18 Fall of Lucerna

Caitrina Soprano

I look at myself at the mirror.

Yes, the mirror. A Head must always be presentable at all times. No, presentable is not enough. I must be an example, an epitome, a role model. I am the Head of the Enchanters all over Medeis. Pulchritudo et Tranquilitas, the motto of Cassida. I must abide by it for this is where the Seat of The Head of Enchanters is placed. I inspect every nook and cranny of my outfit. There can be no stain on my velvet gowns. There can be no rust on my emerald jewels. There can be no hangnail on my polished nails. My hair needs to be in a plait or at least, well-kempt.

I look and look, and still. No flaw. Alright, I am ready to see my students.

I head outside of my office and into the open fields of Lucerna. This is the Land of Nature and Beauty. It is a land where it is not as technologically advanced as Scire, but 'tis a kingdom where nature runs in all places. Many eccentric creatures reside in this kingdom. The birds are of different color like pink and purple. Homes are made inside trees of Sycamore and Narra. In this land, winter and autumn never comes. 'Tis in an eternal bliss of Spring and Summer.

I look around and see people heading off to work on giant bees and insects. Some even choose the water buffalo as their mode of transport. Some people greet each other with wide smiles on their faces. I see men and women exchanging fruits and vegetables that they have harvested from their gardens. This is true beauty, the kindness of each men to one another. We let not outer beauty consume us. A true Cassidan never forgets that he/she must remain kind to his/her people.

As I continue my walk, I pass by the old Siara garden. 'Tis been years, and yet, the trees are still at its youngest. Still, it has become a potion-making area for instructors. I cannot help but smile as I look at them work their best. As they notice that I passed by them, they give a little curtsey to which I acknowledge. This is freedom that the Scirese cannot feel. They are all too consumed by logic that they have forgotten that there are some things that science can't explain.

A few more steps, and here is my class, a garden near the Alitura Forest. They look around the garden as if feigning interest on the topic. They inhale the scent of flowers, but they know not that it is poisonous. They try the juicy berries, but they know not that it is not meant to be eaten by men. It is meant to be eaten by animals. I look at them with hidden contempt. If they want to impress me, then they should not try these ridiculous lengths for a good grade. They will be sifted and filtered to be pure like white flour for baking the greatest of cakes.

In any case, these plants are for potionology anyway. It's meant to be made for special spells that cannot be made by a normal practitioner. Spells like invisibility, telepathy, teleportation to forbidden lands, and so much more require some form of potion to make it work.

It seems that they are ready. I clap my hands thrice. Suddenly, they all fall into lines. They speak not with their friends and they move without importance. Good. Just as how an enchanter should be – disciplined.

"Our lesson for today will be about Botany for Potionology," I say loudly and clearly. "I have noticed some of you have little to no knowledge about the plants in this garden. Well, worry not. You will learn all of these plants so that you can use it for creating potions."

My wards all nod in respect. I see the same wards that are trying dangerous things blushing out of shame. Right, they knew that they were wrong. Good.

"Alright, wards," I continue. I point to a plant with naturally yellow leaves and round brown fruits. 'Twas a plant short in height with little fruits. "This is called the 'Rengi'. This plant is one of the basic ingredients in potion making. 'Tis not to be confused with its twin, the 'Cicho'. Just remember the texture of the fruit. One would be smoother."

As my students marvel at the Rengi plant, I can feel the earth vibrate as if it is splitting apart. My ears ring from the sounds all around me. I look at my wards, and still, they feel nothing. Am I the only one feeling this? I look around me to see if there are any instructors that I can ask. There are none. What is going on?

Suddenly, it happened.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

'Twas like lightning and thunder met and joined forces in that small time. Within a few short minutes, order has been lost. My wards run away as if Medeis is ending. I see some of them quiver in one end and the other running away in fear. I admit. I have not seen or felt this event in much of my lifetime.

No, I cannot feel this way. Nothing troubles me. I am the Head of the Enchanters and I cannot be seen stooping into the level of my wards. If they are playing a game of fear right now, I, too, will play a game. I shall play a game of pretense. Why? I'm the person that they look up to. Why should they see me as weak when I am their head? To do that would be to admit the weakness of my kind. No, I shan't allow that.

I take a deep breath. I raise my arms over my students. "Go placidly in this noise and haste, and I beg of you to remember the peace we had in silence," I say calmly.

Within minutes, they calm themselves down and turn their attention back to me. As the incantation slowly fades from their minds, they hang their heads in shame for what they have done. Good.

As look at them in the eyes, and yet, they cannot look back. I walk towards them as if I shall require them to explain what they have done. Suddenly, I grab the hand of a girl with sun-kissed hair and greyish eyes, Trichen Clari, Lyzbeth's old friend.

