Chapter 2: The Sisters

In the heart of their Aetherial Realm, a place where the boundaries between light and shadow blurred into a kaleidoscope of ever-shifting hues, two figures stood upon a floating platform of crystal.

The platform, suspended amidst swirling nebulas of colour and energy, shimmered with an ethereal glow, casting prismatic reflections on the entities who stood upon it.

Delta, her form delicate and lithe, danced playfully at the edge of the platform, her feet barely touching the surface as she twirled and dipped. Her purple hair flowed like liquid mercury, cascading down her back and catching the light of the vibrant aether that surrounded them.

Her eyes, a brilliant shade of amethyst, sparkled with a mischievous glint as she hummed a soft, lilting melody. The air around her was filled with the scent of blooming flowers, though no flowers could be seen—an illusion, a memory, a fragment of the life she once lived.

Sierra, her sister, stood at the centre of the platform, her stance firm and steady. Where Delta was light and air, Sierra was earth and stone. Her dark hair was pulled back into a braid that hung down her back, her eyes a deep, stormy grey.

She observed Delta with a mixture of fondness and concern, her lips pressed into a thin line as she waited for the inevitable moment when their conversation would turn serious.

"Sister, have you ever seen anything so beautiful?" Delta asked, her voice as light as the breeze that danced around them. She extended a hand towards the distant stars, each one a blazing beacon of power in the boundless Aetherial Sea. "It's like the whole universe is singing to us."

Sierra's gaze softened as she watched her sister, a pang of melancholy tugging at her heart. "It is beautiful," she agreed, her tone steady, though the weight of their task was ever-present in her mind. "But the song of the universe is changing, Delta. I know you feel it. The harmonies are fraying, the veil is weakening."

Delta's smile faltered, and she slowed her dance, eventually coming to a stop beside Sierra. The playful light in her eyes dimmed as she looked out into the swirling aether. "I know," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the ambient hum of their realm. "It's happening faster than we expected."

Sierra reached out and placed a hand on Delta's shoulder, offering a comforting squeeze. "The Wardens... The world is not prepared for what is coming. If the Veil breaks, the Shard will be exposed, and our world—" She hesitated, her voice thick with the weight of their reality. "Their world will be lost."

Delta turned to face Sierra, her expression torn between sorrow and resolve. "It feels wrong, Sierra. Why should they be the ones to face this? They weren't prepared."

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Sierra's grip on Delta's shoulder tightened, and she met her sister's gaze with unwavering determination. "They are our only hope, Delta. You know that as well as I do. The blood is the key. There simply aren't enough of the gifted within the Prima anymore."

Delta closed her eyes, taking a deep breath as she tried to steady the turmoil within her. Memories of their time on the Earth Shard flashed through her mind. The warmth of the sun on their faces, the laughter, the simple joy of being alive. It was a time of peace, a time that now seemed so distant and unattainable.

"But they are still so young," Delta murmured, her voice trembling. "They have only just begun to live their lives. And now we ask them to fight? To sacrifice everything?"

Sierra's expression softened, and she gently cupped Delta's face in her hands, forcing her to look into her eyes. "They have the strength, the courage, and the resilience that we once had. They will rise to the challenge, Delta, just as we did."

Delta's eyes welled with tears, but she blinked them away, refusing to let them fall. "But at what cost, Sierra? At what cost?"

Sierra's gaze hardened, her voice resolute. "At any cost. The world cannot afford to lose the light. If we do nothing, the darkness will consume everything—our world, their world, all worlds. We must act now, while there is still time. It is a bigger risk to do nothing."

Delta pulled away from Sierra's grasp, turning her back to her sister as she wrapped her arms around herself. The aether around them pulsed in response to her emotions, the colours darkening to shades of indigo and violet. "I don't know if I can do it," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I don't know if I can just send them to their deaths."

Sierra stepped forward, placing a hand on Delta's back, her touch gentle but firm. "You are stronger than you think, Delta. We were chosen for this because of our strength, but we must give them the chance to fight, or they will have no chance at all."

Delta remained silent for a long moment, her mind racing with conflicting thoughts and emotions. Finally, she turned to face Sierra once more, her expression one of grim determination. "If we do this, we do it together. We guide them, we protect them, and we do not abandon them. As much as we can, at least."

Sierra nodded, relief washing over her. "Together, as it has always been."

With a deep breath, Delta straightened her posture and extended her hand. In a flash of light, a vial of red liquid materialised in her palm, the liquid inside swirling with a power that resonated with both sisters.

Sierra regarded the vial with a mixture of reverence and trepidation. "It is time," she said quietly, taking the pristine container from Delta's hand. "I will see it done."

With that, Sierra left the realm, intent on manipulating events to ensure the vial found its way to someone trustworthy enough to handle the forbidden ritual.

Precise machinations would have to unfold perfectly for success, but there was no other way. She wished they could perform the ritual themselves, but it was idle fantasy, the rules of reality forbade their direct involvement.

Delta turned her gaze to the horizon, where the boundary of their aetherial realm shimmered like a fragile barrier against the encroaching darkness. Beyond that barrier lay the shard, named Earth, the world that gave her so much, a debt she had to see repaid.

And so, with the weight of her duty pressing down on her, Delta steeled herself for the battle ahead, a cautious sense of belief creeping in and fortifying her resolve.