Darker Magicks, and Sweet Songs

It has been six months since the Summer Sun Festival ended. Much has happened, including my new training.

"Novalis, pay attention! You've already proven inadequate at controlling any schools of magic. If you have any hopes of passing my spell school, you will need to be more disciplined. Now, AGAIN!"

Sighing, I picked myself off of her floor. The smell of singed hair, likely mine, permeated the air within the midnight chamber. Focusing my inner reserves, I felt my horn begin to glow. Dark green light arced from the base to the tip, and it crackled viciously while causing the air to literally burn. Fine ash fell around me as I channeled the hatred I was unfamiliar with towards a large stone statue.

The statue, a joke from Queen Celestina to Princess Lunara, raised incredible rage within me. Apparently, Celestina had thought it would be funny to make a statue depicting the time Rathmaro had kissed Lunara, long ago before his first defeat. The first time I had seen it, I had let loose a rather powerful bolt of lightning at it.

"I understand that you don't appreciate this statue anymore than I do, but Tina says you may only destroy it when you master everything I can teach you. Until then, I have to 'protect' this tasteless gift."

With those words, Lunara lazily crushed my spell in midair. The returning energy from the cancelled spell surged through my body, lighting it up like a candle. Struggling against the pain, I worked on focusing my returned energy into a new spell. The air around me chilled instantly as I let loose a blast of void energy. Instead of simply burning the air, this new spell killed everything in its path. I could feel the many miniscule organisms in the arc as they died, feeding their life into my magical disc.

"Not bad, Novalis, but not good enough, either. I hope this doesn't hurt you too much..."

I braced myself as she let loose a flash of brilliant white light, which negated and neutralized the darkness of my spell. The resulting explosion of energy seared my mind, and caused me to scream silently in my head. I reached deep within my mental reserves, and succeeded in absorbing my violent energies.

"Princess Lunara, why must I learn these strange magicks again? They're violent, harmful, and go against everything taught in our society."

"Everything in your world, Novalis. Outside the kingdom of Anzaria live many races. Dragons, Gryphons, and Demons come through often, But some of the other races, like Medusans, Chimereans, and Hydras are both rare and exceedingly dangerous. If you are going to be my ambassador outside of our lands, you simply must be able to protect yourself."

I nodded my head and rose shakily to my feet.

"That's enough for now, Novalis."

"I can continue, I'm not exhausted yet..."

"I SAID YOU HAVE TRAINED ENOUGH!!!"

A shattering blast of sound and air sent me tumbling through the air; I saw stars when my head cracked loudly against the stone chamber walls. Before I had even recovered, I felt Lunara's soothing healing magic surround me.

"Oh dear student, I apologize for losing control like that. Are you grievously hurt anywhere?"

"No, Princess. I apologize for disobeying you."

Lunara's magic lifted me effortlessly and brought me into her hands. Her worried (but incredibly beautiful) face came into my vision as her warm arms and wings surrounded me. Her large and luminous silver eyes scanned my face briefly, causing my heart to flutter before she began to scan me with her ethereal touch. A trickle of her power flowed through me, mending my exhausted and burnt body, repairing miniscule fractures in my skull, and even repairing the wear and tear the darker power left on my mind.

After healing me, I expected to be released immediately. Instead, she held me in her embrace and nuzzled me, whispering into my ear.

"I'm truly sorry for losing my temper. Of course you wouldn't know, Novalis. You were only trying to learn your lessons. Don't worry, for I will tell you eventually why I lost my temper. But not right now, you are not ready."

Caught in her soft warmth, with her magic only just having receded from me, I was unable to form a coherent sentence.

Her shining and gorgeous eyes locked onto my own. The warmth of her body surrounded me, and her scent muddied my senses. My heart raced heavily, but my mind slowed. Every detail of her face and form was imprinted into my mind, vividly and eternally. My eyes widened as her face neared mine, her eyes half-lidded. Her sweet breath washed over my face, causing my heart to instantly stand still. Slowly, her lips neared mine, and my mind completely scattered. Eventually her soft mouth made contact with mine, reminding my heart that it could beat, even if it wanted to race at the speed of light. Her sensual and beautiful lips moved over mine, coaxing a response from deep within my primal subconscious. She held the kiss for several long moments before releasing, leaving me panting for breath. Staring down at me, she opened her mouth to speak...

"Hmm, do you really have such high feelings for me?"

My mind snapped back to reality quicker than lightning. I could feel a heavy blush creeping up my cheeks, and my eyes rose to meet hers. Her expression was inscrutable, denying me access to any of her inner thoughts. Deeply ashamed, I quickly turned and bolted from the classroom.

"Novalis! Wait!"

Not heeding her voice, I raced from her room, her side of the castle. I raced from the castle entirely, blurring through Soluna until I stood outside of my own home. Streaking through the house, I slammed into my room, leaped onto my bed, and locked the door behind me.

