It's three days later. I shuffle around in my sleep as I try to stay in my unconscious state, but of course...I wake up to the prodding of Ciaran's voice.
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"Iris...wake up.."
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I grab a pillow from beside me and smash it right into his face. I instantly wake up when throws it right back.
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"Ciaran!" I angrily stare back at him.
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"Someone was at the door..." He lied.
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"Well, why didn't you open it?"
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Ciaran answers with a scoff and a sip of his cup of tea.
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Groaning, I get up from bed and get ready for the day.
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"And what is your objective today, Araginee?"
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"Why does it matter to you?"
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"You just seem to be...in a rush."
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"Is it wrong to just freshen up?"
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"Well, if you are going somewhere, it's only fair I go with you."
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"I don't care if you go with me, just don't be up to any Darken shenanigans."
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"I promise, I have no affiliations with my mother at this point in time." He smirks.
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"Good. Now let's go.."
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I opened the door and walked into the hallway. Ciaran floats quietly behind me.
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"So, where are we going, Iris?"
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"First, I'm going to check on Ecluna, then..." I think for a second. "I... actually don't know what I'm going to do after that."
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"I am quite famished.."
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"You can make your own food, Ciaran..."
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"...Very true.." He creates a tart right then and there and takes a bite.
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I sigh and walk my way towards Ecluna's dorm room.
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I hear rapid footsteps pacing on the other side. Nonetheless, I knock on the door.
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"Coming!"
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Ecluna opens the door...as I saw the room in almost...complete darkness. Her curtains were covered, almost completely.
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"... What's with all the darkness?"
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"Just a precaution...
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"Have you been pacing here in the dark the entire time?"
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"I was thinking...about... something. It doesn't matter..."
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"Mom said to take care of you and to take you home before the Eclipse Festival. She said something would happen...is that what you're being precautionary for? "
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Ecluna's stiffened up. "...Yeah, something would happen to me during a lunar eclipse. It only happened once...but it was when I was really young, s-so, I don't r-remember.." she sadly chuckled.
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I could tell from her expression and body language she was lying.
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"Do you want me to stay with you today?'
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"No, I'm sure you have some o-other stuff you can do other than worry about me..."
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"I'm worried about you because you're my friend. If there's anything, and I mean anything you need to talk about.."
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"...I'm fine, Iris. You're just overreacting..."
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"... Alright.."
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"...I'm gonna do some necromancy magic...I'll talk to you later, okay?"
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"Okay..."
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I walk out the door. Ciaran was patiently waiting outside the door for me.
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"Are we ready to leave?" he asked.
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I nod. "...Yes, let's go."
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We start to walk to our destination. I just kept looking at the floor and thinking about Ecluna's behavior during our conversation.
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"You are looking somber.."
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"I'm worried about Ecluna, but she won't tell me what's wrong.. it's not any of your business, so why do you care?"
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"I just wanted to start conversation is all."
He takes yet another sip of tea.
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"I'm...gonna visit Jake now. It wouldn't be smart to follow me."
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"I shall return to your room, then." He says, fading away into a puddle of black smoke.
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I go downstairs to the infirmary and calmly knock on the door. When it slides open, Ms. Ikura greets me with a sweet smile.
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"Hello, Iris! Come to check on Mr. Kaliber?"
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I nod. "Mhm. Is he awake now?"
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"I'm afraid the pain has kept him up all night, so yes.." she opens the door more to let me in.
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Jake was messy-haired and barely awake, only conscious from the pain Ms. Ikura just mentioned.
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"Hey Iris..." he croaked.
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"Hi Jake! How are you feeling?"
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"Awful, but I can deal."
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"You should really get some sleep. You have bags under your eyes.." I joke.
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"Very funny." He chortles back. "I'll go to sleep when the pain eases down a bit."
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Ms. Ikura comes in with some yogurt, a cup of coffee and some medicinal herbs, all on a tray.
