Leovente De Solaris

It has been fifteen years since I created the Zodiac Warriors.

I still vividly remember the reason that prompted me to begin this project.

Thirty-five years ago, my parents were taken as slaves when I was only five years old.

I can still recall the words my parents spoke on that day, just before they were taken: "Head to the North, to the eastern side of the World Tree. You will meet someone who will take care of you."

And it was there that I met him...

...

Thirty-five years ago...

...

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Bloodmoon 14th, Yggdrasil, Yggdrasil Northern outskirts, 11:00 PM.

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"I am Leovente De Solaris, and I was your father's teacher," he said, his gaze fixed on the horizon without so much as a glance in my direction.

"Please, I beg of you, help us! They've attacked our homeland," I pleaded, desperation tightening its grip on my voice.

"I'm sorry, but I cannot," he replied, his voice grave.

"Why not?" I demanded, my heart sinking in my chest.

"The stars, the sky... it's all a grand deception, a falsehood," he said, looking skyward.

"What do you mean, a falsehood?" I asked, confusion clouding my mind.

"Heh... Ha ha ha! Oh, how naive you are," he laughed, his voice thick with sarcasm. "But I cannot blame you, for I too was once deceived - until just a few moments ago."

"A few moments ago?" I repeated, my mind racing. "You mean when you were banished from Vespera?"

"That is none of your concern," he replied coldly. "But know this - your father allowed me to remain by his side, even after I betrayed him. But I refused his offer."

"You won't help us save our homeland, then?" I asked, my voice trembling.

"No," he said simply. "But I did make a promise to your father. If anything were to happen to him, I swore to look after his descendants. And now, here you are, Maya De Astraia," he said, finally turning to meet my gaze.

"Please, you must help us. You have the power to do so," I pleaded once more.

He looked at me solemnly and spoke, "Your father possessed the ability to wipe out all enemies in Vespera and save himself, but he chose to sacrifice everyone, including himself, for you."

I was filled with a mix of emotions, "He... but... "

"If you wish to defend your homeland, I can teach you. Your father was stronger than me because of his eyes. You possess the same eyes as your father, the Eyes of De Astraia," he said, looking deep into my eyes.

"The Eyes of De Astraia?" I asked, confused.

"The eyes that have the power to control the stars. Your father used the twenty-four constellations to assist him during the Andromeda Battle. I, on the other hand, can only utilize six at best. As his descendant, I want to teach you to utilize all 48 of the ancient constellations," he explained.

After that, my training began...

...

...

...

Maya closed her eyes in prayer: "Dear Mom and Dad, it has been ten years since we lost you. But I have not forgotten my promise to avenge our people and take back Vespera. I will do whatever it takes to make things right."

Suddenly, Leo's voice interrupted her prayer. "Hey, stop talking to the dead. Do you want to avenge them or not?" he shouted, throwing Maya a wooden sword and pointing his sword at her head.

Maya stood up and grabbed the sword, determined to prove herself. "I have already learned 36 out of the 48 constellations. I will be able to avenge them sooner or later," she said confidently.

Leo shook his head. "It's not just about your eyes, Maya. You need to train your physical body too," he said, before lunging towards Maya with a swift strike of his wooden training sword.

The sound of wood echoed as Leo's sword clashed against Maya's wooden sword.

Maya stumbled back as Leo continued his onslaught, his movements fluid and precise.

But Maya was determined not to be defeated.

She quickly regained her footing and steadied her stance.

With fierce determination, she shouted, "Oculi De Astraia!" and blinked her eyes before opening them again.

The Aquila constellation shone brightly, illuminating her eyes with its power.

"Aquila!" she shouted again, and the image of a mighty eagle appeared vividly behind her.

Leo paused, impressed. "There you go again, enhancing your vision with Aquila," he said, admiration evident in his voice.

Maya grinned, her confidence growing.

"Well then... Oculi De Solaris!" Leo shouted, as his eyes brightly formed an Ursa Major.

