The news had gotten to Sifa yesterday.

I had suspected it three days ago. We only had one Map in our village, there was only one thing that could explain his magic vanishing.

Something had happened to The Stone of Celeste.

Thankfully, Mari had gotten all the villagers out safely. Mari would be able to keep her mouth shut no matter what they did to her.

Even if she did give information I doubted they would be able to understand it.

They would probably know my name but I could deal with that.

Kalheim was ignorant, they never bothered to pay attention to magi. We never saw them as a threat because of that.

We should've paid more attention.

They didn't know what the artifacts did, they didn't know who or what council members were. We could use that to our advantage.

If- and that's a big if -they managed to figure out that our magic was tied to the artifacts, they still didn't know what each artifact was.

And they definitely didn't know the difference between a council member and normal magi. Maybe they would think that we were just gaining power. Hopefully, Mari only used Map magic. If she used a speck of Spirit or Flame magic they would know she was different.

If they thought she was different they might come after us. They would come after me.

I looked at the scared faces as I walked through the village. I was supposed to protect them.

I had been chosen.

My magic was stronger than every Spirit in this village, on a good day I could overpower them all. I could also wield magic from other clans.

We were meant to bring balance to the clans. At least that's what the old legends said.

I thought back to the stories my mother had told me.

You were chosen by Vorneya herself Veya, that's why we named you after her.

Hundreds of years ago there was a war between the clans. Everybody was desperate for power and land. Remember, this was when people only lived with their clans.

This fighting led to hundreds of magi dying, mass destruction of nature, and the creation of the great plague.

The Founders were furious with the magi. Magic was supposed to be a gift. It was meant to bring peace, not war.

So each founder chose a single magi to bring peace. At first, nobody believed the council members, so the founders gave them the power of a hundred magi. But the people still didn't believe the council.

The founders became desperate, the great plague was killing so many people they feared magi might be wiped out. So Cairo gave a bit of his magic to each of the council members, the rest of the founders did the same.

With the magic of the Cure and Spirits, the Plague council member at the time was able to end the great plague.

The Cure and the Spirit were able to bring the recently deceased back and save people from certain death.

The Wave and Quake were able to fix the scorched lands. They even build new rivers so everyone could have access to good water.

Since then they have kept the peace. When a council member dies their founder chooses a new one to carry on the legacy.

Vorneya has chosen you, my dear. The fate of the Spirits rests on your shoulders.

Thinking about it now she only ever stressed me out.

The fate of the Spirits rests on your shoulders.

I stepped into the temple where Vorneya's Scythe resided. Nobody was supposed to touch it. Ever.

Well, that's what everyone said.

It was also supposed to always stay in the village where the council member was. I carried it from Calla to Sifa as a child.

Kovi always joked that I was a nobody. I usually stuck my tongue out at her.

I kneeled before the Scythe. The artifacts would have to be stored somewhere. Even if the king didn't know what the Stone did, it was only a matter of time before he found out. I needed help.

The artifacts would have to be gathered and stored somewhere. My magic was defensive and I could contact the founders, I was the most qualified person to move them.

But I had no idea where I would go or how I would get them, and that didn't include the stone.

"I need guidance." I whispered.

I reached my hand out and touched the end of the Scythe. Her soul materialized in front of me.

She almost looked real. The faint purple glow around her and the smoke at her feet were the only signs on her projection.

"This is not something I can guide you on." She frowned.

I bowed my head. "I don't know what to do."

She crouched down in front of me and held her hand out as if to touch my cheek. I felt the shadows brush my face. "I know you can figure it out Veya, that is why I chose you."

"Is Mari dead?" I whispered.

"I don't think so. I don't have any more connections with her than you do, but Malve thinks they won't kill her until they know what the Stone of Celeste does."

"Do they know it's an artifact?"

"Yes." She hesitantly nodded. "They also have theories. They know that the Maps are tied to the Stone. They think there may be other objects like it."

"How do you know?" I glanced up at her.

"They freed the Stone for a moment."

"Was that all the information Mari was able to get?"

She pressed her lips into a thin line. "The prince has a theory."

"About?" I raised an eyebrow.

"The council. Although he doesn't know it yet."

"Do you think he will figure it out?"

"I think you should assume he already knows. From what I've seen he should not be underestimated."

...
dying currently.

*its a good dying don't worry*

<3