When it was time to perform the Ritual, the five teenagers were called by Akilah, who gave them their final instructions.
She directed each teenager toward the right altar, and told them to begin meditating. The Ritual would tell them when it was time to begin.
In the meantime, no one knew that James had almost reached the Castle of Light. To the man’s surprise, more memories had begun to flood into his mind as he neared his destination – memories from before he’d turned the second time, the things he’d done when he’d turned the first time – the curse he placed on the altars.
The altars the young Guardians were about to activate.
James accelerated in speed as he reached the Castle, rushing through the hallway as quick as his legs could carry him – he was sure that the Guardians would hear the sound of his footsteps and approach him.
And James wasn’t wrong – the Guardians did indeed hear him. Or at least one of them did, for that matter.
The doors to the Ritual Chamber opened, and as soon as James saw the blonde woman standing in the doorway, the final bits of his memory returned.
All of it. His childhood, teenage years, his first journey through Lunaria; everything came back, all at once.
“SAMIRA!” James shouted; his sister was caught off-guard, as James’s eyes still had an eerie red glow; James had his memory back, but was still filled with dark energy. James understood why she looked so afraid; even he himself wasn’t sure whether he’d be able to stay in control or not.
“Samira,” he repeated, on a slightly quieter tone. “Get those kids off the altars.”
“What are you talking about?” Samira replied, realising her brother meant no harm. “James, what’s going on?”
Thomas appeared beside her, joined by Ince and Aharnish. Their eyes widened when they saw James standing in the hallway, panting and panicked.
“The altars are cursed, Sam!” James said. “The Master made me pour this strange potion into the grooves between the altars’ stones – if the magic inside the altars is released, then-”
James abruptly stopped talking to listen to the voices of the five teenagers saying an awfully familiar incantation.
“We Guardians present to you
The Elements of Light, to make this world anew
End the Darkness, return the Light
Shining over Lunaria, clear and bright”
Halfway through hearing the teenagers, James began to run. He sprinted past Samira, Ince and Thomas, who quickly joined him. “STOP!” the four adults yelled in unison, catching everyone off-guard; unfortunately, it was too late to stop whatever the Ritual had set in motion.
The Ritual sure was different. Instead of the five beams of light uniting to become one beam that would spread its light through Lunaria, the altars emitted a powerful blast of dark magic that shattered all windows in the Ritual Chamber – including the roof window.
In the midst of chaos, the teenagers were thrown off the altars in the process.
Luke scrambled to get up; it took a while for his vision to become clear again. His left ear beeped and stung, and a warm feeling spread from the shell of his ear down his neck. When Luke moved his hand toward his stinging ear, he carefully pulled a glass shard out of his ear. Horrified, he quickly dropped it, the bloody shard shattering as it hit the floor.
The beeping was due to the loud blast, Luke knew that – but he wasn’t sure whether or not that shard of glass had pierced anything vital to permanently damage his hearing.
“Lucas?” Luke heard his father’s voice coming from his right. “Luke!”
James appeared before Luke; a chill went down the boy’s spine as he looked his father in the eye. One was blue, one still glowing red. An eerie sight.
“Dad, what-” he mumbled.
“Luke, are you alright?” James asked his son; Luke noticed that his father had scratches on his face, varying in depth and length – he’d presumably been hit by the flying shards of glass. “Your ear is bleeding.”
“Y-yeah,” Luke mumbled. “I’m fine. What about the others?”
James looked aside. “I haven’t checked yet,” he said, looking back at his son, “but they seem to be fine.”
Luke offered his dad a faint smile. “Dad?” he said, “what happened?”
James bit his lip. “Come,” he said, “get up. We have no time to waste.”
Luke did as he was told; he looked up as he did, and was horrified at what he saw. The sky was no longer its usual dark blue-greyish night-time colour; the sky had turned pitch black, with flashes of purple and dark blue twirling around in a circular motion, as if it were a black hole, sucking up the world into an endless void.
