Champion of Luna, Pt 1
[Corven Umbrovante]:
"WHAT!?!" the young shop owner exclaimed, looking at the head and neck of the dead Great Snake Corven had returned with upon his arrival at Mythos Isles and his shop. "You killed the Great Snake threatening my business?! Data not computing. Data not computing."
Corven had eaten some of the body, which did wonders for his cultivation. Eclipse and Night Viper ate a majority of the snake body, though Corven had informed his shadows not to touch the head of neck, which he decided he'd send to to the blacksmith along with whatever would be left of the body that Corven hadn't turned into snake meat snacks.he figured he could use these parts to make his armor and dual blades.
The shop owner of the Armaments was impressed with Corven. He just didn't know he'd get such a reaction out of the manager, or the customers who were intuitively browsing the armaments, but had open mouths and shocked faces upon seeing the head of the Great Snake and feeling its Tier A aura still trapped within its dead body.
"Can you make my armor and twin daggers using this corpse?" Corven asked the manager, straight to the point.
"With this much material? Undoubtedly, most definitely," exclaimed a delighted store owner. "And then some!"
"Whatever else you make using this corpse, I want a 40% share of," Corven announced, head held high. "As for the armor, it needs to be light, but durable, and the blade needs to be aerodynamic — it mustn't interfere with speedy strikes."
Nodding his agreement, the manager brought out a contract and quill. After reading and finishing writing it, he gave it to Corven to look over it, and, after reading it, second checking and confirming the details, Corven bit his thumb and used the blood and quill to sign the contract.
"We will have the short swords ready in two weeks and the armor ready in four, just in time for school,"" the store owner satiated, causing Corven to reassess the boy before him.
The store owner was a beefy, buff adolescent, barely 15 years of age, with tan white, sunburnt skin and orange brown eyes. He had a swole build for his age and freckles covered his face. He had ginger hair and wore blue overalls and an apron, gloves on-hands. He smelled like burnt metal and a furnace. His name was Marxes Ilmari, of House Ilmari — A powerful noble house in the cultivation world. It is said that despite not being a Great House, economically and business-wise, they could rival Luminaris and are the supposed descendants from the primordial crafting and blacksmithing god, Ilmarinen. He was at the mid-level Legacy rank but, according to Cimon, he was highly intelligent, a powerful technopath like most of his family and a famous blacksmith in the cultivating world. His family owns various tech empires across the multiverse as well as many blacksmithing firms. In terms of wealth, they were not inferior to House Luminaris or any Great House — They just don't have the desire to become a Great House, even though they could become one if they wanted. From what Cimon told Corven, they could be if they so choose, but conquest isn't their business and they typically remain to themselves rather than causing problems.
Marxes then eyed Corven. "I have a proposition for you…," he said mysteriously. To which Corven just raised an eyebrow, urging Marxes to continue as a group of blacksmiths appeared with a hovercart the size of two queen beds, made from steel. They hefted the snake head onto it and headed to the building behind the shop. "I want you to think about doing jobs for me. All you'd have to do is hunt rare monsters and bring me their remains to make armaments and experiment on. Everyone in my family can just hire strong cultivators to do this, but I prefer quality over quantity and, from what I can see, you are powerful.
"You'd have no qualms taking on powerful monsters, would you?"
Corven contemplated this before coming up with an answer. "I want 60% of all sells made with the monsters I kill, and I want this signed through a blood contract."
"Sixty percent?!" exclaimed Maraxes, surprised, before he started negotiating. "How about 45%?"
"No, no maybe 50% is fair, considering not only are you already rich, but you earn millions making and selling armor with the materials you order elsewhere, while I'm doing most of the work with the materials I earn by killing the monster," Corven said, shamelessly ignoring the fact that he, too, was technically rich. After all, in the Holy Text of Wealth & Poverty, 'when rich, ya get richer.'
Meanwhile, as Corven thought greedily about the money he'll start bringing in, Marxes could only stare at Corven, eyes twitching in annoyance.
