PROLOGUE
***
I am the Astral.
The summoner of the stars and light. The heroine of heavenly bodies.
They said it was a blessing to receive such title and power as the Astral.
They had also said that it takes once in a blue moon to have this kind of gift, granted by the radiant of the stars and heaven.
But the curse for having this ability—everyone wanted to become the Astral, tempted by the overflowing strength and mystical powers.
Especially, the allies of darkness —wants only nothing but destruction.
And some humans who are greedy for such remarkable and divine ability.
Whoever could kill the Astral, the power would surpass to him.
And so... they were all after me. Wanting kill me. Wanting to take what I have.
--•--
I woke up because of the loud screams and running outside my room. My little heart was gradually governed by fear the moment the uneasy sounds became more harsh. I wanted to peek out of my door to find out what was going on outside the castle, but the horrible screaming from the outside my room brought fear in me. It made me faltered, frozen, and scared.
I grabbed my favorite doll and hugged it to my chest as I closed my eyes. Hoping that through it could relieved the fear I felt. I silently prayed that the horrible sounds would be done, but it seemed to be endless. The awful cries, moaning asking for help, and the strong thump and broken glasses around continuously echoing into my ears. After a while, I heard some echoes of footsteps coming towards the room where I was. I immediately opened my eyes in horror, at the same time, confusion of whoever would it be.
My little heart thudded in anxiety, petrified and wondering who was outside behind my door. It didn't took long as my face lighted up the moment the door burst opened as it showed my mother. And there was this unexplainable worry and fear etched around her face as she moved her feet to approach me.
"Mother, what's happening?" Fear was evident in my tone and in my eyes.
"We need to leave the castle, my dear," mother replied in her not so chilly manner. I was confused that I had no time to think further but immediately nodded as a consent. It was obvious to her face the great apprehension and fear of whatever caused, but I was certainly that it had something to do with the event happening outside.
After mother packed my belongings, we hurriedly came out of the castle. We passed at the back and went straight into the woods. I couldn't understood what was going on but I knew there was a great risk happening in our kingdom.
Due to my confusion, I turned my gaze behind me and saw the other part of our kingdom swallowed up by huge flames. I gasped, mortified from the scene. The burning reflection of the fire could mirrored on my innocent, confused eyes.
"Don't look back my dear, just keep on running," voice of my mother as we kept on running until we were completely eaten up by the darkness of the woods. This complex night swallowed our fading shadows. Leaving our castle behind—burning and in chaos.
"You're going to take care of her," mother spoken to a lady, waiting for us at the end of the forest.
"But how are you?" The girl replied questioningly. She was beautiful, too, like my mother. With her silky, blonde hair, tamed face and fair skin complexion. And I thought she was a bit younger than my mother. She made a short smile for me and went back her attention to mother.
"I will set a trap to distract the Shadow Lords so they won't find the two of you," mother answered.
"But Creselia, that's too dangerous for you! The Shadow Lords are too strong! You can't defeat them with just random spells," the girl said disapprovingly. "And wherever we hide, they will find and still find us," she added.
My young mind couldn't understood what they were talking about but I knew their subject was all about my welfare and safety. It had been a while since my mother was astonied that she seemed to be thinking deeply.
"Then go outside Elysium," she, at last, concluded.
"What? Are you out of your bloody mind?!" The girl demanded unbelievingly.
"That's the only way I can think of, Lilia. And as what is written on the book of prophecy, the world outside Elysium is also wide and mysterious. They will surely have difficulty finding you there in case," mother responded.
"But---"
"That's our only chance, Lilia! I will grab every chance I can get just to protect my daughter," and then mother looked at my eyes. I could see the safness and worry formed visibly on her frame. The girl named Lilia had finally nodded as if she was already convinced by my mother.
Mother carefully bent down to her knees and stared weakly to me, "Listen my dear, you need to come with Lilia for now. And as soon as everything was over, I'll come for you," she said sadly and she kissed my forehead. I couldn't understood why and what was happening but it made my little heart melt, seeing the expressions of my mother was making me sad.
"Come with us, please," I uttered pleadingly. A single tear dropped from my eye.
A slight shook of head was the only response I got from my mother, and then she embraced me tightly. I had also seen the tears streamed down her face. Even though I was still young, I could clearly assist the scenario. I could felt her loneliness while she caressing my hair.
"What a wonderful moment. How I really love sad and tragic endings."
I startled with that voice, even mother and Lilia. We looked back at the person standing in the distance and he was very gentle in observing us. He was an old, insidious man, with silver-grey hair and was wearing black, strange gothically dress. And a golden necklace with skull pendant. A shiver ran down my spine as his lips formed a devilish smile.
"Vladimuz!" Mother called, and she pulled me to hide behind her.
"Where are you planning to bring your little child? Surrender her to me and this will soon be over," the voice of the old man was full and scary. The old man named, Vladimuz.
Mother signalled Lilia by talking to the eye. It seemed that Lilia would had understood what mother wanted to imply because of her small nods. She held my hand and brought my stuff, then we started taking steps to run.
But just as we were about to count steps, we were suddenly astonied at our attempt because of those around us. I stood there in horror, shocked and unmoving. There were figures in the form of shadows, with eyes were burning red. And the most horrifying scene, they were all smiling at us with their wide, toothy mouth.
"There is no escaping the little Astral from the Shadow Lords," Vladimuz announced with gritted teeth as he was glaring to our direction.
