..."Panic"...

Latona's POV

In a cozy room, surrounded by orange lighting. My mother is beside me.

"And then the supermage swooped in and saved the day."

She is about to finish reading another story book for the night.

"Mother, will the bad mage never win if there are good mages around?" I asked her.

"Yes my daughter, because evil never wins."

I smiled. "I want to be a good Celestial Mage someday to never let bad mages take over our world!"

My excitement made me sat up the bed.

"Tomorrow, I already planned to get you signed up at the Celestial Academy since you're already at the right age." She said caressing my hair.

She turned off the lamp and left my room. I cannot sleep, staring at the ceiling of my room. Various thoughts kept me awake.

"I'm so excited to finally become a student of the Celestial Academy."

"I wonder, if I'm going to meet new friends"

"Mother said, evil never wins so I'm going to be a good Celestial Mage and do my best !"

"I think mother should stop reading me bedtime stories now, because I feel like I'm old enough."

I kept thinking those words until I feel drowsy and fell into a deep sleep.

The next day, my mother woke me up. Her beautiful pink hair was glowing from the sunlight.

"Goodmorning mother." I greeted her with a bright smile.

"Today's your big day, Latona my daughter." She said with a grin.

We both went downstairs and ate our breakfast. She assisted me on cleaning myself up and also made sure that I look good by preparing a special long white dress for me.

We headed towards Celestial Academy, which is at the center of our city, near the chateau where the Council of Celestia and Celestial Majors do their work.

Around it's main building is a courtyard filled with flower gardens with a grand fountain in the middle.

My mother held my hand and we went inside my future school.

Inside the lobby, she talked to the officer in charge of signing students in that school. The officer took out a piece of paper then me and my mother signed it.

"I'm officially signed in !" I thought to myself.

As we have received our schedule which is enclosed in an enveloped, my mother requested me to take a tour around the school.

I agreed with a wide grin.

That moment, a disturbing scream outside startled us.

There were loud voices, screams of terror. I decided to peek at the nearest window.

There was a sight so horrible, I flinched and moved away. A bunch of people in black robes were slicing the residents.

"They've come.." The officer muttered and ran away.

I looked at my mother who grabbed my wrist. I can feel her tight grip and dragged me towards the exit of the school.

"Latona, whatever happens resist the darkness!" My mother glared at me in the eyes.

That moment, loud footsteps on the doorway interrupted us. My mother looked terrified.

People wearing dark robes, hood covering their faces walked inside. They are holding scythes and long swords.

They grabbed my mother's wrist immediately, pulling her outside.

"Latona! Run! Whatever happens, don't let them get you!" My mother shouted and my body ran by its own out of fear.

I notice a few guys chase me, my heart beat faster. My legs wants to stop but I need to live! I cannot let the darkness get me!

"Because evil never wins right ?"

A few moments I realized that I had already left my mother. I remembered her eyes, filled with desperation when asking me to run.

"There's no turning back..."

"I.. I will save you soon mother!"

I was stopped on my tracks when a cold hand grabbed my arm, gripping it tightly. I turned behind and a guy with a black robe is about to swing their scythe aiming for my neck.

Instinct made dodge his attack, but he managed to cut most of my hair and open a wound on my cheek.

There, appeared an old man in black robes with menacing eyes scolding him with a malicious voice.

He is telling him not to kill me. Why ?

I cannot further comprehend what they were saying so I ran, losing them.

Tears flowing out my eyes, I ran towards the streets of what was once a bustling and peaceful city.

"Oh no.. Why is this happening? What's going on? " I looked around my surroundings.

People with black robes are forcing every door open. They are killing men using their scythes and capturing women.

Amidst the chaos I was relieved they didn't notice me.

The tall walls that once protected our city was taken down by Giant Beasts. Their pure red eyes glowed through the dark.

"Where are the Major Celestials?" I don't see any resistance from what was supposed to be defending our city.

"Did they abandon us?" I said quietly.

I found my way to the chateau and went inside. To my surprise, there were only few people there taking shelter.

I found familiar faces and I approached my former neighbors.

"Uncle, what's going on here?" I asked him with his wife beside trembling with fear.

"Latona, where's your mother?" He asked.

"She was caught by those evil men" I said, sobbing.

He grabbed my arm and pulled me close to him and looked at me.

"You must leave this place! The darkness must not consume you." He clenched his teeth and let my arm go.

"Wh-what do you mean?" I asked.

"Descendants like you are getting captured! I know it's not for a good cause!"

"Descendants? What is that ?"

As he said that a Giant Beast tore down the walls of the chateau. I saw the old man from before riding on its shoulders.

He pointed his finger at me. The Beast roared mightily and ran towards my direction.

