Since Libulan woke up, she had been continually looking over her shoulder with a mixture of fear and paranoia. She could not understand what was happening, but she felt like she had to tell Hinayana something, and she felt that if she didn’t, something tragic would happen.

What made it worse was the evil feeling that lingered around her. It had only worsened; it was stronger now, putting Libulan in constant fear. She had to try something, anything, anything, to let her sister know about the nightmare she had.

Libulan decided to head to the library to find out if it was a curse. If it was, could she break it? Or was it something more, something purely evil, waiting in the shadows, watching closely for its prey to falter? Libulan searched for hours.

“There must be something here; there just has to be!” Libulan thought to herself.

Libulan had reached the point of unyielding panic; she eventually deduced that the information didn’t exist. Once she figured out this simple truth, she knew she needed help from somebody who knew virtually everything about magic and had read nearly every book she came across, who was known to carry the element of Darkness she needed, Hespera. If Anybody could help her, it had to be Hespera. Libulan took off, leaving a mess in the library, but this was urgent, and the librarian would forgive her once she found out.

* * *

Hespera was sorting out a mountain of arcane problems that had begun to accumulate over the last week. She was a lot older now and closely resembled Hinayana’s height; her wings had fully developed and were twice the span of her best friend, Irisia. Although Irisia had smaller wings, she was still the best flyer in Lunteria, out of the Aquila, and had the trophy to prove it.

Irisia had won the Lunteria winged race by a landslide. Still, unfortunately, she couldn’t fly all that much anymore due to an injury she received while fighting an evil Dragon. The Dragon had swung its giant tail and obliterated Irisias wing; the bones in her wing had been crushed into dust.

Hespera attempted to heal it using her powerful magic, but she could only partially heal it. She could fly now, but she wasn't able fly the way she used to. However, if she attempted to, a sharp pain would shoot through her wing, and she would plummet to the ground. Due to this, Irisia was no longer the same. She was now in an endless struggle against depression and spent many nights alone in Cloudhaven, crying for hours.

Some time ago, Irisia had thought of ending it all. She had thought her life was over and that she had nothing else to live for now that her one true love flight was no longer possible. She could no longer compete in the Lunteria Wings Tournament, and that was her aspiration, her desire, but since this debilitating injury, she could no longer compete.

It was on this fateful day that Irisia decided that she had enough and finally got the courage to end her life as quickly as possible. At this time, she found herself being saved by the most unexpected of people. A young Aquila named, Juno, whom Irisia considered as dear as a sister had decided to surprise her with a visit. Although the young Juno only wanted to check up on her adopted big sister. Though unbeknownst to the young Aquilla this courtesy visit would become something more, it was almost like the string of fate had been the driving force behind her visit.

Juno soon entered Irisia’s house, she didn't think to lock because sometime ago, Irisa had told her that her door would always be open. Cloudhaven was a dense cloud networkd that made up Cloudhaven, these special clouds were something of commodity, although mysterious, and ancient no one fully understood how these came to be, and there was many people reseaching this unique structure, but no one had really gained insight into them.

As Juno entered the cloud house, she saw her adopted sister about to drink a vial of cyanide. Juno, dashed into action, knocking the vial to the ground and shattering it before slapping Irisia across her face and bluntly saying, as her eyes began to tear up. “Don’t you dare do that! You’re the only one I have left! You are my big sis; you taught me to fly and taught me to do tricks. You are my big sister best friend forever. I know about your injury, I always have, why didn't you tell me you were feeling this way.” Juno said, breaking into tears.

"I never told anyone about my disability, how did you know?" Irisia replied weakly, and filled with shock at the sudden appearance of Juno.

"We all know about it, we still respect you and your my inspiration. You inspire so many at the Aquillian academy of Lunteria." Juno lamentably explained, keening of the potential loss of her big sister.

“Dry those tears squirt, awesome people don’t cry; I was just being silly. That’s all, don’t worry, I’ll be fine.” Irisia said in an attempt to hide her true motives, trying to comfort Juno. Irisia had changed now, when she had lost her ability to fly she also lost the will to fight. She was merely a husk welcoming death.

