Arc 1: Wyvern Rebellion - Chapter 9|
The librarian of the mage library took the book and placed it on his desk in his personal office. The room was filled with different books of different eras. However, he kept some fictional books here and there, as a guilty pleasure. His favorites were the ones written by Zekua Melon, an adventure novelist, whose books the old man read when he was much younger. The librarian sat in his chair and looked the book over, stopping at the blank page. He could feel the magic coming from it, knowing that it contained something, but he felt conflicted. On one hand, he loved reading up on ancient magic and relics. He would research the mysteries and the unknowns of the world over. But, the one thing he didn't like was to use his magic. On his desk was a picture of a young man and a woman. A husband and wife. The old man picked it up and stared at the woman.
"My dearest... I'm sorry. I'm going to be breaking my promise." He spoke. The old man was more than just a librarian. He was an adventurer. Or rather, he used to be an adventurer. He traveled numerous continents, researched many relics and magics, and met with people who had connections to the past. But the one crowning achievement that he was proud of was when he met his wife. She too was a researcher of the past. They had met in a ruin and worked out the mystery of a cute but seemingly extinct animal, the Simerc. It was an adorable thing, being a small canine like creature is elegant and colorful feathers covering its body. Its tail was fan of those beautiful colors. However, it was put it in the spotlight to be hunted. The old man's intuition led him to believe that the creatures weren't extinct, that their behavior evolved. But his wife deduced that they were indeed hunted to extinction. But they soon discovered that neither were true. The Simerc had lived their lives in ruins and made their homes underground. The Simerc were considered a harbinger of good luck or a guardian of ancient secrets. Legends might say that sighting a Simerc is a blessing for those on a quest for knowledge or discovery. Finally being able to see one was what brought them together.
They continued to travel the world, seeing all the mysteries history had to offer. However, the old man became injured and had to stop. They both settled down in Magnolia Town in the country of the Fiore Kingdom. It was his home in his youth, but felt like a prison. Having his wife made it all the more bearable. They opened a library and had the goal to collect rare and interesting books, especially ones that were about the history of magic. The old man had something he called, Book Magic. It allowed him to interact with books in special ways no other could. He could manipulate the contents to be easier to digest. He could recreate scenes and summon books in his library. His wife loved that even after they were forced to settle down, they were able to experience adventures from the comfort of their home. He also shared this with the children of the town. Even though his library was for mages, he welcomed all who were interested. That was, until a particular book came across his humble library.
It was a normal book at first glance, nothing special. But as always, the old man would take the book and do his research. He took it upon himself to know every single book that existed in his possession. And this book would be no exception. However, the old man regrets it to this very day. It should have been the one book he didn't look into. He should have taken it and burn it, to make sure no one else ever saw it. But, that was hindsight. There was nothing he could do about it. He read opened the book and began to read. He cast his magic and looked it over from cover to cover. The moment the knowledge hit his mind he grabbed the book and shut it, falling back in fear.
"What the hell is that?" He asked, his voice full of fear. The book contained information about demons. It was filled to the brim with ancient and forbidden magic. Seeing it blanketed him with dread. Whatever this book was, he needed to get rid of it immediately. He locked it away somewhere safe hoping that he will find the permanent way of destroying it. That was his second mistake. He regretted not being rid of the book immediately. Using his magic the way he did brought an evil to his home. Some time had pass as the old man was trying to destroy this book. No normal means would work. He sat it on his desk, trying to find anything that could work. He couldn't let this book go back out there. The memory would forever be fresh on his mind. The night his wife was cursed.
His wife had entered the office. It was late at night, and he had yet to come home.
"Dear, you said that you'd be home. It's getting late." She said. She entered and approached his desk. He would try to hide the book, but knew it would only make her curious about it. Thankfully, she wouldn't open the book.
"You're still researching a book? We agreed that you'd leave work for work hours." She expressed. The memory tortured him. He knew and yet didn't leave it. That particular night he should have went home. His wife would still be alive. The old man was about to answer, but the chime to the front door rang. His wife turned and attended to the front. The man left the book on his desk and went to inform the customer that they were closed. But before he could say anything, his wife screamed. The old man would hurry to the front to see this peculiar creature holding his wife by the arm.
"Let her go!" He demanded. But the creature only smiled.
"I know it's here. The Book of Zeref. Show it to me." It said. The old man shook his head.
"What do you want with that book? Are you the reason it came here? Did you bring it to us?" He asked. He knew of Zeref. But a book? Anything coming from that tainted individual would only bring chaos. The old man stepped forward.
"You will release my wife and leave. If you don't, I'll be forced to use my magic." He warned. His wife had tears in her eyes. Her fear was his fear. His magic wasn't meant for fighting, but he had planned to trapped this perpetrator in an empty book. But it cackled. The noise was arrogant. Its hands began to glow a sinister color. His wife screamed in pain as it cursed her. The old man screamed out and charged at the creature. He kicked him down and tossed his wife aside.
"You should know better than to stand in a demon's way. You won't be able to stop me. I will have that book." He said. He fired off his magic at the old man. The old man dodged and brought out a book. The book shielded him from the attack but burst into dust. What kind of magic did this thing use, the old man thought. The demon walked toward the back and grabbed the book. The cover of it faded away, revealing what it truly was, a grimoire. The demon held the grimoire to its chest and it began to glow. The old man had to shut his eyes as it happened. The demon cackled once again.
