Chapter 31: Luna

　　Luna had left. She disregarded the will of her predecessors despite her new understanding of the Tigress. Her freedom was more important than any responsibility. She secured a spot on a dilapidated supply carriage bound for Rehysh. As the southern wall receded into the distance, she felt a sense of unease twist in her stomach. The journey would last a whole week, and she`d not taken a trip like this in such a long time.

　　Surrounding her were a few other merchants and vagrants. The carriage didn`t have a roof and was barely functional as it was, but the driver insisted it would take her to Rehysh, and it was all she could afford. Perhaps Elena was right - she couldn`t survive on her own.

　　Caden remained a constant thought in her mind. How would he survive against Elena? Luna didn`t enjoy the prospect of leaving him behind. She most certainly wanted to kiss him again. . . yet, if he was so insistent on helping her monster of a sister, who cares what he thinks?

　　Yet, as she moved further away, she couldn`t help but wonder what Elena had been lying about.

　　There was no way she wasn`t hiding something malicious, and Caden had said something about the Crown and some artifact? God, what was he getting himself into?

　　There`s no way Elena`s only motivation is bringing back the Sun. She must be after something else. Luna thought.

　　The boy is reckless, said Renna. He`ll get himself killed. You`re the only one competent enough to save him.

　　She knew that already.

　　Give him time to mature. He`ll see your side eventually, said Yelzar.

　　He`s a boy, you know how they are.

　　Luna scoffed.

　　When will you get your own magic? They both said to her.

　　She stopped channeling them. Remarkably, almost none of her Moonlight was drained despite her channeling of multiple past lives.

　　Don`t let your selfishness get in the way of the people you care about. A new voice spoke. It was unfamiliar, someone she had never encountered before. Was this a new past life she`d been unable to access previously?

　　Who are you? Luna asked. Perhaps it was a voice from one of the predecessor`s memories?

　　I`m you, she said. I am the Tigress.

　　Why did you start talking now?

　　The Crown will return, and I have awakened to face him.

　　Luna understood. Whatever the Tigress was, it was attempting to push her back to Belmire. She would not let that happen. Well, I`ve always had to be responsible. I want to be selfish once in my life.

　　Then, relinquish my power to someone else, and you may do so.

　　Uh, excuse me? I want to stay alive.

　　You can do both.

　　What?

　　Luna had never considered that option before. She thought she`d have to die to relinquish her power to someone else. Perhaps she could allow Caden to access the Tigress. Maybe he could deal with everything better than she could.

　　But you would revert back to how you were before you could access my power.

　　That would mean Luna would be unable to walk.

　　Are you manipulating me into returning to Belmire? Luna thought.

　　I am reminding you of who you are, Luna. You`re the Tigress, a primordial. A Shard of Virtue. Isabel and I healed you of your sickness and gave you this boon of strength so that you may save the world. You`ll have enough time in your life to pursue your desires, but being a bearer of my shard is holding onto responsibility and creating new paths to victory. Not for the sake of the world, not for Elena`s pride or plan, but for the simple reason that it is right. You should help Caden because you care for him. Someone must take the first step to guide others toward goodness. You cannot spend your life running away. With this power, if you sense danger, you must run toward it.

　　Luna clenched her jaw. The Tigress was a culmination of all her past lives, a presence unlike theirs. It could communicate directly to her instead of just using memories to speak. And with the words spoken, she knew the Tigress was right. Luna needed to go back.

　　She stood, throwing off her navy blue cloak she had held onto for years, watching it flutter away in the wind. Clad in her black tunic and leather armor, she shed her identity as the Lady of the Stars. She was no longer concealed and silently declared herself the Tigress.

　　"Hey, little lady, you better sit down!" shouted the driver, pulling on the reins to slow the cart.

　　Acknowledging him with a nod, Luna began to radiate a deep blue aura of renewed energy. Her Moonlight manifested itself into an outline that surrounded her whole body, concealing her with a dark blue power. None of them looked at her with fear. They did not recognize her as the Lady of the Stars - instead, these few people saw her as something more, something good.

　　With renewed vigor, she leaped into the air and curved into an arc. She threw herself back toward the city of Belmire - pulling on the Tigress for her power and draining very little Moonlight.

　　Curse that fool of a boy. . .

　　* * *

　　The palace lay empty. Despite her invisibility, Luna felt no need to conceal herself - no one was present, not even Lady Felisha. The entrance to Cerise Hall lay before her. It was a place she had spied on before. However, the Crusaders often cast suspicious glances in her direction, far too often for comfort.

