[The Rankspire - Exterior]
Elarion, Rhyzok, and Xyne sat outside the massive obsidian structure of the Rankspire, the air still thick with the lingering pressure of the recent cosmic event. Xyne clenched her fists, her knuckles white.
"That stupid Origin," she hissed, her voice dripping with frustration. "How dare she interrupt my battle right when it was getting good?"
Elarion looked at her, his expression flat. "It's not like you could have actually harmed her, Xyne. She's an Origin."
"You can't even touch a Spiritual Being without burning yourself, let alone an Origin," Rhyzok added, his tone matter-of-fact.
Xyne turned her sharp gaze toward them, a dark laugh bubbling in her throat. "Who told you that? Just because you guys have spiritual bodies doesn't mean you're invincible. You can be killed, and you can definitely be harmed if the person knows how."
Before they could argue, the voices of two nearby Beasts caught their attention.
"Did you hear about the new Spiritual Origin?" one asked. "The power was insane, but I heard she actually died during the fight."
"She did," the second Beast replied. "Kaelvyr reached her core. She only came back because of the Celestial Eyes. You felt that pressure, didn't you?"
Elarion's form flickered with confusion. "I don't understand. What are they talking about?"
The two Beasts looked at the trio awkwardly before the first one spoke. "We're talking about Nova. The new Spiritual Origin who fought Kaelvyr. The whole world is talking about it."
"But she was just born," Elarion said, his mind racing. "How is she already fighting Origins?"
Xyne stared up at the sky, her thoughts elsewhere. "I've been wondering... could a Spiritual Origin survive a clash with a Cursed Blade user?"
The Beasts, sensing the tension, quickly moved on. Elarion turned back to Xyne. "What's a Cursed Blade?"
Xyne looked at them in genuine shock. "Wait... wait. You're telling me you don't know about the Cursed Blades?"
Rhyzok glanced at Elarion, then back at Xyne. "Is that a problem? Our mother—the previous Origin—never mentioned them."
"She told us about the Cursed Lord," Elarion added. "But nothing about blades."
Xyne's expression softened into a knowing smile. "Well, let me tell you a story."
Elarion and Rhyzok leaned in, their curiosity piqued.
"The Cursed Blades—also known as the Forbidden Blades—are heirlooms held by a single demonic family," Xyne began. "They are so dangerous that no wielder has ever been able to draw more than fifty percent of their true power. There are two of them, and each is a set of dual katanas."
She paused for effect. "The first set emits a violent Red Energy. Every demon has that, so it's not exactly rare. But the second set... it emits Dark Energy. It is extremely rare for a demon to possess that kind of power, but these blades have it in massive, terrifying quantities. The energy is so volatile that the owner had to create special sheaths just to seal it. If they were ever opened forcefully, the resulting explosion of energy would kill the wielder instantly."
"Wait," Elarion interrupted. "Wasn't that the energy you were using during the fight?"
Xyne's eyes flared with a momentary anger, and Elarion quickly held up his hands. "Sorry! Please, continue."
"Because the energy is so intense," Xyne said, her voice dropping to a whisper, "it can actually corrupt the essence of a Spiritual Being. It can turn them evil, or it can cause their form to simply fracture and explode."
"Cool," Rhyzok said, sounding genuinely impressed. "How do you know all this?"
"My friend," Xyne said, her expression turning distant. "He's the next in line to inherit the blades." She paused, a sudden thought striking her. "Actually... I should go see him. Will you guys come with me? I'm going to his family's estate."
Elarion hesitated. "I'm not sure. We need to go see the new Origin. She's... well, she's my sister."
Xyne blinked. "I don't follow."
"I was created from Xyloria's energy," Elarion explained. "So Nova and I are related by spirit."
Rhyzok stood up, stretching his shimmering form. "We can do both. Let's go see Nova first, and then we'll go meet Xyne's friend."
Xyne's eyes widened. "Created by Xyloria... how interesting."
Elarion offered a small smile, but internally, his mind was elsewhere. Maybe if I go see Nova, she can give me enough energy to finally manifest a physical body.
---
[Lunareth]
In the golden realm of Lunareth, the celebration was in full swing. Nova was the center of attention, releasing a gentle, constant stream of spiritual energy so that every Angel could feast in peace. Kaelvyr watched from a distance, a rare sense of peace washing over him as he saw her playing among the younger Angels.
Inside a nearby structure, the infant Astra was fast asleep, her tiny wings tucked tight.
"Aravelle," Kaelvyr said, turning to his friend. "I have a bad feeling. It's like the air is heavy with the threat of a war we haven't seen in a million years."
Aravelle, who had been watching the dancers, turned to him. "Then you'd better be ready. Are you planning on taking the baby with you on the Pilgrimage?"
"I am," Kaelvyr said firmly. "I don't trust this place. I don't trust anywhere right now."
Nova spotted them and came running over. She focused her will, turning her hand into solid matter to grab Kaelvyr's arm. "Come on! You should be celebrating too!"
Kaelvyr smiled, allowing himself to be pulled into the festivities. For a few hours—which felt like an eternity in the accelerated time of Orynx—the world was lively and bright. Finally, the Elder of Lunareth, an ancient Angel with silver wings, approached Kaelvyr.
"It is time to feed the child," the Elder said.
Kaelvyr nodded and went inside to retrieve Astra. He placed her within a crystalline cradle Nova had fashioned from pure spiritual energy. He reached out, infusing a small portion of his own Angelic energy into the child to sustain her.
As he pulled back, Nova reached out to touch him, her intent clear: she wanted to restore the energy he had just given away. Kaelvyr caught her hand and shook his head. "No, Nova. Don't worry about it. I don't need it. I'll be retiring soon, anyway."
Nova smiled, but a shadow of concern crossed her eyes. Aww... but that's practically suicide for an Origin...
The moment of peace was shattered as Nova's expression suddenly shifted. She spun around, her gaze fixed on the horizon.
"A demon is here," she said, her voice turning cold.
To be continued...
What do you think