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"There you are Mr. Kaliber. I brought you something to ease discomfort before you take the medicine. You don't hate blueberry yogurt, do you?"
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"Not at all." he says grabbing the cup and a spoon.
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"I also noticed how much you like your morning coffee. Only drink it after your medicine."
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"Alright.." he says before eating another spoonful of yogurt.
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"I'm gonna go ahead. I have my own check-up to get to. I'll come back later."
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"See you later, Iris."
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I pat his head and walk out.
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As soon as I exit the infirmary, I bumped Aluise, eager to get somewhere.
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"...Iris...it's been a while..." Aluise greets.
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I don't think I've ever heard Aluise with such a calm tone of voice before.
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"Hi, Aluise. Are you going to see Jake too?"
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"N-No...there's a bathroom just past the infirmary. That's why I was in a rush.."
She responded. "Besides, you know how much I hate Jake.."
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"Oh, I'm sorry for getting in your way then.." I step aside.
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"Thanks." she runs up the hall and turns the corner.
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I continue my journey to Arelin's room. It was two flights of stairs all the way up to the top floor.
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Once I get there, I knock on the door, only to notice...the door was unlocked.
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I push the door open. It was pitch black inside, aside from the the curtain's small crack showing the morning sun.
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A draft as soon as I came in...the window was open..
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"A-Arelin? Are you here?"
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I attempt to turn on the lights, but the glass shards immediately told me something had already happened..
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I run to the window. Light traces of blood on the windowsill, windows completely shattered.
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What happened? I thought to myself.
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"A-Arelin? If you can hear me-"
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Suddenly, the door widens, I hear an almost silent squeak as the light from the hallway brightened up the the room. Slowly, I turn around.
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"...Iris. I didn't expect you to be here.."
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Arelin was only slightly injured, with his sister, back in her turned form.
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"Are you okay?"
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"Alena turned...for some reason. She was just almost completely recovered..." he leaves her on the bed. "Weeks of progress has reset back to zero..."
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"Don't worry!" I assure. "We'll just have to wait it out, like before.."
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"Getting a word out of her took months on it's own. I don't know how far back she's gone from recovery.."
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Arelin flips through his notebook. "It's like...no matter how hard I try..."
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I rip the book from his hands.
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"Arelin, I know you want to save me and your sister but...you need to take a break, maybe take a walk and...keep your mind off of work."
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I calmly place the notebook on the desk beside me.
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"It hurts me to see you...so disheveled and disoriented..."
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"I feel like I'm the one who has to find a cure and save you. If you turn... there'd be no one to stop you.."
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"Listen. The stress is already bad enough. Staring at notes all day isn't going to ease it." I slowly grab his hand. "Just a small walk. I'm sure it'll help clear those thoughts."
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"...Is it warm outside?"
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"I haven't been out yet. I was planning on it after your check.."
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"Well, it's obvious you're still your determined, assertive self. We can go ahead now."
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"Great!"
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I run out the door, practically dragging Arelin along with me, all the way down the stairs, and outside.
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It was a calming day. The grass only barely waved in the wind, and the sky was a brilliant blue.
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"Iris...I forgot my coat..."
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"It's so warm though, you don't need a coat.."
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"I just feel...bare without it."
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"I think the coat was holding you back. Besides, it feels wonderful out here."
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I run to ledge the Academy loomed over and sit, listening to the whimsical music of the Ringmaster's Circus.
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"I'm sorry for bringing you out if you didn't want be.."
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"It's fine...I needed a break after the morning I've had.."
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"...You can check on Alena and come back, I'll stay right here."
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"Okay. I'll be right back."
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Arelin walks back inside. I stare at the grassy meadow around the cliff. The late morning sun only brightened its color.
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"Did you plan to just leave me in that uncomfortably hot room, Araginee?"
Ciaran rhetorically asks.
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"You didn't have to stay in there. If you know where I am at all times, why not come as soon as I left the infirmary?"
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"...That is why I am so fond of you. You are unaware of the world opposite to your own.."