　　You sure this is where I have to go? Luna asked the Tigress.

　　Yes, I`m sure.

　　It was odd speaking to the Tigress, as once she started communicating, she gave many answers and spoke up a lot about her magic and what it meant to hold it. If only she had been able to speak to her previously, perhaps many conflicts could have been solved.

　　Cerise Hall was also empty, and Luna`s unease grew. She moved cautiously, conserving her Moonlight where she could. The pressure in her chest returned with more comfort than pain. She navigated through the chamber and down into an unusual metal corridor.

　　Metal sheets formed the walls, leading to an immense circular steel door at the hallway`s end. It was made intricately, full of gears, pipes, and weird twirly pieces of thin rope.

　　It`s mechanical engineering, said the Tigress. Wiring from the world beyond the storm.

　　So, there are more people out there? Past the edge of the world?

　　Yes. There are. You have six siblings.

　　What?

　　Six other siblings, just like me.

　　Luna ignored the Tigress and kept her mind on the door. Caden is up there?

　　Yes.

　　How do we get through?

　　Kellin can help. Channel him.

　　She did so. Channeling Kellin felt odd. It felt new. Ever since the Tigress awoke to bring her back to this place - channeling anyone felt easier, and her Moonlight flowed through her much smoother.

　　She placed her hands on the door, and everything began to move.

　　It runs on a type of energy called electricity, said the Tigress. Moonlight is energy, life energy, which can generate this power if you conduct it through the metal.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

　　The gears began to turn, and steam burst from one of the pipes, startling Luna.

　　The door swung open with immense force, and in the room beyond was a circular room with a spiral staircase ascending higher. Luna stood in the center, staring at the greatness in front of her. The tower interior shot upward as far as the eye could see. She could barely make out the end of it.

　　I can do this, she thought. I can do this. The jump was more difficult than anything she`d done previously. With a deep breath, she threw herself skyward with Moonlight and sent her body soaring straight upward. The stairs passed by her in a blur.

　　The pressure in her chest built, causing a light pain to rush through her. However, it was different this time. She didn`t bleed - she seemed to be doing okay, dashing and being invisible simultaneously.

　　She landed by slowing her ascent and curving in an arc over the top railing. As soon as she entered, she felt the familiar infinite Moonlight return to her.

　　You do know why he gives us power, right? The truth behind the infinite Moonlight?

　　No?

　　He`s the Vessel of Sin. As you were chosen by me, Caden was chosen by the Crown.

　　Does that mean we need to fight him?

　　It means you need to kill him.

　　Luna did not like that answer. Vessel of Sin? Of Virtue? What was that supposed to mean?

　　The top room was full of chests and treasure scattered about. Luna immediately noticed some extremely high-quality silk fabric pouring from one of the chests. She wondered how in the heck that got up here.

　　She scanned the room, keeping herself invisible. Elena and Caden stood with their backs to her against the open balcony. With her Moonlight, the light pouring in from the balcony did not cause her distress.

　　Caden turned away and re-entered the room. He gave a glance to Luna and paused. His eyes were lost, dead, empty. That tiny flicker of light that usually resided within them was gone. Had Elena hurt him again?

　　He moved toward her, brushed past, then stopped and leaned on the railing that surrounded the entrance to the staircase below.

　　"What is Elena`s last name?" he whispered.

　　"What?"

　　"Answer me."

　　His voice was dead, and Luna found herself doubting he remembered her.

　　Do I . . . trust him?

　　No. He`s the Shard of Sin. Kill him. The Tigress spoke. Something was off about Caden, and whether it was Burnout or whatever the Tigress said, Luna wasn`t sure.

　　"Tell me."

　　"Rosenthal," Luna said reflexively.

　　The Tigress rumbled in her mind, a small force like thunder, a small. . . sigh of disapproval. Not even her own past lives, nor the primordial that resided in her soul, approved of her choices.

　　Caden smiled. But it wasn`t the kind of smile she had expected from him. It was full of . . . nothing. It was fake.

　　"Elena," Caden called, entering the room.

　　The girl came in from the balcony and closed the double doors.

　　"We`re here, what now? Let`s get this over with."

　　She nodded, "Very well. The Crown resides on the throne. You must place it on your head as you did previously."

　　As he did what?

　　Stop him. Luna. Stop him now. He must not use that weapon.

