Chapter 8: Luna

　　The last thing Luna saw was radiant flames. They had erupted from Caden and consumed the entire hovel. Her sister grabbed her arm, and the two vanished into thin air. Elena had manifested a powerful Pyromancy spell to transport them away. The Heat around them faded, and with it, the pressure in her chest returned. She suddenly felt very heavy, and her Moonlight began to drain.

　　She blinked, and her location had changed. Now, she stood on a rooftop that overlooked the main path of Belmire, between quadrants three and four. They hadn`t teleported very far, but Luna`s stomach churned, and she felt sick.

　　"I hate when you do that," she snapped.

　　"You`re welcome," said Elena. Then, she collapsed.

　　Luna pulled her upright and inspected her for wounds.

　　"You should say thank you," said Elena.

　　"You`re injured?"

　　"No, just weakened. My Pyromancy isn`t like Caden`s. I can`t use that spell very much without extending Heat. Now come on, help me get down there." She pointed awkwardly down to the alley. Luna glanced over and watched as a brilliant fireball - the size of a man - came barreling down the

　　esplanade, setting everything ablaze. Luna grabbed her dagger with one hand as Elena leaned on her. She nearly pulled it out before her sister spoke.

　　"Ah ah, don`t kill me just yet," Elena said, "It`d be very anticlimactic to fight me in a state like this. Put that weapon away."

　　She obeyed. Despite Elena`s weakened state, part of Luna no longer wanted to kill her. It was an incredibly vigorous thought process. Kill her, don`t kill her. . . what did she truly want?

　　"Did you plan for him to explode like that? What even happened?" Luna asked, helping her sister stand.

　　"He Kindled."

　　"Weren`t we trying to avoid that?"

　　Elena laughed, then coughed, "No, that was the plan all along."

　　Of course, it was.

　　"Now help me to the ground, please."

　　Luna obeyed. She channeled Kellin and - despite her being much bigger - lifted her sister up and jumped off the roof. Elena reflexively wrapped her arms around her neck and squeezed way too hard. They landed with a gust of Moonlight slowing their descent.

　　Everything was on fire. It was much greater than she had expected, looking down on it. The buildings were layered with flickering flames attached to wood and stone. The floor had patches of embers and cinder scattered around from the rampage.

　　"Why Kindle him now?"

　　"Well, for one, I needed to get access to a lot of Heat, and two, he needs to be strong enough to replace you," Elena said. She limped a few steps away. After nearly falling over, she reached out her arms, clapped her hands, and absorbed the flames left by that Dimling.

　　The fire patches came rushing to her like a hoard of snakes burrowing into their den. She went from looking sickly to completely rejuvenated.

　　"There is nothing quite like absorbing the flames of a Kindling Pyromancer," she said - her voice jovial.

　　"You know, if you had planned this the whole time, you could loop me in on the choices you make," Luna said.

　　"Oh please, you try to assassinate me all the time. If you knew all my plans, you`d have done it by now." She threw her head back and laughed as if Luna`s imprisonment amused her.

　　She froze. I only got that close with the poison because she let me. . . I was never going to win.

　　"Besides," said Elena, "I need the Heat for later and the chaos for right now. The barracks will be busy, and I have a meeting to attend."

　　"Where are we going next?" Luna asked, crossing her arms.

　　"You, my sweet sister, are going to be invisible and go look for Caden. Watch him and learn a few things about his life in the barracks. Make sure he doesn`t die, and then report to me what happens. I want him at that meeting, so if he tells anybody about it - kill them."

　　Luna grimaced but nodded. "And what are you going to do?"

　　She sighed, "You really must know?"

　　Luna eagerly nodded her head.

　　"Well, I plan to meet someone. . . peculiar. He claims he can read Delica Glyphs."

　　"And why don`t you need me for that?"

　　"He also claims to be able to see the future."

　　Luna gave her a dumb look.

　　"I don`t need your protection for this guy. He`s docile. Just go be pretty and do what I say."

