“That’s impossible,” Serena said again, knowing her words contradicted the ominous reality before her. Her heartbeat shot up and adrenaline filled her body, causing her to shake. The black moon crystal made her grit her teeth in anxiety. Strangely, the sight of it also prompted a deep feeling of anger. It was as if the existence of this crystal was an offence to all living things. She hated this crystal, and somehow, she knew it hated her.
“Weird…” Amelia muttered, shuddering and rubbing her arms.
“Hmm… never gets easier…” Anathor mumbled. The ethereal shadow spreading from the crystal could not reach the glowing skull. Whatever abilities Anathor possessed, it was enough to prevent the corruption from getting too close.
“Here,” Chesterfield said, reaching over and picking up the crystal with only the slightest bit of hesitation. “It’s uncomfortable but not painful,” he explained, holding it out to her. Shadow spewed from the crystal and covered his hand, frothing over and falling towards the ground in slow motion. It also crawled up his forearm as if seeking to cover his entire body in darkness.
Before she could decide whether she wanted to ignore her instincts and accept Chesterfield's offer, Amelia’s hand darted out and snatched the crystal. Amelia didn’t seem affected by the shadow that quickly consumed her hand and crept up her wrist. Instead, she examined the crystal as if it were an intellectual curiosity, turning it this way and that. Serena sensed Amelia's aether flare and the shadow retreated back into the crystal.
“It reminds me of…” Amelia muttered. “...Antimatter.” She looked up and made eye contact with Chesterfield. “What happens if this touches a normal crystal? It won’t explode, will it?”
Chesterfield shook his head. “No, but it’ll cause an awful amount of aetherfield interference.” He slowly looked at both of them. “The Enemy has been using these to create a new type of aetheric-warfare ship.” His eyebrows narrowed. “What’s antimatter?” he asked, returning his attention to Amelia.
“Something that explodes,” Amelia answered dismissively. “You know, I’ve got pretty good aetherfield perception, but it wasn’t until I Spoke the Second Word I understood how life and crystals themselves bend the aetherfield into themselves, much like a planet bends spacetime.” She bounced the crystal a few times in her hand, causing even more shadow to gush out. “But this is the opposite. It bends the aetherfield away. I can feel it trying to push my wards open. How strange… It’s not an aggressive action; it’s just its nature to resist aether. Yet… it feels so…”
“Hateful,” Anathor grumbled.
She’s really going to get along with Nina, Serena thought. Her genius sister rambled and murmured theories exactly like Amelia sometimes did. Despite the almost unbelievable level of advanced technology Amelia had informed Serena about, all of it seemed like it would be impossible to re-create in this world with the lumina interference damaging electrical circuits.
However, if anyone could do it, Nina could.
“Try it,” Amelia said, holding the crystal out. “It’s safe. My wards on you will hold.”
Serena reached out to take the crystal, a small smile forming as she realised that Amelia had snatched the crystal first to ensure it wasn’t dangerous. Honestly, who was supposed to protect who? Well, they could protect each other. That didn’t sound too bad.
When the crystal made contact with her palm, Serena shuddered involuntarily. There was such a sensation of coldness and lifelessness from the crystal she couldn’t help but cringe. Chesterfield and Amelia were correct; there was no pain. Still, it was uncomfortable.
What was shocking was the red-aura Serena kept running at all times melted away from her hand. As the shadow crept up her forearm, the red aura covering it vanished. It wasn’t the same as an attack; her aura wasn’t resisting a strike; instead, it simply became undone.
Thankfully, the just-in-case-a-mountain-falls-on-you wards Amelia kept active on Serena held firm. The first ward wobbled slightly, but Serena sensed a little increase of aether from Amelia, and it quickly stabilised. She reached internally within herself and moved her aether, forming the second aura. The orange glow filled her body and even reached up her arm, but the black moon crystal refused to allow the aura to go so far as to protect her hand.
Gritting her teeth, Serena churned her aether and moved her aura into the next stage. Yellow hues lit her body and the room as the third aura was established. To her relief, this time she was able to protect her hand. Still, the aura near the black crystal wobbled, trying to come undone. Serena flared her aether and strengthened the aura as much as she could without Speaking. Now, her aura appeared to be too much for the crystal to contend with and the shadow was finally pushed back within the crystal.
