Advent of War

Lacia’s eyes fluttered open. She bolted up where she lay but the migraine-like pain subsequently erupting across her forehead forced her back down. Wincing, she opened one eye. Vaguely aware of what had happened and of Omnis’ presence, she willed her body into a sitting position.

“I felt like I was going to die,” she said, clutching her chest. Looking around, she realized she was surrounded by an expansive field of flowers. “This place… This is Halysian, the realm of divinity.”

Faint voices carried downhill from somewhere farther up. From what she could tell, Mana was having an avid discussion about something, but the voices were too faint to make much else out. Unable to contain her curiosity, she crawled up the flowery hillside. With each passing moment, her curiosity devolved into mindless panic as she began to recall the burning house and her encounter with someone or something that wasn’t Mana. She picked up the pace until she neared a full-on sprint, breathing heavily, hands on her knees, as she reached the top of the hill.

Something grabbed at her legs causing her to nearly jump out of her skin before she was pulled down into the floral overgrowth. “Eep!”

“Shh!” came two voices in unison.

One hard landing and a sore tailbone later, she found herself staring straight into Licht and Hika’s eyes. They covered her mouth before she could squeal in glee.

Licht spoke first. “Let them finish talking and then we’ll fill you in.”

“Who—” It took a moment for her brain to register he was referring to the two voices she heard when she woke.

“Lacia,” Mana called sweetly from within a circle of lavender, “Why don’t you bring the other two over with you, since everyone’s here now?”

“How did she hear us?” Lacia whined.

“I wonder,” Licht replied sarcastically.

                                                                                  ***

“So, we’re not fighting just the devils after all, then? That means the book was right and what we’re up against is something a lot scarier,” Lacia realized. “How exactly are we approaching this?”

“It’s going to take a little time to adjust to this new role of Grandeur, but I think I mostly have the hang of it now. This puts us on nearly equal footing with the devils; we could scrape by if everyone pitched in. Speaking of… Brendan and Aria are currently engaging Ahzef, so let’s wrap this up because I’m sure I don’t have to tell you the more time we can buy, the better,” Mana explained.

“She’s right, and there’s still the matter of Millee and Kuria,” Hika chimed in. “If we can eliminate the first and fourth seat of the Reverse Royalty, we’d be in great position to possibly even prevent Nertiia from reawakening.”

Lacia mulled over the trove of information she’d just received. The one thing that bothered her was, truthfully, herself. She was the centerpiece of this new Rezertia and so far, all that had come of it was a myriad of misery; she was ready to take up the proverbial torch.

“There’s just one thing I want to know, and one person I want to see: What is my role in all of this? I still have this power that I can’t seem to get a handle on and there’s still the issue of Millee—I have a theory I’d like to confirm.”

Ethera stepped between the group, flower petals trailing across the ground as she moved. She folded her arms in front of her chest before turning to face Lacia as she spoke. “My dear, you have a power that can only be obtained by someone deemed worthy of its tremendous potential, but this is also a power that can only be given by someone of Grandeur or…” She shook her head.

“Wait. So, it wasn’t you? Then, who gave me this power and… why me?”

“No, I did not grant you the power you currently wield, but—” Ethera abruptly reached out, catching a wispy-black spear mere inches from Mana’s face. “The answers you seek are closer than you realize, Lacia.” The spear crumbled to ash, broken down by Ethera’s light. “We have an unwelcome guest,” she grumbled. “Lacia, Mana—you two will have to face Lucifero. Licht and Hika, may I ask that you stay?”

“But—”

“That is an order, Mana. I’m still your mother—now go. You two are more than capable of handling this by yourselves. You want revenge, don’t you, Lacia?”

Lacia rubbed her feet into the ground; she twisted her heel ill-prepared to make such a decision. She didn’t want to be the devils’ ragdoll anymore, but she also knew she had a choice to make. “Ethera, I mean, your mother, is right. Lucifero is hell-bent on me but you’re the one they’re going to target next if it gets out what we’ve talked about here.”

“Pardon the intrusion,” it was Mikaun, “but it seems I found you before my sister did.”

“You have some really big balls if you’re showing up here of all places,” Licht said crossing his arms. “There’s obviously something you want, otherwise you wouldn’t have come.”