"You held on to this book and didn't know what it was? He truly is devious. What better way to hide your most prized possession than to have others hide it for you." The demon stated. He opened a portal and started to leave.
"What did you do to her? Bring her back!" He demanded. The demon stopped, his hand on the portal.
"What I did to her is irreversible. Unless you know a way to cure a demon curse. You may have survived my magic, but now your precious wife will soon be nothing more than an empty husk. My curse will drain her of her life. In a matter of time, she will be dead. I've set it so it will take a few days. In the meantime, you should savor the time you have left." The demon told him. Then, it disappeared.
The old man did everything he could for his wife. But nothing worked. Soon, she did just as the demon said, she passed away. Grief struck the old man. He became reclusive and bitter. He swore off his magic forever. He no longer wished to know about the mysteries of the world. He only wanted to find a way to reverse the demon's curse. But to no avail. He shut himself away in the library. He gave up, admitting defeat to this curse. That was, until one day, a young man came seeking him out. He came into the library seeking the answers to the mysteries of the world. The mysteries the old man threw away. The young man was a rookie researcher and adventurer, and was told that the old man could help. He was mean and tried to drive the young man away, but he would come back anyway. He would bring questions and documents hoping the old man would help. The librarian refused at first. But the young man would keep returning with more and more interesting material. It was to the point that the old man couldn't turn him away.
"What is your name?" The old man asked.
"Ewan. Ewan Thornhart. What is yours?" He answered.
"Alister. Alister Vandenberg." The librarian introduced. He sighed and looked at the young man.
"Why do you keep coming here? I've tried to drive you away. I want to be left alone. Yet you persist. Why?" He asked.
"Because there is something inside of you that has a fire. Like it's waiting for you to wake it up. I feel like you're the only person who can help me. You're the only one who can give me the answers I seek." Ewan replied. Alister sighed again.
"There's something I have to tell you. Something I haven't told anyone. And, I need to apologize." He said. The young man looked at him, puzzled.
"For what?" He asked.
"My wife was cursed by a demon. A demon that came because of a book we had in our library. That same demon had come back and took the book." Alister explained. Ewan stood there, taking it all in.
"What happened to your wife?" He asked. The old man looked down. Ewan nodded in understanding.
"If... you insist on coming back... I'll open my library. But in return, you must do one thing for me." Alister told him. Ewan smiled.
"I'll do anything to make it up to you. What do you need?" He asked.
"Please share with me anything you find. Any document, any journal, any historical mystery that you come across. I want to know of the mysteries of the world." Alister requested.
"Deal, old man." Ewan replied.
Alister chuckled to himself. The memory of his wife's passing was coupled with the meeting of an interesting researcher. Ewan had brought him the hope he threw away. Though having his wife taken from him was tragic, she left her passion for research in that library of theirs. Alister placed the picture back down, having steeled his resolve. This book was a mystery to a past that was seemingly forgotten. Wyverns. A species of creature that had no past of importance. And yet, this book said otherwise. It was the first mystery he was able to share with Ewan, who had always brought books and documents to him. He wanted to pay back that young man. Over the course that he knew him, Ewan had grown into a fine researcher.
Alister placed his hand over the book and focused. At first, his magic felt unfamiliar. Slowly, he let the Ethernano fill him up and he began to cast his spell. His hand glowed and the seal would appear over the empty page. He needed to get past it. What secrets did this page hold? Why this page in particular? Would this page tell him what happened to the Wyverns? Alister did not know. But, he had a feeling he had to find out. The seal was broken and the page became filled with text.
The sun was touching the edges of the horizon. Basil had gathered Luna and Lyra before sending them off to the center of the arena.
"I feel compelled to remind you both, this is a sparring match between guild members. The goal is to get stronger and push each other past your limits. We can't help people if we're not strong enough to do so..." He looked between the two girls. Their unsaid animosity was very evident to the rest of the guild. But the details were theirs and theirs alone. Basil hoped that it wouldn't drive a wedge between the two sisters, or the guild as a whole. They both nodded. As Lyra was turning to go, Abe had walked up to her.
"I know master said what he said. But sometimes, the only way to show how you feel is through your fists. Heh, sounds like something Fiora would say." He joked. Lyra smiled and playfully punched him.
"Thanks, Abe." She said. She took her place on one end of the arena while Luna stood on the opposite side, their bodies facing each other. Basil had fixed the damage from Fiora and Coral's fight. It was their turn to mark the wooden dome arena. Twilight was approaching, shadows being cast over the two sisters.
"Luna I-" Lyra began.
"Save it, onee-san. We are here to train. Nothing more or less." Was Luna's curt but cold reply. Her face remained neutral. But for Lyra, it was a wall that extended into the sky. She wanted to break through it and tell her sister what she wanted to say, but couldn't.
"Fine. Let's see how you fare against me. I'm not going easy on you." Lyra shot back. Luna glared at her.
"Likewise." She hissed.
Both Star Weavers stared each other down, almost as if one was waiting for the other to make a move. In the next heartbeat, both of their hands began to draw in the air in front of them.
"Lunar Illusion: Hansel and Gretel!" She cast. The area in front of her twist and bend, as if the very fabric of space was at her command. But truly, Lyra was twisting the moonlight into figures. By the time she finished, there stood two fighters.
