Before the first mortals drew breath, the Primordial Sky gave birth to two radiant deities:
Aurivis, the Sun God, was a blazing warlord who wielded a spear of molten gold.
Lucine, the Moon Goddess,
a queen of shadows with silver hair and eyes like frozen starlight.
The gods of the stars, known as the Celestials, tasked them to guard the balance of day and night.
Aurivis would lead the Golden Legion, bringing fire and life to the world.
Lucine would guard the Silent Court, protecting dreams, tides, and secrets of the dark.
Though they were opposites, love bloomed between them-
Love is as forbidden as fire and ice,
For the Celestials warned:
"If the Sun and Moon unite, the sky will fall into chaos."
For centuries, they admired each other from afar, meeting only at twilight, when the day bled into night. But Aurivis's passion was a wildfire. He defied the Celestials, swearing he would claim Lucine before all creation.
Under a blood eclipse, they met in secret.
Their love was all-consuming, and in that single embrace, their combined power tore open the veil of the heavens.
From their union were born celestial children-
The Eclipsed Ones, beings of shadowfire, neither light nor dark.
They devoured the stars for sustenance.
They howled in hunger, creating storms and earthquakes.
And they turned their fangs upon the mortal world below.
The Celestials, enraged by the betrayal, declared war upon the Sun and Moon.
The Golden Legion of the Sun clashed with the Silver Phantoms of the Moon. Stars rained from the Heavens like arrows. The ocean boiled, and deserts burned as the sky itself fractured.
In the final battle, Aurivis faced the Celestial Warden, while Lucine shielded their monstrous children.
The Sun God, in a desperate act of wrath, burned his children to deny the Celestials their victory.
Lucine's screams cursed the heavens, and from her tears, the first black eclipse was born.
For their defiance, the Celestials tore the lovers apart for eternity.
Aurivis was bound to burn the sky endlessly, never resting, his fire a reminder of betrayal. Lucine shattered into phases, her once perfect form broken into crescents, forever mourning her lost children.
And so, the Sun forever chases after the Moon, but she will always turn her face away, for she cannot forgive his betrayal - and he cannot forget the love that destroys the sky.
When the rare eclipse darkens the world, mortals whisper:
"The Sun has caught the Moon once more, and the sky bleeds for their sins."
———————————————————
"Earth to Aysel!"
Aysel jolted, snapping out of her daydream. She blinked up to find Zephyr's face inches from hers.
"Huh? Y-Yes? What were you saying again?" she stammered, forcing an awkward smile.
Zephyr tilted his head, a slight frown of concern flickering across his face, though he let it pass.
"I was asking if you wanted to grab lunch. Class is over, and we've got a break. You're new here, so I'm guessing you don't know the way to the cafeteria yet."
Aysel blinked, then nodded quickly. "Oh—right. Sure. Let's go for lunch."
She rose from her seat and followed him out of the classroom, noticing it was now completely empty. Everyone else had already left.
After a few minutes of walking through the bustling hallways, they stepped into the cafeteria—a vast hall filled with long rows of tables and the buzz of conversation. Nearly every table was occupied with students enjoying their meals.
But something immediately struck Aysel as… strange.
"Huh? Where's the buffet table? Or the line to get our food?" she asked, scanning the room in confusion.
Zephyr chuckled, clearly amused. "We don't need that. We're at a magic academy, remember?"
Before she could ask what he meant, he took her hand—startling her—and led her toward a quiet table in the corner.
"All we need are a table and chairs," he said with a grin as he pulled out a chair for her. "You'll see soon enough."
Once they were seated, Aysel's attention was drawn to the strange tray that had appeared in front of them, faintly glimmering with runic symbols along its edges.
Seeing Aysel's puzzled expression, Zephyr's grin widened.
"Watch and learn," he said, placing his hands over the rune-etched tray.
A faint glow of magic rippled beneath his fingers, and in a heartbeat, a steaming plate of food appeared on the tray—golden bread, roasted meat, and a cup of sparkling juice.
Aysel's eyes widened in astonishment.
"In our school, everything runs on magic," Zephyr explained casually. "Just imagine what you want, and the tray will create it."
Her jaw dropped. So that's why no one uses money here…
"Your turn," he said with a smirk. "If you're not sure what to eat, there's a menu board on the wall."
Aysel nodded, grateful for the instructions. "Thanks. I'll… give it a try."
She placed her hands over the tray and closed her eyes, feeling the familiar hum of magic flowing through her veins. She pictured the food she wanted, channeling the energy into the tray—
—and suddenly, the cafeteria erupted in gasps.
Aysel's eyes snapped open.
Not only had food appeared on her tray… the entire table around her was now overflowing with dishes—sizzling meats, colorful pastries, steaming soups, and glistening desserts.
"Wh-What the—how did this happen?!" she blurted, completely stupefied.
From her side came the sound of low, impressed whistling. She turned to find Zephyr leaning on his chair, eyes sparkling with amusement.
Instead of feeling flattered, Aysel had the uneasy sensation of being studied, like she was some rare and fascinating specimen he couldn't wait to dissect.
Aysel quickly looked away, cheeks warm with embarrassment.
"I… I didn't mean for this to happen," she muttered, her voice low. "My magic just… won't listen to me."
She let out a quiet sigh, her earlier excitement deflating into exhaustion. Even the sight of the mouthwatering feast couldn't stir her appetite anymore.
Should I just leave? she thought miserably. There's no way I can finish all this…
The long table before her was completely buried under plates of steaming dishes and colorful desserts, drawing curious stares and whispers from every corner of the cafeteria.
Just as Aysel debated between fleeing in shame or enduring the stares, a calm voice interrupted her thoughts.
"May I join you?"
Startled, she looked up—her gaze locking with a familiar face.
The boy standing before her wore a gentle smile, warm and inviting, his very presence radiating a quiet ease that contrasted sharply with Zephyr's restless energy.
Aysel's breath caught. Isn't he…