Vega flew through the air, though not of her own will. Dawn had firmly wrestled control of her body from her to take her to the dizzying heights of the Jewelled Peaks in Xyrolith.
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The magnificent mountaintops were a popular landmark and had been classified as the 1st Wonder of Empyrea, much to the pride of Xyrolithian Narcissians. The Jewelled Peaks mountain range shared its status as a wonder with the Nazari Stronghold (The mightiest fortress ever built by the Estrin Dominion) in the Second Pheasantine Republic, the Azure Coast in the Meritocracy of Aquiloria (gorgeous beaches near Meziak), the entire Technate of Cognor (the largest of the southern semi-autonomous, self-sufficient cities) in the Technocracy of Vorantis and the Great Spire of Cerulea (A gargantuan pillar of stone carved from the heart of a mountain that houses the Dragon`s Citadel) in the Theocratic Confederacy of Cerulea. There had been proposals to consider the ruins of Urbs regni coelestis caput, capital of the Pan-Regional empire known as the Colestis Imperii that had lasted for 2,752 years under 117 Duxeières (pronounced Doo-seh-airs)
and 4 Regents of the House of Açaí (pronounced Ah-sigh-e)
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"Dawn, of all the places you could have taken me, you bring me to one of the coldest places in the Earldom?" She snarled through chattering teeth as her body shivered and brought her blood away from her extremities
To raise its core temperature.
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*We seek the Point Twins, Zenith and Nadir. They are the sons of the deceased Azimuth the Angle and are both noted tricksters. Unfortunately for us, Æonex has corrupted them and given them his evil sense of humour.* Explained Dawn, not oblivious but ignoring the discomfort of the girl he was attached to.
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Vega could hear cruel sounding laughter echoing from nearby. Dawn flew her up onto a cliff, and the sight that greeted her nearly made her topple over:
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Two young men, barely older than her sister Roxane, were sat toasting bits of bloody meat on a fire with sticks. The one closest to her had sandy blond hair and carried a stick in his left hand. Not an ordinary stick, one that ended in a crystal orb with two wings below it. Under the wings were two living - and hissing - serpents, coiled tightly around the wood of the stick (☤)
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The wings, being a divine object themselves, immediately told her what it was. *That is the Logico or the staff of Logic, it is carried by Zenith, the celestial deity of the sky, truthfulness and punishment. He was given the staff by Auster as a gift for a clever prank and for being the better behaved of the two, my Lady.
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The other young man was willowy and very slender, but not due to malnutrition. Unlike his twin brother, his hands were empty.
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*And the other is Nardir, the celestial deity of the ground, comedy, humour, rewards, and messengers. Be careful,
everything he does is illogical, unpredictable and often dangerous!* Warned the wings. They buzzed with a combination of magical energy and excitement.
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"What have we here, brother?" Asked Nardir.
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"Why I believe it's the ickle Lady Vega, who thinks herself an angel!" Replied his twin sarcastically.
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Vega clenched her fists tightly, the nails leaving marks in the palms of her hands.
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*Not yet*
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The Point Twins rounded on the teenage aristocrat aggressively. Sniggering to themselves as they thought of ways to taunt her.
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"Those mismatched eyes make it hard to focus on anything else, and honestly, we'd rather not look at you at all." Remarked Zenith.
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Not to be outdone, Nardir chimed in with, "You are everything wrong with Empyrea rolled into one...what a fate you bear."
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"I-"
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"The unwanted result of a bad joke—no one asked for your opinion, yet here you are, reminding us all of just how much of a failure you are. The only bullets you dodged were the disease that killed Countess Nyctra and whatever made Earl Magnus utterly mental. Unattractive, unlikeable and useless...what's the point of you exactly? To make Lady Roxane look better, perhaps? You are no Wingbearer, just a pathet-" Nardir`s rant was cut short when the wings propelled her first directly into his nose with a satisfying crunch.
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The Dawnstar Wings crackled brightly with raw energy, the sparks dancing around behind her.
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*Lesson one: hold out your hand, clench it, and pretend you are throwing a javelin.*
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Vega did as she was told. There was a bright flash that sent Nardir screaming to the ground, smoke curling from his obnoxious clothes. Unless she was mistaken, Dawn had struck him with lightning.
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*No, YOU struck him with lightning. Dive on top of him so that I can absorb him to cleanse of corruption.* Ordered Dawn, no hint of the playfully sweet edge to his voice remaining. Instead, it was so sharp that had it been a sword rather than a voice, it would have cut poor Lady Vega to ribbons.