“Very observant of you! See, if I can prove to Ahzef that I’m more capable than my idiot of a sister, I’ll be the one who gets that promotion and I’m the only one who can get close enough to him to do it. Of course, that means bringing him your heads. No hard feelings, right?”

“Lacia, Mana,” Licht said, “it’s time for you to go. Hika and I can handle Mikaun—especially since your mother is kind enough to offer her support.”

Before Lacia knew it, she was grabbing Mana’s hand as she made a beeline for a shimmering red door that had manifested behind Ethera. She knew better than to ignore her intuition; it hadn’t led her astray yet. “The thought of facing Lucifero again… We have to win this fight… We have to eliminate Lucifero for good this time,” she thought. Flower petals kicked up beneath their feet. The soft thomp of their footsteps drowned the rest of the world out. All she could think about was the pounding in her chest and the rush of adrenaline through her veins as she crashed through the door with Mana in tow.

“We’ll join you when we finish with Mikan,” Licht shouted. “Follow your hearts and don’t give up, no matter what happens or how impossible the fight may seem!”

Mana shouted back but Lacia couldn’t hear it. The erratic beating of her heart nullified her hearing. She stepped through the door and into her worst nightmare: she was standing in a red dress, the bitter cold of the tile floor seeping through the feet of her stockings—a sensation she had hoped to forget.

                                                                                  ***

She caught her reflection in the same wall of windows, just like when she met Lucifero for the first time. Behind her, a long table stood in the center of a large room, but a different gift awaited her atop its hardwood surface this time around: her revenge. She turned around, tying her hair up, ditching the painfully uncomfortable party heels and taking up a ruby-hilted lance.

“I hope you’re ready because I’m going to rock your world, Lucifero. I’m going to finish what I started two years ago and if it costs me my life, again, at least I’ll have done my part. I’m not the same scared, little girl I used to be, and this time,” she tipped her hand, “we’re going to put an end to all of this. Right, Mana?”

Dressed in a striking purple and black knee-length dress, Mana flaunted into the entryway of the room where Lucifero sat. “I’ll give you a handicap. I’ll keep my heels on, so I won’t be able to maneuver around very well.” She turned to Lacia, pulling her in close. “Don’t be scared; this is our fight. Besides, I never got the chance to take my anger out on the devils that hurt my best friend. It’s a fair fight this time.”

Lucifero’s devilish voice boomed through the emptiness of the building. “Found the courage to fight, did you? Well then,” he said, sliding off the table, “let’s get started!”

                                                                                  ***

“I have one question for you, Mikaun,” Licht said, breathing heavily. “Why did you choose to help Brendan and Aria back at the Chiipha Hospital? Surely you knew that you were aiding us in the defeat of the Reverse Royalty.”

“I may be a devil and I may be manipulative by nature, but it’s like I said: I don’t want Ahzef’s new world order. I’m not interested in that. When I told you I was the doctor, I was telling the truth, contrary to popular belief. Likewise, your friend, Mana, would never have been able to ascend to this realm without my help.” Mikaun shook his hand in pain.

A shimmering blade grew from Licht’s hand. It was oddly pixelated, like something out of a video game. He figured the devils were tough, but he hadn’t expected to engage in a thumb war of all things. As dumbfounded as he was, this was the chance to put his reconnaissance skills to work. “We know you and your sister can become one. What’s to say this isn’t a trap and you’re trying to play us?”

“Licht,” Hika interjected. “That one is telling the truth. Listen to what he has to say.”

“There are five, technically six, seats to the Reverse Royalty,” Mikaun explained. “That’s because my sister and I can become one. I can at least assuage your fears there.”

“You devils really get under my skin with your mind games. Why are you trying to get closer to Ahzef? What is it you’re trying to do?” Licht demanded.

“It would behoove you to listen to the girl when she says you can trust—” Licht pointed his sword at the devil. “Ok, ok!” Mikaun staggered to his feet. “I have something I also want to protect. Here.” He handed Licht and Hika a set of photos. “I didn’t ask to be part of Ahzef’s little posy, but I did have to trick your friends back in Chiipha or you’d still be harboring secrets from each other—those will only set you back further in your fight against the remaining members of the Reverse Royalty.”

“Secrets?” Licht repeated.

