~ In a time when the fabric of reality was still undefined, there was a legendary figure named Cosmora. Though many believed her to be an angel sent by the divine, she often claimed she was nothing more than a mortal. Yet, her deeds and powers painted a different story. Cosmora wandered the lands, healing and guiding with her magic, helping all who sought her aid, a beacon of hope in a world still young and fragile.
But then came a conflict so devastating that it would scar the Earth for eons: The Great War of Zinch. This cataclysmic war saw kingdoms fall, landscapes reduced to ruin, and nearly half of humanity wiped from existence. In the chaos, allegiances were forged and broken, but Cosmora remained steadfastly neutral, her heart unwilling to take part in violence. She refused to pick a side, knowing that by aiding one, she would condemn the other.
In her wisdom and despair over the endless destruction, Cosmora turned to a forbidden power, one so ancient and profound that it had not been spoken of since the dawn of creation. She invoked a spell so mighty that it called upon the forces of the cosmos itself:
"Astra Zodiara Invocare"
"By the stars, the sun, the moon's embrace,
I call the twelve who guard time and space.
Aries, Taurus, Gemini rise,
Cancer, Leo, through Virgo's skies.
Libra, Scorpio, Sagittari's fire,
Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces inspire.
By fire, earth, air, and sea,
I summon the zodiac to stand with me.
From cosmic threads that weave and spin,
Let the power of the signs begin."
As she uttered these words, the stars above shimmered in unison, aligning in an unprecedented celestial formation. The twelve signs of the Zodiac answered her call, each representing the primordial elements of existence. These celestial powers were ancient guardians of the universe, capable of restoring balance where chaos had ravaged the land.
With their power combined, Cosmora created a bridge between the mortal realm and the realm of the Zodiac—a gateway linking the dimensions, allowing cosmic energies to flood into the war-torn world. This 'magic' was unlike any other; it was a force of restoration. The celestial powers imbued Cosmora with the ability to reverse the destruction caused by The Great War of Zinch. Buildings that had crumbled to dust reformed, forests that had burned regrew in an instant, and lives lost to the ravages of war were resurrected.
The war's devastation was undone, but the spell had a price.
Yet, even as the world was restored, Cosmora knew that her time was short. The power she had summoned came at a great cost. She could feel herself fading, becoming one with the cosmic forces she had called upon. But before she disappeared from the mortal realm, she made one final, fateful decision.
Cosmora chose twelve individuals—twelve souls who were scattered across the world, unaware of their destinies. They were not heroes or rulers, not warriors or scholars, but ordinary people. In her last moments, she gifted each of them access to the powers of the Zodiac. To one, she gave the strength of Aries, to another, the patience of Taurus, and so on until each of the twelve signs had found its new bearer.
With this act, she ensured that the power of the stars would live on in the world. These twelve individuals became the first of the Zodiac Guardians, each connected to a specific cosmic force. They could wield the energies of the heavens, protect the balance of the earth, and guide humanity in times of need.
As Cosmora faded into the stars, her voice echoed one last time:
"The power of the Zodiac is now within your hands. Use it wisely, for the fate of the world may one day depend upon you."
And with that, she was gone, her form dissolving into the stardust from which the universe was born.
Those chosen ones became legends, their abilities unmatched, as they wielded control over elemental forces, time, fate, and even the minds of others. With this power came a great responsibility to protect and maintain balance in the world.
As time passed, the Zodiac powers spread across the globe, manifesting in nearly every human. People learned to channel lesser versions of these powers based on their Zodiac signs, leading to a society where these abilities became commonplace. Everyone had some connection to their Zodiac sign, influencing their strengths, personalities, and even their roles within society.
However, the direct descendants of the original Twelve Chosen Ones remained exceptional. These families, sometimes called the Zodiac Lineages, inherited not just ordinary powers but the full strength of their ancestors' abilities. Over time, they rose to positions of incredible influence and authority. They became the most powerful figures in politics, industry, and even warfare, holding the highest positions in the world.
----
In the dimly lit corner of a bustling bar, the faint hum of chatter and clinking glasses filled the air. A girl, no more than seventeen, sat hunched over a thick, ancient book, its pages yellowed with age. Her blonde hair fell in loose waves around her face as her blue eyes scanned the worn text. Her name was Lanssa, and she was deep into the story of Cosmora, the legendary figure who bridged the realms of the Zodiac and humanity.
