Embers of the Past

by Bethany Atwood

  “I’m glad to hear that. How can I help you both today?” Mer’ania sets the book in her hands on Rebecca’s desk before opening it to the correct page, the professor gazing down at it curiously. “… Rudimentary Tracking Spell? Any particular reason you’re interested in outdated magic?”

  “Professor, we believe that the Eartheners know how to reach Sanctus because of this spell. I recalled hearing about it last term, so I looked it up just now with Kagura, if an Earthener used it during the war, and the person it was used on returned here, then they would know where Sanctus is. As well, if it’s only recently that they figured out teleportation magic, then it explains why only just now they’re showing up.” Mer’ania explains, Rebecca smiling rather cheerfully in response to her observations.

  “Very astute, Ms. Mer’ania, I’m impressed. This is what had been determined to be the source of the Earthener’s knowledge regarding the location of Sanctus, though it is at present being kept a secret from most, so I’d like to request you both don’t go telling the other students about what you’ve learned. As it stands, the only means of ensuring the Eartheners can’t return here requires far more highly trained mages than we presently have. Though this is nothing to be worried over, we have the situation under control.” Rebecca says with a certain confidence in her voice, the two teens nodding before the book is closed and pushed towards them.

  “Please try and relax you two, although with this storm outside I fear that might be a tall order for many.” Mer’ania picks up the book before nodding, Kagura nodding as well with a slightly wider smile visible.

  “Say, mama, when was the last time there was a winter storm here this rough?” The brunette asks, Rebecca tapping at her chin for a few moments in contemplation.

  “Mm… A few years ago. While the mainland is more prone to severe winter weather, Solenim and it’s island do come across major storms from time to time, though not as frequently.” Seeming satisfied with her mother’s answer, given that this had been the first time since she started at Solenim she’s seen such a storm, Kagura looks to Mer’ania and the two turn and depart the classroom. They first return to the library with the book, then head up to the common area once more, Kagura unceremoniously dropping onto an unoccupied couch before leaning against Mer’ania, who had settled in at her side.

  “What do you think they’re gonna do about the Eartheners, Mer?” Kagura idly questions while beginning to tap away at her tome, however instead of Mer’ania’s voice another familiar voice speaks up, drawing her attention away from her distraction.

  “Who knows? Honestly, until they figure out how they learned to get here, they should just send those pests back where they came from.” Esmerelda quips, effortlessly hopping over the back of the couch and settling in on Kagura’s other side.

  “Gah! Esme, don’t startle me like that!” Kagura whines out, the blonde angel simply giggling while sticking her tongue out for a few moments.

  “Sorry, sorry! Still, don’t you wonder how they know where we are? I mean, Sanctus is hidden, right? There’s no way anyone could find us unless someone told them.” Kagura glances over to Mer’ania with slight nervousness to her expression, something the angel picks up on. “… Don’t tell me you guys know. How? Spill the details!”

  “You can’t tell anyone, Esme, mama swore us to secrecy.” Kagura says with a softer, hushed tone to her voice, glancing around at the others in the common area, no one near enough to hear nor paying any mind to the trio. Sighing, she leans up and whispers into Esmerelda’s ear, the angel going slightly wide eyed upon hearing this.

  “Wait, seriously? That old spell?” She whispers out, Kagura nodding glumly.

  “They put it on someone, or multiple people, during the war, it only lasts a week, and it doesn’t give an exact location, just a general area, so they learned about Sanctus, just not anywhere in specific here. They’re most likely new to teleportation magic, which is why they keep appearing in the air, but it’s only a matter of time before they figure out exact locations.” Esmerelda frowns slightly before glancing towards the ground, slightly unsettled by this revelation.

  “All this time, they knew how to find us, yet… They couldn’t get here… Is there no way to make it so they can’t return?” Kagura shakes her head, Esmerelda scowling slightly before the brunette begins to speak.

