Part One: Bloody Gardens

Couldn’t my friends ever just leave me alone? It’s like they had no sense of emotions.

“I doubt you’d be the one to get a Dualaratie, Kiara,” my friend Ennie said.

“Well, she’d be too dumb to use one anyway,” my other friend Brena said matter-of-factly.

I laughed. “Uh, I’m sure I’d find a way... oh, Elise, isn’t that the math book you wanted?”

“Where?” she asked excitedly. I pointed her the way, and once she and Brena had gone far enough, I turned and left.

I was thankful that we were in the part of town closest to my house. Here, the wooden homes with stone foundations were nice-looking and well-built. Tall too, each at least two stories, also with an abundance of glass—that was far to get this far east of the Glass Labyrinth. Being close to home made me feel safe.

“Hey Kiara, shouldn’t you be heading to the town center?” my neighbor asked.

“Uh, yeah, I’m going now. Need any help with those boxes?”

“Nah, I’m okay. See you later.”

No wish for luck. Of course... no, no. Stop being annoyed by people who don’t annoy you.

I continued my walk through the town, which was quickly growing dark. These extra dark nights were my favorite nights, though they didn’t happen too often. Every time a kid had their sixteenth birthday, it was a tradition to try their hand at summoning their very own alter-ego. I made sure to read up on whatever information I could find, though nothing was concrete. No definitive ways to summon one. And, tragically, I felt quite a pit in my stomach, and I usually trusted those.

I ran the rest of the way to feel the cool winter air, though I stopped beside a window outside. The lighting let me see my reflection, so I took the time to straighten myself out. I fixed my brown ponytail and arranged the auburn streaks symmetrically, though I left two locks of red to hang in front of my face, and then put my cloak’s hood over my head. Lastly, I straightened out my green sweater and took a few specks of dust off of it, and I wiped my black trousers off as well, making sure they went over my boots. I turned and continued down the street, toward a large gathering of people. I squeezed my way through and emerged onto a large, black platform.

“Ah, the girl of the hour!” the representative of our village said. His name was Cedric.

I nodded and took my hood off. I walked up to him and shook his hand, which looked quite withered for a man in his thirties. He smiled at me and put his hands on my shoulders to present me to the crowd. I wasn’t exactly a fan of having so many eyes on me, and my heart began beating faster.

I waved to my family and tried to hide my embarrassment at their enthusiasm. “I’m ready whenever,” I told Cedric.

He cleared his throat. “Silence, please! I’m pleased to present the next possible wielder in this world, Kiara Luminaire! It’s been too many years without a new wielder to join our ranks. Hopefully, she will break that unlucky streak. Now, Miss Luminaire, you may begin whenever you’d like. Lanterns off!”

He walked off the circular platform, leaving me as the sole person on it. I glanced around and saw my group of friends, who had met up at some point. I turned away from them, and toward my family, and raised my hand, as if reaching out for something in front of me. I briefly considered taking my hood off but decided against it since I’d look cooler with it on.

I guess I should be thinking about what I’m not? Maybe it’ll help summon my Dualaratie, even though it’s technically just a piece of my soul.

“Luminaire, Kiara!” I started louder than I meant to and my face heated up in response. “Voluntas, Anima, Convictio, Intentio. My will is as unyielding as the sun. My soul is akin to the rays of the full moon on a dark night. My conviction is kindness, and as authentic as my swords. My intent is my secret... and mine alone.”

I thought I saw a dim blue glow through my eyelids, and it was confirmed by the gasps from the crowd—I heard my brother shout “woo!” as well. I slowly opened my eyes to a squint and watched blue lines encroach from the edges of the circular platform. A strong wind pushed my eyes closed again, threw off my hood and ponytail, and wrapped around the circle in a frenzy.

I fixed my footing, feeling like I could be swept up by the intensity of the wind. This intensity more than just surprised me, and I felt beyond elated about it. Everyone knew that a strong wind meant a strong Dualaratie. And at this point, it wasn’t just some wind, it was a gale. Its forces kept me pushed against the ground, and I felt myself slide away from the center of the platform.

Suddenly, everything went dark. Not an ounce of light from anywhere, no far-off town lights, no moonlight, no more dim blue glow. I worried for an eternity crammed into two seconds, and then heard a jovial giggle. I opened my eyes wide and saw what I had hoped to see. A wide smile lit up my face.

A small creature floated in front of me, no taller than seven or eight inches. It sat in the air, resting its head on its hand with its legs crossed. It had closed its eyes, but I was free to examine the rest. Light grey hair braided around her head like a crown, skin a shade darker than her hair, and an amused, but somewhat unnerving, grin. From her back sprouted two tattered grey Faery wings, just as I’d hoped.

