"Elvira, you look beautiful today!"
"Thanks, Auntie Helena, you do too!"
"Oh! it's wonderful to see you, Elvira! Happy birthday!"
"Thank you, Uncle George!"
"Elvira! Thank you for accompanying Orion yesterday. He's a bit sick now but he has never gotten full marks on his homework before!"
"Thanks Aunt Lily, Orion is a lovely child to teach!"
"Elvira! Big day today, are you excited?"
She raised her brows, mouth widened with a grin as she nodded, "I'm stoked!" she exclaimed, striking a fist-bump to the sky.
"Ah-ha-ha-ha, to be young and spirited…" the woman chuckled as she turned round the corner with a basket of dirty laundry levitating behind her.
Elvira turned to face her friend, her exaggerated smile immediately drooping into frown. "I AM ABSOLUTLEY TERRIFIED!" she shouted in a whisper, every muscle in her face twitched and squirmed with the fear of expectations burdened on her head.
"Reeelaaax," Zinna sang as she caressed a hand over Elvira's back, "You'll be fine."
"You don't understand Zinnie!" Elvira exclaimed, cartoonishly glaring at her pale hands, "I DON'T FEEL ANYTHING IN ME," she groaned like a Gremlin with a case of hoarse throat, "ABSOLUTELY NOTHING."
"You worry so much," Zinna waved a hand in Elvira's passionately disgruntled face, "You were born under the Mirai Star, don't you remember Old Lirin's reading? You're destined for greatness."
Elvira threw her head back to stare at the darkened cloudy sky. "Well," Elvira said, "Did you forget that it is a Shadow Star, Zinnie, A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD!? I can either be a great Saint with no monetary income or a great disappointment!! Nothing in between!" she wailed in exasperation.
"Imagine you end up being a great saint, like Saintess Iris."
Elvira scoffed. "Or, realistically, I end up falling into darkness like you-know-who," she said while rolling her eyes at Zinna's idealistic temperament.
They were standing in a field of flowers, surrounded by the source of the fragrance manufacturing hotspot of the world. Yet, the blooming flowers provided no sense of comfort to Elvira's impassioned soul.
"You're the Chief's daughter, Elvi, everyone loves you. You'll be fine nonetheless. Also, it is hard to sense the energy flow before the awakening. Once you consume the Stryn metal infused Lake Virae water thing, it'll strengthen your affinity for you to harness your ability," Zinna explained as she walked by Elvira's side.
The river by the fields rushed with serenity, leisurely making its way to the Ocean Heart. Though the sky was cloudy, the water still dared to sparkle underneath it.
"I wish it were true…" Elvira mumbled, biting her lower lip. The frown on her forehead was so embedded, Zinna was afraid it would make a mark a on her skeleton.
"Come here," Zinna mumbled.
As Elvira leaned in, Zinna flicked her forehead. Her fingertip sparkled with a green light and a rush of calmness engulfed Elvira's being. Soft gusts of wind momentarily caressed the flowers before fleeting away. The fragrance followed it.
"Ahhh—goosebumps," Elvira moaned, shivering as the rush passed through her body, "Hehe, I like this~" She giggled.
"Of course you do," Zinna murmured, looking around, "What ability do you wish you'd get?"
"Hehe, I dunnooo~ maybe, maybe a Conjuror like my mother! It's so fun when she pulls out weapons from nowhere! Tehehe, Enhancer Type is good too, my papa and you, you're both good—but I dunnoo, I don't feel it in my bones…"
Zinna caressed a wilting flower before plucking it out.
"You're making a flower crown for me?" Elvira giggled, her pale mouth widened in a grin.
"Mhm, have to celebrate my saintess."
"With wilting flowers?"
"Your magic will make them bloom."
"Of course~!" Elvira grinned, spreading out her arms to let the wind embrace her.
"You know—"
"Pretty lady! Pretty lady Soirse! Knight Rima is looking for you, come quick!" A kid ran into the fields, shouting on top of his lungs.
Elvira turned to face the child but he was properly disguised by the lush growth of flowers in between. All she could spot were his shiny red shoes.
"Alright, thank you Tomas!" Elvira shouted back.
"Gimme candy when you're done! Byebye!" Tomas shouted, waving his hand. Unbeknownst to him, his goodbye couldn't be seen.
Elvira's stomach churned as she muttered, "I must go, mother awaits."
"I'll see you tonight," Zinna smiled and ruffled Elvira's mopey brown hair.
"See you!"