"Shadow Weaving: Dark Ribbons!" Luna cast. From the shadows of the arena came dark tendrils that sped their way toward Lyra. The two illusions ran stood fast, Gretel running forward and cutting down the tendrils with her sword, while Hansel was taking down the ones that got past. Luna had a look of concentration as she took on two opponents at once.
"Luna! Don't underestimate me!" Lyra shouted. Luna narrowed her eyes.
"I do not." She replied.
"That's exactly what you're doing. You've been ignoring me ever since we reunited. Why won't you hear me out?!" Lyra retorted. She waved her hand and Gretel and Hansel dissipated into the moonlight. Lyra stood, waiting for a response. Luna didn't answer, her silence like the vacuum of space.
Lyra's face changed. It was no longer desperation to reach her sister. It was a glare that held all the emotion she was burdened with ever since her sister came to the guild. Lyra's hands began to weave.
"Lunar Illusion: Jabberwocky!" She cast. The moonlight swirled around her before forming a giant creature. Its body was long and serpentine with four powerful legs. Its head was like a dragon's and its wings were large and bat-like. It roared heavily before attacking. It charged forward, it's maw wide open. Luna weaved her arms in response.
"Shadow Weaving: Big Bad Wolf!" She cast. Shadows poured from the arena and formed into a giant wolf. The two creatures collided with one another. Lyra gritted her teeth as she maintained her illusion. It seemed that her Jabberwocky was pushing against Luna's wolf, but it was actually falling back. The two giants clashed, each one knocking each other around, dust being kicked up and the strength of the arena walls being tested. The guild members watched in awe of the two girls.
"Master, if Lyra calls her magic illusions, how are they able to fight?" Viperion asked. Basil looked at the girl and then back to Lyra.
"From what I've been told, Lyra is able to create illusions that can touch the physical world. They are so real that they defy the logic of reality. In other words, she creates illusions that are able to interact with the world around it. She can do this by manipulating moonlight in the area around her." He explained.
"Manipulate moonlight? But how does that work?" Viperion asked. Lyra's Jabberwocky was still going head to head with Luna's shadow wolf. Basil kept his gaze on the match.
"To put it simply, these two girls are Star Weavers. Mages who have the ability to weave the moonlight into fabrics. They can make the untouchable, tangible. For example, if you look closely, Luna is weaving the shadows around her. It's part of her Shadow Weaving Magic. But her magic is limited by the shadows around her. With Lyra's magic, she can create any kind of illusion she desires, but with the light of the moon. In truth, the moon is always in the sky, but you can't see it because of the sun. But when night comes, both of these girls are at their strongest. They call it their Moonlight." Basil continued. The Jabberwocky slammed its claws onto the ground, narrowly missing Luna. She had jumped back.
"What about Luna's magic?" Viperion asked next. Basil's eyes never left the two.
"Luna's magic is similar to Lyra's but uses the shadows of things. She doesn't create them, she manipulates them. It's actually really impressive. Darkness is the absence of light, and yet she's manipulating it as if it was real as well. But her magic is also limited by the shadows around her. These two girls are the best of the best in their village. They are the two strongest Star Weavers. And the village leader believed that sending Luna to train would help her realize her potential."
"You know about the village they're from." Gideon asked.
"Yes. The hidden moonlit village of Lunae. Star Weaver mages reside there and it's where both Luna and Lyra grew up. Star Weaver magic is one of the rarest forms of magic, with only a handful known to the outside world." He explained. The Big Bad Wolf clamped its jaws on the Jabberwocky's limb and tossed it to the side. The impact kicked up dirt, causing Lyra to cover her eyes.
"Then, you know what's going on between the two of them." Abe stated. He remembered when Basil told him not to bring up Lyra to Luna. That request stuck to the back of his mind for the longest time. Basil finally peeled his eyes away from the fight. He knew that their quarrel was their business, but they the two girls didn't exactly keep it a secret. The guildmaster knew the consequences of sharing information that wasn't his to share. However, he was willing to bear the burden.
"Yes, I do. I am not one to gossip about another person's past. But, the two of them are guild members. So, it's also my responsibility to make sure they don't tear each other apart." Basil told him.
Lunae, the hidden moonlit village of perpetual night. Its ethereal beauty and reclusive nature has kept it out of maps for hundreds of years. Within its borders resides the rare Star Weavers. These mages weave the moonlight into fabrics of raw magic. For generations, the Star Weavers have been the most adept at using the moon for their magic. They were one of the few in the world of Earth-Land to be able to do so. However, their reclusive nature has caused most of the world to forget about their existence. Their village is hidden in the mountains, in a valley that can only be accessed by those who know. In a house not too far away from the center of town was a family of Star Weavers. A father and a mother had two daughters, Lyra and Luna Nightshade. They were apprenticed young to learn how to weave moonlight. However, one of the girls had talent that came around once every hundred years or so.
"Luna, watch as I show you how to weave moonlight into the fabric." Her mother instructed. The younger sister observed as her mother wove her fingers around the light of the moon, creating a glowing ribbon. Luna's eyes opened wide with wonder as she touched the fabric.
