Night had fallen over the entire island. The town was growing quiet, as the street lamps flickered overhead to light the streets, and windows in houses were lighting up or being turned off so their residents can retire for the night and start a new day.

In the back alley of one of the streets, a small portal had opened up in the dark corners. From the black hole in the portal, a figure emerged. A cloak as blue as the night sky concealed their face and body as they leapt from the space. They scampered over to the corner of one house and looked down the streets in both directions. Left, then right, then left again. They nod silently, and whisper over their shoulder, "The coast is clear. No one's out on the streets." From that, a second body emerges, wearing the same cloak as the first figure. Once they've stood up from the jump, they turned to the portal. Flicking their wrist to the side, the portal grows smaller and smaller until disappearing by itself.

"The entrance is closed off, Sister." The second figure talks to the first person who leapt from the portal. Her voice was light and sweet as she spoke, but with a tone of seriousness laced in at that sentence. She reaches up to the hood and uncovers her head. Bright blonde locks reaching her hips fell like a glossy curtain down her back. A small section of hair was teased, brushed up and back and held down by bobby pins, creating a small bouffant. Her eyes opened; revealing dark blue irises, pupils blown out to adjust to the light. She massages her dainty hands, the skin the color of ivory, and approaches the first figure. "Luna...." the second girl breathed. "Are you sure this was the right decision?"

The first figure turns to face the girl. Taking off their own hood of her cloak to unveil her appearance. Matching skin, but this person had curled silvery hair, the top portion pinned back into a braided bun as the rest fell loosely; her bangs were braided back, swept across her forehead on the right side of her face. She eyes her sister with lilac eyes, which were narrowed in concentration. She spoke in a more mature and serious tone than the other girl, "Soleil, you know as well as I do that these were her mother's orders. We must protect her daughter at all costs!"

"But she isn't a child!" Soleil countered. "She's 17, for Pete's sake! Well, 17 going on 18.....And she's bound to find out her true birthright one way or another!"

"You don't think I know that?!" Luna countered.

"I'll ask again: What if it brings her more harm than good??"

"That's something she will have to decide for herself." Luna frowns sadly. "....Charlotte won't continue to listen to Ophelia. Her trust is starting to fracture, now that Bierce and Malak told her the truth....so we're all that's next to help!"

"....But she may know somethings up!" Sol bit her lip with worry.

"....I know." Luna looks up at one of the street lamps in thought. Speaking aloud, "....We'll only mention that we were sent to guard her on our own whim after what transpired. We'll let Ophelia take some time for herself, and we will train and protect Charlotte in her place. We have promised this when leaving; we're upholding it no matter the cost."

"Good." Sol murmurs, but starts scratching her arms. "I just know how long we can hold these-"

"Wait!" Luna shushes her. Her eyes change to bright blue as she tried to locate Charlie. She stood quiet for a moment, then her head whipped to the side, landing on the castle-shaped building on the plateau by the mountains. "I know where she is!" Luna throws up her hood to hide herself. "Let's hurry!"

Soleil opens her mouth to say something, but after seeing Luna run off without her, she rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Always to the point...this is why you're so stuck up on not changing!" She muttered exasperated, throwing up her cloak's hood and picks up her feet to catch up with Luna.

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the White light sphere murmured, watching from the crystal eye as the two young women ran off towards the high plateau that Night Raven stood upon.

Sensing the silence of loneliness in the space, the sphere grew bright and larger, morphing into a human figure. As it vanishes after a moment, it reveals a woman. With dark hair and amber yellow eyes, she wore but a white robe with gold thread sewn into stars on the butterfly sleeves. Silk slippers shuffled on her feet, as she clasped her hands together, the long sleeves hiding her hands. The Crystal Eye before her had shifted pictures, until the image of Charlotte came into view.

The woman smiled sadly; pushing back the sleeve of her robe, uncovering her arm. Her eyes moved back up to glimpse at Charlie's smiling face, like a picture snapped at the perfect moment, then moved down to absorb the image branded on her skin....

On her inner right arm was a tattoo of a crescent moon, a star and a sun on top, combining all three together as one.

The tears started to flow before she knew it. She tore her eyes away from the symbols to look upon her dear daughter, her own flesh and blood, lost in a world beyond imagination. And she couldn't leave this wretched limbo to help her....."Charlie.....my sweet baby girl.....please don't hate your own mother for lying to protect you...." she chokes on her tears, covering her face with her hands, sobbing quietly into the dark as her heart ached with bitter regret.

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Charlie sighed as she slipped on her clothes, relaxing into the loose material. Her costume started to get itchy and restricting after wearing it for a part of the day, so it felt relieving when she finally took it off. She stares at her reflection in the mirror: after she had cleaned off all the makeup off her face, she looked at the bruises and injuries received in the fight. Although the bruises may hurt for a while, the scratches were beginning to scab over, signaling that they will heal and disappear in time.

