The Legend of Caelestella

Forced out of bed by his alarm at dawn, Astar grumbled his way through the twisting hallways until he reached the dining room. Still groggy, he stretched and yawned, his joints popping satisfyingly. However, the dining room was empty, with a set table but no one in sight. Curiosity piqued, he followed the sound of a crash and cheers emanating from a nearby door.

Peeking through the slightly ajar door, Astar found himself looking out onto a serene courtyard. Enclosed by high cobblestone walls draped in ivy and moss, the courtyard boasted lush garden beds of lavender and rosemary. At its center stood a grand fountain atop a marble platform, where Haruki was seated. Surrounding him, other mages lounged on the grass.

On the platform beside Haruki, a young man of similar age knelt, appearing slightly winded. With dark brown hair and piercing azure eyes, he possessed a classically handsome face. Rising to his feet, he extended his hand for Haruki to shake before joining the other mages on the grass.

'Let's stop here for today.' A deep voice sounded from across the courtyard. A very, very old human wandered around from the opposite side of the courtyard. His face was withered and hollow, with many marks scattered across it from over a century in the sun. His face had many scars, including a long thin scar that ran from his left brow to the edge of his cupid's bow. His hair was long and grey with streaks of white hair. Although he was old his arms were still sculpted and strong, and his shoulders were broad.

'Guild Master Xaufra, will I be able to battle you?' Haruki.

'No, son. This castle will turn into a graveyard and you won't stand a chance.'

Haruki's face turned to a scowl, but he simply rolled down the sleeves of his black turtleneck and adjusted the collar. His shirt was tucked into his black cargo pants which were held up by a black, chained belt. Haruki often wore all black, Astar was pretty sure it was the only colour in his wardrobe, but it looked good against his perfectly wavy hair, his sharp jawline, his strong shoulders and handsomely sculpted arms, not to mention his... Astar shook his head, he was getting carried away in his thoughts. He padded out onto the grass and feebly shook his arms by his side, trying to wake them from their slumber.

'Star!' Haruki called.

'Hi, Haru! What's all this about?'

'We've been having friendly battles in this courtyard to test our strengths and weaknesses.'

'Yeah, and all you can do is show off, you dumbass.' Kenji called from his spot on the grass.

'Shut the fuck up, Kenji. You're just pissed 'cause I whooped your arse.' Haruki snapped back.

He turned back around when Astar leaned into his chest.

'I'm just gonna sleep here real quick.' Astar said as he raised his finger into the air. 'I'm really tired.'

Haruki chuckled to himself and placed his hand in Astar's hair and softly scratched his head.

'No worries, Star. You can do what you want.' Haruki said softly.

'Ack, when did you turn to mush, disgusting.' Kenji teased.

Haruki lashed his head around to face Kenji and gave him an evil glare as his face darkened. His eyes dared Kenji to continue. Kenji just scoffed and turned back around to continue his conversation with Seth.

'Oh, who was that man you just finished a fight with?' Astar asked Haruki.

'That's Prince Alton, he's the second prince of Alatheia, also the one who you are going to train with.'

Astar gasped, 'What are you doing beating up the prince?!' Astar whispered. Haruki snickered. Astar flicked Haruki's forehead. 'I'm being serious here, won't you get into trouble? You're lucky the Empress isn't here.'

'Oh, but I am.' A silvery voice said from the corner of the courtyard closest to Astar.

Astar turned on his heels to find Consort Zelein leaning against the wall. She smiled gently at Astar. She walked up to him and put her hand on his left cheek and Astar flinched from the touch.

'No need to worry, dear. Events like this are good for Prince Alton, he needs the practice,' her voice turned to a whisper, 'he's not a very good mage, it's a little disappointing.'

Astar felt large hands grab his shoulder and gently pull him back a few steps. Astar's back hit Haruki's chest causing Zelein's hand to fall from Astar's face.

'With all due respect, Consort Zelein, I'm going to have to ask you to refrain from touching Astar.'

Astar turned his head up to look at Haruki, how had he been able to tell Astar was uncomfortable? Was he that much of an open book? He hoped he hadn't made a face that offended Zelein.

'My apologies, Astar, I shouldn't have touched your face with no warning, it's simply a bad habit I have, I hope you will forgive me.'

'Oh, no, it's perfectly fine, Consort Zelein. Thank you for your understanding, I hope I haven't offended you.'

'No, no, dear child, I understand that physical touch can make some uncomfortable, I should be more aware of myself,' she said.