  “The only thing I figure that could be done is whatever spells they used to seal the planet away in a pocket dimension, though… That was done hundreds of years ago, I can’t imagine there is anyone alive who knows how to perform those spells, and even if there is a record of the spells, they’d likely have to unseal the planet and it’s star system, however long that would take, which would just give the Eartheners a chance to strike before Sanctus can be hidden away again…” Kagura mutters, recalling what they learned about how Sanctus and it’s star system were hidden away.

  “Well, at least… I doubt there will be any sightings of them for the time being, from what I read on the news this morning, parts of Homenia and Tal’vedan are dealing with major winter weather, like here, there’s a tropical storm in southern Raldevar, and the dragons are continuing to roam around and visit various cities. I wouldn’t be surprised if the dragons scared them off, at least for now, though I can hardly rest easy knowing we’re stuck inside right now. By the way…” Falling silent for a few moments, Esmerelda looks over at the two beside her, an eyebrow being raised curiously.

  “Where were you both earlier? I didn’t see you in combat magic Kagura, nor you in restorative magic Mer’ania, what gives?” Mer’ania chuckles for a few moments, then stretches out her right leg before tugging up the leg of her pants to expose her prosthesis.

  “I had an appointment in Tal’vedan, so I was excused from lessons for the day so I could be teleported there and back.”

  “Thing went well I hope?” Mer’ania nods in response to Esmerelda’s question, the angel then turning her attention to Kagura who stares at the ground nervously. “That doesn’t explain where you were, though. You aren’t sick, otherwise you’d be in your dorm, and it’s not like you to ditch lessons, so what gives Kagura?” Before Kagura gets a chance to speak Esmerelda lightly pokes her cheek in a questioning manner, the brunette’s eyes shooting wide open before she grimaces and cries out in pain.

  “GHHAH!” As Kagura recoils backwards Esmerelda covers her mouth with her hands, immediately realizing just where Kagura had been without a word being said.

  “I’m so sorry Kagura! I didn’t know that was today!” She says in apology, Kagura quickly pushing herself up to her feet as tears well up in her eyes. Without a word being said she retreats into her dorm with haste to her movements, Esmerelda watching her with a nervous expression before looking to Mer’ania, who had been doing the same.

  “Oh no… Is she going to be okay?” The demoness nods before smiling softly, a reassuring expression that comforts the angel slightly.

  “She had her braces tightened this morning, she wasn’t terribly happy with the early hour of the appointment, nor did she enjoy the pain of the appointment. The pain relief elixir she took hours ago was likely beginning to wear off, so she would’ve eventually started to whine in that adorable way she does, even if you hadn’t poked her cheek and put her in pain. She just… Doesn’t tolerate pain all that well, is all.” Mer’ania explains, Esme nodding a little before sighing.

  “Does she… Cry a lot when she’s in pain? I saw tears in her eyes when she was getting up…” Esme’s question is met with a simple nod, Mer’ania looking to the dorm to make sure Kagura isn’t walking out before she speaks.

  “Always. Honestly, I think it’s precious that she doesn’t try to keep herself from getting emotional, though I always make sure she drinks some elixir when in pain, I don’t like seeing her cry.” As Mer’ania falls silent Kagura walks back over and drops back onto the seat she’d occupied prior, sniffling quietly before leaning into the demoness’ side while an arm wraps around her.

  “H
ey, Kagura, I… I’m sorry for poking your cheek, I didn’t know that today was that day for you…” Kagura rubs at her eyes for a few moments while listening to the angel speak, her gaze slowly coming to focus on Esmerelda before a meek smile forms, complete with lips slightly parting to expose metal now lined with lavender elastic ties.

  “It’s… Alright, Esme… I know you didn’t mean to cause me pain, honestly… It was almost time for me to take more elixir anyway, lest I wait too long and end up in even more pain…” Esmerelda gradually regains her smile as she listens to her friend speak, a gentle side hug being shared with Kagura that is quickly reciprocated by the shorter teen.

  “It’s almost time for dinner, we should all head down and get something to eat, we can come back here after, might be a good idea to relax and stay warm, the storm outside doesn’t look like it’s getting better any time soon.” Mer’ania suggests, both Kagura and Esmerelda nodding before moving to stand, all three promptly making their way downstairs to enjoy a warm meal to keep their spirits high.

