Nemona: The Witch of Scaranton

Chapter 19: The Celestial Confrontation

As the pulsating glow of the Celestial Circle outside intensified, my heart quickened with a mixture of trepidation and determination.

"Where's Gilbert for so long?" Eleanor's voice trembled with worry, the absence of her father reflecting in eyebrows coming close together.

Lionel stepped forward, taking a moment to reassure her and the rest of the group. "We must trust Gilbert's judgment. He's resourceful, and he knows the village well. We can only hope that he'll return in time."

Jasper looked up at me with wide, inquisitive eyes. "Arria, can you use your runes to protect us?"

I nodded, grateful for the young boy's trust. "Yes, Jasper, the Keldara Rune can help, but it won't be enough on its own."

Beatrice, her violin still clutched to her chest, chimed in. "Let's gather everything we know about Nemona, the dark man, and the celestial event."

As we huddled together, each of us recounted what we knew about the dark man, whose presence seemed to be connected to the Celestial Circle's alignment.

"The dark man," I began, my voice carrying the weight of my experiences, "he's a manifestation of betrayal and darkness. But what we need to understand is why he betrayed Nemona, the guardian whom everyone loved."

Lionel, his brows furrowed in thought, pondered aloud, "Perhaps he coveted the power she possessed. Or maybe he believed that by imprisoning her, he could harness that power for himself."

Beatrice added, "Jealousy often breeds treachery. He might have seen Nemona's connection to the guardian and covered it."

Eleanor, her eyes glistening with determination, chimed in, "Regardless of his motives, we must be prepared to confront him. We can't let him harm our family any further."

Beatrice nodded, her expression resolute. "I won't let Nemona down. We'll find a way to save her and stop the dark man."

Eleanor placed a comforting hand on Jasper's shoulder, reassuring him. "We're all in this together, Jasper. We'll protect you and each other."

As the celestial event drew closer, Tommy entered the room once more, his breath quickened, holding a weathered scroll. He unrolled it, revealing the intricacies of the Celestial Circle's alignment.

"It's almost time," he announced, his voice tinged with urgency. "The Anthea Comet, the two moons of Eldora, and the constellation Nyradia—they're converging in the sky."

Eleanor, her voice steady but tinged with anxiety, spoke up, "We need to finalize our plan. Arria, can you use your knowledge of the runes to create protective barriers?"

I nodded, drawing strength from their trust in me. "Yes, we can use the Keldara Rune to strengthen our defenses. Beatrice, your music can play a crucial role in channeling our collective energy."

Beatrice nodded, her fingers already itching to play her violin, the source of her connection to Nemona.

Lionel, ever the strategic thinker, began outlining our approach. "We'll form a protective circle around the Celestial Circle. Arria and Beatrice at the center, with the rest of us forming a barrier around them. Our combined energy, guided by Miss Arria, should fortify our defenses."

With the plan in place, we moved to the window, watching as the Celestial Circle's glow intensified. The moment of reckoning was fast approaching, and the mansion's ancient walls seemed to hum along.

In the distance, a flash of lightning illuminated the sky, casting eerie shadows on the stone circle outside. The celestial bodies were aligning, and the bridge between realms was opening.

As the first shimmering threads of the celestial bridge became visible, I felt a surge of power from the Keldara Rune, its glow intensifying on my skin. The time had come to confront the dark man and uncover the depths of it all.

We stepped outside, the glow of the Celestial Circle enveloping us.

**She & The circle**

As I stood there, bathed in the ethereal glow of the Celestial Circle, I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming rush of emotions. It had been so long since I had gazed upon these ancient stones, each one bearing the weight of countless memories.. For years, I had been traveling the world, seeking answers to the questions that had haunted me since my parents' death, and the Circle had seemed like a distant relic of my past.

The runes that adorned my skin pulsed with a gentle, reassuring warmth, as if reminding me of my duty, of the legacy that had been passed down through generations. But now, as I stood here with Winstons, the weight of that duty felt different. It wasn't just a solemn responsibility; it was a shared purpose, a collective determination to protect what was left of our family's legacy.

I remembered the night when my parents had ushered me to the Celestial Circle, their voices filled with urgency and fear. It had been a night like this, when the celestial bodies aligned, that they had sensed the looming threat. They had implored me to safeguard the Keldara Rune, to protect the realms from the darkness that sought to breach the barriers.

And then, they had vanished, leaving me with a legacy and a promise to fulfill. I had vowed to protect the Circle, to uncover the truth behind their disappearance, and to ensure that the darkness they had feared would never prevail. But in my quest for answers, I had traveled far and wide, seeking knowledge and understanding, determined to unravel the mystery of their demise.

Yet, fate had a way of guiding me back to where it all began. The Celestial Circle had found me instead, drawing me into its embrace once more. It was a bittersweet reunion, a reminder of the past I had left behind and the journey that had brought me here.

As I looked at the stones, I couldn't help but think of my parents, of their unwavering dedication to protecting the realms, and of the love they had showered upon me. They had believed in the power of the Keldara Rune, in the legacy of our family, and in the importance of maintaining the delicate balance between worlds.

With a deep breath, I realized that this was the moment I had been preparing for all my life. The Celestial Circle wasn't just a relic; it was a living testament to the magic that flowed through our veins.

I turned to my Winstons, their faces illuminated by the celestial glow, and felt a surge of gratitude and warmth that felt nostalgic at the very least.

The past and the present converged in that moment, and as we joined hands, forming a protective circle around the Celestial Circle, I knew that I was exactly where I was meant to be. The journey that had taken me around the world had led me back to my roots, to my family, and to the legacy that had defined us for generations.

With renewed determination, I whispered a promise to the stones and to my parents' memory. We would face the darkness together, and we would prevail. The Celestial Circle had found me, and now, I would protect it with all the knowledge and strength I had gained in my travels.