It begins with Dorothy and Astra's feeling alerted by the first wave of monsters farce the village of Amerite within the Garnet Kingdom of Coloria as Tim and Oz try to make some stubborn higher-class villagers listen to evacuate with the others. Village chief Stone (Dorothy and Oz's father as head of the village) is stubborn to believe they can't just abandon their home. Astra sighs and whispers to Dorothy "I know your memories are sealed off as it's in safekeep of a mana crystal of your real soul's memories by Tim….Maybe it is time to reveal the truth to your father despite the difference in demeanor….He probably is unaware his outlaw daughter for years became a faction knight.."
Dorothy hesitates, contemplating the weight of Astra's suggestion. The imminent threat of the approaching monsters adds urgency to the decision. She nods to Astra, silently acknowledging the necessity of revealing her identity to her father, Village Chief Stone.
As the monsters draw nearer, the villagers grow more anxious, and Tim continues his efforts to convince them to evacuate. Dorothy takes a deep breath, making her way toward her father. Astra follows closely, his expression unreadable as he observes the unfolding events.
Dorothy finally stands before her father, who looks at her with a mix of concern and sternness. She begins, "Father, there's something I need to tell you. It's about my past and why I became a faction knight."
He spoke sternly as Dorothy's dragon was busy preparing defenses with its wings to gush approaching monsters away from defenseless villagers "Became? Are you saying all this time…for the past 2 months finally return to this village….an outlaw back in her youth for breaking the former Equinox Sacred Context…" Oz nudged his father "Please father listen to dear Big sister. Me and my mother miss her dearly…The current Equinox just wants to fix certain flaws of the previous one's decree remember?" Astra nodded with his usual uniform and mask covering his identity as the shadow knight. Then, Dorothy with flair unveiled her cloak that hid her familiar clad faction knight armor and a special scarfed cloth around her neck (especially) nape as she uttered "Please just listen—-" as she prepared her Celestial Regalia, her Moonstone sword as she slashed upcoming monsters nearby. Some of the woodcutters she was familiar with the other day panicked. Their leader a merchant greedily spoke "What about our resources huh? Dorothy…if you are a faction knight. What sort of Cardinal number or rank do you have to prove it?" Tim is uneasy about how Dorothy would answer
Dorothy, in the midst of defending the village, turns to the merchant with a serious expression. She proclaims, along with the scarfed cloth that Nova used to wrap around her neck set aside by her right arm as a memorable charm, "I am Dorothy Cardinal no.42, Faction Knight of Coloria. My original self, Dorothy Stone, is my body, and I carry the weight of both an outlaw's past and the chance for redemption through the
The merchant seems taken aback, his greed momentarily replaced by surprise. Dorothy then turns to her father and continues, "Father, I became a Faction Knight to protect this village, to redeem myself from the mistakes of my youth. I was an outlaw, but I took on this responsibility to ensure the safety of our home.
Village Chief Stone absorbs this information, his expression shifting from sternness to a mix of surprise and contemplation. The monsters draw closer, and the urgency of the situation presses upon them. Dorothy, with her Celestial Regalia, stands ready to defend, both her past and the village she calls home.
As Astra skillfully utilizes his shadow abilities to fend off monsters, Tim directs his question to Mr. Stone, the village chief. Tim implores, "Mr. Stone, the threat is real. Will you allow us to evacuate the villagers now?"
Mr. Stone, still processing the revelation about his daughter, glances at the approaching danger. The urgency of the situation becomes undeniable. He finally nods, acknowledging the need for immediate action. "Yes, Tim. Evacuate the villagers. We'll follow your lead."
With the decision made, Tim and Oz quickly organize the evacuation, ensuring the safety of the villagers as they move away from the impending danger. Dorothy, Astra, and her dragon continue to stand as the last line of defense, facing the oncoming wave of monsters.