Zelein leaned gracefully against her haunches, her gaze drawn upward to the ethereal spectacle of the morning sunrise, its golden tendrils painting the clouds in hues of rose and lavender. The courtyard, ensconced within its four ancient stone walls, seemed to exist in a realm of its own, untouched by the passage of time.

Each door within the enclosing walls held a silent promise of adventure and mystery. Astar observed them, his curiosity piqued by their enigmatic allure. The one through which Zelein had emerged led to the dining hall, its threshold a gateway to sustenance and camaraderie. Another beckoned with the promise of rigorous training in the barracks beyond, where the clashing of blades echoed through the stone archway.

Yet, it was the third archway, shrouded in veils of uncertainty, that captured Astar's imagination. What secrets lay beyond its imposing frame, he could only wonder. And then there was the mahogany door, identical to its counterpart leading to the dining hall, concealing within it the tranquil haven of the stables, where the gentle creatures of the realm awaited their riders.

In the midst of this enchanting scene, Zelein stood as a figure of otherworldly grace, her silver eyes aglow like twin stars reflected in the still waters of the courtyard fountain. The morning sunlight danced upon the moon-grey scales adorning her ears and temples, imbuing her presence with an aura of mystical serenity.

As the dawn unfolded its tapestry of wonder, Astar found himself drawn into the enchantment of the courtyard, knowing deep within that even the passage of years would never diminish the allure of its mystical beauty.

Astar gazed into the swirling mists that hung above him, pondering the enigmatic words of his mentor. What manner of warrior was he to become under her tutelage? And what secrets lay within her cryptic remark about Alton's deficient magic skills being a source of disappointment?

Lost in thought, Astar's mind wandered to the intricacies of his lineage. Wasn't it his elder brother who was destined to inherit the throne, not him? Yet, the weight of Zelein's words lingered like a whisper in the wind, stirring a mystical curiosity within him.

With a frustrated huff, Astar tore his gaze away from the celestial canvas above, realizing that some mysteries were not meant to be unraveled in the present moment. He resigned himself to the guidance of time's patient hand, knowing that the answers he sought would reveal themselves in due course, shrouded in the ethereal embrace of destiny

✩

Astar nervously walked up to the training barracks, it was time for his training lesson with Consort Zelein. He opened the large, white timber sliding door to one of the training rooms, he wasn't sure which they were meant to meet in.

'Hello?' He called.

'Come in,' a voice replied.

Astar crept through the doorway, slowly closing the door behind him. The door's hinges creaked and groaned beneath the weight of the door.

'Hello?' Astar asked quietly.

'Over 'ere, runt,' the voice replied again.

Astar looked to the left of him, where the voice had come from. There stood the same man from earlier that day. The one with the sharp facial features, the azure blue eyes and the mess of dark brown locks. He looked down at Astar.

The door creaked once more, and Haruki walked in, ruffling his hair and yawning.

'What the hell are you doing 'ere?' Alton asked.

'Supervising.' Haruki said scornfully.

Alton glared at Haruki and lifted his nose disdainfully, displaying clear signs of arrogance. Astar rolled his eyes, predicting that the interaction wouldn't go smoothly, sensing the brewing conflict between Alton and Haruki.

"Do you have a problem with it, your highness?" Haruki challenged.

Alton scoffed. "Yes, I do. I thought it was just going to be Zelein, myself, and the kid. Who invited you?"

"It was me," Astar interjected timidly.

Alton looked at Astar, his expression shifting from confusion to contemplation before he spoke again. "Why did you want him here?" he questioned.

"I enjoy his company," Astar replied.

"Is he your boyfriend?" Alton asked skeptically.

Astar felt his cheeks flush with embarrassment. He remained silent, glancing nervously at Haruki, who smirked in response.

"Not yet," Haruki declared confidently.

Their conversation was interrupted as Consort Zelein entered the room, bringing an end to the discussion much to Astar's relief, as he feared he might have a heart attack if it continued.

As Zelein continued her instruction on defensive maneuvers with the key sword, Astar paid close attention, trying to absorb every detail she offered. Despite his initial boredom, he found himself becoming increasingly engaged in the training session.

After demonstrating a few defensive techniques, Zelein paired up the trainees to practice with each other. Astar found himself peering around the training room. His gaze landed on Haruki, sound asleep on the bench. Sleeping? Of course he was sleeping.

"Alright, let's see what you've got," Alton said with a grin as he took his stance, key sword at the ready.

Astar mirrored his stance, focusing his concentration on the task at hand. He made a mental note to himself to keep his movements precise and controlled, remembering Zelein's instructions about the importance of using the teeth of the key sword for defense.

