The next target is Rinn,
The night hangs over the ruins of the Hall of Sigils like a death knell, etching a tone of emptiness into the soul. Smoke and ash swirl, carrying the whispers of shattered magic, as if the secrets of ancient times are struggling to reveal themselves. Amidst the blackened debris and the piercing light of the full moon, Rinn stands tightly clutching an ancient scroll—a genuine copy of the forbidden manuscript that unravels the boundaries between reality and illusion, which should have been destroyed a century ago by the hands of history's guardians.
His footsteps are slow yet resolute, each step on the cracked ground signaling a brewing tension. He knows that every second counts; time is his greatest enemy. However, he also realizes—he is not alone.
"I wish you were wiser than this, Rinn."
The voice does not come from the dark sky, nor from the smoldering ground. It emerges from the very rift of reality itself—cold, clear, and absolute. Fitran. Standing atop the ruins of once-majestic stone arches, his cloak billows without wind, resembling a shadow that has taken form. Those eyes—two empty voids that reflect no light, only absorb it with arrogance.
Rinn bit her lip, feeling the tension between two worlds. "You understand what is inscribed here. This world is built on lies, and the truth has the power to shatter everything we comprehend."
"I understand," Fitran replied softly, his voice firm and resonant amidst the ruins. "But that is exactly why it must not touch this world."
A silent flash of lightning swept behind him, casting menacing shadows on the crumbling walls. The air thickened with tension, and the ground began to crack slowly beneath Rinn's feet.
"I will not give in to you," Rinn declared, her gaze ignited with determination, her spirit far surpassing any fear that might gnaw at her heart. "Arkanum Veritas cannot be silenced any longer. If this world is an illusion, I would rather witness its burning than live in a deceptive facade."
Fitran lowered his head, as if hearing a whispered echo beyond human perception. With slow, deliberate motion, he raised his right hand, and ancient magic began to trace itself in the air—a sacred symbol even the Archmages had long forgotten how to decipher.
"Forgive me, Rinn," he spoke softly, each word sharp like a blade piercing flesh. "You know I do not protect this world out of love. My duty is merely to ensure that reality remains intact."
The scroll in Rinn's hand glowed brightly, as if responding to the challenge of the ancient magic presented by Fitran. Between them, two lights—one warm with honesty and the other cold with emptiness—collided in a magnificent battle, creating a play of light that tore through the darkness of the night.
Rinn surged forward, unleashing chaos with transfiguration magic that blurred her opponent's vision. Yet, Fitran remained calm, his expression unreadable, and he simply uttered:
"Shell: Nihilum."
Everything around him fell silent, as if time had stopped, untouched and unshaken by the flowing power. Rinn was thrown backward, but with determination, she fought to remain standing, enduring the pain and confusion that engulfed her.
"I will not back down, Fitran," she shouted, her resolve filling her even as her body trembled.
"I know," Fitran replied, his voice like a gentle breeze, calm in the face of the storm.
They stood firm, two poles of truth confronting each other. One fiercely fought to liberate the world from the chains of deception, while the other valiantly sought to save civilization from the looming threat of total destruction.
And the night bore silent witness to the fact that truth is not always about who is right—but about who is willing to bear the burdens that follow, however heavy and painful they may be.
The night sky was split by the cracks of soaring magic, casting a mysterious light all around. The air trembled and rippled, as if reality could no longer support the two opposing existences, forming an inevitable battleground. Amidst the ruins of the ancient observatory, filled with dust and shadows, Rinn stood, gasping for breath, her body enveloped in a glowing light blue aura—the purifying magic of the Polaris Order that shimmered.
Before her stood Fitran, calm and poised, his figure cloaked in a shimmering black robe patterned with ever-changing designs, as if he were a living mirror reflecting the depths of emptiness and darkness around him.
"How many lies do you think are worth protecting, Fitran?" Rinn asked, her voice resonating with fervor, exuding confidence as the magic around her pulsed with a rhythm that vibrated through the air.
"Enough to keep this world intact amidst the unbearable truth," Fitran replied, his tone calm yet filled with determination, as if each word were a stone intricately carved. With a gentle motion, his hand rose to form a seal that radiated a foreign aura—not magic from this dimension, but something deeper and more mysterious.