Next, suddenly as the narrative/story continues interactively Dorothy calls out her dragon "Munchkin!!!" with pumpkin-colored scales yet moonlit eyes, whipping tail, and slender form with a white furry mane, along with golden antlers and plane translucent grey wings. As a familiar nutcracker figure with his Celestial regalia [that is a magical polearm]. He is Cruz Cardinal no.43 and spoke "Lady Dorothy!!!! Are you alright? my Master?" (he is her apprentice when he is a most recently integrated faction knight of her past), while he deals with a swarm of monsters at the side of the village [the first wave were demonbeast of shapes and sized variety].
Dorothy smiles at the sight of her trusty dragon and apprentice, Munchkin, and Cruz. She calls out to Cruz, "Cruz! I'm fine. Focus on protecting the village. We've got this!"
Cruz, wielding his Celestial Regalia, gracefully maneuvers through the swarm of monsters. His movements are a dance, a well-coordinated effort to keep the creatures at bay. With each strike of his magical polearm, he dispels the threat looming over the village.
Meanwhile, Munchkin, with his pumpkin-colored scales and moonlit eyes, unleashes a breath of magical energy, creating a protective barrier around Dorothy. Together, they form a formidable team, pushing back the monsters and safeguarding the village from the relentless assault.
Astra continued in his skills as an experienced faction knight as well, the entitled anonymous Shadow knight he used his shadow abilities to detect all his heightened senses of ability and attack wherever the monsters dared. Dorothy cast vocal sorcery of the Mystic arts (the term for magic cast in the aether system, but mostly expertly by people like faction knights and sort of magic casters) that used her umbral mana up just enough to make the monsters scurry. While Cruz took one hostage, an imp=like demonbeast speaking infernin (language term for beings inhuman or demonic/monstrous) as Cruz Cardinal no.43 uttered "Master, Lady Dorothy no.42...Found one to leave with life!!! shall we learn to speak with it? I assume the enigmatic Shadow Knight of a lone wolf is multilingual more than the eldest single designation of faction knights?"
Astra nodded to Cruz, his gaze shifting towards the imp-like demonbeast. "Yes, Cruz. Let's see if it has any information about this sudden wave of monsters. Speak, creature. What brought you here, and why now?"
The imp-like creature, now captive in Cruz's magical grip, spoke in Infernin. "We were summoned by the Chaos Conduit, a rift torn between worlds. Our purpose is to sow discord and fear in this realm."
Dorothy's eyes narrowed. "Chaos Conduit? That sounds like trouble. Astra, have you heard of anything like this before?"
Astra's expression remained stoic. "No, Lady Dorothy. This is the first I've heard of it. But it doesn't bode well. We need to find the source of this chaos and put an end to it."
Tim, who was coordinating the evacuation efforts, approached. "We've secured the villagers in a safe location. What's the plan now?"
Dorothy glanced at Astra and Cruz. "We need to investigate this Chaos Conduit. It might be the key to stopping these monster incursions. Astra, any leads on where it could be?"
Astra frowned, his blue eyes focused. "I'll use my shadows to scout the area. Follow me."
As they ventured into the unknown, the trio of faction knights, each with their unique abilities, set out to unravel the mysteries behind the Chaos Conduit and protect their world from the impending threat.
Then Astra uses his shadow construct to cage the imp-like demonbeast and adds with a straight face "Timotheus Richmond…Stay behind and take care of Dorothy's brother Oz and my own on a faraway house where Dorothy left him to rest…(Hope Nova is okay)" as he spoke and added "Along, Cruz Cardinal no.43 I am here to report I presume you can beside as backup to be alerted to be sent here for defense was for your mentor Dorothy correct?" He nodded Astra sighed "Anyways, I think this CHAOS conduit might be a group of their figures from Forbidden Valley (Gradience)…Yet That group name is new yet familiar by experience I face enemies connected to that nation outside our own that here were Colorians (citizens of Coloria)"
Cruz, still holding the imp-like demonbeast, responded with a firm nod. "Yes, Shadow Knight. I received a communication through the Psyche-based magic comm [term for telepathy or wide range used by people with adept with magic to communicate]. The distress signal from Lady Dorothy, my master, brought me here. I am ready to assist in any way necessary."
Tim, though slightly hesitant, nodded. "I'll take care of the others. Just be careful, Astra. We don't know what we're dealing with."
