CHAPTER 819: THE PURPOSE OF STARS

The still of the alcove was another kind of quiet from the tense silence of the war council in my last vision. It was solemn but gentle, like the hush before the first drops of rain fall. Verity’s shoulders shook as she sniffled, wiping her eyes again. I drifted across the room, slipping onto Thron’s couch. I rested curled up against him, yearning for his warmth, but was met with only the cool astral breeze of my soul space.

"I’m sorry, I don’t mean to show you something so unbecoming," she whispered, avoiding his eyes. "I just..."

"It’s alright, child," Thron said gently. He smiled softly. "I seem to find myself in these situations more often than not, nowadays. Being strong is good, but a strong that doesn’t know how to bend will break before a mighty gale."

Verity blinked, looking up at him, tilting her head slightly. "I...don’t know what that means."

Thron chuckled, shaking his head. "Never mind that. Just the ramblings of an old man. Now, what is it that bothers you today?"

"I could never burden one such as yourself with that," Verity said, looking down at her lap again. "You’re the head Librarian, not a therapist." She took a breath, forcing herself to sound cheerful. "And it’s really nothing. Nothing that should get a hero down, at least."

Thron raised an eyebrow, and the silence drew out. After a few seconds, Verity broke, and her face fell again.

"Why don’t they understand? Why don’t they know?" she whispered, tears falling again. "I...I can see everything. Every plot, every plan, every deception. Was this how she felt when she was by his side? Safe and secure? Like a pet?"

"A slave," Thron whispered.

Verity jerked, eyes snapping up to him. "I-I didn’t mean...I’m not supposed to–"

Thron held up his hand, quieting her. "It’s alright, Hero. I understand whom you speak of. You’re not the first Fate hero to come to these hallowed halls and confide in me."

"You knew her?" Verity asked, eyes wide.

He nodded, and I snuggled closer to Thron. I would have been mortified if he’d known I was there, but when he couldn’t see me, how could I resist? It was the closest thing I had to a hug right now.

"Sometimes, I feel like she knows everything," Verity admitted, "I received so much help, so many tutors, and yet I can barely hold a vision together, much less walk them like she does. It’s like she belongs in that world more than the real one, living among the stars like I do in Enusia."

"I think you overestimate Xiviyah," Thron said, smiling faintly. "She was little more than a scared child when she was brought here. I watched her take her first steps into the field of magic, struggling far more than you did."

Verity sighed, shaking her head. "To think I was so excited about knowing the future. I’m embarrassed just thinking about it. I thought I could control it. I thought I could guide everyone to a happy ending. So...naive."

"You’re not the only one," I whispered.

Thron nodded as if agreeing with that sentiment. "Sometimes, it’s better to focus on protecting what you have instead of worrying what might be. If I learned anything from Xiviyah, it’s that the future isn’t written. She had a fate more set than most. The entire Divine Realm waited for her death. And yet she still lives."

"The entire divine realm? You mean the Fate Divinity?"

Thron gave her a mysterious smile. "Something like that, though I’ve probably said too much already.

I stared at Thron, mouth hanging open slightly. Verity’s confusion aside, how did he know that? Even I only knew the difference my survival made because I happened to have personal contact with Fate herself.

"Is that why you got strong? To challenge your own fate?" Verity asked.

"Strong?" Thron huffed. "I’m afraid my power is lacking. Ever lacking."

"How can you say that? You’re eighth level! I haven’t even consolidated my place in seventh, yet."

EIght? I turned slowly, staring at Thron’s soul. I’d been so surprised, and relieved, by his presence, I hadn’t even bothered to give him a second glance. My memories of the Divine Throne were hazy, but surely he hadn’t even been eighth when I was there. Had he broken through? But at his age, and with his sheltered life here without battles or experience, was that even possible?

"I lost everything that was ever important to me because I was too weak," Thron said, his voice falling to a whisper. "I turned my grief against itself, and learned every spell there was to know. I studied day and night, devoted myself to the god of knowledge, and learned every spell I could get my hands on. When that led me here, I was more than happy to become the caretaker of this sacred library. It was then that I found something else that mattered to me."

