"Light exists, because there is darkness"

The amethyst did not glow again, nor did it show any sign of glowing again. However, when Alina put it on, it pulsed, in rhythym with her own heartbeat. It warmed up comfortably against her collarbone. The jewel felt like it was alive somehow, and she had never felt so alive when she hung it around her neck.

She felt like the gem gave her supernatural strength. She could feel the power pumping through her veins, to the tips of her fingers. She practically bounced with every step she took. She was practically radiating light from within. She might even be able to run a thousand miles with it on. It was exhilerating.

"I still don't think it's a good idea to keep it on," Trevor said the moment Alina steppped inside the living room. He was sitting with his arms crossed, glaring at her. He had been saying it for the past few days, and Alina was getting annoyed. "It might be some kind of trap, or something."

"We already checked it for curses, remember?" Alina snapped, "Besides, I would know if it actually is." She knew she was right. She told him that a hundred times, but he didn't believe her. But that was because he didn't understand the familiarity she felt when she put it on. Like it was a puzzle piece.

Lilith peered up from her corner of the room. "I agree with Alina. Besides, it's her choice whether she puts it on or not."

"See, Lilith agrees with me."

"I guess your'e right," Trevor sighed, "But one sign that the necklace is dangerous-"

Alina rolled her eyes. "You'll throw it in the ocean, I know."

"I might do exactly that." He gave her a serious look.

"Y'know, I'm perfectly capable of defending myself."

Lilith piped in, "It's true. Whenever we practiced combat with each other, she always won against me," she paused, "Though, if Alina couldn't use magick, I surely would have overpowered her."

Trevor sighed again, and Alina smiled slightly at that. No matter how experienced or mastered he was at witchcraft, he could never win this battle. Alina was never going to stop wearing it.

++++++++++++

A few hours later

Alina carefully shut the door of her house behind her as she inhaled the cool night air. Air was different at night, but she could never explain why she felt it was special. She liked to take walks at night like this, but she never admitted this to anyone except Lilith, who had caught her trying to sneak out on her own.

She liked having time alone to herself. To think. It always helped her sort out scattered thoughts. She could hear faint chatter from the crowed parts of Phoenix Drop as she walked down the path winding between a never-ending wheat field.

She walked down the familiar roads, mind wondering, she found herself at the cliff where the Statue of Irene was. Irene was holding the spirit of a Wyvern in this statue. Water seemed to be falling endlessly down the cliff. Besides it, a tombstone was engraved with the words Kenmur Lightfoot and, a short way below that were the dates of his birth and death.

She sat down, with her legs dangling dangerously against the steep cliff. She was going to fall if she inched forward just a little bit more, but she knew that she was going to survive the fall, and she wasn't going to let herself fall in the first place.

Alina looked up, at the sky. An almost-full moon hung high in the sky tonight, not quiet covered by clouds. The moon, to Alina, was a loyal companion. It would never leave. It was always there, in her light and dark moments, changing as she did. Sometimes it was wan and worried, but other times, it was big and full of confidence, shining bright against the dark sky.

She started playing with her necklace as her mind wondered. It was warm against her fingertips, and just like the first time she touched it, practically humming with magickal energy. When Alina glanced at it, her own reflection stared back at her from the amethyst.

Alina took the necklace off, and held the amethyst to the sky. Moonlight bounced off of it. The amethyst looked beautiful with the midnight blue sky, and she wished she could just capture the color of the jewel right now.

With a sigh, she put it back on, and she felt power rush back into her. It made her feel invincible, and though she might not show it, this thought both exhilerated and frightened her. She still had the Destroyer relic. When she was little, she couldn't control her magick and it flowed out of her, like a river. This put everyone around her in danger. She nearly killed them once. However, she could control it, and wield the power expertly now, but putting the pendant on brought her back to those times.

Suddenly, the necklace began to shine. It wasn't like the first time. It glowed so bright she could hardly look straight at it, like it was the second moon. The amethyst became searing hot, like fire and she was almost sure that it'll burn through her skin. She looked around, confused.

And there was no light at all as the sky fell and shattered on Alina Shalashaska.