In the land of Xaydia, A year comprised of three hundred and sixty-four days. Those days were equally divided among twelve constellations and four periods. Each of those constellations claimed thirty days, while four extra days marked the transition between periods, signalling the end of one season and the beginning of another. At the start of every new year was the first Aries; he signified bold beginnings and fiery ambition. At the end of said year was the last Pisces; in her presence, the world is at its thinnest and marked the close of the cycle.
In Xaydia, all witches were bound to the constellation under which they were born. Though they did not lean too much into it, their powers were shaped by the stars. Take into account Rhyfel of the Genesis Coven, born mid-year when the sun sat high and the days burnt bright. Leos were the strongest in raw magical might, often rising as leaders and protectors. Though the Leos were the strongest, none of the zodiacs were as fated—nor feared—as those born under the constellation of the Gemini.
A witch born under the light of Gemini was always bound to a twin. They were considered the weakest of all witches, being that their powers were split between two souls. However, when one twin dies, the other—, the twinless—inherits all their magic and was transformed into a being of near divine power. The death of a Gemini twin is a rare and terrifying event; for when the lone Gemini rises, they become something beyond understanding.
A force of nature.
A walking god.
A harbinger of change.
"We are all gathered here to celebrate the life of the late Clarissa Pierce." Those were the words of the priest. It was the next day and they were laying the princess to rest. Clarissa's body was dressed in white and lay atop a deck of obsidian. Her pale features were serene in the dim candlelight. Around her stood all the people of Velmoria; some were disheartened, mourning the loss of their heir, while others felt no grief at all. To them, her passing was a quiet relief, a necessary purge of weakness unfit to rule a nation. "She was a beacon of compassion. A soul who sought to understand before casting judgement." The priest's voice echoed softly throughout the grand hall.
Among the people stood her brother and parents, for in Xaydia, death was the highest seat and neither the king nor the queen dared to stand against one who held that post. Laim's face was pale and his eyes were dark and unreadable. The weight of the moment pressed against his chest; it was suffocating. At his side lingered Saiko in silence; his gaze was fixed on the obsidian platform. The only sound that reached him was the sharp click of machinery as the platform beneath Clarissa's body began to descend.
"May her soul rest in peace," the priest intoned.
Stone ground against stone as the obsidian block slipped into the depths of her grave, the noise scraping against the silence. There was a spark, and flames blazed inside; it was a ritual of passage, burning bright before fading into darkness.
Liam clenched his fists, and his nails dug into his palms. He felt the loss like a knife in his gut. Liam's breath hitched. He turned sharply, searching the shadows, but found nothing. Only darkness.
The ceremony ended. The people of Velmoria turned away, their faces unreadable as they left the cathedral. Liam stood frozen, staring at the empty space where Clarissa once lay. Beside him, Saiko placed a hand on his shoulder. "Come," Saiko whispered. "She's gone."
Those words did not bring comfort, it only brought more pain. Liam ran up to Clarissa's room, crying, but close behind him was Rhyfel, his royal guard. Inside the room, Rhyfel touched him on the shoulder; Liam spun around and broke down in his arms. "It's going to be okay," Rhyfel whispered, "I am right here and I won't leave you." Rhyfel stroked his hair the same way you would a puppy's. As he was there comforting him, he couldn't help but notice in the mirror a moth tattooed onto the back of Liam's neck.
"That's new. When did you get it?" Rhyfel asked, running his finger over the blackened image.
"Last night after you guys left the castle," Liam explains. "Emmalia was the one who did it." Emmalia Montgomery was a member of the circle and matriarch representative of the Frescin village and also a Gemini witch, like her son and daughter, Carl and Carla.
"Oh, it's a cool tatt" Rhyfel responded. "What does it mean?"
"It's not a tattoo. Liam corrected, " It's an actual moth. It was placed there into my skin as a precaution. You know, with the Gemini witch theory and all."
"Emmalia doesn't have a tattoo on her neck."
"It eventually flies from your neck once you have control over your powers. And you shouldn't be concerned about her not having a tattoo" he said as his pain-filled eyes widened into a gossiping stare, "instead, you should be wondering how she became twinless."
"Her twin died in her sleep," Rhyfel said with a knowing nod.
"No, she suffocated her with a pillow. That's also how she became the matriarch."
"Damn"
"Yup, that's what my mom, the queen, told me."
They both chuckled as the scene shifted to the others outside.
"Hey guys," Saiko called for them to gather around. "Come with me, let's take a walk over to the garden, everyone" he dictated, "Renae, Isabella, Lamar, JJ, by the way your name is so stupid, James James."
