Worlds Edge

There had been many rumors regarding the Mirrored Lake. Some said it was a gift from the gods; Others believed it held a great treasure. In comparison, others thought that the Mirrored Lake had the soul of a God. There would always be a different answer no matter who someone asked. The Mirrored Lake had been under a veil of mystery longer than any of the denizens of Ferrum could recall.

"I wasn't strong enough before to make a connection last time I was here," Zariel suddenly said.

"And now?" Aurelia muttered as she didn't have a good grasp on her Master's strength.

"I haven't gotten that much stronger. My body has with age, but I haven't truly grown." He said dismissively, with a clenched jaw.

Aurelia felt his hands tighten around her's and, for the first time. She saw stress; she saw a heavyweight that he never spoke of nor mentioned. Unsure what to say, Zariel suddenly tugged her forward, holding her small smooth hands firmly; he approached the silver lake and stepped on the water's surface, startling the young fallen.

"Gather a sliver of Arcana to the bottom of your feet," he softly conveyed, pulling her forward without another word. Aurelia panicked and unloaded her golden Arcana to her feet. Watching the moment, she stood on the tip of the lake. Her large beady eyes grew wide with shock.

"It's that easy?"

"Of course not, dummy. I'm holding you up with my mind," Zariel mocked, chuckling as Aurelia's cheeks turned bright red.

"Jerk," she spat, glaring at Zariel, but did not loosen her grip. She held onto him tighter and leaned her head closer to his shoulders. "Just don't drop Aurelia."

Approaching the center of the Mirrored Lake, Zariel peered up towards the moon shimmering with light and then towards the lake, reflecting its glow. "Don't let go, no matt—"

Wrapping her arms entirely around his waist before he could finish, Aurelia eyed the young lord with a mischievous glimmer, "What was that?" She said, snuggling close, knowing it would annoy Zariel.

He grunted. He hadn't seen such a shameless child since his brother. Far too long, he mused as he suddenly plunged into the lake.

Forcing the Astral Water from touching their flesh, Zariel pushed it away with his telekinetic force. Holding the water at bay as they slowly fell to the bottom of the lake where the light didn't exist, Aurelia shuttered at the coldness penetrating her limbs. She gripped Zariel tighter, not out of mischief but fear.

She shuttered and opened her mouth, but Zariel's words quickly appeared in her mind, carrying his stern voice" No talking. We have a limited amount of oxygen. Calm your mind, and whatever you do, don't let go." Her grip tightened. A little too much as she was quick to hear Zariels bones crack, but a ruffle groan did not sound like she would have thought. Blind by the darkness, Aurelia closed her eyes and decided to place her trust in her Dumb-Dumb.

A pulse raced out from Zariels tainted soul, and the waters around him rippled, reaching far and wide. The young Master, mind focused, quick to fall into a deep trance. He took a pull of the limited oxygen and placed his trust in the Weave, a force he could barely grasp, much less understand. Hearing its soothing song hum into his ears like a harmony of music. His eyes revealed a nebula of strings connecting nodes that spread out like an endless sea of atoms, twisting and turning as if they were alive as if the Weave was growing and evolving, holding a mind of its own. The nebula strangely beckoned to Zariel, calling to him.

'Here we go,' he thought and moved not with his body nor mind but rather his soul. The Astral Sea was not a land where the body could exist. At least not in the traditional sense. Pulling forward with Aurelia, who saw herself leave her body, screamed.

"Aurelia is dead! NOOOO!! DUMB-DUMB KILLED HER!!!"

"You're not—"

"I'M DEAD!!! I'LL HAUNT YOU DUMB-DUMB!"

"Aurelia,"

"For all eternity, Aurelia will haunt you. Big dummy! Bully!"

Knocking her soul flame with his fist, Zariel glared, "You're still alive, you idiot! But you won't be if you keep talking. Let me focus, and don't let go!" He sternly warned, regaining his focus.

Noticing her soul was hugging Zariels body the same as her real body, Aurelia was quick to hold her tongue, noting how she could see despite it still being pitch black. Touching upon the concept of Divine Sense, she held on a little tighter and studied the world around her. At the same time, Zariel followed the will of the Weave. Unsure where he was being led, he chose to follow. Removing thoughts from his mind like his mother had taught him to, Zariel followed the song.

Hours later, under the blaring sun, followed by its setting, Zariel and Aurelia came too over the rim of a lake where the azure sun shimmered endlessly far and wide without a cloud in sight. Over the horizon, no land could be seen, only a world of Azure ocean and a lone white lotus hovering over the ocean's surface. Small and delicate with a milky glow of radiance.

"A child?" A soft voice gently and warmly said, startling Zariel as he glanced around in a tense manner. "Worry not, child. I am not here for your life." He said, but Zariel's guard only grew. "Has the world changed so much that children now can connect to the Astral Sea?"

"Who are you?" Aurelia fearlessly asked.

"Me?" The voice said, a little unsure himself, " I don't believe I had a name, or at least I cannot remember."

"Then what is it you want?"

"You invaded my home. What do you want." The voice gently remarked, and Aurelia suddenly blushed. Realizing her mistake, she turned to Zariel, who was frowning.

"You're a weapon shard," He said with glowing eyes, overcome with amazement.

"That I am, boy. Does that matter?"

"Do you remember your master?" Zariel questioned.

"A woman. " The voice gently said, carrying a warmth neither Zariel nor Aurelia could mistake as anything but love. "A Knight of Twilight, a queen." His tone now strong and regal, he said, "Her name, Yuki Snow. The Fallen Celestial of Twilight and Chosen of—"

"Mother?" Zariel shouted, with widened eyes, "That is impossible! She wasn't a part of Noctem!"

"Appart? No, my boy. She was the founder of the organization." The voice gently whispered, growing weaker with each word. "Yuki Snow…Child…Take…Take it all."

The voice faded, and silence descended—a grim silence.

Over the Mirrored Lake, Zariel stood over the water's surface with a dark expression, "Who were you, Mother."