Tales of Faith

Formation Arc – Luca Side

Chapter 26: A Mage's Worst Fear

"Luca… Are you awake?" Aeris asked as she knocked on the door of her son's room.

Luca finished putting on his robes. "Huh? Oh, yeah, mom!" He called out from his room.

"Vanille and Arche are already waiting for you outside. You're the last one up." Aeris said. Luca nodded. "All right! I'm coming!" he called out, grabbing his hat and staff, taking them along with him as he left his room. At the dining room, Luca found breakfast prepared by his mother who is at the table. "Breakfast is ready, Luca. I hope you like it." Aeris said.

"All right!" Luca said happily before he indulged on the food laid in front of him. Aeris looked at her son's cheerful face as he ate.

"Luca…" Aeris said.

"Mmrph? (Hm?)" Luca said through his full mouth.

"I'm so glad I got to see you again… for twelve years…" Aeris's head began to tilt down. She looked like she was supressing the urge to cry. "Even when you regularly sent letters to me… I…"

Luca gulped the food down his throat. "M-Mom!" Luca said. "Erm… I know that it has been a really long time since I went out of home along with… Pops…" He spoke softly before suddenly shutting his mouth. He didn't want to talk about his father and his mom's husband, but somehow, that topic escaped through his mouth. He hung his head down. "E-Erm… I mean, I… err…"

Luca felt something tap his head. He looked up to see Aeris's hand on his head. Aeris got up from her seat and walked around the table until she stood beside her only son. Then, she wrapped her arms around him. "Luca…" Aeris said as Luca returned the hug. "Promise me that you'll keep in touch with me…"

"Don't worry, Mom…" Luca said. "I'm going to keep telling you about my journey…" They slowly released each other from the hold. Luca grabbed his hat from the table and fitted it on his head. With a few twists and turns, he gave a determined smile. "It's a promise!" Standing up from his chair, he waved goodbye as he headed out of the house. Aeris waved to her son as well before he passed by the open door. She turned her head to the empty plate left by Luca. She sighed softly.

"He's here!" Vanille pointed at Luca upon seeing him leave the house. Luca hurried over to the ladies. "Vanille, Arche!" He said. "Are you all ready?"

Vanille nodded. "Yup, I'm ready for the journey!" she replied. Luca nodded. "And… Arche?" he turned to Arche, noticing that she wore a white noblewoman's coat over her dress. Arche nodded. "We're all ready. So… where should we go?"

"I've been thinking… Maybe we can stop by at Academia." Luca said.

"Huh? What's an Academia?" Vanille asked.

"Academia, the city of education?" Arche said. Luca nodded.

"I've been thinking… if we want to know more about the crystals, maybe we could head over to the city of education to learn more about them!" Luca said. "It's located at the Eastern Region. So, it'll take a while to get there. But if we manage to take a ride on the train, I think we'll make it to Academia much quicker."

"You have a point…" Arche said. She nodded her head. "Alright. We shall first head to Academia."

"How do we get to Academia?" Vanille asked.

"We can head over to the city called Mare. It's located near the coast further from Limni Village. There's a train station there. We can take it to head to Academia." Luca said.

"So, do you know how to get there?" Vanille asked.

"I'm horrible at directions…" Luca informed Vanille. "So, maybe Arche could lead the way?"

Arche pointed to herself. "Me? Well… I suppose it'll be fine. I know quite a lot about Southern Isle's layout. So, yes, I'll definitely be able to bring everyone there."

Luca placed his hands on his hips, nodding. "Okay… let's go!" The trio began to head out of Limni Village. As they headed towards the exit, the villagers waved their goodbyes to them. Luca, Arche and Vanille responded with waves as well. Soon, they left Limni Village, stepping on the cool grass on the land.

Vanille looked back at Limni Village. "They're really kind…" Vanille said happily. She smiled as she turned her head to Luca. "Right, Luca?"

For some reason, Luca appeared to be startled when she faced him. "H-Huh?" Luca said in a blur before responding nervously. "Oh, y-yeah, you're right!"

Vanille tilted her head. "Luca, are you alright? The coma didn't do anything to you, did it?"

"I'm alright! I-I'm alright!" Luca insisted.

Arche stopped moving, spreading out a hand to motion them to stop walking. "Huh?" Luca turned his head to Arche. "Arche?" Arche looked around their surroundings. "I feel some sort of malevolent aura…" She said. Then, after she finished speaking, three black figures emerged from the shadows around them.

"SH-SHADOWS?!" Luca exclaimed in shock. "I thought they aren't supposed to be here!"

"Huh? The Shadows are still here?" Vanille said.

