The elven man whom Astar had crossed paths with earlier was called Eldrin, he was the leader of team olympic.
"Are we finally going to find out why we're going to the capital?" A tall, young elven girl with mint hair and pale skin asked.
"Yes, Milli." Eldrin replied. A buzz began to sound from the waiting team. For such a successful team, olympic was small; it only had ten mages, now eleven if he were to include himself.
They were all extremely powerful compared to him. He felt like a mouse sitting amongst a field of cats; his magic power was nothing in comparison. However, Haruki had thoroughly insisted on him joining, so perhaps there was some potential that Haruki had seen within him that he couldn't yet see in himself. The prospect of him being as capable as these olympic mages one day made him more enthusiastic.
"As you know," Eldrin began, "two weeks ago we were called to the capital for a mission; it was by the empress herself." When Eldrin announced this, the entire team fell silent, contemplating the significance of the upcoming mission. "All I know is that it is a classified mission. We will land in Ios in three days, so make sure to prepare your supplies." "Once we land, I expect everyone to be on their best behavior."
After Eldrin had briefed olympic on what he knew of the mission, he dismissed them all and headed back to the captain's quarters. Astar sat in his quarters, tapping his fingers against the cotton sheets beneath his hands. Everyone had been quite willing to accept him, with many of them extending warm hands in welcome. The layout of this new home wasn't too difficult to navigate, yet he was filled with dread. It had been years since he had such amiable interactions. What if he said something wrong? He sat frozen in time, dread threatening to drown him like a pool of viscous tar. What if they didn't like him?
He focused his thoughts on the space around him, observing his room. It was so empty. It appeared uninhabited, besides of course the messy bedsheets he sat upon. He thought of Haruki's room, it was nothing like his own.
Although his room had been simple, Haruki had belongings. A lot of them looked like old trinkets salvaged from battle. Astar wondered if he'd be allowed to help on the mission tasked by the empress. Probably not. If this mission was going to be tasked by Empress Marilyn herself, then Astar as a newcomer, was likely to be left out of it. Someone pounded their fist against Astar's bedroom door.
"Come in," he said.
Haruki entered. "Can I get your help?" He asked.
"My help? Are you sure?" Astar questioned.
'Yeah, an extra pair of eyes might help,' he said.
Astar stood up, following Haruki down the hallway. "Where are we going?" Astar inquired awkwardly
"The library," Haruki responded, "Eldrin has asked me to find some ancient scrolls, my guess is he wants to find new spells to improve his memory magic."
"Memory magic?" Astar inquired.
"Yeah," Haruki told him. "Eldrin is a wielder of soul magic and his sub-category is memory magic, using that he can enter the minds of others and sort of… mess around in there." He finished carefully.
Astar's mind whirred with caution as he contemplated what Haruki had just said. The idea of someone delving into the recesses of his mind stirred distrust within him. He knew all too well the vulnerability that came with allowing another to sift through his memories and thoughts.
"Perhaps," Astar went to comment on this, but he decided better. He made a mental note to tread carefully around Eldrin, determined to remain on the mage's good side. The last thing he desired was to become subject to intrusive probing.
But then Haruki's words shifted, steering the conversation towards a different path. "Also," he interjected, his tone changing subtly, "I figured you'd want to perhaps look for some books on light magic?"
Astar paused, his thoughts momentarily diverted from his apprehension. He regarded Haruki with a newfound curiosity, struck by the sincerity in the other's smile. It was a genuine expression, one that seemed to reach beyond the surface, and it gave Astar pause.
Had he ever witnessed such warmth from Haruki before? The question flitted through Astar's mind as he scrutinized the young mage before him. Despite having only known Haruki for a scant two days, the realization dawned on Astar that this smile, this genuine display of kindness, was a rare occurrence indeed.
Caught off guard by this revelation, Astar found himself momentarily at a loss for words. It was a small gesture, a fleeting moment, but one that left an indelible impression on him. And in that instant, amidst the uncertainty and trepidation that lingered in the air, Astar couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope flicker within him. Perhaps, in the midst of this unfamiliar journey, he had found an unexpected ally after all.
'Really?' Astar asked excitedly
'Of course, if you're going to help us with this classified mission then you'll have to be ready,' Haruki said as he turned into a large doorway. He felt an overwhelming feeling of expectations, and fear but also enthusiasm at this news.
As he followed Haruki into the library, he sucked in a breath, his eyes widening in awe. Before him unfurled a magnificent spectacle, a sanctuary of knowledge that seemed to transcend time itself. Four towering bookcases, crafted from rich mahogany, stood sentinel, their shelves adorned with an endless array of volumes. Each book, evidence to human curiosity and endeavor, stood proudly, their spines creating a mesmerizing mosaic of color and wisdom.
