Meeting Merida was… interesting. At least I know more about what's going on.

Nova touched down, dropping me off. The flight to Celestia’s summoning building, Stella Praetorium, was evidently shorter than to Merida’s. Standing guard at the front door were two angels, each hovering slightly off the floor. Nova crossed her arms across her chest, the angels doing the same and dragging apart the silver spears blocking the door.

As we walked inside, multicoloured crystals twinkled on the floor below, stars glittering through the ceiling above. More angels hovered in the air around a central structure, their armour silver to match the spears. Rubies lodged in their boots glistened like those in their breastplates, golden hair glittering with no helmet to stop it. A spiked halo sat tilted above each of their heads, a golden orb glowing in the middle.

“This is the Stella Praetorium, where goddess Celestia is formally summoned! It’s normally more crowded than this, but the goddess wanted to meet you one-on-one.”

“Are you going to leave me?”

“I’ll be just outside for when you’re done! Good luck!”

“Wait, now- “

Both Nova and every other angel picked themselves up and flew outside. When the doors slammed closed, a pedestal raised in front of me. My bare feet tapped on the solid glass as I approached the pedestal. A calling crystal sat upon it, emitting a deep purple. Taking it, the pedestal lowered, disjointed stairs emerging from the cylindrical wall that led upwards, through the glass ceiling, and to a focus point where light from some celestial body trickled through. Arriving at the top, I held the crystal in the air and whispered:

“Celestia.”

The crystal shattered, again weaving moonlight into the form of a blonde-haired girl, this time appearing with beige skin and galaxy eyes. She levitated above where the stairs stopped, above a platform, though disconnected, floating. Now that she has actual skin, Celestia looks pretty young, younger than me. Assuming she’s the snake from Merida’s story, however, she must be quite old.

“Hello? You ok, child?”

Crap. I zoned out again. Better reply.

“Hello? You there?”

“Y-yes, my lord! I mean- my lady…”

Very smooth, Caitlin.

Celestia let out a quiet chuckle, a hand of purple nails covering her lips.

“Why the formalities? Just call me Celestia, child.”

“O-okay, Celestia.”

“Very good. Has Nova taught you about being my Acolyte?”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“Are you ready for your promotion?”

“Wait, like, now?”

“Yes, now. There’s an Acolyte meeting next week and I want you to be there.”

“A-acolyte meeting?”

“Oh, forget it. Just ask Nova when we’re done.”

Pointing towards a crystal lodged in the wall, it popped out of place and floated towards me.

“Take it.”

Clasping the warm, pinkish-blue crystal in my hands, it hummed and shook. Grey swept over it, all colour flowing out. The wind picked up, swirling around the Sanctorium. A strange warmth began, collecting in my body and lifting me off the ground. White angel wings sprouted from my shoulder blades, extending 10 meters each side. A spiked halo diagonally secured itself 5 centimetres above my head, much like the ones of guards. Golden hair rolled off my shoulders, waist, legs and feet, flowing like ribbons in the wind. Stars shone in my eyes as I flew like I had been all my life.

“A new Acolyte has arisen, Auva the Starborn!”

Celestia’s voice echoed in my mind, as if she were announcing something to the world.

“Leave now, child. Ask Nova all you need for the Acolyte meeting tomorrow.”

Spreading my wings, I jumped down the centre, coming to a gliding stop near the bottom. A gust of wind pushed open the doors, and I was outside. Flying high above the ground, the buildings glittered like galaxies, angels gracefully flying between each one. A gust of wind emerged behind me, followed by the sound of flapping.

“Auva, eh?”

Turning around, an image flashed for a second of Nova in the mirror. Her hair was cut even shorter than before, and once black nails painted white. Instead of the billowing dress she wore now, her outfit was composed of a gold-lined toga-like robe. In that same moment, the vision faded away.

“Cat got your tongue?”

In front of me was Nova, politely smiling, hiding something behind her back.

“What’s that behind your back?”