Mikaun looked to Ethera. She stood off to the side, still perplexed by the oddity of the thumb war. “Would you like to tell them, Ethera?”

She snapped back to reality. “Err, yes, but I think you still have more explaining to do.” She turned her head towards the photos in Licht and Hika’s hands.

The devil sighed. “Those photos are of my wife and kids. Well, they were, anyways. We had a happy life together: the kids had playdates; we went camping— We even had a couple goldfish.”

Licht and Hika mulled over the photos—black and white print. The condition of the film felt as if they’d been taken less than a day ago. A young man stood in the center of one: his dark hair was slicked back, and he wore a loose plain white tee. Baggy pants found their way to the ground, but he didn’t seem to care. His expression was that of a guy who had long since freed himself from the burdens of the world. Despite the black and white photo, Licht could tell he stood in the lobby of a movie theatre. Several of the movie posters looked to overhype the creation of autonomous robots while others were obsessed with otherworldly creatures.

“That photo was taken the night I turned twenty. It was a Friday night and I had just met the most amazing girl I’d ever laid eyes on; I asked her out to a movie earlier in the week.” Mikaun’s smile was radiant. There was no doubt his reminiscence was a light in his life.

Licht shuffled through a few more. Some showcased random couples who he presumed had been asked to pose for the camera. Others were of a large dog, sitting perfectly in the dirt with a ball in its mouth, clearly ready to play.

“Mikaun. This photo…” Hika held it up so he could see. “Did Ahzef—”

The light quickly faded from the devil’s eyes as he began to sob uncontrollably. Licht moved to console him, but Ethera held up a hand. Mikaun buried his face in his hands, tears seeping through the cracks in his fingers. It was incredible—a devil was actually crying. Alarm bells went off in Licht’s head but not because of Mikaun. On the backside of the photo was a small message scribbled in smudged ink: “I gave you a chance and now you have no choice.”

Hika flipped the photo over to the frontside and became physically ill. Licht retrieved it before it could hit the ground and became so angry even Ethera looked startled. Mikaun wasn’t lying about the photos, they were genuine photographs, but the composition of the one in Licht’s hand was a grisly sight and one that affirmed whose side the devil was truly on.

Pinned to a tree, a few feet from a mangled car, was a woman. Dark splotches were scattered all about her clothes, likely blood. One arm was twisted behind her back, the other was so mangled Licht couldn’t tell if there even was an arm there. Her legs were full of deep gashes from the broken glass of the windshield and several elongated spikes that pinned her body to the trunk of the tree. Several more spikes tore into her shoulders.

The most horrifying part was her head; it had been placed on a branch farther up the tree. Her eyes were glazed over, gazing into the fields that lined the other side of the road, lifeless and cold. A sickening grin had been carved out from the corners of the mouth; it was almost taunting.

“This woman… she was your wife, wasn’t she? I don’t have to guess who did this nor will I ask.” Licht turned the photo over in his hand, examining every inch. “I’m sorry, Mikaun.”

Hika, wiping her mouth returned to the group. “This is almost what happened to Aria, but she caved. Had she chosen not to go with Ahzef, I fear she would have found herself in a very similar situation.” Just the thought made her ill again.

Mikaun regained his composure, apologizing for the scene. “You’re correct,” he sniffled, “that was my wife. Ahzef gave me a choice several months prior to her death. He told me he liked my carefree attitude and that he had something big planned, but he wouldn’t say what.”

Ethera chimed in for a moment. “Ahzef thought he could take advantage of that carefree nature and Mikaun would do whatever he said without question… That’s where he was mistaken, and when everything fell apart.” She uncrossed her arms, placing a hand on the devil’s shoulder. “Had Mikaun not refused Ahzef, the Rezertia a few years later, the most recent, in fact, would have had a much greater chance of success. Losing only one of the princesses was a blessing, we just didn’t know it yet.”

“This was my first time ever seeing that photo. I know Ahzef left that message, but what a damn fool I was to believe that if I joined up with him, he could bring Lainie back. I wasn't thinking straight when the kids were taken from me. Then, I lost the home Lainie and I bought together—our first home. Finally, I accepted Ahzef's proposal.”

“So you became a devil?” Licht asked.

