The days passed gently. The weather was growing milder. If you looked closely, you could see spirits wandering the land… As the Festival of the Departed approached, the spirits loved playing tricks.
Today, Aria was walking through the Academy's corridors. She wanted to ask her brother for advice, but seeing him so serious and so active with his team, she quickly gave up the idea. He shone much brighter than she did. And he looked far more like Lux than she ever would… It had been a mistake to go see him. Now she doubted herself even more.
The corridors of the Academy were quite empty today because of the festival for the Festival of the Departed. It was a week when magic let you see memories of loved ones. They weren't real ghosts, just remnants of the past… This week, the two moons were closest to the Earth, causing the effect.
Aria had never really liked this festival since Lux's death. She often saw the moments she'd spent with him… The best ones… and the worst ones.
Continuing down the corridors, she saw portraits on the walls of every hero who had left their mark on history. Right in front stood Miore, gazing at the portrait of the great mage Aria. With her usual calm expression, she watched Aria approach.
Miore spoke first, her tone cold:
"Aria… I never made the connection before, but you share the same name as that mage… It's not uncommon for a child to be named after a heroine, but when you were born, the mage Aria must have still been young, right?"
Aria gave a soft laugh, then looked at the painting of the heroine.
"It might sound childish, but when I was born, my brother Lux only had one friend… and her name was Aria. He found her name so beautiful that he wanted me to have it too. He was nine years old. It was the choice of a child happy to have a little sister… and he had no idea about his father's betrayal toward his mother…"
Miore gently tugged a strand of Aria's hair.
"Ouch! Why? I was being serious and you do that?"
Miore nodded, then took Aria's hand. They walked together in silence for a moment.
"Don't let adults treat you like a mistake. You are you, and you always will be… I let a man use me, and because of that, I put my only family in danger. That man will pay one day. And that's why I'm with Madam Lamia… well, our professor…"
Miore kept walking. With a soft little laugh, Aria let herself be carried along.
"Open this book… you'll find a surprise… Why inside… is there my heart? La~ la~ la~"
They reached the Academy's entrance courtyard.
"Is that a song? It's sad, but also really catchy!"
Miore gave a proud look.
"It's my brother's song… not by blood, but by heart… Lamia told me to make friends, but out of everyone, Sasha and you are the only ones I actually like~ You know, for the festival, I'm going to see my brother and help him with his work… What about you? The princess went back to her castle, and Sasha to her village… Since you don't really like your family, I don't think you'll go there… Do you have any plans? We have two weeks of vacation—we should make the most of it."
Aria watched the train arrive—a machine powered by magic. The doors opened.
"Me… I'm going back to see my mother in her village… I'd also like to train a little… Everyone has almost mastered their weapon, but mine are still sealed… Something's missing, and I know it has to do with me."
The train whistled. The two friends boarded calmly after scanning their tickets.
"You put yourself down too much. We still have time before the tournament, and honestly: have you seen your movements? You've improved, I promise… Anyway, have a great vacation. Bring me back a souvenir… I'll do the same."
The journey went smoothly, with views of the Resic Mountains in the Empire's territory. Magical creatures followed the train and sometimes leaped over it. Thanks to magic, they passed above a lake… Some stops were served. Miore got off at one of them. Aria knew the route by heart from visiting her mother so often.
"It's been so long… I hope everyone's doing well! Gina has always been so excited to see me study there… They were so worried about me."
She reached her stop, left the city, and continued walking to a village at the edge of a forest. The Promice forest and village were magnificent this season. But Aria couldn't see any of it: little Gina leaped onto her face.
"Aria!! I missed you so much, so so much!"
Aria hugged her tightly and stayed like that for a long moment, until Aria's mother arrived—a beautiful woman with white hair.
"Aria, you're here… After receiving your magic messages, I was so happy… Lux would be proud to see you like this with your brother…"
Aria blushed in embarrassment. Then the whole village came to greet her, even the orphans. A young girl approached her.
"Wow… So you're the heroine of this village… You're so beautiful! Can I call you big sister? My name is Nix, and I want to become a heroine like the great Lux too… And since you're his sister, I want to be your sister!"
Aria smiled and patted her head. She knew how hard it was for orphans.
"Okay… but be careful, I'm a very strict big sister, hehe."
Everyone welcomed her warmly. She stayed for a while to enjoy their company—something she had missed for days. Then evening came.
"And then my blades glowed and I almost drew them, but Madam Lamia had to stop the training right there because I was about to faint… At first, I saw her like everyone else: an arrogant and cruel woman. But she's just honest, and she has unique talent… The only cruel thing is these trainings, but she doesn't make us do them for no reason, and!"
Theresa placed a finger on her lips, then laughed softly.