“Oh, nothing…”

“Ok.”

“I need to drop something off at my place, so…”

“Can I come with you?”

“No! I mean, no, your radiance. This is a private matter.”

Your radiance. I guess my promotion has caused a power shift. Eh, I kinda like that.

“Ok then. I shall wait in front of the Stella Praetorium.”

“Thank you, your radiance.”

She flew away, leaving only a gust of wind in her wake.

-

Fluttering down to the glittery gates of the Stella Praetorium, the guards bowed to me. “Your radiance.” They said, before standing up and assuming a serious stance. When my eyes glanced over to them, I saw two different men in two different pictures. One was rocking a baby, the other visiting a grave. Then they changed. Both were now in the same picture, burnt to a crisp. Worriedly swivelling my head around to the others, they all seemed to suffer the same fate.

“Hello, angel friends!”

A cloaked person walked up to the doors, face hidden in shadows. The guards pointed their spears at the figure, moving in front of me. It drew a hand out from under its cloak. Then time slowed down. I remembered the visions and how they changed. If I don’t do something, many people would die.

Dashing in front of the guards, a flick of my hand expanded the halo and placed it in front of us, now big enough to guard a blast. Before I could stop and wonder how I did that, a jet of fire erupted from the stranger’s hand, billowing flames brushing off its cloak. They battered the halo shield, sheer force nearly knocking me off my feet. After a long 5 seconds, the attacker relented, pulling back her hand. She had long, red hair that lay in curls on a black sports jumpsuit.

“Ooh, an Acolyte. Finally, a challenge. But she’s new, so maybe…”

That was fire. She tried to harm people. Which side did Merida say fire was on? We’re on the Flucti side, and fire was on Farci. I think she’s an enemy.

“Maybe she’s weaker. What a pity, I really wanted a fair- “

I rammed into her stomach at full speed, pushing her off the levitating glass floor outside the Stella Praetorium. We landed with a crash 50 meters below, on the crystalline ground of the non-flyer walkways. Down there were humans, fish-people and many more, who ran from the scene. The walkway had a cracking crater where we landed, threatening to drop us into the void below. I stood on my opponent’s chest, my bare foot pressing down on her stomach. She grabbed my left leg, an unnatural heat emerging. I quickly tore myself from her grasp, floating above the walkway.

“It’s gonna take more than that to kill me, bird. Auva, right? I’m Caloria, Acolyte of fire. I admire your skill of premonition, it would be very useful for the Farci.”

“What?”

“Ah! She speaks!”

Now I really want to kill this lady. It seems how to use my magic is ingrained, which explains the halo shield I did earlier.

Drawing my halo to my pointer finger, I fired off shots towards Caloria. She dodged all three, gathering fire in her palms. Like a wave, the fire swept through the air, barely giving me time to duck before it flew over my head.

Expanding the halo like before, I fired off a large shot, possibly large enough to swallow a person. Caloria jumped out of the way, barely dodging it, as the deep blue orb annihilated the footbridge. She fell off the side, desperately grabbing onto the edge.

“Ok, no more going easy, you’re dead.”

She pulled herself up, flying high into the air. Red hair caught alight, becoming a blazing flame. In one hand she levitated a fireball, slowly flickering as she floated in the air just 10 meters away from me. The fireball became a lion, running through the air towards me. Its fiery body rippled in the updraft from below, unfazed as it got stronger. I shot the beast with an orb from my halo, whizzing through it, yet not hitting anything inside.

I should move.

Lifting off with a flap of my wings, I propelled myself higher. Looking down at the beast, it had chased me, running vertically through the air. Though it was fast, I was faster. Nimbly maneuvering through the air, I evaded both the lion and more fireballs from Caloria. Soon the lion slowed. It came to a stop, fizzling out completely. Turning to Caloria to fire a shot, a fiery hawk slammed into my face, a burning pain like none other overtaking me. Losing control of my wings, I crashed into the footbridge. Caloria threw more fire, harshly licking my arms, legs and face before it stopped. Opening my eyes, I saw a large man with a greenish-black coat. He stood over me, shielding me from Caloria’s attacks.

