|------------------------------------------------------------------|

From the perspective of he who no longer exists

  A whisper of cold wind, invited by the careless windows with their mouths agape, swept through the chamber. The bolts and thin azure curtains rattled feebly in protest but the wind proceeded with its course. It slithered through the room and tapped the youth’s shoulder tentatively, awaiting a response. He flinched and froze upon the unexpected contact. After a moment had passed, he turned his head slowly. When nothing reciprocated his steely glare, he returned to his study. But he could not focus. Before he knew it, the sliver of silvery moonlight streaming through the stained glass above his study had retreated. Soon, the flickering crimson embers within the brassy lantern had followed suit and ceased their midnight waltz.

  The youth etched the sigil of a phoenix in the air with his quill. The embers reemerged in the latern but with less vigor and color. With a sigh, the youth dropped his quill and gazed intently at the tauntingly pristine beige parchment. It should have been filled out with all sorts of flowery propositions and proposals long ago and embroidered with the infamous wax seal.

  He couldn’t bring himself to do it. Although he had been raised all his life for this role, something didn’t feel right.

  As if he wasn’t meant to...

  No. Thinking about that was preposterous. He knew that this was the path that fate had carved out for him long ago. Numerous seers had told him so.

  However, that didn’t necessarily mean it was the path he desired to take.

  The phantoms that visited him each night had been too much to bear. Whenever he closed his eyes, he received visions of various sorts, ranging from an innocent walk through the academy halls to being shackled in the lairs of otherworldly horrors. They did not speak but their ever burning gaze pleaded with him to not do it.

  In the beginning, he would find himself petrified, helpless to the events of dysfunctional dystopia that he had wandered into. They were all present, circling around him eagerly, as he sat there like a lamb to the slaughter. When he would awaken, a cold chill would seize his body as beads of sweat streamed down his clammy face.

  But then, they talked to him.

  Well, not exactly talked. The creatures were silent but somehow, he could understand everything they conveyed. Their eyes spoke louder than words could project.

  Soon, he had confided into them. About how he couldn’t do it. But how he had to, lest the world detest him.

  It wasn’t right they showed him.

  It wasn’t what he wanted to do, they made him realize.

  And he agreed.

  Despite being subjected to the infernal depths of their realm and the untamed ferocity that brimmed within their eerie, iridescent irises.....

  He agreed.

  He nearly succumbed to them before remembering that his task was to restore balance to the world and vanquish the horrid beings that threatened to disrupt the delicate, tranquil state of the world.

  It was a rather cruel irony.

  The supposed beasts that everybody abhorred were the only ones who listened to him, and the people he was tasked with defending were deaf to his presence.

  His only sympathizers were the beings of darkness that threatened to consume the world.

  “You still haven’t gotten to it, have you?” A low chuckle boomed from behind him.

  He wordlessly nodded, not realizing that someone, or rather, something was addressing him. It merely felt as if his thoughts had come to life and taken on the form of a voice.

  The chill came back as one sudden, yet silent, gust stormed into the chamber and knocked the windows shut.

  The youth stumbled backwards from the impact and his trembling, rheumy eyes widened in horror.

  A lithe, leathery humanoid with a blue smile was perched at his window. His jarringly large amethyst irises were an unnerving sight to behold and yet, his presence still managed to make the room seem darker. Within his bony grasp was a piece of parchment that was creased from pressure.

  It couldn’t be.

  The alabaster creature leapt onto the youth’s chest and climbed on the adjacent seat by. He curled curled into a ball and let out an unnerving cackle. The gremlin bent a long finger and ran a chipped, crooked nail over the smooth surface in circles.

  “Genuine dragon leather, eh? I should get myself some soon,” The monster rambled once he ceased his maniacal laughter. “I rather adore this particular shade of blue and white. Tell me boy, isn’t this hue and pattern exclusive to your master’s dragon? ”

  The mage didn’t respond. He was tucked into fetal position in a futile attempt to relieve himself of the searing pain that pulsated through his torso. His cloak had been torn and two unsightly indigo bruises had emerged onto his chest.

  “It’s a shame that there’s only one left.” The gremlin continued as his fingernail pierced through the leather.

  “N-no...” The mage had managed to sputter out before coughing out a stream of blood.

  Abysmally shrill laughter arose as the creature slid off the cushion.

  “You have access to the most expansive library in the land, yet this is what you read? Pathetic,” The humanoid scowled as he forcibly hurled the tome at the mage. “Foreign diplomacy? Lux doesn't do diplomacy. They certainly don't need to."

  “I didn’t get that book on my own accord. I have no interest in being involved with the Council’s frivolous affairs.” The mage said throatily as he wiped his bloodied mouth with the back of his bare hand. "And I am well aware of everything my nation has done."

  “Good.” The voice said. “So you’ve finally listened to me.”

  “I never agreed to anything!” He declared but his protests escaped as a soft, raspy whine.

  The humanoid clenched the parchment within his hands and it was immediately engulfed in bold indigo flames. As the flames flickered and faded into a faint lavendar hue, ashes began to trickle around his feet. Shortly after, the wind threw it into the mage's face.

  “You pitiful child,” The creature crackled. “It’s about time I relieve you of your ignorance.”

  “That prophecy is a lie. You are merely a pawn in the greater scheme of things.” The creature doled. “And I intend to move you to our side.”

  The mage shook his head fervently.

  You lied to me.

  All of you did.

  Even you did. I would’ve given you the world. Was the truth too much to ask for?

  His vision grew fainter and storm clouds began to seep into his peripherals.

  The haunting lullaby of midnight birds and the rustle of parchment paper were the last things he ever heard in the land of Lux.

_____________________________________________________________________

________

A youth

Of no noble lineage

Born on the eve

Of the full moon

Shall fulfill this task

----------------------------

He’ll bring nations

Together

With his innate

Ability

Of

Harnessing

The Quintessence

Of the World

----------------------------

Once his descent starts,

the world shall

Spiral

Into

Continuous

Pandemonium

---------------------------

|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|

Disclaimer: I do not own any pictures used in this story

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Many years later....

  The graduation ceremony for the aero mage academy was drawing near, far too near. Students scrambled about frantically and crowded around the campus libraries in hopes of finding the elusive solution to acing the infamous Magus Examination.

  Amaya Magna was one of those unfortunate souls who had been sucked into the illusion that there was still plenty of time to prepare.

  The mage cast the incantation for a basic medicinal spell and etched the sigil of a caladrius bird into the air. Only a wimpy puff of air emerged from the tip of her quill to congratulate her efforts. As expected, no rejuvenating auras were emitted.

  Her mind wandered back to her dorm mate’s indoctrinations about the importance of education. At the time, she dismissed it with a cavalier wave of her hand and snidely responded that her friend did not experience campus life to the fullest. While she was known for sneaking into the courtyards after school to have engage in duels and quests with other magi, her friend immediately retreated to their dorm and studied continuously.

  She didn’t regret it of course. The variety of experiences she had helped her glean experience and connections. Still, Amaya supposed that she could’ve spent more time hitting the books.

  Education was truly a blessing in Lux. Thanks to the policies that the Academy’s Headmaster had implemented, everybody in Lux was provided with the equal opportunity to study at the academy. Housing, basic needs, and materials (though they had the tendency to be rather decrepit) were all provided at no cost to everybody.

  All jobs required placed thresholds based off a student’s academic capabilities. It goes without saying that the most sought after careers had the higheset standards. Therefore, those who didn’t do well were assigned menial, laborious tasks that nobody else desired.

  Only one attempt at the final exam was permitted.

