Swooping towards her, I swung Ceres in a wide arc. The end of her diamond tip nicked Calypsis as she dived away, sending towards me a close-range blast which I deflected. Calypsis dashed towards me, slamming Occizzor to the ground where I once stood. I, now flying high above her, swiped my arm through the air, dispensing small white orbs that came crashing down on Calypsis. Battered, she rose. Extending a hand to the sky, a red light encased her.

“Be careful, Lady Auva. That’s Occizzor’s ultimate ability, terrain control. Attack while she’s channeling.”

Without hesitation, I dived, spear-first, towards a clump of deep crimson that cast a glow on my pale wings. A wave of energy flew towards me, sending my body spinning to the ground.

What was that?

“It appears Calypsis has improved. That was deflect, Occizzor’s main ability. I’ll ready an absorption, so cast your shield.”

Expanding my halo to shelter my body, a familiar jolt travelled up my arm.

“Be ready.”

For what?

“You’ll see.”

The ground cracked around Calypsis, red energy clawing from below. It creeped up, up, up to the surface, leaving claw marks where it was, before evaporating into the air. Calypsis was levitating, brown horns curling on her head and a gigantic cannon bulging from her torso. It was like she had fused with Occizzor.

What do we do?

“I shall activate my ultimate, stellar collision. It takes time, however. Don’t get hit.”

Picking myself up, I narrowly avoided a massive hand of molten lava rising from the ground. It clawed around for me, but I flew high, high out of its grasp. More arms grew, moulding the sparring grounds into a hellscape. Calypsis sat on a statue version of herself, flicking her fingers to control the arms and firing projectiles from her chest. The atmosphere crackled with heat and excitement. I felt a glow within me, and Ceres vanished.

Ceres?

“Do not fear, Lady Auva, I am still with you. Focus on staying alive.”

The glow grew brighter and brighter, nearly matching Calypsis in luminosity.

“I guess old lady Ceres still has some tricks up her sleeve.” Calypsis said, her voice a scratchy, ragged sound.

She slammed her palms together, and two arms rose on either side of me. They swung together, and I barely dodged. An unfamiliar sensation gathered in my back, like something was growing. Another pair of identical wings sprouted below my existing ones, and my halo grew disproportionately. Pale skin turned to light, glittering on my arms, face, legs, body, and blue eyes turned pink.

“Occizzor.”

A voice spoke. It was not mine, yet it came from my mouth- the voice sounded old, yet melodic, angered yet serene.

Occizzor did not respond, but attempted another attack. It crashed on my wings, a mild sting flowing into my back. Stretching an arm to the sky, stars fell. They collapsed on Calypsis, causing a flash so bright even I had to look away.

-

Calypsis, now herself, lay groaning on the floor in a crater the size of a pool.

“I concede.” she muttered, and the ornate clock perched high above the grandstands creaked. Its hands turned back, one, two, three, four, five minutes, and it restored the battlefield. Calypsis stood, good as new, skipping to shake my hand.

“Congrats.” she said.

“H-how?”

“Did you really think you were gonna kill me? Wow, and I thought you were innocent.”

“N-no, I didn’t think about that.” I stuttered.

“Just messing with you. It’s been a week, correct? Of you being an Acolyte.”

“Yes?”

“Wow. Pretty good for a newbie.”

“Thanks.”

She shook my hand one last time, and I fluttered back to my apartment.

-

November 30, 2040

In front of us was a path leading further into the forest. Sunlight glinted off leaves as they fluttered to the ground, ghosts peeking between them. Their translucent blue bodies were half-hidden in the foliage and low-lying shrubbery, heads peeking out at us to look. A scythe-wielding girl with white clothes and hair stepped forward. She held out her hand, the ghosts diving into the earth. Her name was Occudium, told to me by Chirus, and she was the Acolyte of the dead. All 7 Flucti Acolytes were supposed to gather on this end of the forest, but 4 were running late. Descending from the sky on a puff of wind was Vana, whose name was also told to me by Chirus, and Ianis. Following them was Calypsis. Soon enough Atlantis arrived, and we entered. Skeletal squirrels scurried around the treetops, cracking open nuts to eat, as if they forgot they were dead. Like Occudium, I was barefoot, so we floated a little off the yellow-brick path. Every so often, the trees seemed to stare at us, but stopped before I could get a good look. After what seemed like ages, we came to a clearing. The path cut off and was replaced by grass. On that grass was a circular table, surrounded by fourteen chairs. Filling half was a numerous cast of funny-looking people, ranging in size, age, species, and gender. On closer inspection, someone had marked symbols on the table. Tapping a star symbol with his right index finger, Chirus sat down in front of a worm. As I pulled out a chair, the others, presumably the Farci, gazed at me with curiosity. On one side of the table materialised a woman made of plants.