“I am Chirus, ordered by Lord Putredine to fight the intruder. Miss Auva, get behind me.”

He absorbed a blast of fire into his back, embers disappearing as they made contact. From his coat came a pair of ridiculously large, old, suture scissors, which he broke apart into two blades.

“You are like a tumor that must be removed.”

“Getting feisty, eh, doc?”

Caloria threw a fireball at Chirus, transforming into a panther in the air.

“Stand back, miss Auva.”

I jumped back, propelled by the force of my wings, watching Chirus as he prepared a counterattack. Forcing his scissor blades into the footbridge, it blackened around him, causing a radial blast that blew away the panther. Scowling, Caloria unleashed a powerful inferno. Though not hurting him, it pushed Chirus further down the bridge, who barely held onto the scissors lodged in the floor. Dark green eyes flashed within his plague mask, and the fire turned green. Standing up, he drew his blades from the footbridge and pounced at Caloria. With a swift X slash, Caloria’s body separated into 4, falling off the footbridge into the void below.

“That was amazi-mmph!”

Chirus shoved a gloved hand in front of my mouth, silencing me.

“It is not over, miss Auva.”

A rumble came from below, followed by a faint glow. That faint glow grew brighter and brighter until…

“Miss Auva, we have to go. Now.”

Chirus jumped off and onto a nearby building, landing gracefully at the top. I followed with a swift wing beat, landing next to him.

“W-what’s happening?”

“When an acolyte dies… the piece of their master’s soul placed within them escapes.”

“S-so…”

“The wolf has awoken.”

A white wolf ran from the bottomless pit below, fire blazing from its eyes and mouth. It looked to be a shocking 50 meters long from head to tail, demolishing the footbridge on its way up and perching on the building to our left. It inhaled, a white glow in its mouth, then spit fire. The fire flew like a bird down towards a group of residential buildings, before it was stopped. An orb of water stood between the wolf and the buildings, within it a man. In his right hand was a gleaming trident, in his left a squealing, wriggling girl. They both appeared to be submerged in water, their gills opening and closing. Upon closer inspection, the man was Atlantis. He held the girl towards the wolf; her pink dress billowing in the waves. A blue light leaked from her mouth and eyes, flowing towards it. The wolf fell from where it levitated in the sky, before being slashed in two by a figure who dashed at an incredible speed, cutting it in half. Its body burned away before it hit the ground. Coming to rest on a building near us was a boy, a little older than me, with wings like a butterfly and eyes like a falcon. He abruptly turned to us, a gust of wind propelling him in our direction. Stopping mere inches from my face, his yellow eyes gazed into mine.

“Ey! Auva, right?”

“Y-yes?”

It seems everyone knows about me now. Eh, doesn’t really matter.

“You seen Ianis? Y’know, about my height, white skin, grey eyes, black hair, edgelord?”

“No?”

“Pity. He’s been busy, y’know? Been hoping to see him today, but guess Edgy Lady didn’t let him come.”

“Don’t call goddess Tenebrin ‘Edgy Lady’.”

I forgot Chirus was still there.

“What did I miss?”

Atlantis floated down, popping the water bubble encircling him. Dropping the girl, she scrambled to her feet.

“Don’t pick me up like that! You’ll rip my dress!”

She was around my height, drenched brown hair matting her head. Her blue skin was a shade darker than the rest, contrasting with her pink love-heart dress.

“This is my daughter, Pacific. Say hi, P.”

Like she was flicking a switch, Pacific straightened up, put on a smile, and politely waved.

“Miss Auva must be exhausted. It’s her first Acolyte meeting tomorrow. She should get some rest.”

Chirus looked at me and held out a hand.

“T-thank you.”

I took it, climbing onto his back. Everyone waved goodbye as he jumped high into the air, bouncing off nearby rooftops.