{I can never show my face in Soluna again...}

Later that night, after Novalis was failing to fall asleep:

{What do I do now? Should I leave Anzaria forever? How could I ever face her again...}

In my dark room I could feel the crushing weight of my embarrassment. I forgot that she would have been able to see my fantasies.

{Why couldn't I keep myself in control?!}

I buried my face in my pillow and screamed myself hoarse. Everything I had hoped to attain just went up in smoke, all because I was too stupid to control my impulses. I knew I had been playing a dangerous game, but had foolishly believed I could keep myself in check. Eventually, I exhausted myself and drifted into my dreams.

I was running from her chambers again. My feet were a blur underneath me as I panted, desperate to outrun my mistake.

Now, let the day

just slip away...

So the dark night may watch over you.

Velvet blue,

Silent, true.

It embraces your heart and your soul

A haunting melody arose in the air around me. A soft, familiar voice sang within it, and drew me off my path. Luring me into the dark woods near my home, I could only keep approaching that ethereal songstress.

Never cry; never sigh.

You don't have to wonder why.

Always be; always see.

Come and dream the night with me

I could feel my heart being lifted, as though this mysterious presence was able to sense and alleviate my burden. I slowed down as I caught a glimpse of a meadow through the trees.

Have no fear

when the night draws near,

and fills you with dreams and desire.

Like a child asleep,

so warm, so deep...

You will find me there waiting for you

Pulled ever closer to the melody of unsurpassed beauty, I finally made my way into the open grove. Soft moonlight filtered through the trees overhead, and it converged upon and illuminated none other than Princess Lunara.

We will fly, claim the sky.

We don't have to wonder why.

Always be; always see.

Come and dream the night with me.

I watched, starstruck, as the moonlight surrounding her began to swirl and coalesce into a vision. Once more I saw the room with the statue where I had been practicing spell weaving. But I could see myself as well, straining as I attempted to perfect my lessons. The black death spell launched from my horn, flying towards the hated sculpture. Suddenly, the image exploded with a bright white flash. When the vision cleared, I saw myself struggling to absorb the returned energies. After awhile, I rose to my feet, ready to continue. A few silent moments of dialogue later, I watched myself fly across the room, propelled by the wind that seemed to come from the... Wait, was this how the scene looked to Princess Lunara?

The scene continued to the point when she healed me, and I saw myself as she looked down into my face. My eyes grew brighter, and the colors changed faster, as an image appeared over my head. The fantasy I had while laying in her embrace replayed itself, taunting me with my abject embarrassment once more.

Nothing could have prepared me for the next part of my dream.

As my fantasy was peaking, imagining her mouth descending upon mine, the vision in the clearing neared my face more. The image flickered and darkened, eventually blacking out entirely. Replacing the darkness was a soft pink effervescence, which swirled around Lunara as she finished her nightsong.

Though darkness lay,

it will give way.

When the dark night delivers the day.

Nocturne

Finishing her song, she turned and looked at me.

"Dear Novalis... You ran off tonight before I could say anything. Your dreams, your wishes, your hopes, they are nothing new to me. I know how you feel towards me, and always have. I'm not offended by your heart's yearning. Tonight, in the midst of your imaginings, I kissed you. I'm not going to lie; I harbor the same feelings for you, but at the same time, I do not. When you are ready, I will explain what exactly that means, but for now, do not leave my side. I expect you to return to me tomorrow night. Someday, everything will be clear to you.

My dream faded after that, and I awoke to the sounds of chirping birds. My heart felt a great deal lighter, and I decided that I would not run. I would return to her side, patiently waiting to learn everything she could teach me. And someday, I hoped to become ready enough in her eyes to be enlightened on her riddle.

Princess Lunara's POV After Lulling Novalis to be at Peace:

I failed him there. Just as he could not stop his emotions and dreams, I gave into my own temptations as well. I can't believe I actually kissed him. I probably shouldn't have held my royal mask. Maybe he would have stayed a bit. Or he could have done something both of us would have regretted...

I walked the hallways of the castle, musing over how things could have played differently. I wonder if he will return tomorrow night. I dearly hope so. I admit, my feelings for him are not at the level his are for me, but they are growing. And I know that if Tina ever fully approves him, that will help the matter immensely. But right now I cannot give him what he craves. I might have to have Tina help me somehow, to dull his feelings a bit. At least for now...

With that, I suppose I'll go have a chat with her. She will be waking up soon to make the Sun rise. She has greater magical power than I do, so she can more easily wield some of the forbidden spells. I just hope if he ever finds out that we meddled with him that he will forgive me, even if he loses his desire for me. 

Unknown POV:

I was watching earlier when that guy came tearing out of Princess Lunara's room. Perhaps this is my chance again. I failed her before, but I've returned, better than ever before. And if she just lost her Chosen student, all the more signs pointing to our destiny together...