The palace was quiet before dawn. The kind of silence that only came before something terrible.
Inside the Sanctum Hall, rows of candles burned with pale blue flames. The air smelled of incense and old parchment. At the center knelt a man in white robes, his silver hair bound by a dark ribbon. High Priest Orion lifted his head as the last echo of the ritual faded.
The starlight on the scroll dimmed, leaving a single rune glowing faintly. His voice was calm when he spoke, but his eyes gleamed with something colder than faith.
"So it begins again."
A shadow moved behind him. A figure stepped out, dressed in black armor trimmed with gold. He knelt with one hand over his heart. "Your Eminence, the celestial readings spiked over the northern ruins. The pattern matches the ancient prophecy."
Orion's lips curved slightly. "The vessel has awakened. And the bond with the prince has stabilized sooner than expected."
The knight hesitated. "Should we inform His Majesty?"
"No," Orion said softly. "The emperor is a man of politics, not of faith. He would see the vessel as a weapon. But I…" His eyes lifted to the faint constellations painted on the ceiling. "I see him as the key."
The knight lowered his head. "And if the prince interferes?"
"He will," Orion replied simply. "It is written that the Starbound King cannot resist the pull of fate. But fate," he added, standing slowly, "is a story I intend to rewrite."
He turned toward the altar. Upon it lay an ancient relic a fragment of crystal, black as night, pulsing faintly. When he touched it, the flames of the candles flickered and bent toward him.
"Find them," he ordered. "Bring the vessel to me alive. And if the prince stands in the way…"
The knight bowed. "I understand."
When the hall was empty again, Orion whispered into the silence, "Lumis, you should have never given your heart to a mortal."
Outside, the first rays of sunlight spilled across the palace spires. The city began to wake, unaware that its fate was already turning.
Far from the capital, Erian stirred in his sleep. His heart raced, his pulse quickening without reason. The mark on his chest glowed faintly, just once, before fading.
Aster noticed. "Again?" he asked quietly.
Erian sat up, rubbing his temple. "Someone said my name. I think… it was him."
Aster frowned. "Who?"
"The priest," Erian whispered. "The one from the temple in my dreams."
Aster's expression turned serious. "Then he's found a way to reach you through the bond."
Erian nodded. "He said something about the vessel… about Lumis giving his heart to a mortal."
Aster looked away, his jaw tightening. "Then he knows more than we do."
The two sat in silence, the crackle of the campfire the only sound between them. The wind carried the faint scent of ash and distant rain.
Aster finally stood. "We can't stay here. If the High Priest is moving, the imperial scouts will follow. We need to reach the Verdant March before they close the borders."
Erian looked up at him, uncertain. "And after that?"
Aster's gaze softened. "After that, we find out what they're hiding. You said the woman made of starlight warned you. Maybe her message wasn't a curse… but a path."
Erian took a deep breath. "A path to what?"
Aster looked toward the east, where the horizon shimmered faintly. "To the truth. And maybe to the end of the gods."
Back in the palace, High Priest Orion stood before the throne room doors. He placed a hand on the carved sigil of the empire, feeling the pulse of divine magic beneath it.
"The empire will rise again," he murmured. "But not under the hands of men."