"The books?" Verity asked.

He smiled wryly, shaking his head. "No. Something, someone, else. But even after everything, I was still too weak to protect her. The best I could do was help them on their way. It wasn’t enough."

"So what’s the point? If you tried everything you could, and you still failed, why try at all?" Verity asked. "I used to believe it was because hope was important, and when all else failed, and the path looked dark, I could lead everyone to a brighter future. But I just can’t see that anymore."

"What is the purpose of the stars?" Thron asked suddenly.

She tilted her head. "They, um...shine?"

"That’s right. Stars guide mortals in the darkest of nights. They bring ships to their harbors, wagons to the gates, and hunters to their homes. And when a star serves its purpose, and is no longer useful, what then?"

"They’ll find a new star," Verity said. "But I don’t see how that–"

"Of course you don’t. The answer you knew was wrong, and now you doubt that there is a right answer now. You’re lost in the question, and no longer seeking," Thron said.

She flinched, averting her eyes. Thron cleared his throat.

"Stars that are useless are cast aside. They simply fade into the night sky, becoming one of millions. But new stars will rise to take their place, chosen amongst the endless heavens as the beacon of our hope. The question isn’t whether there is a star to follow, but which

star to follow. That is the choice that faces each and every mortal. That choice is our freedom, and our chains."

"You’ve already made your choice, haven’t you," Verity said. A statement, not a question.

He looked at her, raising an eyebrow, and she hastened to continue.

"I mean, you’re still here at the Divine Throne. Doesn’t that show who you’ve chosen?"

"We’ll see, child. We’ll see."

With those words, the vision broke apart, and I was left hugging empty air. I knew it was time to wake up, that we were in immediate danger, but I couldn’t bear to return to the waking world. Not when I was trapped and alone. Even if it was an illusion, I wanted more. The hole inside was so cold and empty. I reached out, seeking something to fill it.

Light spiralled out, whisking me away to a small plateau overlooking a rugged landscape. Hills rolled around me like waves, broken by tall ridges of solid granite. The ground was dry and rocky, sprouting scub and tuffs of yellow grasses like a patchy beard. Far off, on the horizon, the air sweltered with infernal mana. That meant either a powerful demon gate or a traveling horde.

I looked up as two dots of light appeared above the sea of mana, one red, the other a brilliant violet. They crossed the sky like shooting stars, passing just over my head. The red was bright and fiery, its trail long and confident. It flew circles around the violet, which wavered and shook, like a leaf lost in turbulent waters.

My eyes narrowed, squinting up at them, as the two lights banked, plunging toward me. I gasped, willing myself out of the way, as they struck the ground like meteors, throwing earth around them and forming small craters.

"You call that a landing?" Gayron’s voice preceded him out of the billowing dust. The apostle came out laughing, turning to look over his shoulder as another silhouette appeared. I knew who it was even before the dust parted.

"As if your first attempt was any better," Luke said, scowling as he patted himself off.

Gayron’s smirk widened. "How would you know that?"

"Because I know you. And you’re not exactly the most graceful fellow."

"I picked it up faster."

"Difference in the quality of instruction."

Luke passed Gayron, grinning at him as his mouth gaped. The fire apostle’s jaw clicked with a snap and he spun on his heel, chasing him.

"So, tell me about this ’epic battle’ that forced you to use your ring," Luke said, staring off into the distance.

Gayron shrugged, sitting on the edge with his feet dangling over. The plateau wasn’t high, only thirty feet or so, but butterflies danced in my stomach at the sight of him acting so relaxed about it.

"It was more of an accident, really. Nothing to be worried about."

"You said they had a skyship with a mana cannon that shot sun mana?"

Gayron nodded, bringing his hand up to touch his arm. He winced, and I shifted position, getting a better look at him. My heart stopped as I found a small blotch of white glowing midway down his bicep. Sunpurge.