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 Posted: Thu May 01, 2014 6:30 pm
 Miyu walked to a meeting with her young granddaughter, Sora. Despite the large numbers of descendants Miyu and her lifemate Yue had, Miyu hadn't really spent much time with them, as they seemed so preoccupied elsewhere at any given time. It was unfortunate, but she was an accepting mare, and thus had given them their own space, hoping they'd come to her in time. They still hadn't.
Not until her daughter Yukiko went off with a stallion whose father disapproved of the relationship, Tsubasa, son of Li Syaoran. She'd found that out from Yue, who'd returned with two of the young daughters of Yukiko and her swain.
The gathering spring twilight was lit by the first stars and the fading sun, and perfumed by seasonal flowers. In the time that Miyu had mothered Sora and Aryanna, as the girls had been named, Miyu had grown quite fond of both. It had been rather a lot like having daughters of her own again.
But between the girls, Aryanna had grown fond of swords, and had expressed interest in acquiring one for herself. Miyu wasn't particularly comfortable with the idea of combat, and Yue was a bit of a stickler. Aryanna had gone off dragon hunting, despite not necessarily having the consent or blessing of either grandparent. Sora loved magic, something her grandparents were more comfortable with, but she'd never been able to sit still. Not for a second. And, worse, though she hadn't really gotten around to a full discussion of this with Sora, Sora was a Lyra, and had no magic of her own. She wouldn't until, if the stories were correct, she was chosen for such an honor by a Sign. Miyu had healing magic as an Arcturus, and would gain more if she was chosen by a Sign, but it still meant that Sora would unfortunately have to work quite hard to earn her magic. And Miyu wasn't sure how to help her wandering granddaughter. Sora, the only descendant of Li Syaoran to bear his surname, hurried to meet with her maternal grandmother, whom she loved like a daughter loved her mother. Slung in a rough holster was a gift from her grandfather, something that Sora intended to use to make her dreams come true.
A magical staff, bearing wings as black as her own, copper crescent moons, twilight-colored gems, and a huge night-blooming cereus, as delicate as the ones she tucked behind her ears. It was beautiful. And with it, Sora would have magic. The prized thing she'd never been able to figure out how to use before. In stories, magic users used staffs and wands and the like, yes? Well, now she had one of her own~!
Not realizing the reality her grandparents hadn't told her yet, she hefted the great thing of polished wood and copper and stone and feathers, and trotted on.
She soon spotted her grandmother and hurried over. Skidding to a halt, she loosened the staff from its holster and brandished it happily. "A staff! Grandma Miyu, Grandpa Yue gave me a magic staff of my own!"
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Posted: Tue May 06, 2014 8:16 am
Miyu heard the call of her young granddaughter and turned to spy her. Seeing the staff, and hearing and seeing Sora's excitement, Miyu's heart sank. Yue had given Sora a beautiful staff, one that she gathered was worthy of performers of magic in his world before they'd met.
But Miyu knew what such an artifact here was. Useless fluff, without magic possessed by the Star who wielded it. And Sora didn't know that yet. She sighed sadly to herself. It was time.
Time to destroy Sora's high-flying dreams of being capable of magic like she'd always heard of in stories. Time to break her beloved granddaughter's heart...or send her on a journey to gather strength. To grow according to the legends, so that she might herself earn magic that could be challenged through the exquisite staff.
"Sora, dear, I have something to tell you."
Sora was too happy to initially notice her grandmother's chagrin. Magic. She'd finally be able to use it. Giving a quick, dancer-like shift and toss of her body, she dislodged the great staff until it was loosened from its holster, allowing her to use her teeth to pull it loose.
The transitional light shimmered off the minerals used to create the staff. An idea was born in her, spotting the light reflecting off the thing.
"Hang on a sec, Grandma!" she responded to Miyu's sad words, not even noting how apprehensive and unhappy she seemed. Focusing her will on the staff, even shutting her eyes as she concentrated, Sora tried to make the staff glow. She tossed in a few choice words that she'd heard might make things glow.
Sora peeked one eye open.
The staff remained dark and lifeless. No light graced it, but the fading natural light of sun, moon and stars.
