Breaking Light

Chapter 7

"The blue star. You are absolutely sure that is what he said?" Her mother asked Aria as they walked through the halls. They both strode slowly and Melissa was listening intently. They both walked up the stairs leading to the main corridor. Illuminating spheres at the side of the steps glowed a little brighter as Aria and her mother climbed up. Little children still followed Stag, who seemed like he was starting to get annoyed but did not show it till one child threw a small flickering energy ball that hit the back of his head and burst in a series of miniature fireworks. Stag hovered with his claws clenched and shoulders taught and hissed under his breath,

"Can I please scare the shit out of that little brat, he's been itching to get a response from me the moment he saw me. Aria? My lady?"

Both the mages turned around and gave Stag a hard look to which he simply shrugged

"All right, All right! I was just asking. No need to go all fierce on poor old me."

The corridor was a long passageway that connected the entrance to the rest of the Academy. Brightly lit by energy spheres held in place atop braziers of intricate detail, designed as wines that made it look like the place was lit by plants. Along the walls on both sides were portraits of all the Guardians of the veil, and the entire place was decorated with similar flora that decorated the entrance. Strange plants that did not originate here on Earth. The Sentinels were standing at guard along the length of the corridor. All of them wore their combat robes, dark purple that almost looked black, hoods covering their faces and staves in their hands, standing straight, Aria could feel their power radiating, when it came to combat prowess, the sentinels were deadly and dangerous. The Academy's defenders, trained from the start and made to endure the harshest of trials of the Academy. Their mental fortitude was legendary among mages in the Order. These were the arcane warriors, called upon for damage control and enforcement of the law. Basically an army with enough power to blow up an entire city with their will power if such a need arose. Aria caught a glimpse of the face of a Sentinel, His staff was of his impressive height and carved with runes that glowed faintly with slow pulsations of an aura that distorted the air around it. He had a short beard, a nasty scar running from his neck up to the mouth, he looked up at Aria and his eyes were glowing a dull blue shade with a mist coming out. He nodded at Aria and she bowed her head in acknowledgment. Dangerous people all right, she thought. The Academy was well defended and any attacker would be seriously crazy to even enter the premises with ill intent.

"Mom, what is the blue star?"
"Not what, who. an Elder Elf."
Aria looked at her mother in confusion, expecting an elaboration but she was graced with none yet, she knew she had to wait for an explanation.
"I thought the elves were all gone to the shadowlands after the second great war." She asked.
"And we have worked very hard to make sure people believe it," Melissa said in an affirming tone.
"Most of the elves have indeed gone to the distant lands, content with their passing of age and era, but some remained here still. Though most hold a bitter grudge against humanity for what we did, some knew that it was necessary to prevent a greater calamity and the Order has been graced with their counsel for nearly a millennia now."
"How have I not seen a single elf in my life when I was here, mother?"
"My dear, you have. Remember when you were little and you accidentally broke the space-time continuum? When we got you back, you said the sun man saved you from falling and showed you the way home."

Aria recalled the event, she was only six or seven years old perhaps. She was in tune with magic from the day she was born, always manipulating energies at a low level, Melissa and Michael had tried suppressing her talents and it only made things difficult. Her natural link to the ether made it very easy for her to manipulate the flow and she had managed to open a rift in space and time. All she could recall was darkness and shadows enclosing and the figure of a man who shone so bright that the shadows could not come near her, came close and took her hand and guided her out of the rift.

"That was an elf," Aria said with a sudden realization.
"Not just any Elf, that was Master Singuenara; The blazing light in the darkest of the night was what he is named. There were many others too but you were too... occupied to notice."
Aria's mouth fell open, she had read about the legends of Singuenara's light.
"Woah Kid, The light is very well known in the underworld. Most of the demons lose grip on this plane just listening to the name. No wonder Michael kept you hidden so long." Stag said shutting her gaping mouth with a single claw.
They reached the end of the corridor. Huge wooden doors barred their way. There was carving on the door that showed many Sentinels in action, all in their battle stance, well-disciplined and impressive. Melissa lifted her hand, after a quick gesture, the wooden doors parted, Warm light invaded the corridor and they went through. Aria took a second to adjust her sight to the exceptionally bright space ahead. She blinked a few times before the vision cleared, they had entered the grand hall of the Academy. A gigantic place that seemed unnatural to even exist. The place was teeming with life with people moving about everywhere. These were the community grounds. Aria looked up to see the usual illusion of the open sky complete with a sun and clouds inside the Hall that lit up the entire place with natural daylight. Small spheres of energy manifested around Aria, swirled around her a couple of times before vanishing. Even though she grew up here, this place was always a sight to behold. Situated directly over ley lines, the flow of magic could be seen inside the academy as a light glowing streak of particles that moved in waves within the grand hall. Its color changed with every turn it took and after every wave. It was like a mesmerizing light show.
"I can never get tired of this place," Aria said, taking in the view.
"My lady is that...." Stag pointed out to an open space with nothing of apparent interest.
"Yes, Stag. It appeared after the storm a few days ago. It has not grown in size ever since, though I fear the worst. We must prepare for what is to come. I do not trust chances." Melissa replied knowingly. Either the two were hallucinating, which was highly unlikely, OR they could see something Aria could not.
"Mom, what are you talking about?"
"I will show you later. For now, to the Grandmaster. Off you go. I need to take care of some matters before I can join you. Meet me in your old room for two hours. We shall talk then." With that, Melissa spun her hand around her casting an arc in front of her and a portal manifested. She walked through and the portal disappeared in an instant, imploding on itself without an energy backlash.
Aria turned around looking at the vast hall that connected the entire sections of the Academy.
"Good to be back..."
"Oh, we'll see..." Stag said, his claw on her shoulder as he hovered next to her. "We will see..."