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"I'm...intentionally being unaware...so you or your mother don't pull me in."
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"...Do you want to learn?"
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"What's the catch?"
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"Hmm?"
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"You're obviously going to make a deal that'll mess with everything, so what's the catch?"
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"...There is no catch, Araginee..."
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I hear walking behind us. "I knew you would come here Ciaran..."
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"...Hi Iris.." Alena whispered, cradled in Arelin's arms.
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"Hi Alena. You're okay right?"
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She nods silently, curling herself like a ball in Arelin's arms.
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"She's still upset about attacking me earlier."
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"I'll be okay for now Arelin.." she slips from his hands and curls up on the luscious grass.
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"Alright.." Arelin says. "Iris. I'm sorry for asking on such short notice but...would you like to spar?"
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That foggy memory of Jake when I punched him some days back flashed in my head as he said that.
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"I don't want to hurt you like I did with Jake. I'll just put another one of you guys in the infirmary.."
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"I want to prevent something like this from happening again. This is just a test of mine."
He stands back to face me.
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"B-but..."
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"I'll be more careful than Jake."
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"If you will not fight him..." Ciaran states, throwing his flowing cape behind him. "Then allow me to."
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I shake my head. "...I'll spar with him. Like he said, it's just a test."
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My hands quiver...
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"Iris. Don't be afraid. I'll be able to dodge them.."
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I breathe shakily, telling myself to hold back. I pull the green essence from the grass and gather it as an orb in front of me.
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"Good. That ability seems to be normal."
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The sphere begins to zap and electrify all over.
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"Don't be afraid. It's all part of the plan."
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I feel hesitant to finish the attack. Then, a cool breeze brushes against my shoulders, almost massaging the tension from my body.
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"Don't worry Iris...I think Lin has good intentions.."
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I look behind me. "E-Espero?"
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"Don't mind me, I'm just moral support..."
He nods towards Arelin. "Now, take the shot. I don't think I've seen this part of your powers before.."
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I hold my arm up, the orb ready to fire at my command. Arelin stood stagnant, waiting for me. Finally, with a flick of my wrists, they fly off towards him. I close my eyes, cringing at the thought.
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Four loud thuds echo throughout the air.
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"...I'm lucky I had that barrier. One of those on it's own would've put me in a critical condition."
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Arelin was okay, only able to stay safe with the barrier he put up beforehand.
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"D-don't scare me like that!" I yell from the other side of the cliff.
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"I'm sorry. I wanted you to use that ability exactly to determine how strong it was."
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He pulls out his notebook and walks towards me. "What do you call it again?"
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"... I've never thought about it. I was never good with names.."
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Espero's spirit faded in. "Well, if the color becomes from her draining it from something..."
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Arelin was taken aback by his sudden entrance.
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"Espero?" He waves his hand around throughout Espero's face, which phases through him like air.
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"...Yeah. It's me. Ecluna decided to do necromancy and brought me back...I was having such a fun time in the spiritual world too.."
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He shakes his head. "Anyways, I'm thinking we should call it Hue Assimilate."
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"I like that one.." I whispered.
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"Good." I feel his freezing cold air run against my hair. "...Welp, I'm gonna go. See you guys later."
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He looks at Ciaran. "And you... don't do anything stupid, alright?"
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Espero, once again, disappears with the wind, leaving me to look at Arelin face to face.
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"...Can we find some safer ways to check my power level?"
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"If I can find a way, then yes.."
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"Jeez, is there anywhere you two won't be together?" Aluise yells from the entrance of the Academy.
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"Nice to see you again too, Aluise..." Arelin greets back. "Did you need anything?"
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"Nothing really, I just noticed you four were out here and I wanted to get some fresh air too.."
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"Well, no one's stopping you. Go ahead, we were just finishing a spar session. Did you want to-"
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"No. I'm only fighting with Jake so I can show him...how much of an idiot he is.."
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"Speaking of which, how is Jake?" Ciaran asks jokingly.
