Infinite Eclipse Origin Volume 01 Summary

Elyco (Opal) the Virtusian and Laxam (Amethyst) the Luxonian are sent on a mission to investigate an unfamiliar type of spirit in the Slitherroot Forest. They talk to Pyra (Ruby) the Pythonian, a former Protector, about this mission. During their lunch they notice the sky has turned to night. Sensing danger, Elyco transforms into her Virtusian draconic form. They fight some spirits. They then fight the evil alicorn-faced tree spirit and take its crystal. They hear Pyra's voice, Laxam flees with the crystal but Elyco is too weak to continue. Laxam also gets mortally injured. Both alicorns are killed.

 

Ch1

Masha is training for the test to join the Protectors Guild. She goes home, and undergoes examination by her mother Leyla, the 3rd rank Paladin. Masha's objective is to protect her brother Feyn from her attacks while all three are trapped in a forcefield cast by their father/husband, Raybarn. Masha gets injured but manages to create a hole in the forcefield, allowing Feyn to escape. This leaves her exposed to a fatal blow. Nevertheless, she had proven herself worthy and is admitted into the Guild. She faints.

 

Masha wakes up in her room, covered in bandages. Leyla explains the aim of the test was for her to choose the one under her protection over herself. Raybarn announces he's been summoned to the Arcanic Academy of Alykarn in Pythonia, and Feyn goes with him.

 

Ch2

Velzael the Virtusian Bounty Hunter of Beltodir (Ruby) is travelling to Alykarn (capital of Pythonia) with a captive rogue Pythonian. She turns in her prisoner at the Academy and then heads to the Guild Inn to collect her bounty and rest.

 

Ch3

Raybarn and Feyn are on the road to Pythonia. At the border they are checked by Thonrie, a friend of Raybarn. Feyn gets examined by his father for entrance into the Academy. He is asked to name the three categories of magic: ethereal magic, which draws on omnipresent mana, pure magic, which relies on one's innate magical power; and astral magic, an enigmatic form that requires blessing by the Primordial Pantheon--it's cast from lifespan. Feyn also correctly lists the seven magical elements: Thunder, Flames, Light, Storm, Sand, Heroic, and Arcane. Raybarn declares Feyn ready, but one more challenge remains. They rest for a night and arrive at a village the next morning.

 

Ch4

Naegissa is studying at the AAA, when she is approached by an anonymous friend, who brings up the mysterious spirit. Apparently, Naegissa's parents disappeared at the last new spirit sighting, and Naegissa is suprised her friend remembers that. Her friend exhorts her to join the investigation.

 

To clear her mind, Naegissa's friend takes a stroll through the Alykarn market. She chances upon her grandmother-figure Garya, and then receives a communication crystal, which tasks her with welcoming a researcher at the gates. She receives Raybarn and Feyn. Finally it turns out Naegissa's friend is called Nerath.

 

Ch5

The Fulmenian Guild Inn in Aemna trains young alicorns to become Protectors. Its rival guild is in Taaldin, Virtusia. It is surrounded by a dangerous electrically-charged forest, where Leyla nearly met her fate. She has now returned to the Inn to oversee Masha's training. For the sake of her daughter's privacy, she is wearing a disguise.

 

Masha is struck by doubt and worry at the realization of her life's path. She's afraid of being separated from her mother, and she's comforted. Reassured she joins the Inn.

 

Ch6

In the Akasa Care Center in Akasa, Ardenia, High Priest Aren is watching over his daughter Lilas, whose poor health has put her in a coma. Though she is asleep, he tells her the story of how he met Aqasha, his daughter's adopted sister, and became her Protector. Aqasha grew up strong and became a Fire Priestess.

 

He goes outside and grabs something to eat. The Festival of Sorority, which celebrates the alliance between Ardenia and Luxia is approaching, and Aqasha plays the role of Ardenu,.

 

He goes to the Sacred Castle of Akasa. There, Ayzat, the wingless Second Paladin of Equestera, is chatting with an alicorn set to play the role of Luxoah at the Festival (this is Mei, see Ch14). Aren joins them, and the other alicorn leaves. He expresses his concerns regarding Aqasha and Ayzat tells him not to worry.

 

Ch7

At the Guild Inn, Masha is stuck doing paperwork. Leyla, who is observing her daughter in disguise, wanders off to the mission board and snatches a mission request issued by the Queen of Flames.

 

Masha is now a Quartz rank Protector. The hierarchy is as follows: Quartz, Jasper, Amethyst, Opal, Ruby (Bounty Hunter) / Sapphire (Harmonizer, i.e. medic) / Emerald (Weapon Master), Paladin. Opal or higher can become Examiners.

