Chapter 3: The Fae Star Guild

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Chapter 3: The Fae Star Guild

The terraced city spread out before Zorn like a wild dream under the moonlight.

Granite streets stretched ahead, sparkling like silvery stars. It felt as though he were walking on fragments of the night sky itself.

Zorn paused to enjoy the way the ground glittered with every step.

"Khor! Check this out! This is crazy!" he shouted.

Khor tossed a glance over his shoulder.

"Have you really never seen light before? What’s wrong with you?"

"Not like this. The sun doesn't shine where I’m from, and the ground doesn't capture the moon's light, either," Zorn said.

Khor raised an eyebrow, his mask of indifference slipping for a fraction of a second.

"Tiny rocks in the concrete absorb the sun's light throughout the day. They are activated by the lunar glow at night, giving the walkway this sparkly effect."

Khor stepped closer. A flash of genuine curiosity broke through his usual sternness, and his voice softened.

"What world do you come from, Zorn?"

The question hung heavy in the air. Khor clearly had an idea, but he needed to hear it from Zorn himself.

Zorn, however, wasn't ready to trust this team yet. What if Khor reacted as Sabrina had?

"What if I said..." Zorn let the words dangle, shrugging instead of finishing the thought.

Khor stared blankly, letting out a hum of disbelief.

The moment for vulnerability passed. His eyes hardened, all softness stripped away.

He let out a sharp breath and seized Zorn's hand as if he were a wayward child.

"Let's go already."

Zorn stumbled as Khor tugged him along. "Ah! Okay, chill!"

The buildings were wood and stone: they exhaled magic. Weathered timbers held up pale stone walls, while ivy spilled from wooden balconies, ghostly, glowing flowers swirling in the breeze.

Lanterns hung from metal posts, their fires contained in crescent-shaped covers that cast a warm glow over the streets.

"I've never seen so much beauty in my life," he said, his eyes roaming around with a wild smile.

He looked up at the arches spanning high between towers, blotting out the stars.

Their foundations were shored up with iron, and pennants of two crescent moons flanking a full moon waved overhead.

Slate roofs sloped precariously upward, shining darkly against the moonlight.

Trees bloomed in courtyards and street-side recesses, their leaves whispering in the wind.

And the scent: jasmine and loam. It clung to the air, layered over the buzz of voices in bazaars under tent tops.

There, merchants peddled talismans, herbs, and strange foods that glowed softly in bowls.

Zorn's brows furrowed in curiosity, trying to get a better look at a bowl in a random woman's hands.

He looked ahead, and then he saw it. The palace.

It rose from the city's heart, more fortress than ornament, yet breathtakingly beautiful.

Granite walls supported by black iron ribs stretched toward the sky.

The terraces overflowed with moonflowers and cascading vines.

A silver dome crowned it all.

The sight stole the breath from Zorn's lungs.

Khor looked back after hearing his gasp. His eyes widened as he saw the boy about to slam into a man walking by.

He yanked him closer to his side, shaking Zorn out of his daze.

"Watch where you're going!"

The man grunted at Zorn as he walked by.

Zorn briefly stared up at him, embarrassed.

"Oh. Sorry! I didn't know the night could be so beautiful! I bet this place is gorgeous in the morning!"

"Can you even stomach the morning, Mr. I-Have-Never-Seen-The-Light?" Khor retorted.

Zorn furrowed his brows. "Can you handle the slightest bit of positivity?!”

Khor stopped so suddenly that Zorn collided with his back.

Khor didn't even flinch.

"Khor...? Sorry, did I make you angry?" Zorn asked.

But Khor wasn't looking at him. His gaze was locked on something ahead.

"...Khor?"

Zorn followed his stare. Donal was walking their way. And with him, Sabrina.

"Don! Sabrina!" Zorn exclaimed.

Donal chuckled and shrugged, pointing at Sabrina's bare feet.

"No shoes, no service."

"Ugh, and they made it so obvious to the other guests. It was humiliating," she groaned. "Such a stupid policy."

"That policy is a common standard anywhere, Sabrina. Why are you barefoot anyway?" Zorn asked flatly.