"It's so soft mommy!" She exclaimed. However, next to them, Lyra was weaving her hands through the air. The moonlight was being spun like yarn into a small figure. It didn't have any defining features. But it had a silliness to it. Lyra laughed as she made it dance.
"Lyra!" Her mother called out. Lyra jumped and looked at her mom. Her mother's eyes were narrow and her brow was furrowed.
"What did I say about playing with moonlight? It's a precious resource. Do not waste it." She scolded. Lyra looked down in shame.
"Sorry, mama..." She apologized. Her mother looked to her.
"Weaving moonlight is a delicate process. You must not use it to create things that are silly. You have to use it to create things that are useful and practical." She told her. Lyra nodded.
"Yes, mama." She said.
The days went on as the two sisters were taught how to weave the moonlight. But Lyra still weaved the moonlight into different things. She'd show her little sister, and the two would share in delight.
"What do you call it?" Luna asked. The little figure that Lyra loved to make was dancing about in their shared room.
"I named it Storyteller. I want to use him to tell stories to the little ones in the village." Lyra explained. Luna tilted her head.
"What stories?" She asked.
"Good ones. Stories of faraway places, and things we may never see. Stories of adventure and heroism. Stories of love and loss. I want to use my magic to create more than just some silly fabrics. I want to use my magic to make people happy. Like the way we're happy when we play together." Lyra said. Luna smiled.
"I want to do that too. I want to make people happy. I want to become the greatest Star Weaver in all of Lunae, and maybe all of Fiore!" Luna declared. Lyra grinned and hugged her sister.
"I know you will be! One day, we'll be the strongest Star Weavers in the village. And we'll get to make everyone happy with our magic." The older sister smiled.
Eventually, Lyra began to show the children of her tvillage. They would come and watch her weave her magic. They would gasp in awe as the Storyteller danced and moved around. Lyra had gotten better and better at her magic.
"Lyra, your magic has been getting stronger. Have you been practicing?" Her mother asked. Lyra nodded, but she couldn't tell her mother what she was really doing.
"Yes mama. I've been making fabric nonstop." Lyra lied. She didn't want to tell her mother the truth. That she had been showing off her magic to the younger kids. Her mother hummed.
"Alright. You'll need to be ready for the Moon Festival." She urged. Luna ran up to her mother and pulled her moonlight dress.
"Mommy, why is the Moon Festival so special? I wanna know." She asked.
"The Moon Festival is a celebration of our Star Weaver heritage. Every year, our village would gather around and celebrate the Star Weavers that came before us. Then they present an offering to a relic that is held near and dear to our village. It was the first Star Weaver's wish to have an offering to the relic be made during the full moon. Then, we all get to play together and make friends. We even have a play called the Tale of the Three Stars." Their mother explained. Luna smiled widely. She gasped with excitement.
"I want to play and make friends, mommy!" the young girl exclaimed. Her mother patted her head.
"Me too, my little moonbeam." She said.
"Why is the relic so special? It's an old thing anyway." Lyra asked. She didn't understand why her mother was making such a big deal out of it. Her mother took her by the hand.
"The relic is a precious gem that was given to the village by the First Star Weaver. She was a mage that was as powerful as the three stars themselves. Legend says that she created the village and helped everyone thrive. This relic is said to be a fragment of the moon that she came from. Without it, we would be nothing. That is why we celebrate the Moon Festival every year." Her mother explained.
"That sounds boring." Lyra replied.
"Lyra, you are old enough to understand the value of such a precious object. You must remember to never disrespect the relic or the first Star Weaver." Her mother scolded. Lyra huffed.
"I know, I know..." She said.
The two girls would grow, becoming more skilled as time went on. Lyra continued to practice weaving the moonlight into her illusions. She would practice every day, wanting to impress the people in the village. One day she was caught doing her stories by one of the the village elders.
"Stop this desecration! Straying from tradition will only bring ill intent to our people." One of the clan elders said. She stood in the middle of the village square. People crowded around and watched as she berated Lyra.
She stood there, her eyes looking to the ground, her hair hiding the tears threatening to fall. Once the elder was done, Lyra ran off. Among the crowd was Luna, watching her sister run away from the verbal reprimand she just received. Pushing through the crowd, Luna ran to follow her older sister.
Luna found Lyra in her room, crying under the covers.
"Onee-san?" She asked with worry. Lyra peaked from under the covers and saw Luna standing there. She wiped the tears away.
"Luna? What are you doing here?" She asked. Luna climbed into bed with Lyra, getting under the covers with her.
"Can you show me Storyteller?" Luna asked. Lyra gave a small smile. She raised her hand to start warping the moonlight. Slowly, a figure started to weave into existence. Moonlight stitched together to show a figure in an angular hat. It wore a cloak with a hood and began to create a small story. The two girls watched the story unfold. It was here that the sisters shared their secrets and their dreams. Lyra showed Luna the future she wanted. Luna shared her dreams with Lyra. They spent the night sharing their hopes and dreams with one another. Eventually, the sisters fell asleep.
The years had gone by. Luna began to cultivate a special magic, just like her sister. Shadow Weaving. Luna could manipulate the shadows around her into different shapes and forms. They were just like her sister's illusions. The two had never been closer than the way they were right now. They shared everything with each other. Their magic, their lives, their secrets. They were two sisters who could never be separated. Until one fateful day.