The two of them began to spar, their key swords clashing and ringing out as they exchanged blows. Astar found himself impressed by Alton's skill, but he was determined not to let himself be outmatched. He focused on his footwork, trying to anticipate Alton's movements and react accordingly. Although Alton's skill with his magic was quite disappointing, his martial skills were impressive.

After several minutes of intense sparring, Zelein called a halt to the practice session.

"Not bad, both of you," she said, nodding approvingly. "But remember, there's always room for improvement. Keep practicing those defensive maneuvers, and don't forget to work on your offensive techniques as well."

Astar nodded, feeling a sense of satisfaction at the progress he had made during the training session. He glanced over at Haruki, who was still sound asleep, and couldn't help but chuckle to himself.

He turned his attention back to Zelein and the rest of the group, ready to continue his training with renewed focus and determination.

At the end of the training lesson, Zelein bid them farewell and dismissed them. Haruki had awoken by this time and handed a face towel to Astar. Astar gratefully accepted it and wiped the sweat from his brow and chest. Haruki took it back from him and wiped the back of his neck for him.

'Did you find that helpful?' He asked.

'Very much,' Astar said, 'although there were a couple of times I wished I could join you in sleep over there, it was mostly very helpful.'

'Zelein said next time you can have practical experience.' Haruki told him.

'From what I heard, you won't get another lesson, Astar.' Alton butted in. 'My mother is going to send your team off in the morning.'

'What?' Haruki asked in disbelief. 'The terms of us accepting this mission was to have our less experienced mages trained before we set off.'

'Yeah, I guess,' Alton shrugged, 'but my mother says there is no time left for training, you need to leave tomorrow or you won't beat The Knights of Kezran to your first stop.'

Haruki sighed with displeasure.

'Oh, but if you're worried about this one here, you can leave him with me, I'll take care of him very well.' Alton said.

'Absolutely not.' Haruki said furiously. 'I'm not going to leave a naive bunny with a sly fox.'

Alton walked over to the door and leaned on its frame.

'Why don't you ask the bunny then, huh?'

'I'll stay with Haruki, but thanks for the offer... I guess?' Astar mumbled.

'Whatever,' Alton grumbled, 'your loss.'

Alton stumbled out of the door and down the path which lead to the courtyard that Astar had been in that morning.

'Fuckwit.' Astar heard Haruki mutter.

Astar tapped Haruki on the arm and shook his head. It wasn't worth it, starting a fight with royalty. With his foul mouth and reckless demeanour, Haruki would end up with his head on a stake. Astar felt partly at fault for all the trouble he kept finding himself in.

Haruki and Astar exited the training room and followed the path Alton had taken a few minutes before.

~

'What?!' Eldrin slammed his fist down onto the desk that the Empress was sitting on.

'I know Eldrin, but hear me out, we have no time, please, I beg of you.' Marilyn pleaded.

'You are asking too much, empress.' Eldrin snarled. 'I will not send my team out unprepared to face The Knights of Kezran.'

'But, Eldrin-'

'No! We are talking about an army of over a thousand versus fourteen young mages. Half a dozen of which are still inexperienced.'

Empress Marilyn buried her face into her hands, her eyes welling with tears.

'Please, Eldrin. I know I'm asking too much but what else can I do? Everyone else has refused me or turned tail and ran, you guys are the only ones I know with the courage to do this.'

'What are you going to do when only a few of us return, if we fail, or maybe even if no one comes back.' Eldrin protested.

'Then there is not much I can do.'

'Really? You're going to send us out knowing we'll all die?' He snapped.

'Eldrin, I want you all to return safely. I know you guys can complete this mission, I wouldn't have asked you if I knew you'd all die the second I sent you out. Have some more faith in your mages, Eldrin. This is disappointing, have these past two decades turned you into a coward?' Marilyn fired back.

Eldrin for once was left speechless. His hope was dwindling, but perhaps Marilyn was correct. He exhaled and sat down in one of the armchairs opposite the desk. Marilyn's study walls were covered in photos. Photos of her people. The many photos on the wall proved Marilyn's undying loyalty to her subjects, she wouldn't give up on them. Eldrin knew that, but this whole time he'd been thinking of himself. These innocent civilians had no way of protecting themselves. Most were very low-level mages and some couldn't even use magic.

'Fine.' he said gruffly. 'We'll depart tomorrow, but I'm not happy about this.'

Empress Marilyn nodded her head in understanding.

'Thank you once again, Eldrin.'