　　"Bah! At least say thank you!"

　　She said nothing.

　　Luna grunted. "Thank you, Luna, you`re the best sister ever, doing anything I ask at my beck and call." She mocked Elena with her hand like a puppet. She glanced at her sister, hoping to see her annoyed. But instead, she had pulled out papers from somewhere and was reading them.

　　She really is serious about bringing back the Sun. Luna thought, glancing up at the blood-red clouds that covered them all. There`s got to be some truth to it besides the nonsense the Shrine Clerics say. Was the Sun something that used to exist? She frowned. And are we able to bring it back?

　　"Hey," she said, "Do you really think the Sun is in the palace?"

　　"Yes."

　　"How can you be so sure?"

　　"Because. . ." Elena`s voice disappeared. "I`ve seen it. . ."

　　Luna opened her mouth to speak, but Elena had already begun to walk away.

　　"Hey!" she said anyway, "What do you mean by -"

　　Elena just kept walking. She turned the corner and vanished.

　　Luna let her go. No, that`s just what she told herself to find any semblance of control. As she walked to the barracks, she was clouded with thoughts about what she was really doing with her life. She could be so much more; she could do so much more. But instead, she`s stuck with Elena. . . why?

　　She was overwhelmed with a memory of Freya. Her one and only friend from long ago. Before she died, she would tell Luna that she could be anything and that she should do whatever she wanted.

　　I`m going to be the richest girl in town! Just you wait! So, follow your dreams too, okay, Luna? Her voice echoed in her mind as she remembered the event perfectly. She sighed and bit back rage. Despite her sorrow and dreams of something more, she still followed Elena`s orders.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

　　Everyone has chapters of their lives to lead. Yelzar spoke. She channeled him further, vanishing into thin air and hoping he would continue to talk.

　　"Yelzar?" she murmured.

　　This chapter is one of many. A book doesn`t end until many things change.

　　"What? What does that mean?"

　　No more answers. She sighed and then arrived at the barracks. Pooling Moonlight, she dashed underneath the shattered and burnt portcullis. She channeled Kellin and Yelzar, draining her life energy quickly. The pressure in her chest rose but faded as she continued forward. The Dimling was nearby. The left door was torn off its hinges, and Luna entered through it. Peering inside, she saw patches of flame that led down a central hallway and into a large glass room. It was like two rooms that were built inside of each other.

　　Caden stood at the edge of one of the hallways, surrounded by an orange glow that covered his skin and hair. He looked like he was on fire, and he also looked furious. She had never seen someone look so angry before.

　　Luna slipped past him, gliding into a corner with her back against the wall. A few knights sprinted down one of the corridors and entered the room. They drew their hammers and waved them aimlessly at Caden.

　　The infinite Moonlight was an incredible boon, letting her permanently stay invisible; perhaps the idiot boy was useful after all.

　　He was facing down many knights and a few more came scrambling out of corners to see what was happening. "Where is Vance?" he demanded, his voice booming.

　　"Squire, stand down. You`re Kindling!" A knight said, then looked to his companion, "Guys, he`s Kindling. What do we do?"

　　"Don`t ask me!"

　　"Do we hit him?"

　　"Could we knock him out?"

　　"That`s what I just said!"

　　"No, you said hit him!"

　　"Shut up! He`s just a Squire! I got this."

　　One of the knights charged him. Caden ducked and punched him in the chest, breaking his armor and sending him flying into the other knights. They all scrambled to their feet, their heavy armor weighing them down. The injured knight was dazed but alive.

　　Luna shuffled around in her spot, bending down so that she was sitting on her heels. The hit on that knight was impressive. Despite his Kindling, he didn`t try to kill that guy. During their fight, she was so busy being fueled by both Renna and Isabel that she barely got time to watch how he fought.

　　"Where is he?" Caden screamed. His voice sounded so fatuous, as if he was a villain from a story that a bard would tell in the tavern.