Greed paired with arrogance would always result in disaster. A rogue mage had found their way into the village. They heard whispers and rumors of the Star Weavers and their village. And in their village was a powerful relic, a gem. The mage came into the village, demanding that the people of Lunae give them the gem. But they refused.
"If you won't give me the gem, then I'll take it myself!" The mage declared. The villagers stood their ground, not backing down. The mage had begun to cast a spell. The people of Lunae weren't prepared. They tried to defend themselves, but they couldn't stop the mage from casting. The mage's magic engulfed the village, its sheer force being enough to rip the buildings apart. The villagers scattered, trying to escape the rampaging magic. But the magic followed them, destroying everything in its wake. That was, until a young Lyra stepped. She weaved her illusions from the moonlight to stand up to the mage. She used every ounce of her power to stop the mage from hurting the people. The mage stopped and stared at the girl.
"What are you going to do? Your magic can't even touch me." They mocked. Lyra gritted her teeth, her magic forming into the image of a giant monster. It was a creature from a distant world that she had read about. A beast of legend that was supposed to be a protector. It was a Jabberwocky. It roared as it charged the mage. The mage threw up a shield to protect themselves. The Jabberwocky collided with the shield, its attack shaking the entire village. The mage was thrown off guard, but they recovered. They aimed their magic at Lyra. The young girl, only a teenager, had stood her ground. The magic struck her, but she stayed standing. Lyra gritted her teeth as her magic strained against the attack. The moonlight was pulsing wildly, trying to stop the magic from destroying it. She began to weave wildly, creating numerous amounts of illusions. They swarmed the mage, pushing the magic back. She pushed her limits, trying to stop the magic from hurting the village. It was like a dam had burst. Her magic had exploded in a large kaleidoscope of images, the force of her magic ripping apart the mage's attack. The mage was knocked back from the sheer force of the magic. Lyra felt her vision go dark as she collapsed to the ground.
The young girl awoke on her mother's lap. Her father was arguing with one of the village elders.
"She risked her life to save us! She deserves praise, not punishment!" He shouted. Lyra sat up.
"Father?" She asked. Her father turned to look at her. His face was full of tears. She looked up at her mother. Her face was even worse off.
"Praise? You think she deserves praise? Look at what she has done to our village!" The village elder argued. Lyra looked around. At first, she only noticed the destruction that the mage caused. But then she saw it, a distortion of the moonlight. It looked like a ripple in the fabric. Her heart sank as she realized what she had done.
"The moonlight is fractured..." She uttered. The elder glared at her.
"Indeed it is. You've created a Lunar Fissure. A rupture in the fabric of the moonlight. Because of your foolishness, there's a chance that Lunae will be plunged into darkness for centuries!" The elder shouted. Lyra covered her ears, trying to drown out the yelling. "You daughter is an abomination! Taking tradition and spitting on it!" The elder added. Lyra gritted her teeth.
"S-stop it! Don't yell at her!" Her mother pleaded. She held Lyra close to her.
"Lunae is no place for her. Get her out of my sight." The elder commanded. Her parents brought her home. Luna approached her older sister.
"It'll be ok. The village will be fixed soon." Luna told her. Lyra looked up to her. She felt her throat tighten, not wanting to speak. Lyra knew she couldn't stay here. She didn't know what the village would do to her. She needed to fix things. She needed to find out how to fix things.
"I have to go, Luna." Lyra spoke. As the words reached her sister's ears, her face contorted into sadness.
"G-go?" She asked. Lyra stood up and held her sister.
"I have to leave for a while. I need to find a way to fix this. I... I can't be here anymore, Luna." Lyra told her. Luna clung to her sister as she began to cry.
"Why? Why do you have to go?" Luna asked. Lyra bit her lip, trying to keep herself from crying. She wanted to stay, to be with her sister. But she had to do this. She had to make things right.
"Because it's what I need to do. I can't stay here. Not while the village is in trouble. Not while I'm the one who caused this." She replied. This only made Luna hold on tighter.
"Please! Please don't leave me, onee-san. I can't do this without you." She cried. Lyra felt the tears welling up in her eyes. She was breaking on the inside. She felt her sister's warmth, the warmth she wanted to hold on to forever
"Where are you going?!" Luna asked, pouring her heart into it. Lyra took a moment before speaking.
"I can't stay here. I have to go." Lyra replied.
"Take me with you!" Luna begged.
"I can't! You know I can't! You belong here with the others! I don't..." The older sister admitted.
"... You liar. You don't care about me." Luna retorted.
"That's not true! How dare you say that!" Lyra shouted.
"Then why are you leaving me?! I need you, Lyra. I need you here. We can fix this together!" Luna begged. Lyra pulled away from Luna.
"You can't come with me! You have to stay here and finish your training. I can't take you from the village." Lyra retorted. Luna held onto Lyra.
"I don't care about the village! I don't care about tradition. I care about you! I can't lose you." Luna told her. Lyra felt her throat tighten. She didn't want to do this, but she had no choice. She gently pried Luna off of her. She ran off not looking back. She ran and ran, not looking back. The farther she ran, the harder it was. She wanted to turn back. She wanted to stop. But she couldn't. She needed to make things right. She needed to make things better. She kept running, tears falling from her eyes.
Luna weaved faster and faster. Her Big Bad Wolf tearing Jabberwocky apart. Lyra gritted her teeth, focusing her magic. She wove her hand, calling on another one of her illusions.
