Vega was flying through the air in her dreams, her hands passing through the wet vapour of the clouds. The wings catch the sunlight attractively from numerous angles with their metallic feathers - waxed and highly polished to a radiant shine by unknown forces.
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The wind rushed past her as the cool, refreshing air of the Northeast came flooding into her lungs with each inhale.
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And then she pinched herself. Hard.
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And it hurt. Quite a lot.
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"Wait, I'm not dreaming?"
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*Nope! We are going to a location where I know we will find Himaru the Noon and Zoyra the Night: the branch of the Academy of the Adept in Cogitare, Luxequinox. On the roof, to be more specific.*
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"When will we get there?"
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*Now!* said the wings as they forced her into a near-vertical dive, the wind shrieking past her as she cleaved through the air. Her copper hair billowed wildly around her wiry frame.
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Vega closed her eyes and refused to open them until she felt the comfort of having some solid ground under her small feet.
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The once smooth slate was slathered in bird droppings, causing it to become a slippery slope off of the roof of the Cogitare Academy of the Adept.
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Lady Vega had only visited the academic institution once in her life so far, an occasion that was largely spoiled by her elder sister relentlessly mocking her for the torrent of questions she asked the various students (Mainly from the younger ranks of the Novice Scholars Apprentices), lecturers (Master Adepts - also a student rank - and Trainee Adepti) and the elite Adepti who served as professors. The Proctor of the Cogitare Academy, a man named Corvin van Voskan, had been as delighted by the curiosity of the younger sister - much to the dismay of the older one.
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Vega spotted two girls, one shorter than the other and surrounded by a warm and radiant glow. Her hair was blonde, long and wavy. She wears flowing robes of bright, warm colours—yellows, oranges, and gold— that complement her delicate features. Her eyes were amber.
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The taller of the two had short, black hair and violet eyes full of wisdom. Her skin was much like Vega`s own - pale and smooth. Her clothing consisted of robes in shades of deep blue, black, and silver.
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Dawn chimed in, *The shorter one is Himaru the Noon. I have never met her personally, but the Celestialist records paint her as nurturing, naïve and optimistic. The taller sister is Zoyra the Night. I have encountered her only once - when she set me on fire! - but she seems to be cynical, vindictive, wise and resentful. Both are far more dangerous than their gentle younger sister, Rōra the Dawn.*
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Vega giggled at the idea of the wings being set on fire, then sighed at the fact that she would have to fight again.
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"You took our sister!" Himaru shrieked at her in a white-hot fury. She glowed even brighter.
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"Not only did you decide to steal Rōra away from us, you came looking for the rest of the Cyclites expecting us to accept the same fate without a fight." Said Zoyra, her tone was calm and neutral towards Vega as well as the Dawnstar Wings.
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*My Lady, we must divide and conquer! Himaru and Zorya are powerful together but far weaker on their own. Separate the Cyclites and this will go smoothly. I will take control...*
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Vega felt her body go limp. Then it became very rigid. Dawn was at the steering wheel now.
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The teenager shot into the air until she was no longer visible. There was a rushing noise like bombs falling on a city that was being bombarded from the air - a common tactic in the 50 YBP - 40 YBP Coalition War - then a powerful blast that shattered both glass and slate tiles. Himaru was flung into a chimney.
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*I lied about there being a Second Coalition War, by the way, it felt inappropriate to tell you at that moment. It will be started by the Cerulean-Vorantine-Aqulio-Pheasantine Union in 80 EH in response to your son ascending to the throne of the Archregion after you give it up.*
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"A second coali- DAWN! Do you have any idea what that will do to, like, everything?" Thought the furious Lady
Vega Calliope Ego.
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*Actually yes, it will decimate populations and infrastructure, turn landscapes into charred wastelands, destroy Wonders of Empyrea and ultimately end with...actually, why spoil the fun? I'm not telling!* Replied the Dawnstar Wings in her mind, becoming more and more sarcastic - not to mention snarky - with every syllable.
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"Ugh fine! At least do your divide-and-conquer thing to beat the Himaru as well as Zoyra already!" She whined loudly.
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Dawn complied with the request by zooming forward at Himaru the Noon and absorbing her.
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The normally calm, cool and calculating Zoyra the Night seemed to morph into a creature at that moment, a creature born from nothing except wrath and sisterly love.
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The oldest of the Cyclites`s violet eyes locked on to Vega’s asymmetric ones - which had an unnerving quality that she tended to exploit against the government officials who took a dislike to the younger child of Viscount Maxwell and Viscountess Alix.
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"Y-You have no reason to do this! Rōra and Himaru never hurt anyone..." Zoyra said, her slivery voice growing louder every moment in a powerful crescendo.
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"The Cyclites are corrupted, you all lash out at the divine power of the Vápnið hjá teimum útvaldu" (Old Ayerian: The weapons of the chosen ones)
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"The language of the Ayerians? That tongue has been practically extinct since Duxeière Osric, the Hammer of the Ayerians, invaded the Southwest to establish Dominium Ayerium in 2832 YBP!" She exclaimed.
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Dawn did not reply, instead choosing to clap Vega’s hands. Each impact sent out a shockwave of ancient energy. Everyone and everything in Empyrea was connected to Æther with one exception: the Dawnstar Wings. They were made of Anti-Æther, the polar opposite of Æther, instead.
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Zorya was stunned for a moment.
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A moment was all that Dawn needed to fly in and absorb her.
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The Proctor of the Cogitare Academy of the Adept was going to rage when he saw the state his institute`s roof was in.
ns 15.158.61.6da2