She stood and bowed insincerely. “Nice to meet you. I’m Ciara,” she said with a bubbly yet condescending voice. She stood straight, opened her lifeless, black eyes, and fixed her clothes: a puffy, blood-red top underneath a grey corset, a long, black ballerina skirt, and obsidian black heels. There were also peculiar red pants that hugged her legs and seemed stretchy.

“I’m also Kiara too... spelled with a ‘K,’ ” I said. I felt dumb for clarifying that first letter.

“Ooh, really?” she asked excitedly. “Mine begins with a ‘C’ but I’ll improvise... call me Cia.”

“Soft ‘c...’ ” I mumbled thoughtfully.

I flinched and looked up as a sudden cheer erupted. A dome made of blue and black lines had formed around me, and now it was beginning to recede, allowing me to hear the crowd. Cedric rushed forward once it was down, and something happened that shouldn’t have. Everyone’s jaws dropped simultaneously.

Cedric had bumped into Ciara, and she tumbled toward me. “Hey, watch it!”

“What... what is this?” he yelled. “Blasphemy! Kiara! How did you summon a rogue Dualaratie!”

Ciara spoke before I could. “It would be nice if you treated me with some respect, y’know. I’m not a rogue, nor am I blasphemous. And besides, what’re you gonna do? Kill us?”

Cedric faltered and smiled, seeming to like the idea. “Exactly! Valius! Kill this Dualaratie and its wielder!”

I stifled a gasp and backed up with wide eyes, not knowing where to go or what to do. A white angel appeared next to Cedric, and my voice left me. It certainly didn’t help when the man fell out of his defensive stance with a confused face. Cia was gone too. And the air seemed to sink into me, surprising me.

“Where’d she go?” he asked.

“Don’t kill her!” I heard my brother yell, clearly angry. The worst part was that my only family member with a Dualaratie wasn’t home, so my family couldn’t even help.

“Well,” Cia sighed, “I’d tell you to punch him, but he’s not worth our time with a Dualaratie like that. What’s that look for? Oh. Can’t see me. Get your bearings—we’re invisible and we very much need to escape. Luckily, a night with a pretty crescent moon will fuel me well.”

“Where...” I mumbled as I tried to pay attention to the conversation between Valius and my family. It seemed he was trying to console them while also finding people who could see through invisibility spells.

“Escape? Anywhere away from that guy, duh,” she said. “If you need a push, I’m willing to believe in you.”

I felt my face heat up from the sudden positivity. I was usually opposed to being complimented, but something about her compliment clicked with the attention-craving I had, and it wasn’t like other compliments that just felt wrong in some way. “Escape, like... a book?”

“A book?” she said, seeming amused. Realizing she’d made me self-conscious, she continued. “Actually, yes. I like books too, you know. But there’s no time for stalling. Head through that break in the crowd behind you.”

I turned, away from Cedric and my family, and ran. I had to push past a few people, eliciting shouts and screams from them. It felt like my heart was being overwhelmed by the pure fear I felt. It wasn’t even close to how I felt before school exams or getting a shot at the doctor’s.

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And why did I trust Cia so willingly? What was it about her that made me feel obedient to her words?

“Why am I faster?” I asked as I broke through the crowd and turned left, toward my home.

“You noticed? Just a little Passive of mine. Increased speed, and the dexterity needed to control that.”

I hummed in thought. “I like utility characters.”

“I’m the best you’ll find,” she said confidently. “Well, at least once my powers aren’t so new.”

I decided I’d ask her what she meant later, but for now, I focused on grabbing my house key from my pocket. I stopped in front of my door and unlocked it before shoving my way in. People from the crowd had spread, and some saw it—I didn’t have much time. I bolted up my stairs, straight in front of the doorway. Two steps at a time, like always.

I reached the top and turned back toward the front of the house just as someone burst through the door. “Kiara?” my sister yelled.

Why did it have to be her? I asked myself as tears finally began to well up in my eyes. I didn’t want to leave my home, let alone my family. The ones who took care of me. Supported me. Laughed with me. Spent quiet moments with me. The people who I could be sure truly loved me. Especially my big sister.

I reached my room and shut the door as quietly as possible with watery eyes. I locked the door and turned into the cluttered mess that was my room. For a moment, I wondered why exactly I was here. I guess my subconscious wanted to pack a bag or say goodbye.

“Very cluttered lifestyle...” Cia said. “Geez. Sorry to take you from so much...”

“You don’t—don’t have to sound so sad,” I reassured her with a choked-up voice. I wasn’t sure why I did that.

“But I’m the one telling you that you have to leave. How old are you anyway?”