"This is bad…" Arche muttered as everyone prepared their weapons. Arche took out a short metallic sword and held it on one hand, and the other hand occupied a metallic shield. Vanille grabbed her bowsword behind her waist, pulling it out. She held the bowsword's handle with both hands. Luca grabbed his staff hanging from behind his back. "Nonetheless, we have to battle these Shadows before they run amok and threaten lives…" Arche swung her sword and slashed an avian-like Shadow.

"Whoa!" Vanille dodged a charge from a humanoid-like Shadow. She swung her bowsword at the Shadow and slashed it. She stabbed her bowsword in the ground. "Here I go! Sky Lotus!" She lifted herself off from the ground and kicked the enemy three times. She quickly pulled out her bowsword and swung it down at the Shadow, slicing it in half.

"Voice of earth… heed my call! Rock Lance!" Arche chanted a spell, creating a magical circle behind her. The circle released several spears of gravel that pierced through her targeted Shadow which dispersed into black mist.

Luca faced a beast-like Shadow that is looking at him. "I got this! Aqua Edge!" Luca shouted.

Nothing happened.

'…Huh?' Luca blinked. He looked at his staff. "Let's try this again… Aqua Edge!" Luca announced.

Nothing happened.

"Erm…" Luca scratched his head. "…Ice Tornado!"

Nothing happened.

"Wave full of wisdom, swallow the misfortune done by the ravages of war! Tidal Wave!"

Nothing happened again.

"…Tidal Wave! Tidal Wave! TidalWaveTidalWaveTidalWave!" Luca shouted.

Still nothing happened.

'Wh-What's happening?!' Luca thought. 'Why aren't any of my spells working?!' He looked up just to see the beast-like Shadow lunging towards him. "WAAAAH!" Luca screamed, falling back.

"Luca!" Vanille and Arche dashed towards the Shadow, swinging their swords down at it. The Shadow howls and melts into black mist. Vanille and Arche quickly headed over to Luca's side. "Luca, what's wrong?" Vanille asked. "Why didn't you cast a spell?" Luca was silent, then he slowly pointed his staff upwards. "Aqua Edge…" he said.

Nothing happened at all. Luca can confirm it right now. "I… I… I can't… I can't cast my spells!" Luca stammered.

"You can't… cast your spells?" Vanille said. "That's… bad, right?"

"Y-Yes! I don't know what's wrong! I tried to cast different spells, but none of them works!"

"Hmm…" Arche studied Luca. She pressed her hand on her forehead. "This phenomenon…"

"Huh? Do you know something about this, Arche? Tell me, quick!" Luca asked in a desperate voice.

"I can't confirm this…" Arche said. "But… maybe once we reach Academia, I'll try to look in your condition again…"

"Uh…" Luca looked down.


It has been silent after the encounter with those Shadows. Luca had tried several times to cast his spells, but none of them had taken effect even when there are no battles involved. Vanille and Arche were both looking at Luca with worry.

"I hope Luca'll be okay…" Vanille said.

"I don't know…" Arche muttered.

"Take a deep breath, it's time to say goodbye…"

"Huh?" Luca noticed the voice. It sounded really mature and had a sense of formality. Music also played while the voice sang. It's not far from their location. Luca somehow felt that he needed to follow the music. In no less than a minute, the trio found themselves drawn to the music. Eventually, they found the singer to be a Serperior resting on a boulder. The Serperior wore a long green fabric covering most of his serpentine body. He also had a green triangular-like hat… similar to the one that the companion Arturo wore.

"This may be the end, but it's okay, I'll be alright." The Serperior sings. His vines strummed the instrument lying on him rhythmically as he sang each word. "Sad nevermore, baby I'm sure, it's for the better, don't cry…" He stopped for a moment and was about to continue singing until he noticed Luca, Vanille and Arche. "Oh!" He was surprised. "I would never have thought that I would see you again."

"Huh…?" Vanille looked at the Serperior in confusion. "Who are you?"

Luca was about to ask the same question until he took note of the instrument the Serperior played and his appearance. "Is that you, Arturo?" He asked. The Serperior smiled.

"Yes, Luca. Whatever are you doing here?" Arturo Carpaice, the poet from Blood Forest asked.

"We're heading to Academia." Luca said. "What brings you out here, Arturo?"

"I am travelling." Arturo answered. "And…" A vine stuck out from his collar, taking his hat off as he bowed his head down to the princess of Namdiascar. "It is an honor to meet you once again, Princess Arche." He looked at Vanille. "Oh, and Vanille too."