Not wanting to burn through her reserves and not wanting to hold this crystal a moment longer, Serena placed it back in the box and closed the lid. She opened her mouth to question Chesterfield, but he interrupted her with a raised finger.
“What a wonderful father you have,” Chesterfield said quietly. “He’s rushing up here now, preparing to Speak one of his Words.” Chesterfield’s statement was quickly validated as a moment later, Serena’s father burst through the study door with his aether boiling and a worried look.
“Serena! What-” he exclaimed, frantically scanning the room. Eyeing Serena and seeing her unharmed, he quickly calmed. “I sensed you flared your aether. Why?” He cast a wary eye at Chesterfield, who had slightly turned to face him while resuming his mint tea consumption with an easy smile.
“It’s nothing, Father,” Serena reassured. His reaction was understandable. Forming high-level auras and wards was something not done in polite company, and flaring aether was often an action taken before a fight. “Just a demonstration.”
“I see…” her father said after some hesitation. He relaxed his aether and Serena sensed the Word he had been simmering fade away. A moment later, the Dragon appeared behind him with his usual expression of disapproval.
“The man ran off before I could explain,” the Dragon grumbled.
“An understandable reaction,” Chesterfield said, nodding slightly. “Highlord Halen, could you wait downstairs with Highlord Corvus? We are almost done, and there are some important matters I need to discuss with you. Ah-” Serena’s father was eyeing the box with a wary eye. “Do not worry about this item. It was required to explain Lord Halen’s new orders.”
Serena gave her father another reassuring nod, and he eventually left after apologising for the intrusion. The dragon followed soon afterwards. After their footsteps faded, Chesterfield said with a gentle smile, “I suppose what they said about your father is true.”
“What’s that?” Serena asked.
“That his fierce heart had been cooled by his daughters.” Chesterfield tapped his chest. “A parent’s first duty is towards their children. This has always been true and will continue to be so,” he said softly, his voice taking on a rare note of emotion.
“That crystal,” Serena said, fixing her eyes upon the closed box. “It was undoing my aura. Does the Enemy use it as a weapon? Is that why they’re called Darkblades?” Serena had simply assumed they had that name because they worshipped the dark gods and black beasts that invaded Cascadia a thousand years ago. She didn’t realise the name could be so literal.
“That’s right.” Chesterfield nodded. “Their elite warriors have blades with a crystal edge. A talentless darkblade can get lucky and assassinate an aura-coated warrior with a single strike. An Enemy with talent can endanger even a Speaker.” Chestfield sighed. “And an Enemy Speaker is truly a great threat. As you’ve found out, third-level auras and wards are needed just to resist contact with this crystal.”
“But the Enemy wouldn’t be able to coat their weapons with aura, right? Even if a black-crystal blade renders an aura-covered sword impotent, the impact of the steel would shatter the crystal?” Serena asked, her mind quickly going over the combat implications of the black moon crystal.
“That’s correct, Lord Halen.” Chesterfield nodded. “They need to make contact with the crystal to cut through your aura. A talented fighter like yourself can still outperform them in combat. However, it’s not only swords that you have to be wary of.”
It took Serena a moment to see what he was hinting at. “Bullets,” she muttered. “Gun and shellfire.”
“Exactly,” Chesterfield said with a grim expression. “A red-aura warrior is resistant to most handguns, an orange-aura warrior is resistant to most rifles and once we reach yellow and beyond, then conventional weapons become mostly ineffective.” He placed down his cup and raised his hands slightly. “However, bullets with black-crystal tips will bore right through a weak aura like it was never there. The only saving grace we have is the disruption caused by the crystal, which isn't instantaneous. It takes a fraction of a second to tunnel through aura, which can be enough time to slow the projectile and prevent it from being lethal, but this relies on the victim being sufficiently powerful in the first place.”
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“Is yellow enough?” Serena asked. Her yellow aura at her maximum comfortable output was enough to resist the crystal in her hand, but would it be enough for a black-crystal bullet?
