Prologue 2

Under the Moonlight

Part 1

My name is Fraulein Floret. I am thirteen years old. I live here, together with my big sister, in my prided country, the Floating Island of Eli.

Its official name is The Magical Floating Island of Elia Seli Da Coruscanta Lara. But no one ever calls it that. Everyone just calls it the Floating Island of Eli. We float above an eternal cloud that blankets the whole world. We call it the Great Barrier Cloud. What lies below it, we could only guess. We have been floating up above the cloud for a thousand years, after all

But what we do know is that down there, danger lurks. Occasionally, deformed beasts would pop out from it, creatures similar to animals, but not quite. I've heard there was this winged dog, twice as tall as a human adult. Once I heard there was this winged lizard that spitted fire. Once I heard there was this bird-like creature, with wings of steel that would easily slice a human in two.

Humans are frail individuals. We cannot wish to stand up against these monstrosities ourselves. So we, as the weak, would forge tools to reject the tyranny of the strong.

A tool called magic.

Magic is a miraculous science humanity has given itself. I've read that magic is the ability to rewrite the world using various tools and procedures. I don't really know how it works though. I'm still thirteen. But! But I'm going to the Magical Academy when I turn fifteen! It's my dream to be a full-fledge magician, and protect my beloved country from the monsters. I can't wait!

"Geez, Fraulein, stop reading those stuffy books and help your big sister out."

"Coming!"

This is my peaceful everyday life. My sister and I, all alone in our humble abode at the edge of Dust Town. Our parents... our parents lost their lives protecting their beloved country. I am proud of them! I will not cry again!

"What's wrong, Fraulein? You look a bit sad."

"Nothing! I am fine, sister dear!"

"If you say so... Please set up the table, dinner's about to be served."

"Yes, ma'am!"

My older sister, Teana Floret. She's very kind, and has this soft atmosphere around here. I love my big sister! She's very, very good at cooking. Although I still don't know why she doesn't want me to be a magician.

I quickly set everything up on top of the wooden table like the good kid I am. I am proud of my speed, you know? None of the town kids can catch me when we play at the meadows. And before I know it, I'm done setting everything up.

"Oh, that was quick. You're quite a fast worker, aren't you?"

"Ehehe, praise me more!"

"Good girl, good girl."

I love it when she pats my fluffy hair. The warmth of her hand feels like sunshine.

"And today's meal is— tada! Cheap vegetable soup and leftover bread!"

"Hooray!"

"... Actually, I'm sorry our meals are a bit... lackluster. I'm no good, huh? What kind of big sister makes her little sister eat this trash."

"N—no! No no no! Sister, I really like your food, you know? No matter what you make, it's great, you know? I love both sister dear and her wonderful creations, you know? And when I become the greatest magician ever, I'll make sure to buy lots of top-quality ingredients for sister's cooking to flourish more!"

"Ah, I don't deserve such a cute little sister! Come here and give me a hug."

"Hug~ Hug~"

"Happiness~ Ah, I'm satisfied. No, I'm not, but if we don't eat quickly, the soup will get cold."

"Ahaha, that's right."

This is my precious everyday life with my sister dear. This is something I will protect in the future. And so, I must push myself to the limits when that time comes, all to become the greatest magician ever.

Part 2

My name is Fraulein Floret. I am thirteen years old, I think. I'm not sure. Who am I? I am Fraulein. What else? I'm thirteen years old. What else?

Nothing. Blank. I don't remember anything. No... I remember. Sister. My sister, Teana Floret. That's right, I have a sister. Teana Floret. That's right. What else...? I don't know. Who am I? Fraulein Floret. I am thirteen years old. I have a sister, Teana Floret.

My thoughts have been circling, circling, circling without end. My head hurts! My eyes are blurry. Where am I? Who am I? Sister dear? Sister dear, where are you?

I was... having dinner with my sister? Yes, then... I don't remember anything else. I don't remember! What am I doing? I'm wearing something like a cloak. For some reason, I'm wearing a hood. Huh? Was I running away? No, I was having dinner with my sister...

Remember! Remember! I smash my head on the hard stone pathway, a desperate attempt to regain something, anything. What is this uneasiness I feel? Big sister? Where are you? Help me... please help me...

My body feels hot and lethargic, like I've been running non-stop.

I have to find her... sister dear. What if she's in trouble? I can't be the one to ask for help... that's right. Our parents entrusted me to protect my delicate older sister. So I have to be the one, to save her.

I bite my lips to shake away the pain swarming in my head. Ahhh! Sister, dear sister. Wait for me.

Ah, I remember. I remember something. I feel, I feel I mustn't let go of this memory. That's right. Sister's last words. Her smile, unlike her usual sunny smile, was as cold as the moon. Those words.

Believe in all that can be.