  Chapter 11: Into the Unknown

  A series of shockwaves cascade outwards towards Solenim, impacting against the shield which succeeds in containing the force, yet the tremendous sound of the explosions echoes forth to the school. Where people had once been sleeping, now they are quickly waking up and attempting to figure out what the jarring noise is, but before anyone can question what is happening a voice suddenly echoes out over the intercom.

  “Everyone, please remain calm. The sounds that woke you from your sleep were explosions, it is yet unclear what they struck, but the barrier around Solenim is intact. There is no cause for alarm, while we determine what was hit please remain in your dorms or the common areas.” Amethyst’s voice rings out across the school before fading into silence, the dormitories suddenly filling with life as students, still in their pajamas, begin to file out of their rooms to chat amongst each other.

  “Kags?” Speaking softly, Mer’ania steps over to Kagura’s bed once her prosthesis is secured, a hand pressing to what she assumes is Kagura’s shoulder before she lightly shakes her. “Are you awake?”

  “N… No, I’m asleep…” The blanket shrouded brunette mutters, Mer’ania giggling before lightly tugging the blanket off her. As she does Seraphine nips at her hand lightly, then jumps up onto Kagura’s dresser to be out of the way. Kagura rolls onto her side and faces the wall when she feels the blanket falling off her body, eyes clenching tightly shut as she does.

  “Kags, I know you’re not asleep. What’s wrong?” Continuing to speak softly Mer’ania seats herself on the edge of the bed, a slight frown visible as she looks down at Kagura.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about, I’m asleep…” Kagura immediately begins to give off some exaggerated snoring, the demoness sighing before suddenly and abruptly pulling her up and into a hug. Kagura reluctantly wraps her arms around Mer’ania in return, a quiet sigh escaping before she leans against her.

  “I know the explosions scared you, they scared me as well, but it’s okay, Kags… Everything is oka-”

  Mer’ania is suddenly interrupted by a second series of explosions, the startling sounds causing her to loosen her grip on Kagura, who topples out of her arms and lands on the ground against her back. The explosions end after less than a minute, the barrier visibly rippling before falling still, showing it’s continued strength despite the shockwaves. It takes the demoness a few moments to recover from shock, but when she does she immediately drops to her knees and pulls Kagura into her arms, tears streaming down the smaller teen’s cheeks.

  “Oh Kagura… I’m so sorry… I didn’t mean to make you fall…” She softly murmurs, her grip on Kagura firmer, yet still gentle. “It’s okay… You’re safe, I’m safe… We’re all safe, all of us, they can’t hurt us in here…”

  “I don’t wanna die… I don’t wanna die…” Kagura begins to mutter four words over and over, panic taking over despite Mer’ania’s attempts to comfort her. As her mind races, she finds a single memory popping into her head, over and over, despite her attempts to ignore it

  ~

  “Kagura, you need to wake up!” A panic filled voice echoes forth, disturbing the stillness of the dark room, a slender, brown haired figure gentle shaking awake the smaller girl tucked into bed.

  “M… Mama?” Kagura tiredly murmurs before rubbing at her eyes, the darkness around cluing her into the later hour, certainly nowhere near when she’d normally wake. “What’s going on?”

  “Kagura, sweetheart, you need to get up, we have to go. It’s not safe, there’s… There’s fighting outside, it’s dangerous.” Sensing an urgency in her mother’s voice, Kagura nods and pushes herself up out of bed, a yawn escaping before she grabs her hand and follows her downstairs. As they depart the stairs a shockwave rattles the house, the seven year old brunette recoiling in fright before being embraced by both her mother and father.