“Fif—no. Sixteen.”

“I sure do look like a horrible person then,” she said, as if it wasn’t a big deal.

“It’s... fine,” I lied. I threw my bag aside, grabbed a heavy belt with two holsters on the side, and put it on. Next came my swords.

“Swords?”

I nodded and took one last look around my room as I tried to catch my breath. Every little trinket, all my books and papers, my buddies, or plushies, and the mess of stuff on my floor. I regretted having to leave my room in a mess. It wasn’t anybody’s job to clean this up for me.

“Okay, and now you’re opening a window?” Cia asked. “We can just—”

A knock interrupted her. “Kiara?”

“I see...”

I flinched at the emotional voice. “Cia, is that... roof over there solid?”

She made a surprised noise and flew out the window. I heard her struggle to push against the roof tiles a moment later. “It’s solid... how come?”

I backed up to the opposite end of my room and ran. No last words for my family—I trusted them to know I loved them. And my friends would be fine without me, as always. I wished I could change that, make them nicer. Make this world kinder in general. Make people realize that everyone has feelings.

“What are you—eep!” Cia yelped as she watched me jump out of the window and fly across to the next roof. I stuck the landing. “Hah! I like the style!”

“Thanks...” I mumbled. “I hate people that say I’m not street smart.”

“That came outta nowhere.”

“Just... random thought.”

“Hm... interesting. Now, where to next?”

I pointed to the west. “That’s the only way that doesn’t lead to mountains.”

“Down!” she ordered. “Invisibility wore off. I mentioned earlier that my powers need time to... strengthen, or take root.”

“I know,” I responded as she became visible, allowing me to see her amused expression. “I pay attention.”

“I’m so gonna use that against you sometime.”

I sighed and looked around while keeping myself against the roof. Currently, people were swarming my house, and I doubt they’d leave any time soon. I took a deep breath and hopped up before running up the slope of the roof. Someone spotted me almost instantly, and the chase began.

“She’s heading that way!” I heard a man yell as I hopped onto the next roof.

“I hate this,” I mumbled as tears began rushing off my face. “No goodbyes or anything.”

“You hate me?” Cia asked.

“No. You’re not the problem. They just don’t understand.”

“Good. I hate them too,” she said. I kept my opinion to myself quiet, but she seemed to notice. “You don’t hate them...?”

“It’s not their fault either...” I responded, causing her to sigh.

“No wonder you said your conviction is kindness.”

As I leaped to yet another house, I saw a ladder pop up at the end of the roof. I froze for a moment and decided to turn left instead. I wasn’t very good at thinking on the spot, but I did know that I’d get trapped soon enough if this kept up. I had to go faster, or I’d lose my life.

“Don’t go faster!” Cia said with worry in her tone. “I can probably use my invisibility some more... just a warning though, it’ll make me tired later.”

“Okay?”

“That means you’ll have to carry me in the bag. Hehe.”

I ignored her as I landed on another roof and glanced behind me at the man following me. “Do we really have no damn Dualaratie that can see through invisibility?!”

I turned around again and continued west, to the edge of the town. It seemed like there was still an endless sea of houses left, and my stamina was already running low. I pushed aside my feelings, ignored the cold air cutting at my throat, and just pushed on, telling myself that my favorite characters would keep running. When I worked out, it always helped to imagine my favorites beside me, urging me on.

Each time I jumped, my legs felt like jelly but I stood strong. I heard Cia floating alongside me and saw her occasionally blink in and out of existence. It seemed we were both as tired as could be right now. “Just keep going, Cia.”

“I will. We only have two houses left anyway.”

I leaped to the next house and almost fell. I regained my balance and ran forward to the next house, quickly losing my groove. A headache began to set in, and I felt very wobbly. I carefully walked to the edge of the final house, placed right next to one of the gates of the village. I dropped down to the shed next to the house, my invisibility stopping me from making any noises.

“Final stretch,” Cia said as I dropped to the ground.

“You can stop the Spell,” I told her hoarsely.

“There are people right there.”

“Valius’ power,” I said. “Well, one of them.”

She reluctantly released the power, and just as I hoped, none of the people moved. It made me wonder where they had all gone, but I didn’t have time to dwell on that. I’d make it past Cedric and go to... wherever the wind brought me.

I walked out of the gate, meant to protect against rogue Dualaraties, and onto a pathway. I veered off the path and into the tall grass that covered the Kingdom of Solumina. The Kingdom I was sure would hunt me down soon enough, even though I was just some kid.

“Kiara!” Cedric said with pain in his voice. “Now look, I know that some of the things the Church said may have been... bizarre, but the King destroyed those words for a reason. I’m just following his rules. I’m trying to keep my community safe.”