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 10:05 am
Miyu saw the staff fail to light. Her heart fell. It was indeed time to break it to her wayward granddaughter.
Silently, Miyu approached Sora, and gently rested her horned head atop her granddaughter's neck. "Sora, my little one, we should have told you sooner. I'm sorry. But it's time for you to know."
Sora stared at her staff uncomprehendingly. The magic had failed. What did that mean? Magic was supposed to happen when she did the right things with a magical staff, wasn't it? She smelled the cereus blossoms' fragrance grow stronger as her grandmother approached and felt the delicate pressure as Miyu's head came to rest above her neck.
Finally, she asked, "Grandmother? Why doesn't the magic work?"
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 10:13 am
Miyu closed her violet eyes. Summer fireflies came to life before she spoke again, filling the glade with an ethereal light that rivaled the dim light cast by the moon and stars.
"Sora, magic isn't...it's not as we always told you. You are a Lyra, as your parents were before you. Purebred Lyrae do not possess any magic of their own. Artifacts imbued with magic may grant a Lyra something special, but it is not the same as having one's own magic. I have heard there are ways for Stars to gain magic, or more magic, if they have it already. But even I know little of the exact nature of said stories."
Silence reigned, bar the high, reedy chirping of crickets, among other nightly noises. Sora felt like the world had fallen out from under her hooves.
"I don't have magic? That's...that's not fair. Isn't the staff magical? Can't I have magic that way?" she asked, tugging her head around to look into her grandmother's older, sad eyes.
"How can I get magic of my own?"
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 10:31 am
Miyu shook her head. "The staff does not possess magic. Your grandfather is also a pure Lyra, so he also cannot imbue the staff with magic any more than you can. In fact, I'm not sure what kind of Star can."
The second question turned her pensive. Miyu didn't know too much personally about the lore regarding the magic of the breeds and Signs, or those who bore the marks and blessings of a Sign. Only that they existed, and that they'd earned extra magic of a powerful kind somehow. Just nothing else.
"I'm afraid I don't think any of us in the Moonlight can help you get magic of your own. There are likely Stars who know far more than I in that regard. They just do not, to my knowledge, live in this herd. Do you remember the tales of the Signs? I have heard tell that there are mighty Stars who have earned the blessings of a Sign. By earning such blessings, they are permitted to wield such powers as deemed by the Sign who blesses them. This is a special kind of magic. I do not know anything else of this. But there must be those outside the herd who do know." As she said these words, Miyu felt her heart break a little with realization. Sora loved magic. She'd always dreamed of having magic of her own. And if there was no way to learn how to get magic of her own in this herd, Sora would just leave. No matter if she was leaving the ones she loved behind for a very long time, maybe even forever. Miyu was going to, once again, be left behind by her children and grandchildren.
Sora listened to what her grandmother said, and looked at the beautiful, useless staff. It had no more magic than she did. Sora felt a growing emptiness. Was her dream really so impossible? To have magic of her own, and a magic staff through which she channeled her powers?
Then, Miyu spoke of the Signs and their chosen ones.
Sora's eyes shot back to her grandmother's face, searching the twilit face and dark eyes. No lies, no fairy tales. Miyu really had heard this, and believed it to be true. Sora could get magic. She could achieve her own dream. Maybe not here, but still. Magic. It could be hers. As long as she talked to other, wiser Stars, and found out how to earn a Sign's blessing.
She smiled.
"Then I'll just have to go on a quest for my magic." Not realizing that she was breaking her grandmother's heart, she ducked forward, and wrapped herself around Miyu, who, at first hesitantly, and then fiercely, returned the gesture. Sora pulled back. "I should get going, then, Grandmother. Tell Grandfather and Uncle Yukito that I love them and I'll miss them? I'll miss you, too. Tell Aryanna that I'll try to be back soon, if she gets home before me. Who knows, maybe I'll meet her, too, on the road."
Sora slipped her staff into its holster, gave one last nuzzle, and then hurried off into the gloom of night, not turning back to observe her grandmother's silent tears and retreating figure, as she left to tell Yue where the last of their grandchildren was off to.
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