"Lunar Illusion: Red Queen!" She cast. The moonlight swirled around her before forming a large knightly woman with a staff. Her armor was red, and her hair was tied up in a bun.
"Summon thine army!" Lyra commanded. The Red Queen swung her staff and summoned a platoon of cards. The cards began to charge at the Wolf, their pointed ends glinting in the moonlight. The wolf clawed at them, ripping them in half. But there was no end to the card soldiers. Soon, the wolf was overcome. It was toppled to the ground, the card soldiers shredding the shadow like a piece of fabric. Lyra wiped the sweat from her brow, breathing heavily. She was sweating buckets, her energy completely drained. Luna was breathing heavily as well, her magic straining to maintain her creation.
"Shadow Weaving: Dark Forest!" Luna cast. Shadows rose up from the ground, forming sharp spires that pierced the card soldiers. They disintegrated as the shadows penetrated them. Lyra was still weaving her moonlight, but it was difficult. Luna was having a hard time holding her creation together.
"All they've done is stand there." Fiora expressed.
Coral walked over.
"Imagine, it's a game of tag. But both people are it. Whoever touches the other, wins. For them, it's all over if one gets past the other's magic. Just imagine if you were in their position, Fiora. You'd be tense too." Coral explained.
"Yeah, but-"
"There are no 'buts'. I can feel it too. Lyra's magic is pulsing. It feels like... a beating heart. A beating heart about to explode. I know this magic is taking a toll on them." Coral interrupted. Fiora let out a sigh. She didn't quite understand. All they did was throw moonlight and shadow at each other.
"It's weird, isn't it Fi?" Gideon asked standing next to his friend.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"Isn't it weird how they can use magic like that? To weave the moonlight into an illusion. To weave the shadows into a puppet. I never seen anything like it."
"So?" Was her frank reply.
"How do you express yourself? How do you let people know who you are?" Gideon asked.
"With my fists, of course!" Fiora replied.
"Not surprised, but you're on the right track. It's the same way that I put the earth on my body to wear it like armor. It's who I am. I'm a miner. I'll always be a miner. But I'm a wizard first." Gideon explained.
"You got a point to this, mole man?" Fiora asked.
"Yeah. Right now, they're fighting with more than just their magic. They're fighting with who they are. Their magic is a part of them, a part of their identity. And in that fight, they're clashing against who they are. It's more than just a fight to be stronger. They are trying to say something to each other. A message that can only be heard through magic." Gideon continued.
"Whoa, deep..." Zephyr breathed. Gideon scratched the back of his head bashfully.
"That made no sense." Fiora said. Gideon just chuckled.
"Just pretend they're punching each other, but really they're trying to talk. Think of it that way." Gideon offered.
"And they're fighting with more than just magic, huh?" Fiora thought out loud. She felt a jab in her ribs.
Lyra had sweat rolling down her face, but she refused to stop. She was going to tell her sister what she wanted to say, whether she wanted to hear it or not. Luna felt her energy draining. She gritted her teeth and fought to weave more shadows together. Slowly, the twilight faded and night was approaching. Lyra and Luna both saw it. They both had the same thought.
"I won't lose. I'm going to beat you and make you understand. I won't lose, not to you. I can't lose." They both thought.
The two mages felt their bodies tense up, the weight of the situation looming over them. But, Lyra was tired of this. She was tired of the fighting, of the bickering, of the silence.
"Luna!" She screamed out. Luna stopped weaving her shadows and looked at her sister.
"Luna, I'm sorry! I'm sorry for leaving you alone all those years ago! I'm sorry for abandoning you when you needed me! I'm sorry for never telling you how much you meant to me!" Lyra yelled out. The young woman felt the tears rolling down her cheeks. She fell to her knees, her body trembling.
"I'm sorry for leaving you behind. I'm sorry for not being there for you. I'm sorry for letting you down. I'm sorry for never being a good sister to you." She sobbed. The moonlight faded as she let go of her magic. The Red Queen and the cards faded. Luna dropped her hands, her shadow magic disappearing as well. Her face remained neutral, unable to process what she just heard. She clenched her fist and gritted her teeth. She ran to her sister. Lyra looked up to see Luna standing in front of her.
"You... you idiot! How could you? How could you leave me like that? How could you abandon me like that?" Luna yelled. Lyra looked away, unable to face her sister.
"You just left me there! You left me behind and went off on your own! And then you didn't even bother to come back for me! You never told me where you went! You just left me there! You just abandoned me!" She screamed. Lyra couldn't take it anymore. She burst into tears, crying as she knelt on the ground. She didn't know what to do. She just cried. She cried and cried. She wanted to explain herself. She wanted to apologize. But the words wouldn't come out. All she could do was cry.
"Why? Why did you leave me? Why didn't you tell me where you were going?" Her sister asked. Lyra could only see the young girl who begged her to stay. The young girl who didn't want to be left behind.
"I was trying to save-" Lyra began.
"No you weren't! You were trying to leave! You were trying to run away from me! You left me behind!" Luna yelled. Lyra felt her heart break. She was right. She was trying to run away.