Whatever this was, and whatever had happened when the Guardians had performed the Ritual, Luke knew that this wasn’t what was supposed to happen.
And he knew that this wasn’t any good.
Sacrifice
“James, what is going on!?” Thomas shouted; the wind was howling loudly outside, and the fact that every window in the Ritual Chamber had shattered didn’t help. “What happened?”
James’ heart was beating quickly. “I don’t know,” he said, “but I believe the Master wanted to secure his victory by turning the Ritual into some sort of self-destruct device.”
“Self-destruct device?” Aharnish said. “So... that’s why he was so content with getting killed.” He clenched his fists to retain his anger. “I knew he wouldn’t be willing change his ways that sudden! It just simply wasn’t possible!”
“Aharnish, please, try to stay calm!” Aoife said, her big, brown, deer-like eyes full of worry. “I’m sure we can fix this, it’s nothing to worry about!”
Luke and Mari stood beside each other, staring at the sky, not noticing that their four friends were doing the same.
The wind was howling, and thunder and lightning surrounded the black, gaping hole.
“So... Nice weather we’re having today, huh?” Marco said.
“The end of the world. Never thought I’d live the day to see it.”
Luke snorted. “Well, it’s not the end of Earth,” he said, and then on a darker tone, continued, “but... it’s still the end of us.”
“Maybe it isn’t,” Mari said, sounding as if she’d come up with an idea. “I think I know how to stop this. It might end badly, but- there’s nothing else we can do, really.”
Her friends looked at her, their eyes wide in surprise. “What are you talking about, Mari?” Daisy said. “What could you – or we, for that matter – possibly do to stop this?”
“It’s... the least I can do,” Mari said carefully her eyes quickly flashing from the left to the right. She wasn’t sure whether the idea she had would actually work or not. “I can repay you all for the pain I have caused.”
She then proceeded to turn around and walked toward the Spirits, who were having a heated discussion. Mari said something to them, leaving them completely silenced, before walking to her father and hugging him.
“I’m sorry, Dad,” she whispered, “I’m sorry I couldn’t keep my promise.”
Before her father could react, Mari had already let go of him and ran toward one of the tallest altars.
Luke knew what she was about to do, and sprinted after her. “MARI!” he shouted; when he’d finally got close enough to reach her halfway up the stairs, Luke grabbed Mari’s wrist.
Mari quickly turned around to see who’d grabbed her; her expression grew furious when she saw Luke standing there, determined to hold on. “Luke, let go!” she shouted frantically. “Let GO!”
“No, Mari,” Luke said decisively. “I promised you I wouldn’t let you go ever again, remember?
“I’m sorry, Mari. I can’t let you do this.”
The sadness in Luke’s voice broke Mari’s heart, but she didn’t stop struggling. “Just let me go, Luke,” she demanded through gritted teeth.
“If you want me to let you go, then at least tell me what you’re going to do!” Luke demanded
.
Meanwhile, Antonio had appeared behind Luke. “Mari?” he asked, his voice soft and worried, “what are you doing?”
“Dad,” Mari replied, at the verge of tears; tears were stinging behind her eyes. “Let me do this. I have to do this.”
“Do what, Mari?” Luke and Antonio said in unison, although they both said it with their own emotions running through their voices.
“I just – figured–” Mari mumbled, unsure of what to say. “That maybe the Master has–” she continued to struggle to find the right words for her insane plan – at least she considered it to be insane. “If... if it’s possible for James’s soul to absorb light and dark energy, then maybe so can mine.”
Luke shook his head in frustration. “Mari, what on Earth are you talking about!?” he yelled.
“He’s right, Mari,” Antonio said, “you can’t... absorb this much energy. Right?” He looked down at the Spirits for their approval.
“Actually, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but...” Akilah mumbled, jumping up to land on the steps next to Antonio, “Mari might have a point.”
