Chapter 02
498 Years Ago
Human Realm
Lyne emerged from the portal into the world of humans, feeling an unusual sensation as her silver and gray robes seamlessly transformed into a sleek black dress that hugged her figure. The dress featured short, wavy white accents on the sleeves that danced lightly as she moved, complemented by sturdy black boots that clicked against the ground. Glancing down at her striking attire, she couldn't help but notice how it contrasted sharply with the vibrant colors of the realm around her. As she swept her fingers through her long raven hair, she was taken aback by how it seemed to be shorter than usual, an oddity that only added to her sense of dislocation. “The human realm is so strange, so different from what I'm used to. There’s no magic in the atmosphere, no trace of the enchanting energies that fill my own world,” she remarked, her voice tinged with a mixture of curiosity and disappointment as she surveyed her surroundings, taking in the bustling streets and the mundane lives of the people around her.
As she wandered through the bustling city streets, she took in the intricate details of the towering buildings and the diverse array of people hurrying past her. “It appears to be the early 1900s in this world, a time filled with both promise and turmoil... I can only imagine that the demon realm is even more dire, a place where darkness reigns supreme and hope is but a distant memory... I think,” she remarked, her voice barely above a whisper, carefully modulating her tone to ensure that the humans around her remained oblivious to her musings.
While walking by a quaint, aged park, she sensed an unusual presence—something out of place in that environment. Curious, she halted and gazed into the park. There, she spotted the two girls, Kira and Lira, engaged in play alone. As she moved nearer, Lyne could perceive a magical aura emanating from them. “They must be Kira and Lira...” she thought.
Kira spotted her first and, feeling a pull of curiosity, glanced at the older woman seated nearby. Her dark blue eyes locked onto Lyne's striking sea-green gaze, creating an unspoken connection between them. Feeling a surge of confidence, Kira decided to rise from her chair, the movement drawing Lira's attention. Lira, who had been distracted moments before, turned her head up to look at the older lady, her expression shifting to one of intrigue as she took in the presence of the woman before them.
Both girls sensed that Lyne was an outsider, someone who didn’t quite fit into the fabric of their community. At the same time, they were acutely aware of how distinct they themselves were from everyone else around them, recognizing the unique qualities and experiences that set them apart in their own right.
As soon as Lyne reached the girls, she crouched down to meet their gaze more comfortably. “Are you both named Kira and Lira?” she inquired with a warm smile, hoping to establish a friendly connection. The girls looked at each other briefly before nodding in unison, their expressions curious but open. “Great! I have a couple of questions for you two that I think will help us get to know each other a little better,” she continued, her tone encouraging and inviting, as she prepared to engage them in a meaningful conversation.
Kira smiled gently, her eyes sparkling with warmth, and replied with a thoughtful nod, “We will certainly work to answer those questions and share the information you seek.”
Lyne nodded in agreement. “To start, how old are you?”
“I’m 12, and Lira is 11,” the blonde girl answered.
“Do you have any family?”
Kira looked at Lira before responding. “No…” The sorrow in her voice made Lyne frown slightly.
“I see… Have you experienced anything unusual?”
Kira was about to respond, but Lira interjected, surprising Kira. “Yes. It’s been that way since we were little.”
“Right, we’ve heard animals speaking and seen the spirits of the deceased,” Kira added, recounting several strange occurrences.
Lyne listened intently, recalling what she had read about them. 'So the book was accurate… They are connected to the last king… but what caused their mother to leave them?' she pondered.
“Oh, and we once spotted a stunning silver fox. Lira discovered it was a yokai,” Kira mentioned.
Lyne's eyes widened. “You both came across a fox yokai?”
The girls nodded enthusiastically. “Yes… He didn’t hurt us,” Lira clarified.
Lyne exhaled softly. “One last question. How would you feel about leaving this place?”
The question surprised the girls. Kira often wished to find a place that felt like home, while Lira longed for peace. After a brief exchange of glances, Kira turned back to Lyne and beamed. “We would be excited to go somewhere better.”