　　She couldn`t help but find herself amused at this stupid boy`s antics; watching Dimlings was always funny. The knights kept muttering to themselves, and Luna watched, perplexed about what might happen next.

　　"Speak up!" Caden shouted, "Or I`ll burn you alive!"

　　"I`m right here."

　　Luna snapped her head toward the sound of the new voice. Vance had walked into the room from one of the corridors and stood behind Caden. He had gotten a long scar on his nose since the last time she`d fought with him. Interesting.

　　Caden drew his sword and pointed it at the Elite. "I challenge you to an honorable duel in the name of my sister Isabel. These knights will be a witness to your demise at my hand. I`ll skin you alive. Just come and face me!"

　　"No."

　　"Coward!" Caden swung his sword through the air. "Filthy coward! If you had fought her honorably, she never would have lost to you!"

　　Vance walked right by Caden, and he didn`t attack. He stopped in front of his knights. "So, he did end up coming back. . . that`s good. Any report?"

　　"He hasn`t killed anyone yet, but he destroyed the entrance to the barracks. He`s. . . really mad at you, sir," a shaking knight said.

　　"You," Vance pointed, "Go get Kieran, tell her I may need assistance. The rest of you stand down. I`ll handle this for now." He turned back, pulling out his mace in one hand and opening the door to the large glass training room in the heart of the barracks.

　　The knights all scattered in different directions, although Luna pinpointed a few curious eyes peering around corners.

　　Caden entered the glass chamber, and he followed.

　　"Why do you demand a duel with your superior? You know that is forbidden."

　　"Shut up about what is or isn`t forbidden," snapped Caden, "You killed one of The Crown`s best allies."

　　"I knew this would happen eventually when I took you under my wing. . ." Vance muttered.

　　"How dare you!" Caden exclaimed, "You dare say you took me under your wing when you knew this entire time. . ." he paused, looking down at his burning skin. "I`ll end you. I will tear out your heart and dedicate it to Isabel`s memory."

　　By the Crown, that`s a little dark, even for me. Luna thought. Although she couldn`t help but chuckle at Caden`s words.

　　"Very well," Vance said. "I accept your challenge."

　　Caden immediately rushed him.

　　Vance twirled out of the way from an attack, moving much faster than his bulky exterior should let him. He spun his bladed mace in his hand and thrashed Caden in the face, sending him toppling to the floor.

　　Is he unconscious? Luna thought. An attack like that surely tore his face off. Shoot, do I need to intervene?

　　Caden got up and brushed off the attack as if it was nothing. He had almost no wounds on him. Just how powerful was a Kindling Pyromancer?

　　He charged again.

　　Vance slammed his mace into his stomach.

　　He charged again.

　　Vance swung, obliterating his left arm.

　　He charged again.

　　Vance caught his wrist and blasted a gust of flames in his direction.

　　He charged again.

　　Another attack eviscerated through his leather tunic.

　　He`s so sloppy.

　　He charged again.

　　He`s not even thinking. He`s gone mad. Why does he keep thinking that running at him will work?

　　Caden hadn`t sustained many injuries because his Heat would heal his wounds. His eye was swollen, but he kept himself stalwart. He stood up straight, and each attack he made - while sloppy - was full of emotion.

　　I guess Pyromancy really is my opposite, she thought. When I got my powers, I could barely feel anything at all.

　　"Captain!" a voice called.

　　Luna`s gaze fell upon one of the most beautiful lady knights she had ever seen. This was an Elite she`d never caught wind of - let alone engaged in combat. She stood outside the glass room, watching as Vance parried and countered.

　　"Ah, Kieran," Vance said, his voice muffled from behind the glass walls. He dodged an attack from Caden, who tumbled over himself and fell into the glass wall. "What do I owe the pleasure?"

　　"First of all, you literally asked me here," Kieran snapped, "I was told you needed assistance with the boy."

　　"No, I think I have it handled," Vance said. He punched Caden in the face. "But go ahead and get a cleanup crew going."

