeury's coming and were evacuating. Not exactly in an orderly fashion, but they were scrambling to leave Vane behind.
"Myriel, things are really wrong." Lemiria sighed. She just told Myriel the news of Noel's passing, and Myriel couldn't say much. Without words, Lemiria already knew why Noel called Myriel's name out. There were no words Lemiria could offer to console her best friend. "Anyway, I know that everything in Vane's is in disarray, but... is there anything we can do?" Lemiria's expression softened; Myriel and Noel most likely had something going on between them. Lemiria knew that if Myriel wanted to talk about it, she would; Lemiria wasn't going to force it out of her. The best Lemiria could do was continue to be herself, Myriel's friend.
Myriel shook her head. "People are already under the assumption that Vane's falling apart at the seams, what with two of the council members dead and Auntie Mira's declining health." Myriel looked out the window. "If they knew everything else that was going on... well, I don't want to think of how they'd react then."
"Fair weather subjects, huh?" Lemiria rubbed her temples. "Myriel I'm so sorry to be dumping this burden on you."
"It's fine." Myriel tried to smile at her friend. "The fact that you entrusted me with such a large responsibility... that makes me happy." Myriel's expression then turned serious. "Lemiria, I've been giving it some serious thought. Don't you think that Auntie Mira's deteriorating condition was a little too... convenient?"
"What do you mean?"
"Think about it." Myriel suggested, "The timing is very suspicious. Her condition went downhill right after you left Vane, and she's usually as tough as nails."
"You sense foul play." Lemiria concluded.
"It would make sense." Myriel nodded. "Auntie Mira's condition was been stable ever since the late Councilmember Amber's passing. But if things continue, she really will die."
"Okay. I'm going to go to Amber's room and find something." Lemiria stood up. "Whatever it is, she has to have some sort of record of it."
"Wait, Lemiria." Myriel stopped her "I think it may be best if you sent two of your companions to do that. We have something else we must discuss." Myriel stood up and faced Lemiria.
"What do you mean?" Lemiria lined an eyebrow.
"I have no intention of just handing Vane over for target practice to the Scarlet Star, and I doubt you do, either." Myriel stated.
"So, this is the legendary Silver Spire." Leon whistled. Lemiria and Myriel simply nodded. Lemiria sent Rex and Stella to handle the rummaging through Amber's belongings, and had Leon and Celsius accompany her and Myriel to the entrance of the Silver Spira.
"It's been untouched for the past two thousand years, since the Fall." Myriel explained."It's the main reason why the Ausa dynasty is taken so seriously; it's the control center of all of Vane, and only the Ausa lineage has any access to it whatsoever."
"It's amazing." Celsius gazed at the ornate entrance. It was still well-kept despite its lack of use.
Lemiria stood in front of the door, and she noticed something peculiar. Her hand was shaking. Lifting it up, it was still shaking, and she began to understand why. "I... this is a test of whether or not I'm truly an Ausa, isn't it?"
"Lemiria..." Myriel's face portrayed concern for her friend.
"All my life, I never doubted the love of my mother." Lemiria spoke, "But in the back of my mind, I always wondered, am I the only Ausa in history who doesn't have any magic whatsoever? Am I really an Ausa? Was I switched at birth, or something? Or am I just a failure...?" Lemiria choked. "If I touch this door, and it doesn't recognize me, does that mean my life has been nothing but a lie?"
Leon and Celsius didn't know what to say.
Myriel simply gently smiled, holding Lemiria' hand in her own. Lemiria's fears seemed to melt away at the sight of Myriel's smile, as if she knew everything would be all right just by seeing her friend's face. Simultaneously and slowly, both put their hands onto the door, and the chamber was filled with a blaze of light...
"This ain't Vane anymore." Leon scratched the back of his head. Lemiria, Leon, and Celsius found themselves in an odd cavern, illuminated only by magical torches which weren't on fire, but emitted light regardless. The walls were stone, with patches of marble and mosaic artworks decorating them. "I don't recognize this place."
"So, this isn't the inside of the Silver Spire?" Celsius looked around. "I'm not familiar with the images these pieces depict, but I don't see anything relating to Vane."
"No... they are." Lemiria fingered the mosaic images, recalling their meaning. "This one is an image of humans emigrating from the Blue Moon to Lunar." She traced her finger over a floating city. "This figure is probably Lucia... your mother, Celsius." She explained, showing the image of a woman in a large circle representing the Blue Moon. "The figure in front of the floating city is most likely Althena and the Four Dragons."
"I see... so, this is probably a really old shrine." Leon nodded. "A floating city, though? Do you think that could have been Vane? I mean, obviously Vane floated once before, but maybe there were others?"
"Maybe. It's a bit difficult to grasp." Celsius commented. "But if we've learned anything at all during this journey of ours, it's that sometimes the impossible really is possible."
"That's an understatement." Lemiria sighed. The three walked down the hallway, and came to another mural. "This one's odd. It looks like the mural from before, but reversed."
"You mean, people from Lunar going to the Blue Moon?" Celsius tilted his head.
"This one's different, though." Leon pointed out. "Instead of the four dragons, there are four sacred beasts... a dragon, a tiger, a turtle, and a phoenix. And it looks like Lucia who's leading them?"
"No... it looks similar to Lucia from the first mural, but there's a subtle difference. I can't put my finger on it, though..." Lemiria mused aloud.
Celsius nodded. "In any case, it looks like there's a open room ahead."
"Come to think of it... I think I may know where we are." Leon spoke. "Thinking about these murals, and that we were in the Silver Spire before this, we might be in Althena's Shrine, which has been buried underground for several hundred years. It was the final battle field of the final Dragonmaster and the Magic Emperor."
Entering the giant chamber, it suddenly illuminated and a recorded projection of an elderly woman appeared in the center of the room.
"Welcome, one who has gained the favor of the Four Dragons." She spoke.
"Is it Althena...?" Leon had to rub his eyes.
"No, I think it is Luna, the woman Nall has a sculpture of in his cave." Celsius said.
"It's both." Lemiria nodded. "Luna is the final human reincarnation of Althena."
"As you know, the age of Dragonmasters is passed." Luna lowered her head. "It ails me that there will be no further Dragonmasters in the future, after my late husband, Alex Noah."
"What is up with these people getting married all of the time?" Leon lifted an eyebrow. "We're all still single!"
"However, I do know that Lunar will be in need of heroes." Luna continued. "People have no need of a goddess to watch over their shoulder, but humans are weak creatures who will succumb to their selfish desires. I believe you have come here in such a time when Lunar is in much danger."
"Slightly obvious, yes, but you have to appreciate her foresight." Lemiria commented.
"I know that during your journey, you must have made very special friends and allies. They are your strength." Luna smiled. "You may not be a Dragonmaster, but you are a hero. Hold your head up high, and I will continue to pray for the day when the inhabitants of Lunar may one day return to the Blue Star. Until then, accept this, my gift to you... Dragon Knight."
With a flash of light, Leon and Celsius grunted, causing Lemiria to turn around. Out of their chests came out twin blades: out of Leon came a golden blade which shimmered, seemingly on fire; out of Celsius emerged a silver blade, reflecting light much like light hits a clear blue lake. Celsius kneeled down, presenting his sword to Lemiria. Blushing a bit, Leon let out a bit breath and finally followed suit.
Lemiria picked both blades up, one in each hand. It was a sensation unlike anything else she had ever experienced before, brimming with power. Not only of physical power, but the power that her two friends have given her. Looking at them, she grinned. Fire and ice, the signature of the Ausa clan. "This beats the hell out of being born with magic."