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"I actually went to check after I went to the bathroom, he was awake when I last checked..."
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She saw the expressions on our faces and quickly changed her own.
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"That idiot is too hurt to be by himself! I was just being nice for a change!"
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"I doubt that's the real reason, but I'll take your word for it.." Arelin chuckled.
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"Besides.." Aluise calms her tone. "He's done a lot for me, even if he's annoying and pesters me the most.."
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She sighs heavily. "...I'm going back inside. I'll see you later.."
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"Bye Aluise!"
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I sigh myself.
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"You know, you should sign up for the competition tomorrow, just to show everyone how strong you are."
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"What if I-"
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"You won't. I know you won't let yourself turn." He places a warm hand on my face. "You're worrying too much.."
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The school clock hums it's usual song, reminding us that it was now noon.
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"Well, this was nice..." I said. "Should we go back inside?"
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"Yes, we should." Arelin responds, slipping his notebook back into his pocket.
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"Indeed. This sun is killing me.." Ciaran says, pulling his hood above his head, his face obscured by shadow. We trudge back indoors as the windows gleam with the sun's brightness.
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"Hey Arelin, I'll talk to you later, okay?"
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"Alright. I'll be my room if you need me." He grabs ahold of Alena's hand and walks up the hall while I go the opposite way with Ciaran.
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"Ciaran, can you do me a favor?"
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"Of course, my love.."
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"Do you mind checking on Ecluna for me?"
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"What for?"
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"Does there have to be a reason? It's none of your business anyways..."
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"...Fine, I shall return by your side once I have."
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"Okay.."
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"Oh? No mean quip or remark this time? Are you finally starting to get used to me being around you?"
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"Just do it.."
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He smirks, and disappears once more. I head back to my room and land face first into the bed as soon as I take my shoes off.
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***
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I was curled up in bed...I had another one of those pain shocks in my sleep, I can still feel some of the lingering pain from it tearing along my stomach. I turn, slowly to my back, but halfway into sliding into my new position, I feel a bump. I look behind me.
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Ciaran was snug beneath me, wrapped in a separate blanket. I sighed with an annoyed tone and returned back into my original position and staring at the late evening sky, which was a bright orange.
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It was almost time for the festival. Faintly, in the distance, I could hear the songs and chants of the Wildlife District.
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That's right...Ecluna...I thought to myself. I got up from bed and ran to Ecluna's room.
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There was no cheery response from Ecluna, just a concerned look when she opened the door.
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"I-Iris! Thank God, it's just you. The festival's about to start.."
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"Yeah, I know. I'm really sorry for oversleeping..."
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"It's alright, let's just hurry before...it happens again."
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She barely picks anything up and dashes to the door in urgency. I try to keep up with her as she fills the halls with her speedy footsteps.
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"We have to make it to the observatory, it's the only way I'll be safe."
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"Aren't there windows beside every exit?" I ask, almost out of breath.
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"I just have to look at the lunar eclipse for something to happen. If I keep my eyes forward, nothing can happen. I promise.."
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"Well, at least cover up your face or someth-"
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Just in the middle of my sentence, something crashed through the window, shattering it completely.
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I look around to find what the something was, and to my surprise...it was a person, dressed in festival clothing people were wearing that day..
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I shake them vigorously, trying desperately to see what happened.
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Then I realized...Ecluna was prone to looking at the eclipse, now full and blood red in the sky like an eyeball staring down at us from the abyss-like sky.
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"Ecluna?!" I stop shaking the unconscious body and call out Ecluna's name. I frantically wait for a response.
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"I...changed my mind..." I heard from the floor. Ecluna was down on her knees, face looking, straight as an arrow, at the floor.
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"What are you talking about?" I reach to pick her up, but her twinkling aura was no longer the tame breeze I had remembered. It was like walking into a tornado, I could feel the air play with my hair.
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"I don't want to go to the observatory.."
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"If you don't go you'll-"
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"Don't you understand?" She looks at me, chuckling to herself. I return the stare in fear as I realized. This wasn't Ecluna anymore...
