Ihimya

2 Years Ago

It was dark when Auriella entered the classroom. The lights had been turned off, and the natural light that would usually seep into the room from the windows was shrouded by thick and gray clouds. The sound of distant thunder rumbled throughout the space.

Out of the three desks in the classroom, Auriella approached the one closest to the window. She set her books down, all on Ihimyan history and government, with the thickest book, The History of Existence, sitting at the top. She waited for about half an hour for class to start, but when the clock struck eight, no one entered the classroom.

The Highnesses are probably ditching again, Auriella thought to herself as she rose from her seat and made her way to the tutor’s desk. It was messy yet again, even though Auriella just told her tutor to clean their mess up before they left. But it was the same as yesterday with open books, stacks of documents, and a few single papers scattered across the surface.

There was no reason to have this much work, Auriella thought, especially since there were only three students: her and the Ihimyan princes. She sighed, deciding that since the princes had bailed and her tutor hadn’t arrived yet, she should probably help them out and clean up the mess. And so, Auriella did, and by the time there was only one thing left on her tutor’s desk, another half hour passed.

Auriella caressed the leather-bound book on the table, the title stitched in velvet thread. Journal, it read. Auriella instantly took her hand away from the book, realizing it was probably her tutor’s private journal. She knew she shouldn’t be touching something as private as that, yet, she couldn’t help but be curious.

There’s no one here, Auriella thought as she gave into her intrigue and grabbed the book. It wasn’t like her tutor would come in at any second and catch her red-handed with their journal in her hand. That would be too unfortunate, and Auriella always believed she had good fortune. With this justification, Auriella pulled the clasp of the book and opened its contents.

Much to her dismay, the journal wasn’t her tutor’s at all. The handwriting was different. She was certain. She’d seen her tutor’s penmanship before, and it was rigid and frantic. Her tutor was skilled in a lot of things, but not in script. The writing in the journal, on the other hand, was smooth and cursive. It boasted large letters, imprinted on the page with rich, dark ink, and each letter connected to the next with such little effort. The penmanship was remarkable, and it was feminine.

9-8-1000

I’ve somehow managed to impress the Oracles. All I did was sketch a rose in the sky and bestow it to them in material form, and yet, their eyes lit up with amazement. Jansen said I was special, but I didn’t think I was exceptional enough to be considered a Candidate for the throne. I suppose I should be elated, but I can’t help but feel more worried than I ought to be.

“The Oracles?” Auriella muttered under her breath. She turned a few more pages, until she landed on an entry closer to the end of the journal.

Day 250

There is no more hope for Stalera, at least not in the near future. The only hope and salvation it has left lies under Norman’s protection in Yelerna, Earth district, with the added guardianship of a Zodiac Warrior.

Yes, I sent Kian to Earth. He must know his duty to the Goddess goes beyond anything else he might think, believe, or even feel. I know my duties, and I understand what must be done. Everything is for the throne, for Stalera, and for the fate of the Universe. They must all come before me, even if I don’t–

“What are you doing?”

Auriella shrieked and slammed the journal shut, spinning her head to the figure leaning against the door frame.

“Riner?” Auriella blushed. She glanced at the book and then realized she shouldn’t have done that. “What– why are you here?”

The figure, dressed finely in a black suit and jade tie, raised a brow. “To teach? I am still your tutor, yes? Or have you abandoned me like the other two?”

“Did the princes ditch again?” Auriella asked, even though it was quite obvious what the answer was.

“Yes,” Riner replied, approaching Auriella with their gradebook in hand. They rested a hand on the table, staring down at Auriella with an expectant expression. “But it doesn't matter. You still haven’t answered my question. What are you doing with that?”

Auriella smiled. “I don’t know what you mean.”

Without warning, Riner tapped their gradebook on her head. “Don’t lie. What are you doing with the Goddess’ diary?”

“The Goddess?” Auriella exclaimed, looking down at the journal. “This is Asteria’s?”

Riner nodded.

“Where did you get this?”

“From Norman.”

Auriella rolled her eyes. “Obviously. But where did Norman get it?”

Riner stared at her, their eyes scanning. They were thinking of something, or rather, they were thinking of how to answer her question. They set the gradebook down onto the table and walked towards Auriella’s desk to pick up the textbook titled The History of Existence. Auriella hovered behind Riner’s shoulder as they flipped to the unit about the Zodiac Warriors.

“Has Norman told you anything about how the Goddess sealed her blood away?” Riner asked.

“I know she sealed it in a ruby and hid it on Earth.”

“Has he told you about who hid it?”

Auriella shook her head again but then remembered the entry she just read.

“Actually,” she began, “the journal said the Goddess kept something hidden on Earth– which I’m assuming was the ruby– and she had a Zodiac Warrior protect it. Someone named Kian.”

“The Gemini,” Riner said. “She sent the Gemini Warrior to Earth to hide the ruby and guard its Successors. He’s been there even before Asteria’s death and the fall of the Zodiac Warriors…”

. . .

Present Day

This person…was the Gemini?