Astra acknowledged Tim's words with a nod. "We'll handle it. Stay vigilant here, Timotheus. If anything seems off, use the communication crystal [magical item for people not adept with magic for communication] to contact us."
With that, Astra, Dorothy, and Cruz ventured further, following the traces left by the Chaos Conduit. The air became charged with an otherworldly energy as they approached a mysterious portal. Astra's sharp eyes narrowed as he whispered, "This is it. The Chaos Conduit. Brace yourselves."
As they stepped through the portal, they found themselves in a realm tainted by dark magic, and the true nature of the Chaos Conduit began to unfold before them. The communication through mana-sense, using luminous mana, indicated urgency from the current Equinox, Chocola, demanding their immediate assistance. Aware that Dorothy had taken a break from being a knight for four months, Astra knew the situation must be dire for her to call upon their aid.
then Astra shook, his hyper-sensitivity amongst the shadows sprerad out thinner to return to himself as he instinctively choked the imprisoned imp-demon beast as the portal close, he rushed to let Dorothy and Cruz follow him confused yet knew of his eerie hidden strong power to utter "its a trap....a Chaos Conduit isn't another realm as I said before this much it's just...It's not ironic a demonbeast almost baits us. It best me and Dorothy Cardinal no.42 proceed as planned as I -Cardinal no.0...rather Shadow Knight join you Cruz...wait..do you have your mount? I assume your mount is a griffin Cruz Cardinal no.43?" he says with care and efficiency to also intimidate his grip on the imp shuddering at how Astra doesn't seem hesitant to harm it nor just ignore such a creature
As Cruz Cardinal No. 43 nodded, he replied, "Yes, Shadow Knight. My celestial mount, a griffin named Zonis, is ready for action. We'll be right behind you."
With a swift movement, Astra released the imp-demon beast, its infernal language fading into frustrated growls. Astra's sharp eyes darted between the imprisoned creature and the surroundings. He emphasized, "Be cautious, both of you. We're walking into a potential trap. Watch for any signs of deception."
Dorothy, regaining her composure after the confrontation, joined the conversation, "I'll accompany Astra. Cruz, make sure Tim and Oz are safe. We don't know the extent of the threat, so stay vigilant."
As the trio prepared to venture into the unknown, shadows enveloped them, blending seamlessly with Astra's abilities. The atmosphere crackled with anticipation, and the true nature of the Chaos Conduit loomed like a shadow on the edge of their awareness.
Cruz nodded, but he spoke "Yet Lady Dorothy didn't Shadow Knight or rather Astra ask to trust Tim to handle your so-called brother and the village? along we shall return to the Central Holy Emerald Palace within the Chorite Kingdom (the center of all other 6 kingdoms of coloria and 7th)?" as he exhales slaying the imp-demon beast "Besides, I think I understand what Shadow Knight meant by the trap-this portal that just faded it's a magical illusion using the rare anonymous element called Psyche element. anyways, Shall we ride our mounts back to our main quarters?" *Dorothy nodded at the earlier for his questions before she sighed as she spoke, "Very well...Munchkin!!" *she whistles for her dragon to prepare a ride, while Astra summons a shadow steed for he rode as the creation of his shadow abilities, exerting his ecto-mana.
The trio mounted their celestial and shadow steeds, riding with haste toward the Central Holy Emerald Palace. The journey through the Garnet Kingdom was swift, the winds of urgency carrying them through the landscapes.
As they approached the towering spires of the palace, Cruz spoke, "Shadow Knight, Lady Dorothy, we need to report this immediately. The Central Holy Emerald Palace is the hub of information and coordination for all Coloria. They must be informed of the potential threat."
Astra nodded in agreement, "You're right, Cruz. This situation goes beyond just the village. The palace needs to be on guard. We'll head straight to the council chambers."
Dorothy, her dragon gliding beside her, added, "Once the council is aware, we can better strategize our response. There's more at play here than we currently understand."
As they entered the palace grounds, the weight of their discoveries and the impending danger settled on them. The Central Holy Emerald Palace, a symbol of unity among the Colorian Kingdoms, now stood as a beacon of hope against the shadows that threatened to unravel their world.
