The Last Sorceress

Part I: She Who Hails From Terra

"Does the walker choose the path, or the path the walker?"

- Garth Nix -

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It is quiet. The air is cold and still as death. Eight figures stand motionless, their souls encased in sparkling crystal – the aftermath of the event that shattered their peaceful world. Twelve guardians, eight remain; waiting in faith and trust. One day. One day, they will restore calm to their people. The world that was once so complete and perfect will be revived and rejuvenated once again, but only with the return of its rightful ruler.

For 200 some years, the Tree has been suffering; drained of its Aether, its miserable broken frame of branches – stripped of life – are the only thing left of a legendary empire once so great and powerful, now nothing but memories in the minds of those who survived it all; those who have lost faith, and those who continue to believe.

Whether it is worth believing – only time will tell.

Amidst the surrounding darkness, a twinkle of light in the distance flutters ahead. It calls out to the guardians. Like its glimmer, its whisper is gentle but firm.

/Crack./

The crystal loses its strength. Darkness fights back, but the twinkle glows brighter with each passing moment, refusing to extinguish. Like a butterfly, it dances in the air, leaving behind a trail of luminescence, and sits delicately on the Tree, seeping into its branch.

/Crack./

A visible fracture runs across the limb of a crystalline figure as the Tree sprouts the first sign of life in more than two centuries. A beautiful white bud – the Speros flower, the source of hope. Despite the looming darkness threatening to harm it, it grows, and blooms.

/Crack./

The flower bud, with all its might, spread its petals around its petite being, coming to a full bloom in a burst of glow. A magnificent golden glory with a shining core. And the light, it is carried away. It flutters to the crystalline figures, encircling them with the hope it carries, until –

/CRACK!/

One glowing crystal shell shatters and disintegrates into fine, shimmering sand. The guardian takes his first breath in centuries, and falls to his knees. It is like waking up from a dream. He examines himself, the feeling returning to his body, and stands. He pulls back his sleeve, and sees the crest that is etched onto his forearm – briefly emitting a glow, reminding him of his duty.

One by one, around him, his comrades are freed from their crystal prison. They exchange glances, but none of them speaks. No words are required. They stand astounded as the bright glow from the Speros flower beckons them to come closer. They know what this means. For them, for their world.

The guardian feels his lips curl into a small, grateful smile. This glimmer of light is an unmistakable sign – a sign that their effort 200 years ago wasn't in vain and that hope still lives. A sign they have all been waiting for.

The sorceress – their /Queen/ – is back.

---

It takes more than handmade paper stars to make a wish come true. Atelier knows that. She heaves a sigh and drops her final star into the jar. It is golden and glitters slightly; perfect for Lucy, because the little girl wants to be a princess. Atelier smiles and gives the jar a little shake.

Six paper stars, each one representing a member of her family. Each one representing a wish she makes for them. Maybe it's silly, but it's not silly to have hope, is it? Even if they do live in Morheim. After all, Mother's hope – and a whole lot of luck – was what got Atelier into school in the first place.

She can still remember the day they fished her name out of the giant glass bowl, announcing her as the next lucky child to receive full scholarship to the Jeron Vidar Academy. Though it came as a major shock that she, a Morheim girl of all people, was picked - and the Elites couldn't be more displeased at that - the government ultimately didn't deny her passage into the school. Mother couldn't be more elated.

That was six years ago. Now, Atelier is about to finish her final year, about to graduate with a high school diploma from the most prestigious academy in the nation. She is probably the first in Morheim to ever complete her education, which is rather nice, but she isn't sure what that will bring her. It's not like Morheim needs anyone with qualifications. No – Atelier wants to start her new life in the crown city.

But does Pandemonium want her?

"Big sister?"

The little voice startles her and she nearly drops the jar. Atelier turns to the girl sitting on the bed by the wall. "Hey, teeny. Am I keeping you up?"

"No..." Lucy shakes her head, rubs her eyes, and makes her way to the desk where Atelier is sitting. She lays her eyes upon the paper stars. "What are you doing?"

Atelier picks her up and sits her on her lap. "Nothing much, just making wishes."

"These are your wishes?"

"Well, yes. I made six. One for myself, then one for mama. Kenton gets one too. So does Jason and Melanie. You see this sparkly one? That one's yours."

"Wow, it's pretty," Lucy says with bright eyes. "What did you wish for?"

Atelier flashes a mischievous grin. "It's a secret. You're not supposed to say your wishes out loud or they won't come true."

The little girl's face almost immediately deflates. "Is that why I'm not a princess yet?"

Atelier plants a kiss on the top of her sister's head. "You are a princess to me. Always."

"You're a princess too, big sister!" Lucy exclaims, a bit too loudly. Thankfully, her other siblings remain asleep.

"Why, thank you, your highness." Atelier smiles, tapping Lucy's nose, earning a small giggle from the kid. "Shall we go to bed now then?"

Lucy nods sleepily. "Yes..."

Atelier tucks her sister in before returning to her desk. Her arm reaches for the light switch, but she stops and picks up the jar of stars. The colours shine back at her amidst the light from the table lamp. With a deep breath and a smile, she sets it down on the windowsill.

It takes more than handmade paper stars to make a wish come true. Atelier knows that. But it's her 18th birthday tomorrow.

Maybe the Heavens will smile on her again.

---