(UNDER HEAVY EDITING!!) Stellar Serenade: Cosmic Connections

Chapter 34: The Ruins Of Strength

Ravewyn's wings shimmered, her feathers ruffling, dragging them against the floor as she led Luminara and Umbra toward the right corner of the ruins. The intricate swirly and striped lines on her wings seemed to pulse with celestial energy. The gem on her forehead glowed brighter, casting a warm, luminescent light that illuminated the ancient symbols on the walls.

As they reached the corner, Ravewyn knelt down and fiddled with a hatch embedded in the celestial floor. The hatch creaked open, revealing a hidden passage beneath the ruins. She gestured for them to follow, her expression serious yet determined.

"Unfit? What do you mean unfit?" Umbra protested, his voice echoing through the chamber.

Ravewyn sighed, her eyes flickering with a mixture of frustration and concern. "How do I say this without sounding rude?" Ravewyn mumbled. "Just say it," Umbra said.

"You guys are weak," Ravewyn said bluntly, her words hanging in the celestial air.

"EXCUSE MEE?!" Luminara and Umbra screeched simultaneously, their pride wounded.

"I'll have you know that I almost kicked Umbra to next week!" Luminara shouted, her fiery determination evident.

"I've killed thousands of spirits alike you with a flick of my fingers!" Umbra declared, attempting to assert his dominance.

"YOU WHAT?!" Luminara screeched, her eyes wide in disbelief.

"Nevertheless! I possess the very power of the sun itself!" Luminara argued, defending her abilities.

"And barely use it," Umbra countered, smirking confidently.

Ravewyn's patience wore thin, her aura pulsating with frustration, Luminara and Umbra opened their mouthes to argue again, until her voice cried out. "WOULD YOU TWO SHUT YOUR INSIGNIFICANT POWERLESS MOUTHS FOR FIVE MINUTES?!" she screeched, her voice echoing through the chamber. The celestial gem on her forehead glowed intensely, and her right eye became almost visible through her silky white hair. The entire area fell into an immediate, oppressive silence.

Ravewyn cleared her throat, the celestial glow fading slightly. "Sorry. Would you please listen to me for a moment?" she whimpered, her demeanor softening.

"Yep, yep, yep, yep, sure," Umbra babbled, eager to comply.

"Right—yes, yes, of course," Luminara added quickly, recognizing the gravity of the situation.

Ravewyn led them through the hatch and down a narrow, dimly lit celestial corridor. The air seemed to hum with ancient energies as they descended further into the depths beneath the ruins.

"Follow me. I want to introduce you to something, and someone," Ravewyn said, her tone shifting from frustration to curiosity. The trio pressed on, guided by the celestial mysteries that awaited them in the hidden passages below.  

Luminara gracefully descended through the opening, her descent guided by the whispers of shifting sand. As her feet touched the ground, she found herself in a vast training chamber, the air alive with the rhythmic echoes of combat. Hieroglyph-covered punching bags dangled mysteriously in the air, each stroke etched with the wisdom of ancient symbols.

The room's expanse revealed an otherworldly spectacle — robots, marvels of unparalleled craftsmanship, occupied the space. Crafted with technology beyond imagination, these mechanized sparring partners seamlessly transitioned between wielding weapons, their movements executed with a fluidity that defied the very laws of physics. Their limbs blurred in a ballet of combat, a dance choreographed with a precision that exceeded the speed of sound itself.

A hushed greeting reverberated through the chamber as Ravewyn's voice cut through the ambient hum. "Welcome, to The Ruins of Strength," she announced, the gem on her forehead shimmering in response to the unveiling wonders. The room held an air of ancient mystique, where the clash of metal and the dance of combat coalesced into a testament to the formidable power that resided within these hallowed grounds. 

A male approached, his fluffy white hair bounced with each step, adorned with blue and gold hieroglyphs that sparkled in the ambient light. Sienna-colored skin added warmth to his appearance, and his vibrant blue eyes held a mischievous glint, reflecting the azure hues of the sky, they seemed related or something.

Dressed in a casual yet stylish ensemble, Ceruox wore black slim-fit non-iron chinos paired with a white raw edge t-shirt. Multiple gold and lapis lazuli bracelets adorned his wrists, jingling with a faint melody as he moved. The vibrant colors of his wings – a blend of butterscotch yellow, xanthous yellow, white, Picton blue, and sapphire blue – fluttered with an ethereal grace behind him.

His towering figure, standing at an impressive 7 feet and 8 inches, exuded strength and confidence, yet his demeanor remained easygoing and carefree. Ceruox's presence brought a lively energy to the scene, a stark contrast to the serious atmosphere of the ruins. Unlike Ravewyn he didn't have to drag himself from place to place, and seemed to carry himself strongly. He stood behind Ravewyn, ruffling her hair. "Ceruox.. Please don't-"

"Loosen' up lil' sis! Plus it looks like you haven't brushed your hair in weeks" He said, ruffling Ravewyn's hair even further. "help" Ravewyn mouthed at them. Umbra held his stomach, holding back a laugh. "This isn't funny" Ravewyn grumbled as Ceruox picked her up, and plopped her on his shoulders. "Holy! How much have you been eating?! Your heavy as heck.." Ceruox said. "It's the sword" Luminara said. Ceruox unsheathed Ravewyn's sword, pressing a button at the tip of its handle, the sword's edges fell down, the edges seemed to be packed with blood of multiple kinds, from what Luminara could tell it held much more than just celestial beings. 

"Still heavy" Ceruox chuckled, plopping Ravewyn down on the ground. Ravewyn quickly picked up the sword's edges, pulled out a jar from literally nowhere and poured the blood into that jar, then Ravewyn returned the edges to her sword. "So sorry about him. He can be a bit... well, him, sometimes" Ravewyn sighed, returning her sword to where it was before. "The training grounds should be empty for a while now, Oxilyse wouldn't mind if you trained here for awhile, if you think you're ready, come fight me" Ravewyn said. "Who's Oxilyse?" Umbra and Luminara asked in unison. The siblings paused, turned around, and whispered discreetly. Umbra leaned forward and held his ear, trying to listen in on what they're saying. "You're so nosy!" Luminara said, elbowing him. 

"Oww.. SO much for being curious?" Umbra mumbled. "Ceruox is going to explain, I'm going to nap" Ravewyn said, leaving the area. "Hm. So what were we talking about again?" Ceruox said, tying up his hair. Luminara felt the sudden urge to strangle him for his stupidity. "Oxilyse..?" She reminded him. "Oh! Oh yeah- Oxilyse is the spirit of the fairies and power, somehow keeping the strongest army in the celestial realms. A pretty good ruler of her kingdom too, in the far west in-between the Incas and the Sea Of Stars, right under the Celestial island. So the whole place is impenetrable. She's the creator of the Ruins of Strength too." Ceruox explained. "Tell me not to mess with her" Umbra chuckled. "What? I don't get the joke in that" Luminara said blankly. "Total girl boss, that Oxilyse" Ceruox said, walking off. "So.. What now?" Umbra said. Luminara sighed, pulling out her staff. 

"We train." She said.