Elvira rushed out of the fields, across the bridge, past the sparkling river and into the town she grew up in. The old, bricked, yet fragrant town of Floria.
"Elvira, don't rush baby!"
"I'm not a baby anymore, don't worry Auntie Molly!"
"Elvira did you have breakfast?"
"Yes, thanks for asking Uncle Ben!"
Her flat shoes and agile build stealthily meandered her way through the crowded cobbled streets, yet, her silhouette was clearly recognisable to familiar gazes.
"Elvira, going home? Skip Hiori Lane, Penny's spell went wrong and now her clothes are dancing all over the street!"
"Thanks Aunt Lily, poor Penny must be traumatised."
"She'll live; her mother is just too much."
Elvira nodded before running past her and Hiroi Lane.
This was the town Elvira Soirse had grown up in. The streets were her home and each resident was a relative in name. Behind her parents' busy backs were the walls she grew up in and the white picket fence which she would jump over to get out because the gate was too tall for her to open.
She was five when she first wandered out, Elvira remembered as she ran past Aunt Helena's home. Her hair was an uncombed mess and tears were threatening to fall off her eyes owing to the severe groaning noises her stomach made.
Aunt Helena had seen her on the street and lured Elvira into following her. Helena was a relative of the Royal Chef of Lunaria and her culinary skills were well renowned around town. It was one of the many days when she hosted community dinners and everyone got together to get a taste of perfection.
It was a humid night when Helena held a dried fish in front of a distraught child and led her into her house. There, Elvira met the other ladies of the town along with baby Zinna whose mouth was covered in a creamy red sauce. Elvira was hungry enough to wipe the sauce off the first kind face she saw and licked her fingers. Zinna did not mind the strange greeting. They shared a smile and rest was history.
The townsfolk did not detest or blame Chief Kiof and Grand Knight Rima for their neglectful upbringing. Every morning the couple would leave for work and Elvira would sneak out to play around the neighbourhood.
It was a rainy Solday when Uncle George asked Elvira to pet-sit for him in exchange for evening snacks. The idea had stuck with Elvira throughout years to come; as she would pet-sit and eventually baby-sit for her neighbours to repay her debts to them.
Elvira loved her people but she also wanted to earn every bite she got.
Though she had learnt how to cook when she was fifteen, Elvira continued her neighbourly duties.
As long as she was outside of her house.
"Elvira Soirse! Where have you been all morning? Don't you know that I took a day off for you? It is such a big day and look--!" Rima pointed at the dirty hem of Elvira's skirt, as soon as she entered through the door, "You've been over the bridge?!"
"I was taking a walk with Zinnie," Elvira replied sheepishly.
"A walk?! It is no time for a walk! Have you prayed today? I don't understand what you spend all your days doing instead of training! Now that it's your Awakening day, be a little concerned for yourself, will you?! You cannot let us down, you know it!"
"I do, I know, I won't," Elvira mumbled as she stepped inside the house and closed the door behind her.
"Let's get you praying," Rima declared. Out of nowhere, a glistening lasso appeared and wrapped itself around Elvira's torso. Rima flicked the other end towards the prayer room and Elvira couldn't help but act upon the weapon's whims.
She was shoved into an empty room with white walls and Rima pushed her in the very center of it.
"Concentrate, can you see the stars? Pray upon the one which shines the brightest in your vision. That's your birth star; it will bless you and guide you forever."
Despite being one of the strongest Knights of the Empire, Rima was a short and muscular lady, seemingly in her early thirties, with a rare daintiness to her face. The duality of her physicality worked in her favour on the field.
But around her daughter…not so much.
Elvira stared at the blank walls, clenching her jaw. She could see nothing, as always.
"Do you see it?" Rima asked again; there was a desperation in her tone.
Elvira turned to look at her mother's earnest gaze and bit her lower lip.
"I—I can see it but it's all a bit hazy…" Elvira lied, mumbling.
"That's good! That's good! Now pray for being an Alchemist Type it is the best! Strongest, most resourceful—"
"—absolutely hard to master," Elvira added.
"—most respected—" Rima continued.
"—of course that's what you like," Elvira mumbled as she closed her eyes.
"We are the Chief family of Floria, we need to set an example for the townsfolk!" Rima exclaimed as she patted Elvira's back, "Straighten it more, concentrate your magic in your hands, you can pray to be an Elemental. Elemental would be easier for you to master, pray for it. The stars always listen to a desperate heart."
A desperate heart…
Do the stars ever listen?
Elvira gulped as she stared at her reflection in the water bowl placed in front of her.