  She knew for sure that she did not want to spend her life slaving away as a virago’s maid and never having the opportunity to put her skills as a mage to use. Amaya was a wanderer at heart. She yearned for the thrill of venturing into the unknown.

  If it wasn’t for the education system in Lux...

  A thundering screech snapped her out of her haze.

  She turned to her left, initially annoyed at the sudden intrusion but then she immediately recoiled in fear.

  A massive alabaster dragon, whose ivory scales were outlined with streaks of bold blue, thrashed about, beating its armored wings repeatedly and shaking its head to and fro. It let out a deafening whine and lunged at the stained glass window overlooking the library. A raucous clatter of glass ensued and a myriad of prismatic shards emerged.

  As the dragon burst into the archives, the floor shook ferociously and every bookshelf began to collapse on top of one another. Tomes in every color known spilled onto the floor in continuous streams.

  Amaya had been watching the whole scene in awe but then reality had dawned upon the magus. Once realization that the mammoth beast was only a few feet away struck, she bolted away and muttered an incoherent string of incantations. Somehow, it managed to teleport her out of the library despite no sigils being used in the ritual.

Meanwhile, various younger magi were crowding around the exit in a frenzy. The copper skinned magus stifled a laugh as she watched their helpless expressions and frenetic gesticulations.

  “Everybody, please report to the Great Hall.” A silky baritone voice boomed.

  The mage recognized the distinctive voice immediately. Who wouldn’t?

  Amaya cast a glance to her left. An endless hoard of frenzied mages were clamoring around the corridors leading to the Great Hall.

  The mage chuckled and cast a teleportation spell while the rest of the student body was trying not to get trampled.

|-----------|

  Curses.

  She had forgotten that the Headmaster had put a ward around the campus that prevented anybody from teleporting out of and into the Great Hall. If anybody attempted to, the charm that was placed on the ward would automatically transport the unlucky mage to the academy’s entrance gates.

  The Headmaster had stressed this daily and harped upon each and every student to never attempt teleportation within the campus grounds.

  How had she forgotten?

  The enormous brassy entrance gates were bound together with an unsightly mass of ceaseless chains. On top of that, wards upon wards were cast upon the gates that a novice mage like herself could only dream of deactivating them.

  She did know somebody that could though. With a grin, Amaya patted the sides of her cloak and opened every compartment there was.

  Empty, empty, empty. Had she forgotten her communication sphere as well?

  The dissonant cacophony of the trashing beast and the crescendo of her pounding heart composed a grand symphony of adrenaline. Energy shot through her veins and the mage rushed forward. Her eyesight was blurred with tears. But she continued forward, trusting her instinct.

  She needed to flee the campus immediately. The capital city of Stratus was only a few blocks away from the academy and while she was not gifted in the physical department, she was nimble and determined.

  But the brick bridge connecting the academy and the capital city Stratus had been cleaved straight into two.

|--------------|

  Amaya fell onto her knees and a cloud of pastel red dust emerged upon his descent. Her royal blue hood hung over her head and darkness engulfed her peripherals. A shock of ebony locks, which hung limply over her face, the bold blue corners of his hood and the shattered cardinal bricks beneath him were all he could see. It was kind of pretty. They were all shades of red, black and blue. Just like the emblem of Lux.

  This was farewell. It seemed that the transience of life transcended her will.

  “Farewell,” she mumbled under her breath.

  To her left, an avalanche of bricks crumbled into dust. She heard the rattling prattle of the dragon’s footsteps drawing near.

  She shut her brown eyes and drifted into a brief respite.

  “Hiro! Hiro!” A warm, sweet voice, like honey, hollered.

  Hiro certainly wasn’t her name.

  She wanted to yell that she wasn’t Hiro. But her entire body was numb.

  A soft hand clutched her shoulder and all the numbness in her body ceased.

  “I’m taking you home.”

|-------------------|

The mage found herself lunging blindly into a bog of mystifying blues and purples. The rock beneath her soles were seething cold and stung with every step she took.

  There was no discernible source of light. Although she should have been terrified, she was put at ease. It felt nice, exploring this foreign area. The cold air embraced her and she accepted the gesture wholeheartedly. Once she did, the wind beckoned her to take a seat. She complied and sat down, with her knees close to her chest. The rocky, frigid surface she had perched upon rewarded her for her efforts and lulled her into a meditative state.

  She could stay here forever.

  “No.” A strained voice cried.

  The mage turned her head in every direction but the darkness only grew.

  “They got another one.” The same voice lamented. “I didn’t think this would happen.”

The air’s embrace was no longer calming. It chilled her to the bone and left a stinging pulsation of pain in its wake. The mage felt her heart begin to race. She wrapped her arms around her legs and pulled them closer to her chest in a futile attempt to fight off the sudden change in atmosphere.

  “Listen to me very carefully.”

  The mage’s body shuddered at the sudden announcement, but she wordlessly shook her head.

  “Never follow the gleam of amethyst.”

  The person (was it a person?) must have taken note of the mage’s bewildered expression because he said “You’ll see what I mean when the time comes.”

  “I’m afraid I’m a rather inexperienced magus. I can’t talk to you any longer without getting caught. What I’m saying right now will confuse you, but in due time, it will all make sense.”

  Amaya nodded as she clutched her cloak closer to her body.

  “If you can help it, never come here again. I trust you to pick up where I failed.”

  The mage felt a hand clasp her shoulder before a freezing gust of wind shot up her nasal cavity.

|-----------------|

  The darkness ceased and was replaced by a bright, golden glare.

  Her eyes were bogged by an invisible weight but the persistent light that forcibly batted against her eye lids pried them open.

  Amaya’s eyes tentatively fluttered open and finally adjusted to this new change.

  A harsh aroma, accompanied by a searing sensation that shot through her nose, greeted her awakening.

  “Smelling salts.”

  The mage quirked her brow in confusion.

  “It was the only way I could get you to wake up. Now listen carefully.”

  The hooded figure inched closer and she felt hot air against her ear.

  “I don’t know why since I have no clue who you are. At first I thought you were a friend of mine but I digress. For some reason, everyone I’ve come across wants to kill you. Now you see, I’d really appreciate it if you can tell me what’s going on so I can either help you if you’re innocent, or kick you out of my house.”

  Lady Luck did not favor her whatsoever

|-------------|

Disclaimer: I do not own any images I use

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  Amaya found himself back in the murky expanses of the cave she thought she had escaped. The walls felt much closer than before and an unpleasant heaviness clung onto the icy air. It wasn’t humidity, it was something else untangible that she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Still, she trudged onwards. One hand was tracing the wall and the other hand was hovering over the quill affixed to her belt. The petite magus was ambidextrous, so it didn’t hinder her that much.

  The uneasiness that knotted in her stomach only grew and was compounded by the sudden chills in the air. A tell tale burning coiled around her arm so she dropped it. Her hand then slid down the slimy, jagged stone walls. The palm of her hand was scraped brutally by the uneven indentions in the wall. And then, it brushed against something that was damp and softer.

Amaya curled her stinging knuckles and dug her calloused fingertips against the more tender surface. She was met with a bristling sensation as her fingers sunk slightly into the area. The mage pressed further and then drew circles with her finger tips. The feeling of bristling intensified.

The magus soon realized that it was probably wood. The texture was nearly identical to the weathered panel in her dorm that had begun to rot.

  The enchantress blindly continued to grope the surface. Shortly afterwards, her fingers traced something with the all too familiar sting of cold metal. She clasped it tightly and twisted it around until a solid click emerged.

As she clutchted the knob tighter, the willowy magus pressed all her weight against the wall. It didn't budge much but it definitely moved. Phantom needles pierced through her side and Amaya took it as a cue to step back. Her arm was now stiff from the prolonged pain that Amaya had been trying to ignore. Admittedly, she was not physically adept. Still, she couldn't help but be disappointed at how easily she was worn out.

