Fun Fact: Denatured arcani is the world's global currency since it can be converted to arcani easily. Glyphs are used to record the amount of money, and are also named after celestial bodies.
Luna (Moon): Crescent shaped | Lowest form of currency | 20 Lunas = 1 Tellus
Tellus (Earth): Leaf shaped | Middle form of currency | 50 Tellus = 1 Sawel
Sawel (Sun): Sun shaped | Highest form of currency
~ ~ ~
Kleopatra paced the corridor like an anxious father awaiting the birth of his first child. She glanced at the door again. Gaius was taking way too long settling his friend in, and she still had so much to discuss with him.
The girl pouted unconsciously. It's not like she was badly injured or anything. Does he really need to spend so much time on her?
The sound of squelching boots stopped her from barging into the room. Kleopatra raised an eyebrow at the small group of armoured magis returning. They were soaking wet for some reason, and Cybele was looking more pissed off than usual. The Guardian Council Leader stormed into the general room and slammed the door shut.
"Hey Cybele." Kleopatra entered the room quietly. There was no response. Her sister was slumping on the table with her face buried in her hands.
"How did the mission go?"
Cybele looked up. Her hair streaked messily across her face, stuck to her skin by the tears that were still flowing freely from her eyes. She sniffled and wiped her tears away, only for more to course down her cheeks again.
"W-why...?" She sobbed. "I try so hard to keep things together. Why do I still... fail? Why won't anyone listen to me...?"
Kleopatra hid her surprise. It was rare for her sister to cry, which meant the mission had obviously gone sour. She cast her gaze downwards, furrowing her eyebrows. She did not recall seeing Felix return with the Guardians. Oh gods, is he-
She shook her head. No. It just wasn't possible. Felix was too strong for anything to even hurt him.
"I'm not cut out for this." Cybele continued between choked sobs. "I'm not meant to be a leader. I shouldn't even have taken up this position in the first place. Anyone else could've done a better job. I'm so... worthless."
"Cybele..." Kleopatra was struggling to form words, so she moved without thinking.
The hands on her back were holding her tightly, but they felt softer than ever. The girl held her sister close, feeling the trembling of her whole body as she broke down into a quivering mess of tears.
"I don't know what to do, Kleo..."
The doors slid open.
"I see you've finally taken the first step to becoming a leader, my dear child."
Cybele broke away from Kleopatra and ran towards her father.
"D-Dad! What're you doing- I thought you'd be busy with-" Cybele stammered, hurriedly wiping away her tears. "E-everything is fine! You needn't come all the way here to-"
"What, are you going to turn away a man only keen to see his daughters?"
Cybele fell silent, pursing her lips.
"It's not easy leading a team of highly skilled members without real power backing you up." Vulcan patted her head gently. "I've been there, and here you are as well. But you have already done so much better than I did."
"No, I didn't!" Cybele's eyes shimmered again. "Gaius quit on me, I lost Felix in a prisoner exchange, and the rest of the Guardians won't even listen to me now! I can't control them like you did, Dad. I'm not good enough..."
"Oh Cybele, do you think I lead the Guardian Council by controlling them?" Vulcan said. "They are people. Immensely talented people, who know what they can do and are hoping for someone to appreciate their skills."
"I'm trying, Dad. But I've made so many mistakes. I already screwed up. I failed them, I failed myself, I... I failed you."
"The fault is not yours. It was I who set you on this gruelling path when I had to answer to my own duties." Vulcan lowered his voice. "I have made a great many mistakes in my life, Cybele. And yet I do not regret my decision to accept you as the next Guardian leader. This was not one of them."
Cybele kept her silence again.
"You have a hero's heart, my girl. You always did. That's why I had no qualms about passing on the mantle to you," her father continued. "And just because you stumble and fall once, doesn't mean that you'll never walk again. Sometimes, all we need is a helping hand to get back on our feet. You need not but to simply ask."
"I'm so lost. I don't know what to do." Cybele looked up at her father. "I want to get Felix back, but the Guardian Council has already lost all faith in me. I can't do this by myself. I... I need help, Dad."
"Winning over competent men and women was never about words, but your actions. And..." Vulcan grinned a little. "The Guardian Council isn't our only elite military force."
Warlock Vulcan took out an orb from his robes. He pressed a button on its side, and a crackle of static sputtered from it.
"At your service, Mister President."
"Scouts. Report," Vulcan ordered.