First: Illusion Magic — Veritas Refracta
Rinn gripped tightly, her expression ignited by an indomitable fighting spirit. A brilliant light exploded from behind her, transforming the darkness of night into a realm filled with shadows of herself—ten, twenty, even a hundred. Each reflection moved with the intent to kill, striking the walls of reality and unleashing dimensional-cutting magic from every direction, creating a sharp glimmer ready to annihilate.
However, Fitran merely murmured:
"Shell: Diaphane."
The air around him instantly transformed like clear glass, reflecting light with a beautiful yet lethal shimmer. The invading illusion crashed against the invisible shield projected by Fitran, and in an instant, it unraveled into fragments of emotion—fear, hatred, pity—returning to their creator, vibrating upon the surface of Rinn's soul, which was filled with doubt.
Rinn staggered, uncertainty ambushing him like a dark shadow amidst the light.
Second: Emotion Magic — Heartburst Elegy
With renewed determination, Rinn shifted his strategy. He delved into the magic that lay deep within his soul, drawing strength from bitter experiences and painful memories. A magic circle emerged from his chest, reverberating as if symbolizing an unyielding instinct to survive. Waves of emotion struck the field, unleashing the pain, the bitter memories of Arkanum's fallen students, the cries of those forgotten by history, filling the air with profound sadness.
Fitran did not flinch; he allowed the magic to envelop his body like a dark mist that was both warming and terrifying. Yet, his black eyes remained steadfast and unwavering, as if challenging the threatening magical force.
"I do not reject suffering, Rinn. However, I choose not to let it define my reality."
With a resolute decision, he raised his right hand, each movement reflecting a profound determination, his fingers outstretched and trembling with fervor.
Third: Identity Magic — Nullstamp: Unwrite
Ancient symbols resembling numbers and letters glowed faintly, suddenly appearing in the sky, depicting immense power. Rinn screamed with a voice filled with agony—not from physical injury, but because a part of her began to fade and be forgotten. Her name... becoming blurred, lost among the pillars of time. Her hands... even seemed to vanish for a moment, like a trace that never existed in history.
Yet, she persevered. With a blazing spirit, a flame that refused to be extinguished, she shouted:
"I am Rinn Avelora! A name that will never vanish!"
A backlash erupted, releasing a wave of energy that shook the surrounding space. His identity crystallized with an alluring sparkle, shining like the dawn's sunlight that refused to dim, replacing darkness with genuine light.
Fourth: Song Magic — Cantus Umbra
With steadfast determination, Rinn began to sing—launching ancient notes born from the roots of old magic. The melodious sound had no words, yet it rocked the very foundation of Fitran's magic. Delicate cracks appeared on the Shell: Diaphane, as if signifying that everything was now on the brink of change.
For the first time, Fitran moved, following the magical current that flowed around him. He raised both hands, and dark magic swirled out, like ink spreading in water, creating terrifying ghastly shapes.
"Highest Magic: The Reflection of Death Soars!"
A soundless voice echoed around him, drowning the entire world in an oppressive silence. Rinn's song abruptly ceased, and in the suffocating emptiness that enveloped him, his vision blurred. He glimpsed images of his future… shattered and in disarray. All the aims he had fought for began to fade slowly, like a faint shadow at the edge of half-light.
However…
Fifth: The Magic of Hope — Lux Tenebris
From deep within Rinn's chest, a burst of light exploded with astonishing force, flooding the space around her. This was not merely power; it was a blazing conviction, a rekindling of the spirit that had nearly extinguished. A spell was born from contradiction: a bright flame amidst the terrifying darkness.
Fitran was thrust backward, not just by the blazing energy of the magic, but also by the overwhelming tide of memories flooding within him. He remembered who he was before his fate was torn away, before he became a nameless shadow that erased his true identity.
Rinn knelt, drained of energy, while the embers that burned within her soul seemed to consume her body from the inside. However, her spirit remained unyielding, still shining amidst the uncertainty.
Fitran gazed at her intently, feeling the extraordinary tenacity of his opponent that he had never expected. Beneath the pain and fatigue, there was a resilience that deserved respect.