Lyne smiled warmly. “Then let me take you to Elyasia, a place that truly needs you.”
Lyne was the first to step through the portal, followed closely by the two girls. As she crossed the threshold, her clothing transformed back into her familiar silver robes, and her hair regained its full length. Turning around, she noticed Kira's lovely black and white dress morphing into a black kimono, while Lira’s outfit, a mix of gray, black, and light grayish-purple, shifted into a white kimono.
Perplexed, Lyne speculated that their magical abilities might be causing the transformations but chose to ignore it. She conjured a map of the territory and spread it out on the grass in front of her tower. Kneeling beside the girls, she pointed at the map. “This is Elyasia. We are located here,” she indicated the section near her tower. “And these are the northern and southern territories,” she elaborated while gesturing to the corresponding areas.
Lira scrutinized the map and blinked in bewilderment. “If we are meant to govern this land… how do we do that?” she inquired softly.
The mage paused to think for a moment. “One of you will rule the northern area near the borders of the Spirit realm and the Human realm. The other will manage the southern area by the borders of the Demon realm and the Shadow realm.”
Kira chuckled lightly. “I want to take charge of the southern lands.”
“I’ll take control of the northern lands,” Lira responded quietly.
Lyne nodded in agreement. “Very well, but first, I need to educate you about Elyasia before this conflict intensifies,” she said with a sigh as she stood up.
Suddenly, a gigantic black dragon crashed into Lyne's barrier, causing her to flinch slightly. She frowned before addressing the girls.
“Girls, please go inside the tower and hide,” she instructed gently.
They nodded in response, rising to enter the tall tower and shutting the heavy wooden door behind them. Although they sensed something was off, they chose to remain quiet, sitting on the stairs to wait for the mage.
Meanwhile, Lyne approached the edge of her forest, where the barrier met the ground. Stepping through, she gasped softly at the sight of a large black dragon lying on the ground. Moving closer, she exclaimed, “Yue!”
The wounded dragon flinched at the sound of her voice and transformed into a young man with mid-length gray/silver hair and golden eyes. He wore a blue kimono that was now torn at the chest. Sitting up, he looked at her. “Lyne…” he murmured softly.
Kneeling beside him, she sighed. “Did Kue do this again?” she asked gently.
He nodded with a slight frown. Known for his reticence, he typically only spoke to the mage.
Gently, she reached out to heal his wounds. “Kue must stop this behavior… He doesn’t belong here. He’s a southern dragon just like you,” she remarked.
“Perhaps I am, but Yue makes it so simple,” a dark voice interrupted.
Both Lyne and Yue turned to glare at the source of the voice.
“Kue, it's time for you to stop,” Lyne stated, her gaze fixed on him. She had been friends with the twin dragons for years and disapproved of Kue's treatment of his younger brother, Yue.
Kue transitioned into his human form, manifesting as a young man with jet-black hair and crimson eyes, dressed in dark attire. Unlike his twin, he bore a closer resemblance to a black dragon. After transforming, he approached the mage and his brother with a smug expression.
Lyne sighed and stood up. “Kue, don’t make me summon June.”
The dark-haired young man flinched and paused. “Don’t you dare,” he growled.
“Then leave Yue alone and cease the fighting,” she replied. Although she disliked calling upon her fellow mage, she recognized it was the only way to deter Kue. From what she knew, Kue held a slight fear of the southern mage.
Kue glared at her before turning away. “Fine, whatever. Just keep that mage away from me,” he retorted, shifting back into his dragon form and flying off.
Lyne turned back to Yue as he stood up. “Will you be alright?” she asked.
Yue nodded. “Yes… Thank you, Lyne.”
She offered him a faint smile and moved closer. “Anytime,” she replied, kissing his cheek. “Now I must return to teach our new rulers about our lands before this pointless war escalates.”
He blushed slightly and nodded. “Alright. I’ll… come by another time to help,” he said before walking away.
The faint smile remained on her lips as she retraced her steps back into her barrier and returned to the tower.