Eclipse: the Beginning

“Your majesty? What brings you here?”

“Namas,” the king said in a stunned voice, “I heard your investigation found something already. I wanted to know what you had discovered.”

The mage blinked his dark eyes in the god’s direction. He was not expecting Zemnas to leap so quickly on this matter. Namas glanced at the leather cylinder on his desk that held a scroll. It was a letter from a Western Wind regent. He debated on whether he should inform the king of its content. Zemnas absolutely hated it when the mage withheld something from him, and he had no desire to unsettle his king. Sighing heavily, the Great Mage picked the case up, glancing back at the Sun god.

“After a Wind god appeared, I began sending letters to regents and the viceroy in Wind. I asked them to disclose any oddities in their districts. I was not yet aware of your concerns, King Zemnas. This comes from Regent Willow.”

“What does she say?” Zemnas took a seat as he asked. He was worried his foreboding was more serious than he had originally thought. If Namas was making that face, it was something he had intended to keep from him.

“She reports that, almost a month ago,” Namas replied, tapping the scroll in his left palm, “there was a small gathering in the bazaar area of the region. According to the soldiers who reported it, there was a collision between a Light and a Wind. The Light grabbed the Wind and her companion, and fled the scene.”

“Why did you feel the need to keep this from me, Namas? It sounds to be a kidnapping more than anything. What are you not telling me?”

“It was a Light soldier,” Namas continued, watching an expression of shock grow on the king’s face, “fitting Celestial’s description. The Wind’s companion was also wearing strange garments that were not of Western Wind or Heaven.” He took a cautious pause, gripping the cylinder.

“There is something else, is there not?” Zemnas stared at the floor. A pit of anxiety grew in his stomach. He wished his intuition was a bit duller.

“The companion did not enter the bazaar with the Wind woman.” Namas sounded unsettled himself by the detail. “In fact, no one remembered the young man entering the square to begin with.”

Zemnas gaped at the smooth surface beneath his feet, slowly reaching to grasp his head. A young man who appeared out of thin air was dragged away by someone who fit Celestial’s description. Celestial attacked the viceroy with Lord Zion’s sword at her side, and she claimed all of this was for the sake of Aurora. His golden gaze glazed over as thoughts began to cross his mind.

“Do you think …? Do you suppose … that young man …?”

“We do not know anything yet, sire,” Namas said, placing the case on his desk again. “We have no proof that this is the child you saw at Celestial’s trial. Still, I will personally look into this incident in the west. My king’s security and peace of mind is always my priority.”

“You mean to leave Heaven?” Zemnas looked up sharply at the news. “What if Zion returns again? I know he aims for my life after what I did! Namas, please!”

“Calm yourself, my king,” the mage said as he stood to approach the distraught king. He placed a hand on one of the tremulous shoulders as he spoke in a soothing tone, “The Royal Guard shall be more than enough to protect you. I do not foresee that Wind god returning so soon either. You should not worry so. Place more faith in your loyal servants.”

“Namas …” Zemnas felt the pit in his belly shrink at the mage’s warm expression, but the comfort barely reached the god. “Be safe.”

“I will return to your side before you realize that I have left.”

Kneeling before the god, the mage took his king’s right hand in his left, lifting it for a gentle kiss to the center knuckle. Zemnas’ anxiety faded away, but the usual chill sunk in as well. He stared at the immortal’s gesture, feeling a warmth in his chest beneath the typical cool. The mage had never acted so familiar with him before, but he had offered to deepen their bond of confidence. As humbling as the act was, he could not help feeling smaller than the other in that moment. It was a strange sensation, but he did not know how to explain or convey it.

“When will you leave?”

“Before the Sun sets, sire.”

“I will hinder you no further. Do not be gone long, Namas, please.” The king stood, walking toward the door. Again, he hid his eyes behind his golden hair, trying to hide the uncertainty he was feeling.