'You shameless bastard want to bankrupt my business!' thought a forcibly smiling Marxes. 'I do have others hunting Tier B monsters and below. Hells, sometimes I join in or go solo, but no one is willing to hunt any monsters rank higher for me — At least, no one in the area, and I'm not powerful enough to face most Tier A monsters. Then again, its not like I'm not filthy rich — I am — Even if he got 80% of all the sales I made with his beast corpse he'd given me to make weapons with, I'll still make a couple of millions with what I earn, as Demigod-ranked and Legendary-ranked weapons are worth at least 10 million crowns.'
After considering this over, Marxes agreed to the terms, bringing out a sheeted of enchanted parchment and began writing out the contract in enchanted red ink. When he finished, Corven looked over it, gave a few corrections and then began to repeat his actions from earlier — He bit his thumb, dippeed the quill in his blood and signed his name.
He then shook Marxes hand, nodding appreciatively. "It's nice doing business with you. I'm sure we'll get along just fine."
'Right, or you'll be robbing me blind,' thought Marxes with a sigh, watching as Corven left the shop.
"Corven, huh?" Marxes said, reading the name on the contract. "I wonder…"
Corven exitted the Armament Shop to find Cimon sitting crisscrossed on a bench, eyes closed and focussed, cultivating.
He did not say a word upon seeing his friend, but Cimon sensed him anyway. He opened his eyes and looked at Corven. "Finished already, are we?"
"Yes," nodded a curt Corven. "Let's go. I need a shower."
Nodding, Cimon stood up and summoned his pegasus, while Corven summoned Eclipse. He then mounted and they were off.
[Celeste]:
Celeste was practicing with her brother, Sean, with the sword for the better half of the evening. She was gradually making progress in her sword arte, using the Chaotic Sword Arte of the main branch of House Luminaris in each of her swings. She was holding her own much better now against her brother, but she was still nowhere close to beating him.
Blocking one strike, Celeste reached to deflect another, inly for it to be a feint and to leave herself wide open for a counter — which Sean took full advantage of. He hooked their ankles together and pulled back, causing Celeste to fall into the dirt once again, though this time, face first, with Sean laughing gleefully to her dismay.
Their training sessions were always like this — Celeste losing face and getting beaten in the end. She was not happy about this, but she can say they have been getting worse, her loses. Sean would hold back more now, giving her hope at victory, just to snatch it away at the last moment.
It was cruel, and he had only started doing it recently — in the last three days, in fact.
Celeste knew her brother was mean, but even this was cruel. And he'd say a cheap, half thought up lesson afterwards, as if to cover up his cruelty, like "When facing a superior opponent, don't be afraid to play dirty."
It was infuriating and insufferable.
Anyways, eventually, Celeste had turned in for the evening, heading to the showers bathroom. She could use her own, but the hot water was so much better in the spare baths.
She had just been about to open the door when it opened and cold misty air wafted out the bathroom, along with the faint scent of sandalwood and cool arctic sea. Celeste couldn't help but take an intake of breath at the scents that she subconsciously found slightly calming. Eventually she managed to get control of herself, though not before thinking 'Who takes scold showers this cold?' she thought, bewildered and slightly irritated.
She was about to complain about the coldness when Corven came out, startling her. He was shirtless and only had a pair of underwear on. He was bigger than Celeste remembered when she had last seen him — in both mass and height. He was much more muscular and lean, too, like an Olympic athlete. His facial features were beginning to harden as well, becoming much more defined. They were still quite young, but most of the baby-ishness was nearly completely gone, so he looked more like an older teen than just a newly freshly turned fourteen year old.
Water and mist cascaded down his defined, broad chest. Celeste had to holt the urge to touch his beautifully defined chest and 8 pack. Celeste had to force herself to focus on his pale white eyes that seemed to be the only thing about him that had stayed the same — Sad and distant, but with something else — Something Celeste was having a hard time labeling in her head. 'Is that amusement?' she thought.
"Celeste," Corven said, getting her attention from his deep pale eyes to his face in general.
"You've gotten bigger," Celeste states, blushing just a bit at the obviousness of her statement, causing Corven's lips to twitch slightly.
"Yeah," Corven said in a slightly amused deep voice that wasn't as boyish as it was only days prior, when he first woke up, startling Celeste a little bit at just how much Corven had changed in that little bit of time. It was a deep voice that made Celeste want to take a cold shower now. "Is there… a reason you're here?"
"The hot water is better here," Celeste said awkwardly. "You?"