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"Why did my mom ever let me stay hidden from the eclipse? This power...it's amazing.."
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I feel the Darken energy from my own body call itself into form, the veil of darkness that covered my face and the spikes that poked out of my clothes like spears all around my body.
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"Ecluna...get ahold of yourself!" the flames of my magic burned brilliantly around my fists.
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"Oh, come on Iris, there's no need for violence.." I see the ends of her golden-white hair turn as red as the eclipse forming outside.
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"You can join me, and we can be strong together, just like before, but better!"
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I feel her pull me up from the floor.
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"Ecluna, this isn't you! I-"
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"Of course it is! You just haven't seen me like this yet!"
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I grab ahold of her face.
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"Ecluna listen! Whatever's taking control of you, you need to let it go!"
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She lowers me to the floor.
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"Do you really believe that I'm being possessed by something?"
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Her voice becomes lower in pitch as her aura grows stronger.
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"Do you think that old me is the normal version of myself? Well, do you?"
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I couldn't answer, it was all so confusing to me..
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"I mean, I haven't even shown you the best part about my true self yet. The Eclipsian Kingdom will rise again, with me as it's ruler, and everyone as my people."
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I feel Espero's presence behind me. "I came as soon as I could. Ecluna's gone insane, as expected. Called Arelin as soon as I felt the spike in energy.." he whispered into my ear.
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"Espero, what a pleasant surprise! Can't stay a day without keeping Iris safe, huh?"
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"I feel like she needed help is all..."
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"Well, it doesn't look like anyone's coming..."
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Ecluna's now red ecliptic magic flared brightly as she pointed it at the both of us.
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"Such a shame really. I really thought you could be of some use," she shrugged. "Guess there's nothing left to do but to end you right here and now."
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Ecluna throws the magic in my direction. With my Light magic, I make a barrier to block her attack.
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"You can't keep dodging and blocking forever, Iris. Your magic has a limit, you know.."
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She continues to throw, and I continue to block and dodge as best I could, but eventually my magic breaks, and my shield shatters like glass into the air.
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"What's the matter?" She asks, tauntingly. "Can't keep playing on the defensive side?"
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She charges up another, stronger attack. There was nothing I could do but wait for my death to hit me.
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That's when I hear pacing footsteps in my direction. I look towards the noises, but I was barely able to react when the shadow pushes me out of the way.
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...Ecluna's attack fired. Because of the person who saved me, I was able to move out of the way, but when I looked up afterwards...
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Arelin's shield was at the brink of scattering into a million pieces. He calls it back, visibly tired.
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"Gasp! Arelin Orteino, saving his polar opposite from danger?"
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"I don't know what happened to you..but this needs to end. Right now.."
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"But why? I'm super powerful, and you..." Ecluna looks a little harder at Arelin.
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"I can feel it. You have Eclipsian blood!" She claps excitedly.
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"W-what?" He responds, confused.
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"Don't worry, Arelin! I just have to do something really quickly. You don't mind, right?"
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She pulls Arelin up to her in a ball of energy. "No wonder you wear things covering your neck."
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With my webs, I stop her.
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"Ecluna, stop it!" My Darken form starts to show more as I let my emotions escape through my voice. "Let him go!"
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"Iris, you've got to leave...before you get hurt too..."
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I wrap more webs around Ecluna's hands.
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"You're making this even harder on yourself."
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Ecluna pulls me off the floor with the webs I binded around her fingers, throwing me across the room and making me hit a wall behind me.
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"Now, if you would excuse me.."
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She pulls the neck of Arelin's sweater and places her hands around it, the space between it burning a brilliant red.
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I see the energy draining from Arelin's eyes. Ecluna promptly drops him and waits.
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Arelin's transformation was similar to Ecluna's. The ends of his hair turn the same, blood moon red. As he begins to stand up, he stares menacingly into my being while I stare back in horror.
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He starts walking towards me...
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