The ebony haired mage used her uninjured hand to procure her quill. She tapped the base of the raven feather three times and small indigo sparks flickered about. They jumped to the tip of the feather and surrounded it in a bolder hue.

"Impetus." She chanted as she drew a sigil of a tempest into the air. A bolt of hot white light shot out from the tip of her quill and conjured a spinning sphere of wind that grew as it charged forwards. It sliced through the air and soon, the dull thud of something being knocked down rang out.

Amaya grinned. Though her prowess in medical magic left a lot to be desired, her affinity towards pure magic did not. Supernatural elements, such as the essence of wind and influencing weather, were her bread and butter.

She lunged into the gap within the wall but halted as the buzz of hushed, albeit distinct, chatter fell upon her ears. The worn heels of her academy boots skidded noisily against the gravel ridden ground and would surely attract attention.

  “Regina, I told you to leave. You’re going to get sucked in if you stay.” An all too familiar strained voice croaked. “Please. I gave you answers and you’ll get nothing more out of staying here.”

  “I don’t want to leave without you. Please come with me. Hiro, please!” Another voice cried.

  “I hate to interrupt but I really could use your help.” Amaya hollered. The room she had staggered into was still devoid of light but it had an entirely different atmosphere than the cave. “I'd to leave.”

  The baritone chuckled. “You can’t leave.”

  The voice wasn’t threatening but the insinuation behind those words caused Amaya's bones to go cold.

  “Why?” Amaya choked out. She suddenly felt extremely light headed and dizzy. There was no doubt that he was going to fall soon.

  “This is your subconscious. Well to be more specific, this is our subconscious. Welcome to the Phantom Lair.” The voice boomed. It was carefree and welcoming but the whole situation was just too bizarre for her to grasp.

  “What he means is, this is a place that you can only visit when you’re unconscious.” The more melodic alto voice clarified. “The only way for you to leave is when you regain consciousness. But you won’t anytime soon.”

  Before she could open her mouth to ask why, the supposed female voice continued her explanation.

  “I was the one who found you. You passed out again after I used the smelling salts so I decided to use telepathy to dive into your memories. I ended up coming to this place instead. While I’m here, you can’t wake up.” She told him. “I’m sorry, it was was wrong of me to invade like that. But now I know why you’re so....”

  There was a pregnant pause as she fished around for the right words. “Unfortunate and sought after.”

  Now, Amaya was even more confused but an epiphany befell her. The deeper voice belonged to the very same man she had encountered earlier. “Is that what you meant when you asked why everybody wanted to kill me?”

  “Mmhmm.” The male (or so she assumed) voice laughed. “You’re possessed by a phantom. Just like me.”

  “Possessed?” Amaya shrieked. She had never fought an apparition but she had her fair share of ghost stories and they never ceased to unnerve her.

  “Not by a ghost,” the baritone voice clarified. “A phantom. They’re different. Phantoms are physical beings with the ability to play with your mind. They’ll talk to you in your sleep and throughout random times of the day. Since they’re monsters from the underworld, they come in all shapes and sizes. For all we know yours could be a bat or a hideously mutilated cat or a worm with lots of teeth.”

  Amaya shuddered at the imagery and pulled her cloak closer. “So in short, I’m doomed?”

  “Well, there is a way for us to help you. Phantoms are puppet masters. If you do the task they want you to do, they’ll leave you alone. Problem is, phantoms are always ambiguous.” The male voice sighed. “And super sadistic. Which is why I’m the way I am right now.”

  “He’s been stuck in the Phantom Lair for years,” the female voice explained in a rather somber tone. “He refused the request of one of the phantoms that possessed him. Even though he’s dead now, his essence is doomed to stay here for eternity.”

  “Not to worry! I refused the request on my own accord , for it was far too ludicrous. However, your phantom doesn’t seem as unreasonable. After all, you’re still in one piece, eh?” The male voice reassured although his words exacerbated Amaya’s concern.

  “He can’t be the only one who refused a request from a Phantom. How come he’s the only person I’ve run into?” Amaya asked. She could’ve sworn that the air had somehow gotten stiffer.

  “Everyone is confined to their own prison in the Phantom Lair,” He explained. “I have no clue how you ended up in mine. I also clearly told you to leave this place.”

  “I gladly would’ve if I could’ve,” Amaya retorted.

  Then she paused as she recalled his earlier words. “What’s the gleam of amethyst?”

  “Amethyst is the trademark of a nasty, nasty phantom. Unless you’re a masochist, avoid everything with amethyst eyes.” The male insisted. Amaya could've sworn his voice dropped by two whole octaves.

  “I’m afraid it’s too late for that,” the female informed. “We’ve been followed by one.”

|----------|

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  Though the student body was populous beyond belief, the behemoth chambers of the Great Hall had somehow managed to accommodate to all of them. In fact, despite the sea of uniform blue cloaks swimming through the banquet tables, the Great Hall felt oddly sparse at the moment. The hall was freezing; it felt cold enough to chill the bones. Magi huddled around each other, swaddled with additional cloaks. Others crowded underneath the oversized lantern at the center of the hall in vain. Caelum resisted the urge to sigh.

The lantern was held to the ceiling only by a weathered brass chain and was far too high to offer any real warmth.

  Ignoring the chilling sensation crawling up her spine, Caelum strode to the podium and cleared his throat. No reaction.

  She muttered the incantation "Magna Vox." under her breath and tried again.

"Ahem. May I please have everybody's attention?" She asked. Her voice rang through the halls and echoed fiercely. There was a dissonant edge to each echo and soon, every mage had turned towards her.

  They were painfully transparent, even with their hoods on. Every single one of them.

"First of all, allow me to apologize. It was not the Headmaster that has called you into the Great Hall but me," Caelum started and a sea of murmurs arose.

  'Wait for it,' she reminded herself as she clenched her jaw.

  "I beg your pardon?" A soprano voice rang out, "Only the Headmaster can summon us! Isn't this a crime?"

  Caelum rolled her eyes. That mage was trying so hard to sound so assertive but it came off as a shrill whine.

  "You are correct," She responded. "It is a criminal offense."

  Another series of murmurs arose and he could have sworn he heard a triumphant "Hmph!"

  "Under normal circumstances," She finished and the murmurs ceased. "I am the apprentice of the Headmaster and he has delegated this task to me."

  "In an attempt not to cause any panic, I used a simple spell you all should know: Mutatio Vox. I temporarily took on the voice of the Headmaster, and made the announcement to the campus. Please allow me to explain why." Caelum explained.

  "With a heavy heart, shall I impart this information upon you," She continued. "The Headmaster has perished."

  The hall was dead silent. Gone were the rustling of cloaks and the skeptical murmurs.

  "His death has sent his beloved dragon Fulgur into a frenzy. The Headmaster was the only one who could tame the beast. So, until the members of the Aero Mage Council arrive to knock Fulgur out, we shall remain in the Great Hall." Caelum finished.

She felt a rush of cold air run up his spine once she had concluded her speech. Caelum's eyes scanned the crowd, searching for the perpetrator. But who would be stupid enough to cast a chilling spell on her, especially at this time?

  Nobody, she reminded herself. The hall was just cold.

  "Me," An unnervingly distorted voice giggled, snapping her out of her thoughts. "These silly little kids probably don't even know what a chilling charm is. But I sure do!"

  Caleum swiftly spun around. Only the looming darkness of the corridor behind her met her gaze.