Leisurely pacing herself, she stuffs away the money envelope, the business card and the plaque into her bag, noting that with all the more weight added, she'll be staining her shoulders from carrying it around constantly. At least she gave her hair a chance to breathe after having it pulled back for hours. Her scalp felt sore just thinking about it; having all those Bobby pins stuffed into her didn't help in the slightest....

She scans the room to make sure all of her things were gathered, and the dressing room was neat. She knew that other staff members would come in and clean up after her while she was done, but she wanted to make sure just in case.

Then her eyes traveled to the floor length mirror. Her eyes widened. It seems as if the clothes had a mind of their own, once again. She wore a very exotic short dress, albeit from a certain dorm's color scheme and gold gladiator sandals.

She facepalmed herself with a defeated sigh, "I know I should be used this but I think my clothes are trying to play with me here....." however, she lost interest over the banter with herself and the magicked fabric instantly. Her mind wanders back to what Bierce and Malak had forced upon her.....

" 'Everything I was told is a lie'......" she repeated. 'Then if what Ophelia said to me were lies, then WHAT?! What is the actual truth?! What's fiction?! I want answers, but fate's tryna screw me over!!' She fell against the wall with a forced puff of air leaving her lungs. She stares up at the ceiling helplessly. 'This is such bullshit....it's not a bad thing to ask for questions!' Her gazed darts to her open bag, fallen over and the contents inside spilled on the counter. The Grimoire's edge peeks out from the main compartment. Charlie glared at it like it was the most hated thing she ever laid eyes on. 'What if the frickin book's lying to me, too....?'

"Hey, Charlie!" A knock sounds at the door as Epel's voice could be heard, interrupting her self-mad session. "We're ready to go now! We're just waiting on you!" She turned her sight from the door to the mirror, her clothes in the reflection, and sighed.

"Oh well....what can I do about it now?" She chuckled. 'At the guys agreed to help.....' She shoved the Grimoire to the bottom of the bag, grabs her now forced closed bag and the flowers last, pushing open the door with her hip.

"Uh.... what happened to your clothes...?" Epel asked.

"It's better if you don't know. I don't feel like explaining..." she waved it off. Epel just stared at her back in confusion; he decides not to push it, and follows after.

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The last few guests had left the coliseum, chatting about the showcase today happily. The staff and crew got to cleaning the stands and stage as well as powering down the equipment and lights.

Crowley walks down the set of stairs from the stands and grimaced in defeat. "No.....not another loss! I knew for sure we'd win against them this time! Is there something we are lacking in...?"

"Long time, no see, Crowley." an elderly voice spoke. Crowley turns around, and his jaw drops. Standing there was a elderly male around the same height as him, with wrinkles around his complexion, yet made room for soft brown eyes. Gray hair sprouts from his head and beard, upon which a wizard's hat-like headpiece of silver and gold metal and the logo of Royal Sword in the front. The man dons thinly rimmed glasses held by a small chain, blue robes with a white sash running up and over his shoulders, tied in a firm knot in front; gold diamond-shaped buttons and white fabric at the collar, dress pants and shoes.

"Y-You're....Ambrose the 63rd, principal of Royal Sword Academy!" Crowley finally found his voice after being gagged.

Ambrose chuckled, walking up to Crowley with a smile, "It's great, seeing our schools duke it out on the battlefield with fun! It seems victory has come to us once again."

Crowley's face became pissed at that last sentence. "....Yes....it would seem so." he bitterly agreed. He soon plasters a fake smile, continuing, "But it's just one vote! I'd say it'd be more like a draw~!"

"But even so, the duel has ended and victory is ours." Ambrose emphasized the last word to put it through Crowley's head....and he did. Because the next thing, Crowley felt his anger bubbling. The Principal growled between his lips and furiously muttered under his breath,

"But WE shall be the ones to overthrow YOU soon."

"I'm looking forward to the Magift Games in May. Who knows~? Maybe this will be the 100th win! But aside from that Crowley....I must admit something...." Ambrose grew serious. "I'm sensed strong auras of magic energy around this place earlier today."

"I'm sorry, come again?" Crowley shook his head in confusion.

"I mean, it's a far stronger magic than a normal student may be capable of....." Ambrose explains. "Are you sure nothing happened before the VDC?"

"I-I can assure you, as the establishment's Headmaster, I don't put my students in the way of life-threatening measures!" Crowley spluttered. "It may have been several students who got carried away while they were practicing! It couldn't have been THAT serious! Believe me, every student here has.... 'strengths and flaws' of their own. but I can assure you: they've potential within them!" From the corner of his eye, he saw Charlie and the guys leave through one of the archways leading into the halls of the coliseum, chatting and laughing. His heartbeat picked up from fear.

"Well, if you say so. But from this day on, I'm going to keep a keen eye on you students...... Especially Miss Luchessi." It seems Ambrose had followed his line of sight and turns to see the girl leaving. But before she turned her back on them, the RSA Headmaster saw a glimpse of her face. "Because, for some odd reason....ah, never mind. I was going to ask: Crowley, you know the story of the Kingdom of Sparx, no?"

