"What?"
The three of us stood in silence, looking ahead at the dark effigy before us. The twisted form in front of us had two discernable eyes fashioned of stone that stared dead ahead, as if oblivious to our presence.
"She is unsuitable."
Though it was immobile and had no mouth or even a head, the words from the effigy rang out crystal clear, if not a little jarring. It spoke slow, enunciated gratingly on every word.
I turn to my comrades, shrugging. This was news to me as well.
"Lord of Magic," I start to say. "I have come here with Rylin Icarra. She is to become my Vessel. I have no other options."
There was a grinding noise, as if the statue were creaking. Like it was giving consideration to my words. Those ominous eyes continued to look straight forward. As I stared into them longer and let my gaze linger, it almost felt as if some higher intelligence or light flickered inside the monolithic stone guardian. Something more than magic.
"She possesses magic of her own. You must choose another."
I turn to Rylin, confusion apparent. "You're...you have a Guide too, Rylin?" I stumbled on my words. The tension we had coming into this place was already palpable. Being denied by the effigy had only made it worse.
My other companion, Kieran, stepped up. "If that's true, August," he said, choosing his words carefully and slowly, "Then let me become your Vessel instead."
"We already talked about this," I said, biting my lip anxiously. "No."
"Lord of Magic," I heard Rylin say. I turn back to her. Her head is down, her soft black hair falling over her face and obscuring her eyes. "What, or who, has granted me magic, exactly? This...is news to me as well."
The stone effigy made a noise that could almost be construed as laughter. "Rylin Icarra," it bellowed, louder than it had been before. "You hold two Blessings. The Celestial and the Terrestrial. You are compatible with the magic of the moon. You have been chosen by the goddess of the moon herself to bear her blessing and become the shield of the moon. The vessel for your magic is the moon itself. You are already complete."
It felt like my soul had vacated my body. As if my mind had gone, and I was in another place, watching the three of us stand before the effigy in stunned disbelief. Was any of this even real? Is it a dream? How did we even get here?
"Rylin is...blessed with the magic of the moon?" Kieran repeated for clarification.
"Yes." the effigy confirmed. We all look at each other. How could this be? How did we not know sooner?
"Do you understand?" the effigy questioned.
I looked to the stone eyes with defiance. Yes. I understood the implication all too well. Rylin was the one I was looking for. The reason I came to this world, and she'd been by my side all along.
I have a guiding light. A voice in my head. The voice of magic that guides me to my destiny. Until today, I have only ever heard whispers. Today is the day I was to take on a Vessel and fully unlock my power.
And once I do, my goal is to search the planet for one blessed of the magic of the moon...
Bring that person with me to the surface of the moon...
And sacrifice them. Join their spirit to the moon itself. Turn them into a magic guardian. Only then can I begin my true destiny. Only then can I cleanse the world below of its darkness.
"Your other companion is compatible. He can be your Vessel."
It's like a wind blew through my soul, chilling me to the core. I understood. Yes. Kieran was the only other choice I had.
"Kieran, I..."
My best friend shook his head. Whatever I was going to say, he didn't want to hear it.
"August." he stated my name firmly and grabbed me by the shoulder, turning me to face him. "I'm not afraid to be your Vessel."
It's not that I never considered it. I awoke to my destiny over a year ago. The elders gave me the luxury of choice, to decide who would become my Vessel. Whoever it was, I was destined to share my life with. To become as one soul in two separate bodies. Someone who would know and feel my every emotion. To shoulder my pain. To be my strength.
There is an intimacy involved with having a Vessel. It's not something I feared to share with Kieran - he is my best friend, after all. But as I looked to Rylin, a girl who a year ago I promised some day I'd marry...
It was supposed to be her.
I felt sick. Disgusted. A torrent of emotion I wasn't ready for was bursting into my consciousness. Grief, confusion, despair. Hopelessness. I locked eyes with the girl I once told I loved and realized that our future together was over. Her future is over. And it would be by my hand.
"I can't do this." I turned around and looked down the shadowy hall. I could have just left. All three of us could have walked out of there, and defied our destiny. Lived in ignorance. Hoped that somehow, someone else could take up the heavy burden we found on our shoulders.
"August, I'm not scared either," Rylin said sweetly. "I had a feeling," she mused. "Maybe I always knew, deep down. But I wanted to believe that somehow I was mistaken."
If I don't do this, everyone I know will die. The Encephalim will make sure of it. Our world is fragile, and going beyond the barrier is a death sentence. Without the barrier, Little Moon Town would be reduced to ashes and our people, the Nephilim, would become extant.
I closed my eyes, the weight of my decision and indecision enough to crush me. Without words, I knew that Kieran and Rylin understood the pain I was going through. The choice might be easy for them, but to me it's impossible. I never wanted to be special, or chosen. Not if it meant this.
"Very well," I spoke so quietly it was as if I were whispering. "I name Kieran Summers as my Vessel. And I will return Rylin to the moon where she will become the cornerstone of the lunar barrier, and ensure the safety of Little Moon Town."
"A wise choice," the effigy curled, hideous wings on its back beginning to unfurl mechanically.
"August Madera, I hereby name you as Magician of the Nephilim. Now wake up."