Her face flushed red.

"I left them behind at the beach so that I could run faster when I was under attack."

Zorn's eyes widened for a moment. He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

"Oh," he muttered.

His eyes narrowed a little.

I still can't remember anything from that!

Donal presided over the scene, arms folded.

"Nice."

Zorn glanced at Donal, confused.

Nice?!

"Then wait outside," Khor said gruffly.

Donal brushed him off.

"I'll get you shoes." He shot Khor a look that told him to shut up.

Sabrina laughed, though it sounded forced. "No, Don, it's alright. I can wait out here."

He grinned. "And then you'll be waiting outside for shopping, eating, everything."

"Don, stop! I get it. I'll stick to my word."

He patted her shoulder and chuckled softly. "Nah."

Khor and Zorn watched as the two of them bickered.

Donal waved out into the street.

"I can get you a pair, easy. Come on."

Zorn snorted. "This is going on like one of those stupid 'No, you hang up first' fights."

Khor growled, dragging his hands down his face.

"I'm two seconds away from hanging myself up first."

"I heard that!" Zorn folded his arms.

Khor dropped his hands without a glance.

"I know."

Donal finally concluded and dropped his fist into his palm. His eyes sparkled.

"Actually, I have an idea, so you don't feel singled out, Sabrina, we'll get Zorn new shoes, too!"

Zorn paused for a second and looked back at Donal.

"Wait, huh?"

Sabrina shouted at Donal's proud and positive face.

"I STILL FEEL CALLED OUT!"

Khor rolled his eyes, walking away.

"Because, of course, we have to double our load."

He didn't let up, abandoning Donal and a flustered Sabrina to their standoff.

Zorn sprinted to catch up.

"Hey, slow down. Are we actually getting me new shoes?"

Khor shot him a sidelong glance, his stride unwavering.

"Yeah, what Don wants, Don gets. You cannot talk him out of his ideas. You'll exhaust yourself. I've learned to go with the flow when it comes to him."

Zorn couldn't help but laugh.

"So we're just leaving them?"

"I'm not patient enough to wait for their stupid argument to end." Khor’s gaze fell to Zorn’s feet, noting how the leather was frayed and worn thin by a lifetime of impoverished hardship.

It looks like Don saw an opportunity because this kid is roughed up; his home realm seems unforgiving and hard.

Khor's eyes narrowed sympathetically at the thought of it.

They turned a corner into a narrower alley where the scent of spiced meat and baked bread made Zorn's stomach clench with hunger.

They paused before a humble shop labeled "Lucky Cobbler."

Ding!

The door swung open, hitting the bell.

An older gentleman with glasses perched on his nose looked up from fixing a sole. His cat-slit eyes gleamed gold.

Zorn looked around in awe at the shop's woodwork and wealthy shelves lined with sturdy boots.

"Awesooooome..."

Khor wasted no time on greetings.

"Something for him. He walks like a clown, judging by how bad his soles are. These current shoes are an abomination."

Zorn's head snapped around at Khor with wide eyes.

"Hey! Why the sudden insults?!"

The vendor chuckled, eyeing Zorn's feet with professional severity.

"A typical 'abomination.' Let's see if we can make it better." He stepped out and pulled out a tape measure.

While the man worked, Zorn glanced back.

"Shouldn't we wait for Don—"

"No," Khor interrupted, folding his arms.

Zornns slowly looked back at the cobbler.

"Okay, damn," he muttered.

As the vendor finished lacing a surprisingly comfortable pair of dark leather boots onto Zorn's feet...

Ding!

Khor looked back at the entrance door opening.

Donal's voice carried over as he walked in mid-argument with Sabrina.

"—and you're being stubborn for the sake of it. Haha!"

"I'm being stubborn? You're the one who half-dragged me here by the elbow!"

Zorn looked up to see Donal guiding Sabrina toward them.

He gave the cobbler a two-fingered salute with a winking grin.

"Hey! Got any pre-made shoes on sale?! We got some dogs loose." He pointed down at Sabrina's bare feet.

"ARF ARF!"

