CHAPTER 2

The girls looked at the land below them as the creature flew lower. "See that castle over there, Ariana? Well that is your real home. Of course there are other people who lives in the castle; the former Magic Knights, the head wizard, and some other people who can work with magic and sorcery."

"You also live there too, right Febin?" Ginnie asked.

"Yes I do, and so will the three of you for the rest of your stay."

"They landed on the castle terrace, where Guru Clef was waiting for them. "I welcome you to our planet. I am Guru Clef, head sorcerer and trainer."

"My name is Virginia smith. Please do call me Ginnie," Ginnie said, bowing as she introduced herself.

"Well I am Lady Felicia Watson. My friends call me Liz."

"And I am Ariana Shidou. But well, I guess you know me already."

"Forgive me by asking this but how old are you exactly Princess Ariana?"

"I'm going eighteen..." Ariana answered.

"Are you sure???..."Guru Clef exclaimed. After realizing what he had said, he cleared his throat and said, "Forgive me...but…"

"But I look too small to be seventeen," Ariana said giggling. "Oh it's alright, you didn't offend me. I am used to people telling me that."

"You shouldn't be surprised Guru Clef, after all, she is the daughter of Princess Hikaru," Febin said, winking at his friend.

"Why, of course. I said the same thing when your mother first got here," Guru Clef
informed her.

"Really?"

"Yes," the wizard answered. "But physically, besides the height and the hairstyle, you got your looks from your father."

"So...Where are they?"

"Oh! I was too excited to greet you that I forgot to take you inside. Your father is waiting for you at the main hall."

"And my mother..."

"Well...." Guru Clef frowned. "Maybe your father can explain her situation more clearly."

"Excuse me girls, but I have to go and see my parents?" Febin said, leaving them to Guru Clef.

The sorcerer led them to the main hall. There, they saw a very tall man in his middle age, with jet-black hair and eyes like Ariana's. He is wearing a black armor, a long black cape and is walking back and forth in front of the throne. Guru Clef cleared his throat to catch the knight's attention, but had failed. Clef cleared his throat again, a little bit louder this time, and succeeded. The man's gaze fell directly on Ariana. "Is she…?" the man asked.

Guru Clef nodded and then turned to Ariana. "Ariana, this is Lantis, the greatest magic swordsman in Sefiro. He is also your father."

Ariana started stepping forward, and then hesitated, since she is not sure of what to do or say. Lantis, seeing the confusion in his daughter's eyes approached her himself and embraced her. "My dear daughter...I waited for this moment. I see that your uncle took care of you well."

"My uncle?"

"Satoru Shidou, the man who took care of you while you were in you're mother's world is your uncle. Your mother is his younger sister, Hikaru Shidou."

"I would wish to talk to my mother."

"I don't think that you'll be able to talk to her. Although I am quite sure you'll be able to see her. Come with me." Lantis turned to Clef. "I will leave the two girls to you. My daughter and I will go to the crown room." A blinding light surrounded both father and daughter, and then they disappeared.

"Well I know that the two of you are curious of what this is all about. Let me tell you the story," Clef said.

"Good. This is what I really want to hear," Liz said.

"Not so long time ago, Sefiro was ruled by Princess Emeraude, which is Febin's aunt. At that time, the Pillar of Sefiro, the Princess, was not allowed to do anything else but pray for peace and prosperity for Sefiro as long as she lives. She is not even permitted to fall inlove, since it spells destruction for the planet. But then, she did fall inlove with Zagato, Lantis' brother, and also the head priest, and he too, fell for her. Knowing that if she is kept alive, her love for Zagato will be the reason for Sefiro's end. She had then decided to call for the three Legendary Magic Knights of Sefiro to end her life and save our planet. Zagato, on the other hand, found out what she had done, kidnapped the princess and did all he could to prevent the Magic Knights in ending the Pillar's life. The Magic Knights, on the other hand, thought that they were summoned to save the Princess from Zagato. They did not know the true reason why they were called, until it was too late..."

* * *

"We have arrived, Ariana." She opend her eyes, looked around her and saw nothing but a door in front of them. Lantis took out his sword and the door slowly opened. At first, Ariana was blinded by the intense light coming from the inside. Then her vision became clearer and clearer until she could really see what was inside.

She was a beautiful woman, who looks like in her late-twenties, here eyes closed and seems as if she is in a very deep meditation. The woman is actually small in height, with very long, wavy pink-red hair. She is wearing a tiara on her head. "Your mother had been like this for quite a while." Ariana sensed a trace of bitterness and also longing in her father's voice.

"She felt she had to do this. And when she thinks that what she's doing is right, no one can stop her...Not even me."'

"She is very pretty..."

"Oh yes, she definitely is."

"What is she doing?"