  "All I needed to do was knock one of these sheep out cold. Then, I stole the tome and then said frigus. Did it spook you? It looks like it did. Good. You looked like you needed a harmless little scare." The voice said in a sing-song tone.

  "I was going to dissuade you from taking on a position on the Council. Nothing good ever comes out of that. But you know, you're still a baby bird. You've yet to see the world. Once you do, you'll be in for a bigger spook. All you'll need is one little look. Just a peep." The voice continued in an almost reminiscent tone. "Tehee. This is farewell. You'll remember me once you go off into that posh little tower of yours to sleep."

  "You're not a magus." Caelum muttered.

  "Speak up little bird. I can't hear you." The voice said mockingly.

  "I said, you're not a magus." Caelum repeated. "How did you cast the Frigus charm?"

  "Magic of course," The voice responded in a deadpan. "I've been told you're exceptionally bright but now I'm wondering if everybody in this cute little school is just exceptionally dumb."

  Caelum withdrew her staff from within her cloak and thrust it forward. It only struck air.

  "Ohoho. You'll have to try harder than that little bird. I would stay and chat but I need to find this one little magus. I fear he might spoil my plans." The voice chuckled tauntingly.

  "I will not allow you to harm any mage within the Great Hall." Caelum declared in a steely tone. "We have wards up that prevent any combat magic from being used. If you attempt to harm somebody with your bare hands, I will personally see to it that you are knocked out."

  "You do? Then why was I able to cast Frigus?" The voice said in mock surprise.

  "The chilling charm is not a combat spell. As you said earlier, it is only a harmless scare tactic." Caleum responded.

  "Heh, whatever you say little bird. Besides, who said that my magus was in the Great Hall?" The voice replied.

Oh no. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no...

  "You can't be serious." Caelum said in a low voice. "There's an academy student wandering around the premises?"

  "What a responsible little leader. Losing a student on her first day of work. Aevus would be so proud." The voice laughed coldly.

  Caelum hurled a fragor sphere into the endless darkness of the corridor. It exploded in a shower of soft gold light, which lingered for a fleeting moment. All she saw was the running velvet carpet and the faded beige walls of the hallway.

  "What are you?" Caelum gasped as the cold tension began to tighten its grip around her body.

  "You'll find out." The voice chirped. "I'll see you soon baby bird."

  And with that, the eerie distorted voice faded away.

|----------------------------------------|

  "Greetings, this is Caelum Nubis, apprentice of the late Alexander Aevus. Please respond as soon as possible. There have been reports of an academy student being sighted outside the campus."

  Caelum clutched the communication sphere tightly in her shaking hand. She had gotten absolutely no response whatsoever from the Council since the whole descent into chaos started.

  And on top of that, there was a student running around the campus grounds while the land's most feared, most capricious dragon was roaming across the land. She might as well have walked straight into a pyre.

  "Caelum?" A voice rang out. Caelum flinched, grabbed her staff, and turned around swiftly. She breathed a sigh in relief when her eyes met a pair of calming sea green orbs.

Then she narrowed her eyes and took a hostile stance.

Why was he here?

|---------|

Image Source: DeviantArt White Dragon by sandara on DeviantArt

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From: Caelum Nubis

August 3

Dear Hector,

Congratulations on getting the internship with Regina Aire. Allow me to give you a word of advice: Tread with caution. From what I've heard from Sir Aevus and his many friends, she's a capricious, soulless beast. No intern has stayed with her for long and she's said to be rather fond of hexes. Many tales surround her and I've got a few to share some time.

Life outside the academy must be refreshing. A tabula rasa. Lucky you. Have you met the woman? Or has every female within a 10 mile radius rebuffed your horrendous advances?

I hate to admit it but academy life has gotten extremely dull and nigh unbearable without you. The new T.A I have to work with, Rhea Sirius, claims to detest every fiber of my being. She claims I'm too pretentious and apathetic. Yet all the students turn towards me for assistance instead of her. I've received countless letters of gratitude and she has none to her name.

Oh, why couldn't you just conjure a clone when you left? Sadly, you're the only person I could ever work with.

If it weren't for that vile, sneering virago, my academy life would be just fine. There are no more classes for me to take and the only block I have to show up to is my T.A shift for Theoretical Time Travel. It's a very niche elective and this year only ten students have opted to take it. This is the lightest my workload has ever been.

However, Sir Aevus's training is downright brutal. Discussions, reading and beating up dummies no longer satiates that man's desire for progress. Lately he has been been coaxing me to train by lucid dreaming. It doesn't sound bad but it's downright frightening. Sir Aevus has this air of unparalleled boldness that is only amplified when he invades my mind. Sparring against his multitude of shape shifting forms by convincing my mind to conjure up a solution is nerve wracking. What's even worse are the places he takes me. They're cold and dark and downright frightening. There's something about them that's just queer. At least I don't retain any injuries or physical exhaustion from this training but that doesn't detract from the fact that it's so arduous.

Sir Aevus has been demanding a lot more of me. He's been bringing me to more Council gatherings and extending training hours. This week, he had me participate in a discussion with the other Council members regarding the issue of foreign policies. I made a complete fool of myself by engaging in an argument with a hard headed, egotistical pyromancer. He showed zero remorse as the perfectly capable pyromancer had her golem guard forcibly escort me out of the meeting. Ever since that day, he's been pounding diplomoacy into my head.

Unfortunately, my schedule has been thoroughly consumed by Aevus's shenanigans. I will not be able to write to you for a while but please do not hesitate to send me letters. I am always pleased to hear from you and even though I'm busy, I will find a way to read your letters and reply albeit it might take much longer.

Hector, I miss you. Sir Aevus informed me that you're visiting the Academy over winter break. Would you like to accompany me to the Academy's winter ball? As the Headmaster's apprentice I am forced to attend this overly frivolous event and I don't think I can bear to go through it alone.

Yours truly,

Caelum

-|-

From: Hector Cenyth

August 5

Dearest Caelum,

I'm so touched. Caelum the Curt has congratulated me. Due to this, immense honor and joy have swept over me today.

Alas, unfortunately you're right. Regina Aire, though she is a captivating beauty, is highly demanding and unpredictable. But I'll make it through. You are my hope Caelum. If I manage to prove myself to Regina, the pickiest person in all of Lux, I'll finally be accepted on the Council. If that happens, I may have a shot at being your adviser once Sir Aevus steps down. You and I both have a dream and I'll go to any lengths to help you fulfill it. Being the Headmaster is your destiny but that's not all. You have great plans for the both the Academy and the nation and I shall assist you in every way I can. Like you said, I'm the only one who can really work with you after all. We're a team with the same dream. You may be more studious and bright but I have charm and grit, eh? I'll be of some use in some way.

Heh, Sir Aevus may seem tough, but he's doing it for your benefit. I know you already know but Sir Aevus is a genius and there's reason behind this madness. Don't worry, you'll push through. You always have. We'll get through this together.

Also, the name Rhea Sirius seems to ring a bell. I can't place my finger on it but it's really familiar. Your description of her oddly mirrors Lady Regina. They'd probably be good friends.

I'll gladly accompany you to anything Caelum, as long as I can attend and when I do, I'll show up in style. You can count on me attending the winter ball.

I suppose this will be the last I'll be hearing of you for a while. I'm really going to miss you. Lately I've been preoccupied as well but I'll try to send a letter every two weeks.

Working for Regina Aire has its perks and free postal service is one among many.

Yours truly,

Hector

P.S

Regina and I have developed a new type of pocket watch. It doesn't look like much but you're brilliant enough to figure out its use. Don't let it fall into the wrong hands.

-|-

From: Caelum Nubis

August 8

Hector you fool!