"Latona! You must go now!" My uncle stood between me and the Giant Beast. He casted a green light screen between him and the horrifying creature.

I hesitated for a moment but convinced to flee

I find myself stepping through a dark forest. I must be far away from the city. My dress got ripped and ruined, from the sharp bushes.

A dark shadow is chasing me, it seems like a giant creature. Loud footsteps were banging through the silent forest.

I kept running for my life until a wide river stopped me from my tracks. My inner voice kept telling me to jump. Staring at the river, I find that the current is too strong.

"There's no other way..."

I looked behind to see the terrifying monster coming closer to me. It's footsteps are getting louder and louder.

Closing my eyes to get rid of fear, I took a deep breath and jumped into the cold water.

....

...

..

Everything turned dark.

..."Stay"...

Latona's POV

Light slowly crept in my eyes. Regaining my vision, I woke up with people looking at me. I felt my body placed on course sand.

"She's awake!"

"She must be from the Celestia Capital"

"The place where the attack happened?"

"I sense something dangerous in her. What should we do Master Pierre?"

People around me chattered about me.

I groaned in pain.

"You must take her to the Healer." A middle-aged man's voice said. I felt two people carried my head, body and legs.

There was a painful sensation on my cheek, the one which stood out the most from the rest of the pain felt through my body.

"Is this Latona!?" A lady with dark skin looked closer at me.

"She is!"

There was gasping around the room with murmurs. I cannot really understand what they are saying.

She placed her hand on my cheek and body. Her hands glowed as the painful sensation slowly went away.

I felt relieved.

"Is she going to be okay?" A middle-aged man's voice said. I can hear from his tone that he was worried.

"I can confirm Master Pierre." The lady said.

"After she's fully healed, I will take her to our academy. We must protect this descendant." His voice commanded.

"Yes, Master Pierre."

A few hours later recovering, I sat up from a bed. I glanced around my new environment and looked at my body.

"What happened?"

"Oh! You're awake!" I looked beside me where the voice is coming from.

"The descendant has awakened!" She took a closer look at my face. Uncomfortable, I leaned away from her.

I noticed that she styles her hair in twin hair buns, and has big eyes.

"Latona right?"

"H-how do you know about me?" I asked her out of confusion, covering my body with a blanket.

"Descendants are widely known around here in Celestia."

"Descendants? You must be mistaken, I am just a mere Celestial aspiring to be a Celestial Mage." I responded.

Then I remembered what my uncle-figure told me before fending off the beast.

"But, my mother told me before that I am a mere Celestial." I thought to myself.

She laughed at my remark.

"Your mother is Phoebe right? A descendant of Caelus? We are different from Celestials because we have his divine blood."

"We are also blessed with special abilities that define us." She explained.

"What are you talking about? Why do you know about my mother?" I responded, confused on what she stated.

"How do you not know about our origins!?"

She looked upset about that fact, and honestly I don't want to be with her for much longer.

"I'm going out to breathe fresh air." I stood up and just noticed that my right arm is bandaged with a sling on my shoulder.

"Urghh.." I groaned in pain.

"Y-You should stay here. Master Pierre wants you to be fully recovered." She assisted me to sit back on my bed.

"I want to go home, I want to see my mother if she's okay." Enduring the pain, I hopped off the bed and rushed outside leaving that nosy girl.

Outside was a peaceful town with tall buildings and structures near a huge mountain. The town was surrounded by large green meadows.

I walked around and saw young teenagers practicing their magic skills on the fields. A guy with brown hair approached me.

"Why are you out? You haven't fully recovered yet." That guy said to me. I turned my attention away from the fields and looked him in the eyes.

"Do you know the way back to Light Celestia? The Celestia Capital?"

He frowned at my question.

"Why would you want to go back there? That place is a battlefield."

"I need to see if my mother's okay!" I got closer to him, and panicked by breathing heavily.

"Calm down, Latona. It is impossible to go back there!" He held my body.

"Huh? He knew my name? How? More than that, am I really unable to go back home?"

I placed my head on his chest and sobbed quietly. I can feel his hand, gently rubbing my back.

"There you are Latona!" I can familiarize the girl's high-pitched voice from where I woke up.

"Oh you know Latona? Ceres?" The boy said.

So her name is Ceres.

"Master Pierre requested me to take care of Latona until she is fully recovered." She responded to him.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH HER JUPITER!?"

Her voice got louder. It appeared she got upset with our scene together.

And his name is Jupiter.

Jupiter went down to face me. "You must go rest Latona. Master Pierre will help you find the answers you are looking for."

I nodded wiping my tears. His presence made me feel calm.

The Ceres-girl grabbed my left arm and dragged me back to the Healer's place.

I rested for a few hours until the they were talking about Master Pierre arrived.