Cia spoke for me. “By killing a part of the community?”

“Do not speak to me, you rogue. I’m speaking only to the girl.”

“You disgust me,” Cia said. I knew Cedric wasn’t one to be shaken by words, but I heard him gasp at the pure venom in her voice. I was also surprised, though it was the fact that someone so kind and lighthearted could be so cold.

I turned and saw the annoyance on his face. “Kiara, you know that that monster will attack you tomorrow night, and every eleven days after. Full Moon and New Moon, she’ll go insane.”

I turned away and continued walking to hide the tears in my eyes. “She’s kind. I don’t believe she’d turn on me a night after trying so hard to keep me alive. She’s... arrogant too, but she understands.”

“So then it’s as I feared... she’s already twisted you with a silver tongue.”

Cia laughed. “Oh, how I wish I could be such an idiot. Ignorance is bliss after all.”

“Kiara, must you force me to tell your family how hard it was for you to just let go?”

“Shut up!” I screamed. “You don’t know them! You just—”

Cia picked up where I faltered. “You just want her dead for some twisted reason. You really should just die.”

Cedric snapped. “Valius! Kill her now!”

I wanted to run, but at this point, I was too fatigued. I turned, mustered as much courage as I could, and took a sword from its sheath. “Cia!”

She got the message, and I felt the air seep into my skin once again. I stepped forward slowly but surely toward Cedric. He cursed and a glowing white sword appeared in the hands of Valius. I watched as the pair got into a defensive position, their backs to each other, though Cedric had no weapon. I walked up to Cedric, and raised my sword to his stomach.

“Cia. Turn it off.”

Cedric saw me and stumbled backward, almost hitting Valius. “Swap!”

I braced and stabbed my sword forward. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever want to kill someone, but I had my share of experiences with Dualaraties. I was always ready to kill them if I really had to. And Valius was no different. My sword was plunged into the Dualaratie’s stomach, causing him to falter and bend over.

Cedric turned with a smile that quickly turned to horror. “How?!”

“A guess,” I said with a small smile. I loved reveling in my own little achievements.

But why does it have a body? I asked myself as I stepped back and watched it keel over, purple blood spilling from its body. It made me a little nauseous to watch, but I reminded myself that it was just a Dualaratie.

A red mist appeared at my feet and stretched to reach Valius and Cedric, who quickly backed away with a look of rage on his face. “You—you!”

Cia snapped her fingers. “Cedric, looks like you’ve got your own secrets. Lucky we aren’t staying here. Let’s go, Kiara, that should be enough energy to get you safe.”

I nodded and warily walked past Cedric. He screamed at Valius to follow me, but the Dualaratie didn’t respond. I glanced back and saw a few people running out of the village toward Cedric, so I picked up my pace. I felt re-energized and headed toward the forest just outside of the village.

“Should we follow?” one villager asked.

“No! Do not follow her! That rogue is dangerous—look what it did to Valius. I don’t want it to take away or injure any more of my people,” Cedric told one of the villagers. “Ah, damn you, Luminaire! Your secret will spread across the world! You’ll be labeled a fugitive and you’ll have nowhere to go! Mark my words, we’ll be out for your blood!”

I ignored him and glanced at Cia. “We need a map.”

“Hm?”

“A map,” I said as I ran into the forest with no leaves. “So we can get to Borea City up north. Then we can go to the Invearnal Kingdom and find a researcher that’ll know why you’ve got a physical body and maybe they'll know why it's blasphemy cuz I—”

“Kiara, stop. Stop.”

I shut myself up and began walking instead, feeling a little annoyed.

“You can’t just... ignore your feelings like that. I know you must be a little sad after being forced to leave your village. And your family, and friends too.”

I felt my face heat up. “It’s fine...”

“No, it’s not. I might be arrogant, and sarcastic in a way that I use to ease anxiety in tough situations, but I’m not... emotionless. You’re human. It’s fine to cry.”

I huffed and looked the other way as I felt tears well up. I walked away in annoyance.

“Kiara, stop lying to yourself... ugh, look at me,” she ordered. I turned. “You can trust me, okay? I’m not here to judge.”

“I know!”

She opened her mouth to speak but didn’t say anything. I watched her think, and then she got it. She smiled understandingly and turned around. “I got it. I’ll go patrol for a bit.”

“Sorry, I’m not... good at this...” I said. “Thanks.”

“I feel like I understand a lot. I won’t push. We can talk about that plan later, okay? I really liked the idea of it,” she turned and grinned playfully.

She understands me. I realized. She knew exactly what to tell me, and that cheered me up just a little.