But it was not just the sheer quantity of books that took his breath away; it was the meticulous organization, the careful curation evident in every corner of the room. Books of all shapes and sizes stood side by side, a testament to the diversity of human thought. From tomes on plants to treatises on food, every topic found its place, each volume a gateway to a world of discovery.
Yet, amidst this sea of knowledge, one sight stood out above all others, a masterpiece of craftsmanship and artistry. A large, round mahogany structure stood at the heart of the room, its glass casing protecting treasures beyond imagining. Carved into the wood, with a skill that seemed almost divine, were the nine species of Alatheia, their forms brought to life in exquisite detail. Beasts of legend danced along the beams and pillars, their majestic forms frozen in time.
And amidst this grand tableau, intricate magic symbols wove their way through the designs, their meaning lost to all but the most learned scholars. They formed a ring around the contents, a silent guardian protecting the ancient knowledge within. Above the structure, a simple yet profound sign proclaimed its significance to all who beheld it: "Ancient Scrolls."
In that moment, surrounded by the beauty and wonder of the library, he felt a sense of reverence wash over him. Here, in this hallowed space, the mysteries of the past and the wisdom of the ages converged, inviting him to embark on a journey of discovery unlike any other.
'Here we are,' Haruki said, glancing at Astar out of the corner of his eye, 'gorgeous isn't it?'
'It is,' Astar whispered, his voice conveying the wonder he felt. It was so surreal. Just a few days prior, he'd been stuck in a cell in The Society, doing whatever his clients wanted. Now, he could stand among team olympic. One of them.
He closed his eyes. Now was not the time to get sentimental, he had a job to do.
Turning around, he walked up to a section of the second bookshelf which was labelled: 'Iloan (Light) and Ixenti (Energy)'.
Grabbing the first rung of the ladder, he began to carefully ascend. Turning his head around, he called down to Haruki. 'Let's begin our search shall we?'
Nodding, Haruki made his way over to the cabinet that housed the ancient scrolls. Astar ascended further up the ladder, the books which occupied the lower shelves of the bookcase all covered the concept of Iloan and Ixenti magic and their creation. But of course, even Astar knew about how magic was made.
It was a gift from the God of Salvation, who sacrificed his life for their planet, Uivis. He was called Caelestella. Once, the world of Uivis had been desolate; the creatures who inhabited it were nothing like the ones today. They were creatures made from the essence of greed and wrath.
Seeing Uivis in such pain struck Caelestella, and he cried tears of purity, cleansing the creatures below. Those who survived emerged as the first humans, quickly followed by demihumans. In the end, though, it had been too much, and Caelestella fell from the aetherworld and shattered, leaking his magic into the soil of Uivis.
This imbalance within the Divine Pantheon had caused the deities' magic to become unstable, and many of them had to rely on humans to host small portions of their power in order to resume balance within the world. However, stronger deities such as Valtorix, Wenda, Haziel, and Nativitas, the goddesses of magic, fate, arcana, and the cycle of birth, did not need to rely on this method.
As he pushed the ladder along the rail at the top of the bookcase, he told himself to not look down. The only thing stopping him from falling to his untimely death was the ladder that his now sweaty palms grasped perilously.
He was inexplicably terrified of heights, but he wanted to learn more spells to be useful to his teammates.
As Astar teetered on the edge of the ladder, time itself seemed to stretch into an agonizing crawl. The ancient pages of a tome called "Guide to Iloan Magics" whispered secrets, tantalizingly close yet frustratingly out of reach.
In a desperate attempt to bridge the gap between himself and the arcane wisdom within the heavy volume, Astar strained against the limitations of his own anatomy. His fingers danced along the spine, a mere brush against the surface of the ancient grimoire. Determination etched on his face, he shifted the ladder precariously to its limits, hoping to seize the elusive knowledge that hovered just beyond his grasp.
With a final, determined lunge, he managed to seize the book, a relic of forgotten enchantments and long-lost incantations. But as the weight of the tome transferred from the shelf to his hands, reality shifted beneath his feet. The sudden realization struck him like a lightning bolt – the book was far heavier than anticipated.
Astar's equilibrium betrayed him, and panic set in. Time, that had been dragging its feet moments ago, now sprinted forward as he felt himself toppling backward. The world turned into a silent abyss, the muffled beating of his heart echoing in his ears. The confines of the library seemed to dissolve into an abstract blur as he plummeted towards the floor.
Just when the dread of imminent impact gripped his every thought, a mysterious force intervened. Astar hung suspended in mid-air, caught between the realms of fall and salvation. The adrenaline-fueled rush surged through him, his senses heightened in the suspended moment of chaos.