Juno, heard her comforting words, but she didn't believe them, she knew that she was lying they had known each other since she was but a little girl, they had known each other since her parents were killed by a great battle, with the darkened. After Juno's parents died she was adopted by Irisia, and they had been together for roughly 5 years now. She could tell when her sister was lying. At the realisation she pulled a small golden trophy out of her bag with the letters engraved on the base of the trophy L.W.T.

“I won this for you.” Juno stopped sobbing briefly with a slight sniffle, putting on a strong facade and showing Irisia a gold trophy with a set of wings welded onto either side of the trophy, forming the handles.

“I’m so pr... What! This is the L.W.T. Trophy; you competed in the Lunteria Wings Tournament and won it for me. What time did you get?” Irisia said as a glimpse of her old self started to show.

“A four-minute track time,” Juno said smugly. Juno knew that she was finally getting through to her sister. She had known how much she wanted to compete, and showing her the trophy would reignite her passion and drive. However, she also knew that this was only temporary, and after helping her when she was younger, it was her turn to repay that debt to her.

“Not bad, kid, but not as good as yours truly; I hold the record for the L W T, but keep trying, squirt; you will get there,” Irisia said, as her true self showed once more, even if it was for a split second.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

This made Juno so happy that she elatedly flew up in a looping motion. “I swear to you, Iris, that I will win every race for you. You’re my big sister and best friend, and I want you to be happy forever.”

***

As Libulan arrived at Hesperas palace and the ever-growing Avalio, she couldn’t help but notice just how much this village had grown; it resembled a small city now. She knocked on the door, and an adolescent dragon named Mython answered.

He was now the same height as Libulan; his glistening mauve scales shimmered in the sunlight, reflecting a myriad of colours, as he stood at the doorway to greet Libulan.

He majestically stretched out his large wings, having just awakened from an afternoon slumber. Small plumes of smoke rose from his nostrils as he spoke.

“Libulan, why has an empress of the night graced us with her presence this day!” His voice sounded like gravel, crushed by mill stones, with an air of command that clung to every word he spoke, demanding respect.

“My, how you have grown since I last saw you, Miethon. Hespera may have to build you a keep soon. Also, I am here to ask Hespera about something and maybe help me with some research.” Libulan explained, astonished by how much the hatchling she once knew had grown.

“Yes, my chambers have become quite cramped as of late,” he chuckled, his voice deep and gravely commanding an heir of authority before he continued. "I’ll get her for you,” Miethon stated. He began to walk towards Hespera’s chambers, his large talons vibrating the crystal walls of Hespera’s palace. Once he reached the doorway to Hespera’s chambers, once there, he told her that Libulan had come to visit her, and as he did, she couldn’t get away from her Arcane reports fast enough.

“Libulan, it’s nice to see you. How are you? What brings you here? Is something wrong? Is Lunteria in danger again?” Hespera rapidly asked, filled with deep concern. Typically, the queens of Libulan never left their palace in Shadonia except for matters of state or in times of peril.

“No, no, Hespera, I’m guessing you have also felt the same darkness lingering around Lunteria lately. Hinayana has taken precautions to prevent it from putting Anybody in danger.” Libulan replied

“That’s good. I was worried, but I did sense something was wrong. There is an unsettling aura around you. Has something happened to you?” Hespera asked Libulan with concern.

Libulan felt an overwhelming urge to respond to Hespera and confide in her about the unsettling words that haunted her. However, as she attempted to articulate her thoughts, a dark force prevented her from uttering a single word, intensifying her anxiety and distress.

“Libulan?” Hespera tilted her head, perplexed at the awkward silence that followed Libulan, which seemed to last far too long.

“I want to tell you, but I can’t.” Libulan stated, her concern growing even more resounding. Soon she couldn't stop the onslaught of thoughts and unanswered questions that resonated with her, "Why couldn’t she speak? Why couldn’t she tell her friends, the people she trusted, about her concerns and worries?"

“Why?” Hespera said as she tilted her head.

“I just can’t... sorry...” After Libulan replied, she became overwhelmed with emotions and teleported back to her room in the palace in Shadonia. Her mind was swimming with an ever-growing sense of danger. Something happened to her, and although she didn’t know what happened, it was frustrating, and she felt hopeless.