You can't be serious. What have you been thinking? Sending an artifact like this in a paper thin box? So much could've happened but I don't have the energy to reprimand you.

I didn't show Sir Aevus. I fear what his reaction will be. While it may be his area of expertise, he had once been so consumed with his obsession of retrieving the the missing piece of whatever would morph his studies from theoretical to practical.

Please tell me this is a prototype. Please! This is far to dangerous to just plop onto one's front porch. Regina Aire wouldn't be so foolish. Neither would you.

This joke does not evoke humor. I need answers now Hector. A new type of communication sphere has been developed and its impressive range will allow us to talk.

You're Regina's intern so getting ahold of this shouldn't be a problem for you.

Respond as soon as possible and burn this letter when you're done.

-|-

From: Hector Cenyth

August 9

Dearest Caelum,

For reasons I must remain reticent about, lest this falls into the wrong hands, I cannot acquiesce to your request. The Council can trace every conversation I have on a communication sphere. It's far too risky. In due time, everything will make sense.

Regina and I will meet you sometime, though we won't announce when. Both of us have decided that you're the only one suited to carrying out this task. The watch you hold is incomplete. It needs a jewel of essence from each nation. The Jewel of Magi Magi can be found in the Academy's library.

I cannot offer you any insight on the locations of the other jewels but Regina and I are working on it. The watch is the safest with you. Nobody will suspect a thing.

I am heading to the Mortem Marshes in search of the Jewel of Spirits. Regina is in Inferno trying to retrieve the jewel of the Phoenix. and will head to the Fey Forests to find the Jewel of Rappaccini. At the moment, we have no clue where the Jewel of Cryomeidis and Echo are. We do know they are in the icy Proditione Peaks and the great Triton seas, respectively.

I'm still accompanying you to the winter ball, I swear on my honor. I'll tell you more about it then.

Yours truly,

Hector

-|-

From: Caelum Nubis

January

Dear Hector,

I have figured out where the Jewel of Cryomeidis and the Jewel of Echo are located. The Jewel of Cryomeidis is at the peak of the Proditione Peaks, not surprisingly. As for the Jewel of Echo, it's located in the Triton Prince's lair.

You didn't come to the ball and I was lonely. It was tremendously awful.

Sir Aevus says you and Regina have been MIA. I don't believe it. You're not missing, you're keeping a low profile. You are, aren't you?

I've kept the watch at my side all this time. The Jewel of Magi locks into the cover like a charm. I don't know why it hasn't warranted any attention yet. Well, it is small, colorless and lacking luster but you claim that it's so important.

Hector, tell me where you are.

Sincerely,

Caelum

-|-

It was a lie. It was a lie, wasn't it?

The paper fluttered to her feet in a heap of shreds.

"Master, is it true?"

Sir Aevus was looking down at her with those signature, woeful blue eyes.

Pity.

"Both Regina Aire and Hector Cenyth have been declared dead. They were sent to Inferno to make negotiations and their bodies were found charred. The faces are undeniably their's."

|--------|

I'm not sure how relevant this is but I originally wrote Caelum as a guy. Then I changed Caelum to a girl on a whim.

Image Link: https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fst.depositphotos.com%2F1025323%2F1938%2Fi%2F950%2Fdepositphotos_19389307-stock-photo-time-gears.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fdepositphotos.com%2F19389307%2Fstock-photo-time-gears.html&tbnid=qwKd0L-J7wVnXM&vet=12ahUKEwiYxN3Kz9fpAhULT1MKHYryC78QMygKegUIARCoAg..i&docid=BP12lvioKDKj8M&w=1024&h=768&q=time%20gears&ved=2ahUKEwiYxN3Kz9fpAhULT1MKHYryC78QMygKegUIARCoAg

“Hector, what are you doing here? You’re not even an academy student anymore.”

You're supposedly dead

"You haven’t heard?” Hector asked with a grin. Caelum shook her head. "Well, you’re looking at the newest member of the Magus Council. Ah, with the exception of you of course. I was sworn in a week ago. Those bastards finally accepted me. ”

The Council declared you dead 8 months ago

“The standards must have dropped if they accepted you," Caelum sighed as she retracted her staff. The willowy youth raised his eyebrow in bewilderment and then chuckled. He brushed his chestnut hair out of his face and strode over to Caelum.

Y. ou're lying, you're not here on the behalf of the Council. I've been asking everyday about your whereabouts. Your status has always been MIA until you were declared dead.

“I would have thought you had a little bit more faith in me.” He laughed in mock horror. “I should punish you for your insolence. But I’m afraid I can’t do that. Sir Aevus will rise from his grave and haunt every fiber of my being if something happened to his precious protégé.”

Just like you did?

Caelum groaned and shook his head. “I’m not ready for this. Any of this. I haven’t even graduated yet. “

I'm not ready for keeping a bunch of gossipy children under control, much less dealing with an ambiguous mage who rose from the dead.

Hector clapped her shoulder reassuringly. “Sir Aevus thought you were ready and I trust his judgement. Besides, even if you didn’t want to take up this position, you’d have no choice. You’re the only one that Sir Aevus trusts. It's in fine print and all”

Yes, I know but what I really want to know is how much has Sir Aevus told you? You seem to know more than I do about my own mentor. Has Regina Aire been feeding you intel? Is she magically alive like you are?

"That’s not comforting in the least.” Caelum grumbled.

"At least you’re enlightened now.” Hector said with that smile that was too radiant for a dead man to wear.

Hardly. Why are you alive?

"Ignorance is bliss,” Caelum retorted and then she narrowed her eyes. “Actually, I retract that statement. I need an explanation. Why are you here instead of... I don’t know, somebody that actually knows what they’re doing?”

Give me answers

"I was the only one qualified to go here,” Hector replied.

Lies. You're declared dead.

Caelum shot him a quizzical look and Hector only grinned. “They dispatched their more experienced aero magi to take care of the dragon Fulgur. The other magi are too far away to be an asset and those who aren’t are dealing with political affairs. You know, that stuff.” Hector explained. “So, when you sent that distress call, I decided to come by and pay my old friend a visit.”

I didn't send you the distress call, I sent the Council the distress call. And you're not on the Council you liar.

"What are you supposed to be doing though?” Caelum questioned. Hector shrugged.

"I was supposed to look for the student who was wandering outside of the campus but I got a call from my boss saying to drop the issue.”

Your pupils are normal, your body language doesn't indicate anything but what are you hiding? That's not a lie....

"What? No, that doesn’t sound right. He would be here right now if somebody else retrieved him. Who’s your boss?” Caelum asked.

You're going to crack

Hector sharply inhaled, softly exhaled and then said “Regina Aire.”

Caelum snorted. "I can't believe the ice queen has taking a liking to you. Even after putting up with you for 9 bloody months, she's kept you."

You both are supposed to be dead!

Hector shook his head vigorously. "That's a bit of stretch. I've just been promoted from delivery boy to work mule now."

"What an honor." Caelum responded with deadpan irony.

Those words were painful to say

|------------|

Image Link:

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fstatic7.depositphotos.com%2F1002238%2F754%2Fv%2F450%2Fdepositphotos_7544717-stock-illustration-comedy-and-tragedy-theater-masks.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fdepositphotos.com%2Fvector-images%2Fdrama-mask.html&tbnid=hhMArGoqFx76iM&vet=12ahUKEwiwkbeg0NfpAhV9VzABHRRwB6gQMygOegUIARDqAg..i&docid=veTce9_OCBy3TM&w=600&h=479&q=drama%20masks&ved=2ahUKEwiwkbeg0NfpAhV9VzABHRRwB6gQMygOegUIARDqAg

"Explain." Caelum said in a low steely tone.