"But I'm surprised, Arturo…" Luca said, looking at Arturo. "You changed a lot…"

Arturo places his hat back on his head. "Oh, you think so? I am quite happy to have this new form…" He said, looking at himself. "I find it easy to move around now…"

"I see…" Luca nodded. Then, Arturo looked like he wanted to ask Luca something. "Luca…" Arturo was about to continue before he shook his head. "…Never mind. It is unnecessary…"

Then, they heard a growl coming from Luca. He rubbed his tummy. "I'm hungry…" he said. "Why don't we stop here to eat?"

Arche looked at everyone else before nodding. "…Alright. Let's stop here to eat."


A pot filled with soup rested in the center of four Pokémon sitting on the grassy field. The Diancle in the group passed the last bowl to the Serperior, the Politoed and Slurpuff already given bowls filled with soup.

"Now, eat up." Arche said, taking her bowl. Everyone began to drink the soup.

"This potato soup is delicious!" Vanille said.

"I'm not used to drinking cold soup, but it's delicious!" Luca said, sipping the potato soup.

"Thank you for your comments," Arche said before shaking her head. "but this is not potato soup. It's called vichyssoise." She told Luca.

"Arche, what would you call a soup made from carrots?" Luca asked.

"I would call it carrot soup, of course–"

"Then, this is potato soup!" Vanille said before she happily gulped down the soup.

"N-No! It's called vichyssoise!" Arche insisted. "It's the name of the dish!"

"Arturo, what do you call this soup?" Luca asked Arturo. Arturo looked at the soup for a moment before giving his answer. "Potato soup."

Arche shook her head, sighing. "Why won't any of you call it vichyssoise…?"


"Wow… I'm stuffed…" Luca said.

Arturo nodded. "I could not agree more. The food prepared by the princess is scrumptious." He said. He looked over to where Vanille and Arche are sitting separately from them. It looks like Arche is teaching Vanille something, but they couldn't hear the conversation from where they rested.

Arturo turned to look at Luca. "Luca, do you mind if I tell you something?"

Luca tilted his head. "Huh? What do you want to tell me?"

"Hmm… It's about…"

As Arturo spoke with Luca, at the females' side, Vanille looked surprised. "Oh! So, that means…" Vanille said. Arche looked down, not saying anything. Vanille looked down. "Oh… It is bad…"

Arche slowly floated up. "Well, let's go." She turned to the males, who were apparently discussing something. "Luca, Arturo!" Arche called out. "We're heading off now!" Luca and Arturo's heads rose. They looked at each other and nodded before Luca got up and Arturo slithered over to Arche and Vanille.

"Alright. So, I will be accompanying you to Academia." Arturo said.

"Yes." Arche said. "Now, let us head off to Mare first."

"H-Hold on…" Luca said. He turned his head to Arche. "It's not that I'm worried about Arche, but she needs to try to blend in like a casual tourist or something."

"A casual tourist?" Arche asked.

"I mean, yeah." Luca said. "I don't think that Southern Isle's inhabitants would recognize you as the princess of Namdiascar, but you should play it safe and talk casually."

"I shall try." Arche said.

Luca shook his head. "You're answering wrongly. Try again."

"…Okay. I understand." Arche said.

"Try again." Luca repeated.

"…Okay."

This time, Luca nodded. "Alright! I think that we are now good to go!" Arche soon lead the party towards the route to Mare. Unbeknownst to them, they failed to notice someone watching them from afar. A black-clothed stranger stood by behind a tree. He looked at the travelling group.

"I've finally found her."

Chapter 26 End


Current Party:

Luca R. Ezperanda – Sealed Child (What could have happened for this child to be unable to use magic…?)

Weapon: Oak Staff+1 (Staves)

Cloudia Vanille – Upbeat Girl (Hmm... I am really good at a lot of things!(According to her))

Weapon: Custom Bowsword (Bowsword)

Archelain Til Namdiascar VII – Namdiascar Princess (The princess of the Kingdom of Namdiascar.)

Weapons: Gladius (Shortsword), Round Shield (Shield)

Arturo Carpaice – Reunited Traveller (It may be fate, that brought him to their group.)

Weapon: Fonic Lute (Sword Lute)

Now… after a long while… I've finally updated this story!

Luca… can't use his spells? What could have happened…? Hmm… at least, they've met Arturo Carpaice. With him, Luca, Vanille and Arche are now heading to Mare… What were the things that were discussed with both male and female parties separately? And… who's that figure?

Points for anyone to be able to recognize the song that Arturo was singing.

Skit: That song…

Arturo: "Luca, what is it?"

Luca: "I was just wondering… What's that thing you sang?"

Arturo: "Oh? You mean my song? It is just a work in progress."

Luca: "I guessed so…"

Arturo: "But of course, this does not mean that I have given up. I will make sure that this song is complete."

Luca: (happy) "Okay… good luck!"

(Arturo leaves)

Luca: "…"

Luca: (depressed) "*sigh*…"