The flame flickers.

Evel could felt the piercing heat, seeping unforgivingly through his three layered albs. Silently, he uttered thanks to the Grace seeing Rem were still holding his genuflect. Rem were not the first choice of person Evel would pick in a resisting-heat involved mission. Although that point were considered a moot, especially if the heat in question were a gigantic fireball of death that could incinerate any living town with just tis’ presence.

However one could not afford to be picky. Not when the most important, a matter of survival, ritual in Meidere were announced to be prepared in such a horrendously short-notice. Sudden phase-shift in the second support that connected to Lonn constellation were causing progressive chain-reaction of death (for Evel and arguably, the rest of the town). Father Leon even turn a blind eye when Evel purchased a manner of freezing granite from his childhood friend Mia, freezing granite were an ennobled stone that favored by Lady Myrsta which the Ice major magician salvaged the power of the cold. A rough untempered freezing granite were able to emanate a chilling temperature of uncontrolled Arta, in liking to the tempered granite were able to be used to produce much controlled heat-relieving Aria in Fenn. Thanks to it Rem were able to resist the heat better.

I was walking in the hall of the world

For tis’ night was dark and the fleeting light of  burnt out candle were my only solace

It begun. A resolved voice of Mother Nelliese echoed through the tower. Her hand were clenching the ever-swinging chaotic thurible, egregiously spreading the wisping white smoke throughout the whole hall.

Thou come to us in all your glory; in a rich-brimming light, condemning our fear to the never be

Five children were walking behind her. Streak of fear were apparent in their glistening eyes. Nonetheless, they kept a firm pace, surrendering to their fate to come.

The passing epoch’ were overflowing with joys;

Sharing thy’ abundance, thou asked us none in return

To that bless and to thy grace we were filled with light

But gratitude we seldom to utter

In one harmonious click Mother Nelliese with the rest of the vicars and deacons were arriving in the top of tower; each with five children following them. Mother Nelliese brought her children to us in the second circle, forming a simple pentagram with their kneeling body placed in each cone of the star.

Today rewinding were the 27th rewinding of second, fourth, seventh, and tenth support reparation. I, Evel Einthward were the senior acolyte for second support circle.

“To his almighty Grace, we confessed our sin” I extend my hand to Rem.

“Within Bless of Life in Manna, we conferred “ replied Rem, he were the apprentice arcanist for the second circle.

“Shall the bell of heaven ring in plea.” continued Delia, the second junior acolyte holding Rem hand.

“To relieve the selfish whim of the least fortunate.” said Theo the second apprentice arcanist accepting Delia hand.

“Grant the willing honored courage.” Join Angelica, our convent new abbess.

“To undone the worst. To postpone the inevitable. To allow the innocent who committed no wrong to live their life to the fullest. Let us, the one who have sinned, to burdened the suffering, and to be exempted from joy”

“in the name of the people, in the name of the living.”

Said the whole circle in unison….

And the light were shining.

Bright.

***

Similar to every children in Meidere, I always thought that we were living a very special town. At least that what I had assume from reading the series of Travelling Fairy volume one through eleven. In every book I read (that I had generously shared the tales with my not-yet-capable to read play mates) every cities and every town (including village, principality, municipal and such) that the travelling fairy had visited (her name were Alexandra by the way, she was very not-ugly!) they only had one Sun!

Well, we in Meidere have TWO suns. I know, I know it such a stupid notion to compare the goodness of the city in the term of amount of sun it had. But please! We’re children, and sun were obvious (and shiny) ball of light that all of us could easily pinpoint!

Alexandra were also mentioned night, which is a silly concept I thought. Alexandra said night were happening when the sun were sinking in the west mountain and come back the next day in the eastern sea. Alexandra said night were when people go to sleep and the whole town goes dark.

Well in Meidere sun never sink in the west mountain! Well at least the big sun didn’t (the little sun did, though).

The big sun were a big shining rocky sun in the top of the Lumierre Castle of Mayor and Archbishop (the archbishop said it should be Lummiere Castle of Archbishop and Mayor and insist the latter were the correct naming to every person he met, I don’t really care, though.) The big sun were encircled by some kind of weird circle with lots and lots of triangle, square, and big mouthy word around it. I don’t really understand the word, if I’m not wrong the word were Varetyr, Chronos, and so on. Mia said it’s an important adult-word, and we should only care when it’s time for growing up and if we want to be a successful adult (meh).

It was not until when I’m nine the truth were come to me and the rest of the children.

That day were a sunny hot Saturday, when me and my parent (and the rest of my friend and friend parents) were called by archbishop to the castle hall. A sad look were apparent in mom face (She’s crying! I hate it when mom cried). Dad tried to reassured mom with ’everything going to be alright’ kind of talk. But the looks and his face were betraying his word. He bitten his lower lips until it reds (and he also cried! Even though not boo-hoo kind of crying like mom, his tears were overflowing and his voice were choked). What kind of thing that could made my father cried? The heir of Einthward house should never lose it cool, he always said.

