Léol and Aesta were observing Belda and her manipulation of the thin energy floating around her like fireflies. With her hands she was able to move them the way she wanted it to.
-Congratulation Belda, you are really progressing quickly. In the future you will surpass both Aesta and me.
-Really ? She said with excitement.
-Yes, you have a great potential but the most important thing now is for you to enjoy magic. Do not focus on being the best, grow at your own pace, if you put too much pressure on yourself you won't be using a good form of magic and you will suffer. You understand ?
-Yes, Aesta. I will use magic the correctly.
-Good.
She squared the hair of the little princess, happy for her.
-Oh look ! A hibiscus !
Belda ran towards the red flower and picked it up.
-I didn't know it was here. Added the little girl happy about this discovery.
-But you are the one that made this place. you should have known about it. Remarked Léol a bit confused.
-I don't know, it's the first time i do this uncle Léol. It's pretty.
He looked at Aesta who was not bothered by it.
-Maybe unconsciously she imagined it. She said to her companion.
-Maybe.
-You want one ? Asked Belda while handing the flower to Léol.
He was a bit surprised but he took it and observed the flower. In the mean time, Belda gave one to her aunt.
-Thank you.
She put the flower in her hair, adding a charm to her beautiful face.
-Oh good idea. Expressed the princess.
She did the same thing as the lady, making her more cute.
-You look so cute my dear !
Aesta took her in arms, balancing from left to right with her a bit.
-You really like those flowers ? Asked Léol while looking at his.
-Yes, they are my favorites. Régidal like them too so it makes me happy when i see one. Responded Belda innoncently.
-I see. I will try to remember that.
It was one of those rare moment when Léol had a genuine happy smile. Aesta was happy for him, it was a good sight. Bonding over some fun activities.
-Okay, now...
Léol was cut in his speech when suddenly a loud sound coming from the sky echoed in the "Garden". From the sky was descending two blue light lie two comets. When it reach the ground, the shockwave spread to the entire place. Then they were here, the Knights of Moon. As soon as both Aesta and Léol recognised them, they put themselves between them and Belda.
-What are you doing here ? How did you enter ? Asked with irritation Léol.
Zol raised his head to meet his eyes and answered.
-One name. Sashara.
Both the Stars frown when they heard that name be uttered by Zol.
-We have to wake up. Suggested Aesta.
-Yes.
They both tried to do it while Aesta was holding the hand of Belda. A white light came out of their bodies but disappeared like a flash. They tried a second time but the result was the same. they were unable to wake up. Fear took its place in their mind.
-Let me guess. Sashara ? Said Aesta to Zol.
-I think, i am not sure for this.
-She is surely keeping us asleep. Expressed Léol.
-Surely. Replied the lady.
-Are they bad people ? Asked Belda, frightened.
-Yes, but don't worry honey, we will take care of them. They won't touch a single strand of your hair.
Belda stayed silent, afraid of the enemies in front of them.
Both Zol and Ulim took out their swords, ready to fight since they knex it was the only option now. Léol and Aesta impregnated their hands of magical energy, it was a grey flame for her and a green flame for him.
-Be careful Ulim, remember what Sashara said.
-I will.
Both sides stared at each others, judging and pondering the weaknesses and strenght. Then Zol and Ulim rushed as fast as galoping horse towards their enemies. Aesta and Léol immediately started levitating above the ground and charged some magic balls, when they were closed enough they threw it at the Knights but they dodged it. The fight was strang, it was sword against magic, clearly the advantage was of the magicians.
Suddenly, Zol generated a flaming bird flying towards Léol, at the same time ulim created a tornado aiming at Aesta. Both the Stars were surprised by it. The moved back to have more time to block it. They did by generating a cristal wall by a simple movement of their hands. What they did not expect was for the Knights to run towards them while they were in a defensive position. Ulim passed throught his own tornado while Zol jumped after his bird of flame to enter in a close combat with Léol.
They had now closed the distance between them and the magician, making them more comfortable. They started swinging their swords, they were fast and their attacks had strenght in it. The Stars realised that Zol and Ulim were using magic to reinforce their bodies to keep up with them. Léol was blocking the attacks of Zol by using magic energy with his hands, the situation was the same for Aesta. It was hands versus blade.
After a missed hit, Zol created a kind of spike of fire then launched it as fast as possible on Léol, he blocked it but the power behind forced him to retreat. Aesta was leading the duel between her and Ulim. He was overwhelmed by her flashy attacks, he was forced to stepped back.