She had heard fragments of the story before, passed down in whispers and half-forgotten myths. But seeing the full tale written before her now, it felt different. Almost as if the ancient words were speaking directly to her. The idea of ordinary people being gifted extraordinary powers—it stirred something in her, something unspoken.
As Lanssa turned the page, absorbed in the thought of the Zodiac Lineages and their influence on the modern world, a voice broke through her concentration.
"Hey, you know, the Zodiac... they are quite powerful, aren't they?"
Startled, Lanssa looked up to see a boy standing beside her. He seemed about her age, but there was something in his eyes—something dark and worn. He looked like he had lived through far more than any seventeen-year-old should have. His clothes were simple but rumpled, as if he had been on the move for some time, and there was a haunted look in his expression that caught her off guard.
For a moment, she just stared at him, wondering why someone she had never met would suddenly approach her. But there was something familiar in his gaze, something that told her this interruption wasn't random.
The boy's lips quirked into a bitter smile as if he knew exactly what she was thinking. He gestured toward the book in her hands, then back at her. "What makes you so interested in that story?" he asked quietly, his voice low and carrying a weight she couldn't yet understand.
Lanssa, still holding the book open, blinked and hesitated before replying. Something about his question and the way he looked at her made her feel that this was more than just a passing curiosity.
"I just want to told you that, Cosmora was stupid."
His words hung in the air like a sharp blade, cutting through the subtle hum of the bar. Her brows furrowed, a frown pulling at her lips as she closed the book with a soft thud. Lansa had spent the last few hours lost in the story, drawn to the selflessness of Cosmora, the woman who sacrificed everything to save the world. Hearing someone so casually dismiss her felt… wrong.
"Excuse me?" Lanssa said, her tone edged with irritation. Her blue eyes, which had been soft and contemplative moments before, now sharpened as she looked up at the boy.
He shrugged, his expression unreadable. "I mean, look at what she did. All that power, and she gave it away to a bunch of random people, thinking it would somehow solve everything. But look around. How's that working out for us now?"
Lanssa's grip tightened on the book. She had no idea who this guy was, but his casual disrespect for Cosmora's sacrifice stirred something in her. "She wasn't stupid,"
Lanssa shot back, her voice more forceful now. "She saved the world, didn't she? Without her, everything would've been lost."
The boy chuckled, but it wasn't a sound of amusement. It was cold, bitter. "Saved the world? Maybe for a little while. But look at how it all turned out. Those Zodiac powers weren't meant for this world, and now everyone's uses it for their own purposes. The same destruction Cosmora tried to stop? It's happening all over again. If only she keep the zodiac power to death with her"
Lanssa opened her mouth to argue, but his words struck something deep in her. The story didn't go into detail about what happened after Cosmora's sacrifice. Still, she wasn't ready to agree with him.
"And what would you have done, then?" she asked, crossing her arms. "Just let the world burn?"
The boy's face darkened. For a second, a flash of something—grief, maybe even guilt—crossed his eyes, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared. "Maybe some things are meant to burn," he muttered, his voice low.
Lanssa narrowed her eyes, now more intrigued than angry. "Who are you?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
The boy glanced away, running a hand through his messy hair, then looked back at her. "Doesn't matter. But I've seen what this power does to people. It destroys them, and the world with it. Cosmora might've meant well, but all she did was set the stage for the next catastrophe."
Lanssa shook her head, not willing to accept his bleak view just yet. "The power she gave was supposed to protect the balance," she argued. "It's not about destruction."
He let out a bitter laugh. "Balance? Yeah, tell that to the people who lost everything because someone thought they were special enough to control the stars."
Lanssa stared at him, her mind spinning. There was something about the way he spoke—like he knew more than he was saying. Like he had lived through the things he was talking about.
The boy's bitter laugh echoed in Lansa's ears long after he had stopped. He stared at her for a moment, his eyes clouded with something she couldn't quite place—resentment, pain, maybe even regret. Without another word, he pushed off from the bar and started walking toward the door. His movements were quick, purposeful, as if he were running from something unseen.
Lanssa watched him go, her heart still beating fast from their tense exchange. She wanted to let it go, to shrug off his cryptic words and return to her book, but she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to his story. His words had hit something deep inside her, a truth she couldn't yet understand, but one she needed to.
Before she even realized what she was doing, Lanssa stood up, abandoning her drink and leaving the book behind. Her legs carried her toward the door, driven by an almost unconscious curiosity. She couldn't explain why, but something about that boy—his pain, his bitterness—made her feel like he knew more about the Zodiac powers than he let on. Maybe even more than the book itself.