Hector sighed inched closer. His face hovered dangerously close to Caelum's and his bright green, almost iridescent eyes shot him a heartfelt look.

"Dear Caelum," He began in a wistful as his finger snuck underneath Caelum's chin. In a mere matter of seconds, his voice morphed into a husky growling tone. "Let's take this elsewhere."

Without warning, Hector swept Caelum off her feet and bolted through the seemingly endless corridors surrounding the Great Hall. The shorter mage bobbed up and down like a pitiful sack on the brunette's shoulder. Caelum clenched her jaw and dug her chin sharply into the older mage's shoulder in defiance. Truth to be told, she could've easily wormed out of Hector's grasp easily or mutter an incantation to a myriad of paralysis charms. For whatever reason, she restrained herself from doing so. Shs was still incredibly confused and going along with this madman's plan would probably reap more answers than demanding them by force. Of course, if anything went wrong, Caelum was definitely not defenseless.

"You know," Hector unwisely decided to pipe up as his jog became gradually slower, "If it weren't for the whole hating me part, I would have say you haven't really changed that much. You're still Cae, the Cold and Callous."

As he began to chuckle, Caelum growled. Though she would never admit it, she was actually fond of that pet name. Only Hector referred to him as such after all.

But was this even Hector? He had witnessed the retrieval of the corpses first hand. He had attended Hector's funeral service and was given Hector's very own staff. There was no plausible explanation for this, unless he was hallucinating.

Then again, it wasn't possible for hallucinations to carry you, was it?

Caelum was snapped out of her thoughts when she was abruptly dropped onto the floor. Well almost. Hector had half dropped her, then quickly bent down before Caelum made contact with the ground to ease her onto the floor.

"Ok, this frivolous affair ends now. I need answers Hector. Why are you al-"

Hector's gloved hand roughly flew towards Caelum's mouth.

"Not now." He hissed

Caelum nearly bit his hand until he heard it as well. The all too familiar clack of academy boots against the stone floors were drawing near.

"Time to have fun ~" A sultry soprano voice rang out.

"There is a storage room something here, right?" A gravely braitone responded.

"Sorry, it's taken," Hector hollered as he removed his hand from Caelum's mouth and placed it against the wall. "Shortie and I are just getting started."

"...That was hella embarrassing. Let's check the bathrooms instead."

As soon as the footsteps faded, Caelum side stepped and shot Hector an icy glare. "You pig!"

"I had to improvise! What would you have suggested I do?" Hector said in defense as Caelum tugged the hem of his cloak.

"Maybe you could've found a much better place to have this discussion so that wouldn't have happened in the first place." Caelum groused. "What is wrong with you? Have you developed an obsession with me?"

Immediately after Caelum wished she could eat her words. That wasn't an insult to Hector. That was a blow to herself. For the past nine months he had been engrossed in the delusion that Hector was still out there holding onto his promises. That fantasy had been completely shattered as soon as she attended the funeral service. She had an obsession with Hector and now, it had begun to rear its ugly head once more.

Hector stood eerily still for a lingering moment and looked down at Caelum with wide, unreadable eyes. "Just get inside."

He pushed the flimsy wooden door to the storage room open and walked in first. Caelum followed him hesitantly and was unnerved and boggled by why Hector went in first. She could've easily ran away or locked Hector inside.

"Caelum, you're an open book. You always have been. That's why I trust you." Hector said softly. Caelum stumbled mid step in mild shock. Before she even had a chance to process anything, Hector had rushed by his side and put his hand behind the shorter mage's back to prevent his fall. Then, he shut the door behind them and slid the irritatingly noisy lock. "Dearest Caelum, welcome to your master's secret study."

A puff of pastel yellow smoke emerged and as it dissipated, the chandelier in the middle became fully lit. The area was far more spacious than the humble entrance would've led anybody to believe. Rows upon rows of bookshelves circled around them and a massive wooden table engraved with the signature dragon crest of his mentor stood innocently in the middle.

"Quite frankly, I don't care about any of this at the moment. I have access to his personal archives back at his manor." Caelum spat. "What I would like to know is, why are you alive?"

She couldn't wait any longer. She needed to know before she sunk deeper into madness. It had nearly consumed her, had it not been for Sir Aevus.

"I missed you too much and I couldn't die without paying Cae the Callous a visit," He replied nonchalantly as he walked around the round table. Caelum on the other hand, stood dead still and glared at him with unwavering icy eyes.

"Well, it's a long story. But I'll give you answers. You see, I was never dead. That corpse you saw? It wasn't me. Heck, it wasn't even real!"

Everything was now unraveling. The truth was finally coming to light.

For her at least. She intended to keep Hector in the dark about her recent findings for as long as she could.

|---------|

Image Source:

https://www.google.com/search?q=quill+and+parchment&sxsrf=ALeKk01eoRT_Jg7llgRypfNqrBO1qGUObQ:1590706026287&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=QEOVhJlskR7ctM%253A%252CBavJXO9gO-0ZeM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kQMKmCmA8JV4Vgdu6JQ2-C1pGndJQ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjS2o3d0dfpAhUSWqwKHUEDCNUQ9QEwAHoECAoQJw#imgrc=QEOVhJlskR7ctM:

"However," Hector began when he finally halted to a stop, "I can't explain it by myself. And I doubt you'd believe me anyways."

Caelum narrowed her eyes and tightened her grip on her staff. "Stop being ambiguous."

Hector shook his head as he rummaged through his cloak compartments. "I'm sorry, I really am. But I can't say much right now. There's a mole here."

Caelum wasn't entirely sure if it was an excuse she had come up with on the spot or sheer paranoia. All the same, it intrigued her. She couldn't think of anybody at the academy who could arose major concern from anybody significant. "I have every reason not to trust you," The blonde mage stated simply as she walked over towards Hector.

"Therefore, I think we should set a couple of ground rules."

At that very moment Hector retrieved a sphere from his cloak with such a sickening purple tint. The boldness of the shade made her eyes sore and something about that particularly bright color made her sick to the gut. "Of course," Hector responded. "What are they?"

Caelum felt her head swimming and she swore it had something to do with the sphere. There weren't any curses or hexes or any type sinister magic really that the sphere was imbued in. At least, she sensed nothing and Caelum considered herself well versed in that field of magic.

"After you provide me with an explanation for this mess, empty your compartments and tell me exactly what everything you have is going to be used for. In the event that you'll drag me into your mess, you're not permitted to use any of my possessions. Do you comply with my terms?" She said calmly despite the perpetually growing pounding in his head.

"Yes, I do." Hector replied. "Is that all?"

"For now," Caelum groaned as her overwhelming dizziness was now compounded by a strong, tell tale urge to puke. "And you've stalled for long enough."

"Impetuous as ever," Hector scoffed as he tossed the sphere into the air. A gaping abyss of dark purple emerged in front of him. "If you want answers, we'll have to visit a friend of mine."

"Where..." Caelum began and she felt her voice trailing off. At this point, she was far too tired to do anything really.

"The place Sir Aevus takes you to in your lucid dreams," The taller mage explained as he inched closer to the portal. "It's real."

"What makes you think I'll follow you into a place you won't even tell me about? It's like tackling a test with no prior context," Caelum retorted as a head splitting force pierced through her head.

Hector only smiled. "Your comparisons have always pertained to school and it's quite charming that they haven't changed."

He turned his head around for a brief moment, still smiling. "I don't but I have a feeling you will. I'm going in first. Besides, what do you have to lose?"

Without another word, he leapt into the portal, which was now shrinking rapidly.

She wouldn't admit it but Hector was right. Her curiosity had always gotten the best of her, so she took the leap of fate.