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"ARGHHHH!" Yelled the hyperventilating sub-deity in abject terror as Vega and her heavy divine companion landed on top of him. Dawn glowed azure blue, then a beautiful gold as he absorbed the writhing Celestial.
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"BROTHER!" Zenith cried out, the word laced with potent sorrow.
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The remaining twin brought the Staff of Logic down on the ground with a ringing clang like a bell being struck. Vega was sent reeling into a wall of stony black-grey rock. She coughed painfully as she got back to her feet.
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*We are stronger than this. Let me fight him.*
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Vega immediately fell into a trance-like state. Zenith looked at her, a puzzled expression on his face. "What are you doi-"
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Vega - under the control of the Dawnstar Wings - interrupted him by spreading the metallic feathers into a ring around her head and firing a beam. It had a black core and purple edges and had the curious property of appearing to suck all the light around it into itself.
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Zenith ran in circles to dodge it, desperately slamming down the Logico repeatedly to create more shockwaves than Vega simply flew over. The girl became a blur as she hurtled towards the Celestial, arcs of white-blue light shot at her target as she spun in circles.
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There was a sickeningly wet noise as she - shortly after the beams of light - violently collided with Zenith, sending the Celestial tumbling to the ground.
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The minor deity hissed and spat golden blood in his rage. The corrupted Zenith screamed in agony as the wings touched him, the holy superweapon burning his hands as he tried desperately to shove the wings away. Zenith was absorbed just like his brother.
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*For a Novice wingbearer, my Lady is pretty good. Or is she good and pretty? Jokes aside, the consorts of those twins - Cassie and Empusae - will be relieved that we have cleansed them. You may rest now.*
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The last thing Vega could remember was everything going very, very black and a feeling of calm peacefulness.
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______________________________________
When she woke up she was startled to find she was on an airship cruising at high altitude. "Where..am..I?" Her voice came out as a croak.
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"Aboard the Quartz - my personal craft - love." Answered an expressive, feminine voice that was silky to the ears. Vega unconsciously decided that it belonged to a younger administrator.
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*Welcome back, you did well, Lady Vega. Also, that woman is the High-Exarch of Xyrolith, Baroness Audrey Chalce of Jade."
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"Godmother?" Vega asked uncertainly, unaware she had said it aloud.
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"Mhm...Did you like the necklace? And why were you up in the Jewled Peaks anyway? You could freeze up there!" Audrey replied.
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"It's beautiful...The wings brought me here to fight a godly set of trickster twins." Vega answered sincerely, unwilling to lie through her teeth to her soft-hearted godmother.
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"I believe you, they kept doing strange things as you slept!"
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*Do not tell your godfather* Dawn warned her ominously.
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Vega had never met the man and reacted in confusion. Puzzlement was written all over the teenager's freckled face and narrowed - not to mention asymmetrical in colouration - eyes.
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*Baron Akoya of Jade is not exactly the brightest of bulbs, but is a sweet in addition to caring man. He would try to remove me given half a chance.* Came the reply.
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"I heard you got married recently, but don't tell your husband about Dawn." Vega Calliope Ego told the other woman while motioning behind her with her right hand.
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The Wingbearer was relieved that Baroness Audrey did not oppose her request, instead simply saying, "Alright then, love."
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Vega connected the dots about a facet of the wings: Dawn had told her about Dractse, Zenith, Nadir and now the newlywed High-Exarch Audrey Chalce`s husband. Things that he had no way of knowing.
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*I know everyone in Empyrea - their names, personalities and life up to this point - and could theoretically tell you everything about anyone at all so long as you know their name.*
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One name in particular burst into her mind, causing her to blush a deep red. Thankfully the Exarch was too absorbed in talking with her captain in the cockpit to notice.
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*Aren't you brave? The crush? What if I tell you something you upsetting?*
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"I want either answers or closure, and I'll still have the ever-so-sweet Dawn, yes? It's not like you can get away from me, you are stuck with me regardless if you like it or not." Smugly replied his wearer mentally.
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*His name is Jacque De Napton, son of an officer - High-Commander Keyno De Napton of the
GNA Lark - and he is in love with your sister. I'm sorry, Lady Vega.*
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"Thanks, Dawn, you're a sweetheart" She cooed, lovingly stroking the cool metal wings.
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*Aww~*
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