"You never loved me! You never cared about me! You never cared about anyone else but yourself! You only cared about yourself!" Luna shouted. Lyra felt the words sting. She wanted to say something. But she couldn't find the words. The truth hit her in the face. She ran, not because she was trying to help the village. She ran because the village isolated her and made her feel as if her magic was a curse. She ran because she was afraid. She was afraid of the people who turned their backs on her. She was afraid of the village that hated her. She was afraid of losing her sister.
"Luna, I-"
"No! You don't get to say anything else! If you want to talk, then you have to beat me." Luna declared. She got up and got ready. Lyra looked at her, confusion plastered on her face.
"If you want to talk to me, then you have to prove that you're stronger. You have to prove to me that you can defeat me." Luna said. Lyra wiped the tears from her eyes. She stood up and got ready to fight.
"Fine. I'll beat you and then we can talk." Lyra agreed. Luna returned to the other side of the arena.
"Well... that was tense." Abernathy stated.
"That's an understatement." Fiora retorted.
"They're going to keep fighting? I thought they made up?" Zephyr asked.
"They did. But that doesn't mean that they're done fighting." Abernathy told the boy.
"Huh?" Zephyr looked genuinely confused by that statement.
"They're not done. They still have a lot of things to say to each other. And, ultimately, this is a sparring match. The goal is to grow stronger..." Abernathy's statement slowed down as he said it. His eyes snapped to Basil. The guildmaster didn't bother to look back. He kept looking on, watching his guild members prepare to fight.
"You rascal." Abe said to himself. This sparring session was much more than just helping each other grow stronger. Every single fight drew out something strong in each of them. Whether the matches went on for long or only lasted a little, they each were able to bare themselves in front of the guild. Abe looked at the dome. No longer did it look like a way to keep the fighting inside. It was a means for the members to feel closer together. Abernathy couldn't help but smile. He felt a spark of pride welling up in his chest. He walked over and gave Basil a smack on the back. Basil nearly fell over.
"W-what was that for?" Basil asked.
"I can't help but be proud of this guild. This guild is amazing. You've done a wonderful job, master." Abernathy praised. Basil scratched the back of his head bashfully.
"T-thank you." He thanked.
Lyra and Luna raised their hands once more.
"Go all out! Hold nothing back, Luna!" Lyra called out.
"For you as well, onee-san!" Luna called back.
Lyra began weaving her moonlight.
"Lunar Illusion: Sunset Scribe!" She cast. The moonlight swirled around her in an intricate pattern, before forming a glowing woman. The woman had her hair in a ponytail and carried a quill and journal. She looked unassuming at first. But, she began to write in her journal. Suddenly, the arena was filled with dancing moonlight. It appeared as if a stage was being formed. Lyra bent her fingers in a certain way and the woman began to write in her journal. The writing that appeared was the scene that was unfolding in front of her. Lyra focused her magic and the woman began to write faster. The scene was written and recreated in the moonlight. The guild was astonished by the scene. They were being written about.
"H-how is that possible?" Fiora asked.
"Whoa, that's cool!" Zephyr exclaimed. The arena had transformed into a fantastical world. The inside of the tree root dome was shifting and changing. The audience was watching the story unfold as if it was a play.
"Luna, I will show you a story. It's a story that I want to tell you." Lyra called out.
"Shadow Weaving: Storyteller!" Luna called back. Her shadow stretched out and formed a large figure. It had a mask that covered its face, its body was skeletal in nature, and it was draped in a robe. Luna and Lyra both began to weave their magic, creating the images of their respective magic.
"Storyteller: Fable." Luna cast. The storyteller lifted its own hand and the ground began to become painted with black. The two magics swirled around each other. Luna's shadows intermingled with Lyra's moonlight, the two sisters fighting to push each other back.
"Once upon a time," Lyra started.
"A young princess awoke from a dream..." Luna narrated.
Luna's Storyteller weaved its hands together, casting a spell. The arena began to change, transforming into a forest.
"The young princess didn't know what the dream was about. But, she felt a tugging on her heart. It was a tug that she couldn't ignore. So, the young princess set off to find what the dream was about. She didn't know what it was, but it was important to her." Luna continued. Lyra's Sunset Scribe wrote in her journal, the story being woven into the moonlight.
"The young princess journeyed deep into the forest. She didn't know where she was going, but she felt compelled to follow the tugging of her heart. Soon, she came upon a tree. A tree that was as big as a mountain. Its roots twisted and turned, making the ground uneven and treacherous." Lyra continued. Luna's Storyteller raised its arms and the shadow trees rose up from the ground, becoming real.
"The young princess had never seen a tree as big as this one. It was unlike anything she had ever seen. The tree was so tall that its branches stretched into the clouds. The young princess marveled at its majesty." Lyra continued. Luna's Storyteller reached out and touched the tree. The tree became alive, the roots moving and growing. The tree's leaves grew large, a canopy of green leaves growing above them.
"The tree came to life, almost as if by magic. It spoke to the princess, 'you came because you're searching for a piece of yourself, aren't you?'" Lyra continued.
"The young princess was taken aback by the tree's question. She wasn't sure what it was talking about. But, she knew that the tree was right." Luna added. The scene shifted dramatically with the princess facing a shadow version of herself.
"'You didn't need to look so far, princess.'" Lyra said.
"'Because what you were searching for,'" Luna spoke.