“With your talent? Your yellow aura could resist small calibre shells easily enough but would struggle against a proper assassination attempt with a long gun.” Chesterfield shrugged. “Of course, this doesn’t account for the additional protections offered by Lord-Prospect Thornheart.” He gestured to Amelia, who turned to Serena with a determined look in her eyes.
“I’m going to layer so many more wards on you now,” she said, nodding quickly. Serena suspected she would soon discover the difference between what an average Speaker and Amelia considered ‘many more wards’.
“Thank you, Amelia,” she said before gesturing to the box on the table. “So, it's real then, the black moon of myth?"
"Yes, but don't ask me any questions about its location. I cannot answer that."
"Well, it's not in the sky," Amelia piped up. Chesterfield's eyes narrowed slightly.
"How would you know that?" he asked.
"Well, even though it's black, you would see the stars blink out as the moon moves in front of them. Unless it's really small and really far away..." Amelia shrugged. "And if it was raining black-moon crystals down, then we would know about it, right? Unless it's from a land on the other side of the planet... Is it?" Amelia tilted her head with a questioning look.
"... You're quite the detective," Chesterfield answered but didn't elaborate further.
Seeing this line of inquiry had ended, Serena raised her own question. "How many of these are there? I can’t recall anything like it on the battlefield.” She had never encountered a darkblade or heard stories about these black-crystal-coated weapons.
“Most nations are aware of their existence, but like Cascadia, they vehemently avoid using such weapons.” Chesterfield raised a finger. “One, because these things are offensive to life itself, and two-” He raised a second finger. “If one nation starts using them on the battlefield, everyone else will and no one wants their pool of talented warriors and mages to be so easily reduced.
“However, while Christdom and its allies are firmly against the black crystals,” He raised both hands and made the mocking motion for quoting, “demonic existence, other nations have found some usage. The Federation uses ground black-crystal in their intelligence operative’s suicide pills, to ensure no healing magic can stop the suicide attempt.” Chesterfield turned his head towards Amelia. “Miss Volkova voluntarily informed us she had consumed such a pill, after her assassination attempt against Lord Halen had failed. Of course, such a small amount of black crystal is insufficient to prevent the healing prowess you displayed while under the influence of the Second Word.”
“...Voluntary?” Amelia replied suspiciously.
Chesterfield took a moment to reply. “I see that your concerns about Miss Volkova’s safety have not been alleviated. Lord-Prospect, during your time in Asamaywa, would you like me to have Miss Volkova brought down so you can verify that she is appropriately cared for?”
“Yes, I’d like that,” Amelia replied bluntly.
“Then it’ll happen.” Chesterfield nodded, turning back towards Serena. “The aetheric-warfare ships I spoke about have only recently been sighted, but national navies will inevitably copy the designs. However,” Chesterfield clasped his hands together. “After you’ve recruited your fill at the Asamaywa academy, the first location of interest will be within demon territory. Only after successful trials can we consider sending you further afield. Unfortunately, you should expect to encounter darkblades at even domestic locations. They are tenaciously trying to gather the shards for their nefarious purpose.”
“Which is?”
“Weapon construction. Of what form we don’t know, but it will unquestionably be a great danger to Cascadia and all life.” Chesterfield rubbed the bridge of his nose. “We’re on the precipice of a great war at an industrial scale never before seen in this realm. Yet, even that may pale compared to what might happen if the Enemy gains possession of too many shards.
“The insidious plans of the darkblades are centuries in the making, and our own plans to counter them are equally long. This task is a priority for the Empress…” Chesterfield leaned forward, his expression becoming serious again. “Are you two prepared to play your part? With faith and obedience to her Divine Will? Are you prepared to demonstrate your loyalty to her, who seeks to protect not only demonkind but also humankind forever?”
Serena gulped. Despite her ability to remain calm in most situations, the magnitude and significance of this task made her shake in anticipation. To follow orders given directly by her…
“I will serve with loyalty and honour,” Serena replied, determination dripping from her voice. This was a grand purpose; perhaps it would be her life’s purpose. She would welcome it!
Chesterfield nodded, satisfied with her response. He turned to Amelia with the same question. Amelia was a little taken aback by the sudden seriousness of the moment but kept her calm.