I stared at him for a few seconds. There was this heavy, noble aura around him.

"Latona, daughter of Phoebe and Polus."

My heart beat fast when he said that.

"I-Is it true? That you know about what happened in Light Celestia?" I responded with a question.

"Come with me." Ignoring it, he turned back and exited the place.

I hopped off the bed and followed him, now with my right arm feeling better.

"Can you remember about the chaos that took place in the capital?"

He asked me while we walk at a staircase leading up the mountain.

"U-Uhmmm, There were men with black robes holding scythes and long swords. They took my mother."

A horrifying image appeared to inside my brain.

"Th-there were also, Giant Beasts which tore down the walls around the city."

He stopped walking when I said that.

"It can't be, The Dark Order is in Celestia?."

Fear was drawn in his face.

"D-Dark Order?" I asked him.

He flinched when I stated that name. We decided to continue walking up.

"Now's not the time to talk about them. For now we must discover your true potential as a descendant, which may help us in the future."

"Is it really the time for that?"

"If he knows what he's doing, I shall follow."

I decided to look around and saw a tall majestic building on the horizon. It's like big castles in my story books!

"M-Master P-Pierre? What's that place?" I kindly asked pointing at it.

"That's our Celestial Academy for the Azure Magic users"

My eyes looked at it in awe.

"Celestial Academy for what?" I asked trying to memorize it.

"Basically, this institute yearns for the Celestials living here to learn Azure and the recently added Light Magic."

"Wh-what's Azure Magic? And isn't Light Magic only exclusive in Light Celestia?" I asked.

Master Pierre chuckled softly.

"You'll know once you have your first class session."

Eventually we reached Celestial Academy it has it's own courtyard, garden, and even has an overlook where we can see the ocean vividly.

Master Pierre and I went inside the lobby. I followed him towards the counter.

"Good afternoon Sir Ryū" Master Pierre greeted the person in the lobby, behind the counter table.

"We would like the sign up Latona in Celestial Academy" He kindly asked.

That moment my heart beat fast, I recalled all the moments me and my mother are signing up to Celestial Academy. I felt a sensation of fear, terror, discomfort.

I screamed in horror pulling my hair with both of my hands. Master Pierre immediately noticed and rushed onto my aid.

He placed his palm on my forehead until I've stopped.

I cannot feel anything. Master Pierre looked at me, worried.

"Latona, you've been.. consumed by it."

..."Struggle"...

Latona's POV

"Latona, you are slowly getting consumed by fear and darkness." Master Pierre said.

His eyes were wide like it's his first time seeing this occasion.

"M-Master Pierre. Am I going to be okay?" I asked him.

He didn't respond and gazed away.

"What's going on here!?" The Ceres-girl stepped into the lobby with some students.

The officer, Master Ryū made sure that they kept their distance from me.

I felt scared of myself, they are treating me like a monster. All of them, staring.

I can't help it and ran outside the academy.

I cried, annoyed of myself. Avoiding every conflicts, and powerless at any situation.

After running, I found myself standing at the edge of a cliff. I looked down the waves of the ocean.

I had the sudden urge to jump.

"Maybe, I should end it all."

"I am tired."

I looked at the waves, I can hear them whispering in my ears.

"Jump... Latona..."

"End your pain.."

Tears flow down my cheeks, I closed my eyes.

I remembered all of the times I spent with me and my mother.

And that moment when I jumped in the river to avoid the monster chasing me.

I'm at that same moment, now to escape the monster inside me.

"I'm sorry mother."

"There's no hope."

I bend my knees and jumped.

Almost leaped off..

...

...

..

Someone grabbed my arm and pulled me away from the edge.

I turned back to see him.

"J-Jupiter..?" I said looking in his eyes.

He glared at me.

...[][][]...

"What are you doing, Latona." He said with an annoyed expression.

We were walking down the busy streets of the Azure Society.

"Did you really think to end your life?"

"I-I'm sorry. I wasn't really thinking about it." I looked down ashamed of my actions.

"Why does he worry about me, we only just met today."

"Stay at my place tonight, then tomorrow we'll see what Master Pierre can do about this 'condition' of yours."

"He was called at the Azure Temple and asked me to take care of you for now."

"Can Master Pierre really help me ? He didn't know what to do earlier."

I nodded at his words and blushed gazing away from him.

We arrived at his humble place which is nearby the busy streets.

Inside, caught me by surprise. IT WAS REALLY MESSY! There were clothes everywhere and undone dishes.

"I apologize, about this place. I don't have the time to do cleaning." He said embarrassed, with his hand at the back of his head.

"I-it's fine." I giggled quietly.

"Latona!?" He looked closely at my face, his eyes squinted.

"Y-Yes?" I frowned in confusion.

