VALKYRIE

Chapter 18: Eric's POV

"Please tell us! I'll do anything to get out of here," Juno pleaded helplessly.

The Light Leader looked at her, almost smiling. "I could transport you out of here with my remaining strength. But it would be hard to get myself out. I will stay here and you can go save the realms," she stated.

"How will we be able to save the world without you and your power?" I asked, confused. Juno nodded. The Light Leader smiled mysteriously.

"You will know when the time comes," she responded. Juno looked confused but went along with it.

The Light Leader closed her eyes and a powerful burst of light shot out of her hands. Juno and I looked at each other, waiting.

The light encircled us, and first the rescue party disappeared. Then Juno and I vanished as well.

We felt as if we were flying into a tunnel of light as the warmth from the bottom began to envelop us. We were gently set on the ground.

I looked around. We were in a forest, but it was much greener and much more alive than the previous realm. Juno looked around.

"This is the Valkyrie realm," she said breathlessly.

"The war is still going on!" I exclaimed, listening for any noise. I could hear cries of battle from afar.

"They're over there," Juno said, pointing in the distance. "I can feel the presence of my people."

We all looked at each other, nodded, and ran off in the direction Juno had beckoned to.

After a moment or two of running, we reached the edge of the forest, over a cliff. The sight was devastating.

The Dark Soldiers had broken through the barrier and had charged the Valkyries. I could see black smoke from where the Soldiers were constantly dissipating.

The Valkyries still had powerful numbers but the Soldiers kept coming. The constant battle cries were awful, and once a Valkyrie was struck down, another healer took them in and someone took their place.

Juno watched the battle with tears streaking down her face and all the color drained from her cheeks. Her lips slightly parted and she closed her eyes with her face to the sky.

She was praying, and I closed my eyes and prayed along with her. Juno took a shaky breath and opened her eyes, staring at the destruction of her realm down below.

"We have to get to the house. It's the only way to reach Faun," she said, looking directly into my eyes. I nodded, but suddenly an idea struck me.

"Wait, why don't you use your necklace? Faun contacted you and told you about the war with it," I suggested, thinking about it. Juno looked up, biting her lip.

"I can try, but I've never done it before," she contemplated,"so it's not going to be easy." I took Juno's hand.

"You can do it. I know you can," I told her, trying to encourage her. She nodded, taking a deep breath. Then she untucked her necklace and her hand closed over it.

The rose charm began to glow, and Juno seemed to be in a trance. After a while, she finished.

"Faun told me that we have to get to the house, so she can help us. Everyone, grab on to my hand."

We all reached out. The rose charm began to glow brighter than ever, and we all felt the familiar falling sensation as we traveled past the war and into the house where Faun was helping the healers cure the ill and injured.

We got up off of the floor and dusted ourselves off. Juno ran to Faun and hugged her. I walked over to them and gave Faun a hug as well.

She smiled and said to us, "Welcome back."

Then she looked around.

"The numbers of the Valkyries are slowly diminishing. Our realm may soon be overrun with the dark soldiers unless we do something drastic," she explained.

"Like what? Do we even have a choice?" Asked Juno.

"Yes. There is one thing. But it may be the end. The numbers of the Dark Soldiers will go down by almost half," Faun gravely stated.

"What is it?" I asked, almost scared to know what it would be. Faun took a deep breath and looked around sadly.

"The Diminishing War spell."

Juno immediately looked at me, confused. I shrugged my shoulders, also not understanding.

"What's the Diminishing War spell?" One of the members of Iris's old rescue party asked. Faun sighed.

"The Diminishing War spell is one of the most ancient spells, used by war heroes for centuries. The Valkyries used to be excellent fighters, until one suggested that they turned in a different direction, which led to the Healing Era, which is where we are today. Back centuries ago, it was the Magic Era, where everyone was learning spells. A powerful Valkyrie created the Diminishing War spell, which could wipe out every enemy soldier on the battlefield. After the Magic Era was over, then came the War Era. The very same Valkyrie who had created the spell tried it in a war, and they drastically won. The Valkyrie taught many other powerful Valkyries how to do the spell, and it was passed on for generations until the Healing Era began. Now, the spell is not well known among Valkyries, but I believe I might be able to perform such magic."

Juno gasped. "No! You can't! It will drain your power!" She cried, desperately trying to stop Faun.

"I'm afraid it is the only way to even come close to a possibility of winning the war," she sadly explained. I wanted to join Juno in trying to stop her, but she was firm on her decision.

"This may be the end for me, but you are still here," Faun said, brushing Juno's bangs out of her face. Juno began to cry, and I felt my heart sink.

Faun walked outside, and all the fighting Valkyries parted, watching her in disbelief and confusion. She closed her eyes, and muttered something.

A huge blast of golden light erupted from her hand, and all the Dark Soldiers dissipated. The light began to fade, and Faun fell to her knees.

Juno and I ran out to her, trying to help her stand up. But Faun laid on the ground, with all her energy drained. Her eyes were slightly open and she looked at Juno, silently crying.

"It is time for me to leave. To return to the light. Juno. Your necklace holds great power and an even greater secret. It is up to you to find and explore that magic. It is up to you to discover that secret and the answers to your questions. Use it for good, not evil, and love will find you," Faun said, and closed her eyes.

She went limp in our arms. Juno hugged me and cried, and a few of my tears were falling as well.

Faun began to radiate a powerful light.

She slowly turned into a glowing ball of light that swirled around, slowly floating and turning up and into the endless sky above, to the light of her new realm.