“Shall we begin?”

She spoke in unison with her counterpart, materialising on the other side. This one was ghostly, a ripped dress blowing in the slight breeze.

“Yes.”

A girl wearing a fern wreath sat upright, looking at the plant woman. On either side of her were two empty seats, one with an insignia of fire, the other of light.

“Say yes, Auva.”

Vana nudged me in the ribs, loudly whispering for me to respond.

“Y-yes.”

The two women made bizarre hand gestures, warping reality. Soon a large rip appeared in the middle of the table. It grew, engulfing us. We were in a room. The table and chairs remained in their positions, like we did. The walls glittered with green virtonite, no doors or windows apparent. A green, translucent woman levitated slightly above the table, a smile spreading across her face.

“Hey kids, long time no see! You’ve gotta make these meetings more than once a year!”

She looked to be in her mid-30s, yet showed no sign of wrinkles or grey hair. A celestial crown rested upon her head, the only white object among her green clothes. A long gown extended long after her feet ended, fluttering in the air. She extended a gloved hand to Atlantis, pointing at him.

“You, Atlantis. Tell me what’s been happening. Where did everyone go?”

Atlantis stood up, took a bow, then raised his head to talk.

“Great Mother, much has happened since we last saw you. Arcturus perished in a battle with Caecus, who also died. Caloria invaded us, the Flucti, so she forced us to kill her.”

“Oh, that’s a pity. How old was Caloria, again?”

“103, Great Mother.”

“Such a pity. She was still young. How old are you, Atlantis?”

“1302, Great Mother. I am the eldest among the other Acolytes.”

“And what of Earth? What have they invented this year?”

“Well, they invented a ‘V-Reader’, Great Mother. The humans use it to gauge V-rating, so they can find the most powerful. It’s really helped the slave trade, knowing who has good Virtonite compatibility and who doesn’t.”

“I see. Lux is running the slave trade, is he not? Is that why he lost his Acolyte?”

“Yes, Great Mother. Celestia sent Arcturus to find new servants, but got struck down by Caecus. Caecus then perished to the spiritual beast that awakened. We found Auva, however. She replaced Arcturus as Acolyte of stars.”

“I see.”

Turning to me, she smiled gently and leaned in closer.

“And how are you doing, dear Auva? You feeling ok with the change and all? Celestia can be short-tempered, but she really means well.”

“I-I’m fine, Great mother, and Celestia has been fine too.”

“That’s great, Auva.”

She plucked a crystal from the wall, now mostly blackened. Now that I thought about it, all the crystals were mostly blackened.

“It seems my time is running out. The room will collapse soon.”

The other Acolytes stood and bowed to her, the women doing a little curtsy. I followed them, doing as Matron taught me.

“Goodbye children. See you next year.”

The tear appeared again, enveloping us as we continued to bow, returning us back to the real world. Both strange women faded away, leaving just the Acolytes. A man with glasses adjusted them, looking at me.

“The Great Mother didn’t talk to me like that when I became an Acolyte.”

He looked slightly disgruntled, shuffling scrolls resting in his arms.

“Because she’s a kid, dumbass. Aren’t you the Acolyte of knowledge? Smarten up.”

Calypsis slammed a fist onto the table, red and black streaked hair waving in the breeze. Narrow black eyes stared manically at him, white face broken by a smile.

“Is that an act of aggression, Calypsis?”

A man in a beige trench coat pointed at Calypsis, a ball of energy forming at the end of his index finger.

“No, that wasn’t, stupid. But what you’re doing now is.”

As if only noticing this now, every Flucti acolyte jumped up, ready for battle. The Farci followed suit, leaving me the only one sitting.

“The rule All-Mother gave was that we couldn’t threaten or harm one another and retaliate if that rule is broken. We are within reason to fight, and you are two Acolytes down.”

Chirus spoke up, a glint emerging from beneath his mask.

“We’re leaving,” Ordered the fern-wreath girl, as she slowly backed away, lowering her arms. Everyone else seemed to settle down, putting away weapons and leaving. I flew after my allies, and we walked out of the forest.