-|-

(Flashback from Ch. III- Dungeon Crawling)

"Everyone is confined to their own prison in the Phantom Lair," The male voice explained.

"I have no clue how you ended up in mine. I also clearly told you to leave this place."

"I gladly would've if I could've," Rolan retorted. "You sounded downright miserable when you begged me to leave."

Then Rolan paused as an epiphany befell him. "What's the gleam of amethyst?"

"Amethyst is the trademark of a nasty, nasty phantom. Unless you're a masochist, avoid everything with amethyst eyes."

"I'm afraid it's too late for that," the Regina said lowly in a steely tone. "We've been followed by one."

"Regina," The baritone voice said lowly and his voice now took on a darker hue. "What do you mean?"

"I thought it was a familiar at first," She explained. "There was a cat that had been following us when I retrieved him from the Academy. I thought it might have belonged to him or a colleague of his. It didn't have a tag on it so it certainly didn't belong to a council member."

"It was a really pretty cat. It had black fur and amethyst eyes. Now that I look back on it, there was something really unusual about the cat." She continued. "But I couldn't have known."

"You're probably overthinking it. Cats can have purple eyes," Rolan pointed out. "It could've been my roommate's cat. His cat has dark fur and blue eyes that look purple at certain angles. He also sends his cat out to find me when I try to skip class or stay up too late. He was probably just concerned that I didn't show up at the Great Hall."

"If the cat was truly a familiar, it would've done something when somebody aimed a lightning spell at you. It would have also attempted to shield you from the dragon's attacks." Regina argued.

"Regina, that's enough. Unlike your’s, most familiars are relatively weak. They can provide information about a person's whereabouts but seldom fight. A mere cat is no match for an experienced mage or an old dragon." The baritone voice cut in. "He's right, you're being paranoid. You two need to leave now."

"We can't." Regina told him coldly. "I promised a colleague that I'd meet with him here."

"Are you insane?" The male voice cried with an unstable fierceness that frightened Rolan.

"Why would you meet somebody in the Phantom Lair? You're just setting yourself up to become a phantom's prey!"

"Would you still want me to leave if I said that your visitors are Aevus's new apprentice and Hector?"

"...Cenyth got roped into this?" He said dismayed. "The boy had a bright future."

"Don't underestimate him. Without him, we wouldn't have been able to assemble to Watch of Reparation."

"How?" The mage said in an exasperated hiss.

"I suggest you wait for him to arrive and ask him yourself."

Meanwhile, Rolan had decided to lean against the wall and shut his eyes. Though he was technically unconscious, he felt unusually sleepy in the Phantom Lair.

-|-

Author's Note: The concept of the Watch of Reparation was inspired by the Odencat Game "Clock of Atonement"

For those of you that have read this far, thank you! I hope that at least one person enjoys this story.

I'd really appreciate some constructive criticism.

Image Link:

https://www.google.com/search?tbs=simg:CAQSswIJP0KqEBHblL4apwILELCMpwgaYgpgCAMSKIMMlxeYF5kXsAy8DpYXuw6VBLoOoiOiLZojmSOjLbAioS2HI6AthSAaMHBaEnvsU3aAaLgcHiANOrnzinnfFKxeDAKa_1oBHyWwnPZ88EBkmcL1zXUtVLkKVPSAEDAsQjq7-CBoKCggIARIED8WiIAwLEJ3twQkanwEKHAoJYmxhY2sgY2F02qWI9gMLCgkvbS8wM2RqNjQKLAoZZG9tZXN0aWMgc2hvcnQtaGFpcmVkIGNhdNqliPYDCwoJL20vMDEyYzlsChsKCGJhbGluZXNl2qWI9gMLCgkvbS8wMTdmcjAKGQoGYm9tYmF52qWI9gMLCgkvbS8wMnpmeTIKGQoFYXNpYW7apYj2AwwKCi9tLzAycmN3cGIM&sxsrf=ALeKk00z76EFMUWAm939nsmv6PsccfibrQ:1590706303912&q=high+resolution+eyes+hd&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj8zL7h0tfpAhUFTKwKHS6DB_EQwg4oAHoECAkQKA

Author's Note: Flashbacks are in italics

With all due respect Sir Aevus, what is this place?

It's the Phantom Lair. How're you holding up?

Everything's so cold. What's in this place?

The manifestations of all your fears.

Why would you bring me here?

If I expose you to this, you're less likely to succumb to them later on.

'He's not telling me the whole story. I trust him but why?'

Hector had been right. Wherever he had taken her was completely identical to the abysmal labyrinth that Air Aevus had trained hEd in. The familiar chilling sensations and the ceaseless darkness were unmistakable. The horror of it all was only compounded by the fact that it was real.

By the third day, I had been completely desensitized to the cold

And despite the dark, I had figured out how to navigate the maze quite well

However, I could never get past the Phantom Beast by the exit

Sir Aevus gave me no hints other than to use my wits

I tried everything. Charms, hexes, combat spells

It didn't respond

I tried negotiation next

But all it sought was my head

Out of desperation I let it enter my brain

I don't know what happened next

But when I had awoken, Sir Aevus was frighteningly pale

And told me to never do that again

He said that phantoms were slain by listening to their tales

And not getting swayed

"Every phantom has a story to tell

And they want to make it a reality

What you must do is to sit through it all and prove them false

Their fairytales are nothing short of disasters and delusions

They want a puppet who shares their ideals

If you listen but don't sympathize

They won't come after you next"

This place should have no longer unnerved her. She knew it like the back of his hand. In just one turn, she would be face to face with the phantom Superbia. The tell tale drop in temperature confirmed that he was at the right spot. As she extended her hand to grab the door handle, something felt off. Where the door should've been was just sheer emptiness.

"Caelum!" Hector hollered, though Caelum couldn't really pinpoint where he was. "Where are you?"

"I'm at the gates of Superbia," She responded. "Where should I be?"

"I-I don't know. Can you wait for me? I'll find you." was Hector's shaky response.

"Hector," Caelum said lowly. "Have you been here before?"

The unspoken words 'It doesn't seem like it' hung in the air.

"No I haven't," Hector choked out. "But this is the only place we can find him and you seem to be familiar with this place.

"You've gone mad," Caelum said with a callous edge. "Nobody should go to the Phantom Lair on their own accord. And who is he?"

"Sir Aevus's previous pupil. Regina said it was about time I met him."

Who are you? You aren't a phantom. You're a mage.

I'm a Phantom's Puppet, it's a pleasure to meet you. At this point, I'm little more than a discarded toy.

How about you? What's your name?

I'm not obligated to tell you

You're a smart one. But I'll tell you a little something

Sir Aevus knows what's best. You won't end up like me

"I've met him. And he told me nothing worthwhile. What makes you think you're different?"

"Because we're meeting Regina Aire there. If anybody can convince him to spill, it's her."

|--------|

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Caelum tentatively stepped foot into the empty space. It must’ve been the same place despite not having a door. Her hand grazed the cold stone walls. The familiar ridged torch was hoisted on the wall in the exact same place as it always had in his dreams. It was somewhat comforting to Caelum. Hector, on the other hand, exuded boundless nervous energy that made the hair on the back of Caelum’s neck rise. Caelum was a particularly sensitive mage. While her acute senses did wonders for her during training, it never ceased to bother her. She could feel the presences of other magi and it was unnerving. Caelum didn’t know how or why it happened but Sir Aevus reassured her that it was a gift.

“Hector,” Caelum boomed. “I’m going to illuminate the area. You’ll be able to find me.”

Eerie silence, which Caelum disregarded completely, was the response he got.