Pushing open the heavy wooden door of the bar, she stepped out into the cool night air. The street was quiet, save for a few dimly lit shops and the distant hum of the city beyond. She spotted him walking down the narrow alley, his figure silhouetted against the pale glow of the streetlights.
Lanssa hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should follow. He clearly hadn't wanted to talk, and she wasn't sure if chasing after him was the right thing to do. But something in her gut told her she needed to. Whatever he knew, whatever he had seen—it mattered. She felt it in her bones.
Without another thought, she started after him, keeping a safe distance so he wouldn't notice. He walked with a determined stride, his head down as if he were lost in his own thoughts. Lanssa trailed behind, her footsteps light on the cracked pavement, her heart thudding in her chest.
The alley led into a quieter part of the town, where the buildings became fewer and the streets less traveled. The shadows here seemed to stretch farther, and Lanssa found herself glancing around nervously. She hadn't expected to follow him this far, but something about the situation felt off. There was a weight in the air, a sense of foreboding that made her skin prickle.
As the boy turned a corner, disappearing out of sight, Lanssa quickened her pace, her curiosity overriding her caution. When she rounded the corner after him, she found herself in a narrow alley, lit only by a single flickering streetlight. The boy stood at the far end, his back to her, but he wasn't alone.
Two figures had stepped out from the shadows, tall and cloaked, their faces obscured by hoods. Lanssa's breath caught in her throat. She pressed herself against the wall, peeking out just enough to watch what was happening.
Lanssa froze and pressed herself against the corner of a nearby building, peeking out just enough to observe what was happening.
"Finally caught up with you, huh. Ausgelich Nafasta?" one of the hooded men sneered. His voice was low and gritty, dripping with malice.
The boy—Lich—stood his ground, his ground, his posture calm but coiled with tension. He crossed his arms over his chest, but his eyes never left the two men in front of him.
"I told you already," Lich said, his voice carrying a sharp edge, "I'm done with you guys. If you've got a problem with that, you know where to find me."
The second man, taller and bulkier, stepped forward, pulling back his hood to reveal a scarred face twisted in anger. "Oh, we've found you, alright. You've been making things real difficult for us. Ever since you showed up, our guys can't walk the streets without limping home. You think you can keep humiliating us and get away with it?"
Lanssa's heart thudded in her chest as she realized what was happening. Lich had clearly crossed paths with these men before, probably from some gang by the looks of them. And he had beaten them badly enough that they were now out for revenge. But they didn't seem to know just how dangerous he really was. They had no idea who—or what—he was.
Lich gave a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "You think this is about your gang? I'm not scared of any of you."
The first man's face twisted into an ugly snarl. "You're going to regret that, kid."
Both men lunged at him simultaneously, clearly expecting an easy fight. But Lich didn't even flinch. As the first man swung a heavy fist toward him, Lich ducked effortlessly, his movements smooth and controlled. With a quick sidestep, he dodged the second attacker, then delivered a sharp jab to the man's ribs, sending him stumbling backward with a pained grunt.
Lanssa watched, wide-eyed, as Lich handled the two thugs with ease. His movements were fluid, precise. He didn't rely on brute strength but on speed and skill, weaving between their attacks like he could see them coming before they even happened.
The taller man growled in frustration, rushing Lich with all his weight behind him. Lich grabbed his arm mid-swing and twisted, flipping the man over his shoulder in one swift motion. He hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the air from his lungs.
The second thug, clearly more cautious now, swung wildly, trying to catch Lich off guard. But Lich sidestepped again and landed a solid kick to the back of the thug's knee, dropping him to the ground. In a flash, Lich had the man pinned, his arm twisted behind his back in a painful hold.
"Do you really want to keep doing this?" Lich asked, his voice calm but deadly. The man beneath him groaned in pain, his answer obvious.
The taller thug struggled to his feet, clutching his side. His face was a mix of anger and fear. "You think you're tough? Just wait. You'll pay for this. We'll come back with more guys, and you won't be so lucky next time."
Lich's expression didn't change. He didn't even seem phased. "You had your chance. You come after me again, and it'll end worse than this."
The taller man spat on the ground, glaring at Lich as he helped his groaning friend to his feet. Without another word, they limped off into the night, disappearing back into the shadows from where they came.
Lanssa watched as Lich stood there, his fists still clenched, breathing steady. He hadn't even broken a sweat. It was only after the two men were gone that she fully realized what had just happened. Lich had taken them down with nothing but his bare hands—no magic, no special powers. But there was something about the way he fought, something almost... superhuman.
