8 YEARS AGO – CELESTIAL TEMPLE
The marble halls of the Celestial Temple gleamed under golden sunlight, but for thirteen-year-old Ethan SongWeaver, the light did little to chase away the cold weight in his chest. At just thirteen, he was the youngest human ever named a Council Knight – an honor that felt more like a burden than a blessing. While the other knights trained with swords and shields, with elemental magic and sacred arts, Ethan spent his free hours alone in quiet corners, coaxing musical notes to dance and shimmer with faint magic.
On this day, he'd been paired against Vergie – one of the order's strongest knights, known for her unyielding combat style and mastery of earth magic. The match had lasted less than a minute. Ethan had barely raised his lute before Vergie's stone gauntlets had sent him sprawling, leaving him bruised, scraped, and humiliated as the other trainees looked on.
He'd fled the training grounds and wandered aimlessly until he found himself in the Sacred Garden – a place he'd only heard whispers of, said to be sealed to all but the highest-ranking members of the order. The air here was different, thick with ancient magic and the sweet scent of moonblossom flowers. He sank onto a stone bench beneath a silver-leafed tree, tears finally spilling over as he clutched his lute to his chest.
Footsteps crunched softly on the gravel path behind him. Ethan looked up to see a tall, silver-haired man in robes woven with starlight – Serrendde'il, the Celestial Temple's most revered mage, known throughout the realm as the "Weaver of Realms." The man's eyes widened slightly in surprise as he took in the young boy sitting in his private sanctuary.
"Boy," Serrendde'il said, his voice like the rustle of autumn leaves, "what is your name, and how did you come to be in here?"
Ethan scrambled to his feet, wincing as his injuries pulled at his skin. He bowed deeply, his hands trembling slightly. "I'm Ethan, sir – Ethan SongWeaver. I… I came here through that door." He pointed to the ornate archway behind Serrendde'il – the very entrance the mage had just used.
Serrendde'il turned to look at the door, then back at Ethan, a curious glint in his pale blue eyes. "Hmmm… interesting. That door only opens for those who carry a specific resonance within their magic – a harmony that matches the garden's own. I've never known it to grant entry to anyone but myself.
Serrendde'il's gaze fell to the dark bruises across Ethan's arms and the scrape on his cheek, his expression softening slightly. "What happened to you?"
Ethan kept his head bowed, his voice quiet. "Came from training, sir."
The silver-haired mage raised an eyebrow, looking the boy up and down. "You're part of the Council Knights? How old are you?"
"Thirteen… sir," Ethan mumbled, shifting his weight nervously.
Serrendde'il let out a low hum, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Wow… they really are hiring children now. Hmmm." He stepped closer, his eyes settling on the lute still clutched in Ethan's hands. The instrument looked well-loved, its wood worn smooth from constant use. "What's your specialty, boy? I don't see a sword or staff – just that little guitar of yours."
"It's a lute, sir," Ethan clarified, gripping the instrument a little tighter. "I can produce musical notes…"
"Musical notes?" Serrendde'il asked, tilting his head. "Are you a bard, then?"
"I don't sing, sir – never been good with words like that," Ethan said quietly. "I just play random notes, and they move on their own. Like this…"
He plucked at the strings, one by one. Each note shimmered into being as a glowing, floating symbol – sharp quavers and rounded semibreves that danced and spun in the air before him, weaving gentle patterns in the garden's golden light.
Serrendde'il watched them drift, his expression thoughtful. "Hmmmm. What can you do with those musical notes, except make them dance?"
Ethan's shoulders slumped slightly. "Still figuring it out, sir. The other knights say they're just pretty lights – not useful for fighting or protecting anyone."
Serrendde'il turned away, his gaze falling on the Rose of Life at the garden's center – a magnificent flower with petals of pure crystal that bloomed only for those with great magical potential. As he watched, a new petal unfurled from its core, glowing with soft, silver light. The mage froze – he knew exactly what this meant: a new power had awakened, one worthy of standing among the highest ranks of the council. He looked back at Ethan, who was still watching his notes float peacefully around him.
"What you have, boy, is not just a trick – it's a specialty. A talent no one has ever seen before," Serrendde'il said, his voice carrying new weight. "I've known countless bards in my time – they sing songs and weave simple magic, yes. But you… you don't just make notes. You control them. With the right guidance, you could be the strongest Council Knight this temple has ever seen."
Ethan's face lit up for a moment, hope flickering in his brown eyes – but it quickly faded, replaced by his familiar look of doubt. "I don't know how to be strong, sir. I train every single day with the others, but no matter what I do, I can't keep up. I always lose."
Serrendde'il knelt down, bringing himself to Ethan's eye level. He reached out and placed a gentle hand on the boy's shoulder. "True power doesn't come from raw strength or how hard you can hit," he said softly. "It comes from here –" he touched Ethan's forehead lightly "– and here." His fingers moved to rest over Ethan's heart.
"True power comes from how strong your will is… and how deeply you care for those you're fighting to protect." He continues.
