The Harbinger's Children (Guardians Of The Arcane Chronicles Vol. 2)

Chapter 14: To Be A Hero

Fun Fact: Denatured arcani is the world's global currency since it can be converted to arcani easily. Glyphs are used to record the amount of money, and are also named after celestial bodies.

Luna (Moon): Crescent shaped | Lowest form of currency | 20 Lunas = 1 Tellus

Tellus (Earth): Leaf shaped | Middle form of currency | 50 Tellus = 1 Sawel

Sawel (Sun): Sun shaped | Highest form of currency

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Kleopatra paced the corridor like an anxious father awaiting the birth of his first child. She glanced at the door again. Gaius was taking way too long settling his friend in, and she still had so much to discuss with him.

The girl pouted unconsciously. It's not like she was badly injured or anything. Does he really need to spend so much time on her?

The sound of squelching boots stopped her from barging into the room. Kleopatra raised an eyebrow at the small group of armoured magis returning. They were soaking wet for some reason, and Cybele was looking more pissed off than usual. The Guardian Council Leader stormed into the general room and slammed the door shut.

"Hey Cybele." Kleopatra entered the room quietly. There was no response. Her sister was slumping on the table with her face buried in her hands.

"How did the mission go?"

Cybele looked up. Her hair streaked messily across her face, stuck to her skin by the tears that were still flowing freely from her eyes. She sniffled and wiped her tears away, only for more to course down her cheeks again.

"W-why...?" She sobbed. "I try so hard to keep things together. Why do I still... fail? Why won't anyone listen to me...?"

Kleopatra hid her surprise. It was rare for her sister to cry, which meant the mission had obviously gone sour. She cast her gaze downwards, furrowing her eyebrows. She did not recall seeing Felix return with the Guardians. Oh gods, is he-

She shook her head. No. It just wasn't possible. Felix was too strong for anything to even hurt him.

"I'm not cut out for this." Cybele continued between choked sobs. "I'm not meant to be a leader. I shouldn't even have taken up this position in the first place. Anyone else could've done a better job. I'm so... worthless."

"Cybele..." Kleopatra was struggling to form words, so she moved without thinking.

The hands on her back were holding her tightly, but they felt softer than ever. The girl held her sister close, feeling the trembling of her whole body as she broke down into a quivering mess of tears.

"I don't know what to do, Kleo..."

The doors slid open.

"I see you've finally taken the first step to becoming a leader, my dear child."

Cybele broke away from Kleopatra and ran towards her father.

"D-Dad! What're you doing- I thought you'd be busy with-" Cybele stammered, hurriedly wiping away her tears. "E-everything is fine! You needn't come all the way here to-"

"What, are you going to turn away a man only keen to see his daughters?"

Cybele fell silent, pursing her lips.

"It's not easy leading a team of highly skilled members without real power backing you up." Vulcan patted her head gently. "I've been there, and here you are as well. But you have already done so much better than I did."

"No, I didn't!" Cybele's eyes shimmered again. "Gaius quit on me, I lost Felix in a prisoner exchange, and the rest of the Guardians won't even listen to me now! I can't control them like you did, Dad. I'm not good enough..."