“Will I be missed that greatly, King Zemnas?” Namas was amused by the king’s request. His voice sounded almost playful. It was true that he tried not to leave the god’s side, but he could not imagine why Zemnas would feel so strongly about the absence.

“I …” he paused, remembering his promise to trust the advisor. He had reasons for seeking confidants, and he did not like the thought of losing a second one so soon. “I do not care to be alone, Namas. Please hurry back … my friend.”

When the king left, the Great Mage gaped after him. He had been touched by those few words. The mage wondered how many years he had stood by the throne. He tried to count the centuries he had watched over and protected his king. The advisor recalled the first time he had seen the god, moments after his birth. In all that time, Namas never would have imagined the god would call him a friend. It had stunned him, stirring something new within him.

“I will try not to tarry long then, Zemnas,” he whispered after the god.

“Did anyone suddenly feel a chill just now?”

“What are you babbling about now, Samuel?” Celestial groaned.

“Things are still dead on the ground,” Seraph said. “It’s starting to weaken above as well. This is really worrying me. It’s been some time since we left the labyrinth, and the wind has been weakening the further we’ve gone. What could that mean?”

“I’m concerned myself.” Samuel glanced up at the sky as Seraph descended. “Let’s hope we find the Wingies soon. Maybe they will be able to tell us what’s going on.”

Celestial turned on her heels, pulling the long blade from her shoulder. Her sudden movement startled the Nomad. Seraph glanced over to see what had alerted the Light soldier. She had driven the sword into the ground in a defensive position. He gaped when he saw a stream of light rushing toward them.

“Samuel!”

“Seraph! Celestial!”

“Curses!” the Light soldier growled as she met the spell with Lord Zion’s blade. Pushing back with all the strength she possessed, she barely held her ground as the light tried to force her back.

“What is that?” Samuel cried from where Seraph had scooped him up and over his shoulder.

“That is a light-stream spell!” Seraph had leapt skyward once Samuel was securely in his arm, gripping Cherub with his other hand. He wanted the Nomad off the ground in case the spell pushed past Celestial, not that it was likely. “Try not to be impressed too much. You’d have been ripped through while you were still staring in awe. Light travels fast.”

“So, it’s a physical beam of light?” Samuel was still grasping magical concepts, so he felt foolish for asking things that were probably obvious.

“That’s the masculine side of light magic,” the Wind replied grimly. “Light is the magic of Life itself. This side can manifest as just about anything from blades to projectiles. Light magic users usually master a specific manifestation because it takes a great deal of concentration. Otherwise, it would be almost impossible to defeat.”

“Why would anyone want to defeat it?” Samuel asked, confused.

“Darkness. Because of the level of concentration, Lights’ fear of it makes them easily snuffed out. You would think light would disperse the dark, right? Raphael told me that Darkness actually engulfs light, and only the Sun has the strength to drive it back. That’s why the Sun god is revered so greatly.”

“I see, meaning our quest against the Sun god is even more complicated,” Samuel groaned at the thought of him looking like such a bad guy in all of this. “You mentioned sides though. Does that mean there is a feminine side as well?”

“Yes,” Seraph said, looking down at the soldier who was still holding her ground against the stream. “It’s the magic of the Angels.”

“What does it do? It’s a counterbalance, right?” Samuel asked in a worried tone, hoping it would help Celestial right now.

“It’s restoration magic. Like I said, light is the element of Life. They say Angels’ voices can cure any disease, heal any wound, even call a person back from death if acted on quickly enough. Celestial used it on my hand, remember?”

Celestial ground her teeth, grunting. Whoever this caster was, they were unprecedentedly strong. If it were not for Lord Zion’s enchanted sword, the stream would have shattered the blade with ease. She racked her memory, trying to think of any soldiers with this level of skill in Heaven’s force. Only one came to mind, making her scream from dread. Her new drive gave her enough strength to force the spell back. It faded the moment the clash parted.

“Bryn!”

