Short Story: Sun & Star

It was quiet in the grove, a picturesque scene of idyllic tranquillity. The night was illuminated by brightly coloured petals fluttering about in the gentle breeze, shed from the bioluminescent blossoms growing on the ancient trees that rimmed the small clearing. Their twisted trunks and entwined branches created a barrier, a safe fortress wall that shut out the worries of the outer world.

It was a place Aura had come many times in the past, although it had been a long time since the last. The scenery remained exactly as she remembered, a sempiternal sanctuary. Only now, it failed to provide the solace she had once found here. No longer was the silence soothing, it felt stifling. The barrier had become cage. It was all a shallow illusion of peace.

She felt out of place, coming here was a waste of time.

The unease and frustration bubbled up until a roar escaped her throat, and a bright flash pierced through the darkness of the night as she summoned a sword of light in her outstretched hand. It was almost instinct to fall into the familiar motions, the training routines that had been drilled into her. The peaceful garden had become an imaginary battlefield. Light and shadows danced around as she twirled her weapon. Sparks of adrenaline burned in her blood. Yes, now this was her element, this was what truly steeled her mind, this was what gave her focus and purpose. At least it was something more productive than wallowing in nostalgia and grief.

The sound of approaching wingbeats caught her attention. In an instant, she was alert, seamlessly falling into a defensive stance. The weapon morphed into a spear, pointed toward the direction of the source.

The newcomer landed with a gentle grace, a few paces away. The low-hanging mist underfoot swirled and billowed as iridescent midnight-and-turquoise wings furled. She looked up, their eyes met, and Aura felt her feathers ruffle as a mix of shock and anger burned within her. She was not in the mood for company, and this was, quite possibly, the last person she wanted to see right now. Inversely, the new companion seemed unsurprised, as if she had fully expected to find Aura here. Of course she had. She flicked her eyes to the primed weapon, a questioning look. After a moment of hesitation, Aura slowly lowered her guard, although she kept the spear gripped firmly in hand.

It was a clear message of hostility, one which the newcomer seemed to recognise. When she finally spoke, it was at first with a slow hesitation, as if tentatively stepping into territory she knew was dangerous. "I... I heard about what happened... to Sol. I'm sorry."

"Spare me your empty condolences, Polaris. I do not want your pity. I am surprised you care enough to show your face at all." Aura hissed through gritted teeth. The words brought no comfort, they only felt like salt in the wound. The last time they had spoken, before the twins' departure, it had not ended on pleasant terms.

Polaris looked injured by the remark. "I never stopped caring, no matter what disagreements we may have had." Her voice was heavy, cracked with longing and regret. "I wish I had known sooner, I would have liked the chance to say goodbye."

Aura did not allow herself to flinch, not even as she felt a stabbing pain like a blade twisting in her chest. She bit back at the emotion that swelled within, swallowing it, snuffing it out before those embers could spark a flame. "Sol made their choice. Plans are in motion, we must act before the enemy recovers. We cannot afford hesitation, nor sentimentality." Her companion seemed taken aback by harsh lack of feeling in her voice.

A brief and uncomfortable pause, and then Polaris quietly cleared her throat, a little awkwardly. "Ah, yes. I heard about your plans, too."

"How did you find out? Scrying in places you should not, yet again? Perhaps you should put your skills to better use." Aura scoffed and crossed her arms, casting the weapon aside. Upon hitting the ground, it disintegrated into a shower of sparks. Polaris watched in contemplative silence as the embers lazily floated up and away before fading. Then she continued to gaze upward, at the multicoloured nebulae visible in the star-speckled sky above, as if there was more to be seen. What a waste. A gifted seer, yet too short-sighted to realise the potential.

"I didn't have to. Everyone's talking. The death of a demon lord causes quite a stir, and all eyes are on you." Finally, Polaris looked away from the sky to face the warrior, those cyan eyes seemingly staring deep into her. "Despite the casualties of your campaign, you and Sol are being hailed as heroes. Which begs the question, why pivot to recruiting mortals to fight demons?" Although her voice remained gentle and soft-spoken as always, there was an oddly off-putting note present underneath, the final question sounded more like an accusation.

Despite that, Aura felt a warm glow of pride. Heroes? Admittedly, she liked the sound of that, the respect and adoration such a title evoked. The last foray had been a hard and bloody battle, many were lost. But she had refused to accept defeat. She had rallied the survivors, and personally led their forces in a final assault to crush the enemy, claiming victory for her people in the end. And now, the display of initiative and tenacity had earned her a promotion to a permanent role of leadership. Finally, she had the chance to claim that which she had always dreamed of. Everything was falling into place.

But was it all worth it...? Soleil, her own sibling, had been among the casualties. She had clawed her way through the armies of Hell to bring them back, only to lose them again in the end.

At least, she had granted them the chance to face the end on their own terms. At least this way, their legacy lived on, and they could still be close. It was better than leaving them there... the way she had found them... In chains, at the mercy of those heartless animals--

Bite back. Swallow it. Sorrow achieves nothing.

"That was Sol's idea, and final request. The council agreed it was the best course of action. Less of our blood will be spilled this way."

"But what about their blood, those mortals? You'll be sending them to certain death." Polaris pushed back, that uncharacteristic edge to her voice ever-so-slightly sharper.