　　The girl flipped her hair with her hand. Kieran was tall, wearing full golden armor and a red scarf to signify rank. She had these piercing brown eyes, a small nose, and this look of don`t ever talk to me.` Luna had to admit, she was kind of hot.

　　"Clean it up your damn self. He`s your squire, not mine."

　　Vance sighed.

　　"But," said Kieran, "I guess since you`re so pathetic that you can`t even clean up a Kindling squire correctly. . . I`ll assemble some of my best."

　　"Sure thing K," said Vance, "I`ll deal with this. He`s got a lot more Heat than I thought. Still coming at me with everything."

　　That`s because I`m here.

　　Caden charged again, and Vance backhanded him like a disciplined child.

　　"If you want a real Elite to handle this, let me know, and I`ll take care of it," Kieran said. She never really stood still and kept fidgeting with her hands or bouncing up and down.

　　"Oh, please," Vance said, "I was just having fun. I`ll end this with one strike."

　　She flipped her hair and walked away, and Luna`s eyes were glued to her as she left.

　　Vance`s attack brought her back to reality. He grabbed Caden`s wrist as he thrust forward with his sword. He snapped his arm with a loud crack, and the boy cried out in agony. The Elite shut him up with a furious mace to the face; he flew back into the wall of the glass room - shattered it - and lay unconscious on the other end. All the flames went out.

　　That`s not good, he better not be dead. . . Luna thought. She`d seen him as invulnerable up until now.

　　"Form up!" Vance shouted.

　　Knights peering around corners all scuttled out into the main room once Caden`s rampage had ended. The stragglers lined up and saluted the Elite Captain.

　　"Sir!" There were about twelve of them.

　　"Do not blame the boy for this," Vance said, "Kindling happens to those born with Pyromancy. Although this was a particularly vicious case, we must not reprimand him for it. He will begin training as an Elite, and you will tell everyone to treat him as such." He crossed his arms. "Now, Gera." He pointed to a burly-looking knight. "Go fetch the carpenters and smiths and have them begin repairs here. You three." He waved at three of the knights. "Release the metal pole and tie the boy down in case he wakes up still Kindling."

　　"Yes sir!" A few scuttled away.

　　Luna made her way over to Caden, bent down, and placed a hand on his neck. He had a light pulse and was still breathing. So, he was alive; she knew that trick from Renna, who was a surgeon in her time alive.

　　She found her corner again and began to sneak around, watching Vance interact with many knights.

　　"Sir," one said, "Why did he come after you?"

　　"I`m not sure."

　　Well, that`s a lie, Luna thought.

　　"What happened to Twill`s Squad?" another asked.

　　"We don`t know. All we know is that Cal reported the Lady of the Stars at the scene. Take a squad and scour the city for them. And Kieran!" he shouted, looking around for the girl. After realizing she was gone, he cursed, "blasted woman. . ." then waltzed out of the barracks himself, a squad of knights tailing behind him.

　　I still have infinite Moonlight, even though he`s unconscious. Luna thought. She sighed, unsure of what to do next. She would need to convince him to come to the meeting sometime.

　　She hoped - silently - as she walked out of the barracks and into the street - that he would go to the meeting himself. She also wished for him to never speak with her again, replace her as Elena`s assassin, and maybe then. . . she could sit vigil for Freya and honor her life.

　　Memories of her one and only friend washed over her. Why must she always think of her when she`s left all alone?

　　Luna sighed and kicked a pebble further down one of the dark alleyways of Belmire. She stopped channeling Yelzar when she was a reasonable distance away.

　　"When will I ever be free?" she said out loud to nobody.

　　She half-hoped God would answer, but religion was always Freya`s thing. But was there even a god? How could there be?

　　Luna leaped into the air and landed on a nearby rooftop. Her muscles began to relax after taking a deep breath. The moment she would return to Goran`s Tavern to sleep would be yet another battle lost. . . but she had no other choice.