The star i saw that day

Chapter 2: Nostuynia

I couldn't believe it. My whole childhood, my mother had been telling me about where I'm really from. And to be honest, I wouldn't have believed it if it wasn't because I was standing in that very place she talked about. Watching the capital of Ealamore, from the valleytops around it. As we went down the valley sides, Nephele told us about where we were going. The town was buzzing with people and voices. Thought one might have thought, that a world like this would be like travelling back in time, it wasn't. Yes, the buildings were all old japanese-like style, but people all around me were talking on phones, and using lots of other 21st-century technology. At the same time everywhere you looked people were selling their goods, from little shops on the streets.

"Hey! Come on you two, it's this way!" Nephele insisted with a wave of hand, when both Hiroshi and I had seemingly stopped to take it all in.

She took us to the castle at the very middle of town, and around it was a big moat around it. The water had such a magical blue color, and was shining like diamonds in the sun.
On the other side of the castle walls was a big courtyard, with a large cherry tree in the middle. Nephele leaded us through a big wooden door, and into an even bigger room, filled with flowers and guards standing by the walls. At the far end of this room, a throne was placed, and in it was a man with a grey beard.

"Your highness," Nephele concluded, "this is the girl you have been looking for."

Looking for? What was she talking about? I had no idea what was happening around me. Apparently this king had sent Nephele to look for me, but what would they need me for? It made no sense. I don't think I had ever been so confused before in my life. All around me people started talking about how I was supposed to save their world. It was as if I was in a trance in that time. Only hearing a little of what was happening around me. I mean I still don't know for how long they were talking. Even as the king send for one of his knights, Rai I think was his name, to show us our rooms.
Rai was a big muscular guy with piercing blue eyes and emerald hair, walking around in an enormous armor. He didn't talk much, and even after Hiroshi started asking him things, it was mostly Hiroshi self that was talking anyway. I didn't really listen to their conversation, but I heard something about Rai only being 17 or something, which kind of shocked me, because the guy almost looked like a middle aged man. I think the only thing about him that would indicate his age, was the features of his face. They were really soft, and he didn't have a single wrinkle.

****

Later that night, as I was sitting in my room ready to go to bed, this weird feeling struck me. Almost like I could feel someones presence in the room - though no one was there. This whole thing with a war the king had been talking about, had been on my mind as well - maybe the war was the reason my mother would never tell her about her time before I was born. Because she didn't want me to get caught up in all of this. Though she must have known I would end up here at some point. Right?

****

Her eyes struck open in a second. Knock knock. Who dared disturb her sleep at a time like this? Annoyed of this she sat up in her bed and spoke,
"What is it now Lihn?"
"She's here my lady. The last goddess."

****

The next morning I still had the feeling of someone watching me, almost as if they were right beside me. And above that I had this weird feeling that I couldn't really put my finger on what was. Though it did feel a little like magic.
The next many days went with learning magic. And for me to supposedly be so strong, it didn't exactly go very well.
"Okay, so to start of with, it is important that you focus- if you don't you'll never learn any magic."
Hiroshi and I were sitting on the ground, with Celeste standing in front of us.

"So what kind of magic is there to choose between?" Hiroshi asks.

"That brings me to my second point - you don't choose your magic. If you have enough magical energy, it'll come naturally to you." she sat down on the grass in front of us, "So in theory you might not actually be able to manifest any solid magical powers."

Hiroshi eyes and mouth wide open, looked at Celeste as if she had just broken all his dreams - While she herself didn't move a muscle.

****

The first many hours, or rather days, after that just spent figuring out what our magic powers were. And when we finally figured that out; our real training began. Hiroshi ended up with ice-maker magic, and for me, Celeste said that I had really big potential but it wasn't going to take shape for a while. So for now, I would have to make do with healing magic, and a spellbook.

"You need to focus Leila!" Celeste shouted at me, while walking in circles around me,

"Yeah I know," I said tiredly and laid down on the grass, "but it is a little hard when you keep shouting me in the face."

"Then you'll have to get used to it," she just answered and started walking away, "On the battlefield your opponent might not even give you the chance to stand still." she sighed, before she continued, "If these people get the chance, they will kill you."

I was a little shocked, but somehow more determined after that little 'pep talk', but even so, it was like I wasn't really getting any stronger anyway. We trained practically every hour of every day, and it didn't do nothing more than make me tired. On top of that, this presence I had been feeling was getting stronger as well. Sometimes, it would be so intense I would get these crazy headaches, or even faint. It scared me a bit. Not knowing what was doing this to me, and what would happen if it got worse.

****

"Audra, find Abigor and tell him I need him to take of some guests for me."
"Yes, dark empress." Audra with a lack of emotion consoled, and ran off to the west tower. Up the spiral stairs, into the darkness where the master of beasts would usually be found.
"What do want now, you little brat?" a cold voice sounded from the shadows.
"We have some guests for you to take care of." she said with a smile on her face.
"And where will these guests be found then?"
"To the north. They should be easy to recognize though," she said and sat down in the door frame, "It's her."

****

"Hey Leila, come on we're leaving in 5 minutes!" Nephele shouted from the courtyard.
"Oh that's right" I thought to myself and answered, "Yeah, coming!"
I ran out the door, down the stairs and out into the courtyard where Nephele, Hiroshi and Celeste were waiting for me. And of course I fell as long I was on the paving stone. I don't know why I remember that detail, but for some reason that moment just stuck with me even now. But back to the point. I got up again pretty quickly, and off we were. To the land of giants - Masai.

Though what we did not yet know, was that in Wallath forest just outside Esceutan, one of Ahmyas three knights of dawn would be waiting for us. Or rather - one of his beasts.