　　Luna drew her daggers. Stop. . . Caden? No. He was kind, he would do the right thing, and he wanted to be better.

　　He approached Elena slowly. "What are you -"

　　"Silence. Don`t move."

　　She obeyed.

　　He compelled her.

　　"Erase my name and Luna`s name from your memory," he touched her forehead.

　　She fell to her knees, coughing and holding her stomach.

　　"What the hell is wrong with you? What the hell! Why? Why did you -" Elena screamed, clawing at the floor before staring at him with bloodshot eyes. She was heaving, and her mouth was wide open. "You flaming idiot! What have you done!"

　　"I stole your power," he said, then turned to Luna. "Show yourself, Luna, she cannot compel you any longer."

　　"What? Luna is here?" Elena said, sounding genuinely concerned. "No. . . NO! I did all this so that she could leave! I changed everything so she could leave!"

　　Luna revealed herself, taking pensive steps forward.

　　"Luna. . . Luna, what is our last name? Please, I -"

　　She figured it out. The name is how she was able to be compelled. "You stole her power. You. . ." she paused and took one step away from him. "You can compel her now. You can compel me now."

　　He nodded.

　　Luna was suddenly very, very frightened.

　　I warned you.

　　But he`s Caden. . .

　　"Tell the truth, Elena," Caden demanded. "Why are you up here?"

　　"I told you already! To break the curse. If you put on the Crown. I could compel you to break the curse and take it off. I hadn`t lied to you."

　　"And all the things you told me about Isabel in the tavern were true?"

　　"Yes, but I left out my unrequited love for her." Her voice strained when she spoke as if it was hard for her to say that.

　　Luna was overcome with rage. "She`s lying! Compel her again!"

　　Calm yourself, child. The Tigress`s voice shouted.

　　"I`m not lying. You fools just refused to believe I had any semblance of a heart. I cared enough about you two to change everything. I sacrificed this entire job for you. I did it again! I made the exact same mistake again." She laughed wildly. "I tried my best to reform our relationship, Luna, and you wanted none of it!" She screamed, her arms flailing in all directions, tears streaming down her face. "I let you go, and you still come back here just to die! What is wrong with you?"

　　"To die?"

　　As if on cue, a slow clap echoed from the staircase below. Foreboding footsteps followed, and Crusader Darian soon emerged from the spiral staircase with a smile on his face.

　　"Well played, Elena, but you can shut up now," Darian said. "I`ve heard enough."

　　He entered the room adorned in silver armor, and the blue light from his armor reflected off everything in the room.

　　What is he doing here?

　　Bad news for us, said the Tigress. She was the only one talking now. Where were her other past lives?

　　"Tigress," Darian said, nodding his head. "I heard you were joining our council soon?"

　　Luna`s jaw dropped. She had not spoken to Bloom since the Festival. "I uh, well I -"

　　"No need to reply so hastily. Either way, I knew you three would be up here."

　　"How?" Elena shouted. "I had everything under control! There was no way you could have known!"

　　"Please," Darian said. "Your sense of control is pathetic."

　　Elena took a few steps back.

　　"Now then," he said. "Caden, why don`t you help me arrest that girl here? And we can blame everything on the real Emberward mucking up my city."

　　Caden smirked. "I don`t get it," he said. "Why are you here? I thought you were working with Elena. If your plan wasn`t to break the curse, why did you compel me all those years ago? Why this whole nonsense with Vance?" He still seemed off. His voice was stoic and void. Shouldn`t he be getting mad? Shouldn`t he be screaming?

　　"Ah ah, Caden, come on, arrest the girl first," Darian said.

　　"Get away from me!" Elena lunged across the room, dodging Caden and Darian before landing near the throne. "I`ll. . . do it myself. If you won`t break the curse. Then -" She reached for the artifact, the Crown that stood upon the throne.

　　"Stop," Caden ordered.

　　Elena shook in place, desperately reaching for the Crown, clawing at every ounce of sanity she had. Luna felt pity. She knew what that was like.

　　"Come here."

　　Elena obeyed.

　　"Wow, you picked that up quickly," Darian said. "I`m impressed. Although, did you read that book? I left it for you in the Library, right? So I`m sure you learned a lot."

　　"No sir, I did not," said Caden. "In fact, that book caused more problems than it solved."

