The book trembled slightly in my hands.
I sat in the mansion library, flipping through the Lunar Sage's journal, hoping for any clue, any diagram, any spell that might help me synthesize a cure.
Nephor's Poison… there has to be something in here. Some meditation technique. A cleansing ritual. A magic configuration…But nothing. Page after page, more drawings. More positions. More philosophies. Nothing direct. Behind me, I heard a sound of boots. I turned. Baron Alfred stood there. "Trouble?" he asked. I hesitated. Then nodded. "It's Luna. She's been poisoned. Nephor's Poison."
The name dropped like a huge rock on his head Alfred's eyes widened. He said nothing—just turned and walked away. His footsteps were heavy, deliberate.
I stared at him. What was that...?
That evening, as the sun dipped behind the hills and the sky turned a soft orange, I stood outside my home, facing the wind.
"Let myself be created once more. May the emotions and strength of mine be reflected through another self, Auxiliary Magic: Real Clone!"
Energy sparked before me, air collided and twisted, until a second me stood on the grass. He looked identical to me in every way, save for the slightly duller glow in his eyes and the faint magical shimmer across his skin.
"Handy little spell," I whispered. "Took me long enough to get it stable."
My clone looked around. "Stay here. Eat. Study. Don't let anyone find out." The clone nodded.
Just then, a voice, "Elric?"
Edward stood at the edge of the road, staring in disbelief.
"Ah! Edward!" I grinned. "Just the person I needed."
He blinked. "Why... why are there two of you?"
"Oh, him?" I gestured casually. "That's my clone." "YOUR WHAT?!?!" "Real Clone. Auxiliary magic. I've been practicing it in secret. Anyway, I'm going out of the village. He'll stay here and act as me."
Edward's jaw practically hit the floor. "Elric—you can't just leave like that! Where are you even going?!"
"To master something," I said simply.
He stepped forward, urgency in his voice. "I don't get it...."
I looked at him, long and hard. His concern was real. But there was no time.
"You don't need to understand, Ed. Just… keep the secret. The real me will be at the top of Mount Lunaria. The clone will live here as if nothing changed."
"You know I can't allow you to go," he said, voice cracking.
I smiled gently. "You can't stop me either."
I stepped past him, patting his shoulder.
"Trust me. Take care of Ash. He's… important. Maybe more than we know."
I ran.
The wind rushed against my face. The stars began to blink above me. The silhouette of Mount Lunaria rose ahead like a shadowed titan waiting for its challenger.
Behind me, Edward didn't follow. Couldn't.
He sat on his veranda later that night, the moonlight falling across his face.
Across the road, that clone moved normally—watering the garden, yawning, petting the Leon who had curled at the doorstep.
"He looks exactly like Elric…But that's not him." I clenched my fists. Auxiliary Magic? No one can master to that level of creating a clone.....Where did you even learn that chant Elric? Its not in any of the books in library of the mansion. "What are you, Elric?" I whispered. "Who even are you?"
In the Baron's Mansion, Baron Alfred stood alone in his study. The candle on the desk flickered low. Dust danced in the golden light.
He opened a small drawer in the cupboard and carefully pulled out a framed picture: a beautiful woman, her smile radiant, her eyes kind. She wore a long cloak, green, like the leaves of spring, and a single silver pendant with a shining sun ornament on it. "Lyria…" he whispered.
Memories clouded his mind. "Alfredo! I got a new task! Its for escorting a merchant!" a beautiful voice was heard. "Alfredo! Let's hunt some in the dungeon!". Then suddenly a dark one, a mark, like a curse, growing creeply with exhaustion. "Alfredo.....I'm afraid I can't survive this, but be happy whatever you become!" said the girl, who now lay lifeless. "No!!!" Young Alfred screamed.
"Nephor's Poison…" He clenched the photo to his chest. "I couldn't save you. Not even with my unique skill, Curia. Not with anything…"
Tears didn't fall. "But this time… maybe…"
Mount Lunaria, Night
The mountain air was cold and crisp. Above, those nine moons was full—so full it seemed to pulse with quiet energy. The light illuminated the mountain peak in Silver Glow. The forest below was silent. I sat in the lotus position, the Sage's journal open on my lap.
"This is it…" I took a deep breath. "This is the time... I will awaken it."
I closed my eyes. "Focus. Focus. Focus." "Think of the cure…" "Cure... Cure... Cure…"
And then—silence. No thoughts. No sound. Just… stillness.
The warmth of the moonlight wrapped around me like a veil. My body became weightless. My breath aligned. I could feel it—Lunar Energy. Cool. Calm......My mind went inward, descending past thoughts of swords, battles, even reincarnation.
Rosa sat by her sister's bed, gripping Luna's hand tightly.
Her twin trembled, breath ragged, face flushed and pale all at once. The mark had grown darker.
"Come on, Luna... wake up…"
Then—the door opened. Baron Alfred stepped in.
Rosa's parents turned sharply. "Baron?" He nodded. "There….may be one way." He stepped closer, raising his right arm. A soft, bluish-gold aura glowed around his hand.
"Please, respond to my call in this time of need. May the ill become healthy again.....Unique Skill: Curia."
The light flowed from his palm and enveloped Luna's body. Her breathing slowed. Her body relaxed slightly. The mark began to slightly disappear
Rosa gasped. "It's working!"
But then the glow faded. And Luna's breathing became irregular again.
"It's… not enough…I still don't have enough mana....." Alfred whispered, lowering his hand. "I'm sorry."
Carla covered her mouth, tears forming again.
"There is… one more thing," Alfred said slowly. "A technique… a forgotten power." "It was called the Lunar Sage Art Mode."
Silence fell over the room.
"It was a technique used by the Sage himself. A sacred martial and magical fusion that allowed him to channel the nine moons' energy and cure any poison... even Nephor's...But no one can use it," he added. "It died with him."
Amos gritted his teeth. "So… there's nothing?"
Baron Alfred shook his head. "I will send for a surgeon from the Royal Capital," he said. "It's all I can do now." He turned to leave—but not before casting one last look at Luna's pale face. "Lyria... if only I could've learned it too..."
With Rosa,
"Let me try father!" I said. "Rosa.....its no use, the Baron's unique skill which can heal any ailment itself did not work" said father. "But we have to try!" I said. Maybe my nature magic will work. I will chant what I know. "Let the injured be treated with magic.....Let the nature Guardian bless this magic and grant me his power.....Nature Magic: Healing Roots!" I said. Roots emerged from the wooden floor as it engulfed Luna in roots. It will work as long as I have mana. Urgh! Gah! I felt immense pain. What happened? "Rosa! You must not cast healing magic with those with Nephor's Poison!" said Father. "But Father...." I started. "Nephor's Poison is an anti - magic Poison. It saps the infected Mana Drain. Any Healing Magic will not work and will affect the use too. I stopped my magic. "Luna..." I looked back.
With Elric, I was… somewhere else. In the center of the void floated a strange glowing crescent, like a spinning blade of light. This is it... the key...