“What!?” Luke exclaimed; even Mari seemed surprise that her own stupid theory might be true.
“Well... Mari was a Lost Soul, and thus she’s – perhaps she’s got some abilities left – abilities that can exist unnoticed if they’re never used. We were never able to prove it, but–” She stopped. “Still, Mari, as much as I admire your courage, we can’t let you do this. If anyone’s absorbing this curse to stop it, then it’s me.”
“No,” Mari protested. “I won’t let you sacrifice yourself. This world needs your leadership, Akilah.”
“And your family needs you, Mari,” Akilah interjected.
Mari noticed Luke had got distracted enough to let go of her wrist. “I’m sure they’ll do fine without me.”
A few steps backward up the steps were enough. Mari felt how her body got pulled off the ground, as Luke and her father screamed out her name below her. But she was too far away; if any of the two would get any closer, they’d get pulled up, too. In fact, Antonio had to pull Luke back to prevent him from doing so.
“Mari, please,” Luke cried out. “If you do this, you’ll die!”
“I know,” Mari shouted to down below; the wind was howling, and she could hardly hear what Luke was saying – but she didn’t have to hear him to know. “And... I just want you to know that I’m okay with that.”
Luke shook his head vigorously, salty tears were shimmering in his eyes, making them seem even bluer. “I won’t let you.”
“You can’t stop me,” Mari said. “Literally.
“Unless love really does conquer all.
If you finally believe in me, Luke, and only if you truly do, take my hand and try and stop me.”
Mari stuck out her hand at the redheaded boy below far below her, beckoning him to take it.
And Luke did. He jumped away from Antonio, the magic instantly getting a hold of him; it pulled him up, toward Mari, allowing him to grab her hand.
“LUKE!” James cried out; Luke looked down at his father and nodded.
“I’m sorry, Dad. But I have to do this. I can’t let her get away.
“Not again.”
Mari looked at Luke with unbelieving eyes. “You...
“Why?”
She was almost angry with him. Her best friend, the one she’d been so desperate to protect, and now he’d really joined her.
He’d actually done the one thing she’d never expected nor wanted him to do.
“Luke, what are you doing?” Mari said angrily, tears streaming down her face. “Get back down. Now.”
“No. I will not leave you again,” Luke said decisively. “Mari, when I told you I’d follow you for the rest of my life, I meant it.”
Mari hugged Luke tight, knowing that the magic surrounding them was about to make an end to their existence. And they’d be taking all magic with them.
As much as taking in the magic hurt, the thought of losing Luke hurt even more. “You really are an idiot,” she said. “You’re throwing your life away.”
“It’s alright, Mari,” Luke whispered. Tears were running down his face and his voice started to shake as he continued to reassure his friend, taking her face in his hands. “No matter what happens, I’ll be with you. We’ll be together.
“I promise.”
Mari buried her head in Luke’s chest as she muttered, “I wish I’d never left.”
Luke smiled. “Don’t look back, and never regret, Mari,” he said. “Who knows what the future holds for us, after all?”
“Luke...” Mari mumbled. “You’re either the bravest boy I’ve met, or the stupidest.”
Luke laughed. “I believe it’s safe to say I’m both.”
For a moment, Luke and Mari were completely engulfed by the deep purple and black flashes that surrounded them, before the flashes disappeared completely - leaving everything eerily silent. When the sky cleared again, there was no sign of Mari and Luke – just two golden, glowing figures that resembled them, who appeared to be made of dust, absorbing the dark magic around them.
The two figures looked happy, waving at their family and friends, before shooting into the sky and exploding like a golden firework, spreading its light across Lunaria.
The wind stopped howling, and the black, gaping hole in the sky vanished, revealing the deep purple colours of dawn; the Light had been returned to Lunaria once again.
Everyone was crying and devastated, but James and Antonio had truly fallen apart. James had sunk to the floor after watching his son disappear, shaking and sobbing heavily, not even noticing the changes the return of the Light had brought him. Antonio was still sitting on his knees on the steps of the altar, staring at the morning sky, and remained there until Bella and Thomas came to get him.