Her desperate heart and incapable sight had spent the whole day begging into the emptiness, "I wish I have an ability. I wish I have an ability. I wish I have an ability."
Anything.
Yet, as the evening hues dawned over her crown and each neighbour walked up to her with a lantern in hand, sharing their best wishes, Elvira felt familiar dread crawling up her stomach.
She felt no different than yesterday or the day before. Or ever.
An old woman walked to the center of the field.
"As you must already know, we'll cut your ring finger on the left hand to draw blood closest to your heart. The droplet will be poured in this Stryn Vessel, in alignment with your birth star; The vessel has water from Lake Virae so the blood does not dissolve. Then, a mage from each type – Enhancer, Conjuror, Alchemist and Elemental – will pour their drops of blood. After I recite the spell, the Ability Type your blood is attracted to and merges with will declare your Awakening." Grandma Jiani explained, hovering a hand over the golden vessel.
Awakening ceremonies were usually lowkey.
But Elvira was a Soirse, so, the whole town was in attendance to celebrate the succession. Unlike for most, Elvira's Stryn Vessel was lit up with reflected lights from the town's lanterns shining like artificial guiding stars in her favour.
Yet, each starlight seemed to be piercing Elvira's vision.
Her hands were sweaty.
Her eyes searched for Zinna's face. Though her white dress had a flower pinned from each member of the town, Elvira wished for Zinna's wilting coronet to support her head.
Or maybe it was her Calming Ability that Elvira longed for.
Something, anything to escape the prying eyes which had never felt a burden before.
"Do you understand, girl?" Grandma Jiani urged.
"Of course she does!" Rima exclaimed, patting Elvira's back.
"Yes, she does," Kiof stated as he wrapped an arm around his wife's shoulders.
Elvira turned at the sound of her father's voice. "Papa," she said, a pleading look etched in her furrowed brows and quivering eyes.
"Daughter," Kiof acknowledged with a nod.
"The stars are aligning, we should begin…"
The soft gusts strengthened into a rush of wind swirling over the Stryn Vessel. Thunder rumbled through the sky, eliciting an additional electrifying hue into the reflection.
The stray woodsticks crackled underneath Elvira's feet.
"Give me your hand."
Elvira raised a clammy hand over the golden vessel. It was etched in the center of open town grounds, atop an intricately carved marble pillar. She stood on one end of the ovular vessel and hunching Grandma Jiani stood on the opposite. Behind Elvira were her parents, standing hauntingly close.
Wind rustled through the trees like a lost lover, caressing every leaf.
Behind Grandma Jiani stood Vice Chief Herbert, an Alchemy Type Mage and his son Danzel, an Elemental Type Mage.
At a distance, the rest of town circled them to witness the ceremony.
"O' Stars divine," Jiani chanted as she traced a finger over Elvira's palm.
Storm clouds responded and winds howled against her favour.
"O' STARS DIVINE, LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!" Jiani chanted with more power. Yet, the clouds only thickened.
Whispers birthed amongst the crowd. Rima and Kiof shared worried glances before looking up at the sky.
"O' STARS DIVINE, LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE,
GUIDE THE LOST THROUGH DESTINY'S LINE,
WHISPHER TRUTHS THE DARK MAY HIDE,
LET YOUR BLESSING BE BY THEIR SIDE.
CALM THE WINDS AND STILL THE SEA,
SHOW THEM WHAT THEY'RE MEANT TO BE.
WITH VIRAE'S PYRE, THEIR HEARTS ALIGN,
O' STARS DIVINE, LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE."
Jiana ran a crystal blade over the tip of Elvira's ring finger.
She squirmed yet stood firm, eyes earnestly hoping for a miracle.
"Guides, please do your part."
A cold chill ran down Elvira's spine as the four volunteers poured a droplet of blood each.
"I cannot call upon your star due to this weather… Danzel, clear up the clouds for me." Jiani ordered.
"Yes, grandma."
Danzel raised a hand toward the sky and a bright sliver bolt of light shot from a magic circle over his palm. The clouds resisted the forceful retreat but did nothing but grumble in protest. Distant pitter-patter of rain twitched Elvira's ears.
Suddenly, the moons and the stars were in clear view.
Jiani placed a hand over the Stryn Vessel and other over the Mirai Star in the sky. Her lips chanted a spell in a lost language.
An iridescent thread appeared in between her hands, fragile yet dazzling against the darkness around it. All the lanterns had flown away with the winds, so, the iridescent thread glowed like a light of hope in Elvira's face.
Gently, Jiani lowered her hand from the sky and connected the thread to Elvira's blood.
