Chapter 5

"Wake up Erika!"

I groaned, turning to my other side as I clutched my blanket tightly. I tried dozing off back to sleep, but someone was shaking my shoulders and kept on screaming my name as if someone was dying.

"Erika! Erika! Wake up, dummy!"

I cracked open my eyes, finding a blurred version of Sorano waking me up. She had an exciting grin on her face, which contradicted my sleepy frown. Her eyes twinkled in excitement.

I covered my face with my blanket. "Go away… Am sleepy…"

"Geez!" Sorano said with a pout. "Trust you of all people to make sleep a priority instead of your own birthday!"

I blinked open my eyes once more and looked at her, confused. "Huh…? Birthday?" I asked drowsily, sitting up and rubbing my eyes.

She pointed to the calendar plastered on the wall beside me. It was the month of August, and on the number 21 there was a huge red circle around it.

"Oh yeah…" I murmured before falling backwards and closing my eyes, trying to find sleep again.

"Don't fall asleep again!" Sorano exclaimed irritably.

"Fine!" I cried before stretching my limbs out. I guess I pretty much scared Sorano because it probably looked like an exorcism was taking place on my bed.

After stretching, I rolled to my side and fell out of bed with my pillow on my head. Sorano watched me with a nervous sweat drop as I wiggled my way like a worm towards the door of our room and slide down the stairs, still half-awake and not exactly comprehending the situation.

I opened my eyes and sat up, clutching my head pillow. My eyes widened slightly when I noticed that the living room was filled with frilly decorations, balloons, and presents. Yukino and Yurika were both standing in front of me, giving me a smile.

I blinked in confusion. Say what?

"What's going on?" I asked, rubbing my eyes.

Yukino giggled as Yurika rolled her eyes and pinched my cheek. The pain woke me up and I flailed my arms, trying to escape her pinch.

I rubbed my cheek. "Ow! What was that for?"

Yurika laughed. "It's your birthday silly!"

I blinked, confused. "Birthday? Already?" I repeated, surprised. Wow, it's been 9 years already ever since I came here? That's a shocker. Time really passes by quickly huh? Or maybe it's just me.

Yukino walked towards me, holding out a small present box. She was shying away, as usual, as she stretched out her arms and handed me my present. "Here you go nee-sama," she said.

I smiled in gratitude and took the box. "Thanks!" I said before untying the ribbon and taking the lid off.

I was surprised to see a little rag doll waiting inside. It was simple, but pretty in a way. It had curly fake sandy hair, and sky blue eyes. She wore a frilly blue dress, and a small smile was stitched on her face.

My face lit up. This was the first time I received a doll! And it was so pretty!

"Do you like it nee-sama? I bought it myself in the shop nearby."

I turned to Yukino and gave her a tight hug. "Are you kidding me Yuki? I love it!"

Yukino smiled at the nickname I gave to her and held out the rag doll in my hands. I stared at it, analyzing its traits. It was very, very weird too. How come I have a feeling that I saw this doll before?

Before I could continue thinking like that, Sorano came downstairs and handed me a present. "Here you go, Erika-nee!" she said, handing me a small box.

I eyed the small present box warily.

"You… didn't place a fake roach inside, did you?"

"Oh shut up! Just take the present before I change my mind!"

I pouted, but took the present in my hands. I opened the box, and my eyes widened at the sight of a beautifully crafted silver necklace inside. It was carved as a rose with angel-like wings on the side, and a very tiny snow halo above it.

"Did you steal this or something?" I asked, amazed.

Sorano twitched. "No! I used my magic!"

I turned to her in surprise. "You used magic? But how?!"

She smiled and held out a piece of silver in her hand. I watched as the silver glowed bright blue and morphed into the shape of a crown on her hand. Sorano grinned victoriously and winked as she placed the crown on her head.

"I decided Erika-nee!" she said as she struck a pose, her arms stretched down and her right leg folded behind her. "I'm going to be a Silver Claimer!"

I grinned. "That's great Sorano! You'll be able to do all kinds of cool stuff as a Silver Claimer!"

In case you live under a freaking rock and don't know what we're talking about, a Silver Claimer is a person who uses magic and controls anything silver. Which means that Sorano can morph any type of silver into any shapes and sizes, like weapons, shields, or possibly build a house made of Silver!

Yurika clapped her hands. "That's great Sorano! I can't wait for you to become a great Silver Claimer!" she said enthusiastically.

