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As mortals, we wield the most fragile lives.

However, this fragility can bring about the most power; for it is only the fragile things that are beautiful, is it not?

Some use this power, some misuse it, some abuse it, some peruse it, and some exclude it. Nonetheless, this power rests in all our hearts.

None more than my friend and wife, Reine.

She's focused her power over the years to be able to do amazing things. She's mended bones with a touch, stopped arrows in their paths, radiated the fierce light of the sun at a time when darkness sought to envelop, and raised people from the dead.

Now, I hope to do the same.

As her husband, I have access to her spellbook. I have latent magical powers, but I have never used them to this extent. However, I only have one night. She'll fade away soon. Even a star's light only shines for the night, only to fade into the background when the sun comes out.

The sun. My mortal enemy. Once my friend, now a bitter rivalry separates us. I call for mercy, it calls for justice. Only one can be appeased this time. I race, against the sun.

I chant mystically, tears threatening to fill my eyes as I hold Reine's lifeless body in my hands, following the link from her body to her soul. Looking down at her closed eyes, I think back to the times when they sparked with fierce resolve, wobbled with intense sadness, and steeled in times of need. This only spurs me on, and my chanting becomes faster as a wind starts to blow through the room. Stray papers, small objects, and dust are picked up in the miniature maelstrom around the spellcircle in which I am currently sitting, holding the spellbook and my wife's limp frame. The edges start to glow, and it washes over me as my incantation finishes.

I see my body slump over my wife's, now lifeless with her. I float, unimpeded by gravity, in the space above, and I clench my ethereal fists. I will find her. I won't let her fade away.

I take hold of the silver cord leading from her body to the sky, and rocket up after it, following it as far as it goes. Chasing the wind, touching the sky, through clouds and starlight I blaze, following her trail. Her spirit will return to her body tonight.

As I leave the earth, I follow the trail into a real unknown. I see nothing, and then everything, the sensory overload of dimension-hopping being so alien to me.

I follow her still-intact cord towards a planet unknown to my eyes. I grit my teeth, and plunge in, falling like a comet, to see my shooting star again.

I land on a grassy field, disturbing a flock of starlings pecking at acorns. They flutter away, and the cord leads down the way, through a valley. I run my hand along it, being careful not to lose it, as I sprint through this spirit realm. I see a village come into view, but the cord passes right through, so I barely pay any attention to those that turn their heads to catch a glimpse of me, instead heading for a rocky canyon.

My feet moving as fast as they will allow, I traverse this stony pass with as much speed as I can muster, barreling straight through to the other side, revealing my destination. An opalescent castle, spiring high into the clouds. The cord leads up into the top, so I follow it, lifting off the ground, using my spirit form to fly up into the cloud bank.

As I emerge through the other side, I see her. My jewel. My shooting star. Reine. She stands with her head bowed, a collar 'round her neck, of wrought iron. The window is all that stands between us now.

I burst through it with a mighty charge, coming to rest on the floor, but not stopping as my momentum carries me towards my everything. She looks up, and her eyes fill with tears as she gasps. I can see her lips mouth my name, but I hear nothing as I am knocked sideways with a powerful blow. I slam into the wall, and drop to my knees, groaning. I lift my head, to know my assailant.

None other than the Sun himself stares back at me, its burning body, wreathed in light and rippling with power, lifting itself from its throne to face its brazen challenger. A golden sword in its hand, it speaks, a voice of a thousand flames burning as one. "You dare come to steal what is mine? Judgement will stand."

I cough, and stand up. "Judgement can wait. I'm taking what is owed me, what is mine."

The sun roars with a burning rage. "All is owed me! All is mine! Interloper, you shall lose your life for this transgression!" With that, it hurls the sword at me with a blinding flash.

A spell springs to my lips, and I deflect it, sending it into the wall beside me. I weave another magick, blasting rays of darkness at its bright core. Each hit seems to affect it, but not much, as the sword wrenches itself free from its gash in the wall and turns to face me, floating as a star would. I chant another spell, and my own weapon springs to life, formed of energy.

The blades clash in a daunting collision, sparks and cinders flying around, ash whirling as the sword dance in dizzying detail. Each strike creates another notch in my scimitar, yet the sunblade seems unchanged. I grimace, and start another incantation, creating a duplicate sword. The twinned blades of magick clash with the blade of pure fire, and overpower it, only to be dashed to bits by a ray of scorching light. The sun lowers its hand. "This ends here, mortal!"

I look behind me, at my wife, who is glued to her spot, yet reaching out to me, sobbing uncontrollably, her face contorted in agony. Yet it is not her pain I see in her eyes, but mine. I take two steps towards her, and scoop her up in my arms. I face the sun, mumbling a chant under my breath. "You're right, O Sun. It is over." My spell finished, I grab onto my silvery cord, and yank. I am ripped from my spot in the throne room of the Sun and, along with my great prize, pulled back to the mortal plane.

The sunlight hits my eye, and I shut it tighter, hoping to sleep a little bit longer, but it persists. I open my eyes, and move my hand up to wipe the sleep from my eyes. As I move my hand, another hand moves with it. I open my eyes wide in shock, and meet the pure-cut jewels set in my wife's golden viasge. She smiles, and giggles, before her eyes well up with happy tears, as do mine. Lying there on the floor with her, in the middle of the magic circle so hastily scribed the night before, I hug her close, the sounds from my sobbing mixing with hers, her arms around her love, my arms around mine. As the sun warms our bodies, I smile, still weeping for joy.

My love is back. My Reine, mine once more.

FIN

Inspired by: Fade- Adventure Club (feat. Zak Waters)

Against the Sun- Rootkit (feat. Anna Yvette)