"The Awakening will begin now."
Elvira, Rima, Kiof, Herbert, Danzel, Jiani, Zinna, Helena, Orion, Penny, Lily, George, Tomas, Ben, Molly – they all tip-toed, trying to sneak a peek into the vessel.
"What is it, Oldmother?" Rima asked after a moment's worth of waiting.
"Yes, which one is it?" someone from the crowd shouted.
"Do you feel anything, daughter?" Kiof questioned.
Elvira dared not turn.
She merely gulped, staring into the Stryn Vessel and then at Jiani's widened eyes.
"It's…it's never happened before…the blood…it's not reacting…it's not choosing…?" Jiani whispered.
"W-w-what do you mean the blood is not choosing?!"
"It's…the Stars…this child is not blessed by the stars."
The age-old face of Jiani looked up at Elvira and her eyes hardened.
Gasps and whispers surrounded them.
"What do you mean she isn't blessed? It's a—it must be a misunderstanding! It is our daughter! There is no way--!" Rima exclaimed, eye blown wide as she slid to Elvira's side.
"Momma…" Elvira whispered as she looked at her mother's cold face. Never had she ever seen fear in the Grand Knight's gaze, yet, tonight, she stood before her daughter with wandering eyes and an open mouth.
"No, this is wrong, this must be a mistake. This cannot happen," Rima whispered. Her fingers twirled into a golden light and a dagger appeared in her hand. She passed one fleeting look at Elvira's horrified face before slashing her hand.
"Ah—Ma—Mother! It hurts! Stop, Mo—"
"No, it cannot be! You cannot be a curse! You are my daughter!" Rima snapped, slashing and squeezing Elvira's hand to pour more blood into the vessel.
Yet, the iridescent thread gathered all of Elvira's blood in one singular circle – away from the rest of the blood droplets.
"Knight Soirse, stop it!" Jiani scolded.
"Let go of me—!" Elvira cried.
"No —"
"Rima!" Kiof shouted. "Come back to me," he whispered and held out a hand.
The woman looked at her husband, face distraught and tear stricken. Blood dripped off her hand as she placed it over her husband's.
The clouds returned. Thunder gauged everyone's grim faces.
Kiof avoided his daughter's desperate gaze.
"She is a cursed one!" Herbert shouted, his eyes twinkling with opportunity.
"Elvira Soirse is not blessed by the stars!" Danzel shouted, following his father.
Elvira turned to convey the betrayal in her eyes.
"Ah cursed child! Unblessed! She will bring calamity onto us!"
"We will be destroyed for harbouring evil!"
"Cursed…is that why Orion fell sick after spending time with her? She, she is already harming my grandson's lifeforce!" Helena shouted.
"No…is that why my brother passed last season?"
"Unblessed do not belong here!"
"Leave us—we beg you, Elvira…we don't want to suffer the wrath of the Stars!" Molly shouted.
"Useless! Go die! Don't bring doom upon us!" George shouted.
More words followed but Elvira's mind wasn't present enough to process them.
Rain began to pour, a simple droplet at a time, striking against her skin.
Her eyes finally found Zinna's. She looked worried. It flickered hope in Elvira's heart.
"Leave. Leave and never return."
The hope was crushed as soon as her father's words rang through her ears. She turned and her knees buckled. Elvira fell to the ground and the rain worsened its thrashing. Winds howled at the spectacle as the girl begged.
"Papa! I'm sorry! I'll do better, I'm sorry, please don't make me leave! I know—I don't know anyone beyond this town, papa, please, forgive me. I—I will live silently, I will never go out—you can hit me, beat me up but, but, don't make me leave—"
"Yah! You curse, don't you understand that no one wants you here anymore? What, did you think that everything will go back to the way it was in a week or two? That they'll begin throwing you leftovers again?" Herbert mocked.
"Leave while you still have dignity or the town will tear you apart."
Elvira looked up and indeed, the once familiar warm gazes were now cold and evasive. Just because she did not have a stupid ability…everyone closed their hearts on her. Feet shuffled, footsteps—Elvira saw the retreating feet of her mother.
She lunged at them.
"Ma—"
Someone dragged her by her feet. Away from her mother and across the rough ground.
"You! Get out now!" Danzel spat.
The crowd began dissipating.
Desperate, Elvira's gaze struggled to find a flicker of kindness.
Sadly, the night had eaten them all up.
A green flicker. Elvira saw Zinna's lips mouth, 'This is all I can do for you.' She flicked the light towards her.
And Elvira passed out.