Sabrina stomped one step back. Her face burned with anger as she yelled at Donal's unbothered, smiling face.

"STOP IIIIIT!"

Zorn giggled in the background at the stupidity of it all.

Khor didn't look at them. He just placed a handful of coins on the vendor's counter.

Clink.

"These will do."

The cobbler gave a thankful small bow.

"Thank you. Journey safely."

He turned to Donal with a warm smile.

"Good to see you, lad! I do have some on sale on that shelf beside you. I do apologize; the designs are less intricate."

Donal shrugged.

"I mean, basic is fine. I just need shoes that will do their job."

He turned his head toward Sabrina with his hands on his hips.

"Go on! Pick a pair out."

Sabrina huffed and begrudgingly walked over to the shelf.

She pulled a simple, bland pair of white shoes with a small arched heel and held them out to him.

She looked back at him, annoyed and embarrassed, and held them up.

"Are these good enough?"

"I dunno, do they fit you?"

She looked at the size labeled inside the shoe.

"Yeah."

"Then they're good enough! Go ahead and put them on. I'll pay," he gave her a thumbs up.

She grumbled as she slipped them on.

Tap!

She tapped the toe of each shoe on the wooden floor to adjust it to her feet.

Donal dropped some gold coins shaped like flower petals onto the cobbler's checkout desk.

Tink!

Clink!

Tink!

Zorn's eyes widened at the beautiful currency.

Gold... petals?

"Here you go! As usual, you have the best shoes!" Donal gave a small nod and smiled.

The old gentleman nodded and chuckled.

"Your service is always appreciated here, kid."

As Donal turned away from the desk, he patted Zorn on the back.

"Nice boots," he grinned as he passed.

Zorn watched him head for the door.

"Oh, uh, thank–"

"Don't thank me!" Donal interrupted with a playful wave of his hand.

Ding!

He exited through the shop's door.

Khor finally turned to follow Donal's departure and stopped for a moment.

His stare swept over Sabrina's new shoes with a nod of approval before landing on her outraged face.

She scowled, her pout deepening.

Khor wanted to call them trash, but he kept his mouth shut.

He covered his mouth to stifle a grin and followed after Donal.

Sabrina gasped at his judging stare and snickered.

"Are you seriously judging me based on my attire?! How low are you?!"

Zorn's eyes glanced at her from the side.

"Tell him it's 'comfortable' while you're at it."

Sabrina shot him a glare.

"Are... Are you holding a grudge?!"

Zorn shrugged.

Meanwhile, outside Lucky Cobbler, Donal waited by the door.

He heard the bell ring and looked over to see his group catch up.

"Good. Now we're all capable of entering a building without being refused entry!"

He looked back at Zorn with a grin.

"...or judged for wearing frayed rags, hehe."

Zorn's shoulders sank.

"Man, not cool."

Donal hummed. "Your old ones were begging for death, buddy. It was more painful to look at than Sabrina's bare feet."

He chuckled as he made his way down the road.

Sabrina scoffed.

"RUDE!"

Donal laughed loudly among the group as they all headed to the tavern.

***

After a while of walking, they approached a massive tavern.

“We have arrived,” Donal announced, his bright voice cutting through the quiet evening.

The tavern was an enormous three-story structure of dark wood and latticed windows. Honey-colored light spilled through the glass, illuminating the dew-drenched grass outside.

“Why is it so big?” Sabrina asked, eyeing the towering building. “Is this more than just a place to drink?”

“It is a residence as well,” Donal said, reaching for the door. “The proprietor is an old friend. She will see us fed and tucked into real beds tonight.”

He pulled the door open and offered a playful, sweeping bow.

DING!

A bell chimed overhead.

Zorn moved to step inside, but a hand suddenly snagged his hood and yanked him to a halt.

“Hey!” Zorn yelped.

“Ladies first,” Khor muttered, his grip firm.

He leaned closer, whispering harshly into Zorn’s ear.

“It is Don’s rule, not mine. Personally, I would let her wait outside for all I care.”

He released Zorn’s hood with a sigh and crossed his arms.

