The world was silent.
Aren stood before the ancient stone gate hidden beneath the ruins of the Star Temple. The last shard floated in his hand, shining with a cold silver light. As he moved closer, the seven star fragments began to circle him like tiny moons.
Liora looked at the strange symbols covering the gate.
"They're glowing," she whispered. "The gate is waking up."
Kael tightened his grip on his sword. "If the Shadow King is waiting on the other side, we should be ready."
Aren placed the final shard into the center of the gate.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then the ground shook.
A beam of light shot into the heavens, tearing open the clouds. The stars above moved for the first time in a thousand years, forming a giant circle in the night sky.
The gate slowly opened.
But beyond it was not another kingdom.
It was another sky.
Floating islands drifted through endless darkness. Rivers of starlight crossed the void, and far away stood a black palace surrounded by broken constellations.
Liora stepped back.
"This... this is where the fallen stars went."
An old voice echoed through the air.
"Welcome, Star Bearer."
A figure appeared from the light.
He wore silver armor cracked by time, and a broken crown rested on his head. His eyes shone like dying suns.
"I was the first guardian," the stranger said. "And I failed."
Aren felt the Star Heart around his neck grow warm.
"You know who I am?"
The guardian nodded.
"You are the last hope of Elyndor. But the truth is darker than you imagine."
He raised his hand, and a vision filled the sky.
Long ago, the stars had not fallen by accident.
Someone had broken them.
And that someone was still alive.
From the shadows of the black palace came a deep laugh.
A giant pair of crimson eyes opened in the darkness.
"At last," the voice thundered. "The Star Bearer has come to me."
The floating islands trembled.
The guardian drew his ancient blade.
Liora and Kael stood beside Aren.
Ahead of them waited the greatest battle in the history of the kingdom.
And far above, one lonely star fell from the sky.
**To be continued part-31...**