Cruz spoke, "Still as we venture to land, Lady Dorothy and Sir Astra…why plan to return by coincidence?"
Astra, his blue eyes shimmering with a mix of seriousness and detachment, responded, "Returning now is no coincidence. The signs are aligning, and the ancient feud that threatens to unravel Mythlandia is approaching. The former Equinox foresaw it, and now it's our duty to confront it."
Dorothy, riding her dragon, added, "And about my uncle, Cruz, how is Sir Niven? Has he received any new directives from the Council regarding the recent developments?"
Cruz, while guiding his griffin to land gracefully, answered, "Sir Niven is well, Lady Dorothy. He's coordinating efforts with the other Cardinals, and your timely return will certainly be of importance. The council chambers should provide more insight into the overall strategy."
As they dismounted, the trio made their way through the palace corridors, heading directly to the council chambers to share crucial information about the Chaos Conduit and the potential invasion from Gradience. The fate of Coloria hung in the balance, and they needed to act swiftly and decisively.
Astra, his blue eyes shimmering with a mix of seriousness and detachment, responded, "Returning now is no coincidence. The signs are aligning, and the ancient feud that threatens to unravel Mythlandia is approaching. The former Equinox foresaw it, and now we had a duty to confront it."
Dorothy, riding her dragon, added, "And about my uncle, Cruz, how is Sir Niven? Has he received any new directives from the Council regarding the recent developments?"
Cruz, while guiding his griffin to land gracefully, answered, "Sir Niven is well, Lady Dorothy. He's coordinating efforts with the other Cardinals, and your timely return will certainly be of importance. The council chambers should provide more insight into the overall strategy."
As they dismounted, the trio made their way through the palace corridors, heading directly to the council chambers to share crucial information about the Chaos Conduit and the potential invasion from Gradience. The fate of Coloria hung in the balance, and they needed to act swiftly and decisively.
transition once again in the modern world
Cosmos, her mind a swirl of conflicting emotions, shared with Tao Yusha, "Sachiko was indeed Nova's first love. They were deeply connected in their teenage years. However, the circumstances surrounding their breakup were more complex. Sachiko had a terminal illness, and Nova, unable to accept her impending death, distanced himself to shield himself from the pain. He was around 17 at the time."
Tao Yusha, her ethereal presence comforting, responded, "Such tragedies can leave lasting imprints on one's soul. It seems Nova's subconscious is grappling with these unresolved emotions. To help him, you may need to delve into his memories, confront the past, and guide him to acceptance."
Cosmos nodded, her determination solidifying. She knew she needed to navigate the intricate web of Nova's emotions to unlock the barriers within his soul. The journey ahead, though challenging, was essential for Nova's well-being and, perhaps, the fate of both worlds.
Then Tao Yusha added "But didn't he technically also have a 2nd love? This time it's a guy who broke up because that person cheated on him with another guy and took advantage of his natural goodness and the financial stability of your family. And how long was this Sachiko, his first love together before her death?"
Cosmos, with a contemplative expression, responded, "Yes, you're right. After Sachiko, Nova did experience another significant romantic relationship. He was with this guy, Feigling, for a couple of years. Unfortunately, it ended painfully when Feigling cheated on him. The betrayal deeply affected Nova, leaving him with trust issues and a reluctance to open up to others romantically."
"As for Sachiko, they were together for about two years before her illness took a toll. It was a profound connection, and her departure left a lasting impact on Nova's heart," Cosmos explained, a hint of sadness in her eyes.
Tao Yusha nodded and spoke with a sense of sympathy "Ohh I see, what a precious yet emotionally mature mortal your brother was...Still that erm-Feigling..where is he now? plus, how long were Nova and him together after Sachiko's prior passing?"
Cosmos sighed, "Feigling... well, after their breakup, he pretty much disappeared from Nova's life. I'm not sure where he is now; Nova didn't talk much about him after the separation. As for their relationship duration after Sachiko's passing, I'd say they were together for about a year or so before things fell apart."
She added, "Nova tried to move on and focus on his work and studies, but that experience with Feigling left a scar. It's one of the reasons he became somewhat guarded when it comes to relationships."
