Darkness covered the kingdom.
With the moon gone, the sky became an endless black sea, filled only with the shattered stars falling from above.
Aren stood frozen before the mysterious Star Bearer.
"Every star you restore will cost a human soul," the stranger repeated. "That is the ancient law."
Lyria shook her head.
"No... there must be another way."
The stranger looked at her with sad eyes.
"There was. Long ago. But the first kings chose power over mercy."
Kael raised his sword.
"Then we'll break the law."
The Star Bearer smiled.
"Many heroes have said those words. None survived."
Suddenly, the ruins began to collapse. The giant crystal beneath their feet split apart, revealing a hidden staircase that led deep into the earth.
A glowing symbol appeared on Aren's hand.
"The Heart of the Sky has awakened," Lyria whispered.
The three friends followed the staircase until they reached a vast underground chamber. In its center floated a sphere of silver light, surrounded by thousands of tiny stars.
A voice echoed through the darkness.
"Choose."
Before Aren appeared two paths.
The first path would restore the stars and save the kingdom, but countless innocent lives would be lost.
The second path would protect the people, but the stars would disappear forever, leaving the world in endless night.
Kael looked at Aren.
"What will you do?"
Aren walked toward the glowing sphere.
"I won't sacrifice the innocent," he said. "And I won't let the stars die."
The chamber shook violently.
The silver sphere cracked open.
From inside stepped a young girl dressed in light, carrying a broken crown.
Lyria gasped.
"The Star Queen..."
The girl looked at Aren.
"You have chosen the impossible path," she said softly. "Then you must find the Seventh Flame—the only power that can rewrite the ancient law."
"The Seventh Flame?" Aren asked.
The Star Queen nodded.
"It was hidden beyond the Edge of the World, where no star has ever shone."
At that moment, a deafening roar echoed across the kingdom.
The dark sky tore apart, and a massive shadow with glowing eyes rose above the clouds.
The first Star Dragon had awakened.
And it was flying toward Elyndor.
To be continued in Part 23...