“So you accidentally ran into Maria who was coming back from the bathroom while you were going to the Library?”

“Yes, sir,” Luna said calmly as she sipped on the hot chocolate Highfather Jedri prepared for her. Luna sat on his puffy office chair in front of his small bookshelf next to an oil lamp that bathed the office in a soft yellow glow. 

Luna hoped that lying to the Highfather wasn’t the kind of sin that would cause Allora to throw her into the Underworld. Maria was too cute, she had to protect her. Luna was sure Allora would understand.

“I see.” Jedri, looked at his notebook and mumbled some more. 

“What’re you working on, sir? Luna looked at Highfather Jedri inquisitively and sipped on her hot chocolate some more.

“Nothing important, just something I’m researching.” Highfather Jedri closed his notebook, looked at Luna, and smiled. The yellow light glinted off of his blue eyes turning them into a mysterious abyss. “So, mind telling me why you were sneaking off to the library?”

Luna stared at the marshmallows floating around in her hot chocolate. “I found out about the Witch of Calamity. Why didn’t anyone tell me about her earlier? She seemed important to the history of this world. Everyone seemed to know about her except me.” 

Highfather Jedri closed his eyes and sighed. “I’m sorry, Luna. We weren’t trying to hide anything from you on purpose. The Witch of Calamity is the ultimate evil of this world, and as the world slowly comes to accept you as the Holy Saintess you’re destined to surpass the Sword Saint and become this world’s ultimate good. People are going to look at you as the living avatar of Allora, so to speak. That’s a lot of pressure.”

Luna shuddered and felt a little nauseous. Was it the weight of everyone’s expectations, sinking in?

Highfather Jedri continued. “I was hoping to wait until after your training came to an end when you were a bit older to tell you about all of this. I just wanted you to have some time left as a kid, you know? I swear I never meant to deceive you.”

Luna gulped down her hot chocolate and laughed. “You’re a really nice guy, aren’t you? Thank you for worrying about me. I should’ve known!” 

Highfather Jedri laughed in return, “Well, it is kind of my job to be nice.”

 

Luna handed the empty mug back to the Highfather. “I think I’ve heard all I’ve needed to. I’m gonna head back to my room now.”

As Luna walked towards the door, Highfather Jedri suddenly shouted out. As Luna turned around, an old-looking book glowed in a golden light as it hovered through the air towards Luna as she caught it with both her hands. 

“What’s this?” Luna looked at the old and dusty book. Its cover was written in a language she’d never seen before and was eaten away by decay. 

“It’s an old book about the Witch of Calamity. You might find some information in there, most people don’t know a whole lot about her. It’s written in Elvish, a dead language. So you’ll have to do some translating and research.” Highfather Jedri replied with a wide smile on his face.

Luna sighed. This was beginning to feel like homework. “Thank you, Highfather Jedri. I’m heading to my room now. Have a good night.”

“I hope you do the same.” Highfather Jedri smiled gently, as Luna closed the door. 

Slowly his smile faded as his eyes drifted to the notebook that sat on his desk. “Nice guy, huh?”

Luna walked down the hallway, book in hand, and studied its cover. On the cover, or what was left of it anyway, a large purple and gold butterfly spread across it. In the middle, in a bright gold font read a language Luna had never seen before. 

In bold letters wrote: Mth'sco ephudatsco: Ophelia, tys outh'oifdat tov misooat chym oein'foge tov iesc. 

Luna finally made it back to her room and plopped onto her bed. After settling in, Luna opened up the book and began to carefully flip through its pages. Luna examined each page, paying the most attention to the various illustrations scattered around the book’s various pages. Luna saw images of people of all shapes and sizes. They looked like regular humans except for their long ears that poke out from the sides of their heads and they all appeared to have blond hair and golden eyes. 

Over the various pages, Luna saw the Elves laugh, live in fantastical kingdoms overgrown in trees, dance in what looked like large cultural festivals, and hunt creatures Luna had never seen before. As Luna scoured the pages she noticed something interesting. At first, she didn’t realize it, but it became more apparent as she looked closer. There were humans mixed in with the elves. The two races danced together ate together and appeared to be on rather friendly terms. 

However, after flipping to the next page Luna gasped audibly. The illustration shook Luna to her core. Cities in ruins, the sky blocked out by smoke, countless dead, and human soldiers marching through the streets. All over the pages, images of Dark Beasts eating fallen Elven women, men, and children. Luna wanted to throw up. 

Luna’s hand shook as she turned the page. She noticed that the writing in the book had become scribbled and messy as if it were written in a hurry. Flecks of blood littered the page. On the page drawn in the distinctive copper brown of dried blood was the image of a crude butterfly. 

