Chapter 1

~ Inside the Starliege Council ~

"Your Majesty, we cannot put aside what just occurred. The fact that a piece of the west pillar almost destroyed the central park is a sign of the nearing cataclysmic event we all feared." One of the elders said to his Majesty the King, Edluna Tristan Charlemagne Starliege.

"My King, Sir Iruna, is correct. We must be vigilant and make our move. If our enemies were to get the information that we're currently facing a dire situation this could make our enemies morale high and ours low." Commander Eduardo voiced out.

"What do you suggest, councilmen?" Edluna asked in a deep, well-mannered and calm voice.

"We must continue our search for the Stargem." Iruna suggested.

"You still believe that the gem exists? Our ancestors have searched and explored the seven realms for centuries and they all have failed!" -Councilman 2

The suggestion made by Iruna made an uproar inside the room.

King Edluna exerted a powerful and heavy aura which stopped the noise made but thousands of councilmen present int the meeting.

"My brothers, if we started fighting amongst ourselves we won't be able to come up with a proper course of action. Our war with the Nightmares is put to a halt at Heavens Fall and our forces are on standby to counter the advance of the enemy." He stood up and a radiating glorious feeling and hope filled the room. Truly befitting for the title of a King.

"We must face what's infront of us and not what can be dealt with later.

The suggestion Iruna made was not an impossible thing to achieve." He announced.

"My King you mean-"

"The Stargem really does exist. Deep within the Valley of Eternal Slumber."

He released his aura and made a map of the seven realms.

"The Stargem is said to be located here. In this place once called Earth." He pointed at a planet which is making an odd glow.

"The abandoned and forgotten world."

"What are we waiting for? We must retrieve the Stargem now!" Eduardo insisted but he was stopped by Edluna.

"Hear me Eduardo, I am not finished."

"Forgive me, My King. I was not thinking." He apologized.

"We've uncovered the location of the Stargem but there's a problem. We cannot send out our forces there.

If a portion of the Starlian army set out on an expedition to the unknown region, our enemies might notice it and follow the forces that we've dispatched.

Our war may be on a massive scale but it's really small if we compare our might to the Nightmares." Edluna explained.

The crowd agreed to their King's reasoning.

"With the Stargem's location uncovered. We will need six guardians for the six rings of Starlia.

The Ring of Fire 

Ring of Lightning 

Ring of Space 

Ring of Water 

Ring of Wind 

and the Ring of Earth

These rings will be given to those who will triumph over the examinations that we'll give to test every student who'll participate in this historical event."

The talk continued for hours and it was unanimously agreed that the examination will commence tomorrow.

Night quickly came to Starlia but the people are still in fear because of the event that took place earlier in the afternoon. It's a good thing that the panic was suppressed faster than expected because of the massive scale of the city.

Knight who's sitting on the roof, observing the night sky, tries to think about what's happening in his beloved country.

"What's with the long face?" A voice of a man asked him.

He turned to the direction of the voice and saw that it's Canan.

"Sup." He greeted Canan. 

"Lost in thought again are we?" Canan sat beside him and lay down.

"It's just that no one knows what is happening. Why are the castle gates still shut and now the west pillar? What's next? The end of the world?" Knight anxiously said and asked.

"Calm down will ya?" Canan said and let out a sigh. 

"Look, I know a lot is happening quite recently but we can't think too much about the things we can't handle on our own." He added and then got up.

"Our world of Starlia is just like the trillions of stars in the sky. We know that they exist but still lack knowledge about them. There are some parts of Starlia that's still a mystery to us.

The events that are occurring now could be a sign of something bad that is headed towards this country and its people."

Canan was still talking when Sevenths appeared in the sky. The Sevenths takes the form of rook, one of the six types of chess pieces.

"Citizens of Starliege Kingdom.

Hear thee.

Tomorrow, September 20 of the Starlian year 2021. The Kingdom of Starliege will conduct an examination to all who's willing to participate. All who'd like to join will need to submit their magical attributes to the Supreme Principal of the Boys and Girls Starlian University.

This exam is open for ages 16 and above.

Those who triumph over the obstacles laid before them will be invited to a Grand Celebration inside the Starliege Kingdom and will get the chance to meet Her Highness the Princess Yuna Delphinium Starliege.

