Chapter 02
498 Years Ago
Human Realm
As she strolled through the bustling city, Lyne took in the sights and sounds around her, observing the towering buildings and the diverse array of people passing by. "It seems to be the early 1900s in this realm," she mused quietly to herself, her voice barely above a whisper. "If this is what the human realm looks like, then I can only imagine how much worse the demon realm must be... I believe it will be quite a challenge." She spoke in a low tone, careful to ensure that the humans around her couldn't overhear her thoughts.
As she continued her walk, she came across an old, quaint park that seemed to be a hidden gem amidst the urban landscape. The park was small and somewhat neglected, with overgrown grass and a few rusting benches, but it had a certain charm that drew her in. As she stepped closer, she felt an unusual sensation, something that felt out of place in this realm. Curiosity piqued, she paused and peered into the park. To her surprise, she spotted two young girls, Kira and Lyra, playing together in their own little world. As she approached, Lyne could sense a magical energy emanating from the girls, a powerful aura that seemed to resonate with her own abilities. "They must be Kira and Lyra..." she thought, her heart racing with anticipation.
Kira was the first to notice her presence. She turned her head and locked eyes with Lyne, her dark blue eyes meeting Lyne's sea-green gaze. The moment felt electric, as if a connection had been forged between them. Kira stood up, prompting her younger sister Lyra to look up and see the older lady as well. Both girls instinctively understood that Lyne was different from the other adults they encountered, and they could sense the unique energy that surrounded her.
When Lyne reached the girls, she knelt down to their level, her expression warm and inviting. "Are you two, Kira and Lyra?" she asked gently. The girls nodded in unison, their expressions a mix of curiosity and excitement. "Good. Now I have a few questions for you girls," she continued, her tone encouraging.
Kira smiled softly, her enthusiasm shining through. "And we will try to answer them," she replied, her voice filled with a childlike innocence.
Lyne nodded appreciatively. "Good. First, may I ask how old you are?"
Kira beamed with pride as she answered, "I'm 12, and Lyra is 11."
"Do you have any family?" Lyne inquired, her heart heavy with concern.
Kira glanced over at Lyra before responding, her voice tinged with sadness. "No... we don't have any family."
Lyne's heart sank at the revelation. "I see... Has anything unusual happened around you two?" she asked, hoping to uncover more about their unique situation.
Kira opened her mouth to respond, but Lyra, eager to share their experiences, jumped in first, catching Kira off guard. "Yes! Ever since we were really little, strange things have happened to us," she exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement.
"Yeah, like we would hear animals talk or see spirits of the dead," Kira added, her voice growing animated as she began to recount the various odd occurrences they had experienced over the years. She listed off a series of events, each more fantastical than the last, as Lyne listened intently, her mind racing with the implications of what she was hearing.
As Lyne absorbed the girls' stories, she couldn't help but reflect on the information she had read about them. 'So the book was right... They are indeed the daughters of the last king. But why did their mother leave them?' she pondered silently, her thoughts swirling with questions.
"Oh, and one time, we saw a really pretty silver fox," Lyra chimed in, her eyes sparkling with wonder. "Lyra could tell it was a demon," she added, her voice filled with awe.
Lyne blinked in surprise. "You two saw a fox demon?" she asked, intrigued by their encounter.
The girls nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah... He didn't attack us," Lyra assured her, a hint of pride in her voice.
Lyne sighed lightly, contemplating the weight of their experiences. "Last question," she said, her tone shifting to a more serious note. "How would you two feel about leaving this place?"
The question caught the girls off guard, and they exchanged glances filled with uncertainty. Kira had often spoken about her dreams of finding a place that felt like home, while Lyra longed for a peaceful existence away from the chaos of their current surroundings. After a moment of silent communication, Kira turned back to Lyne, her face lighting up with a hopeful smile. "We would love to leave this place for somewhere better," she declared, her voice filled with determination.
Lyne felt a wave of relief wash over her, and a small smile appeared on her lips. "Then let me take you to Elyasia," she said, her voice filled with warmth and promise. "It's a place that truly needs you." The prospect of a new beginning filled the air with a sense of excitement, and Lyne knew that their journey was just beginning
Lyne stepped through the shimmering portal first, her heart racing with anticipation. The moment she emerged on the other side, the girls followed closely behind her, stepping into the new realm with a mix of excitement and trepidation. As Lyne crossed the threshold, her clothes transformed back into her familiar silver robes, flowing elegantly around her. Her long hair cascaded down her back, returning to its natural state, a stark contrast to the vibrant colors of the world around them. She turned to the girls, eager to see how they had changed. Kira, with her cute goth aesthetic, had seen her black and white dress morph into a stunning black kimono, while Lyra's gray, black, and light grayish-purple dress had transformed into a beautiful white kimono that seemed to glow in the sunlight.
Lyne was momentarily puzzled by the transformations but quickly dismissed her confusion, attributing it to the girls' inherent magic. After all, magic was a common thread in Elyasia, and it often had a mind of its own. With a determined focus, she summoned a detailed map of the land, which materialized in front of her, unfurling on the soft grass just outside her tower. Kneeling down, she gestured for the girls to join her. "This is Elyasia's lands," she explained, her finger tracing the intricate lines and markings on the map. "We are here," she pointed to the area where her tower stood proudly. "And this is the northern lands," she continued, indicating the vast expanse above. "And this is the southern lands," she added, gesturing to the area below.
