Romersai, or rather her guardian Hannah, had handed it to her when she left the Crepusculem seven years before.

"You know I still love you, right? I'm sorry that I couldn't change Zen's mind, but you know you always have me on your side, right?" The head mage's delicate fingers had softly run through Ada's tangled locks.

The day's events had left her far from presentable, tracks of tears mixed with mascara marring her rosy cheeks, clothes in tatters, her hair a chaotic mess. She had sat alongside the one who had cared for her like a mother since her parents vanished in a battle with the Dark Side on a frigid winter night.

Shinatzai Zen, the head priest, had already rendered his final verdict. She had to leave. She had failed to adhere to the Crepusculem's code of conduct and was no longer fit to hold the sacred Luna Pearl. Her dealings with the dark side had gone awry, resulting in a tragedy that nearly shattered the Romersai clan. If anything had gone wrong that night, if she had been unable to mitigate the damage, the Guardians of Light-the Romersais-could have been on the brink of extinction.

"Here, take this. Talk to me whenever you want. Call me whenever you feel unsafe or alone." That's when the head mage had offered her the Moon Amulet for the first time. Ada's gaze had flickered to the ornate mirror pendant, adorned with intricate patterns, in her hand.

"You know how to use it, right?" The head mage's warm hazel eyes had searched her face, to which Ada had responded with a hesitant nod.

"Of course you do. You were the most promising candidate the Crepusculem had seen for the position of Head Mage in a long time," Hannah had continued with a touch of pride.

But it was a bitter irony; Ada was no longer eligible. She had failed, and the Head Mage could no longer vouch for her.

Tears had welled in Ada's eyes, a painful mix of shame, humiliation, and failure. She had disappointed everyone and turned into a disgrace in her brother's eyes. A tear had rolled down her cheek, renewing the tracks that were already etched there.

"I'm sorry. I failed you," she had muttered, her head hanging low.

The head mage's hand had slipped around her, enveloping her in a warm, reassuring hug.

"I know, Ada, I know. I know how sorry you are," the head mage had murmured, drawing soothing circles on her back. "But here's the thing. Everyone makes mistakes. You've got to rise from those ashes, stand tall, and show them what you're made of."

She had pressed the amulet into Ada's trembling hand. "You can do this, my girl. You must do this."

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

It had been so long since she had held such an artefact in her hands let alone recited any of the verses that she had been learning her whole life. She was uncertain whether it would still work. With trembling hands, she retrieved the amulet from its confines, polished it, and focused her thoughts on the only rescue she knew the road to.

She held the Moon Amulet before her, her eyes fixed on its polished surface. She poured all the magic she could muster into the mirror, hoping to reach someone on the other end. Her heart raced as the mirror began to glow with an intensity that was almost blinding, like a miniature sun.

A profound sense of guilt washed over her, drowning her in its icy grip. Realising that somehow she had been saved only meant one thing to her: Auden was in danger and she was his only refuge. Crying wouldn't bring the least of help, so she forced herself to regain composure.

The mirror's glow intensified, her reflection now almost consumed by its radiance. Ada strained to keep it powered, her fingers trembling with the effort. She focused on her intention, the desperate need to reach out to the other side, to get information, to find her brother.

Their childhood fights were trivial, usually over nothing of consequence. Fists flew in their bouts because they were forbidden from using duel magic indoors. Yet, every skirmish ended the same way, with Ada sulking and protesting, refusing to engage with her brother until he made amends.

Those were simpler times, filled with innocent sibling rivalry. Now, their fights had taken on a much darker and sinister tone.Ada couldn't help but blame her own life choices, which had inadvertently led Auden down the path that had transformed him into what he was now.

Her heart raced with anticipation. The mirror blinked, a beacon of hope, a potential connection to someone on the other side. Ada's voice trembled as she whispered, "Please, someone, answer."

The mirror blinked again, a signal that someone might be on the other side. For a moment, she thought her call had been answered, and her lips curved into a tentative smile. But then it dimmed, and Ada's hope faltered.