"The cold water is better here," he stated, scratching the back of his head, giving Celeste near perfect view of his underarm hair — She was feeling the urge to lean in and take a whiff, but fought it to save face nonetheless.
"When did you return?" Celeste asked, curious. She had not heard him return nor was she told, which she found rude of the guards and her family.
"About an hour ago," Corven said, coughing into his hand at the look of irritation he was on the receiving end of. "I would have come directly to you, but you were training, so I didn't want to disturb you."
Celeste thought this over before turning to the side, allowing Corven to pass, instinctively sniffing the air he left behind, before she thought better of it. Shaking her head, Celeste eventually entered the bathroom, trying her hardest not to inhale too deeply at the scent of sandalwood and calm arctic sea that made up Corven Umbrovante's scent.
She was not sure why it was such a hard and strenuous task, but she managed to get into the bath, though her mind kept traveling to a shirtless, almost naked Corven, whose chest, smooth and chestled, seemed the most perfect pillow.
She shook her head before thinking of ways to one up Sean during their next training session. She really needed a new Sword Arte. maybe she'll go to the Mythos Isles and find one there…
Eventually she managed to finish her bath, though not without difficulty.
That night, Celeste had a strange dream.
She stood before a vast lake, 20 miles wide, with hills seen off in the distance. As she floated over this lake, Celeste saw the most perfect reflection of the full moon overhead on its crystal clear surface. Various fishes and aquatic lifeforms swam below this place, and, in the sky, clouds made the moon partially blocked. The sound of insects sounded into the night, even this far from shore, and the energy Celeste felt from this lake was nocturnal in nature and felt lunaristic somehow at the same time.
There was more. The water below her had a pull to it — Even in her dream, ghostly form, she felt a connection to it, an unmistakable draw towards the water below that she could yet explain. There were faint whispers, she was subconsciously aware of, that urged her to get in the water, to get lost in its serene depths for an eternity, though she tried her best to ignore it. She did not even know what this place was, nor anything about it; it would be unwise to give into the urges of some unknown entity. She was never a brainless idiot and she had no intentions of becoming one overnight… Literally.
"What is this place?" Celeste asked aloud, to no one but herself. She wasn't expecting an answer, but got one anyway.
"The homeworld of House Luminaris," a voice suddenly spoke, startling Celeste. "Planet Lunaris, of the Shadow Realm."
Celeste turned to see one of the most beautiful women she's ever seen, standing beside her, looking out at the horizon before them. She had olive pale skin, pale white hair with matching eyes and she radiated an aura of calm serenity. White lunaristic miasma radiated off her like fairies; she wore a cream white dress with a silver moon crown dawning upon her flowing white hair. Behind her, lunar white wings sprouted, like an angel for the eyes.
And despite never meeting this woman, Celeste knew immediately who she was.
Bowing in respect, Celeste spoke. "I humble myself before you, Lady Luna, Progenitor of House Luminaris, Blesser of the Wolf and Primordial of the Moon, I greet you."
Celeste was no stranger to proper etiquette when speaking to a higher being. She was of royal and noble blood, an heiress of House Luminaris. She knew when to kowtow and when to show submission. All royals are taught the proper way to greet higher beings like gods and goddesses from birth, in the off-chance of actually meeting one. Celeste was no different. It was both a survival skill and a necessity in the Legacy of gods and cultivation.
"My descendant, rise," Luna gestured for Celeste to stand, smiling softly as Celeste did as she was told. "I come here often, little one… To think, to remember, to monitor my creations. You know, this lake is called the Luminaris Moon Lake — It was a gift from me to your family at the dawn of your family's founding. It holds great power…".
Celeste looked to the lake below, where glowing fishes swam about under its crystal clear surface. She again felt the urge to touch it, to dive within it and sink to its calming depths for a lifetime and then some, though she did her best to resist it. She felt the ancient power it possessed below its surface —- the water itself was a power of unparalleled proportions, she realized.
"It feels like it calls to me…," Celeste looked inquisitively at the lake before turning her inquisitive gaze to the goddess. "I feel a connection, even though I am certain I am dreaming and this place… Isn't it in the Shadow Realm? Sealed off from any and all other beings than the ones still stuck inside?"
