Upon a Star: Karyana's Journey: Prologue, part 4

This section sets the stage for the Chosen to appear. It probably will sound a bit like 'Sleeping Beauty' in the blessings... but I guess I didn't really have another way to properly do it.

Progeny and Asuna walked side by side withing the Celestial Garden, the place that mortals who worshiped the Pale Lady of the Moon believed as the birthplace of the alabaster goddess.

It was said that Progeny, among seeing the midnight sky, wished for light, and from that one wish came the first star. In the wake of the First Light, the Childlord smiled and the sentient astral shone so brightly that its body started to spark smaller lights, which danced around the night sky, lighting it like fireflies. As the stars danced, the pierced the night ever brightly, until Progeny wished to rest from all the elated leisure. Wishing to sleep among his illuminated friends, he took clay from the primordial cauldron and threw it in the sky. As he started molding the clay, he noticed a lonely star in the night sky. Beckoning it closer, he noticed that it was almost so little, he feared it would go out like a blown candle. In his generosity, he made an egg from the clay that was meant to be his home, and housed the star. Every night, the young creator would pamper and reshape the egg, under the watchful eye of the stars. After a score of nights, he had shaped the egg into a perfect sphere that shone ivory white as the star within it grew. One night, as the light of the sphere was clouded by the passing of the sun, Progeny feared that the star had died and huffed a strong breath onto it.

The boyish Planar was surprised when the Sphere started to dance in a perfect circle as the spirit of the ivory sphere appeared, as perfect a woman as never one had been born, or ever will be. In her wake, she danced with Progeny, creating her own orbit around the planet he was slowing creating. It was said that he named her 'Asuna', taken from the Planar language, the word meaning 'White dancer'.

"My Lord..." she spoke in a whispered tone, "...what of Prolectae's blessing?"

The young ruler, looked among the stars in a sweeping gaze before turning to her. "It was decided that blessings should be given by all Planar who wish to, but first, the wish must be given to one. I am here to choose this one."

Asuna looked at the stars with sad eyes. Myriads danced among the sky, but many of the first stars have faded and fallen to Demierth. It always saddened her to part with one of her many friends and children. This time, it felt like a part of her was breaking away.

Progeny noticed the tear that the white dancer shed. "Cry not, my lady." he spoke in such wisdom that it almost startled the silver-haired Planar. "It may torture you to see one of your brethren go, I will make sure that your love for the mortal form of Reveen be everlasting."

Before she could ask what the boy meant, he turned to the stars. "Listen to me, children of the moonlit night!" his voice echoed, making the stars stop their everlasting dance.

---

"May I have your attention!" Medai spoke as he stood upon the center of the dance hall, surrounded by hundreds of Citadel citizens, dressed in the best robes and wearing masks for the night. The moment the dance stopped, so had the score of luthists, flutists and drummers.

The elderly arch-mage drew a long breath as he held on to his staff, his heavy robes both a sight and an oddity as he wore them only in the most important times. Adjusting his half-mask over his eyes, to which he had discarded his full mask for the event, he continued with his speech.

"The Weaver of Fate has come to me on this night." he uttered with melancholy. "On this night, the candle of my light will dwindle and fade."

Many in the crowd murmured and gasped at his words, even as he continued. "As we speak, an unspoken darkness looms ever forward, awaiting to snuff this elderly body of mine. But, I will not leave this city unprotected..."

Silence grew among the dancers as dread crept onto them. "My body will be no more, but my soul will find a new host. As few of you may know, the Planars have left me unable to meet them in Merciful Sleep, and my spirit will not rest. Thus, I will return to you as the Weave of Time is spun, but not as in this body. So, let it be known, that on this day, once the breath of life will have left my body, the breath of this city will be forgotten until the day the Chosen of the Planars returns with me."

More murmurs and panic, but also some surprise and cries of astonishment. "Yes, as I have said. The Planars have finally proven their benevolence, for my fate has finally been woven with hers. Death may come for me, but their promise will lift Citadel back among the light of this world. So, do not mourn me. Feast and celebrate, for Citadel will shine as a beacon of peace! Tonight, we dance!"

As he raised the crystal glass in his free hand, the music started anew. Many raised their glasses to drink with their lord and ruler, while many danced anew, some with less fervor, others as if they wished to dance as the stars.