Seraph and Samuel stared down at her, shocked by the passionate cry. Samuel felt anger and sorrow from her spirit welling up within him now. Who was this Bryn? Why did he stir up such strong feelings within her?

“Show yourself! Have you forsaken your captain as well?! Come out and face me as I am due! Quit hiding like a coward!”

“I did not want to believe it, Celestial,” a man’s voice called back. A Light soldier came rushing from what seemed to be a hazy shield. “Why, Celestial?! Why have you forsaken Heaven and the crown?!”

“Bryn!” The white eyes blazed brightly as Celestial rushed toward her opponent.

“Celestial!” Seraph called down to her. She still struggled with wielding Lord Zion’s sword. It was just too big. Without some serious training, the Light soldier would never adequately wield it. She was going to get hurt against someone of this caliber. “Let me help!”

“Stay out of this! Protect Samuel!”

The Wind hung his head as he tried to keep his emotions in check. He would protect Samuel, but at the same time, he wanted to help her fight. If what he feared was true, she just might need his assistance against this soldier. It was times like this that he wished Raphael had not instructed him in combat.

“Believe in her, Seraph,” Samuel said in a struggling voice. Celestial’s emotions were so strong that he was doing his best to retain his true feelings. He gave the god’s shoulder a squeeze. “She can’t lose if we put our faith in her. Besides, I feel that this is something she needs to do. She’s been struggling this whole time. This is her fight right now.”

The young god looked back at the Nomad. He felt calm once again. How did Samuel do that? He grew more and more curious every time Samuel touched him. For now, he would place his faith in Celestial’s ability.

“Ah, Seraph … looks like we have company,” the young man said, pointing to the ground. At least two dozen soldiers were running from the lake in the southeast. Again, they seemed to come out of a strange haze in the air. How were they doing that? Could the fight with Celestial be a diversion to cover up the real trap? “What should we do?”

“We fight. Heh!”

“Seraph,” Samuel swallowed the lump growing in his throat. There was a familiar feeling of chaos washing over him, drowning out Celestial’s emotions. If only he was facing the god, he could tell if his fears were correct. “Seraph? What are you doing? What’s going on?”

“Sweeping them away!”

Seraph’s voice bellowed the same as the morning of his birthday. Wind swirled about them, turning into a funnel aimed straight for the ground below. Celestial had warned them that this could happen. Wind had taken over Seraph again, and it was trying to finish what it had started in the ceremonial courtyard. This was the funnel Seraph had made that nearly ripped Celestial apart. Only this time, he was already at the center.

“Seraph! No, you can’t!” Samuel did not know what to do this time. Why was this happening? The presence did not feel frightening, but at the same time, it was destructively powerful. Was this the true nature of wind – chaos swirling about madly? Could it be as Celestial and Zemnas had said? Was this Lord Zion’s will, transcending his physical form through his element, or was there a more primal nature to being a god? “What can I do? Cherub! Do something!”

Suddenly, the staff shook in Seraph’s hand, making the god pause. The current began to intensify, drawing back toward them. The Nomad gaped anxiously, knowing he must have done something again. The Wind looked down at his staff. The funnel broke apart, spirally down around the weapon. Samuel gaped in awe. The presence he had felt was gone as if it had dissolved into something.

“Cherub,” the Wind spoke in a faraway voice, “help me channel the wind. I can’t let it use me when I need it to protect the people I love.”

Samuel felt a pit form in his stomach. Seraph was so determined to keep his newfound friends safe. He had grown so strong in the short time they had been together, but he clearly had much left to learn about himself. The Nomad only wished he could be more useful to them, someone who Celestial and Seraph need not protect so much. It frustrated him that he could only watch and wishing he could help.

“Samuel,” the god’s voice sounded a bit more cheerful, “I need you to hold on to me as tight as you can. It’s going to be a wild ride.”

The Light soldiers on the ground glanced up to see Seraph flying toward them from the sky. The god was grinning widely, laughing like a child at play. He spun Cherub around his left hand, clearly a feat of wind magic at the speed he was moving. As he grasped the shaft at last, he swung it upward. A gust swept up beneath them, and it scooped the Lights into the air like a net.