Lantis hesistated for a while, thinking that his daughter would not understand. In order to explain Hikaru's situation, he must explain Sefiro's history, rules, and also, essence. Yet he thought he must try, because it was needed...and it had been always hard, for someone to go and fight for something she does not really understand. "She is praying for the safety of this planet. a task that the rulers before her had done."

"What use of this? And why the seclusion?"

"...A princess' prayer was once the main reason for the planet's continuous existence. Before, the Sefiro's ruler is not permitted to do anything else, but pray for the planet's safety and peace..and also existence." She had been entusted by a power so great, that she must sacrifice her own needs...A princess, was not even permitted to fall inlove...But when your mother had changed all this. It was a wonder that no ruler have thought of it before, but she had wished, soon after she was made the Pillar, that as long as the people stay in togetherness with each other, Sefiro will not be destroyed, even with the absence of the Pillar."

"If she had changed Sefiro's rules, why is she here praying?"

"For her, this is the last resort...You see, she had been preparing for the coming of a great evil being. She would not want fear to rule the hearts of the people of Sefiro, because if that happens, then we will surely be defeated. One way of ensuring that nothing like that will happen is by making a very strong force field around the whole planet in order to protect it for the battles to come. The task she had appointed herself is very hard. Sefiro is very large and making even a shield around the castle can already weaken you."

"Isn't there enough power for her to use?"

"The Pillar's power comes from the planet itself and Sefiro's energy is endless. The problem is such powers are difficult to control. Using too much of it will damage both the Pillar's body and soul. That is why the person with the strongest will is the one chosen to be the Pillar, because no weak person will be able to use this power. And that is why Debonair wanted this planet; Sefiro's infinite energy can make one person a god. If Sefiro's power gets into Debonair's hands, the whole universe and each of it's dimensions will be plunged into chaos. That is what our enemy desires..."

"So where does Liz and Ginnie fit in?"

"You're mother and her friends were the Magic Knights of Sefiro. But with her situation right now, she could not do her duty as a Knight. And without her, the power of the Magic Knights is incomplete, which will make it difficult to fight with Debonair. So it was decided to call for a new generation of Magic Knights."

"Ariana..."they heard a voice coming from inside the room. "Come to me...Come Ariana..."

"Hikaru..."

"Lantis, no harm will come to our daughter."

Ariana walked to the room towards her mother's open arms as Lantis watch helplessly. As soon as she touched her mother's hand, the room glowed with intense light that Lantis was blinded for a short time. When he regained his sight, he saw Ariana, wearing the same gown as her mother's, her hair already worn down. She is lying in her mother's arms, unconscious.

"Yes she is quite ready..." Hikaru said. "My dear daughter...My dear, dear daughter...It will not be long..." After that, the crown on Hikaru's head started to glow, a sign that it is changing shape. "Lantis, my husband. I know how hard it is for you to see me this way. I also know that you regret not destroying the pillar system when u had the chance. But all this will soon be over, my love. And this world will have the peace it deserves."

"Hikaru…"

"Ariana has a very strong will my love. Hers can be much stronger than mine. I know that she can rule Sefiro better than I can."

"What do you mean Hikaru?"

Hikaru smiled, "What I said is perfectly clear. She is going to be a good Pillar. You do worry too much."

Lantis did not answer.

"It won't be long and you are going to be this planet's protector. You and your friends will defeat Debonair in this war...Take her Lantis..." Hikaru then let go of her child and Ariana floated back to Lantis' arms. "This will be over soon, just be patient. Always remember that I will always be with the both of you," Hikaru said as the door of the crown room started to close itself. "I love you both."

The magic swordsman didn't wait for the door to be completely closed. He teleported himself and his daughter back to the throne room. Ariana's friends hurried to see their unconscious friend.

"Why did you let her enter the crown room Lantis?" Guru clef told him. "You should know..."

"I know very well the danger, Clef...Hikaru insisted that our daughter must be with her for a while."

"It is done, and she had survived," Guru Clef looked at Ariana.

"Excuse me...err...sire, "Liz addressed Lantis, "but I would very much wish to know what happened to our friend..."

"First of all, I am not a prince. Marrying the Pillar does not make me one here in Sefiro...Ariana is all right. She had just lost consciousness when she entered the crown room."

"I am sorry...uh...mister, but we can't really understand how…"

"The crown room is a sacred place, Felicia, " Guru Clef answered. "Only the Pillar or a candidate for the Pillar can enter it and get out of it alive. Even Lantis and I, who have the only keys of that room cannot enter it."

"Perhaps, we can explain it more after we finished bringing Ariana in her room?" Lantis suggested.

                                                                    * * *         

"Sefiro is a place where one's will determine's everything. It is a planet that holds a large amount of energy, more power than is needed to either create or destroy the entire universe. As I have told you, before Princess Hikaru's time, the power is to be controlled by the designated Pillar. Her duty is not only to pray for peace but also keep the balance of the universe by guarding Sefiro's energy, keeping it safe from evil beings."