"Was deep inside you" Both girls said at the same time. The two princesses were pulled back. They both began to wrap around Lyra and Luna respectively. They both were donned in armor and swords.
Fiora looked at the arena come to life with colors and shadow.
"What the hell?" She asked in awe. She wasn't expecting a show. The scene was unfolding right before her eyes.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Coral asked aloud.
"I've never seen Lyra use her magic like this before." Zephyr commented.
"And this is the first time I've seen Luna weave her shadow like this." Coral added. The two of them were just as stunned by the display.
"Master Basil, do you have any idea what's happening?" Viperion asked.
"This is the power of the heart." Basil replied.
"The heart?" Fiora questioned, feeling the sappiness coming.
"When two people care about each other, their magic is affected by their feelings. They are sharing in something that they both had lost a long time ago.
"That feeling of being whole." Abe stated.
"Exactly." Basil agreed, "And now, there is no better way to show the depths of your emotions, then to lay it all out there for everyone to see."
The two girls ran at each other with all their might, their swords clashing in a flurry of light and shadow. The two girls danced around each other, their attacks and defenses complimenting each other perfectly. They both felt their magic flowing through their bodies, the power surging through them. The Sunset Scribe and Storyteller weaved the scene around them, creating a battleground of light and shadow. The two princesses clashed with each other, their magic flowing freely. Their weapons sparked against each other, their magic swirling around them. The look in their eyes was intense, but their smiles betrayed their happiness. They both knew what they were feeling. It was the feeling of being whole. Of being complete. Of being a family.
The two girls jumped away from each other, panting. But they both knew that this sparring match needed to have a winner. Lyra began to gather all the remaining magic she held inside, collecting the moonlight around her. The Sunset Scribe disappeared, the moonlight condensing into a single point.
"I love you, Luna. I always have. And I'm sorry for leaving you." Lyra spoke. She aimed the condensed moonlight at her sister.
"I love you too, Lyra. And I forgive you. I forgive you for leaving. I forgive you for abandoning me. And I forgive you for not coming back to me. But, I won't let you win!" She declared. She too began to collect her magic. She was going to give it everything she had.
"Lunar Illusion: Celestial Mirror!"
"Shadow Weaving: Dark Portal!"
The two magics came to life and began to clash. The moonlight and shadow battled against each other, both trying to overpower the other. The two sisters poured their magic into their spells, both trying to overpower the other. But, their magics were evenly matched. As the magic clashed the two girls roared with everything they had. They pushed their magic to the limits. The magic built up and up, the two spells clashing in the middle. They pushed and pushed, trying to overpower the other. And then, the magic exploded in a kaleidoscope of light and darkness. And for the briefest of seconds, something new was created in the very center.
Ewan walked to the library in the middle of the night. He didn't expect Alister to call him now of all times. The man usually slept at this hour. Ewan entered the library, seeing Alister at one of the tables.
"Alister, what did you want to show me?" Ewan asked. Alister waved him over rapidly. His eyes looked as if he was up for days.
"Close the door. I need to make sure you're listening very carefully." Alister instructed. Ewan closed the door and locked it.
"Now what is it? What's going on?" He asked. He opened the book that he initially gave to Ewan.
"I've unlocked the seal on the blank page." Alister said. Ewan raised his eyebrow.
"Really? That's great! What did you find?" Ewan asked. Alister's expression darkened.
"That there's more to the story than what we know of Dragons and humans all that time ago. Wyverns did live as equals to dragons and humans. Wyverns also had their own civilization and culture." Alister explained. Ewan sat down across from Alister.
"What do you mean?" Ewan asked.
"I mean, they weren't just mindless beasts. They had their own society, their own culture, their own language. And, they also had their own magic." Alister elaborated.
"Wait, hold on. Are you saying that wyverns had their own magic?" Ewan asked, skeptical of what he was hearing.
"Yes. They taught it a specific human. The human who wrote this very book." Alister explained.
"You got all that from this one page?" Ewan asked.
"There's more to it than that, but yes. The seal wasn't just to protect the book, but the information as well." Alister replied.
"What did the seal unlock?" The young man asked.
"Everything. It rearranged the whole book and added in the missing information. This whole book isn't the same anymore. The seal unlocked all of the secrets hidden within it. Everything about the Dragon King Festival, the relationship between the Wyverns and Dragons, and the history of the world as we know it." Alister explained, "And also, a secret Lost Magic. A Lost Magic that was taught to a human by the Wyverns."
"Lost Magic... Dragon Slaying Magic?" Ewan asked.
"No. Wyvern Slaying Magic."
In the farthest reaches in the deepest dungeon, there was a piece of Lacrima.
It was an enormous lacrima, larger than any other ever seen by man or beast.
The Lacrima was large enough to fill the entire room and even overflow out into the hallway. It had contained something special. Something that had been sealed away for centuries. It was something that was once thought to be lost forever.
It was an ancient power that had been lost for many years.
It was the magic of a Wyvern Slayer. It was asleep all this time, never being known to the rest of Earth-Land. But for the briefest of seconds, something in the Kingdom of Fiore clashed together to open the door. The door to other universes. Within that door the Lacrima and something else connected, waking up the power within. But it also woke up something else.
Something sinister and malevolent.
Something that was born from the hatred and resentment of a long forgotten war.
Something that was sleeping for centuries, waiting for its chance to strike.