“Dance Infernale.” Caelum muttered as a purple flame bounced off her palm. It found its way to the torch and shortly afterwards, stray flames from the torch began bounding throughout the room at random intervals. Each flame eventually wandered into a torch and the vast expanse was slowly illuminated in a soft lavender hue. The magnificent scene always left him awe struck no matter how often he saw it. It was so surreal. Yet it brought back so many memories that he wished would die away.

“I can’t stand this. Caelum, how did you?” He cried out wearily.

Caelum didn’t respond because he couldn’t stand this place at all. Saying anything would’ve been untruthful and he still owed Hector a shred of respect.

-|-

(Flashback)

After her disastrous first encounter with a Phantom, Sir Aevus insisted on accompanying him to the Phantom Lair. Though her intentions were reassuring, Caelum couldn’t help but feel even more frightened. This was all a lucid dream, so why did it affect her physical state? There was something he was hiding, though Caelum could never fathom what it was.

He’d showed him the ins and outs of the realm. How to find your way around, fight common enemies and whatnot. But he never told him what the realm truly was. Even after he had mapped out the area by heart and learned to ward off the weaker phantoms, Caelum was nowhere closer to finding out about the area’s lore.

Sir Aevus’s ambiguity continuously compelled Caelum’s wariness and there came a point where she just broke. The Phantom Realm was unwelcoming and soul sucking creatures lurked in every corner. How was he supposed to feel at ease in a foreign dungeon?

“What’s a phantom?” Caelum had questioned for the umpteenth time that night. “It’s not just a manifestation of fear. It feeds off fear. Saying it is fear itself is an oxymoron of sorts, unless fear is cannibalistic.”

Her speech was winded and convoluted but it incited a chuckle from his instructor.

“You can feel them but will always fail to see them. They’re always with you even when you feel like you’ve conquered your demons. Phantoms are a part of life,” He recited while strumming his lyre.

Caelum wanted to pry the damned instrument from his hands and hurl it into his head.

“This place does not affect my physical state, correct?” She asked Sir Aevus. The headmaster was preoccupied with humming an old folk tune that always drifted throughout the streets of Stratus but he managed to poetically answer “Yes.”

“If I’ll kill myself here, I’ll just wake up.” Caelum mused as she withdrew her dagger.

“If you kill yourself, you lose the experience you’ve worked so hard to reap.” Aevus warned as his quaint impromptu tune shifted to a haunting lullaby.

At this moment, Caelum couldn’t even bring herself to care. The whole affair was needlessly cruel.

Besides, how would crawling through the depths of an unknown ring of hell help him on the Aeromage Council? It didn’t teach her the customs and policies of the other regions. It didn’t enhance her magical capabilities more than training at the academy did. Diplomacy was devoid completely in this matter and the whole thing was confidential so he received no accolades. All she had learned was to persevere through ceaseless, fear binding darkness.

“What if...” Caelum said in a slow, low voice. “I killed you?”

“Dance Infernale!” Sir Aevus had cried out and a ring of white hot, bright purple flames sprung forth from nowhere. When the fires had ceased, faint purple light hovering over decrepit torches remained in its wake and Aevus was nowhere in sight.

“Your next task is to locate me.” He said without a trace of emotion in his words.

With a clenched jaw, Caelum pushed her palm against the jagged stone walls. The rough surface marred her hands with an array of criss crossed cuts and he had to admit, she relished the pain. The physical pain in the Phantom Lair was the only thing distracting her from the horrors it wreaked upon her brain. The endless whispers, the tortured cries of uneasy souls, and the flashbacks....

“I hate this place,” Caelum muttered through gritted teeth as her heels crushed the exoskeleton of a weak floor dwelling phantom. As soon as the figure dissipated with a sickening sizzle, the familiar intensity of a phantom’s death seized him. In a matter of seconds, a flurry of emotions and sequences of events cascaded through his mind and then left at an agonizing pace. His brain was swimming and his senses were mush.

The phantom had been following an orphaned boy, preying on his hatred. It had taken the form of a bright, attractive beetle to rouse the boy’s attention.

How conveniently similar.

Aevus had always said that Caelum was here to conquer her fears.

The Headmaster was a brilliant man albeit a draconian puppet master who saw no restraints on his guinea pig. Truth to be told, that applied to every professor at the Academy but even more so to the esteemed Headmaster.

His only incentive was the dream he and Hector shared. They wanted to completely change the Academy system so it’d nurture its students reasonably instead of bombarding them with pressure to be like the fallen gods. It was a naive child’s fantasy but if a well groomed scion and the Headmaster’s pet protege couldn’t even stand this treatment, who could?

“Nobody,” a nagging voice in her head sneered.

The Council was full of ludicrous aging aristocrats who were paranoid about not having enough power. Yet, there was no reason for them to. The empire of Nebulous had practically eradicated every powerful creature from the floating lands and it struck fear into the nations below. Even the most capable mage folk on land offered excessive tributes to the Aeromage Council as an olive branch.

It was twisted but the successful nation of the aero magi ran on the blood of those it had slain. And the aero mages had slain every region’s guardian Titan. The Council wasn’t even needed to ensure peace among nations. It was just a fancy way of flaunting the capabilities of aero magi.

Caelum blinked twice and blinked hard. Those weren’t her thoughts. They were flashbacks from a nearbg phantom. She knew it was true yet it shocked him all the same. Those thoughts mirrored his deepest fears.

She needed to find the person who held these thoughts, Aevus be damned.

“Congratulations, you found my old pupil.”

-|-

(Back to the present; Hector’s perspective)

Inexplicable fear. That’s what this place evoked from within him. Hector was just an animated corpse and he found it quite funny that he still got the adrenaline rush that only emotions could bring forth. While he was quite aware that the dead had a special, emotional connection to the Phantom Realm, he would’ve never fathomed that it’d make him feel so alive again.

Or that his lingering feelings of passion still remained.

He saw it affect Regina in a variety of ways. She had morphed from cutthroat and efficient to careless and tender. The moment she had set her eyes upon the alluring amethyst orbs was the moment she lost all her willpower. Her past caught up to her and devoured her in its rosy nostalgic haze. Their dream was no more. Regina was reunited with her former devotion.

Collaborative dreams never worked anyways. It would always consist of two type of people: One who supported it when it was convenient and one who stood by it until the end of time. Hector was always the latter and all of his partners were the former.

So when Caelum Nubis had responded to him with curtness laced with malice, Hector had been genuinely surprised. Caelum was always soft around him but now her true callousness rivaled Hector’s own.

Hector would explain everything since his body was truthfully no more. His ghost form was transient and its death was drawing near.

Caelum wouldn’t forgive him, that much was certain. He had fallen through the same abyss the deceased Cenyths and the headmaster failed to crawl out of.

But Hector longed to hold the shorter mage in his arms once more and to grip tightly onto his delicate frame until he faded away. It was selfish and it would stymie their goal and-

It would never happen. He was no longer human and Caelum was a stone cold phantom slayer. Neither of them were capable of expressing or reciprocating sympathy and intimacy.

Ignorance was bliss and a luxury Hector would never have. He tampered with time and saw every possible journey and the ends it entailed. And he knew very well that if he let his personal desires take the reigns, the future would be bleak.

The true watch of reparation was attached to a short chain that stopped right above his heart. Before following the purple light that Caelum had summoned, Hector held the trinket close to his dying heartbeat and sighed.

It wasn’t a relic of atonement. It was a relic of knowledge that nobody should’ve used.

That’s why he had given Caelum a cheap carbon copy. The aftermath of the original were far too much for a mortal to bear.

Ignorance was bliss, change was inevitable and anything good was always elusive.

|--------|

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