"What does it have to do with the crown room?" Ginnie asked.

"It is the place where the crown is kept of course."

"So what about the crown?" Liz asked.

"Not the crown... 'THE' crown. It isn't just a round thing that the Pillar wears on her head Felicia. It is the one who chooses the next Pillar and when the Pillar is chosen, it is the one that transmits Sefiro's infinite energy to the one who wears it," Lantis explained. "Which reminds me, the crown is starting to change its shape."

"WHAT?!" the sorcerer exclaimed. "It can't be!"

"The rules of Sefiro had changed very much since Hikaru became the Pillar, Clef."

Clef shook his head in disbelief. "I guess, the only thing we should do is what the Pillar bid us...and that is, to train the new Magic Knights." Lantis nodded. "Ladies, I have said it before and I will say it again, this is a land where your will determines everything. This is what you must remember in order to survive in the days to come. Your lives are at stake, as are the lives of every-single being in the whole universe," Guru Clef told them. "You can never go back until you do your duty."

"You mean if we fail, not only that we can never go back to our world, but also die?" Liz said. "Ginnie? What have we gotten ourselves into?"

"...A unique journey to maturity, " Ginnie answered in a distant sort of voice.

"Mokona will take you to your rooms so you could rest, freshen up and change. We are going to have a banquet in a few hours..."

"Puu!!!"Mokona jumped up and down happily...thinking that he can stay and peep as the girls change.

"And after that Mokona, you go and see that everything is prepared before the guests arrive."

"Puu..." the little creature sighed.

* * *

"Welcome home, my son," Fuu said as she embraced Febin. "You had a good journey?"

"Yes mother."

"And how is school?"

"Just fine Mother."

"Good. I have missed you. You have grown more handsome I can see..."

"Aww, Mother!" Febin said blushing.

"Stop that darling, you're embarrassing him, "Ferio said. He put his hand on Febin's shoulder... "Been a long time son, we did miss you."

"I missed the both of you too."

"Your mother had been wanting to hear about Hikaru's daughter. But you do know her, she's too polite to ask."

"She is very nice, you will like her very much. She is fine to be with, loves to laugh...emotional, sentimental, impulsive..."

"Oh I guess you two are very close..." his father said, grinning.

"Oh no! Not as close as what you think...We're just friends, that's all..."

"What else?"

"Hmm…she's good at singing and writing…and well...she can get enthusiastic about almost everything."

"Very much like Hikaru..." Fuu said smiling. She sighed a little bit after that and said, " I could only imagine how sad it is for Hikaru not to see her only daughter grow up."

"We both know that being this planet's Pillar is not only a blessing but also a curse," Ferio said, with a tone of bitterness. "We just hop that when it's Ariana's time..." Febin cut his sentence off, deciding not to continue.

"Febin, you must go and have a quick rest. We are going to have a banquet later tonight. Everybody is going to be there," Fuu told her son. Febin did as what his mother said, never forgetting to give her a kiss on the cheek and a bow to his father to show his respect.

Then there was a deafening silence in the room as soon as Febin closed the door. Fuu and Ferio's thoughts seemed to be far from each other. And yet both of their minds are transported to the same place and time...to the event that had given Fuu a great feeling of guilt, and had given Febin a familiar pain of loneliness.

* * *

"Clef..."Lantis said, beaking the silence that had been there with them since the girls left the room.

"Hmmm?"

"What do you think?"

"Huh? About what?"

"About our daughter, about the crown, about this..."

"Well your daughter did leave the crown room alive, didn't she? I must admit that it was quite unusual...quite early. As for the others..."

"Yes...?"

"I have been alive for many hundreds of years Lantis but I have never encountered anything like this. Never did the Pillar system became hereditary Lantis, even in the years before my existence."

"I have asked you this because you have lived longer than anybody in Sefiro…"

"And for the same reason, you shouldn't have asked me."

"Why?"

"Why? As we all know, Hikaru is an outworlder. She sees things here, in a different and much more wider perspective. These changes are the result of her thinking...perhaps, even a direct manifestation of what is inside her mind. Whereas I, as you had said, lived longer than anybody and experienced how different Pillars ruled this planet. With that I had been the most exposed to Sefiro's old custom than anybody, which makes the situation now, far more new to me than to anybody else. Do you understand?"

Lantis nodded. "Yes."

"It would be easy for me to say, if I had not been considering Hikaru's background as an outworlder, that the Pillar is dying."

Lantis nodded again. "Yes we still couldn't say that is so, yet we still couldn't say that it is not..." The conversation had suddenly been broken when Lantis saw that Ariana had started to regain consciousness.