Zorn watched in surprise as Sabrina straightened her spine. She looked almost regal as she swept past them and into the warmth.

Khor and Zorn exchanged a look of silent disgust at her smug expression.

“Make Don change that rule,” Zorn whispered through his teeth.

“Yeah, no,” Khor said curtly.

The interior was nothing like the taverns Zorn had seen before.

Red-cushioned booths lined the walls beneath the shimmering light of crystal chandeliers. Polished black-and-white tiles reflected the glow like a frozen pond.

“This is a bit much for a tavern, isn’t it?” Zorn whispered, his eyes wide.

“Ownership has its privileges,” Donal chuckled. “The lady who runs this place is a dragon. You can always expect a bit of regality when their kind is involved.”

Zorn noticed a shift in Donal’s expression.

His eyes softened, genuine affection replacing his usual mask of mischief.

Before Zorn could ask about it, the rhythmic tapping of heels echoed across the tiles.

Click.

Clack.

“Ah, she is here,” Donal said.

A statuesque woman emerged from the shadows.

Her skin was deep and dark, beautifully contrasting with her golden eyes, framed by circular glasses.

Long braids adorned with gold beads cascaded to her waist, swaying with every graceful step.

Her dress shimmered like a captured night sky, cinched at the waist by a golden chain.

Zorn’s gaze fell upon the chain.

Hanging from it was the same seven-pointed pin Donal wore on his cloak.

Who is she?

Even Sabrina looked stunned. Her usual haughtiness was momentarily replaced by pure admiration.

“Don,” the woman said, her voice smooth as silk.

She stopped before him and crossed her arms with a knowing smile before glancing toward Zorn and Sabrina.

“It is a pleasure. Are these two new members?”

“Regrettably, we have a red snake in our midst as well,” Khor sneered, rolling his eyes.

“I heard that,” Sabrina snapped.

Khor did not even look at her.

“I am not exactly trying to be subtle.”

Donal stepped forward and gestured toward the woman.

“This is Moira, the heart and soul of this establishment. Moira, meet Zorn and Sabrina.”

Moira gave them a small, elegant wave.

“It is a pleasure to meet you two.”

She looked back at Donal, tilting her head.

“What can I assist you with today?”

“We need a place to stay for the night,” Khor said.

Donal stepped forward and reached into his pocket.

“Will eighty gold petals cover the rooms for one night?”

“Gold petals?” Zorn blurted out. “So, the money is really called that?”

Sabrina’s eyes narrowed.

She was clearly losing patience with Zorn’s endless questions about the world around them.

He doesn’t know the history here. He kept asking about Varnaiya, and now he is curious about the currency?

Something about this boy doesn’t add up.

Her gaze drifted toward Zorn’s arm again, searching for the mark from the beach.

But his hands were buried deep inside his pockets.

Donal noticed the predatory look in her eyes.

He leaned toward Moira and lowered his voice.

“Keep Sabrina entertained while I talk to the boy. I came here to teach Zorn privately. He’s a new Star Soul, but she is making it difficult. Do not let her leave. She has the Lunar Relic.”

He slipped a handful of gold coins shaped like flower petals into Moira’s hand.

Her golden eyes flickered down to the coins before moving toward Sabrina.

“I see.”

She looked back at Donal and smiled faintly.

“I have a private area for special members,” Moira whispered, gesturing toward a quiet archway. “No interruptions.”

Zorn’s brows furrowed.

Special members?

With graceful precision, Moira stepped directly into Sabrina’s path, blocking her view of Zorn.

Then, she put on a convincing facade.

“Donal, you are as clumsy with your timing as you are with your coin,” Moira said, her voice like velvet.

She turned her full attention toward Sabrina.

“The men are already thinking of their stomachs, but I find myself in a predicament. They have a tragic lack of taste when it comes to decor.”

Sabrina blinked.

“I... pardon?”

“I have two suites,” Moira continued, gently guiding Sabrina away by the arm. “One with moonlit gardens and one draped in eastern silk. I would much prefer a woman’s intuition on which would suit guests of your caliber.”

She smiled.