"Ursa Major!" The constellation appeared behind him with such vividness that it looked like a living, breathing bear had come to life.

With a flick of his wrist, Leo's wooden sword began to glow with a bright, golden light.

Maya could see the faint outline of a bear's claw forming around the hilt of the sword as if a powerful spirit was manifesting within the blade itself, and he charged toward Maya.

She tried to block his attack, but her sword shattered upon contact, leaving her defenseless and vulnerable.

Leo stood over her, his sword pointed at her head. "You see now? This is the power of the constellations. It takes years of practice and dedication to master them."

Maya tried to catch her breath as she looked up at Leo. "It's not fair," she said, frustration creeping into her voice. "I haven't learned that constellation yet."

Leo shook his head, his eyes filled with wisdom beyond his years. "Learning the constellations is only half the battle, Maya. Mastering them takes time and patience. It took me fifty years to create a powerful bond with Ursa Major, and even your father, who was a natural, took five years to master Gemini."

Maya avoided Leo's gaze and pouted. Sensing her disappointment, Leo asked, "Do you want to hear a story about your father again?"

Maya responded with a nod, eager to hear more about her legendary father's exploits.

"Alright," Leo continued. "In the cold Bloodmoon, your father was fighting a powerful titan named Atlas. It was around a hundred years ago. They were battling for control of the land. I could only stand there and watch because I was injured. Then, Atlas summoned a giant meteorite from the sky..."

...

...

...

"Asterius! Get out of there, or that titan will kill you!" Leo's voice echoed across the battlefield, his face contorted in worry as he clutched his injured arm.

"I believe I can handle it," Asterius replied, his eyes flickering with determination.

"You damned stargazer..." Atlas sneered, his hands clasped together in front of his chest.

"System Pact..." Atlas' voice echoed through the mountains and forests.

"Nova Stella ex Caelo," he declared, and a giant meteor materialized from the sky.

Leo spoke with a tone of defeat, "It's over now."

But Asterius, with a smile on his face, shouted back at him, "No, it's not over yet! Believe it, Teacher!"

He recited a series of incantations, and his sword began to glow with a bright light, transforming into the form of a magnificent dragon as he invoked the power of Draco.

With a sharp cry, Asterius invoked the power of Corvus, and a swarm of crows appeared at his feet, carrying him into the air and allowing him to move with incredible agility.

Next came the power of Hercules, as the image of a mighty warrior appeared behind him, lending him strength and power.

And with one final incantation, Asterius called forth the power of Ursa Major, his arm taking on the appearance of a mighty bear.

Exhausted from the effort, Asterius paused for a moment, catching his breath before he spoke once more.

"Gemini!" he cried out, and a sword made of pure starlight appeared in his left hand.

With a fierce determination, Asterius charged forward, his swords whirling through the air as he slashed at the giant meteor looming overhead.

With a deafening crash, the meteor shattered, raining fiery debris down upon the battlefield as Atlas cried out in pain, his right hand injured.

...

...

...

Leo recounted the story of Maya's father with a hint of nostalgia in his voice. "And now, that land is called Geminia, founded by your father," he said with a smile.

Maya's eyes widened in admiration. "He's so cool," she said with a sense of wonder.

Leo nodded in agreement. "Using his powers of Draco, Corvus, Hercules, Ursa Major, and Gemini consecutively, he was able to destroy the meteor and defeat Atlas," he said, his voice tinged with awe.

"What happened to him after that?" Maya asked eagerly, her curiosity piqued.

Leo's expression turned somber. "Well, I happened to be unconscious after the meteor was slashed. The last time I saw him, there was a bright light emanating from his body, with the Hercules Constellation shining behind him," he explained.

Maya's admiration turned into a sense of pride. "My father was so strong!" she exclaimed.

Leo nodded, his voice heavy with emotion.

"He was, Maya. One of the strongest and bravest men I have ever known," he said, his words laced with nostalgia.

"He was..."