“No. Not quite. While it’s true that I no longer age and have abilities that are beyond the scope of a normal human, I am, technically, still human.” Mikaun bit down on his lip. “I can even bleed, but I don’t heal as fast as the actual devils do.”

Hika, weak and nauseated, rejoined the group once more. “The book he has on the Greyriter family history is real and it’s not the only one that exists.” A bound book like the one Mikaun presented at the Chiipha hospital appeared in Hika’s hands. “I was lucky to grab this before I was exiled and stripped of most of my magic. This book is the Ekair family history that Millee should have, but the impression I get from her so far is probably one I should keep to myself, hence why I have the record.”

“If you both wouldn’t mind,” Ethera broke in, “I can keep those record books much safer in my possession. The Ekair family is closely related to the Amana family though that name has only been used within the last half-century or so. Her true family name is Iliern, but the use of that name is kept very quiet for obvious reasons.” She smiled as she received the two-family records. “The primary reason is for safety; Lacia could be in much greater danger than she realizes if that name got out.”

“Which is why it’s a problem I was stripped of my Aurei status—I’m next to useless and can’t even protect myself, much less Lacia.”

“I think I can make a few house calls, Hika, and see what I come up with.” Ethera smiled. “For your last little bit of self-introduction, Mikaun, how about you tell us how you got in here and about your sister?”

Mikaun stood up… and drove a hand straight through his chest. Licht looked on in horror, though he loosened up after the devil removed his hand. Still, he remained a little on-edge. “This thing is like a glorified magic crystal. It stores various types of mana and allows the host to use whatever they please so long as they don’t deplete the crystal. For devils, and individuals such as myself, it allows us to form a straight connection back to the “host devil”. In this instance, it would be my sister.” Mikaun remained unphased despite the newly gaping hole in his chest.

Licht watched on as Mikaun twirled the mineral between his fingers before throwing it to the ground, subsequently stomping it into nothing more than dust. Bewildered, he stooped down to examine the crystalline dust, rubbing it between his fingers.

Mikaun continued. “Because I could use magic like that of devils, I was able to hide my presence. Similarly, I had accrued a small amount of Aurei mana which allowed me to contain my size after hitching a ride on the Lhumin girl.” Licht and Hika offered displeased stares. “Look. What you saw back at the hospital was real; that wasn’t some augmented reality or figment of your imaginations.”

Licht spoke up first. “That’s fine and all but by destroying that crystal, you essentially cut the link to your sister, I’m assuming. Won’t she know what happened?”

“Are we just going to ignore the fact that he followed us here by hitching a ride on Mana? Like, that’s actually a little concerning,” Hika hissed.

“To answer your question, Licht, not unless she gets curious and has any reason to believe I’m not dead—what a destroyed Devil’s Crystal usually signifies. When two devils, or a devil and a human, are joined by one of these crystals, they are then deemed brother and sister because they share such a close bond.” Mikaun began to laugh. “As you can see, however, I have very little attachment to that abhorrent creature. I genuinely hope she thinks I got myself killed in some stupid way because that’s exactly what she’d believe.”

Hika took over the interrogation, shoving Licht to the side before he could speak. “You still have the official Greyriter family record, correct? I only have one question then: why did you end up with the record and which of the devils killed the two princesses?”

Mikaun’s face turned serious. “I was tasked with the elimination of Earth’s princess during the Searing Wounds event. Azhef relayed the plan to me and Kuria; she was to impersonate a small Lhumin child. The idea was to paint the Lhumin family as selfish and arrogant because Ahzef already knew who would ascend to the throne of Grandeur.”

Licht’s face drained of color as Hika pressed on. “So, you’re saying Ahzef correctly predicted who would become Grandeur? Based on what factors? What reason did he have to pit the two families against each other?”

“Those are tough questions to answer exactly, but when you think about the mysterious death of Ethera’s husband and how she was seemingly targeted, does it not stand to reason there’s something about Mana he wants?” Mikaun pondered, turning towards her.

“I’m sure I already know,” Ethera replied. “Beyond the realm of the Grandeur is a place many call heaven, though its true identity remains a closely-guarded secret. If Ahzef were to ever break the spiritual barrier that separates these two realms, the consequences could be disastrous—he plans to challenge this “God” and if he wins, there will be marginal hope in our quest to stop him.”