"She also taught you how to stop breathing? You've been talking nonstop for a while now, and I'm wondering if my daughter learned such a technique! It would be amazing for the diving contest… We have two weeks together—why don't you go rest first?"
Aria scratched her head, then placed a huge book on the table.
"After finishing Madam Lamia's evening training… I respect her so much. So I won't slack off… It's thanks to her that I've stopped underestimating myself. She's kind of like a role model… No, she is my role model. And I'd like to become as strong as she is and train students too… I don't really want to defeat Vespia that badly… This book is a special 'Aria's Vacation Training'! I can't let myself get soft."
Aria dashed outside into the garden. Theresa laughed with joy. Rare were the moments when her daughter looked so happy.
The first few days, Aria trained. Today, a Friday, festival decorations were going up. While Aria was making some, Gina arrived.
"Aria, can you show me some magic today? I want to see you do spells… I have some too, but mine isn't like yours… Your magic is like stardust!"
Aria created tiny shooting stars.
"Is my magic beautiful? I'd say it's pretty volatile… Besides Ben and Leslie, hardly anyone cares about my magic. I still don't know what to do with it besides long-range projectiles, and against my professor it was a total flop, hehe… But instead of dreaming about my magic, come help me."
They built decorations together. After many decorations:
"Ahh… In moments like this, I'd love to go fishing… But my mom said the forest is off-limits… Do you know why?"
Gina stopped, then looked at the ground, a bit down.
"You don't say it, but I think everyone's keeping quiet so you won't worry… But honestly, lately two orphans disappeared in the forest… Everyone's worried because of the legend… The rumor started, and now the adults block the forest… Everyone knows the symbols of each Devourer… And an adult saw the intruder's… Shark teeth… Cold eyes and a horrible laugh… The one who…"
Suddenly Theresa clapped her hands.
"Gina!!… You know we're not supposed to bother Aria with this… We already warned the king, and they're sending heroes soon… Don't worry, Aria, and enjoy your vacation… Besides, Gina and the kids love making up stories. It's probably just a magical creature, so no bad rumors until we know what it really is."
Gina lowered her head, guilty. But Aria thought… She wasn't even a heroine… But if she had to face a Devourer… could she win? No… survive?
She hesitated a lot.
"Mom, I understand. I won't get involved in this problem… But I promise nothing if you're in danger."
Theresa accepted, even though she wanted to say no. She knew her daughter.
The next day, the hero finally arrived… Grégor the Flying Fist. In travel clothes, he carried a bag and had a confident gaze. He walked calmly, then crossed paths with Aria.
"Hey? A student of Lamia?"
Aria stood up, surprised.
"You know my professor?!"
Grégor sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Yeah… She rejected me after I confessed my love, and humiliated me so badly I hid in shame… But I'm better now, I moved past it."
Aria laughed awkwardly. But she knew he was still in love: despite what he said, he had recognized her at first glance as Lamia's student…
Like a wake-up call, a scream of fear rang out. One of the orphanage caretakers came running in tears.
"Help!! Help me! Nix! Nix and Gina disappeared—they're no longer in the village! I heard a noise, then a window was broken… Please, they're already the fourth children!"
At Gina's name, Aria rushed into the forest in panic.
"Wait! A heroine doesn't panic! Argh, she doesn't listen to anyone! John, Beck, enter the forest too. We split up, then let me know if you find anything. And if it's really what we think… then we'll either have to retreat… or fight to the death."
In the forest, trees flashed by at high speed. Beck and John, guards with good skill as Grégor's companions, searched everywhere without finding anything. Then Beck reached a large clearing… a perfect picnic spot. In the middle lay Gina and Nix, unconscious on the ground. As they approached to wake them, he heard:
"You're not a child… but don't think you'll survive… I'll just not devour you, hahaha."
Beck's screams echoed. John rushed to join him. Aria, who had also heard the noise, joined John. Together they charged toward the sound.
On his side, Grégor was heading to join them too, but he was surrounded by a huge number of enemies hidden in the shadows.
On her side, Aria ran without stopping. Then finally she reached the spot… Nix was in Gina's arms, Gina's eyes filled with terror. Facing them stood a woman… long white dress, sharp teeth devouring Beck's flesh. Long black hair… She spat out Beck, then looked at Aria and John with hungry white eyes.
"The one who devours children… Impossible… it's really her…"
Nix coughed blood, trembling.
"Big sister… the man…"
Without hesitation, Aria drew her blades and attacked. But in an instant, the one who devours children leaped back.
"I'll devour you, tear off your skin, and offer your body to my one and only goddess!"
The fight began. But Aria had very little confidence in her abilities… Would she be able to win? No… to survive?
End of chapter 10.