Sanctum Lumina

Sanctum Lumina: 1

At this point, I'll leave what happens next to my characters, okay? Don't miss me too much, readers! I'll still pop up in the stories, of course. I'm the one narrating, right?

So, see you all! mwah!

Love, Shippo

EA

The coldness of the water running over my bare skin soothes the pain I feel as I remember five years ago.

Yes, it's been five years since the attack on our hideout.

At first, I wondered where I was. The last thing I remembered was being at the hideout, and my companions were gone. They were attacked while I was in town buying food for us.

I lost consciousness inside the hideout, surrounded by blood and the bodies of my fallen allies.

Then came my second savior (Claugh was the first).

His name was McD. Not McDonald, just McD. I don't know what kind of name that is, but it's his.

He's not like Claugh.

He's much older—around 40 years old, I think.

But he did bring out the best in me. Though he said it wasn't my best yet. He said I could achieve even greater things in the future because people evolve every day, shaped by the experiences we go through. But I know now that I can do things I couldn't before.

I can save my allies.

A year ago, word spread in the town that they were still searching for the remaining members of the group.

They didn't manage to wipe us all out.

So, I gathered as much information as I could, trying to track down anyone I could find.

Then, about a month ago, I discovered they were still in the hideout.

But they had moved underground.

It should have been a much safer place, since the Northsonians no longer suspected the hideout's location. It was destroyed, and what was left were broken walls.

Again, I prepared for another month to face them.

McD prepared me. He said he would give me something I could use.

Maybe a weapon? A sword?

"Aren't you cold standing in the water for hours?"

I turned and saw McD standing a little ways off, his hands behind his back.

His usual pose.

"I'm just thinking," I replied.

"You'll fall asleep from all that thinking. Come on, get out of the water. I brought dumplings."

He turned and started walking away.

I quickly followed. I knew we both loved dumplings, and I wasn't about to miss out!

As I adjusted the pin on my shorts that had "EA Eskosa" engraved on it, McD spoke again.

"By the way, EA, it's been all over Northsonia that on Monday, they're going to execute the captured members of the hideout." I looked at McD. The identities of the captured members had been kept secret. "They even made posters," he added, handing me a poster he had gotten.

My heart raced when I saw the names and faces of my captured allies.

Bohien, Jorge, and Master...

Claugh wasn't on the list, which meant he wasn't captured. Where are you, Claugh? I hope you're safe.

Flashbacks hit me—memories of the time I spent with Claugh, from the moment we first met to the days before the megaments attacked the hideout. He was like a big brother to me all those years.

"There's still a week before their execution. They refused to cooperate with Northsonia after being captives for five years, so the king has no choice but to execute them."

"McD," I said, turning to him and staring at him seriously, as if to make it clear that there was no other choice for me. "I need to go back and face them again."

McD smiled and stood up. When he returned, he was holding a box.

"What's this? A jewelry box?"

"Silly child. Open it and you'll see."

Slowly, I opened the box.

Carefully...

Carefully...

For the intense effect.

And to my surprise,

It was so bright I could barely see what was inside.

Just kidding.

"What is this, McD? Are you messing with me? Handcuffs? Is this some kind of prop?" I asked, incredulously. Was he seriously giving me—though it wasn't really handcuffs, it looked thick—something like the gold cuffs from Aladdin?

"I don't know either. That wasn't what it used to look like. It used to be a sword, but I have no idea what happened. When they chose you for that weapon, it changed its form."

So now it's my fault?

"What am I supposed to do with this?"

"Uh... maybe eat it?"

"Tss."

"You're probably supposed to wear it! Come on, EA!"

"Are you sure about that, McD? I'm sure it can come off easily. It doesn't even look like it has a key. What if it locks?" I said, complaining as I put the cuffs on. It even adjusted to fit perfectly.

And from golden yellow, it turned black. Black as ebony, and suddenly—

"AAAAAAAAAAH! It's so hot! McD, help me!" I cried, the cuffs suddenly burning my wrists.

"Endure it, EA. That's one of the sacrifices you need to overcome before your body can fully unite with that arm."

Until everything went dark, and I lost consciousness.

I suddenly woke up, startled by a dream. Or more likely, a nightmare.

"You're awake. Drink some tea to calm yourself. The leaves are from the Euphelia tree," he said, handing me the tea, and it did help calm me down. "What did you dream about? You're panting like you ran a marathon."

"I was in a dark place, surrounded by... people who looked like me. But they were all carrying different weapons. Swords, bows, katanas, one had a lens in their eye, someone had wings, another with a whip, and I was in the center. But then a light suddenly shot toward me, and— I woke up."

"Hmm, finish that tea so you can calm down completely. Then you can rest more."

"Wait, is it Sunday already?"

"Of course! You've been asleep for a while, so it must be Sunday by now."

I remembered what happened yesterday, and the arm! I looked at my hands and sighed in relief when I saw it was gone.

"Good thing you removed the cuffs. That was so painful, what I went through with that."

"Actually, the Arm is already part of you now."

"What??"