"Shut up." JJ said.
"It is bro dont be mad at me bro be mad at your parents," he continued. "Carl, Carla." he said to the twins. "Oh and Daniel don't think I forgot you, you are also welcome to join us."
Not long after, they were all in the center of the garden and Renae was the first to speak. "Why did you call us out here Saiko?"
"Come on now don't be so bitchy, you're at my fiancee's funeral, cheer up."
"I knew it." Carla opened her arms to give him a hug. "Poor baby must be dying on the inside."
"No, no" Saiko raised a finger. "Please don't touch me."
"I will break it." She replied, "Now let me hug you.
"Okay now." Isabelle interrupted. "Why are we out here?"
"So, there is a ring," he pointed toward the velgallion forest. "Inside that forest, initially I was supposed to get it for Claire as her wedding bond but now I want it simply as a trophy, a trophy to represent the highs I will go for her even if they mean venturing into the dangerous forest that is the velgallian forest." he paused. "So pick teams, one girl and two boys, it will be a competition, whichever team finds it first, we must give each of them one gold piece."
Isabelle opened her mouth to say something but Saiko was quicker. "I do not care what you have to say." he pulled a small book from his jacket and ripped a page from it and proceeded to scribble something on it. He then folded it into half, wedged it between his fingers and whispered. "Liam." before tossing it into the air and nothing happened; it just fell to the floor.
"Give me the paper." Renae said in frustration before grabbing it. She wedged it between her fingers and whispered "Rhyfel," she released it mid air and the parchment went up in flames.
Back in Claire's room Rhyfel caught the same parchment as it materialised from flame
"It's Saiko, he's outside in the garden, he's got a cool game and adventure, I think. To find a ring." Rhyfel explains.
"His engagement ring to Clarissa from the velgallion forest."
"yeah, you in?"
"Yeah, I am right behind you." Liam said. "How did he send the burning parchment?"
"I think Renae sent it."
Rhyfel exited the room and Liam was right behind him. They both walked down the castle halls together and out to the garden that extended into the forbidden forest of Vellgallion.
"Hey, pretty boy." Saiko called to Liam, both masking the pain in their eyes.
"It's your majesty for you, Xolin." Rhyfel said.
"Alright, my bad," Saiko teased. "So, somewhere inside the forest, there is a ring made of gold with an azure stone. We are going to find it. The girls already picked teams; Carla chose Carl and JJ. Renae chose Lamar and Daniel; Isabelle chose Rhyfel and me." Saiko added. "And seeing that today is all about your sister, pretty boy, you get to choose whatever team you want to join."
"This one", he pointed to Isabelle's group but he was pointing more at Rhyfel than the others.
"Alright then, let the hunting begin." The other groups ran off into the forest, leaving behind the four and as they were about to do the same. Saiko stopped them, pulling a piece of parchment from his suit. "I already know where it is; nothing a little teleportation spell that you can't handle, right, Rhyfel?" he implied, seeing that he was the strongest magic user of the four.
"Whatever." Rhyfel muttered, pulling a small pocket knife from the sleeve of his armour. He sliced his palm, letting his blood drip onto the map. As crimson stained the parchment, he began to chant softly:
"Vwayajé Anba Zetwal,
Pote Nou Pa Zè,
Limen Chimen Nou,
E Lage Nou Lib."
The air around them warped; one minute they stood on grass—the next, they were in the heart of a dense forest, perched atop an ancient stone platform etched with intricate carvings. The symbols spiralled beneath their feet, and whispered of old magic and forgotten ancestors. "I hate teleporting." Liam said, emptying his guts on the moss-covered ground.
Rhyfel knelt and began to examine his surroundings; the carvings on which they stood were so intricate, so precise, and he recognized them for they were the markings of his ancestors.
"Found it!" Saiko's voice shattered the moment.
Rhyfel's head snapped up just in time to see Saiko reaching for a golden ring embedded at the centre of the platform.
"Saiko, no!" Rhyfel lunged forward, with his arm outstretched, but it was too late.
Saiko wrenched the ring free, and the ground trembled beneath them. A blinding burst of energy erupted from the platform, hurling them through the air and into the suffocating embrace of darkness.
The Obelisk of Ages pulsed once, then twice. A voice—ancient, layered, neither male nor female—spoke through the dust of centuries. 'Four shall rise, bound in war, torn by fate. The first shall conquer. The second shall hunger. The third shall ruin. The last shall end all things.' The voice faded, leaving only silence. The four young nobles opened their eyes as they whimpered from the pain.