"S-Sparx? .....I don't believe I have...."

"....Sure you do." Ambrose whispered to himself.

"A-Anyways! I thank you again for your suggestion of watching my students! And I can assure you: there no need to watch over miss Luchessi! She can handle herself very well! Please enjoy what the Festival has to offer! Now, pardon me..." Crolwey bowed and walks away.

Ambrose, however, stared at Crowley until he disappeared around the corner. He then looked up where the skies were dark blue, the moon was glistening and the stars burned like new. It gave a serene feeling of sorts.

"You may lie to yourself and the students, Crowley....but you can never run from the eyes that watch your every move...for you see, there's more to Luchessi than meets the eye. And the sooner you accept the truth, the sooner it will spare you...or anyone else from what fate may do...."

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Bierce and Malak walk the dark halls, side by side, not saying a word. The oil lamps casted shadows over their faces, making them appear more mysterious than usual. When they turned the corner, they finally came upon the set of double oak doors in front of them. But this time, two smaller figures in matching black cloaks with their faces concealed under the hoods, nodded and grasped the door handles, opening the doors for them.

They walked inside. Xedok looks up from sharpening one of his knives and pockets it in a holster at his hip and acknowledges his superiors. "Malak, Bierce. You're back."

"Where else would we go, Xedok?" Bierce teased. She and Malak face forward and kneeled before their Master.

"Lord Acheron, we have returned." Malak announces. From the shadows, the sounds of boots were heard. They click against the stone floor until just stopping at the edge where the ceiling light lit up. In the shadows, stood a tall figure. Behind him, a black cloak swished around his body, covering his shoulders and arms as they stood tucked behind his back. He wore thick woolen pants and boots that stopped just at his calves. A skin-tight shirt held snug against his arms, contouring his muscles underneath the fabric. But from there, the hood of his cloak covered the details of his face. Except for a smug closed-tooth smile.

"Malak. Bierce." he smiled. "Two of my greatest magicians....have you procured what I requested?"

"Unfortunately, no." Malak sighed as he stood up. "Apparently, we underestimated Luchessi. She is getting stronger every day. She was able to fight back and weakened us....."

"...Ah. No matter." Acheron smirked, waving it off like nothing. "We'll find more ways to corner her and turn her vulnerability to our advantage." he cracks his knuckles, looking at them as he smiled eerily. "....Luchessi....so that's her name? My, my....things will take wuite the turn, won't they~?"

"We told her the truth." Bierce added. "About the lies she was fed by Ophelia. She has yet to uncover the truth of who she really is. And of course....that the blood spell was but another lie. It won't be long until her trust towards the woman is broken."

".....That damned CRONE!!!" Xedok snapped, as he threw the knife he was just polishing at the stone wall; it sailed through the air, imbedding itself into the stone wall, just inches from another follower's head. "She tricked me!!!"

"Xedok." Acheron's chilling voice made the boy snap back to attention, head down. "Keep that temper in check. Have I not told you this plenty of times before?"

"Apologies, Master Acheron." He spoke quietly, controlled. "My anger got the better of me."

"My Lord, that isn't all we encountered." Malak continued. "Apparently, your brother, Eros, has followed us into The Void, and protected the girl from us."

"Repeat?" Acheron's voice became increasingly low.

"It's the truth." Malak, unfazed by his Lord's change of tone, reports. "He's been in contact with her for who knows how long, and has helped her achieve the final Talisman. With this, the Three are procured. And you know what that may mean-"

"Enough!" Acheron commands, returning back to normal. That one word echoed far off down the halls as he breathed through his mouth. ".....I always knew my brother would try and stop me from beyond the grave. Even in death, he wishes to take me down...."

"My Lord, there are still other opportunities to attack." Bierce offers. "Jamil Viper and Vil Schoenheit were of no use to us. They were worthy pawns, but after their actions, we need to find another pawn; one that will NOT disobey and rebel from our orders! ...Maybe one that's especially close to Charlotte..."

Acherons' eyes lit up in the dark. "Bierce, I knew I made you one of my favorites for a reason."

"But my Lord, which one would be perfect?" Xedok asked. "She has plenty of friends on her side who'll serve as pawns for us!"

"No, none of those pathetic excuses for students...." Acheron waved his hand away. "Those bumbling first years are still meager compared to who has had further history. And those whom had lost their minds to darkness are towards a better life.....we've plenty of opportunity to strike again." he looks towards a corner in the room as a thought struck him.

"...May we offer a few worth candidates then?"

"Go on, then." Acheron crosses his arms as he felt a stinging pain around his neck. He didn't need to look down to see that that infernal collar, the one tying him to his personal hell, is causing him the pain. 'As soon as I get my hands on a blood drop from that girl, my state of liminalism will be null, and I be revived....'

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