Prologue: The Relic Beyond the Pages
The rain fell gently outside, tapping rhythmically against the old bookstore windows. The sign above the door creaked in the wind: "Moonlight Tomes"—a place tucked between a flower shop and a forgotten café on a quiet Tokyo street.
Inside, the scent of aged paper and dust hung in the air like a spell. Hikari Mizuno stepped in, shaking her umbrella gently.
"Hello?" she called softly, brushing raindrops off her school blazer. Her pink twin tails bounced as she peered through the dimly lit rows of shelves. "Anyone here?"
From behind the counter emerged an old man in a cardigan, thick glasses slipping down his nose.
"Welcome, young miss," he said with a warm but tired voice. "Looking for something in particular?"
Hikari smiled, eyes already sparkling with curiosity.
"Just browsing. Something… magical, maybe."
The old man chuckled.
"Aren't we all?" He motioned to the far back of the store. "Try the last aisle. Not many go there, but it holds the rare ones."
She nodded, wandering deeper into the store. The lighting grew softer, as if the shelves themselves were holding their breath. One book had a dragon embossed on the cover. Another shimmered slightly as she passed.
Then she saw it.
Not a book—but a pedestal, tucked in the corner, behind some curtains of ivy hanging from the ceiling. On it sat a crystalline relic, glowing faintly with a silver-blue hue. It looked like a shard of a star, suspended in glass.
Hikari approached slowly, the world around her muffling.
"What is this…?" she whispered, reaching out instinctively.
A voice echoed—not aloud, but in her mind.
"Chosen by the stars... bearer of light... your tale begins now."
Her fingers brushed the relic—
FLASH!
Light exploded around her. Books flew from the shelves. The floor vanished beneath her feet. She gasped, weightless, falling through a tunnel of swirling galaxies and golden script.
"W-Wait—!! What's happening?!"
And just like that…
She was gone.
...
The forest stretched before Hikari like an endless sea of darkness, the canopy so thick that no moonlight could pierce through. The silence, however, felt alive—thick with an oppressive, waiting presence.
Her pulse still raced, but she knew one thing for certain: Elira was gone, and now... this world, these dangers, were hers to face.
"I can't just... stand here." She whispered to herself, trying to shake off the cold weight of Elira's final moments.
The wind howled again, and suddenly, her sharp senses caught a low growl—close, just beyond the trees. Her body tensed, instincts kicking in.
"What—"
Without warning, a massive, dark shape lunged from the shadows. A wolf. But not just any wolf. Its eyes glowed a menacing red, and its form was far larger than any creature Hikari had ever seen—easily double the size of a normal wolf, with jagged scars across its muzzle and glowing talons.
She froze.
The wolf's bloodthirsty gaze locked onto her.
Her breath caught in her throat. The knowledge Elira had passed to her surged like an electric current through her mind. Without thinking, she raised a hand—an instinct more than a thought—and before she could even process the spell, light erupted from her palm.
"Lightweaving," she muttered under her breath, her new instincts taking over.
A barrier of radiant light formed around her in an instant, as if the air itself obeyed her will. The wolf collided with it, its claws scraping against the shimmering surface. It snarled in frustration, snapping its teeth.
"What… just happened?" Hikari gasped, but there was no time to dwell. She barely registered the surge of power coursing through her veins as she focused on the wolf again.
It growled louder, circling her with deadly intent, its eyes glowing brighter as if sensing the power she'd just unleashed.
"I don't know how long this will hold…" She muttered to herself, taking a shaky step back.
Her gaze landed on the staff Elira had left beside her—the ancient relic now humming softly at her side. It felt right to hold it, as if it were an extension of herself.
Before she could make a move, the wolf lunged again, jaws open wide to tear through her defenses. In that moment, something inside Hikari clicked—a deeper instinct stirred within her, an ancient magic she had never known.
"Celestial Awakening…" she whispered, not fully understanding the words but feeling their power coursing through her body.
Suddenly, a bright light filled the clearing. From the center of her chest, a phoenix of radiant flame erupted, soaring into the night sky, its wings folding and unfurling in an awe-inspiring display of power. The wolf recoiled, its primal instincts recoiling at the sight of something so pure, so powerful.
Hikari watched, her breath caught in her throat. The phoenix dove toward the creature with speed that took her by surprise, its fiery wings swiping through the air, leaving a trail of sparks. The wolf yelped, scrambling to avoid the magical creature's assault.
But it was too late. The phoenix enveloped the wolf in a burst of blinding light.
The forest fell silent once more.
The phoenix vanished as quickly as it appeared, leaving behind nothing but scorched earth and a shuddering Hikari.
Her knees buckled, and she collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. The magic had drained her—she could feel it, deep in her bones.
"I... did it?" she whispered, barely able to keep her eyes open. "But I didn't even know what I was doing…"
She looked around at the remains of the wolf, her mind still spinning from the intensity of the magic. That was real, wasn't it? She wasn't dreaming.
"This power… it's mine now."
But the weight of Elira's last words echoed in her mind.
"Become the light this world no longer believes in."
She stood shakily, hands still trembling as she touched the staff at her side. Somehow, despite the overwhelming fear and uncertainty that clung to her like a second skin, she felt... stronger.
And then, from the shadows of the trees, a voice interrupted her thoughts."Impressive… for a newcomer."
Hikari spun around, her heart racing. A tall figure stepped from the darkness, his silhouette barely visible against the night.
"Who are you?" she demanded, her voice steadier than she felt.
The figure stepped closer, revealing a man with sharp features, dark hair, and piercing eyes that glowed faintly in the moonlight. His cloak was frayed at the edges, and he held a sword—glowing faintly with blue runes—gripped loosely in one hand.
He looked at her with an unreadable expression.
"I could ask you the same thing," he said coolly. "But from the way you wielded that magic... I think I know exactly who you are."
Hikari's heart skipped a beat."What do you mean?"
The man's lips curled into a small, knowing smirk."You're the one the Sorceress Supreme summoned, aren't you?"
....