The Last Fragment

Chapter 3: Igniting The Fire

Time was slipping away. Growing longer and longer with each passing seconds. Enzo having a starring contest with the leader of this cult. Trying to hide any kind of fear which could be shown through his eyes. Knowing that one sign of weakness could be the end of his life. Remaining strong for Solar's sake. Not knowing what would happen to her if he wasn't about to try and stall any of this. Catching Solar still passed out on the stone slab, making the back of his mind panic.

Without any kind of warning, the leader walked away from Enzo. Turning their back to him and grabbing something which Enzo could quite see. Then noticing that the other cultist weren't about anymore and seemed to have vanished into thin air. Gradually the leader turned back around, holding a ritual blade in his hand. With a green gemstone on the handle and vein like engravings going down the handle. Catching the light just perfect to catch Enzo's attention. Clicking that it was exactly like what was on Solar's hand. Then finally noticing a bright devious smile, gleaming under the shadows of the hood.

"Wait... just wait" Said Enzo with a slight pleading look in his eyes, wanting answers to his questions before his inevitable end was soon to come.

"What is it?" Questioned the leader as they gripped the blade in one hand, crossing their arms over their chest as that once devious smile slipped right of their face.

"I just want some questions answered before you end me" Sighed Enzo as he took a discreet glance over at Solar, wanting to know the truth to what this was really all about.

"Humph... I suppose I could... wouldn't do any harm" Replied the leader as they lent back slightly, resting the bottom of their back against the stone slab which they grab the blade off of.

"So... what do you want to ask them?" Contained the leader as they swept their hand across the floor, like gesturing for Enzo that the floor was his to ask what he wanted.

"What are you trying to achieve by doing all this... surely one person isn't the end of the world?" Questioned Enzo as he let the one question on his mind out, not knowing what kind of response he was expecting.

"She's not the first one we've done this too" Replied the leader as they turned their head to the side, not even being able to look at Enzo after that answer.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Asked Enzo as he tilted his head like a confused puppy, not understanding what the person in front of him was really on about.

"It means what I said... all this is to finally seal the Moon Lord away for eternity... a ritual of the finest" Replied the leader as they glanced down at the blade in their hand, bringing a slight smile on their lips appear.

"But... the Moon Lord hasn't appeared in years..." Stated Enzo as the confusion became a bit more intense in his mind, not understanding what this elaborate ritual had endured to get this far.

"Exactly... but when the Lunar Events start... you don't remember the catastrophic damage that occurred... his children are here to separate the strong from the weak... destroy those who are not worthy of living under his moon" Snapped the leader as the rage could be seen physically exposed, their hand shaking that was gripped around the blade.

"You... think Solar... is one of... the Moon Lord's... children? Stuttered Enzo as he couldn't believe what he was hearing, not believe that this was actually being said at the moment.

"Her name gives it away really... the Moon Lord named his children after the four pillars which are summoned before the so called... impending doom... and the fragments used to summon the him" Answered the leader as he let the rage flow out of them, still feeling on edge about everything that was going on at the moment.

"And what are they?" Questioned Enzo as he started to get slightly intrigued by what the leader was saying, wondering how they knew so much about the Moon Lord and how all of that function.

"Stardust... Nebula... Vortex... and Solar... pretty distinctive names if you ask me" Replied the leader as they felt a tiny bit calmed with their selves, not realising that releasing all of this was actually making them feel better.

Suddenly the pair of them heard a high pitched scream from behind them. Seeing a blinding orange light consuming the room. Flinging Enzo from the middle of the room to the side with the leader. Smashing the wooden chair into splinters. Leaving Enzo sprawled out in a pile on the floor, trying to turn his gaze back towards Solar. Noticing the light was starting to fizzle out and become smaller and duller. Seeing the silhouette of a figure right in the dead centre, seeing the bright light was coming from her chest.

Eventually when the light had retreated, there was a new Solar standing looking at herself horrified. Shining orange armour glowing on her body, with a set of winged circlet attached to the side of her head. With a small fragment star in the centre of the chest-plate, along with a sword strapped into a sleeve on her back. Hair was now a bright flowing orange. Now set into a high pony tail keeping it all together. Finally there was a set if wings sprouted out of her shoulder blades. Shining like embers as they fan out, looking like soft feathers. Eyes glowing green as well as the engravings on her hand. Now feeling power coursing through her body.

"What's happening to me?" Thought Solar as she looked at her hands almost shaking with fear, not understanding what was happening to her at the moment.

"The Solar Fragment... it's finally been released" Muttered the leader as they stood there in disbelief, the final piece of the ritual was there in front of them...