In the physical world, Osmadrey and Sarika were fighting Sékat and Gal. The match was even. The wall of the room had been damaged by an ice spike. The four warriors were dancing with swords as they were moving here and there. Sword were clashing, magic of ice, wood, electricity and earth were used in this fight. Sashara had placed a barrier around those asleep on the ground and was concentrating on it.
Gal almost touched the head of Sarika but this one made an acrobatic gesture backwards. Their swords clashed again. In the same time, Osmadrey was trying to land a hit and the chest of Sékat but he was fast and his wind magic was efficient against his ice magic.
-You are pathetic if you think that will work on me. Expressed with mockery Sékat.
-I remember you, the asshole. Replied Osmadrey with a small anger.
-Oh, i left an impression on you, good. I will left more than that today, i will fuck you up !
-Such a filthy mouth.
He tried to launched some ice spikes at the knight but this arrogant man used a wind vortex to deflect it then threw this mini tornado towards Osmadrey, he did a flip and sent a wave of ice against his opponent, he dogded it and this threw three stones balls at high speed against the Star. It was exchange back forth between Osmadrey and Sékat. His brother was also in struggle with Gal, both were matching each other in terms of skill and swordmanship.
Sarika decided at one point to use a poweful magic, he created a small ball of light shining in a yellow color and aimed it at Gal. The Knight narrowly avoided it, the ball of light went crashing on the wall and exploded.
Now a huge hole was open on the outside of the castle, giving sight on the outer garden and the houses of the city. Gal was shocked and the concentration of Sashara was broken, even Sékat had to look at the situation behind him. It was a huge mistake because when he heard the movements of Osmadrey, the Star had his fingers joint together and said.
-Fuck you !
-Mother...
Then a huge wave of diamond ice hit Sékat with full force, making him fly accross the room right into the hole. His magic spell was so powerful that it made Sékat go beyond the rempart of the castle, making him fall between the houses of the town.
When Gal realised the situation he was in, he took a defensive stance but Sarika and Osmadrey, with their combined power easily ejected him by the same hole his companion went. A mix of ice wave and wood fist made him fly through the hole until he reached the houses too. In the meantime, had put her hands on the head of her sleeping comrades.
In the spiritual world, both Zol and Ulim were still fighting Aesta and Léol.
Léol had just missed his attack and Ulim as well but his spike of light touched the shoulder of Aesta, making her own attack miss Zol, the latter landed a hit with the back of his spear on her stomach and liberated a shockwave to make her fall a few meters back. Immediately he ran towards Belda left unprotected, Léol was about to go join her but he was surprised by Ulim, the Knight put his hand on the back of the magician and hit him with a ray of lighting, making him fly accross the cosmic place.
Zol had almost reached the little princess, afraid.
-Belda ! Yelled Aesta in fear.
Belda closed her eyes while screaming but suddenly, a white dome surrounded her and even more surprising, two stars descended from the sky at high speed and hit both Knights, making them fall a few meters back too. The shock had been so violent that they were stunned.
-What...was that. Asked Zol.
Then they realised that their body was starting to disappear.
-What ? No no no. Said Ulim.
Zol was mad but he kept controle and even talk to his enemies.
-We will come back, the princess will be saved from your filthy hands.
Then they disappeared, leaving Belda and the Stars in peace and safe.
Osmadrey and Sarika had both the tip of their swords on the barrior that Sashara had made. They were trying to break by also using their magic but she was more powerful than them. The thread of light that had connected thr Knights to the Stars and Belda was now broken and at the moment it broke, Sashara took the bodies of her companions and disappeared like ashes with them.
-I hate that woman ! Expressed Osmadrey with frustration.
-Let's check on them. Added Sarika regarding the state of his friends.
They both kneeled to have a better look.
Meanwhile, Aesta and Léol came back to Belda.
-Are you alright ? Did he touched you ? Asked Aesta while observing the child.
-No but i was scared. Belda had a sad expression on her face.
-Don't worry, it's over now. Assured Léol while taking her in his arms.
-No one will hurt. Added Aesta while hugging her too.
A sound interrupted this moment, it was a cracking sound. Aesta and Léol looked at each other than around them.
-What is that noise ? Asked Aesta, confused.
-I don't know, it seems...
Another sound, louder this time, was heard and something caught the attention of the little girl, she raised her head to look up and told them the following words.
-What is that ?
The magicians looked up too to see the big bright full moon, and arm was coming out of it, cracking it open like an egg, then a second arm came out, slowly the moon was cracking more and more because of that. Then suddenly a whole chunk of the moon fell and a dark shadow emerged from it. Its eyes were a glowing fire and his whole upper body was just dark. The Stars were too shocked to speak, it was...they didn't know what it was. A daerk figure had just appeared, coming out of the moon.