Further announcements will be given tomorrow morning at 6:00.

To all who wish to participate in the upcoming examination, be at Boys and Girls Starlian University at 4:00 to submit your magic attributes to be examined if you're qualified to enter the first task.

That's all and may the guidance and blessings of He who watches over us be with you all."

The message ended there and the Sevenths disappeared from the sky.

"That's your cue." Canan said to Knight who was slightly shocked because of what he said.

"What are you talking about?" 

"You're searching for answers right? Then it's where you should start." Canan replied with a smile.

"Are you serious right now? My magic power isn't even as high as yours." Knight said in an irritated tone.

"Trust in your magical capabilities. Your power is much stronger that you think. You just need to harness that power but to do that, you must face obstacles to make your power push itself to the limit.

Training is one way to do it but you'll gain much more if you test it out in actual combat."

Canan stood up and lifted his right hand in a closed fist at chest level. He opened his hand and a red flame appeared over it.

"My magic may be strong but it's because of the air that surrounds it. The flow of air contributes to how my power works and the breathing that I make to increase its potential and power.

That's our difference when it comes to power Knight." He put out the flame and looked at Knight who's giving him a confused reaction.

"Your power is wind - no, your power is air itself. Your power is already stronger than mine if we were to fight head on with an intention to harm each other.

If I were to use my power against you without properly planning and knowing your magical attributes then I've already lost from the moment I make a move with my fire magic."

"What do you mean?" Knight asked.

Just as the two of them were talking about the wind, a cold soothing breeze of air came.

"Air is a beautiful and wonderful magic to have Knight. Not all are blessed with an air element. It's considered a rare type of element among the Starlians.

You can make my power stronger, but you can also make it weaker or turn it into your advantage. Tactics are necessary in combat. Knight, always remember that.

A stronger opponent without proper tactics is just a small fry to toast.

But you must also learn of magical elements that can beat someone with air attributes. A good example of this is Earth against Air.

Earth magic is a strong and difficult opponent for Air type magicians. To destroy an earth wall, the air must be strong and the pressure exerted should also be strong and heavy."

"You know that you're starting to sound like my magic teacher right?" Knight suddenly speaks and cuts through Canan's long speech.

"Damn it Knight you've ruined this perfect moment." (Irritated)

"Just get to the point, you talk too much and it's boring."

"Fine, fine. The point is, strategy beats strength. Knowledge against your opponent is the best way to defeat them. Others might think of it as a cowardly approach but you need to prioritize your survival above all else."

"I know, I know. I'll do what I can to pass the first task. (whatever that is)"

"I won't be around tomorrow to watch your first match though." Canan said in a disappointed tone.

"Why? Where are you going?"

"I've received a message via Seven and our platoon will stay at Heavens Fall as look out for enemy movements."

Seven is a much smaller version of Sevenths and can be carried across three realms. Heavens fall is situated between The third and fourth realm and has four thousand galaxies all under a stalemate of the war.

Canan notices Knight's expression begins to get gloomy.

"Don't worry, we'll just stay there and look out, nothing more. Besides, there are four billion Starknights there." Canan said with confidence to brighten up his friend's gloomy mood.

"Let's head inside and get some rest. It'll be a long day tomorrow for the both of us."

He invited Knight which he(Knight) eventually agreed. The two of them went down from the roof and entered the house to sleep to prepare their mind and body for tomorrow.

~ Heavens Fall ~

"There's still no sign of the enemy my liege." A Starknight soldier reported to Prince Julius at Campo de Starliege approximately four thousand miles away from the front.

"We must be prepared for anything that might happen. It has been 16 years since the Nightmare Queen was wounded. Surely they've prepared something to surprise our forces.

Do not overlook anything and always keep in mind the possibility of an underground assault." He ordered the messenger.

"As you wish, Your Majesty!" 

The knight exits the camp to inform the Starlian forces of the message via Seven.

When the knight left, Prince Julius looked at the map of Heavens Fall and keep on thinking about the mysterious dark spot behind the Nightmare forces that was seen by a spy orb before it was destroyed. He thought that it's a trump card of the enemy which is why for 16 years he's been patiently waiting and preparing once the battle once again started.

"What are you hiding you foul beasts?"

~ Stargem: Rewrite ~