"Astutely intelligent and suspiciously inquisitive… Very good qualities to possess, very good indeed," Luna nodded, as if making an unsaid decision she had yet to verbalize on. "This lake was used by your ancestors to awaken the Luminaris bloodline as Royal Moonborn Elves. That, and to make Lesser Moonborn Elves of newer members of your family's military forces —- Though that was typically done as a form of reward or to increase the number of forces amongst your family's military.
"It can still be this way again, should you ever become able to dip inside this lake physically, should that opportunity ever arise. That said, you would have to make it to the Shadow Realm, which, considering what is to come, will be a most strenuous and difficult task.
"Your grandparents were the last fully awakened Moonborn Elves of the Luminaris bloodline to have taken the dip in the Luminaris Moon Lake. They possessed all the elfish looks — the grace, the ears, the talent, everything. Your father would have been the last had he been dipped in the lake, to receive my Moon's blessing, but, alas, they had left the Shadow Realm at that time, to escape the Sealing.
"As a result, no Moonborn Elves have been fully awakened since the Sealing. Your house is the only one who can bring the Moonborn Elves that are trapped here to this lake to awaken their bloodlines fully, so my quest for you is to do just that. Go with the last son of House Umbrovante into the Shadow Realm whenever he opens it — and he will open it — and go to Planet Lunaris. Awaken your family's bloodline, claim your birthright and strengthen your forces — Become the power you are meant to be and save the Moonborn Elves species. They need their princess and you are running out of time. Do this, and the cure to your father's ailments," the goddess paused, gesturing to the lake before them, causing Celeste's breath to get caught. "will be a lake dip away."
Suddenly, the scenery changed.
Celeste saw winged smokey red apparitions leading an envoy of chained elves with pale skin, clever faces and sharp ears in a line towards a ruined silver castle barely standing. These red apparitions used red energy whips to keep these elves going and in place.
Multiple scenes play out, each more horrible than the last. Celeste saw various Moonborn elves enslaved and doing labor at the crack of whips and even at the fatal stabbing of red, energy spears. Silver blood pooled nearly everywhere.
Celeste was sickened to the point of gagging. These Chaos Fiends were even raping the women and children, even some of the men in some of these scenes. Even the dead was nowhere near safe enough from the perversions! Celeste saw one fiend fucking the pale corpse of a Moonborn Elf long dead by the tone of paleness that was its skin.
"Your family may have escaped the Shadow Realm, but that only left your kin you left there at the mercy of the Chaos Fiends who had already invaded the Shadow Realm before the Sealing, some of whom have managed to peirce their way inside quite recently due to the weakening of the Sealing," Luna stated, sounding angry. "I cannot interfere too much in mortal affairs, but I can watch this injustice no longer. Will you, Celeste Luminaris, be my champion?"
Celeste wanted to agree. She did. But she was already her mother's champion. How could she be Luna's as well? Is that even possible? Is there a law that prohibits the being the champion of two separate deities.
Luna, sensing Celeste's situation, smiled. "You can be the champion of two gods, child. You will just need time to adjust to the power when you use it. I will kid you not, it will be a task not for the weakest of wills, but, with your dedication and willpower, it should not be too difficult."
Celeste nodded. "Then I gladly agree to be your champion."
"Good, very good," Luna smiled, evidently pleased with Celeste's decision. "I will be expecting grand things from you child, grand things indeed."
"I will not fail you, Lady Luna," Celeste bowed her head, in respect. "I will prove myself worthy of your tutelage."
"Splendid" Luna chuckled. "Now, you shall awaken soon, so do not forget to get strong. When Corven opens the Shadow Realm, you must be there with him at all costs, to aid him in his conquest of his birthright and domain and to lead the Moonborn Elves to the victory it has so rarely seen in thousands of years of bondage."
As Luna, Celeste and their environment began to fade, Celeste could not help but feel a sense of duty and honor for being picked on such a task. She knew she needed to get strong, and she shall…Somehow.
"Before I am gone, I give you this," Luna tapped Celeste's head, and information poured inside. "Be well, my darling niece and descendant. Times will be challenging, but have hope and, like the moon, there shall be light even in the darkness of despair."
And Celeste woke up, gasping as she realized that Luna had given her a high ranking Legendary rank saber arte much more powerful than the Chaotic rank sword arte of House Luminaris.