A QUEST OF DEATH : Dawning Darkness

14 | Amulet • Part 2(edited)

Romersai, or rather her guardian Hannah, had handed it to her when she left the Crepusculem seven years before.

"You know I still love you, right? I'm sorry that I couldn't change Zen's mind, but you know you always have me on your side, right?" The head mage's delicate fingers had softly run through Ada's tangled locks.

The day's events had left her far from presentable, tracks of tears mixed with mascara marring her rosy cheeks, clothes in tatters, her hair a chaotic mess. She had sat alongside the one who had cared for her like a mother since her parents vanished in a battle with the Dark Side on a frigid winter night.

Shinatzai Zen, the head priest, had already rendered his final verdict. She had to leave. She had failed to adhere to the Crepusculem's code of conduct and was no longer fit to hold the sacred Luna Pearl. Her dealings with the dark side had gone awry, resulting in a tragedy that nearly shattered the Romersai clan. If anything had gone wrong that night, if she had been unable to mitigate the damage, the Guardians of Light-the Romersais-could have been on the brink of extinction.

"Here, take this. Talk to me whenever you want. Call me whenever you feel unsafe or alone." That's when the head mage had offered her the Moon Amulet for the first time. Ada's gaze had flickered to the ornate mirror pendant, adorned with intricate patterns, in her hand.

"You know how to use it, right?" The head mage's warm hazel eyes had searched her face, to which Ada had responded with a hesitant nod.

"Of course you do. You were the most promising candidate the Crepusculem had seen for the position of Head Mage in a long time," Hannah had continued with a touch of pride.

But it was a bitter irony; Ada was no longer eligible. She had failed, and the Head Mage could no longer vouch for her.

Tears had welled in Ada's eyes, a painful mix of shame, humiliation, and failure. She had disappointed everyone and turned into a disgrace in her brother's eyes. A tear had rolled down her cheek, renewing the tracks that were already etched there.

"I'm sorry. I failed you," she had muttered, her head hanging low.

The head mage's hand had slipped around her, enveloping her in a warm, reassuring hug.

"I know, Ada, I know. I know how sorry you are," the head mage had murmured, drawing soothing circles on her back. "But here's the thing. Everyone makes mistakes. You've got to rise from those ashes, stand tall, and show them what you're made of."

She had pressed the amulet into Ada's trembling hand. "You can do this, my girl. You must do this."

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

It had been so long since she had held such an artefact in her hands let alone recited any of the verses that she had been learning her whole life. She was uncertain whether it would still work. With trembling hands, she retrieved the amulet from its confines, polished it, and focused her thoughts on the only rescue she knew the road to.

She held the Moon Amulet before her, her eyes fixed on its polished surface. She poured all the magic she could muster into the mirror, hoping to reach someone on the other end. Her heart raced as the mirror began to glow with an intensity that was almost blinding, like a miniature sun.

A profound sense of guilt washed over her, drowning her in its icy grip. Realising that somehow she had been saved only meant one thing to her: Auden was in danger and she was his only refuge. Crying wouldn't bring the least of help, so she forced herself to regain composure.

The mirror's glow intensified, her reflection now almost consumed by its radiance. Ada strained to keep it powered, her fingers trembling with the effort. She focused on her intention, the desperate need to reach out to the other side, to get information, to find her brother.