“Seraph! Don’t hurt them!” Samuel was unsure what was going on anymore, but he felt the plea needed to be said.

“I wasn’t going to,” Seraph laughed lightly. “I was just going to keep them busy for Celestial. Wanna have some fun?”

“I think you’re enjoying this Wind god thing a bit much, mate.” The Nomad clung tighter to the Wind’s wrap. ‘Wild ride’ was no exaggeration. He was spinning an awful lot.

As Bryn and Celestial clashed, the general stole a glance at his men. They were supposed to take on the other two fugitives while he confronted the former captain. What he saw nearly broke his concentration entirely. The Wind god was juggling them about in the air. Laughing with glee, the god was flying in random patterns around the soldiers, playing. Bryn’s green eyes gaped in stun. Was this a game to the giggling deity?

“You should pay closer attention to your opponents, Bryn,” Celestial growled as she cut the newest light stream through. If it had not been for the sword at the general’s hip, the blade in the woman’s hands would have cut him down in that stroke. The seasoned soldier gasped for air as he was pushed back, collecting his wits. Celestial dropped back into a defensive stance, waiting for him to come at her.

“Why?! Why did you betray us, Celestial?! Tell me!” Celestial continued to stand her ground, silent and staring with her blazing eyes. “You wanted to be Captain of the Guard your whole life! You said it was your only goal! Tell me why you casted that blood and sweat aside to rebel!”

Still, she remained silent.

“Curse all else, Celestial! What about your father?!”

“Silence!” the younger Light barked as she rushed forward to strike. Her cool demeanor shattered before it could completely recover. Spinning about, she used her weight to swing the sword for the other’s trunk. The older Light parried it with his sheath, losing a chunk in the process. She growled in irritation, for it took a great deal of effort to move the heavy blade.

“You are struggling, Celestial.”

“Do not mock me!”

“You must not have another weapon then,” Bryn said solemnly. He dropped his sword, grasping her blade’s edge with his bare hand. He looked the Light in the eyes as best he could. “Does he mean that much to you, Celestial? Does your love for your parents fall short of your desire for the god of Wind?”

“Don’t … don’t you dare!” she grunted through tightly clenched teeth. She glared back at the paternal stare aimed at her. “Don’t you dare ask me that, general!”

“I have to,” he replied, sadly. The immortal wanted to believe all of this was a mistake. He hoped there was someone manipulating her. He wanted to bring her home. “This is not like you. In all the years I have known you, you would never betray your homeland. You were the Spirit of Heaven with that glow in your eyes. Please tell me, Celestial, why my most impressive student has abandoned everything she fought so hard to obtain.”

“For Aurora!”

“What?” Bryn had barely heard her voice. She sounded like she was struggling to speak. Was she emotional enough to choke on her own words?

“I do this … not for myself!” Celestial growled as a tear fell down her cheek. “I do this … as a servant of Destiny … for the sake of Aurora!”

Blood dripped down to the grass at their feet. Bryn gawked at the white eyes, speechless. He had rarely seen such levels of emotion from her, so he did not know how to react to her statement at first. Aurora? What could have caused her to believe the land was in danger? Did this have to do with her heritage? He thought she had cut ties with that side of herself.

Bryn thought back to a Celestial from years ago. A young soldier on her first mission outside of Heaven. She had taken a shine to their escort, an Eastern Earth mystic. Perhaps it was because of her lost birthright or the lack of female company that made them bond so quickly. She changed forever after that assignment. When the Darkness struck them at the border of Heaven and Earth, the surviving company saw the last pieces of Celestial’s innocence die as she held the mystic’s bloodied corpse.

“Just what are you doing, then?” Bryn asked finally. He had to bury his emotions from that night before he could think objectively. “If you had been called by Destiny to act, you should have told his majesty. You should have told me! I trained you better than to throw your responsibilities to the winds! Just what were you thinking?!”