I laughed but stopped when I spotted Yukino looking down. I frowned when I heard her murmur, "Everyone can do magic… Sora nee-sama and Erika nee-sama… they're all so special… while I'm not… I'm different…"

I smiled and turned to Yukino. "Don't think like that Yukino." I said.

She looked up, surprised. My smile didn't drop.

"Everyone is special in their own way Yuki." I said. "No one is the same, everyone is different. We have different hair colors, eye colors, and personalities. We even have different magic types. Being different doesn't mean you won't excel at something. It just means that you haven't found something that you excel at!"

Yukino looked surprised. I gave her a wink. "So don't push yourself down, okay?" I added.

Slowly, I saw Yukino smile. She nodded slowly and gave me a determined expression. "Yes!" she said. "I'll look for a kind of magic that I can do! I can become a mage too!"

I gave her a thumbs-up. "That's the spirit!" I cheered.

"What are you waiting for Erika-nee?" I heard Sorano shout behind me. "If you don't hurry, I'll finish all the cake and pasta!"

"No! Don't you dare, Sorano!"

"Haha! Delicious!"

"Two can play at that game! Whoever can eat more cake gets the loser as a slave for a day!"

"You're on!"

I sat on the hillside that overlooks Cedar Town, watching as the clouds brush by. I silently enjoy the feeling of the wind softly caressing my sandy brown hair.

"Huh? So this is where you were,"

I blink and glance over my shoulder, only to spot Gladius walking towards me. I smiled at the sight of the said weapons spirit and give him a two fingered salute.

"Hi Gladius!"

He grins and sits beside me. Since I'm still fairly small as a 9 year old, Gladius takes me up from the sides and hoists me up on his lap. He pats my head and ruffles it slightly, much to my protest.

I have to admit, Gladius became more and more of a brotherly spirit for me. He's always visiting every Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays whenever he could. I would say that I summon him during that time, but he mostly passes the gate through his own free will.

I was pretty much surprised when I learned that he could do that. I thought that in order for a spirit to do that, the mage he or she was contracted with should at least have an impressive amount of magic power.

When he noted that he was a powerful spirit despite being a silver key, I only replied with a snicker. He answered back with a knuckle bashing on my head.

"So I hear it's your birthday today." He said.

I nodded. "Yup! Sorano made me a silver necklace while Yukino gave me a doll! I named the doll Michelle, by the way."

Gladius raised an eye brow. "How come?"

"Meh, I just felt like the name fits."

He laughs and reaches into his pocket. "I know that if your mom saw me giving you this, she would kick my ass, but…"

I raised my eyebrow in curiosity. Sure mom kicks his ass a lot for flirting with her a few times, but what other reason would she need to beat the crap out of him?

He took out a small sheathed dagger and handed it to me. I held the cold casing in my hands.

A few moments of silence passed by before I started freaking out. I played hot potato with the dagger, trying to decide whether or not to think that it was a dangerous weapon that could possibly end my life.

"Wah!" I cried, throwing the dagger straight at Gladius' forehead. It was a good thing it was sheathed, or things would've gone pretty ugly there.

"Hey! Don't just throw things randomly at people! And what the hell, it was a dagger!"

"Don't just give a 9 year old a dagger then! And besides, it was sheathed prissy pants!"

Gladius twitched before holding the dagger out to show me. "Listen, this dagger was the first weapon that I mastered ever since becoming a spirit. I decided to give it to you, you know, for defensive purposes."

I stared at him unsurely. "What did you mean by 'ever since becoming a spirit'?" I asked, giving him a suspicious glance. "You mean you weren't always a spirit before?"

Gladius stiffened, but laughed. "Hm, trust you never to let any details out of your sight." He said.

I stared. What did he mean by that? I was really curious. Maybe he used to be a human before?

"Don't worry about it," he said as he placed his gloved hand on my head. "Just focus on becoming a strong Celestial Spirit Mage and protecting the people you care about."

My face lit up. "I don't need to be reminded of that, you know! I can do it!" I said, cheering.

"Hm, I wonder if I should work on practicing how to do a forced gate closure," I noted to myself, placing my fingers around my chin.

Gladius raised an eyebrow. "Why would you need to do that?"

I turned to him. "Well, since you guys are too overprotective for you own good," Gladius twitched at that part. "Maybe it would be best for me to learn how. Most of you don't know how to stop, even when you're at your limit."