The handmaiden Valara walked over to her creator and made a courteous bow. "My lord...", she spoke above the music, just loud enough for him to hear. "The Magi have begun the ritual... and the watch have noticed a small army walking towards us."

Medai handed his handmaiden the halfmask. "Fate has come. I will meet them myself." he replied, walking towards the great doors.

---

Asuna held the tiniest of stars in her hands as she walked towards Progeny and the other Planars in the Council room. She looked both like bride and griever, as she held the sparkling light like a candle.

"So, this minuscule wicker of light will be the Chosen?" Randu spoke, finding the choice rather curious. "I expected a greater star than this newborn."

Scyens snapped back. "Are you doubting the choice of our creator?" he retorted, closing his grimoire in an audible thud.

"I do not doubt him." the knightly Planar replied, pointing to the ivory-skinned Planar. "I doubt her choice."

"You should..." came Xelnos' voice from behind the group as the obsidian giant appeared. "For I do not see how such a ridiculously small thing could be worth Reveen."

Prolectae snapped back at the grim titan. "Then you know nothing of fate and mortal love." she muttered back, folding her arms under her enticing bosom.

"Stop, please..." came a childish voice from the very star. All of the Planars turned back to look a the tiny light. "My creator and her creator have asked the myriads, but none answered. I have no one who prays upon me... please, let me!"

Scyens furrowed a brow as he passed a finger down his elderly beard. "It is true that mortals believe the stars to hold a part of themselves. For no one to pray to one star would mean it to fade away."

Progeny held his hand out towards the flickering light, as the pale goddess held the star to his reach. "Then it is time to bless this little one." he ordered, holding the star like a gem in his hands.

Prolectae stepped forth and held out her hand over the star, as if it was inside a crystal ball. "Young one, I grant you beauty of body and heart. May your light shine among mortals, no matter your life's path."

As the Planar of love and beauty stepped away, Scyens walked over to the star and followed the same ritual. "Young one, may the doors of knowledge open to you, for my blessing is the knowledge of magic, such as Reveen would have wished for."

Xelnos looked sternly as the Planar of Knowledge stepped away. "I wish to present a blessing myself..." he spoke before walking over to the star, his immense form towering over the Childlord. "Star chosen by the Lady of the Moon..."

Panyus raised a hand as if to warn the other Planars. "Xelnos, what are you-"

"I wish you experience the same grief I have... to scour the world for love, but never to find it!" Xelnos shouted.

Asuna gasped and took a step back, horrified. "Xelnos, no..." she muttered, too startled to stop her tears from streaming down her face.

Randu pulled out his sword and turned towards the Planar-demon. "You wretch! Look what you have done!" he retorted.

Xelnos knocked the blade away from the Planar-Knight's hand. "She will suffer, for I have suffered. I would rather seen Reveen die ten thousand times over!" he bellowed before vanishing in a burst of fire and brimstone.

As a heavy silence rose once the echoing bellow of Xelnos vanished, Asuna held both hands out to the star, a tear falling onto it. "Little star... I wish I could silence his words... but I cannot. My wish... is that you find the strength to break his dark grasp..."

Rendu held out a hand to Asuna, to which she huddled against him, her tears almost threatening to extinguish the star. "Little one... I will see that Xelnos pays for his affront." he spoke, his armored hands clenched tightly to his side. "May the Forge will create blades of Sun and Moon, of Star and Stone, of Flames and Frost... and from these, Xelnos' hold upon you will end..."

Panyus walked over to Asuna and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Allow me to speak." The pale lady stopped crying and simply nodded. "Brave one, though darkness has been forced upon you, my gift for you is fate. Though you are destined to be in Reveen's arms, you will have many friends and live many lives. Live as mortal, creation of the Childlord, and shape your own destiny."

Progeny placed his hand under the star and held it so that all the nightly lights could see it. "Starlight made flesh, fall on this night... and let your fate be your own!" he uttered before raising it to his lips, breathing life into it. Walking to the edge of the Council Hall, he held it out like a skipping stone before throwing the object into the sky.

Rendu looked at the trajectory of the object. "It will not reach Citadel." he spoke matter-of-factually as he picked up his sword.

"It was not intended to reach it." the Childlord spoke. "As of this night, we cannot interfere with her life unless fate brings her to us. In the meantime... the traitor must be punished."

Author's Note

As spoken in the previous sections, I wish to publish this story on paper some day, so any constructive criticism, any comment and edit will be welcome so I can make my story better.