“While that makes sense, I’m not understanding why Ahzef would want to tarnish the reputation of the two families,” Licht said echoing Hika. “Was he attempting to lure the princesses out and play on their heartstrings or was this something more devious? Perhaps… the perfect opportunity to test the limits of this so-called God?”

“I’d like to tell you yes, but Ahzef is very tight-lipped. However,” the former devil pulled a crumpled, yellowed page from the side pocket of his pants, handing the wad of wrinkled paper to Licht, “there’s more than enough reason to believe that is the case.”

Licht read the contents of the page aloud: “It was always a risky move. When one has such means as to stand toe-to-toe with the very creator themselves, there becomes a certain level of feasibility. Hypothetically speaking, perhaps the idea of God is just that—an idea. While that may be a convenient resolution for some, I’ve spent these last few years of research attempting to prove what many throw blind faith towards… and I believe I have discovered an appropriate manner in which to test those very beliefs.”

“For extra context,” Mikaun said, “check the date in the lower right corner of the page. It should help fill in the holes to what we just discussed. Similarly, that page was written by someone Aria knows well—it’s the entire reason she’s part of this.”

Licht angled the lower right corner of the page like a cartographer trying to read a map. The ink was faded, and the fanciful handwriting didn’t help its legibility, but it was there.

“This is dated back to the Searing Wounds event, not to mention it’s signed by someone known as D. Stemmer,” he noted.

“Allow me to provide you with some context and, this time, you’ll learn the true identity of the one who seeks to fuel the coming conflict,” Mikaun added. “The D is simple enough—devils are not creative, they are crafty. The D stands for “Devil”, but what about the name “Stemmer”? That one is a little more complicated, but I’ll try to explain it in a way that makes sense.” A sudden shiver shook Licht’s body causing Hika to jump as he shuddered. “This world is but one of many. The extensive weather changes you’ve been experiencing across your world are due to the annihilation of different worlds within the universal plane. These worlds are just like yours, down to the very blades of grass beneath your feet, but do you know what gets left behind when these worlds, these other dimensions, are destroyed?”

Hika was the first to reply. “The Aurei call them seeds. They contain all of the information needed to start life over from scratch and contain a history of everything that happened from its inception up until its death, but they also contain the purest form of magical energy that only something of the nature of a God would be able to harness.”

“So, like a genetic code in a way?” Licht surmised.

“Precisely,” Mikaun said. “The seeds you mentioned, Hika, actually have a very specific name: Azoth.”

“The alchemical substance that was supposed to be able to cure any illness? The thing they dubbed the “universal remedy” from like a century ago?” Excitement overtook Licht’s body.

Ethera rejoined the conversation. “It’s been around much longer than that. The neriolite that Ahzef uses is made from azoth, but it’s a highly dangerous substance if it falls into the wrong hands. When one of these other worlds is destroyed, they congeal into a dense bubble made from azoth. Under normal circumstances, it emits a strong magnetic field that cannot be penetrated by any form of matter—not even I can get close despite my own ethereal form.”

“I need you to understand this the most, but you should be listening too, Hika.” Mikaun motioned for them to sit. “To enter the realm of a God, one of two things are required: an invitation, or the acquisition of azoth, regardless of its form. An invitation is only ever offered in the most extreme and dire of situations such as when the ethereal lifespan has been reached or a successor has been chosen to inherit providence.”

Ethera nodded, suggesting he continue. “I’ll fill in any gaps once you have finished. The second of the two requirements is the most important.”

Mikaun crossed his arms. “The second thing, the acquisition of azoth, is a less formal way of entering the realm of a God, but it can be done. Because azoth emits such strong magnetism, it is able to draw from every leyline, absorbing every drop of magical energy from a dying world before it collapses. This was done as a failsafe so that, if something consequential were to happen and life could not continue, it’s perennials of information wouldn’t be lost.” He sighed. “The only problem with this is it’s an imperfect system. If too many of these bubbles begin to form, instead of harmonizing and creating an even stronger field, they begin to weaken.”