Tao Yusha spoke sympathetically "Ahh what an emotionally mature mortal he is...hmmm" She blinked and spoke "Tell me, Tao Yusha-sama....the reason you may ask because Feigling is alive and involved with Nova before well..Do you plan to let him be involved to reconnect with Nova's unstable soul?"
Tao Yusha nodded, "Yes, Cosmos. The emotional connections from his past, especially those that left deep scars, might be affecting him more than he realizes. Reconnecting with someone from his past, even briefly, might provide him with the closure he needs. Of course, I won't force anything, but it could be beneficial for Nova to confront these emotions and resolve them."
S/he added, "As a deity, my concern is for the well-being and growth of the souls under my care. If this can help Nova find peace and stability, it's worth considering."
Cosmos in awe of Tao Yusha's androgyny chuckles before getting serious "Maybe, I can try to get in contact with Feigling...I burrow my brother's phone he left in his belongings since he was comatose for 2 weeks now so...Umm Tao Yusha...Thanks, yet if that is one of the keys..what about Sachiko? you said your world has a lot of things with soul right? what if Sachiko.." *she shakes "actually reincarnated or became a ghost/spirit of sorts to Nova?" Tao Yusha smiles and explains for he gestures in his astral avatar spiritually only seen by Cosmos "Indeed, in Mythlandia.. the considered nonsensical possible is possible so...this ex-boyfriend Yuki..then this dead Sachiko...she may have her soul attached to Nova...again its a good possibility if she is very dear to him as you said" as Cosmos gasp
Tao Yusha added as he nodded, "Exactly, Cosmos. In Mythlandia, the boundaries between life and death, the tangible and the intangible, are not as fixed as in other realms. Souls can traverse different states, and connections formed in one life can transcend into others. It's a complex tapestry of existence, and in Nova's case, it seems there might be threads connecting him to both the living and the departed."
She continued, "If Sachiko's soul is attached to Nova, it could be a source of strength or, potentially, a challenge. Souls have a way of influencing each other, especially when deeply entwined. But don't worry too much; I'll be here to guide and support you through this journey, just as I am with Nova."
Tao Yusha now has a more male voice than usual to utter "So, shall we examine what went wrong somewhat? like it seems your soul isn't enough to reconnect Nova's soul as he is facing his inner core (ki) that only he decided to open and access"
Cosmos nodded, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the complexity of the situation. "Yes, let's try to understand what's happening. If there's a barrier within Nova's consciousness, we need to figure out how to break through it. I'll do my best, Tao Yusha-sama."
She took a deep breath and focused on the astral connection between herself and Nova. Trying to navigate the intricacies of his soul, she sought the point where the connection faltered. As she delved into the depths of Nova's spiritual essence, she wondered if she could find clues about the source of the disturbance.
then she gasped back to open her eyes and spoke "You were right, it is like his self-image or sense of identity is fragmented in both worlds...FORTUNATELY... it's like I sense a voice..a glimpse.." *as she cried subconsciously* "I think I spot Sachiko's soul with him"
Tao Yusha nodded with understanding. "That's a significant discovery, Cosmos. If Sachiko's soul is connected to Nova's, it could be influencing the barriers within his consciousness. To proceed, we must tread carefully. Connecting with Sachiko's soul may help in understanding the nature of the disturbance. It might also provide insight into how we can assist Nova in reconciling the fragmented aspects of his identity. Take your time and focus on that connection."
As Cosmos continued to explore the spiritual realm, Tao Yusha remained present, offering guidance and support to navigate the complexities of Nova's soul and the intertwining threads of his identity.
Tao Yusha nodded with understanding. "That's a significant discovery, Cosmos. If Sachiko's soul is connected to Nova's, it could be influencing the barriers within his consciousness. To proceed, we must tread carefully. Connecting with Sachiko's soul may help in understanding the nature of the disturbance. It might also provide insight into how we can assist Nova in reconciling the fragmented aspects of his identity. Take your time and focus on that connection."
As Cosmos continued to explore the spiritual realm, Tao Yusha remained present, offering guidance and support to navigate the complexities of Nova's soul and the intertwining threads of his identity.