  “Sweetheart, it’s time to run, okay? You need to run as fast as you can, for as long as you can, don’t stop until you feel like you just can’t run anymore. We’ll be right behind you.” The black haired man says, his green eyed gaze joined by a reassuring smile. With a slow nod Kagura embraces the two in return, another, closer shockwave coursing forth soon after. Once the three part from their hugging, Kagura turns toward the door and rushes towards it, immediately bolting outside once it’s open. As she begins to take off, running straight away from her home into the woods, she looks back and sees her parents beginning to follow…

  And then an explosion tears through the house, the shockwave sending her some distance forward while the heat from the blast scorches her. Upon landing, every inch of her body searing with pain, she attempts to crawl forward, looking back at the now burning remains of her home, yet she can make it no more than a few feet before collapsing, barely managing to roll onto her back before her vision clouds. As darkness begins to take over, a cloak shrouded figure comes into view, the person kneeling towards her just as she blacks out.

  ~

  “M… Mama… Papa… I’m sorry…” Kagura clings to Mer’ania as she quietly speaks, hardly able to be heard but pain quite noticeable in her voice. The demoness consoles Kagura as best she can, remaining silent and letting her cry for as long as she needs, and eventually the shorter teen wears herself out and falls asleep once more, Mer’ania gently tucking her into her bed while Seraphine hops back over and settles in at her side.

  “Take good care of her Seraphine, I’m going to find a professor and learn what’s going on.” She softly says to the feline, a nod and a soft mewl of acknowledgement being given before she turns and departs the dorm. Everyone currently seated in the common area looks as worried as could be expected, a few teachers currently stood around doing their best to reassure and console the students.

  “Professor Calum? What’s going on?” As she approaches a nearby professor she’s familiar with, Calum looks to her, a slightly worried expression visible.

  “Nothing good, I’m afraid. From what we’ve gathered the explosions struck the tracks leaving the island, they’re surveying the damage now, but at least one section of track has collapsed. It’s nothing that can’t be fixed, though we’ll have to get enchanters to come and redo the enchantments keeping the tracks floating above the water.” He says, a seriousness in his voice. Mer’ania glances off to the side and frowns further in response to the news, her right hand lightly brushing through her hair after a few moments.

  “Why would they attack the tracks? Are they trying to trap us here?” She questions, Calum giving a slight shrug in reply before speaking.

  “We aren’t sure. They’ve been trying to break through the barrier around the island, though they’ve continually failed, and the barrier hasn’t grown any weaker. Maybe they think destroying the tracks will trap us here? It’s really hard to tell just what they intend with these attacks. At any rate, even though things are certainly scary, it’s nothing to worry about. The best thing to do is just relax, a
nd stay calm.” Mer’ania nods slowly before looking around, another familiar face able to be seen.

  “Thank you, professor.” She says before walking over to Professor Melangreve, who presently is watching over the students with as calm an expression as she can muster.

  “Good morning Mer’ania.” Rebecca greets, a small smile forming before she glances around. “Is Kagura not with you?”

  “No, she’s… In our dorm. After the first explosions happened, I began to hug her in an attempt to give her comfort… And then I was startled by the second explosions, and she fell and landed on her back. She’s asleep, though… Before that, she was muttering about not wanting to die, and then… Muttering about being sorry, speaking about her first parents.” As Mer’ania falls silent Rebecca grows a worried expression, a hand pressing to her cheek before her eyes fall closed.

  “I was worried this might happen… When the first explosions happened, I had hoped she would’ve remained asleep, so that she could avoid a reminder of her past, but when the seconds ones came, I figured she had to have heard those… Explosions bother her greatly, during the final battle of the war the Eartheners laid siege to New Lunaria, explosive magic allowing them to create the chaos they desired. That is how she lost everything, how her arm was scarred…” Rebecca explains, Mer’ania listening patiently while the professor opens her eyes again.

  “Those heartless monsters took so much from so many people that night, I too was not without injury, though I ignored any pain, I had a more important task. I was there helping evacuate people, fighting off those attacking, as I was heading to the ship that was preparing to leave, I saw a house demolished by an explosion, and a little girl knocked off her feet by the blast. I approached her, made sure she was still living, and brought her onto the ship, we left with as many people as we could, and we returned here.”

  “Were you a professor back then? I know that was nine years ago, but… I wasn’t sure when you became a professor here.” Mer’ania’s question is met with a slight smile from Rebecca, who nods and brushes her hair back.