Spell 4: Esther

Magic is a blessing, bestowed upon mankind by the goddesses that made this world. It is an open spectrum, an essence that exists along and within any and all elements. It would result in creation of one's will and a deal of equivalent price. It existed between all existence, within and outside of the realm of existence. Magic was fluid, a recipe and ingredient to creation of existence at the same time.

But witches viewed magic as a science rather than a miracle. A tool to be used and manipulated. Many scholars believed that the world was made up of four elements: fire, water, earth and air. However, witches believed in the existence of a fifth element. Esther. A fundamental element that boasted the life span and strength of the other four elements, therefore becoming the core of all elements and existing any and everywhere.

People could not decipher the science that the witches proposed and then, many questioned where esther even came with. The studies were eventually forgotten and the world leaned towards what brought them more comfort rather than anxious questions about the unknown. Religion. The existence of esther was crushed under the weight of blind belief and it was erased under the disguise of discredit.

Witches were different. Though many witches had stopped researching about it's mysterious strength but they still discovered it's many strengths and uses. And so, sadly, they ended up as the heretics of mankind. Fortunately for the witches, with the many useful findings of esther and the blessings of the goddesses, the witches were considered untouchable and ruthless. Most people avoided upsetting them out of fear.

And yet, here she was. Standing in front of the Palace of Mary. A place that had not reached out to a witch for centuries. Something close to fear stirred in Astrea's heart, bubbling and tightening her throat. Astrea has always been a risk taker, a rule breaker but most of all, someone who adored peace above all. That was the only reason that she had joined a=the Lunartics guild. An adventurer’s guild was precisely the place where she could find a modicum of excitement in her mundane life. She never indulged in any risky witchcraft because she had wished to make a safe space for the day her mystic arrives.

Now that she knew it wouldn't happen, she has decided to finally indulge herself. While she did feel bad about dragging Lain in her risky business, she knew she couldn't just leave Lain alone. He was blind, he could take care of himself but he was still someone who was far too kind. She would hate to see him get taken advantage of. A hand rested on top of her head. The weight of the hand on her head seems to have erased the consuming fire in her heart.

His mullet hid his ears and the black shades on his eyes hid the oceanic eyes. Suddenly Astrea couldn't help but feel pity for the people who did not know the beauty of his blind eyes. The eyes that saw nothing but everything. “Don't fret. If anyone dares say anything to you, I would let them be.” Lain assured. Lain was a person who hated conflict but for his friend, there was a fierce protectiveness in him. He was not the kind to get aggressive or shout, he never had the need to.

Astrea let out a small chortle. She swat the taller man's hand from her head and shrugged her shoulders. “I don't need you to protect me. You don't need to be a prince charming for me.” Astrea declared with might and pride in her eyes. A smile tugged at Lain's lips. “But I'm a blond with blue eyes, aren't I a perfect fit for a prince charming?” He jested and set down the bag in his hand. Though he was blind, he had not let Astrea carry the heavy bags of books she had brought along.

I could simply float them along, what a dolt.

Sooner than later, the butler of the palace had escorted the pair inside. The palace of Mary was like any other palace in a fairy tale. Charming to the edge. Walls made of Jade, carved with unreadable scripts. Perhaps a lost language? Astrea wasn't sure. Golden curtains worked like a jewelry on a mannequin on the palace walls. Jade was a rare mineral, it was a mineral that witches adored. Hence, Astrea felt herself mesmerized. On the way to the audience room with the emperor, Astrea made sure Lain knew what the palace looked like, who was escorting them and where they were being escorted.

He is not going to miss a single detail while I am here. Except…

The oddly aroused stares of the women and men alike. This humble man of a friend that Lain was, his beauty was exceptional. Like a diamond found in a hidden chest. The maids that laid their filthy eyes on Lain for the first time, they couldn't help but feel flushed as if they had fallen in love. The male workers of the palace had stopped on their way to glance back at his beauty and some of them even blushed like the female maidens in love. At times like these, Astrea was grateful that Lain couldn't see this.

Why can't they just mind their own business?

Soon enough, the door to the audience room had opened and announced the arrival of the witch and the scholar to the emperor.

“Astrea Estelline-Exlairia, The moon witch and Lain Valentino, The scholar of epigraphy and paleography has arrived.”

It felt weird for the both of them to be addressed by their full names and titles, a strange emotion indeed. The doors were closed behind them and to their surprise, there was no man in site aside from the exception of the two man in front of them. One was a man with cold judgement in his eyes, he had blazing fire like hair while the other one had a gentle smile and cotton like hair. They had almost identical faces and yet, Astrea could easily tell which one of them was the emperor.

The difference between them was not the difference in the moles on their faces or the way they conducted themselves with posh nobility but the fact that one stood with his hand on the hilt of his waist, hanging by his waist. While the other smiled, he was sitting entirely too relaxed on his shimmering silver throne, without a care in the world. As though if one of them decided to attack him, not one scratch would reach him.

“I, Emperor Emerson Di Callestian, welcome you both, The moon witch and The amaurotic Scholar.”