Sanctum Lumina

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© 2024 Ethel/sugarplalam/Shippo. All rights reserved.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, creatures, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, actual places, or real events is purely coincidental.

No part of this story may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Good day and good evening to my valiant readers!

This is the very first story I'll be sharing with all of you. I hope you enjoy how it turns out, as I was still quite young when I wrote this.

Due to rewrites and remakes, I'm not really sure if you'll like it.

And if you don't, well, you can always stop reading. All I want is for my writings to have a place, especially the ones I created back when my imagination was wild and restless. So, apologies in advance if some scenes feel a bit childish.

Now, let me start my epic introduction.

By the way, I'm Shippo, your narrator for the entire story.

EPIC INTRODUCTION

By Shippo

In a faraway place—not in the Philippines, nor in any other country. Perhaps another world? Or dimension? I don't know. I'll leave that to your imagination.

This is a place where magic thrives alongside advanced technology.

It's called Feli Ranoaia.

Within this realm lies a vast continent, home to a mysterious and powerful artifact—a special Arm—coveted not only by its inhabitants but also by the nobles who rule over the land.

The continent is known as Sahonia.

Sahonia is famous for its perfect square shape, divided into four regions or nations:
    •    Southsonia – The southern region, the second-largest in Sahonia.
    •    Eastsonia – Equal in size to the third nation.
    •    Westsonia – Completing the triad of similarly governed regions.

These three nations are each led by Presidents. Meanwhile:
    •    Northsonia – The largest region of Sahonia, ruled by nobles. It is also where the story's conflicts began.

The continent's four regions are divided by massive rivers, but Sahonia's fame doesn't end with its perfect square shape. At its center lies the breathtaking Four Arias—four majestic waterfalls facing each other. Legends say that beneath these waterfalls lies the special Arm, hidden in a place so unreachable that no one has dared to claim it. The sheer force of the water makes it impossible to delve into the depths below.

Yet, unknown to all, the true secret beneath these falls remains untouched.

And now, my valiant readers, let us follow the tale of how it all began.

Curtains close.

Spotlight at the center.

Curtains open.

Shippo

In the western part of Sahonia, two siblings were running for their lives: an 8-year-old boy and his 5-year-old sister. They were being chased by towering machines known as Megaments.

Megament—a robotic machine standing over 10 feet tall.

"EA! Run as fast as you can! I'll find a way to stop them!" the older brother shouted, pushing his younger sister into a tunnel.

Tears streamed down EA's face as she sprinted through the tunnel. At such a young age, she had already witnessed the cruelty of the world she lived in. She knew that if she didn't keep running, both she and her brother would perish in that place.

Suddenly, a deafening explosion echoed through the tunnel, making EA's heart race even faster.

A Megament had followed her.

She kept running, but like in every dire chase, she stumbled and fell.

The Megament drew closer and closer. Its mechanical steps thundered in her ears as she braced for the inevitable.

But then, the ground shook as the Megament suddenly stopped—and exploded!

Instinctively, she shut her eyes.

When she cautiously opened them, she saw a hand extended toward her.

She looked at it, then up at the face of her rescuer.

But it was too dark.

She couldn't make out his features.

What she was sure of, however, was that he was a man.

And not her brother.

"Are you okay, kiddo? Ow! What am I saying, of course, you're not!" he said, scratching the back of his head. "Come on! I'll take you somewhere safe."

Without waiting for a response, he grabbed her hand and led her out of the tunnel.

Once outside, he picked her up, and for the first time, she got a good look at his face.

He seemed about the same age as her brother, though his muscular frame and battle-worn features told a story of survival beyond his years.

"Oh, by the way, I'm Claugh Warlee. And you are?"

"EA," she replied softly.

"Cute name. Just like you," he said with a grin as they began walking through the woods.

"Where are we going, Claugh? I have someone with me. My brother Josh."

"You have a brother? Well..." Claugh hesitated, his face growing serious. "I saw a boy earlier. He was taken by soldiers from Northsonia. From the looks of it... I don't think he'll make it. I'm sorry, kid. I was too late to save him."

Tears silently ran down EA's face. She prayed her brother had somehow survived.

"By the way," Claugh said, breaking the silence, "I'm taking you to our hideout—the one fighting against the reigning king of Northsonia."

Claugh Warlee brought EA to the hideout of the mages who were opposing the current king of Northsonia.

She lived there once again and was helped by her companions to train, learning how to protect herself and her team.

Years passed, and she showed potential. She developed super strength that she gradually learned to control. When it first manifested, she didn't know how to manage it, and many of their tools were destroyed unintentionally.

But in an unexpected turn of events, while they were enjoying their typical day at the hideout—drinking, singing, dancing, shouting, laughing, arguing, running, falling, and doing all sorts of things—suddenly, they were tracked down by the megaments.

Most of those captured by the megaments were on the Northsonian wanted list.

At this time, EA, who was now 12 years old, was outside the hideout to complete her first task: buying food for everyone.

She wasn't yet on the wanted list at that time.

The fear EA felt when she was five years old, after witnessing the destruction of her home, returned.

Destroyed.

Many lives were lost.

And all she had left was herself.

She was alone again.

Unable to bear the trauma of what she had witnessed, she suddenly collapsed and lost consciousness.