Lyne paused, contemplating the implications of their newfound roles. "Well, one of you will rule over the north, near the borders of the Spirit realm and the Human realm," she explained, her tone serious. "The other will govern the south, close to the borders of the Demon realm and the Shadow realm."
Kira's eyes sparkled with mischief as she giggled, "I want the southern lands!" Her enthusiasm was infectious, and Lyne couldn't help but smile at her eagerness.
"And I'll... take the northern lands," Lyra added, her voice steady and resolute.
Lyne nodded in approval, feeling a sense of pride swell within her. "Very well, but first, I need to teach you about Elyasia before this war escalates beyond our control," she said with a sigh, the weight of responsibility settling on her shoulders.
Just then, a massive black dragon collided with the barrier surrounding Lyne's tower, the impact reverberating through the air. Lyne flinched, her heart racing as she instinctively jumped to her feet.
"Girls, go into the tower and hide," she ordered, her voice firm and commanding.
Lyra and Kira exchanged worried glances but quickly complied, standing up and rushing into the tall tower. They closed the heavy wooden door behind them, a sense of unease settling in the pit of their stomachs. They felt something was off, but neither of them dared to voice their concerns.
Meanwhile, Lyne strode purposefully toward the edge of her forest, where her protective barrier met the ground. She stepped through the shimmering veil and surveyed the scene before her. Her breath caught in her throat as she spotted the enormous black dragon lying on the ground, its scales glistening ominously in the light. She rushed over, her heart pounding in her chest. "Yue!" she gasped softly, recognizing the dragon immediately.
The injured creature flinched at the sound of her voice, and in an instant, it shifted into a young man with mid-length gray and silver hair, his golden eyes filled with pain. He wore a blue kimono that was now torn in the chest area, a testament to the battle he had endured. He sat up slowly, his gaze locking onto hers. "Lyne..." he murmured, relief washing over his features.
Kneeling beside him, Lyne sighed deeply, her heart aching for her friend. "Did Kue do this again?" she asked, concern lacing her voice.
Yue nodded, his expression a mix of frustration and resignation.
Without hesitation, she reached out and gently healed his wounds, channeling her magic to alleviate his pain. "Kue needs to stop... He's not on the other side. He's a southern dragon just like you," she said, her voice firm yet compassionate.
"Maybe I am, but Yue makes it so easy," a voice interjected, dripping with sarcasm.
Lyne and Yue both turned their heads sharply, glaring at the newcomer.
"Kue, you need to stop," Lyne said, her tone sharp as she addressed the dark-haired dragon. She had been friends with the twin dragons for years, and over time, she had grown increasingly dismayed by Kue's treatment of his younger twin, Yue.
Kue shifted into his human form, revealing a striking young man with pure black hair and piercing red eyes, dressed in dark clothing that matched his brooding demeanor. Unlike his twin, Kue's appearance was more reminiscent of a fierce black dragon, embodying the darkness that often surrounded him. After shifting, he dropped to the ground, striding over to Lyne and Yue with a smirk playing on his lips.
The mage sighed, standing up to face him. "Kue, don't make me call June," she warned, her voice steady but laced with an underlying threat.
The dark-haired male flinched at the mention of June's name, his expression shifting to one of unease. "Don't you dare," he growled, his bravado faltering.
"Then leave Yue alone and stop fighting," she insisted, her frustration bubbling to the surface. She hated resorting to calling upon her follower mage, but she knew it was the only way to get Kue to relent. From what Lyne understood, Kue held a certain fear of the southern mage, which made him think twice before crossing any lines.
Kue glared at her, his defiance evident, but he eventually turned away, conceding for the moment. "Fine, whatever. Just keep that mage away from me," he said, shifting back into his dragon form and taking off into the sky, his massive wings casting a shadow over the land as he flew away.
Lyne turned her attention back to Yue, who was now standing up, brushing off the dirt from his kimono. "Well, will you be alright?" she asked, her concern evident in her voice.
Yue nodded, a small smile breaking through his earlier pain. "Yes... Thanks, Lyne," he replied, gratitude shining in his golden eyes.
She smiled slightly, feeling a warmth spread through her chest as she walked over to him. "Anytime," she said softly before leaning in to kiss his cheek, a gesture of affection that made him blush lightly. "Now I need to get back to teaching our new rulers about our lands before they can stop this stupid war," she added, her tone shifting back to seriousness.
He nodded, his expression turning thoughtful. "Alright. I'll... stop by another time to help out," he said, his voice filled with determination as he began to walk away.
As she watched him go, a small smile lingered on her lips, a sense of hope blossoming within her. With renewed purpose, she turned and made her way back through the barrier, returning to the tower where the girls awaited her. The weight of the world rested on her shoulders, but she was determined to guide them through the challenges ahead, ensuring that Elyasia would remain a land of magic and wonder, free from the shadows of war.