Those human shadows moved their pace and we were already surrounded by them. I almost faltered when those creepy things started to engage at us one by one. The grip of Lilia to my hand became even more tighter as the upcoming danger were about to incapacitated us.
"Lilia! Guard my daughter!" Mother desperately commanded and she had released some pieces of papers. Lilia quickly cut down in front of me, hiding me to her back, securing me from the danger that was threatening in front of us. I held my breath in tension.
Mother threw the pieces of papers upwind and she then spoke, "Clypeus Igni!" Those papers suddenly burned up in the air, scattering around and surrounding us like a force shield made of fire.
The shadow figures suddenly stopped by their attempts to attack us due to the barrier of fire that had created by mother. My mother was an excellent wizard but she had keeping it concealed to others. The only persons who were able to know her secretes was me and my father. I asked her on how I could have mystical abilities so that I could keep the peace and ordinance to our whole land and protect our people, just like what she had always did. But she kept on saying that I had my own, unique powers that it happened to be very special.
"Clever little skim, Creselia. But your pathetic little show was not enough to overpower me and to stop me," and Vladimuz flicked his fingers.
As if it was some kind of cue, the shadow figures were floated up in the air one by one. They seemed to be together on combining their selves, creating a new gruesome form. And when the fusion ended, it viewed before our eyes a black, menacing dragon. A creepy, monstrous, and gigantic dragon.
"A Drakion!" Lilia stated horribly beside me.
"Don't be scared, Crimson. I will ensure your safety no matter what happens," mother demanded in assurance. She lift up her two hands to strengthen the fire barrier that serves to be our protection from the dark menace.
"Get the young Astral!" Vladimuz ordered to the huge dragon.
The huge monster had already begun to destroy the barrier of fire mother had created. Using its sharp, and powerful claws, it was trying to break the barrier made of fire, surrounding and guarding us. I could see that mother was trying to keep the fire barrier strong, facing much struggles. With those heavy breathings and sweat, I knew she was starting to be exhausted. But the monster continued smashing our shield.
Until it gained a crack, and it was not took much time that our barrier had completely broken.
"I will not let you in your bad intention, Vladimuz!" Mother contradicted and again she released more papers. But the big, black dragon was quick to act and it beaten my mother using its tail. I whimpered in shock as I witnessed my mother sent flying across the air, before she fell down on the cold, grassy ground horribly. I couldn't do anything if not to shout and cry because of what I had witnessed.
Lilia became more alerted, holding her grounds, "Ventus ex Praesidium!" She pronounced when I was about to take by the giant dragon.
A strong whirlwind came and surrounded the great monster that made it to not act right away. But with just an instant, Vladimuz was already on my side and took my hand before I could blink my eyes. It was so fast that Lilia didn't anticipated his swift movement, as she didn't do anything when I was totally taken by the enemy.
"Don't touch my daughter!" Mother screamed between her worries and fierceness. I glanced back and saw her running to us. But Vladimuz let go of black smoke from his hands that it gradually trapped mother, causing her unable to move. Even Lilia was also wrapped up in black, eerie smoke.
I couldn't do nothing but to watch them locked up inside the gaol made of black smoke as I kept crying. I felt helpless at the moment. Terrified from whatever could happened. What was in me just to suffer this kind of tragic and brought danger, especially to those ones important to me? What these monsters needed from me?
Vladimuz harshly grabbed my right, free hand and his eyes traveled on the mark behind it. "You are truly the Astral," he uttered gladly. An overflowing joy could picture on his evil face.
He spoke something I couldn't analyzed and felt a strange feeling inside my core which I couldn't exactly explain. It seemed like it wanted to come out and the feeling that it had been absorbed from me.
I screamed so loud because of the intense pain it gave me that it almost took off all my strength. A strange sensation and force eventually flowing and coming out from me, toward the mark behind my right hand. A strong power. Despite the pain I felt, I saw a demon smile on the lips of Vladimuz. A kind of smile that showed his victory.
The said force which was gathered from me was gradually creating a form. Until it turned into a necklace. A shiny, magical, golden necklace with different gems carved on its pendant. And a crystal-like crest designed at the center of its pendant.
Vladimuz took the necklace immediately and I seemed to have no value for him as he let me go. He gushingly took steps away with the magical necklace. Even the great dragon and black smoke were with him that vanished out of darkness. My body fell down on the cold and hard ground weakly —incapable to do anything.
Mother approached me quickly and bent down beside me. She laid me to her lap before I earned a tight hug from her. I could felt her panics because of her trembling hands and shaking fingers. She placed her head at my heart, trying to hear my heartbeats.
"Oh, God!" She exclaimed tearfully the moment she found out that I was alive—exhausted but alive.
"Look! The mark is still on her!" Lilia said, surprised.
Mother gently took my hand and sighed deeply. "Her tendency to become the newest Astral is solemn and eminent. And that is what I see as a reason that my child is still alive. She is the chosen Astral that Vladimuz hadn't fully stolen her powers," I heard the litany of my dearest mother.
"What is your plan now, Creselia?"
"Bring my daughter away from here. Take care of her and hide her far from the Elysium. And I will take care everything here to protect my daughter's safety."
I heard mother said until I was fully hugged by duskiness, due to my exhaustion. All I wanted was a long rest and sleep. I felt like my strength was depleted with flicking fingers.
Astral. I am the Astral.