She concentrated harder, drawing on every ounce of magic she could summon. The mirror flickered to life once more, shining like a beacon of connection in the dimly lit room. She could see a faint reflection of herself in the mirror's surface, her face etched with determination and worry.

"Please," she whispered, her voice laced with desperation. "Please, Hanna please.

The mirror blinked again, a glimmer of possibility, and Ada felt a surge of hope. She struggled to keep it powered up, her fingertips almost numb with the effort. But then, as if in cruel defiance, the blink intensified, a final, brilliant flash, before the mirror's light abruptly dimmed and went out.

Ada stared at the lifeless mirror in her hand, her heart heavy with disappointment. She knew what that intensified blink meant; it was the last of her remaining magic, and the connection had been severed. She had run out of her weekend powers, and her desperate attempt to reach someone had ended in silence.

Kaya, observing her distress, placed a firm hand on her shoulder. "Ada, we'll figure this out. You need to stay strong."

The ominous words of Gagagore echoed in her mind. If she hadn't abandoned her brother, he might never have chosen this dark and treacherous path.The thought of what Auden might be experiencing weighed heavily on her heart.

Guilt consumed her, and she couldn't contain the tears that welled up in her eyes. Uncontrollable sobs shook her body as she struggled with the weight of responsibility and regret.

Just then the amulet blinked again, startling Ada out her franzy. Just as Ada struggled with her own reflection in the tear-streaked amulet, a mysterious blink made her start. Through the lingering magical haze, a faint shadowy figure danced, raising Ada's hopes.

"Who... who's there? Can you hear me? Hello?" Ada's voice trembled with both fear and anticipation as she hastily wiped away tears, focusing intently on the reflective surface.

Her grip on the intricately carved frame tightened, and with one final surge of her latent powers, the shadowy figure behind the glass took form. The image coalesced into a colourful display, revealing a young girl on the other side. She seemed too young to be Hanna or anyone Ada recognised.

The little girl, her cheeks puffed up in a rosy pout, tilted her head, her eyes twinkling in amazement. "Who aal yo?" she inquired innocently.

"I-" Ada hesitated, contemplating how to introduce herself to this young enigma. "Are there any adults around there?"

"Adulth?" The girl's head tilted from side to side in confusion.

"Hanna? Shinatzai? Maybe your mom?" Ada suggested, a note of concern creasing her forehead. Leaving such a powerful amulet with a toddler seemed out of character for Hanna, who was known for her meticulous approach to magic.

"Mom?" the little one echoed, baffled. At that moment, another voice interjected, and a girl identical to the first, albeit much older and mature, appeared in the background.

"Elva! What are you doing? I've been looking for you all over the Crepusculem. I-oh." The elder sister's scolding tone abruptly halted as she took in the sight of the crystal amulet. "Isn't this Hanna's crystal amulet-" Her eyes widened as she noticed the illusion reflected in the glass.

"Oh, good heavens-who is this- Lady Ada??" Recognition flashed in her eyes as she identified Ada.

"Sea!" Ada greeted with a mix of recognition and surprise.

Sea had been a foetus mage-in-training at the Crepusculum during Ada's time, one of the last young mages who got to attend her Defence against The Dark classes, alongside Auden and their peers, before she had to leave Crepusculem. The girl seemed to have grown a lot since the last time she had seen her.

Sea's eyes widened as she connected Ada's face with her memories. "My Lady! What are you doing here?"

"It's a long story, but right now, what's happening at the Crepusculum? Why is Elva holding Hanna's amulet? Where's Hanna?"

Sea's expression shifted from shock to urgency. "My Lady, something really bad happened here," She announced in such urgency.

"The heir is gone. So is the Luna Pearl. Lady Hanna thinks it is the Dagasha Monarch returning and Lord Romersai is in grave danger."

"Gan took him," Ada interrupted, her voice trembling.

"My lady-" the young girl on the other end began, her eyes wide with fear.

"I was there. I fought him. But I couldn't stop Auden . He had summoned the serpent." Ada's words were laden with guilt and desperation.