Luna turned the page one more time but could no longer make anything out. It appeared as if the author had abandoned drawing out what they saw. Instead, covering the pages was a wild and frenzied text that Luna was unable to even begin comprehending. As Luna continued flipping the pages, the wild and sporadic writing continued until the very end. 

Luna closed the book and sighed. What happened back then? What caused the Elves to go extinct? What was with the butterfly? 

Luna grumbled. She wanted answers about the Witch of Calamity, but this gave her nothing but more questions! Luna sighed and figured a trip to the library was going to have to be on her to-do list after all.

Luna plopped the book next to her and brought her knees up to her chest. Luna tried not to think about the images she saw, but every once in a while, they’d come floating back only to shock her once more. Eventually, Luna managed to drift off into a hollow sleep. 

***

The sun was bright. Too bright. Its rays shone down bathing everything in white fire. Everything the rays touched was left bleached and empty. Hollow and broken. From the sky, rained down a black and golden goo, that covered everything in a dark and thick muck. Luna looked up at the sky and covered the sun with her hands to keep out its burning glare. A glob of black goo dripped onto Luna’s face and slid down the side. She didn’t even flinch. There were no clouds in the sky, not that one could even tell. Even the sapphire blue of the sky had been drained and replaced only with white. 

Luna’s face was covered in dirt and scars, her hair dirty and covered in old blood. Luna’s once beautiful armor was covered in gashes and twisted metal scars. Her left side burned like it was on fire. She reached down and pulled up her hand only to see it dyed in blood. Luna clenched her sword tighter, its burning flames whipped around her. Luna pressed the sword into her side and cauterized the wound. She would’ve screamed but this pain was nothing new. She was a soldier. A Magical Knight. When she was finished Luna let go of the sword as it broke apart into bits of ashes that scattered into the wind. 

Luna looked off into the distance. She knew she needed to do something. Someone needed her. Someone important. Luna called out, but her voice was empty. Muted. Luna called out again. Nothing, as if the words had been erased just as they had been spoken. Finally, Luna saw into the distance. A girl with beautiful violet hair. Her armor shined a vibrant white and gold, but it was tainted by the black muck and caked in blood. A golden sword pierced into the girl’s chest, as she lay on the ground motionless. Several black and gold butterflies danced around her body as if she were a flower to be pollinated. 

Luna screamed. She screamed her name, but once more it was erased. Luna stepped forward, and ignored the sickening crunch of charred bones beneath her feet. Luna stepped forward ignoring the agonizing cry of innocent voices unable to die no matter what horrid, ragged state they were in. Luna stepped and stepped and stepped. The black muck threatened to pull her down with each step. Even so, Luna fought it and finally made her way to the violet-haired girl. 

After she arrived, Luna fell to her knees and cried. “Don’t go, ____! Please, don’t leave me!”

Luna grabbed the golden sword with both her hands, ripped it out of her chest, and swung it around desperately trying to chase off the butterflies, but to no avail. She screamed and threw the sword to her side. Luna grabbed the purple haired girl and brought her limp, cold body closer to her chest and sobbed so deeply her entire body shook. 

After what seemed like an eternity, the tears finally dried up as Luna noticed a presence behind her. 

A being covered in green and black butterflies. A handsome boy. A warm smile spread across his face, but Luna knew better than to trust it. The boy’s figure morphed in and out, as the butterflies flowed in the swarm. 

Luna grasped the girl tighter and addressed the boy in the Elvish tongue without even looking at him, “Voghu ofr'dat geb atc, iedat. Voghu iorty skyf voghu pdat skdat.” 

The boy smiled as his butterflies morphed in and out. “A contract, you say? My sister was right about you. You are an interesting one…” 

Luna awoke the next day, her body covered in sweat. Tears dripped down her face leaving two wet spots on her sheets. Luna sat up and rubbed her eyes. 

“That was some nightmare! Was it from the book?” Luna stood up, stretched, and noticed that the sun was shining through the window. That was rare, Luna thought. Usually, she woke up early in the morning. For her to have slept for so long was surprising. 

Suddenly, the door to Luna’s room burst open. Luna jumped back and screamed in surprise. 

Abigail stood rigidly, glaring harshly at Luna. “How long do you plan to sleep!?”

Luna yawned, “I had a rough night, my bad. What’s the big rush?”

Abigail snorted, “Apparently, you’ve been chosen to accompany the younger trainees as a guardian on their first Pilgrimage outside the city. It's in a rural village in Duke Lindir’s territory!”

Luna’s eyes grew wide as Abigail continued. “This is your first major step towards becoming a Sister, so you better hurry up and pack your things. You leave in three hours!”

“Ehh!?” Luna couldn’t help but shout in response.