***

Hespera thought to herself as Libulan teleported away, “This is not good, first that evil feeling, and now Libulan is acting strange. What is going on? I must talk with Princess Hinayana quickly before this arcane problem rends the very weave of magic!” Hespera was a prodigy in magic, and she had always been. This was the main reason why Hinayana took an interest in her and made her an apprentice in the arcane arts so that she could hone those innate skills.

However, despite her skill with the Arcane arts, she had no clue what was happening to Lunteria, let alone what was wrong with Libulan. However, she knew something was happening, and a terrifying evil was creeping in.

Hespera had a faint memory of the feeling she felt now, though it was blurred, as if a thick fog clouded her mind. She could tell it was an ancient, dark, and sinister magic. She tried to break the spell with her magic but failed against the ancient sorcery.

After Hespera had finished her royal duties for the day, she took flight and headed to Shadonia to find out why Libulan had visited her and acted so out of character when she visited her. She needed answers, and she knew who to ask. She had to ask Hinayana.

Hespera had been getting increasingly anxious throughout the day. She saw images of a great battle and felt death lingering, approaching, skulking like a thief in the night, waiting for a moment to strike.

Once she reached Shadonia, she approached the castle. As she did, the guards made way for her and opened the giant doors, and Hespera made her way through the castle. She arrived where Hinayana was residing on her throne. She had just finished her royal duties for the day when Hespera arrived, “What a lovely surprise. It’s nice to see you, Hespera. How are you?” Hinayana greeted.

“Unfortunately, I am not here for a courtesy visit. I have come to ask you about my concerns for your sister; I fear this darkness that lingers around Lunteria. This ancient foul magic is a greater threat than we imagine and could very well rend the weave of magic!” replied Hespera with utmost seriousness; she had an acute understanding of the weave of magic, and if it had become unstable, the gates of Tartarus would open releasing a great calamity on Lunteria, and that was something she would not idly stand by and let happen.

“What's wrong?” Hinayana said with an unusual seriousness that was rarely seen.

“She visited me today, and she wanted to tell me something, but whatever she wanted to say, she couldn’t. What is wrong with Libulan? There is a darkness about her that is deeply concerning. I fear we are on the cusp of an awakening evil,” Hespera explained.

“The same thing happened today early in the morning with me. Unfortunately, I don’t know. But I will find out, that I promise.” Hinayana said as her happy expression morphed into a serious expression with the slightest tell of fear mixed with concern, tugging at the corner of her lip.

“I will help you. Libulan is my friend as well.” Hespera said as the tension built in the air. It had become thick enough to cut with a knife.

***

A couple of hours earlier, Libulan had arrived back at Shadonia, filled with a gnawing sense of growing danger. She was frightened but felt helpless to the whims of this evil enchantment on her.

After arriving back at Shadonia, she made her way to the Shadonian Library to research this spell further. Still, without fail, by nightfall, her search had yet to provide results.

She went to her chambers, sprawled upon her upturned satin blankets, and struggled to find sleep again. After a few attempts, Libulan would finally fall asleep, but it wouldn't be a restful sleep; instead, a harrowing night filled with darkness and despair.

This night's surreal nightmare started with her in the old castle of the twin sisters, where she remembered the events leading up to her dark turn. As Libulan entered through the broken dark oak door, she peered into the throne room and saw Mayari sitting on a bone-white throne made from charred bones and skulls. Mayari soon spoke, her voice filled with malice, and contempt.

“So you withstood my attempt this day, but you will fail eventually. So how do you like my curse, Libulan? Is it irritating to try and speak about your dreams to your closest friends and our dear sister, only to fail? Do you give up yet, Libulan? Will you still fight my influence?” one cannot simply win against oneself.”

“You have no power over me, Mayari. Now be gone.” As Libulan said this, she again forced Mayari back to her inner consciousness. But she felt in her heart that the words her alternate self said were true.

She was gradually losing power, and Mayari had only grown in strength, which frightened her even more. She knew her time was short, and she had to fix this by herself, and now she understood why. She was cursed by ancient magic, powerless to break the spell. It was the only time she felt helpless, vulnerable, and frail in her long life.