“Let the boys sit in their dusty booths and stuff their faces. Come. I rarely get a guest who knows the difference between silk and sackcloth.”

“Well,” Sabrina said, puffing out her chest as she shot Khor one final, triumphant look.

“Someone has to make sure we aren’t sleeping in a stable.”

“Only you know what that would be like,” Khor shot back.

Sabrina scoffed with a growl and snapped her head around, deliberately shunning him.

“Hmph!”

The three of them watched as she disappeared with Moira.

“What just happened?” Zorn asked, feeling as though he had just missed a magic trick.

“You just witnessed a blessing in her leaving,” Khor grunted, heading toward the private booth.

Inside, the room was quiet and circular, illuminated by a white glass lamp.

Zorn sat across from the two men, his fists balled on the table.

“Not to sound rude, but I really need answers now. We’re finally secluded at the tavern like you promised.”

He pointed toward Khor.

“My first question: what are you? You’re two hundred years old, but you look like you’re the same age as him.”

“Very well,” Donal said, crossing his legs. “I am a fae. A Sidhe.”

Zorn sat back with a gasp.

A memory suddenly flashed through his mind.

Khor’s words from earlier:

[“You all just give out your names so carelessly? What if one of us could use that against you?”]

Zorn shot to his feet so quickly that the booth shook.

“I knew it! Plush was dropping hints about you the whole time!”

“DAMMIT, IT’S KHOR! SIT DOWN!” Khor roared.

Zorn calmly sat back down.

“Sorry.”

He pointed toward the seven-pointed star on Donal’s cloak.

“What is that? I saw Moira with the same one as yours.”

Donal chuckled as he gripped the gold pin.

“The pins represent the Fae Star Guild. It is the only tangible thing about the guild. No fortress. No throne. Just your words and beliefs.”

His grin widened.

“And as for who leads it...”

Donal pointed toward Zorn.

“You do.”

“I didn’t make a guild!” Zorn protested.

“It means you lead yourself,” Khor clarified. “You uphold its values. No one else holds your leash, and no one knows who truly founded this guild.”

“And the ‘petals’ are simply currency,” Donal added.

He leaned back.

“We are in the Divided Lands, a vast continent in Varnaiya fractured into four territories: the Planetary Dominion, Elemental Expanse, Constellar Region, and Temporal Reach.”

Donal gestured around them.

“Right now, we are in Planetary territory. But we have more important things to discuss.”

His gaze settled on Zorn’s wrist.

“Like that mark on your skin.”

Zorn looked down at the black gothic glyph on his left wrist.

“Oh, yeah. I got it from making a wish by the water. It hurt like fire when it manifested on my skin.”

Donal’s grin faded.

“It is the mark of a Star Soul, a celestial being incarnated into flesh after a wish carrying overwhelming pain and emotion was made. Once branded, it alters your biology entirely.”

Zorn stared at him, wide-eyed.

“What?”

Donal chuckled.

“Sit back. I’ll tell you a story.”

Zorn rested his chin in his palms.

Donal smiled and opened his hands.

“Long ago, there was a time when this realm was one with the human realm. Fae, dragons, unicorns... anything magical you can imagine. We will call them Mysticals.”

He paused.

“Humans and Mysticals once lived among human souls in harmony. It was a magical time of love and understanding that lasted for centuries.”

Donal’s expression darkened.

“But love eventually fades and rots.”

His fingers slowly curled inward.

“Envy toward humankind began to spark within the Mysticals. Humans became renowned for their talent and fierce passion, something the Mysticals believed they lacked.”

“Over time, human bodies grew dense. They lost their ethereal, light, airy forms. But at a cost, they also lost their divine connection.”

“Magic began to crumble beneath their feet.”

Zorn listened silently.

“Why would Mysticals envy such a tragedy?”

Donal’s voice became quieter.

“Because humans could now wither like a flower in autumn.”

“Humans lost their magic. They could age. They could bleed. They could die.”

“And with that, ignorance grew. Humans began to harm one another and also grew envious of the Mysticals’ magic and eternal youth, and tried to enslave them and steal their magic.”