"Alright, wards," I declare to all of them. "Trichen shall be in charge. I'll be heading back to Lucerna to check what happened! Do you understand?"

I did not even bother to check whether they nodded. They will be fine. I worry more about Lucerna. I do not even understand what's going on. I have never felt such a stronger quake in my life. All my years of training seem to be worthless from all that is happening.

As I walk back the same path to Lucerna, I see that the instructors I saw earlier have gone away. A field that is filled with students enjoying the beauty of Cassida seems to have faded into silence. The birds and bees that used to fly seem to have fallen down the ground. It is oddly quiet. This can't possibly be real.

I head for the arch entrance. There should be hundreds of wards flocking this area for gathering of plants for general purposes. None. There is no sign of my wards. Where are you? I feel my palms shake from what I am thinking. No. They are still here. Hold on, Caitrina. Your wards are still here. A fellow instructor is around here somewhere.

I walk into the arch entrance and into the tunnels. I hold a flame up to my hands, but there is still no life. Not even the crawling critters of the ceilings chirp to say a word. The winds have suddenly gone away. I see a white light at the end of the tunnel.

As I emerge, I could only fall down and cry.

This magnificent school has been reduced into debris. All I see are just stones and pebbles. The Corinthian pillars became throwing rocks that children would play. I stoop down to look at the plants. As I look closer, it seems that they have died too. I take a fair withered Rose, but it only broke into flakes and scattered through the air.

The ruins are fine. This is still fine. This can be repaired. I could just summon all the Master Enchanters and wards I know. I go deeper into the ruins. The grand hall heading towards the banquet area is strangely too bright. It is due to the piercing sun scattered all about. The ceilings that stood as high as a Sycamore tree are nothing more than puzzles scattered on the ground.

For goodness sake! Where are they?

As I inspect the damage and walk over rubbles, I find that I am stepping over a white rock harder than concrete. Concrete? Lucerna was not built in concrete. It was built through specific saps of plants and the woods itself. I pick up this strange rock. I scrutinize it, and somehow, I feel as if a soul had once kept this rock alive.

A soul had once kept this rock alive.

Dear god. This is no rock. This is a bone. Men's bones. There is no blood, but there was an explosion. Flesh was burned, but bones only stay broken. No... This can't possibly the bones of my wards. This can't possibly be the bones of my fellow instructors. My vision blurs from the waters building up my eyes. No, it will be fine. Things will be fine.

I continue to walk through the former grand halls, but all I can see are more bones. The bones became more and more detailed. I see femurs. I see hands. And then, I see skulls. Still, I see no survivors. I cannot take this anymore. I fall down on my knees and release all the tears building up my eyes.

No, there will be survivors around here. I take a stand. I can feel the bile building up my throat, but I ignore that. I clear it all away and leave the grand halls. I walk towards the flight area. Yes, it is supposed to be empty on the grounds. Still, I expect that there will be enchanters flying in the sky as they compete their speed with other enchanters or even amongst the eagles and dragons.

There was none. It's just empty silence that would drive a person into madness. In desperation, I wave a finger up in the air. With just a wave, I could feel an enchanter's presence. Even just one would be alright. All I need to feel is one presence that a ward is alright. Still, there is none.

There are no more enchanters in Lucerna. It's just my class and the other enchanters that I've scattered all over Medeis.

Suddenly, from a distance, I see two figures. Enchanters! How could I miss them? I was about to embrace them, but suddenly, I cannot. It was two figures in blue and violet cloaks. I prepare a flame behind my back, but no. I will not attack. If they are the ones that caused this, it would be my end. There must be thousands of them. It will not be wise if I did so. Instead, I hid behind an oak tree.

"Basi ok asoy, awal idot oyin Fortitudo," the female figure says scornfully.

"Ansipi ok alg annam un adlih abak itananatog ilan aksi abka abno as ulap gan Fortitudo. Id abel, ususdog an isal apar atupnis gan gam amrahilak," the male figure says with much hope and determination.

Kani! The language of the Kingdom of Potio. It all makes sense. These men are sorcerers. I may not understand the language, but I do know of one word – Fortitudo, the original seeds of a kingdom. It slowly dawns on me. They are after the Cassidan Fortitudo, but for what? It is the seed of a kingdom. Without a Fortitudo, this kingdom will be in shambles.

I piece the puzzle together. Sorcerers are attacking the Kingdom of Cassida. They are in search of the Cassidan Fortitudo.

No more tears. Now is the time for action. My normal life is over. My surviving wards have no home. No one would house them. There will be no one to teach all of them either. I cannot rebuild Lucerna on my own. It is now time to make plans.