Kye… no, Kian now, Auriella reminded herself, was the Gemini Zodiac Warrior, a member of the Goddess’ Zodiac Warrior Circle. Among the twelve Zodiacs, he was third in rank, but was considered to be the Goddess’ most trusted spy and protector. Before the Goddess’ death, he was entrusted with the responsibility of hiding the Goddess’ ruby on Earth and protecting the ruby’s Successor. Due to Norman’s protection spell against non-Yelernans, his powers and status as a deity from Stalera were concealed. In addition, his memories from Stalera and of the Goddess were locked, in the same way the Goddess’ blood was inside the ruby. However, instead of being sealed into an object, the Gemini was sealed away inside a whole different person and adapted to life on Earth.

It was only when the Goddess’ powers were activated that the Gemini awakened and obtained all of his previous memories of Stalera. His powers would be activated upon command of the Goddess’ Successor.

And that smoke-man-entity-thing, the one who was currently tearing apart the demon bit by bit, was the boy’s power. He and the Scorpio were considered the most dangerous of the Warriors, and Auriella now understood why.

Both a demon and a deity, the Zodiac sign of the Twins.

“You’re… the Gemini.” Auriella pointed.

“That’s what I said.” The boy pinched his brows and frowned. “You look disappointed. Don’t tell me you expected another Zodiac because that would make me very sad. And hurt. And maybe even a little offended if you expected the Scorpio–”

“I’m a bit more shocked than disappointed,” Auriella replied. She widened her eyes as she mumbled, “Wait, that means my powers…”

Kian darted his head towards the entity. “Castor, that’s enough. Get away from the poor thing.”

The entity stopped laughing, slowly turning its head from the mess it was making. “Don’t be a killjoy, Master. It’s been centuries since we’ve been released. It wouldn't hurt for me to have a bit of fun–” Kian held his hand out, and a long silver chain materialized into his hand. Auriella followed the length of it to find it attached to a shackle around the entity’s neck. Kian gave it a tug, and instantly, the shackle reeled itself towards him until the entity stood directly beside him.

From this proximity, Auriella could gauge the entity entirely. It was terrifying with only green eyes and silver fangs that sparkled whenever it would smile or frown. It was incredibly tall, too, and towered over her and Kian by a few feet. It smiled when she made eye contact with it, and she shivered.

“Well, isn’t she a darling?” The entity smiled, leaning into Auriella. “She’s as pretty as the other one. What was her name? Asteria, was it?”

“Quiet,” Kian commanded, and the entity grumbled. When his gaze fell to Auriella, it changed from annoyance to charm, and he took Auriella’s hand. “This is Castor, my soul,” he said smoothly, “though he really is more of an annoyance than anything else. You must be a bit confused about all of this, and maybe even frightened because of that demon. But you need not worry, Miss, Castor and I shall protect you.”

Auriella slipped her hand away from the boy. “I know who you are,” she stated, proceeding to tell him all that Norman taught her of the Gemini Warrior. He was the Zodiac sign of the Twins, and thus possessed two abilities: the manipulation of his soul to exit out of his body to fight and invisibility, which extended to both himself and others in close proximity. When she finished, she eyed the entity, Castor. “I don’t know what you are, but I know that you're dangerous.”

Castor glanced at Kian. “This one’s educated, Master.”

“You seem to know a lot, considering you’ve just awakened Asteria’s powers,” Kian said. His expression shifted. “Do you happen to remember your life as Asteria?”

“No.” Auriella shook her head. “Sorry to disappoint you, but I don’t.”

Kian chuckled. “I thought so. But how come you know so much? Someone couldn’t have taught you.”

Auriella winced, as if his words were needles and she’d just walk all over them.

Someone did teach her. And that someone–

No, Auriella told herself. Don’t think about them.

“Wait.” Kian’s brow twitched, and his nose flared. His eyes scanned their surroundings, resting on the sight of the demon’s body– or rather, what remained of it– as it sizzled and disappeared into black smoke. It smelled awful, but Auriella had a feeling that the demon’s smell wasn’t the scent that bothered the boy.

Kian’s face darkened. “It smells like Talonis.”

Auriella heard Castor sniff. “And apple blossoms, Master.”

Kian’s nostrils flared, and his eyes widened as he smelled it, too. “You’re right.”

Auriella sniffed, but she could only smell the musty scent of the demon.

“We have to go,” Kian began. “It’s not safe for us to be out here.”

“Why?” Auriella began. “Do you sense another demon?”

“I don’t know.” Kian shook his head. “But whatever is still out there probably sent the demon to attack us. Castor–” he held his hand out– “return.”

The entity grumbled a complaint but obeyed, transforming fully to smoke that entered into Kian’s hand.

“We should probably go somewhere safe.” Kian nodded.

Auriella scoffed. “I doubt anywhere is safe for us now. You reek of mana. That’s probably how the demon found us anyway.”

Kian raised a brow. “You can smell mana?” He then shook his head, deciding that the clarification he wanted should be saved for later. “Anyways, I think I know a place we can take refuge in.”

Kian grabbed her hand and casted an umbrella before him, a clear one that glimmered with actual sparkles. He held it above the two of them and smiled. “This will hide us.”

An invisibility spell, Auriella thought.

“Now,” Kian began, tapping his finger against Auriella’s hand. “Let’s go visit a friend of mine.”