Ethera took over the conversation. “Think about when you put two magnets close to each other. The opposite poles attract and connect to each other, but if you were to try and connect two magnets via the same pole, they will repel each other. When there is an abundance of azoth bubbles, the internal atoms become confused and align in different directions, weakening the magnetic fields and thus allowing for easier collection. Does that make sense?”

Licht leaned back, fingers sliding between the stems of flowers, careful not to damage the serenity. “Azhef has been destroying an immeasurable number of these these worlds in order to upset the balance of the universal plane. More specifically, he wants to weaken the magnetic field of these azoth bubbles just enough to siphon its power.”

“Correct,” Mikaun affirmed. “While I know I said devils aren’t creative, Ahzef remains the exception to that rule at times. “Stemmer” is a name that was used many centuries ago during the Amalian Empire’s golden years. It’s not a one-to-one translation, but the term was coined after Nertiia was sealed away.”

“Let’s wrap this up, Mikaun. It would seem Hika already knows,” Ethera commented. “There is still more to get to.”

“To stop Nertiia’s rampage, and what would have been the ultimate destruction of the universal plane, King Enkresh and Kugil fought alongside each other, but Kugil would not join the fight for a full decade after the battle had begun. King Enkresh was a mighty warrior, but he would not have been able to stop Nertiia without Kugil’s sacrifice,” Mikaun explained further.

Licht deduced the rest. “Kugil gave his life to Enkresh, and the combination of their love for their kingdom and representation of that bond allowed them to seal Nertiia, I assume. Kugil was the source that King Enkresh’s power stemmed from; this is what Azhef wants, a vessel he can use to siphon enough power from—not to subdue Nertiia, but to control her.”

“And with that, I think my job here is done,” Mikaun said, pleased. “You’ve done your research, kid. That is precisely what Ahzef is trying to do and why he needs such enormous power. The only problem is, he wants to use the power obtained from the azoth for a stronger neriolite, one that can even rewind the past.”

Licht adjusted his sitting position, now cross-legged in a sunken patch of flowers. He pushed his hair from his forehead, holding it back with one hand. “Wait. So, does he want Nertiia’s power to become God, or does he want the azoth bubbles to challenge God?”

“Yes and no,” Ethera said. “What Azhef wants is to become a God—not the God. It’s like you read, Azhef does not believe such a God exists and therefore wants to fill that void and rewrite everything. However, he does not deny that such a being might truly exist, and that is why he needs the two princesses—to open the gates that lead beyond the gates of the Grandeur.”

Everyone fell silent. It was as if time stood still—no one moved a muscle. With the revelation of such a startling truth, there seemed little time to formulate even the most minuscule semblance of a counter. It was a lot to take in and even more to digest, but things were different this time around. While they couldn’t hope to match what Enkresh and Kugil were, what mattered most was their similarity-matched resolve.

Licht hoisted himself from the ground and stared into Mikaun’s eyes. “I want to pose a scenario to you. Let’s say I have a series circuit with multiple lightbulbs in it, but one burns out, causing the rest of the circuit to stop working. When I replace the burnt-out bulb, the circuit functions properly again.” His gaze remained fixed on Mikaun.

“If you’re comparing Ahzef’s quest to siphon off the azoth to a series circuit, I can’t say that’s the best comparison.”

“Theoretically, can we fix the loop like a series circuit and bad bulb, though?”

“It’s not that simple. You would need power that rivals that of a God to be able to access the information stored in the azoth bubbles and restore them.”

“Ok, but it’s still possible, right?”

“Yes, but—"

“Licht.” Ethera interjected. Her tone was cold and serious. “I know what you’re thinking, and I’ll be the first one to tell you it’s suicide. You would have to be a fool to try and quite literally play God. Do not throw your life away for those that cannot return.”

Hika walked up behind Licht and gave him a sprawling hug. Tears welled in her eyes as she pressed her face against his shoulder. Sensing her uneasiness, he turned around, holding her in his arms. “Playing God… It’s absolutely a fool’s errand,” he said, tilting his head toward the sky, “but isn’t God just an idea, after all?”

“No, Licht,” Hika sniffled. “This isn’t something we can fix alone. Right now, we must focus our efforts on stopping Ahzef and Nertiia’s revival. We don’t have the time, or resources, to attempt something as crazy as trying to reset the magnetic fields. There’s no guarantee something like that would even work.”