Slowly, Lanssa stepped out from her hiding spot, her footsteps soft on the pavement. "That was... impressive," she said, her voice cautious but curious.
Lich turned his head, his eyes narrowing slightly when he saw her. For a moment, there was a flicker of recognition in his gaze, like he had sensed her presence earlier but hadn't been sure. "You shouldn't have followed me," he said quietly, his voice carrying a warning.
Lanssa bit her lip, taking a hesitant step closer. "I didn't mean to. I just—what you said back there, about the Zodiac... I don't think you're just some random guy. Who are you?"
Lich's jaw tightened. He glanced away, his eyes shadowed by something deeper than just irritation. For a moment, he looked like he might not answer. But then he sighed, running a hand through his messy hair.
"My name's Ausgelich, Ausgelich.. Nafasta" he said, his voice low. "And trust me, you don't want to get involved in this."
But Lanssa couldn't pull away now. She had seen too much. And somehow, she knew—there was more to Lich than even he was willing to admit.
Lanssa took another step forward, undeterred by Lich's warning. The streetlight cast harsh shadows across his face, making him look older, more worn than he had in the bar.
"Those men," she said, gesturing toward the direction they'd fled, "they weren't just random thugs, were they? They knew your name—your full name."
Lich's expression hardened into an unreadable mask. "Like I said, you don't want to get involved."
"Maybe I already am," Lanssa challenged, crossing her arms. "You show up while I'm reading about Cosmora, start talking about how the Zodiac powers destroy everything, and then take down two grown men without breaking a sweat? That's not coincidence."
A bitter smile crossed Lich's face. "Nothing ever is." He turned to leave, but Lansa reached out, grabbing his sleeve.
"Wait," she said, her voice softer now. "In the book, it mentioned the Zodiac Lineages—the families that inherited the original powers. You're connected to them somehow, aren't you?"
Lich went still, tension rippling through his shoulders. His eyes met hers, cold and warning. "Drop it. Some questions are better left unasked."
But before Lanssa could press further, a sharp crack split the air. Both of them spun toward the sound. At the end of the alley, where the thugs had disappeared, stood a figure wrapped in a midnight blue cloak. Their hands glowed with an eerie light, and the air around them wavered with the unmistakable signature of Zodiac power.
"Ausgelich Librariars," the figure called out, their voice resonating with authority.
The effect was immediate. Lich's entire demeanor changed in an instant, his casual stance shifting to something deadly and precise. The air around him seemed to thicken, though no visible power emanated from him. His eyes, fixed on the cloaked figure, held a controlled fury that made Lansa take an involuntary step back.
"That name," the cloaked figure continued, "carries quite a weight, doesn't it? The Council has searched for you for a long time."
"You have the wrong person," Lich said, his voice flat and cold. "My name is Nafasta."
The figure laughed, the sound sharp and knowing. "Still hiding behind that false name? How long did you think you could run from what you are?"
Lanssa's mind raced. Librariars—she had read that name in the ancient text, though only in passing. They were mentioned as one of the original twelve families chosen by Cosmora, the first to bear the power of Libra. But the book had said they disappeared generations ago, after some great catastrophe that was never fully explained.
She looked at Lich with new eyes, seeing him not as just another runaway, but as something else entirely. The way he moved, the controlled power in his stance, the bitter knowledge in his eyes when he spoke of Cosmora's mistake—it all pointed to something deeper, something he was desperately trying to hide.
"Run," Lich said quietly, his eyes never leaving the cloaked figure. "This isn't your fight."
"But—"
"NOW!"
The command held such force that Lanssa found herself backing away before she could think. The air around them began to distort, reality itself seeming to waver as if being weighed on invisible scales.
"The Council has judged you," the figure declared, raising their hands as power gathered like storm clouds. "Your sentence is death."
Lich's only response was a slight shift in his stance, but something in the air changed—became heavier, more charged. When he spoke, his voice carried an edge Lansa had never heard before.
"Then come collect."
Power exploded between them, and Lanssa finally did run—not out of fear, but because she understood that she was witnessing something she wasn't meant to see. Something ancient and terrible was about to unfold in that alley, and whatever secrets Lich was keeping, whatever truth lay behind the name Librariars, she knew she wasn't ready for those answers.
Not yet.
As she fled, the sound of clashing powers echoed behind her, and she could have sworn she saw ethereal scales flickering in the air above the alley. But she didn't look back. Some mysteries, she realized, revealed themselves only when the time was right.
And clearly, that time wasn't now.