Aura waved her hand dismissively, ruffling her wings in a shrugging motion. "They are only human; Their lives are short regardless. At least this way, when they die, I can put their souls to better use."

"Is that what this is, more of your power-hungry schemes?" Polaris took a step back, suddenly looking at Aura in disbelief, as if she now saw a stranger, not someone she had once considered an old friend. "When did you become so cold?"

"Cold?" Aura echoed contemplatively. "No. The rage inside me burns hotter than the sun." Indeed, as her voice began to rise, her halo sparked and flared into a ring of fire. Sorrow may achieve nothing, but rage? Now that was something she could hone and weaponize. "I have lost so much at the hands of those monsters. You too have lost friends. How does that not make you angry!?"

Polaris flinched back at the sudden aggression. The warrior loomed over her, wings spread wide, mighty and imposing, and suddenly she was keenly aware of how small and powerless she felt in comparison. She did not raise her voice in opposition, only shook her head solemnly as she quietly pleaded. "I grieve the loss, too. But accelerating this conflict is not the solution. Throwing more lives into the fodder will not bring back the dead."

"We are at war, sacrifices must be made!" Aura snarled as she began pacing, like an agitated animal, a predator ready to lash out. "I will stop at nothing until I bring ruin to their realm and leave nothing but ash, no matter the cost. And you..." She stopped in her tracks as she trailed off, the fury died down, but it felt almost too sudden. There was still a quiet intensity to her voice, as she thrust out a hand, pointing toward her companion. The look in her eyes was like that of a hunter watching prey. "...You could help me."

"What? No."

"Yes." Aura countered, as if it was a matter of fact. "You are a gifted clairvoyant. We would achieve great victory with you as our spymaster." She prowled forward, closing the distance between them. With her extended hand she reached out, softly brushing fingers along her old friend's cheek. "Think of the lives you could save, if that not what you want? Join me. You could be my guiding star..."

Her hand was almost hot to the touch, yet Polaris shivered, there was no genuine warmth. She wanted to believe. Perhaps the gesture was intended to hark back to the intimate bond once shared between the two. But she could not ignore the dissonance, the gentleness rang hollow so soon after such hostility. It felt... desperate. Like a shallow imitation, an act intended to tug her heartstrings and twist her mind.

"I said no." She stepped back, out of reach. Aura recoiled her rejected hand as if it had been burned. The seer turned her head away, wrapping her arms and wings around herself, closed off. A subtly strained tremble was noticeable in her voice, as she struggled to keep her tone even. "If you truly care about my guidance, then listen. Violence and vengeance will only bring more suffering, one way or another. If you are so intent on following a warpath... I will not support you."

"I see..." Aura's voice had become deceptively calm and quiet, almost a whisper under her breath, but her blazing halo gave away the intensity of emotion simmering underneath the stony exterior. She looked down at the hand she had retracted, tongues of flame flickering around her fingers, which were then suffocated when she clenched her fist. "Need I remind you of the fact that you are already on thin ice with the council? I am sure they will not be pleased to know you sympathise with the enemy."

Polaris froze with a soft gasp. "Do you mean to threaten me?"

"Do you mean to betray me?" Aura hissed, her voice laced with venom. "Either you are with me, or against me. Make your choice, my dear."

The final words were spoken with such bitter resentment, Polaris winced as they cut deep into her. It was a mockery, a cruel parody of what was once affectionate, so long ago.

I miss you, she wanted to cry out. But with a sinking feeling, she realised the truth was much harder to swallow. As she gazed longingly into those cold golden eyes, the realisation dawned that she hardly recognized the person behind them. Perhaps that warm and bright soul she missed no longer existed, changed by the battles and bloodshed of war. Or perhaps it had never truly existed at all, and she had been too blinded by the light to see the truth all along. How ironic, not even second sight could save her from her own naivety.

Perhaps she should have known coming here would be a fool's errand. The past had proven time and time again that Aura refused to listen, what hope was there now in trying to persuade her to see to reason? Looking back, she had always been cold, never willing to acknowledge her faults.

Then again, Polaris had made that same mistake. Once, she believed she would stand by her friend through anything. But now, how could she bring herself to do so? This ruthless hatred... this selfish, callous disregard for anyone in the way... it was too far. Aura had shown her true colours, made her intentions known. Finally, Polaris felt she could see clearly, and she found herself losing faith.

The sun may shine brightly, but it burns with such ferocity that drives away the stars. The cost of it's war against the darkness, it dooms itself to an existence of lonely isolation.

I tried to pull you out of this fire you started, but you seem determined to let it consume you, I will not allow myself to be caught in the inferno as well.

With a heavy heart, Polaris took a shaky breath, and then exhaled a strained sigh. "Goodbye, Aura."

There was pain in her voice. Her words carried a solemn finality, a severance. Would there be consequences? Perhaps, not even she could see the future. But it no longer felt safe to stay, either. Too many lines had been crossed, and she was tired of allowing her trust and loyalty to be taken advantage of. So, as instructed, she made the choice to turn her back, walking a few steps away before spreading her wings. She did not allow herself to look over her shoulder before she departed the grove. The Star rose to the celestial skies, vanishing into the darkness of the night, while the Sun was left behind, all alone.