"Targets are in a bunker six metres underground. The place appears to be a base of operations for the Meta Liberty Fighters. We have kept a safe distance, and hostiles have not noticed our presence yet. Heat signatures reveal that their hostages are still alive and well. Shall we launch a rescue operation?"
"Not yet. Continue observing them and alert me if there is any irregular movement."
"Will do, President Vulcan." Another crackle of static ended the transmission.
Cybele's eyes were as wide as saucers now.
"When you announced for the Guardian Council to start the rescue mission in one of the most dangerous provinces, I had to send our Secret Service Constables to make sure nothing went wrong," Vulcan said. "They have been reporting to me, but were also under strict orders not to interfere."
"Wow..." Kleopatra breathed. Her father never ran out of surprises.
"So not to worry, your subordinates are safe for now." Vulcan smiled warmly, but it slipped off his face quickly. "We have more pressing matters. Or rather, a 'good news' of sorts."
He reached into his pocket, taking out a slightly purplish tear-shaped drop. Kleopatra's eyes widened in recognition; it was similar to the one she had found on the streets.
"This might just be the key to reversing this calamity," Vulcan said. "As you probably already have observed, this curious object has been found in place of every destroyed abomination. Its strange shape has rendered this part-"
He tried crushing the bulbous part of the crystal.
"-Nearly impervious to any attempt to break it."
"But its weakness is the tip of its tail, right?" Kleopatra piped, excited to put her sophomore knowledge of Arcani studies to use for once.
"That's right, Kleo."
Vulcan pinched its tail, and the B'javiar tear shattered instantly.
"Preliminary research from our Grand Druids have revealed that this shape is formed by a huge amount of compressive stress on the arcani in the air," Vulcan continued. "Which also means that by principle, there is a much weaker source to this calamity."
"So we do have a villain on our hands after all." Cybele folded her arms.
"Perhaps, perhaps not." Vulcan shook his head. "I have no idea how to begin searching for this source at the moment, but I have the full confidence that our researchers will make a breakthrough soon."
He looked at Cybele. "And after that, I will need to defer to the Guardian Council for help in apprehending the culprit."
"Dad, I'm not sure if I'm up to the task. I'm afraid that not all the Guardians will follow me into battle anymore."
"Then choose your allies wisely." Vulcan reached for the door handle. "It's better to have a small, trusted team of experienced fighters than an army of disorganised pawns."
He left the room.
~ ~ ~
This is all my fault.
Gaius clenched his fists in frustration, looking over the winding road that led up to the headquarters.
If I'd been stronger, they wouldn't have to go through all this pain.
The energy within him throbbed in response, as if goading him to let it loose. He yawned instead, realising how tired he was for going two days without sleep. Not like he could fall asleep anyway; images of his friends lying dead all around him would torment him every time he closed his eyes. Again and again he would wake up with a jolt, only to find himself surrounded by people who were suffering much more than him.
Light ran through his body, filling him with energy once more. He had work to do. He needed to make up for his mistakes. Gaius looked into the camp again. Parthena was still sitting cross-legged on the floor with a blank look in her eyes.
I owe it to her. I owe it to all my friends.
"Gaius."
"Kleo, Cybele." He nodded grimly at the two approaching ladies. An uncharacteristically sombre look was hanging on Cybele's face. Gaius frowned a little. What just happened?
"Gaius, I wish to apologise," Cybele said. "I'm sorry for treating you like a mere disposable asset. For disrespecting your wishes and using your past against you. I know I haven't been a good leader, and you have suffered the brunt of my frustration through no fault of your own."
Gaius folded his arms. "Now what brought that on all of a sudden?"
"Recent events... have given me pause," she replied softly. "But right now, someone else needs your help. I do not wish for my mistakes to get in the way of doing the right thing."
Kleopatra stepped forward. "Felix has been taken hostage during a mission, and we could really use your help to get him back."
Gaius looked at the floor to hide his surprise.
"Are you sure?" He tilted his head. "Because I really don't think anyone can take him hostage against his will. Are you sure he just didn't let himself get taken?"
"Whatever the case is, I wish to support whatever he is planning as much as possible," Cybele said earnestly. "You were one of our best at stealth and recon missions, Gaius. We need your help to find out what is happening."
Gaius clenched his jaw.
"Please Gaius," Kleopatra pleaded. "Even if you won't do it for the Guardian Council, do it for him. We're still friends, aren't we?"
Gaius sighed. You owe me again, Felix.
"Fine, give me the mission briefing."40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGvq3ZziqE