Gladius stared at me blankly. But then he sigh in defeat. "Yeah, you're probably right." He admitted with a shrug.

"I wonder how I'll be able to grow stronger in the future." I mused to myself.

"Just train your mind and your body." Gladius answered. "Most people know that a Celestial Wizard has two weaknesses."

I looked at him curiously. "What are those?"

"A Celestial Wizard's weaknesses are his or her own body, and their keys."

I raised an eyebrow. "I don't get it," I said, confused.

Gladius sigh. "Celestial Wizards use gate keys in order to summon their spirits. So if your opponent manages to take hold of you gate keys, your powerless."

I paled. "Yeah, that is true…" I better make sure no one takes my keys then… What if I'm fighting a pervert? Gah! Losing my keys in a situation like that!

"And then there is there body." Gladius continued. "Since Celestial Mages focus mostly on their magic power and summoning speed, they neglect their physical training. Which means that if your opponent is a close combat type, you'll lose."

"If I were you, I would train my body." Gladius added. "Since you're a girl, you'll be underestimated and would have a high chance of being taken advantage of."

I twitched my eye. "Was that an off-handed sexist comment?" I mumbled, clearly irritated.

"Well then, what should I do?" I asked. "I'm not exactly suited for combat."

Gladius smirked. "Nope, but there are things you can do other than punch and kick."

I tilted my head to the side. "Like?"

"Instead of brute strength and stamina, girls have agile and nimble bodies." Gladius explained. "This means that all you have to do is know how to dodge and learn a few acrobatic moves, and you can avoid being beaten to a bloody pulp."

He stood up from his spot in the grass. "How about it, Erika? Want to train so you won't die easily?"

"The way you say it makes me shiver…" I mumbled. "But yeah! I'll do it!"

An evil grin curled up his face. A magic circle appeared in front of him, and in a flash, a knife was aimed a few inches in front of me. I jumped up, alert and frightened.

"What the heck?!" I cried, spotting the knife gleaming.

Gladius held a bunch of daggers in between his fingers and had a cheeky expression. "Time for lesson 1! Dodge with every fiber of you being!" he announced, throwing all the daggers at once.

"Kyaaaa!" I yelled, running in circles, in hopes that I won't die.

"Are you trying to kill me?!"

"Oh come on! I'm helping you!"

"In what way?! And you shouldn't be doing this to your mage contractor!"

"You keep yappin' away, and I'll eventually hit your head!"

"MOMMY!"

I sat on my bed, looking at Michelle. She was such a peculiar doll, and even though she's just an inanimate object, I feel as if there was some sort of lively aura each time I play with her.

Sorano and Yukino went out to play with the other kids in town today, and I decided to stay back. I played with Michelle most of the time and made her clothes out of fabric and papers I found inside my desk drawer.

I smiled as I hugged Michelle and rubbed her against my cheek. "You're really pretty, Michelle!" I said before holding her out in front of me. "But you really look so familiar… Hm…"

My thoughts were interrupted when I heard a large explosion erupt nearby. I turned to the side where my window was and hurriedly ran towards it. I looked through the glass and saw many people screaming and running away in panic.

I saw a man hold a magic sword. He was dressed in an attire that anyone could consider weird. He wore a hat that covered his eyes, with a large symbol engraved on the front. He wore a tight shirt that did nothing to justify the fat he has and his large puffy lips were yelling, "COME BACK HERE! I'LL TURN YOU ALL INTO SLAVES!"

My heart beat picked up its pace. "Don't tell me that this is…!"

I ran downstairs and placed Michelle in my hoodie's pockets. I brought out my holster and attached it to my belt. I took my shoes and wore them before running out of the house.

I gasped as soon as I opened the door. The once tranquil and peaceful town I lived in was now in pure and utter chaos. Fires and smoke filled the air, and the screams of pain that resonated rang through my ears.

My heart was pumping too fast. My breathing was now mere pants and gasps. Nevertheless, I forced myself to run out of the house in search of anyone who could possibly explain to me the situation.

"Anyone!" I called as I ran. "Anyone! Answer me! Is anyone there?!"

I heard a groan. I stopped running when I spotted Yukino trying her best to push the rubble off Yurika.

I gasped. "Yurika! Yukino!"

They both turned to me. Yukino was crying, her hands and her knees covered with bruises. "Help me nee-sama!" Yukino pleaded, gesturing to Yurika who was trapped under the rubble.