　　"Damn, I should have known," he laughed. "Oh well, you still became quite the strong lad. Perfect, just as I wanted. You know, I am sorry for what I did to you all those years ago. It was quite cruel for me to compel a child to kill. . . however, you`re real strong now, huh? You`ll make a fine Crusader, and finally, we`ll be able to make decisions and reform this entire city, maybe even unite all of Elutia."

　　Did he really only compel Caden as a child just to groom him as a potential Crusader? That`s barbaric. What the hell is wrong with that guy? Luna thought.

　　"And the curse?" Caden asked.

　　He bellowed out a laugh. "Oh, Caden, there is no curse. There is no past the edge of the world. There is simply the clouds and the storm."

　　Caden did not look surprised.

　　"Come on now. Take her with us. We can find chains for her somewhere."

　　He didn`t move.

　　"I said," he repeated. "Come with me. Now."

　　Time slowed. A small smile crept over Caden`s face as if he was trying not to laugh.

　　"No, Darian, I don`t think I will do that."

　　The Crusader`s eyes widened in what could only be described as astonishment.

　　"In fact, I think that right now. . ." He leisurely walked over to the throne. "I think right now, I`m going to start being better - just like Isabel always wanted."

　　"What are you talking about?" Darian asked. "I compelled you. . . how are you -"

　　"I have found a way around that," Caden said.

　　"That`s impossible. . ."

　　"Caden," Luna said. "What are you doing?"

　　"I will save the world, but it must mean sacrifice. Luna," he spoke softly once more, and hearing her name come from his lips caused her heart to flutter. "I truly do love you. . . and know that I am deeply sorry for this decision. But I am afraid the good of the world is more important than whatever we could have been."

　　"What? What are you talking about? Whatever it is you`re about to do - don`t," Luna took a step forward. "Let`s talk."

　　"No no," said Darian. "I want to see what becomes of this."

　　"Stop him!" Elena shouted, glancing up at Luna. "Please! Stop him!"

　　Luna hesitated; she didn`t know whether to help Caden or fight against him. Something was wrong with him, and she didn`t know what to do.

　　"Isn`t this what you wanted, Elena?" Caden grabbed the Crown from the scorched throne.

　　If he becomes the Crown, what becomes of Caden? Of my Caden. . . of the entire reason I came back here? Damn it! She relented, finally jumping into action.

　　Luna dashed toward him, moving across the room with incredible agility. Yet, it was too late.

　　Caden placed the Crown atop his head, and darkness swallowed him whole. A blast radiated out from him and came right toward her. Smoke, embers, and black flames whipped toward her. An orange flash of fire exploded, revealing Elena as she teleported before her. The blast hit Elena in full force, and she slammed into Luna. They were both sent hurtling past the staircase railing, tumbling down the central space as Caden was swallowed up by a nightmare.

　　What the hell was that? Luna thought; she grabbed Elena, pooled Moonlight, and shot herself and her sister backward. They landed on the flat platform in front of the vault door.

　　Lady Felisha glanced over but said nothing. What was she doing here? What was her job in Elena`s plan?

　　Luna quickly got up and glanced at her kneeling sister, who looked down at her hands with a confused and awkward expression.

　　"My head," she said. "It hurts. Nothing`s real! What is happening? I can`t. . . remember?"

　　"The hell is wrong with you?" Luna snapped. "Come on, this is your plan. How do we get the Crown off Caden?"

　　"What? I`m sorry, what are you talking about? You`re. . . Luna, I know that. But what Crown? Who is Caden?"

　　"What happened up there?" Felisha asked. She had been conjuring magic into the vault door but stopped when they fell back down here.

　　"Let me out, god damn it!" Solaris was shouting from behind the vault door.

　　Well, shit, Luna thought. What did I miss?

　　She got up, ignited an orb of Moonlight in her hand, and blasted the vault door off its hinges. Solaris emerged, and the three reconvened.

　　She was hit with a blast of sin. She should recover in a few hours. But for now, her memories will be scrambled. All but the most powerful ones. The Tigress said. It was just like Isabel.

　　Great, so what you`re saying is Caden`s flaming screwed, Elena`s halfwit and messy, and I`m all alone to face the Crown?

　　No. Renna, Kellin, Isabel, Yelzar, and the Tigress said all at once. You are not alone.

　　Luna smiled. "You three," she gestured to Solaris, Felisha, and Elena. "Get the hell out of here. The Crown has emerged in the top room of the palace. The plan has failed. Leave now."

　　"What about you?" asked an empty Elena.

　　"I`m going to do what I was made for. . ." she said. "I`ll save Caden and bring back the Sun."