CHAPTER 1, THE BLAND DAYS ARE STARTING TO CHANGE

The morning sun was shining brightly on the cityscape, it illuminated the dark alleyways driving away the darkness of the night, I'm just about to head out for a little walk, Saturday's are the best days to go outside for a walk after all. I change into my black jeans, white shirt and blue jacket, today is just another cold autumn day here in Goshenite Town, my name is Haru Morganite, I'm seventeen years old. I don't have a family because my parents died when I was young, my grandparents were the ones who took me in but they died about a year ago, I don't have any siblings and I live on my own. I run a small shop and my grandparents also left me some money so I can get by, having a job helps too, I'm going out for a walk before I open up shop for today. I stroll through the empty streets as I watch the leaves of the trees fall to the ground, up ahead is the sea, and the cliffs to the north of it is the dormitory for the mage guild called Azure Gem, they keep the peace here in our city, they also go on lots of adventures and everyone there is strong. "Morning Haru." Aria-san greets me as she walks on the beach.

"Morning Aria-san." I answer her as I look at the azure sea. "Lovely day, isn't it?"

"I agree." She says as she unties her blonde hair. "Something wrong?"

"Oh nothing, just admiring the sea." I say. "Oh yeah, you must be off on another mission right?"

"Yeah, how can you tell?" she asks.

"You're wearing boots, leggings, a blue skirt, a green shirt and pink vest, carrying a back pack full of traveling gear, how could I not tell." I say. "Where are you off to this time?"

"The Aerial Isles, or some where." She answered, as the gongs rang she rushed back to the guild building, she turned back. "Oh right, since tomorrow is your birthday but I won't be here, I'll greet you now, Happy Birthday, though it's a little early!"

"Thanks!" I answered her.

Come to think of it, it is my birthday tomorrow, my grandparents left me something that they said I should only open when I'm eighteen, I think they left it on the desk in their room. I'll look for it today and open it tomorrow morning. After returning to the shop I went up stairs and searched their bedroom for the box and after a few hours I find it under their old desk. It's a small wooden box, simple and plain covered in dusk and filth. I leave it on the table and see that it's already noon, I rush down stairs after cleaning up and run the shop.

The next day, I open the box and inside it is a necklace with a crescent moon symbol inside and a key with the same symbol on the bow as well a sealed envelope, a book with the same symbol and photo of my grandparents and the two with them must be my parents. I read the letter inside the envelope and this is what it says:

Dear Haru,

If your reading this, it means you've turned eighteen, were sorry that we could no longer be by your side. We write you this letter to tell you the truth, about your destiny, our family and your heritage. We have told you that we aren't kin of this country but of another. Our kin were known as the Sky Dwellers, we lived on the flying islands known as the Aerial Isles, we were commonly known as the Aerials. Long ago, we left the Isles to live here, we had hoped to show you the castles one day but we couldn't. If you ever wish to see your homeland, the necklace will show the way, just remember what we told you. Also, if you ever find yourself in trouble turn to 'them' for help.

Yours truly,

Grandma and Grandpa

As I finish reading it I'm not the least bit surprised, I knew there was something different about our family and I'm glad to finally know what it is. Besides, my grandparents taught me to always accept everything no matter how foolish it sounds. However, I don't know the them they're talking about. I open the book and see that it has drawings about some kind of beings.

I wear the necklace they left me and keep it on me at all times, a week passes before I notice and I see that it's Friday yet again and as I walk on the shores, I notice how beautiful the light is from the Crimson Cliffs so I head up to the edge of it. I watch the night fade away into the morning and I notice that the guild members are returning, most of them are covered in wounds and Aria notices me by the cliff and calls for help before passing out.

"How did you all get so beat up?" I ask after I'm finished treating them.

"Oh it's nothing dearie." The Guildmaster says as she sits down trying to fix her blonde hair. "We just got lost in the mist and got into a few fights with orcs."

"Thanks for treating everyone." Aria-san says as she drinks some water from her bottle.

"No problem." I say. "Don't mind me asking, but were you hurt trying to reach the Aerial Isles?"

"Indeed." Storm-san says as he props himself on his shoulders, his blue hair drenched in blood. "Another failed attempt unfortunately, but we'll set off again in three days' time."

"No way! All of you are too injured, and Storm-san please sit lie down, the bandages are getting redder because you keep moving around!" I said as he forcibly tried to stand.

"We'll still depart three days from now..." Storm-san forcibly said and I sigh just then I recall a certain spell grandma would say whenever I went out to pick herbs.

"May the moon shining from day to night, guide you safely home with it's light." I say, just then the necklace glows a bright light, and blue beam shots towards the sky and disappears into the distance. "Huh?"

"What was that?" one of the guild members ask. "That light…"

"To thee, the successor of the Hero, may you guided home safely by the Twelve Spirits." I hear a voice echo in my ear.

"Twelve…Spirits? What are they?" I say as I mutter words and Storm-san's eyes grow large. "Have you ever heard of them?"

"It was written on the only clue to the Aerial Isles. They are apparently spirits of some sort, used by Summoners." He said as he came my direction then shook me. "Where have you heard that name?"

"I just heard it echoing in my head, along with the Hero or something." I answered him.

"There could be a connection between them..." Master said. "Go to the library for me and bring me back a blue book with Moon on it, would you Neph."

As the guild master ordered the guild member to go inside get a book, she tells the others to sit in a circle and I along with them as she tells the legend of the Twelve Spirits and the Mage of the Moon, when the guild member gets back, he hands her a book and she shows us the cover. It has a lock and on the cover we see a crescent moon symbol, she tells us that no one could open the book, it was apparently entrusted to the guild by two people who had been traveling far and wide, saying one day, "That person" would come for it. That book, it seems to look a little like the book I got from my grandparents. "Long ago, when there were monstrous beasts known as demons that lived in our world, the Hero was someone who would fight with them. The Twelve Spirits or Twelve Zodiacs are modelled after the twelve zodiac constellations that are said to serve the Hero's family for generation. Though no one knows the truth now a days." She says.

"Master, what does this have to do with the Aerial Isles?" Aria-san asks eyeing the book.

"It was said that the Aerial Isles and the Hero hold a connection." The Guild Master answers her. "He built a nation up in the clouds, it was called the Nation of Heroes."

"Why was that?" I asked her.

"Because, for countless generations, his descendants were Heroes who fought in many great battles." She said and just then I notice the keyhole, could it be?

"Master, may I please borrow that book?" I ask the guild master, it can't hurt to check. I insert the key into the lock and turn it, it's unlocked! When I took of the lock a blue light suddenly flashes from the book. "I think it worked."

"Who has awakened me from my sleep?" After I turned the book cover and looked at the empty pages a voice asked. We all stood in astonishment with what followed, slowly from the book a man appears. He has golden hair with bangs and strands that go in everyway, blue eyes and white skin and he is wearing a white long sleeve under a blue sweater vest, black jeans and boots, he has cat ears and a bushy tail. "Oh? Haru! I never thought this day would come!"

"W-who are you?" I ask as he hugs me, why does this hug feel nostalgic for some reason?

"A-are you perhaps, Leo? The Lion Familiar, one of the Twelve Spirits?" Master exclaimed as she the Leo symbol on his neck.

"That's right." He says and stands up and introduces himself. "I'm Leo the Lion, one of the many familiars of Tsuki Family."

"Wait, what are you going on about? Familiar of the Tsuki Family?" I asked him, what is he talking about.

"I'll tel you about it then, the truth of the Tsuki Family and your Legacy." He said.