 

Leyla assigns Masha the lead on the aforementioned mission. She's skeptical of the mission's supposed simplicity and believes it'd be good practice. Masha expresses her doubt in her abilities, but her mother reassures her. Leyla then asks her daughter to buy her a beer, as is Guild tradition, and they head to the Golden Claw.

 

In the pub she encounters a snake made of pure light. The snake, Momo, is called back by its master, who introduces herself as Yua (Jasper), the Luxian, and she invited the pair at her table. They are joined by Kolibry, a Ventaian. They bond over beer. After some time, Leyla feels it's time to leave, and Yua proposes to accompany them. Her sister (i.e. Mei) plays Queen Luxoah at the Festival of Sorority. Masha gladly accepts them into the party.

 

Ch8

Aqasha is waiting in the palace of Ardenu, the Queen of Flames, member of the Primordial Pantheon. Ardenu praises her for withstanding her presence. Aqasha is amazed that Ardenu was once a simple alicorn like her. Aqasha asks about the FoS but the queen cannot recall its origins. (Or she feigns forgetfulness?)

 

Ch9

Raybarn and Feyn reach the AAA. They settle into their suites. Raybarn explains that the Academy is for pursuing knowledge. He foresees his son on the path of Harmoniser.

 

On their way to Naegissa and Nerath, Raybarn is greeted by idolizing students. In the library he and Feyn meet the other two. They discuss the mysterious spirit, now captured, and Naegissa hints at another presence by the spirit, perhaps controlling it. They agree to go see the spirit in person.

 

Naegissa tests the two by asking them to recite what she just told them, and they come up blank, to her delight. Naegissa suddenly has to leave. Nerath excuses her, explaining she's dealing with the grief of her parents' deaths.

 

Ch10

After her encounter with Raybarn, Naegissa had gone to her pitch black study. She summons a music box called Black Mist, her Soul Weapon, and activated it. It produces creepy music followed by whispers, and she thinks she detects a presence emanating from it. She washes her face in the lavstory, and as she lookes in the mirror she saw a warped reflection of herself. It transforms into a horrible creature and let out a scream.

 

She ponders why Nerath's memory endures when Raybarn and Feyn have been stripped of theirs (see Ch9). Hit with a realization, she drinks from a water pitcher and commands the entity to leave. This works, and she records the event in a book. A commenter on Fimfic points out this entity is the mysterious spirit.

 

Ch11

Nerath, Raybarn, and Feyn make their way through the labyrinthine AAA. They reach the heart of the institute, the laboratory where spirits are kept for research. Raybarn senses the spirit's aura is similar to that of the Primordial Pantheon, and Feyn suggests a Royal alicorn may be involved. Nerath pulls up the research done on the spirit: its Arcane aura proved to be an enigma.

 

Feyn feels the spirit beckoning him, and involuntarily approaches it. Trying to shake the spell off of him, he senses another shadowy presence. Nerath and Raybarn finally notice Feyn's trancelike state and urge him to move away from the spirit. He snaps out of it. Inexplicably, neither Feyn nor Raybarn can remember the name of the Protector who subdued this spirit, despite Nerath having told them earlier, but they do realize their strange memory loss. They set out to meet this alicorn.

 

Ch12

Outside, Raybarn says it's time for Feyn to earn his Protector's license right away. They go to the Protector Square, the plaza before the Guild Inn. At the Inn's lounge, Feyn registers himself at the reception for his exam.

 

Raybarn meets Pyvern, an alicorn who had hunted the spirit and had been left mentally scarred by it. Pyvern relates that he sees his own reflection as warped and grotesque. He speaks of a gigantic, eight-winged entity, half dragon, half alicorn. Raybarn correctly guessed that the monster's markings had a silver colour, giving him an important clue. He then meets up with Feyn. The next morning, another bout of amnesia erases Pyvern from their minds.

 

Ch13

Masha, Leyla, Yua and Kolibry are going to Ardenia. Yua explains to Masha how the Festival of Sorority celebrates the bond between the two queens Ardenu and Luxoah: it re-enacts the moment they shared "this amazing gift" that symbolizes their friendship. It encodes a legal framework in which the queen has jurisdiction over her people, even should they commit a crime in the other's land. Masha then explains that her people, the Fulmenians, are closely knit and have not one, but three High Priestesses (all Weapon Masters). She also shows how Fulmenians can have different front and hind paws. Also, Ventia (Kolibry's homeland, misspelt Ventaia) has an insanely high female-to-male ratio.

 

They pass the Akronoma, a venomous spider-like spirit. Kolibry has the special ability to sense the aura of alicorns. Leyla reveals to him her true identity as 3rd Paladin.

