Unwanted memories

Thirteen years Ago...

The proud parents watched their children take the first flight in the Royal Academy of Aphros.

The Emperor and the Empress attended the joyous event. Little Aria was attempting her first flight. She was the first to make it to the sky and higher than her peers. Some failed, some challenged her, some cried and some followed her trail. It made her parents feel proud of their child receiving fame over the others. The aristocrats grieved, gritted, raged, cheered, and supported her. Young Luciana who turned seven sat quietly on her in the high chamber which was designed for the imperial family. The lower chamber was for the relatives of the imperial family where her uncle and aunt sat with their noble son.

His gaze fixated on her whenever she stole a glance at him. She blushed and looked away when he smiled and waved his hand. He had turned eight that year. It was the peak of summer when the sun shone the brightest in all of the passing months. She returned to look at her five-year-old sister. Part of her felt proud, and part of her felt misery and jealousy of not being able to have a normal life like the others.

"Oh, Darling! look how she flies." Aphrodite exclaimed.

"She's just like you when I saw you first.". Her father commented to her mother.

She shut her eyes and hung her head again stealing a glance at Octavius. He was staring hard at the flying children.

-"I wished I could fly... " She was lost in thought.

"Baby, are you alright?" Her mother asked her.

She looked up at her worried face. Her father was equally concerned. She smiled wanly.

"I just need a breather mother." Luciana requested.

"But there is still an event left after this." she protested to her leave.

"It's just a purification event, Mother."

"And the most important one-"

Helios interrupted her gently.

"My love, I know you're worried about both of them. But do heed her request." he kissed her on the cheek.

"I'll take care of the rest. My sweet princess needs a walk after such a tiring day sitting around."

Luciana felt relieved and delighted at the same time.

She hugged him tightly and kissed him on the cheek.

"Thank you, Father."

"Anything for my sweet princess. But don't wander off too far," he warned her to stay away from any danger or suspicious things lurking in the shadows.

"Then off we go, honey." she took Luciana's soft little hand in her slender porcelain white hand.

"Come, baby." she took her away and descended the flight of steps that were newly renovated with white marble.

They walked past the gate guards. The empress's and her guard unit joined them half in the sky while the other half marched behind them.

"We could come alone." she insisted. But Aphrodite shook her head and told her that it was better to be guarded than to take unnecessary risks.

She obediently nodded and nothing was said after that. The institution was the oldest school of flying arts and other subjects. A place Luciana always dreamed of graduating from. But her parents were overly cautious of her so that she wouldn't be subject to bullying.

"Mother, why was I born... Different?" she asked a question knowing that it was absurd to question God's decision.

Her mother couldn't reply immediately. After the two of them walked further near the fountains only then her mother managed to reply to her back.

"My sweet princess, you're our treasure. I miscarried four times until I was with you. Baby, sometimes we cannot question God's decision. But he was merciful to bless us with you. And now Aria. You're different because you're adored by him."

"Without wings?"

"Oh, honey... Everyone has their share of tests in this life. Yours is formed in this way. Ours is some other. But I'm sure you have the gift of voice like none other." she stroked her hair to the back of her ear.

"You and I are very similar to each other." she smiled.

That did more or less to convince her of reasoning. She returned the smile with a warm kiss on the back of her mother's hand.

"I'm glad to have such caring parents."

Their brief moments in the garden passed with stories of the past. The sky turned red slowly as if the fire had gotten its chance to give a kiss. The air felt ominous around them. Aphrodite stopped amidst their hearty conversation. She glanced at the sky.

-"It's not time yet to set off the lights."

She studied the changing colors of the sky from red to a thin line of black.

"Luci... Stay here," she warned her and called for her guards.

"Ser Apolo, release the signals," she commanded them and they carried it out swiftly.

"Mother, what's happening?"Young Luciana asked while getting restless.

"Nothing is wrong sweetheart."

"I hear a weird noise coming from there." she pointed towards the olive orchard at the east.

The empress looked up at the target. The concentration of malice she felt suffocated her.

-"Devils! " she realized.

She grabbed the sword from one of her guards concentrating her divine magic on the weapon.

"All troops charge on my command." she cried out.

"M-mother? I'm scared." Luciana coward behind Aphrodite.

"It's alright. Ser Titus will protect you."

The knight wore a knee-high tunic with a bronze breastplate. The bronze helm with a red plume covered most of his facial features, greaves covered the shins, and the leather sandals were well-suited for the warm weather, a uniform every knight wore in the empire. He held a xiphos in his right hand and a bronze-plated shield in the left.

He carried Luciana and took flight.

"No Mother! " Luciana cried and kicked

"Your Majesty, please stand back!" a soldier cried to her mother.

"No! Go get help."

The demons that lurked in the shadows of the trees shot arrows that targeted Aphrodite and Luciana.

Aphrodite was protected by the barrier cast by Helios. Nonetheless, the guards shielded her from the attack.

-"Dark Arts." she realized middle-levelvel demons.

She raised her hand and released the holy light into the sky.

"Kill them all!"

Back at the Colosseum, the soldier flew into the emperor's chamber

"Your Majesty! The demons have incorporated the borders." he declared.

Helios who seemed to have lost his senses at that moment uttered.

"What?"

He suddenly rose and so did Rudolf.

"The Empress is holding them off at the garden of dancing fountains."

"Send word to all the troops! Alert all garrisons at the borders and the portal. Report the Alchemist National Tower."

"Understood my Lord." he saluted and took flight.

The guards of the inner Royal campuses marched towards the dancing fountains.

The demons were suppressed successfully whilst the escapees were tailed and killed. Some who seemed to have some control over the lower ones were questioned and tortured to a miserable death.

Rudolf opened his eyes. The surroundings were familiar. He was in his grand mansion.

"Just a passing memory," he mumbled and wiped sleep from his eyes.

His squire entered by his permission and reported to him.

"My lord, the demons have tried to infiltrate through the western borders.