Sea gasped, looking around frantically as she tried to form a coherent sentence. "My lady-I-Hannah-" She nudged her little sister urgently. "Go find Lady Hannah. Go. Run."

Through the shiny surface of the amulet, Ada watched as the little one ran and disappeared into the chaos. Her heart ached, knowing the turmoil that was unfolding.

"The veil can't hold anymore without the Luna Pearl, and Normies are sending troops to the mountain. It's all chaos here. Lord Zen and Lady Hannah are in the midst of damage control. Everyone is trying to do something the way they can-it's hard to get one of the head mages right now. No one really knows what happened though. I'll try to find her and deliver the message fast."

Sea's voice was frantic, her breaths coming in quick gasps. The view through the amulet began to lose focus as someone barreled into her. The scene descended into chaos with people running, clouds of dust, and the clueless blue sky overhead. Ada's heart sank further, feeling the weight of the disaster that had befallen her people.

Sea's voice rang out again amidst the background noise. "All the clans are accusing our Heir. Heiress, we need you back here."

Ada's mind raced. The urgency in Sea's voice and the chaotic scenes unfolding before her eyes pushed her further into despair. Her fingers tightened around the amulet, her knuckles white with tension, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart.

"Tell them to hold on. I'll be there as soon as I can."

Sea's image flickered, her face determined despite the turmoil. "We'll do our best. Be safe, my lady." And with that, the connection was severed.

Ada stared at the now dull surface of the amulet, feeling a mixture of fear and resolve. Kaya's steady presence beside her was a small comfort amidst the chaos.

"We need to move quickly," Kaya said, his voice firm. "Gather whatever you need. We're heading to the mountain."

Ada shook her head. "I'll move to the mountain. You stay here."

"What? No, you're not going alone! Not in this state," Kaya protested, his voice rising with concern.

"I have to do this, Kaya. I have to fix the mess I made." Ada placed a hand on Kaya's arm, her grip firm but Kaya flipped it away as he stood to his full height.

"I am coming with you. End of the discussion!" Kaya stormed back into her closet.

The sounds of objects falling echoed through the room, and Ada watched as clothes flew around in the cramped space. He seemed to be searching for something.

"I'm not welcome there. Neither are you," Ada called after him, her voice barely holding back her emotion.

"And you suppose?" Kaya questioned, stopping his search midway, his head cocked to the side. He looked slightly pissed.

"I-I'll sneak in. I'll meet Hannah."

"And?"

"I'll tell her what I know. I know Gan, and I know my brother. There must be some weakness we can use to take down the egregore they've become."

"Well, yeah, that journey can definitely use a companion."

"It's dangerous."

"Not as much as letting you go on your own!" he called back from the closet. In minutes, the man returned with a cloak in his hand.

He stood in front of Ada and waved the cloak in her face. "This thing ain't dusty unlike any other article in there from your Crepusculum era. Looks like you've been going out with it."

"It's too dangerous. I should convince them to fight Gan. Let's not make them fight us," Ada reasoned, ignoring his comments on the cloak.

But Kaya wasn't having any of it. He nudged her up and draped the cloak over her shoulders. Grabbing her wrist firmly, he pulled her towards the window. Drawing the white curtains away, they were greeted with the sight of the ghost city of Crepusculum peeking through a cloud of mist on the rocky island.

"See, that's the biggest problem they have now, not us." He pointed at the shore, crowded with research teams.

The shore was lined with yellow and black striped caution tapes and various signs warning citizens not to trespass. Some boats were already launched into the water, equipped with necessary tech and staff for investigation.

"You're gonna need some distraction. And do you remember how to swim? Because I don't think it's showtime for a spell to walk on water or divide it to bridge the land," Kaya added. "And yes a boat is out of the question."

He hurried over to his satchel, hastily shoving in whatever he had pulled out, including the empty beer cans, and swung it over his shoulder. He walked to the door and waited for Ada.

Taking a deep breath, she flung the hood over her head. After one last glance, she drew the curtains back and led herself out of the room, Kaya following closely behind.