He balled his fists, squeezing until his fingernails dug into his skin, blood dripping from his hands. “Alright,” he said unclenching his fists, “but we still have to find a way to restore order.”
Without warning, the second Halifer shone with a furious might as it became warm to the touch. Licht placed the golden band on the ground, watching as it continued to expand outward until it was wide enough to step inside of. A small whirring sound emanated from the band like a firework in mid-summer, ready to rocket into the sky in a dazzling display of desire and destiny.

Hika approached the still-expanding golden band, slowly lifting one leg over the edge, then the other, as she stepped into the center of the Halifer’s ring. Her movements were almost trance-like as if she were being guided by an unseen force, mapping her movements like that of a game controller.

Multi-colored lines swaddled the air like batons. The sky faded from sapphire to a deep lavender. It seemed even the stars wanted to play as they began an unprecedented descent, joining the string of lights in their fanfare. Licht staggered backward, awestruck. He turned toward Mikaun though it seemed he was just as consumed by the immaculate stellar display.

“I never could have imagined this is how you would make yourself known. I’m humbled that you would grace us with your providence,” Ethera said softly. “This means we have reached the turning point.”

A hand grabbed Licht’s shoulder filling him with such hypnotic calm he momentarily forgot who and where he was. He turned to face whoever had grabbed him and was greeted with the biggest and brightest smile he’d ever seen.

“My—”

“God,” finished the mysterious aura. “Yes, as you have stated, Ethera, we have reached the turning point. The Halifers have begun to react, releasing their stored potentials to those they have chosen to wield their power. We must move quickly.”

The flickering image of a man with a long grey beard and braided hair flashed before Licht only to be replaced by another fleeting image, but of a much younger man in long robes. He must have watched at least twenty different people appear in the shimmering aura of something he had no words for.

“Ethera, I will be borrowing the boy for a moment. I shall return him to you shortly,” the aura spoke.

“Very well,” she nodded.

                                                                                  ***

Licht stood before a golden throne, towering miles into the sky. The ethereal field of flowers was gone as was Hika, Mikaun, and Ethera. Looking down, the ground seemed to be made of glass, yet he could not see his reflection. Instead, images played out before him like a movie. He watched the sun rise over Azalea Town, an exchange between a couple friends on the sidewalk of a busy city, and an aerial view of a sleepy town somewhere in western Alura.

He made a full circle, taking in the rest of his new surroundings, but there was nothing more to see. The only other thing of interest was the faint roar of a what sounded like a distant waterfall as a lazy mist curled around his body before continuing its aimless drift through the nothingness.

“Ahzef has been busy, but your friends have done a splendid job at keeping him at bay,” came the voice from earlier. Another wispy curl manifested itself in the golden throne as the figure of a woman this time flickered through the aura. “Two years ago, I put into motion something that would alter the lives of you and your friends forever; you were the only ones up to the task despite the trials and tribulations you have faced.”

“This is all happening so fast,” Licht said, dazed, “but judging from everything that has happened in the last two minutes… You must be God.”

“Hmm… I have gone by many names, but yes. Contrary to popular belief and scripture, however, I am not the kind of God you are thinking I am. However, you were not too far off when you deduced such a being as myself to a mere idea; I am that very such culmination of many.”

“Then you’ve brought me here for a reason,” Licht said slowly, aware of the situation.

“Indeed. As I’ve watched you grow through the years, I have grown exponentially pleased. You have grown into a fine young man, better than my greatest expectations.” The aura flickered again, this time portraying a large bird with folded golden wings. “Your friends on Chiipha are close to defeat—you must be the wildcard, but you can only aid in one of the many battles soon to erupt.”

The supposed God wasted zero time. Aura swooped through Licht’s body like a billow of smoke as it curled around his arms and legs. His muscles cramped and he could hear the blood rushing in his ears. Unexplainably, he felt refreshed though, like he was being reenergized. He closed his eyes and felt himself elevated to an even greater state of consciousness as his senses heightened beyond that of proprioception.

“This is your latent potential, Licht, but be careful for it is not a focused ability and can be used to affect even those who are around you. Hone it quickly. I will be watching closely. However, I cannot aid you further as I am just one of many. Believe in yourself and find strength in your convictions; that is how you will prevail in the war that is now-unfolding.”