"...Father...So it was true...I wasn't dreaming after all…"

The Guru cleared his throat and then said, "It is good that you are awake now. It wouldn't be a nice to start the banquet without you. It is to introduce you to the people of Sefiro and also to our neighbors. I think it is best to call my wife to help you in your preparation."

"That would be kind of you Clef, " Lantis said.

"Umi will be here soon." After giving a bow, Clef went on his way.

"What happened?" Ariana asked.

"You lost consciousness."

"I am sorry if I had worried you much Father."

"Oh but it is natural for parents to worry about their child isn't it? Now, now...the banquet will begin soon, and your Aunt Umi is going to help you..."

"But what happened to my school uniform?"

"They must be among your other clothes in the wardrobe."

"But do I have to change again? This gown is beautiful..."

"Oh but you have gowns much more beautiful than that, and it wouldn't be proper to go to the banquet wearing a regular court gown."

"He is right dear..." the voice was from a blue-haired woman who appeared out of nowhere.

"Oh my...I think I did startle you! I shouldn't have teleported."

"..."

"Fuu said you'd be so she decided to go on foot.She'll be knocking on that door in a few minutes."

"I have to go now and change," Lantis said.

"Oh don't worry about your daughter Lantis, she fine with me."

Lantis nodded and then left. Umi then opened Ariana's wardrobe and started choosing which gown the princess will wear. After a few more minutes, someone knocked at the door.

"Oh that must be Fuu," Umi told Ariana. "Fuu! Just get in for God's sake!" As soon as Fuu entered the room, Umi introduced her to Ariana, "Ariana, this is Fuu, the third Magic Knight. And oh, she is also Febin's mother."

"Pleased to meet you Princess Ariana," Fuu said, bowing down in the most polite manner.

"Oh Fuu...look at this. This one would look really nice on her don't you think?" Umi
said, holding a white flowing gown, ruffled with red trimmings and a big red ribbon at the back. "And I do think we should put lots of tiny ribbons on her hair...Aww...don't just sit there Ariana, start changing...."

"I think she's shy..."Fuu pointed out.

"Oh alright, we'll turn around. Just tell us when you're through."

Ariana nodded and did what she was told. "I'm through," she told them as she sat on the bed.

"Don't you think it would be nicer if we make little braids in her hair and tie them with
little ribbons?" Umi suggested. Fuu nodded.

"Oh dear, your hair is even longer than your mother's. You should put it down more often. My son is right, you and your mother have many things in common."

"Speaking of sons, have you met mine?" Umi asked her. Ariana shook her head in reply.

"Hey don't move your head, we're still not finished here."

"I am sorry. No…I haven't met them yet."

"Hmm, they must be still training...Tell us about your friends Ariana."

"I don't know what to say..."

"Well you can start with their names and ages."

"Well the beautiful blond is Felicia Watson, she is a daughter of a wealthy English nobleman. The other is Virginia Smith, she is an American. They are both 17."

"So you all study at the same school?"

Ariana nodded and continued to talk, "Well, Ginnie, Virginia, is the vice-president of the student's council and a varsity player in archery. Felicia, Liz to close friends and relatives, a ballerina and fencing varsity player."

"What about you?"

"Me? I play kendo and I sing too."

"I am so excited to meet your friends Ariana," Fuu told her.

Then they heard a knock on the door. "Come in..."Ariana said. The door opened and she saw her friends walk in. Both of them are dressed in gowns of silk with the same style. The only difference is that Liz is wearing blue while Ginnie is wearing green.

"I think fate had already chosen which one we must teach," Fuu said, winking at Umi. "I am Fuu, Febin's mother..." she introduced herself with a graceful yet deep bow.

"Stop being too formal Fuu." Umi whispered. "And I am Umi. You must have met my husband, Clef?"

"Virginia Smith."

"Lady Felicia Watson."

"I heard you do fencing Felicia..." Umi said. "We must have a friendly match sometime soon? But please do be patient with me if my skills had gone rusty."

"It is my pleasure," Liz answered.

"And Miss Virginia Smith is an archer, I believe?" Fuu asked.

"Yes ma'am," Ginnie replied. "Do please call me Ginnie."

"There is a very nice archery field outside the castle. I am willing to show it to you one of these days," Fuu informed her.

"Ariana, you're very beautiful!" Ginnie exclaimed. "Right Liz?"

"Yes you look very nice," Liz said smiling.

"I think we should go now? Follow us ladies," Umi said as they lead the three girls out of the room and along the corridors. "Like the people you have met told you already...."

"Your will determines everything," Liz cut in.

"So you must always remember that while you are battling the enemy, that is if you don't want to die early," Fuu said casually.

"Now that is what I call 'scaring people'. She said that as if she was talking about something normal like eating," Ginnie whispered.

"I don't want to die yet," Liz whispered back.

"Isn't this exciting?" Ariana said out loud. Both of her friends just can't help face faulting at the same time.