"You may win, Rinn. But that is only one side of the truth."
With a swift motion, he snapped his fingers. The precious scroll of the original copy burned in a blaze of orange-yellow flames, yet it did not truly vanish. The fire was not for destruction but to seal something greater, transforming it into a valuable sacrifice for the truth.
"The truth can arise again… if you have the courage to awaken it."
After that, he vanished in a beam of calm, soothing light, as if delivering an eternal message.
Rinn slumped weakly. Half of his body was numb, yet a charming smile blossomed on his face, as if telling the world that hope still existed.
One truth had touched the world, fighting against the darkness that sought to swallow everything.
Dust floated in the air, forming fragments of dreams trapped between consciousness and unconsciousness. In the midst of the torn magical battlefield, Rinn stood unsteadily, his body having transcended the limits of humanity. The magical veins beneath his skin shimmered blue, vibrating as if calling forth dormant power. Yet, his eyes still shone with stubborn determination, the unwavering spirit of one who refuses to give up.
Fitran approached, each step leaving a trace of magic that silenced sound and stopped time. The space around him seemed stagnant, as if his presence defied the laws of nature, creating fragments of silence throughout the cosmos.
"Rinn. Stop. The world won't turn just because of one small flame."
Rinn responded with a painful smile adorning her face, fresh blood trickling from the corner of her lips, adding a heroic touch to the moment.
"Let me be that small flame. The one that burns throughout the night... enough to stir the dreams of everyone."
He grasped the remnants of the scroll, a piece brimming with hope. Though charred, its essence remained etched within him, engraved in his veins and soul. With a surging determination, Rinn raised his hand, ready to unleash the power stored within.
"Forbidden Circle: Aurora Vultus"
The sky shattered into dazzling fragments of light. Pillars of radiance descended from the heavens, not to save, but to dance wildly, like ancient gods awakened only to lament the emptiness of the world. Each beam struck the ground, creating a lake of liquid reality that reflected all the possibilities of an unfulfilled world.
Fitran, not remaining idle, quickly responded with a terrifying aura surrounding him.
"Seal Commandment: Umbra Absoluta"
One sentence, one key. All the possibilities that once soared high, now crumbled into impossibility.
Aurora Vultus erupted with a roar in the air, then was drawn into the hollow cavity waiting with its darkness.
Rinn dashed forward with burning fervor, his shout slicing through the profound emptiness:
"YOU DO NOT DESERVE TO CALL YOURSELF HUMAN, FITRAN!"
With steady hands, she unsheathed her last enchanted sword—a weapon made from fragments of the memories of historical victims, glimmering with a sharp brilliance. It was a transparent blade, holding the voices, names, and wounds that time could not erase.
With an accuracy likened to an arrow in flight, she leaped forward.
Fitran bowed his head for a moment, not out of fear, but with deep respect. Then, with slow and deliberate movement, he raised his hand, as if ready to summon fate.
"Shell: Reversal Echo."
A single beat.
One second before the final toll rang out.
And amidst the silence, Rinn's body was pierced from side to side, soundlessly. Without an explosion that shook the earth. Only... dimmed. Gradually, the entire battlefield submerged in tranquility, as if even magic held its breath.
Her body fell into the embrace of the earth that had never loved the rebels, a quiet and poignant end.
Fitran gazed at her in silence, each second stretching into an eternity.
"You are right. I am not human."
He knelt beside Rinn's lifeless body. From his cloak, he pulled out a bouquet of blue flowers—flowers that grew only from the soil where the blood of truth seekers had mingled. Gently, he placed them on Rinn's chest, a tribute filled with meaning.
"May you always be remembered, Rinn. You were a human who almost breached the boundaries of the sky."
The sky remained dark, heavy above their heads. Yet, Rinn's whispers, even after death, slowly seeped into the crevices of the world, lingering in the faint silence.
Somewhere far from the roar of war and the thunder of conflict, a child sat beneath the shade of a lush old tree. Gently, he opened an old notebook filled with faded handwriting, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. He gazed at the pages that told the eternal story of a warrior, and amidst the whisper of the wind through the leaves, he asked: "Who really was Rinn?"
"When will my sister come home?" the child said, " i am forget her face." He continued…