Licht flexed his muscles, stretching as if he’d awoken from a long slumber. His body was full of spirit without even the slightest hint of sluggishness. New forms of magic wove their way into the folds of his mind, stored for safekeeping. The combination of offensive magic and his invigorated tactical foresight would likely prove invaluable in the battles to come.

“It’s time for you to go now. Do what you must and believe in the strength of the bonds you have formed. They may prove more valuable than you realize. Godspeed, my son.”

                                                                                  ***

Upon his return, he explained his brief, but divine, encounter with God including the upgrades to his own abilities, but something bothered him. If this God was not what the world had led everyone to believe they were, then what exactly were they? He posed the question to Ethera, but she refused to elaborate.

“There are many worlds, and each was masterfully crafted to give humanity the greatest chance to live up to the expectations laid before them, but with every good there is an evil and it is that very evil that will test the limits of providence and the resolve of humanity.”

“Our involvement was planned from the start, but from the conversation we had, it seemed that current events had slipped past even God,” Licht replied. “While I hate to end this conversation here of all places, Hika and I need to leave.” He had become acutely aware of a new, sickening eminence.

“So, that’s where you’ve been hiding, Azael,” Ethera said coldly. “It seems Millee lost track of you some time ago…”

“Ethera, you cannot fight this one here,” Mikaun warned. “Not after you… It was never your intention to return to a normal life, was it?” he realized. “Well, in that case, I suppose I can have a little fun myself. After all, I get to fight alongside the former Grandeur.”

“Hika,” Ethera started, “Find Millee first and help her with Kuria. She may be strong, but she’s not at full strength—your aid will determine which way the tide of this war will go.” She nodded as Ethera snapped her fingers. A moment later, Hika disappeared alongside the Halifer.

“Licht, the battle you choose to fight could have consequences that you are not expecting; prepare yourself for whatever may come, but do not give up, even if push comes to shove. You brought everyone this far—don’t forget that. You have always been more than you realized, but that’s a little secret between God and I,” she said, winking.

“Before you go,” Mikaun joined, “take these.” He dropped a pouch of crystals into his palm. “These crystals allow you to combine the powers of someone else with yours, kind of like the Devil’s Crystal I smashed earlier. It could be your greatest ally or your greatest crutch, depending on how you use it. Remember, believe in the strengths of the bonds you’ve created here and with your friends, and don’t let that fire in your eyes die.” He closed his hands over the pouch and stared directly into Licht’s eyes. “Avenge Lainie for me, please.”

“You can count on it,” he replied with certainty. “Thank you for everything, Ethera, Mikaun—you too, God. You’ve all been of invaluable help and,” he paused, “sorry for eavesdropping on your conversation with your daughter earlier,” he said, awkwardly rubbing the back of his head.

“Don’t be so modest,” she said. “Keep my daughter safe, will you? Make sure she sees the end of the war, will you please?”

“You’ve got it. I’ll avenge Lainie, Mikaun. I promise. Ethera, I’ll make sure you see your daughter again. Try not to worry—she’s in good company.” He gave a quick smile and salute, waved his hand over his body and disappeared in a flurry of golden dust.

“And so it begins,” Ethera gritted.

“Indeed, it does,” Mikaun said, matching her sentiment, “but, even if we fail here, we have to believe in the children.”

                                                                                  ***

“Ahh. Music to my ears. It would seem Azael has managed to break into Halysian which means the war has officially BEGUN!” Lucifero shouted. “I can’t wait to hang your heads above the mantle on my wall in Ahzef’s new world!”

“This fight won’t go like it did last time, Lucifero,” Lacia warned. “They say goodbyes aren’t forever and that life is what you make it.” She smirked. “Hello to my new life and,” she paused for emphasis, “goodbye, Lucifero.”

A clang of clashing swords rang out through the empty corridor, signaling the start of the first battle of the new war, heralding the end of a life Lacia once knew. With her best friend at her side and yet more new friends aiding her through their own battles, she smiled. Standing at the precipice of life and death, each breathe she took was more precious than gold, but were those, too, falsities? What would life be like when all was said and done? As the sharp scraping of metal tolled through the halls, Lacia couldn’t help but feel the most alive she had been in years.