 

Ch14

While helping with the buildup of the festival, Aren notices his adoptive daughter Aqasha, and they help out around the city. Aren reflects on fireball, a traditional friendly competition involving a big fireball, and Aqasha is reminded of her own tough childhood.

 

Aqasha meets Ayzat on the city square, and she is introduced to Mei, who will play Luxoah. Their acquaintance is uneasy. Ayzat invites Aqasha on the path of Protector, but she rebukes him. Nevertheless, he manages to tempt her with a promise of power. He reveals to her his secret group, Sacred Fire, and claims to have knowledge on the Primordial Pantheon.

 

Ch15

In the forest, the alicorns are having trouble finding food (they live on spirits), until a thunder spirit called a Fulm appears. They manage to capture it and roast it above a fire.

 

The next morning the journey continues, until Leyla detects danger: a hostile fire/magma spirit. Fighting ensues, with Masha taking the lead. With the help of Yua and Kolibry she lands a fatal blow while Leyla vanquishes the spirit's reinforcements. Leyla heals her daughter and they gather shards of crystal that the spirits left behind.

 

They cross the Ardenian border and secure a taxi to Akasa. Their goal is the Guild Inn. The crystals are sent to the AAA, and Leyla they're reported to have come from Fulmenian, rather than Ardenian, spirits.

 

Ch16

Note: Asgeir, the Fourth Paladin, is from Eskalt in Ventia.

On the day before the Festival, Masha & co. arrive at Akasa and find the Guild Inn. Leyla meets Mei, Yua's older sister (see Ch14), and Ayzat joins the group too. Ayzat offers residence in his mansion, and despite Leyla's distrust, they accept.

 

In the mansion they learn that Ayzat has command over a band of aspiring Protectors, known as the Second Division (the code name for Sacred Fire, see Ch14). The group is introduced to Aqasha and Aren. During dinner Mei is excited for the play, Aqasha stays aloof. Ayzat asks about the earlier spirit incident, and Leyla gives him the crystals. Leyla aska Ayzat about his lack of wings; he says he cannot remember what happened to them. Aqasha behaves like a 5 year old. Mei admits she's nervous for the play.

 

In the hotel room, Masha asks why Leyla is on edge about Ayzat, and she responds she's unnerved because of his power, at such a young age.

 

Ch17

Feyn, Raybarn, Naegissa, and Nerath are doing research in the library grand archives, to no avail. Raybarn remembers an acquaintance who may be of help. They are informed of the capture of another spirit, and Raybarn makes his leave. Naegissa loses her temper when the Protectors mention the laboratory. The messengers add that the spirit was found smashing its head against a stone, and the Protectors who caught it now suffer from paranoia. Naegissa, Nerath, and Feyn go to the laboratory for more info.

 

Ch18

Raybarn meets with Solayron, the First Paladin and High-Priest of Python, his secret contact. Solayron had summoned him after receiving his letter. Raybarn meets Python in his throne room. He tells her about the two spirits and other recent events. He asks if the Astral magic was of her doing, and Python clarifies that Astral magic is in fact exclusive to common (non-divine) alicorns, and divine alicorns can see its signature. To commoners, divine and Astral magic look identical. This was kept secret because she feared such knowledge could lead to disaster.

 

Raybarn leaves, glad to be done using excessively complex prose. He decides to keep this secret to himself, and wonders what other secrets the Pantheon keeps.

 

Ch19

Naegissa and Feyn meet the three protectors who captured the second spirit in the laboratory. Learning little of their testimony, they theorize the spirit may be influenced by some other spirit. Naegissa orders the researchers to focus on the spirit. She casts a spell on the spirit, revealings its memories. The spirit's energy levels flare up, but they manage to suppress them. Naegissa deems the experiment a success and starts analyzing.

 

Ch20

At night, Feyn relates his findings on the spirit to Raybarn: how it behaves erratically but shows no signs of manipulation, and how it seemed terrorized. He shares his "second-degree corruption" theory. He mentions that the spirit only affects the mind, and recalls Naegissa's unusual response to his theory.

 

Raybarn reveals to Feyn he met Python. He asks Feyn to send a message to King Fulmen, in Aemna. He also must go to the Guild Inn and find an examiner, for him to become a Protector and to accompany him to Aemna.

 

Raybarn finds Naegissa, and asks her to accompany him to the location where the spirit was found. She accepts.

 

At the AAA, Feyn finds only one alicorn available for the journey: Velzael (see Ch2). Together they head for Aemna, and Feyn asks her to be his examiner. The book ends with Feyn challenging Velzael to obtain his Protector rank.