“Y-yeah! I will serve with loyalty and… honour!” Amelia nodded.
“Excellent. We leave immediately. A carriage outside will take us to the airdocks, where I’ll provide further details. Any questions?”
“No,” Serena answered immediately.
“Wait! I can’t go!” Amelia blurted out suddenly.
“What?” Serena and Chesterfield uttered simultaneously.
“I…” Amelia hesitated for a moment. “I promised Lani I would help her with her workbooks this afternoon! Plus, she told me she would teach me the etiquette differences between Manwese and Samino culture! So I can only leave tomorrow!”
“You…” Chesterfield began and then stopped himself. He spent a moment collecting himself before asking in disbelief, “Are you really - in light of everything we’ve discussed - going to prioritise homework over divinely given duty?”
“No!” Amelia declared, crossing her arms. “I’m prioritising a promise made by House Thornheart to a lady of House Halen! I refuse to let the sacred pinky promise be broken! If it’s such a problem, then I can leave in the night and fly to catch up with the ship!” Amelia shrugged. “I know ways to get wings without Speaking my Second Word, and I’ve had a lot of practice!”
Chesterfield’s eyes twitched and Serena found herself only amused by the reaction. See what I have to deal with, she thought. A small part of her wanted to chastise Amelia, but Chesterfield was slimy, and Serena knew he was keeping a lot of information from her. Allowing Amelia to, well, be Amelia was her way of getting back at him.
“...Fine.” Chesterfield finally intoned. “I suppose this behaviour is understandable, given your personality.” It looked like it took him great effort, but Chesterfield eventually recovered his regular, easy-going expression. “We can leave tomorrow. I’ll send a carriage for you at first light.” He stood up, and Serena and Amelia quickly joined him.
“Lord Halen, Lord-Prospect Thornheart. On behalf of the Empire and her Divine Ruler, I sincerely thank you for accepting this duty.” He bowed deeply to them with such perfect movement Serena immediately pegged him as someone from a highborn family. “Now, I have important matters to discuss with Highlord Halen. Thank you both for your time.”
“Hmm… goodbye, Captain, Miss Thornheart…” Anathor grumbled, and the skull's glowing eyes dimmed.
Serena bowed back, and Amelia quickly followed. With no more words, Chestfield packed up the skull and boxes and left the study. They didn’t move until his footsteps had long disappeared.
Amelia looked at Serena.
“He’s an arsehole, isn’t he?” Amelia said with a cheeky smile.
Serena laughed, ruffling Amelia’s hair and, ignoring her protests, pulled her into an embrace. “Idiot,” she said. “He’s dangerous.” Before Amelia could respond, Serena put a hand around the back of Amelia's head and kissed her.
When Amelia leaned back, Serena found herself captivated by the blond human.
“So am I,” Amelia said with a wink.
How can a human be this beautiful? Serena thought. She’s even more attractive with demon eyes. Feeling a sudden urge, she pulled Amelia back in and set about enjoying the softness of her lips.
“Mmm.”
“Ahh”
“Mmm…”
“Mmph!”
Amelia pulled away, her face flushed. “I need some air!” She grinned as she frantically wafted her face. “What’s got into you so suddenly? You were so serious a moment ago!”
Serena smiled, feeling her cheeks become warm. “I made a promise, remember?” Serena ran a hand through Amelia’s hair, tucking it behind her ear. “You made me promise always to hug and kiss you when I felt like it. And now… I feel like it.” She pulled Amelia in and again gave her a long kiss.
To be honest, Serena hadn’t expected it to be so intense. Then again, it had been several days since they had last had a moment of proper intimacy. Damn it! Their time in Kenhoro had conditioned her to get used to an unreasonable amount of attention and pleasure. How were they going to manage on the ship? Would Anathor complain?
“Hehe…” Amelia nuzzled against Serena’s neck before giving her a gentle kiss.
“I love you, Ren,” Amelia whispered. The words made Serena’s heart soar, and she decided she would never take such words for granted or get sick of hearing them.
“I love you, Lia,” she whispered back. Serena placed a hand under Amelia's chin and slightly tilted her head up. Then, taking a moment to look into those beautiful crimson eyes, leaned in.
Until, again, their lips met.