“Darkness and light will join in union to challenge the Sun …” she spoke in a numb voice. Her head was bowed. Bryn had grabbed the edge of the blade with his sword hand. She had never wanted to see him bleed again, not after that night. She had only seen Darkness once before at that time of Lord Zion’s flogging, so it was little surprise that she would panic when facing it in its natural habitat. Her first instinct was to run to their escort, but all she could do was stand in front of her when the shadow came rushing toward them. That was when General Bryn had jumped in front of them.

“What did you just say?” the general gaped down at the top of her white head, hiding her face as she held her position.

“A lesser Light will rise to protect their bond …” Celestial grunted as she began to push against the immortal, “... engulfing the Sun’s wrath … and their unity will restore the balance of Aurora.”

“Where did you hear those lies?” the Light general asked in shock. “Who poisoned your mind with such dissension?! Darkness and light can never join forces, Celestial! You of all people know that! And what does this challenge mean? Do you mean to assault King Zemnas? What of your oath for your parents? Namas could retract your agreement for such treason!”

“I know!” the younger Light screamed, forcing her mentor backward. He stumbled, completely taken off guard by her voice and expression. Bryn stared back in disbelief.

Seraph and Samuel looked away from the soldiers tumbling around them, hearing her voice. Celestial was on her knees, holding her precious sword straight out ahead of her. Her head was bowed. Her shoulders obviously trembling. Samuel furrowed his brow, fighting the emotions she was seeping. Above them all, despair was threatening to consume her.

“Seraph, take us down. I need to help Celestial.”

“Yeah,” Seraph replied, using a breeze to move the Light soldiers back to the lake. He dropped them gingerly.

The Wind god set down silently behind the soldier. As he stood there, unsure if he should approach, Samuel shifted his weight enough to drop to the ground. The youth remained quiet as he walked up to her. He could feel she was about to speak as she wept bitterly.

“I know!” Celestial said between sobs. “I know what I’ve done … but I had to! Ever since I was brought to this sword, it has called to me! For two decades, I did everything I could to find Lord Zion and his castle! It longs for its master’s hand. It brought me to that bazaar. It compelled me to act. The Wingie even knew! She approached me. She said it was my destiny … to guard this sword until Lord Zion returned! Don’t you see, general?! I never wanted to abandon them! Any of them! I couldn’t run, though. Grandmother Wingie told me I couldn’t. My parents would pay the price … but they could suffer if I left as well! Don’t tell me what I already know, general!”

Silence gripped the listeners. The only sound was Celestial’s sobs. Some were soft. Some spiked with hints of the pain she was experiencing. Samuel knelt beside her, trying his best not to touch her. His silver eyes searched her face, streaming with tears down both of her flushed cheeks. Her emotions were much stronger now that they were physically closer. He wished he could comfort her, but how could he? Her parents could be in trouble because of him.

The dark vision he had experienced from her returned to his thoughts. She sounded so young, so afraid, so guilty. He heard that same guilt in her voice now. No wonder she was always snapping at him. That was all she could do to ease her anxieties.

“Celestial,” the Nomad paused, trying to remain calm. “I’m so sorry. I’m to blame for your suffering and pain. Your emotions have grown stronger ever since we left Heaven. I never realized how much it cost you to protect me. It’s all right, though.”

“Samuel?” She looked up at him. What was this? She felt as if arms had wrapped around her, warming her body. The trembling gradually stopped. Her chest felt lighter as if a burden had been lifted. Her eyes glowed softly, and new tears fell. How was this possible? The Light had heard enough from Seraph to know this was the young man’s power at work. He was not touching her though, so how was his power touching her?

“You can go home if you want to, Celestial,” Samuel said, making Seraph and Celestial gape. He just went on smiling at her. “I never intended to enslave you. Go back with your friend. You can say I used my powers to manipulate you if it will help. Seraph and I can keep the sword for you. That way it won’t plague you any further. As much as I wanted to be your friend, I also want you to be happy. I don’t want to bring sorrow to Aurora. I want to see more smiles and feel more joy. Would that not be grand?”