I didn't need to reply. I ran to her side and held one of the pieces in my hands. I threw as much pieces of concrete I could. Yukino was as desperate. She was pushing all of the remains, trying her best to free her mother.

Yurika was in pain. She opened one of her eyes and looked at me and Yukino. Her gaze was weak, but her resolve wasn't.

She turned to me. "Erika, take Yukino and run." She rasped.

I looked at her in dismay. "What are you saying? I'm getting you out of here!"

I pushed another piece out of the way, but a huge wall had broken down in front of Yurika. I looked at Yukino. "Yuki! Help me out here!"

"O-okay!" Yukino said. She stood beside me and held the bottom of the huge slab of concrete.

"1, 2, 3!"

On three, both of us started pulling the concrete up. It was no use. It was too heavy for only two children to handle.

The palms of my hands were filled with cuts and blood, but I refused to give in. I have a chance to save Yurika, a chance. I didn't have a chance to save mom. I won't let her die. I won't let her die!

"Both of you! Hurry! Before those dark mages capture you!" Yurika cried.

I shook my head. "No!"

"I won't leave you mama!" Yukino said, pulling harder.

An explosion took place a few spaces behind us, startling all three of us together. Yukino sunk to her feet, holding her head. Her eyes were shut, but tears flowed down. "No… I don't like this… I want to go home… I don't want this!"

I turned to Yukino. She was acting like me, when mom died.

I bit my lower lip in frustration. "Damn it!" I cursed, clenching my fist. Tears spilled down, but I didn't sob.

"Oi, Bora! I think I heard someone here!"

I jerked my head up, spotting two shadows approaching us. My hands shook, but not because of anger but of fear.

"Erika, take Yukino." Yurika ordered. "You two have to at least escape. If there are no survivors, that cult of dark mages would only continue to attack other towns and cities."

"But—"

"This isn't the time!" Yurika snapped. "Take Yukino and run. Run as far as you can! Then when you reach somewhere safe, summon Asclepius to heal both of you. The rest you'll have to figure out on your own."

"I can't leave you here!" I protested, holding her hand. It was the only limb that wasn't trapped under the rubble.

She gave me a weak smile and pushed me away. "Go. I promised Eufelia that I won't let anything happen to you. Go!"

I sniffed. I turned around and held Yukino's wrist, running away towards another direction.

"Nee-sama?!" Yukino cried in surprise. "What are you doing? We have to rescue mama!"

"We can't!" I argued. If we do, we'll get caught by those mages and we won't be able to escape!"

I could feel Yukino's anger without even turning around. "I'm going to save mama! With or without you!"

Without even registering what I was doing, I turned around and slapped Yukino across the face. She was shocked so much that she stood still.

"Take a good look at the situation Yukino!" I yelled. I gestured to the once beautiful Cedar Town, which was now crumbling and in ruins. Fire and smoke surrounded us, and the people were gone.

"Everyone we know is gone!" I cried, tears streaming down my cheeks.

"A group of people who are so people we can't comprehend… No one could've stood a chance… Not even me!" I said, looking down. "I… I don't… I don't want anyone's sacrifice to be in vain… I want to save everyone… that's why I learned magic! But we won't be able to do anything if we're also captured! The least we could do is run."

With that said, I started running away. Yukino followed beside me, and I could feel her stare piercing me. The tears were still there, but I didn't cry. It was just spilling down my cheeks. I couldn't stop it. Just like how I couldn't stop this.

Yukino looked down as we ran. "I'm sorry, nee-sama." She said softly. "I should've realized that this is painful for you too… to abandon mama and the town even though you have magic…"

"Where is Sorano?" I asked, changing the topic.

Yukino didn't answer. She didn't need to. I could tell from the devastated look on her face what happened. I didn't push the topic further.

We ran. We ran farther and farther, in hopes of escaping. That was all we could do. We ran and ran, not knowing where fate would lead us.

I was a coward. All I could do was run. Run away from everything.

Finally, a strangled scream escaped my throat. Yukino didn't react. She expected it.

"Damn it all to hell!"

[A/N:] I love updates! Don't you? :3

I'm sorta sad that most of my readers won't review. :( But nevertheless, I'll still continue to write this story for my sake too.

Also, I worked up enough motivation to draw a picture of Erika when she's 17. I'm working on a picture on her current age, and I hope you guys will check it out in my deviantart account! xD

The link to my deviantart is located in my profile. Just click it, and you'll see Erika's picture as a featured deviation. :)

See ya guys later~