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In the rest of the journey I saw all of the other parent were crying too. I were so concerned and deep in thought, when suddenly the mayor clasping his hand with also similarly choked voice. Then, the archbishop were nodding gloomily and said the word of necessary sacrifice and such. A priest and a mage then picking twenty papers with a children name on it.

Every time the priest and mage said the name of the child, a shrieking cried would pierce through the meeting. Every John and Alice that were called would be followed by a sobbing mother and heart-broken father. It so awful, I want to go. But father said we couldn't go, because his grandfather’s grandfather and the rest of the townsfolk were agreed, and their agreeing were binding to us, their children.

I’m not called. But Mia did.

That year were 68 AGC, I were nine, and Mia were seven.

She comeback thirteen.

***

Mrs. Annabelle, our teacher, said today were the day of rewinding. She brought us out from the class when the eleventh bell rang (we usually go home at thirteenth bell). She said to us to take a bow to the Lummiere castle in respect. We were told to did that until the thirteenth bell rang, Gary complained why we should bowed so long. Then we saw the rest of the teachers, the principal, even Mr. Eddie, our gardener did the same without question.

Mrs. Anabelle were crying.

“Delly, my little sweet delly.” she said over and over again.

Delly were Mrs. Anabelle daughter. She was chosen.

Gary were silent.

***

Long ago, one year after great calamity, an very-very evil wizard were terrorizing town and cities. Some folk said the calamity were tainted him, turning his every bone to long for the blood of the living. The wizard had destroyed five cities so far and Meidere were his next stop.

However Meidere were unlike another town, we had a great good magus residing in our town. Her name were Chancellor Velle, chancellor velle battled the evil wizard with all her might. She managed to counter every spell that the wizard had procured.

As the battle continue, chancellor velle and the wizard going weary. And the wizard were desperate.

Using the power of the calamity, and the phase-shifting of the third star in thirteenth constellation. He called the power of the above.

Comet.

By bending the fabric of space-time he managed to procured the comet as big as Meidere’s hill without the atmospheric barrier of the land reducing the size of the comet to smithereens.

However the toll of calling such power were too great for his body to handle.

But he didn't care, he insane anyway.

He sacrificed his soul and died. Chancellor Valle won, but the comet still falling with indescribable speed.

Twelves deacons of the Church of Light that observed the battle hurriedly chant the SLOW! spell. The rest of the chancellor apprentices (and chancellor herself) were trying to destroy the comet; they created an ice blizzard, trying to use wind to lift the comet, and so on. But it was fruitless.

The insane evil wizard were using his corrupted soul to coat the comet. If the comet happened to land, not just Meidere that would be destroyed. But poison and the tainted toxin in the comet core would surely spread out through the land and killing many.

The acolytes and parishioner were carting cart upon cart of mana potion to the twelves deacons. However it’s sure they couldn't endure much longer.

Chancellor Velle approach her senior apprentice. She said.

“I’m sorry.”

And the choice were made.

The twelves deacon nodded. The archbishop want to participate too, but the chancellor forbid him, for someone were needed to pass down the spell she about to performed.

It was a space-time magic.

A green thread  formed around the comet like a net wrapping the fish. Then suddenly the comet were stopped. For the chancellor space were stopping the time of the comet within it’s confined space.

Then, the deacons and the chancellor body were shining in a brimming rainbow light. Connecting themselves with all but the tainted thirteenth constellation of the north star, they formed a support pillar, to hold the comet as long as their soul could held.

Then, for every three year or so, as determined by the Blessed Stargazer from Occult Guild, the day of rewinding were performed. With a river cry from their parents, each young children were taken to sacrifice some of their years to put the comet seal hold. Sometimes the rewinding only required a month of age, sometimes, it seven or even ten years. That depends on the efficiency and the capability of the divine and the arcane caster performed the ritual.

***

The mother of the children were thanking me and Rem over and over. Only sixth month of age were taken from each child within my circle compared to two or three years in another circle. The head arcanist and head of acolyte were the one who strained the most during the ritual and were the one who directed the structure reparation.

I silently accepted their gratitude.

I would never let another Mia to happened.

Spoiler :

Hello! It's LikoPilio again, for my reader who had read my other fic "Questioning the Basic" I'm very sorry, cause I'd put that one on hold (I already have the concept, it just so hard to make it into proper story). Anyway I tried to start new fic, this one would be high-fantasy kind of fiction (which lots of deep emotion (that I working on >.<)). And I tried to avoid the cliche (but not the tropes!) as much as possible, if anyone had any suggestion please feel free to comment, I appreciate some constructive criticism. Remember rate and review were the only (non-donation) currency that made the writer felt to continue their story (not I'm coercing you or anything *ehm). Thanks anyway!