In that suspended animation, he dared not breathe, his heart pounding in sync with the enigma that cradled him. Three meters above the ground, Astar opened his eyes to a surreal scene. His bewilderment was palpable, eyes scanning the library below for an answer to the impossible rescue.
Confusion etched across his face, Astar questioned the unseen savior that defied the laws of gravity. What unseen force had intervened, sparing him from a calamitous collision with the floor? The ancient guide to Iloan magics clutched tightly in his hands, he remained suspended, a reluctant participant in a moment that defied all magical explanation.
He felt something gently tighten around his waist. It was a deep, purple vine that seemed to have dark, black ink swirling inside it. Following the vine downwards, he saw where it ended along Haruki's spine. Haruki's magic!
'You have shadow magic?' Astar asked in astonishment as he was placed lightly onto the marble floors. 'Does that make you a demon?'
Haruki sighed. 'You know not everyone who wields shadows is a demon right?' He asked doubtfully.
'Yes,' Astar said cautiously, 'but now everything fits together. The shape of your ears, your eye colour and your sharp canines. They're all features of a demon, right?'
Haruki seemed to consider this analysis for a bit. 'You caught me, I'm a demon, but, aren't you a demi-angel?'
Astar paused. 'How can you tell? I don't have my wings anymore,' He observed quietly.
Haruki soon broke out into a long winded explanation.'Your ears look similar to mine, but I know you're not a demon, all Fallen also have a very distinct way of talking or walking, it's very elegant.'
'You're observant,' Astar laughed
'So, what happened to your wings?' Haruki asked bluntly.
Astar's laugh was cut short in his shock. He couldn't remember. He gripped the large book in his arms and looked down at his feet, a futile attempt of racking his brain for the answer.
Haruki stepped back, realising he may have gone too far. 'Forget I asked.'
'My father,' Astar blurted out.
Haruki stopped, a scroll unfurling in his arms. 'What?'
'I can't remember anything else,' Astar said quietly, 'but I think it's my father's fault they're gone.'
Haruki stared at him blankly for a minute, and then his face twisted into a scowl. 'Is it your father's fault you were running from The Society as well?'
Astar shifted uncomfortably and gave a small nod, he didn't know how else to answer. Haruki seemed angry, had Astar said something to upset him? Where had he slipped up? After a while Haruki's face went back to its usual blank expression, as he curled up the scroll that had fallen open in his grasp. Astar sighed, this awkward tension in the air made him uncomfortable.
He walked over to a small lounge in the corner of the room to read his book, and when he opened it, a cloud of dust flew into his face.
Coughing, Astar waved the cloud away. How old was this book anyways? He flipped back to the cover page and brushed a small cobweb off it. Zunala Yadao was the author of this book. Astar had never heard of them, and books had been his main form of entertainment when growing up.
When he opened the book though it seemed to make sense, inside was not a list of enchantments and how-to's, but instead, it appeared to be a diary. There were detailed accounts of custom spells, the magic they could do seemed impossible, and most of them were suitable for his magic subcategory.
Haruki had made his way over to where Astar sat. 'Find anything useful?' He asked
'Yes!' Astar exclaimed. 'This is going to be very helpful.'
Haruki smiled, but his smile quickly disappeared as he noticed blood running from Astar's arm, where he had cut his skin during his recent fall. Astar noticed his gaze and quickly made an effort to cover his wound with his other hand.
'It's just a surface wound!' He said quickly, 'It doesn't hurt, it will heal up in a day or two!'
'That is not a surface wound.' Haruki said in a low, enraged voice. He grabbed Astar by the wrist, quickly exiting the library with a stumbling Astar behind him.
Despite how angry Haruki seemed, his grip on Astar's wrist was soft – almost comforting. Haruki took Astar into a room he hadn't seen before. As he looked around the room, he saw various types of medical equipment. An infirmary.
Haruki let go of Astar and went over to a large cupboard, fishing around for something.
Astar sat on a mushroom-shaped stool in the corner of the room, it felt velvety and spongy as he ran his hands over the stool.
By now, Haruki had knelt beside Astar as he unscrewed the cork of a bottle and poured some of the murky, clumpy liquid onto a soft towel made from clouded sheep wool. Astar recoiled away in disgust as Haruki raised the towel to his wound.
'What is that?' He asked, horrified.
'Disinfectant,' Haruki replied, hiding a smile.
Astar frowned. 'I meant what's it made of?'
Haruki smirked. 'Long-toed frog spit,'
Astar wrinkled his nose.
'Oh, I'm sorry,' Haruki mocked, 'are you too angelic and pure to touch this?'
Astar furrowed his brow, was he being teased? He did not like that at all. He extended his arm, allowing Haruki to cleanse the wound. It stung and he pulled back slightly as he hissed through his teeth.
'Sorry,' Haruki apologised quietly, 'just sit still, I'm almost done.'