Chapter 08
Photo: ???
414 Years ago
Spirit Portal
Northern Lands
Rain found herself standing before a massive silver portal that emitted a gentle silver luminescence. A chill breeze escaped from it, carrying an unsettling sensation akin to death’s caress. She gazed up at the portal and exhaled softly, a visible breath escaping her lips. Uncertain about the cause of her unease, especially since Wicked month was still far off, she realized she had to take action.
After pondering for a moment, she lifted her hands. She started to recite the incantation meant to seal the portal. With each word she uttered, the portal emitted a high-pitched noise, as if resisting closure. The sound grew increasingly irritating as she continued to repeat the incantation.
A week went by with no alterations. She ceased reciting the spell and directed increasingly icy stares at the portal, which appeared to shudder in response. “Could you just shut and quit being a nuisance?” she inquired in a frigid tone. There was no reply, not that she was seeking one.
"Conversing with it won't lead to any results."
Rain shifted and glanced around briefly. Nearby stood Sin, the sole mage of Elyasia that feared the most powerful of yokai. Her hair flowed in fiery red waves, and her maroon eyes held a chilling intensity, often reflecting her anger. Sin was tasked with protecting the demon portal from the northern territories of the demon realm. While the specifics of her ability to handle the demons remained unclear, rumors suggested that the men from the northern lands feared her.
“Hi Sin. It’s great to have you back in Elyasia. Did Lyne send you here?” Rain inquired. Although she was pleased to see her longtime friend, she kept her emotions in check. Strangely enough, among all the mages in Elyasia, Rain and Sin shared more similarities than anyone else, leading them to form a close friendship with minimal conversation.
“Nah.” Sin approached her and positioned herself beside her. “I can sense this portal all the way back at Raizen’s location. That demon lord dispatched me because he disapproved of the energy I was radiating.” She added with a hint of growling. “That demon really has the audacity to give me orders.”
Rain observed her and then offered a gentle smile. “Yet you comply with his commands without resistance.”
The red-haired individual blinked and then exhaled deeply. “Yeah, but I did take out a few of his followers. What’s the connection between him and our princesses?”
The mage with green-blue hair furrowed her brow as he considered the complexities of family ties in the magical realm. “I think it’s blood. Perhaps he’s related to them in some way, like an uncle, someone who shares their lineage and heritage, which could explain the peculiar connection they seem to have.”
"I understand. But honestly, who’s bothered about that? Now, please share information regarding this frustrating portal."
The girls faced the portal, both letting out a deep sigh that echoed their shared apprehension. "I can't explain it, but it seems to resist being shut," Rain murmured quietly, her voice barely rising above the whisper of the wind. There was a strange energy emanating from the portal, as if it were alive and pushing back against their intentions, making her feel an unsettling mix of curiosity and trepidation.
Sin pondered for a moment before smirking. "How about we both give it a go?"
Rain gave her a strange look before agreeing. "Okay."
They extended their arms upward, and both mages started uttering the incantation. The portal emitted another shrill noise, seemingly resisting its closure.
Gently, a man started to recite the dragon's version of the incantation from behind the girls, as the sound gradually diminished.
Rain was aware of the identity of the individual, as only Max was familiar with that particular spell; his father had once been the guardian of what the dragons referred to as the spirit portal. Despite this knowledge, she focused intently on the portal, continuously reciting the incantation. She didn’t notice when he approached her from behind and positioned his hands beside hers.
After two hours of reciting the spell, the portal ultimately yielded and shut. When it did, Sin collapsed to her knees while Rain tumbled into Max's embrace, all three of them breathing heavily.
“I can’t stand this portal...” Sin grumbled while attempting to steady her breathing.
"I feel the same way, Mage," Max replied as he crouched down, holding Rain closely. His gaze fell on her with concern. "It bothers me even more... with each passing year..."
She glanced at them and let out a sigh. “Dragon, all she requires is some time to recuperate. Return her to her tower.”
He gave a nod and lifted the unconscious mage. As he turned to walk by Sin, he remarked, “You ought to return as well,” while continuing on his way.
With a sigh, she got to her feet. "Yeah, yeah..." she mumbled, returning to her observation of her own portal.
As soon as Max entered the garden that connected the Mage tower to the northern castle, Lira hurried toward him and positioned herself right in front of them. Concern was evident on her face, particularly visible in her eyes. “Princess, she’s alright. She just needs some rest.”
"Maxie, could you allow Takumi to examine her? I sense that something is not quite right."
The dragon let out a gentle sigh. “Ask him to come to the tower. I’ll allow him to see her there. Is that alright?”
She gave a nod and headed off to find Takumi.
He shook his head and made his way to the tower. Ascending three flights of stairs, he finally reached their room. He forcefully kicked the door open and entered. The walls of the room were painted a soothing shade of blue, adorned with books and various magical artifacts scattered about. He glanced at a few books before moving toward the bed. Carefully, he laid her down and straightened up. “Rain... how much magic did you actually use?”
Rain let out a quiet groan as she opened her eyes. She gazed up at him and exhaled slowly. “I’ve used quite a bit... ever since that annoying portal started acting up...” she murmured.
Max shook his head. “Next time, I’ll handle it myself. Dragon spells are more powerful than yours...”
She offered a faint smile. "Or we could both take care of it..." she remarked before drifting off to sleep once more.
He grinned. "That's an agreement." Afterward, he let out a sigh while glancing over to find Takumi observing them.
“What? I didn’t intend to interrupt this lovely moment,” Takumi remarked as Max glanced in his direction.
"It's alright. Examine her and then return to Lira," he said gently while stepping out of the room.
The panther briefly blinked before approaching the mage. He observed that she was merely depleted of magical energy, and with some rest, she would regain it. He softly cast a minor spell to transfer a bit of his own energy to her, which he was happy to offer. After completing this, he departed and returned to Lira to inform her.
In contrast, Max returned to the portal, gazing up at it. “You have my father... please don’t take my mate...” he whispered to the still portal.
During the Dragon War, Max's father, who led the water dragons, served as the primary protector of the Spirit Portal located in Skull Forest. The clan was entrusted by Lyne to oversee this portal, which was considered the most significant one. Although the clan continues to monitor that portal, Max has not yet rejoined them since the war concluded, particularly because his father's death occurred at that location. Now, he wishes to assist Rain in overseeing the new portal that emerged after the war.