“You would … let me go?”

“If that was what you wanted, yes.”

Seraph watched the general, staring intently at Samuel. The young god caught sight of a glow from his hands. Leaping over his friends, Seraph swung Cherub, sending a warning gust at the immortal.

“I won’t let you harm either Celestial or Samuel, do you hear?”

“So you are Raphael’s beloved, young master,” Bryn said in an annoyed tone. He had braced himself against the strong breeze. It was no small task. It would seem he had learned to channel his element, quite a milestone for a newly awakened god. “The Wind god that awakened in King Zemnas’ ceremonial court ….”

“How do you know Raphael?” The Wind glared back at the Light. Were these the soldiers who came to the estate?

“We fought in the Great War together against the Darkness when it first entered Aurora. Raphael was much wilder back then. If it had not been for Lord Zion, he would not be alive today.” The Light glared right back. The defiance was to be respected with caution. His information had been correct then about Celestial being with a new Wind god. However, it was almost unsettling that this was the only Wind god they could rely on at the moment. “I must say you are not what I expected. I thought you were a man for a moment.”

All three companions glanced back at the general. Jaws dropped and eyes twitched. Seraph gripped his staff. Celestial tightened her grip on the sword hilt. Samuel ripped some grass up with his fists as he looked over his shoulder. They all glared at the same time before screaming in perfect unison.

“It’s intersexed!”

Looking at one another, they were clearly surprised at their reactions. Samuel starting laughing, followed by Seraph. Celestial stared between the two fools, wondering how they could laugh so freely before an enemy. Before she realized what she was doing though, she was chuckling right along with them.

Bryn gawked back at the group. Celestial had not laughed since the day their escort had died. It was strange, but it was long overdue. He looked to see his men, trudging out of the lake, smiling tiredly. He was beaten.

“You win today, Celestial,” Bryn said as he walked toward his men. “However, in exchange for a guarantee that I will give you a day’s head start before we met again, tell me who the boy is.”

“My name is Samuel. I would have told you if you had asked.”

“A Western name, I see. Your features resemble Heaven though,” Bryn said stoically. He noticed the silver eyes most about the young man. They were somehow familiar, but he could not think of why at that moment. “Are you a servant of the present Wind god?”

“No,” Celestial said, rising from the ground, “Seraph and I protect him. He is the key to restoring Aurora’s balance.”

Her eyes were calm now. The laughter seemed to have broken up her earlier strain. She looked like her old self again. She shouldered the blade to approach the general. Her face looked nervous as she reached for his bleeding hand. He did not resist it, staring sadly.

The humming made Bryn gasp. He had not heard her voice since she was a child in the Temple. He felt tears in his eyes. The song was so sad. It was not the one he remembered hearing next to her mother. However, the spell worked all the same as he felt the pain fade from his palm. She had promised not to use her magic for some reason when she entered the academy, but if she were using it now, he had a debt to this stranger called Samuel.

“That Wingie nonsense is going to get you killed, Celestial.” The Light pulled back his hand once the humming stopped. “I will withdraw for now, but when next we meet, we will face each other again. I am a servant of the Sun and a vassal of Heaven. Do not die before we meet again.”

“I don’t plan on dying. You know me better than that,” she replied with a coy smile as she hugged herself. He was surprised by the unusual gesture from her. It was reminiscent for him. “Until then, tell Mother and Father that I’m following my destiny.”

“I will see what I can do upon my return. Light be with you, Celestial.” The Light walked off, muttering to himself down wind, “I swear, for once, she looked just like you, Rhea …”

“That seemed almost too easy.”

Samuel watched the general walk toward his men, ordering things they did not agree with from their expressive body language. The Nomad closed his eyes, trying to feel out the older Light’s emotions. Sadness was the one he felt most, but why did he sense nostalgia as well?