"It's my first time to see you smile." He smiled and laughed softly.

I smiled at him until I remembered something.

"Jupiter, do you think my mother is still alive?" I asked out of the blue.

He had a worried expression.

"Out of pure instinct, I think she's out there doing something to reunite with you."

I gave him a soft smile with a light hug.

"Anyways, Latona. You must get your rest."

I nodded.

Later, we decided to eat and talked about his adventures throughout Celestia.

I am fascinated by how much he has to go through.

"Actually, I was visiting Ceres here then go to the Capital to visit you." He said to me.

"Visit me?" I asked him.

"After, I have established the Light Magic around Celestia Academies. It is my plan to visit a descendant or two." He took a sip from his cup.

We finished eating together then I helped him clean up his place.

He pointed me where I'm going to sleep and a place to clean myself.

After a few minutes I have finished taking a bath. I approached the mirror and stared at it.

I look terrible! There was a scar on my cheek and my light blonde hair was cut unevenly.

Staring deep in my own eyes, flashbacks of all the chaos played in my mind.

"Hngh!" My heart beat fast, and I stepped away from the mirror.

Someone kept knocking at the door and managed to open it by force. I saw people in black robes rushing inside the bathroom.

They raised their scythe and swung it onto my neck.

...

...

....

Did they...?

..

..

A faint voice called my name.

"La....to....na"

"Lato.....na!"

H-Huh?

"Latona! Are you okay!?"

I saw Jupiter, holding both of my shoulders slightly shaking my body.

I wailed and hugged him. Tears falling down my eyes.

"Help me Jupiter!"

"Am I really this frail?"

Jupiter helped me get up and lended a towel to dry and wrap myself.

I dressed up in his room. He waited until I let him go in.

Sitting on his bed, I tried not to look him in the eyes.

"What happened there Latona?" He held my hand.

I want to cry but I tried to hold it in.

"It keeps flashing in my head.." I muttered softly.

He moved closer to me and rubbed my back.

"I keep remembering what happened in Light Celestia" I didn't notice tears dripping down my thighs.

"And Master Pierre... told me that I am slowly consumed by fear and darkness..." I wiped my tears with my palm.

"Tomorrow, we're going to do something about this okay?"

"I'll sleep with you in case you get any nightmares." He said snuggling close to me.

Why does he help me so much?

I placed my head on his shoulder and leaned my body on him.

Feeling relieved, I fell asleep.

The following sunny day we decided to go outside together. I noticed people are looking at us, some are murmuring.

"Jupiter, why do these people keep looking at us?" I tried to look him in the eyes with his tall frame.

He responded with a soft laugh.

"He looks cute!"

"You will know the answer soon, but for now let's get you fixed up." He added.

He brought me to a salon where they fixed my hair by cutting it evenly.

"Now it's way shorter!"

Jupiter smiled at my new look.

"I think he likes it !"

After that he brought me to a temple with a huge staircase leading to it's main building.

"What's with this temple? It uses a lot of stairs!"

"This is the Temple of Azure, the one I told you before. It is where the Council of Azure Masters gather." He said, gazing at the big temple.

I stared at it in awe.

"I believe Master Pierre is here today. We should wait for him to go out, since important meetings are exclusively held here."

I nodded at him and waited at his side at the bottom of the temple.

After a few minutes, a girl wearing armor walked down the stairs of the temple. Jupiter looked at her, his eyes wide.

"Does he know her ?"

"Oh no, she noticed us with that mean look."

She approached us with a confident manner.

"Juno? What are you doing here?" Jupiter said, still surprised.

"What are you doing with another girl?" She said pointing at me.

I felt confused watching them.

"Is she already with Jupiter?"

"Come on now Juno, now's not the time." Jupiter held her arms trying to push her away from me.

Instead she pushed him aside and approached me.

My heart throbbed fast. She has this violent aura.

"Stay away from Jupiter before I do something about you fool!"

She pointed at me so aggressively.

Jupiter is still trying to hold her back.

I had two choices to fight or to retreat.

Then, I remember all the times Jupiter saved me and the way he calms me down.

I chose to fight for him.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward.

"Who do you think you are? Miss Warrior? You do not have the right to point at me like that nor force me to distance my self from this man!"

I said with all my heart. Jupiter looked surprised.

"Ohhh, look who's talking.. You're a fool who doesn't know anything, so it's better if you shut your filthy mouth!" She stepped forward and slapped my cheek so hard I can feel the burn.

I didn't falter, and fought back pushing her away from me. I tried to slap her but Jupiter swiftly grabbed my arm.

"Huh? Why did he stop me?"

"Enough, both of you!" He said while pulling Juno away from me.

"Jupiter?"

I felt so betrayed. I felt my heart shatter into pieces.