What does that mean? I don't know, but it's the last words I heard from my sister. Surely, this must be a clue. It's enough. Now, one step at a time, one step closer to my dear sister. Walking with nothing but these fragmented memories.

"You, that getup, are you an escaped slave!?"

Huh? I lethargically look up, and I cower. I'm being glared at by a bald soldier with a scary look on his face? I'm more scared of that big sword on his back, though. What... did I do wrong? Who is he? Slave? I'm not a slave, I am the prided daughter of my parents...

"That silence confirms it! Only death awaits a slave who runs away!"

D—death? There is no such thing as a death sentence for slaves. Huh? H—he's reaching for me! I can't die here! If I die, who'll protect my sister? That deadly glare of this bald soldier, the apathetic looks of the crowd—this isn't the kind country that I know.

I run. I run for my life. I pass through alleyways, pushing aside those who block me. I run. Faster, ever faster. I can't die. I must protect my sister. I must become the greatest magician. Those thoughts swirl inside my head, as I keep running away for my life. I can hear it, those footsteps catching up on me, those footsteps of death.

I feel the fatigue catch up on me, as my steps become wobbly and my mind turns to mush. He'll surely catch up like this. Then I'll die. Why... why didn't I work harder? Protect sister dear in the future? What use is that when I can't even protect her now? My life, my frail life, is nothing compared to the whims of that soldier's sword. If only... if only I had magic. The tool of the weak. I kept pushing it away, saying I'll learn it in the future. Naïve. How naïve can I be! Now, it's too late. My legs are wilting, and my sight is blurred. But...

I can't die here after all! Until the end, please let me struggle, to help my sister! At the very least, let me die fighting for something! Please...

I somehow arrive in a dark alley, but, someone is block my path. A... young girl, girl as young as me. We even have the same hair... She looks lost. Oh no, if that soldier, that monster catches up, he may kill her too. I don't want that. At the very least, let me use my life to protect someone, to protect her... Gathering the last of my strength, I shout,

"R—run away!"

And finally, my legs give up on me, and I fall. I can't... keep running away anymore. But it's fine. At least I saved a life. At least my life had a purpose. At least I lived with dignity. Whoever you are, be proud of me...

"I'm not scary, not at all!"

But for some reason, this naïve girl gives me a stiff smile. Wha... what are you doing? Why are you just standing there, looking confused? Don't waste my life like this. Run away! There's something scary headed towards us!

"N—no, someone's chasing me!"

Gah, it's too late. He... he caught up. The monster caught up. That naïve girl, all she did was looked startled, then stiffened up in shock when she finally realized that unfair existence.

Ha. Ha ha! In the end, I couldn't even save someone my age? Protect my sister? What a joke. I can't even protect this person. All I've been doing is playing around, huh? Well, whatever. I finally understand. For someone like me, a dog's death is enough. But still... it's a cruel joke.

The girl with the same hair as mine, is she dead? No... If I squint my eyes, I can faintly see her talking with the monster. For some reason, she's not even tense. A naïve girl until the end. I feel... I feel a sense of camaraderie with here. The foolish girls who knew not of how this world worked. To die with a comrade... is an honor too much for me.

Ah, there goes his sword. He raises it up above his head, ready to strike. What a cruel end. To honor this one-sided friendship, let me at least witness... your... death?

"Huh?"

Surely, the sword has been swung. Yeah. But instead of her splattered remains, there was... nothing. Nothing but air. What? Before I even noticed, she leans towards him, and... blood? Deep red blood oozed from that monster, forming a crimson pool beneath them. It's too fast. How...? Did she teleport? I don't understand anything anymore.

She pulls out a knife from his heart, and he goes down with a thud. The monster, the existence I proclaimed as strong, was killed just like that. Is this a joke? And the one who easily ended him was a frail girl my age.

"A—ah... you killed him..."

I was... bewitched, by that hallowed visage. Stained with the blood of the weak, bathing under the cold moonlight. She is an existence I could not hope to reach, not with the weak me right now. She is... huh?

"I—it was self-defense, okay? Is there a law about that in this place?"

She's saying something, but I ignore it. I recognize her. I recognize that fluffy blonde hair. I recognize that deep blue eyes. The face I admired, was the same pathetic face I have been staring at every morning. Her looks were exactly the same as mine, but—

I could see nothing but a painful contrast. One was a lofty being who stood above, with her hand gripping a knife that slew the weak. One was me, a pitiful nobody who could do nothing but drag herself on the ground. It's a sight that makes me wonder why I was even born.

Instinct drives me to run away from her, although my jellied legs could only make me crawl on the ground like an insect. Ah, how unsightly. She stares at me, as if I'm some sort of fascinating creature. Of course I am. Then observe, the pitiful me, the bug who dared to protect others with her nonexistent strength!

The last image I remember is that startled look on her beloved face.