“Roses are red, violets are blue. If angels are real, please let them be with you.”

Second chapter- I take my own step

I could see myself reading a book sitting beside a lit candle. Everything was happening in my subconscious. Foreign information started flowing into my mind like a sponge absorbing water. Few things I was aware of, I am no longer human. I have been reborn as the core of Arcturus, the heart of a planet far away from Earth. There are magical auras similar to what we call mana warping around Arcturus. Mana is used as a limited supply to sustain the life forms living in Arcturus.

I could manipulate these mana at will which I find ridiculously amazing. My power also allows me to create a living body for the souls to inhabit.

When I first open my eyes, I could see the image of my beautiful planet. Unlike Earth, the skies are violet. I’ve never seen such color in the sky. They were mysterious, yet breathtaking. The seas are light green. I couldn’t believe this is my form.

I wander in Arcturus as a core spirit with no physical body. With a pair of eyes, I searched for any human settlement. It didn’t take me long before I stumble upon one. A small village with cottage and huts. If I could see my own eyes, they would be beaming with light. There is magic in this world. Wouldn’t that mean magician is possible?

True enough, the humans were using magic to travel. There were flying gigantic leaves around the street picking up passenger at their front door. Some merchants were doing magic tricks to show off their enhanced goods. While other uses it to craft their equipment.

A part of me can’t help but wish to be part of the human circle. According to my knowledge, humanizing is possible but that would require a large amount of Arcturus’s mana.

I didn’t feel the need to sleep so I continued observing how the humans live. During the night, there are water droplets in the size of a ball floating mid-air along the streets. Light is emitting from inside. The children throw colorful orb in the air and dance joyfully. I overheard them talking when I was passing though one of the huts.

“I heard Lord Sainde is coming over with his knights tomorrow.” The brown hair boy threw an orb to the air.

Another one replied, “Really? I wanna see Lady Eloiya. She waved at me last time they came here to visit.”

“I’m sure she waved at me. She’s so pretty!”

“No, she’s mine. I won’t give her to you.” Those kids kept on bickering about Eloiya.

“Knights, huh.” I muttered inward and flew away.

The kids looked up at the empty space. After a while, one of the boys said with a pale face, “You heard that?”

There was a brief silence before the other replied, horrified. “Yeah.”

When the villagers went to sleep, I had nothing to do. There was no moon in the sky but it was filled with dozens of stars. I was reminded the day I was unexpectedly murdered. The sky was the same. All of it seems so far away. I thought about my mother who will lived alone by herself. I wished I could have leave her with some living money or convey to her I am doing fine in other world.

When morning came, the gate of Ghamp Village opened. A crowd quickly gathered around the gate. Shouts of excitement and cheers could be heard from far away.

“To Lord Sainde, who protect our village, may the god bless you!”

“Look, it’s Lady Eloiya and Lord Eten!”

The head villager appointed his man to prepare rooms for the knights and food for a feast tonight. Floating from above, I could see five armored people standing on decorated red leaves armed with bow or sword. They came to stop in front of the head villager.

The armored man, who was directed as Lord Sainte, approached the head villager with a warm smile like he was visiting an old friend.

“Bern, my friend! How have you been? I see the village is still buzzing with life since the last time I came here.”

“It has been a while since I saw you. Aside from the village, I’m afraid we are slowly depleting its mana.” The old man, Bern, frowned. “The crystal hasn’t been reacting as much to us as before.”

“That is indeed worrying,” Lord Sainte replied. “We will see what we can do to help. Will you guide us to the crystal?”

“Of course, please follow me.” The head villager turned to his men, “Please prepare some refreshments for the knights while we head to the crystal cave.” 

I was curious about the crystal that emits mana. To my knowledge, mana crystals are rare. They are abundant in mana enough to provide to its surrounding life forms for a long time. I followed behind the head villager along with the five knights.

We reached an area where there is no house to be seen. Wild flowers and long grass surrounded the cave. I could feel the crystal’s weak vibration from this distance as though it was calling for me. They headed inside the cave as soon as they have reached the entrance. It was lighted up inside with those orbs.

When we were about a distance away from the entrance, I could feel that we are approaching close to the crystal.

“We are almost there,” the head villager stated.

The purple crystal was discharging a faint glow. Even though I have not seen a mana crystal before, I knew it was dying.

Lady Eloiya threw a worried glance at Sainde. He only shook his head in return.

“It seems to be at its end.” Lord Sainde regarded with sorrow. “I’m sorry, there is nothing we can do to help. In a few days, the crystal will lose its last mana.”

The head village was prepared for this answer. He knew that the crystal will break once it has lost its mana. There will be no more harvest for the village. Animals will starve. His people will have a hard time living on this land.

“What are we going to do now?” The old man asked.

“Your people will have to settle to the nearby village. We will request Tursh Village to grant your people land and houses. I’m sure they will understand.” Lady Eloiya offered.

“Yes, that is the best choice. I’m just worried my people will not like the idea of leaving their homeland behind.”

The knight who had kept silent the whole trip exclaimed in surprise, “Look! The orb is glowing.”

All eyes turned to the crystal with wide eyes, unable to believe the event occurring in front of the, “What is happening?”

I had just merely put the tip of my finger on the crystal. The crystal had started regenerating its glow with the speed of lightning. In a moment, the cave was engulfed in purple light. It was so much brighter than it was before.

Their expression made it seem like what I did was something more. I puffed out with pride. Who knew I could revive a dying crystal back to its state with just a touch.

One knight stammered, “My lord, this is---“

“---the heart of Arcturus, our creator,” Lord Sainde breathed. “And our only hope to end the depletion of mana.”

“I thought it only existed in books. This is unbelievable.” Lady Eloiya added, “We have to report this to the king quickly.”

Sainde turned to his old friend, “Bern, the problem has been resolved. We shall take our leave now.”

Bern saw his old friend was going to leave in a hurry. He stepped up and said, “Are you sure you don’t want to stay for the night? We have prepared a feast for your knights.”

Lord Sainde replied with a polite manner, “We apologize to your people who had put in so much work for us. If there is any chance next time, we will bring in gifts as an apology.”

The knights bowed to the head villager. Bern quickly exclaimed, “Please don’t feel like you owe us. It is our honor to have you here.”

“Well then, please excuse us.”

The knights left the village as quickly as they came. There are things left to report. Violence was in their profession where the blood seeps down the soil and connect the dead back to the living land. There are times when unexplained things get haywire, this is one of those rare occasions. The atmosphere they were experiencing back at the cave was mystifying. When the crystal gained back its mana, it felt as if they were in a trance. Like they had witness their creator giving birth to a life.

“Sometimes it’s hard to turn away my eyes, but when I do, I shall no longer be a human. “

Third chapter – I jump into the pit of mud