Both fathers were inconsolable.
“What am I going to tell his mother?” James sobbed, holding his sister tightly. “What am I going to tell his mother, Samira? We don’t even have a body – he’s – “ James couldn’t finish his sentence, as he was overtaken by tears once more.
“You can tell her that he’s happy, James,” Samira whispered. “You saw how happily he waved at you, right?
“He’s like you, James. A true hero.”
James let out a gasp that almost sounded like a laugh between his sobs. “Yeah,” he said. “And I’m proud of him... I just regret never being able to tell him how proud.” He paused. “Samira?”
“Yes, James?” Samira replied carefully. James sighed.
“I... I’m sorry for what I did all those years ago. I am sorry for putting you through all that pain.”
“It’s okay, James,” Samira comforted her little brother. No matter how old or how much taller than her he’d get, he’d always be her little brother to her. “It happened a long time ago. You don’t have to worry about that anymore.”
“I’m sorry,” James replied, talking to himself, rather than his sister. “I’m sorry.”
Mari’s and Luke’s friends had found comfort in their parents and their soothing words. But Daisy was the one comforting Antonio, rather than the other way.
The Spirits had retreated to a quieter corner of the chamber to discuss the recent events.
“Did any of you know this was possible?” Ince asked in a hushed tone.
He was asking all four of his siblings at once; three of them instantly turned to Akilah. Unfortunately, she didn’t exactly know the answer, either.
“They both had magical abilities, and therefore magical energy,” she thought, “so they were both able to absorb the Dark Magic to some extent – whether at will or not.”
“Enough to prevent the destruction of our world?” Aharnish said skeptically. “I highly doubt that.”
“Maybe it was true love that allowed them to save the world?” Aine said, sounding slightly dreamily. Aoife agreed with her.
“But...” Ince said confusedly, “they never... did anything to pr
ove their true love. Or did they kiss while I wasn’t looking?”
All four Spirits laughed; even Aharnish. Ince was the Spirit of Innocence for a reason; he didn’t quite understand the full concept of ‘love’, kind of like a child.
“True love comes in many forms, Inky,” Aoife said. “True love doesn’t have to be anything romantically.”
“That’s beautiful,” Ince said. “I had no idea it worked that way. But...” he smiled. “Now I do see how that would work.”
“I guess we’ll never know what exactly allowed them to pull this off,” Akilah said, “but what’s important, is that they pulled it off. They saved us; all of us. And for that, we should be eternally grateful.”
Home
The Guardians took a short moment of peace and quiet to themselves to process the experience, before meeting up in the centre of the Ritual Chamber again. It was time for them to go home.
It was a much sadder moment than everyone had expected it to be, but of course no one had expected to go home with two less people in their party than they’d arrived with – even though Mari technically hadn’t arrived with them.
The sky was clear, and the Land of Light already showed signs that it was starting to heal – after all, only six days of Dark Magic-poisoning was nothing compared to a thousand years.
The nine Guardians, adults and teenagers, gathered together near the altars, ready to leave Lunaria. But first, they had to say goodbye to the ones that had guided them through everything.
“So... I guess this is it, then,” James said; his eyes were still slightly red and swollen. “Our final goodbye. And... hopefully for good this time.”
Akilah and her siblings couldn’t help but chuckle. “Don’t worry,” Akilah said, “we won’t need your help any longer. I’m pretty sure that we’ll finally be able to rule Lunaria in peace – just as we intended.”
“Though we must say we are forever indebted to you all,” Aharnish added. “Thank you for saving us, Guardians. Thank you for saving Lunaria.
“If you ever need us, just – give us a call, and we’ll come rushing in to help you.”
“Oh,” Antonio said, “forget it.” The tone of his voice was friendly, but his eyes betrayed his grief.
Guardian: Darkness Rising Page 20