BACK TO THE PRESENT
The dark storm cloud above swelled to impossible size, blotting out every trace of sunlight. The air crackled with raw electricity, each bolt of lightning within the cloud illuminating Louie's intense, red-eyed gaze.
"I'm going to end this with just one hit," Louie declared, raising his staff high. "GOD LIGHTNING!!"
A colossal bolt of purple-black lightning tore through the sky, striking the arena ground directly where Ethan stood. The impact sent a shockwave across the entire area, shattering stone and sending debris flying. The audience gasped as one; Arkar gripped the bleacher rail so hard his knuckles turned white, while Akmenos stood frozen, and even Hythesion's face was etched with horror.
Thick smoke billowed out, shrouding the spot where Ethan had been. Louie closed his eyes, a small smile touching his lips. "It was nice to play with you, Ethan SongWeaver…"
Then, a voice cut through the silence – clear, steady, and unbroken. "Not yet…"
Louie's eyes snapped open, shock rippling across his face. Through the dissipating smoke, Ethan emerged – one knee on the ground, his golden gauntlets cracked but still glowing, his body battered but unbowed. A cold, unfamiliar nervousness crept up Louie's spine.
Ethan pushed himself to his feet, his gaze locked on Louie. "I cannot lose yet. I still have to make you move." He brought his hands together at his side, and they blazed with brilliant golden light. "Music Make…"
Louie stumbled back a step, his composure finally breaking. "What are you?!"
"…Celestial Bard Maiden," Ethan finished, his voice ringing with power.
Hundreds of musical notes swirled and merged in the air before him, forming the luminous figure of a goddess in flowing white robes. She held a massive lute carved from starlight, her expression serene yet commanding.
Ethan turned slightly, his hands glowing brighter still. "Music Make…"
Hythesion and the others watched, mouths agape, as more notes coalesced – this time shaping into a magnificent golden serpent-dragon, its scales shimmering like countless tiny clefs and notes woven together.
"…Celestial Bard Dragon."
Louie's eyes widened in genuine fear, his legs trembling slightly as he stared at the two colossal constructs. He'd never seen magic like this – not in any text, not in any battle.
Ethan stepped forward, his face set with unwavering resolve. "Let's see if you can stay rooted now…" He brought his hands together in front of him, and a blinding golden light exploded outward. "Music Make… UNLIMITED MELODY!"
A tidal wave of golden notes surged toward Louie. The Celestial Bard Maiden swept her fingers across her lute, sending a second wave of harmonizing magic crashing forward. And the Celestial Bard Dragon unleashed a torrent of musical energy from its jaws – three simultaneous attacks converging on Louie.
The crowd stood frozen in shock as the three-pronged attack collided with Louie's position, sending waves of golden light rippling across the arena. The Celestial Bard Maiden and Dragon faded away like morning mist, their magic spent. Ethan collapsed to his knees, every muscle screaming in agony, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he lifted his head to look at his opponent.
"How wonderful…" he whispered hoarsely.
Ethan's eyes widened in disbelief. Through the lingering shimmer of magic, Louie Zafra stood exactly where he had been – or so it seemed.
"Like I said," Louie called out, a triumphant laugh ringing across the grounds. "I'm just way stronger than you. You can't win."
But then Ethan broke into a tired smile. "Yeah… you win the match. But you took a step back."
Louie's face darkened with shock. He looked down at his feet – and sure enough, one foot had slid back an inch, his heel leaving a small indent in the stone where he'd braced against the force of Ethan's final attack.
Before Louie could respond, Ethan's eyes rolled back, and he crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
The arena fell silent for a long moment, then the announcer's voice boomed out: "It's done!!! The winner of the first match – Louie Zafra! One point to the White Order!"
The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, but Louie paid them no mind. He stared at the spot where Ethan had fallen, then murmured to himself: "My, my… what a persistent human. He is the real winner here."
Hythesion and Akmenos vaulted over the arena railing, racing toward their fallen friend. But as they reached Ethan's side, Louie began walking toward them too. Both men tensed instantly, raising their hands in preparation to fight.
"At ease," Louie said, holding up one hand to signal peace. "I won't harm him. I made a promise to your friend." He extended his palm, revealing a small, glowing crystal orb. "All the information he asked about – it's in here."
Hythesion took the orb carefully, his fingers brushing against its cool surface. "A memory core…" he said, looking up at Louie with a mix of suspicion and gratitude.
Louie paused for a moment, his gaze fixed on Ethan's still form. "He won," he repeated quietly, then turned and walked away without another word.
Arkar hurried over with healing supplies, his hands glowing with soft green magic as he pressed them to Ethan's wounds. "That'll seal the injuries and stabilize him," he said, wiping sweat from his brow. "But he's drained completely – he'll need time to rest. Might be out for hours."
Hythesion tucked the memory core safely into his pocket, then nodded toward the arena. "Let him rest. We've got no time to waste – the next fight is coming up, and we can't afford another loss."