His expression hardened.

“Humans and Mysticals began to fight amongst themselves. That fight lasted generations.”

“Racism was born.”

“Then came the first murder.”

Zorn’s expression changed.

“A fae slaughtered an innocent human out of hatred.”

Donal looked down at his hands.

“That was when the Mysticals saw it.”

“What they had envied.”

“The eternal, radiant soul that humans had traded their immortal physical bodies for... ascended.”

“The very thing Mysticals lacked internally because they had their magic and long life, but humans began unlocking their potential, merging their energy with the heavens as a sacrifice to their bodies and life, transforming their souls into omniscient beings of the universe.”

Donal’s fingers tightened.

“Greed, envy, and pride tainted the Mysticals’ hearts as they sought to control the powerful souls within humankind, creating circles to trap them in their tricks and laws to hold them.”

“The world was falling apart.”

“The most powerful humans and Mysticals, spiritually enlightened enough to see beyond the conflict, banded together amid the chaos.”

“They created the Axis Crown.”

Zorn leaned forward.

“With the help of the stars, the Axis Crown raised their hands...”

Donal slowly lifted his own.

“...and rained heavenly swords of light onto the land.”

“Those swords split the Human Realm and Varnaiya apart, ensuring they would never coexist again.”

“The Axis Crown then created a select few who could traverse between the realms.”

“Magicians.”

“There are many, but only seven among them hold the status of Planetary Lords.”

“Chosen by the Axis Crown themselves, they rule over the celestial bodies known as Planets.”

“The chosen Magicians’ bodies were altered, and their souls ascended into the stars their planets ruled.”

Donal looked directly at Zorn.

“Creating Star Souls.”

“After that, the Axis Crown fell dormant.”

“It remains as the gatekeeper between the two worlds, while the Planetary Lords became their keys.”

Zorn sat there, wide-eyed and astonished.

He glanced down at his wrist, staring at the Scorpio glyph.

Donal continued.

“In the Divided Lands, under the current regime, your very existence is a death sentence.”

Zorn’s expression stiffened.

“You are of the Scorpius constellation, sworn to purify evil.”

Donal pointed toward the glyph.

“You are the Star Soul of Antares.”

“A spark of the Mars Mage, Gradivus.”

“He can feel when one of his stars has been chosen by the Lunar Relic.”

Zorn’s heart raced.

Purify evil?

My... wish came true?

Is that what this glyph is for?

He looked down at his trembling hands.

The monster’s words from the beach echoed through his mind:

["You may be a child of the Mars Mage... but you lack his intellect."]

“I’m a spark of Gradivus, too?”

Donal nodded with a warm smile.

“Yup!”

He leaned forward.

“I caught wind that the Heart of the Scorpion will be descending in March. I managed to reach the place where you would be falling before anyone else did.”

“And that girl, Sabrina?” Khor added, his voice darkening as his eyes narrowed. “The Red Saints she belongs to? They are slaughtering Star Souls. They fear the omniscient power of the universe.”

Zorn froze.

He leaned forward, his eyes wide.

“Huh?”

Khor slowly rolled his fingers across the table, tapping them down one by one.

“They think they’re ‘cleansing’ the world of a ‘Star Curse.’”

“The Planetary Lords are sending Star Souls through the threshold to fight back after the Sun Magician ‘mysteriously fell.’ But these converts are brainwashed.”

He tapped another finger against the table.

“And this fight has not been easy.”

Tap.

“It has been dragging on for over a millennium.”

Tap!

“Without the Sun Mage, there is no one to oversee all of Varnaiya and the twelve realms of the Heavenward Divide known as Caelestis.”

Khor’s eyes narrowed.

“That is what’s giving the Red Saints the upper hand as they occupy the Sun Mage’s position.”

Zorn felt his blood run cold.

His heart sank into his stomach.

The armored man’s words from the beach finally made sense.

Zorn stared blankly at the table.

Then realization struck him.

A hollow pit formed in his stomach.

I just helped the people who are trying to kill me.

***

Zorn sat in a daze, his mind spinning.

Khor reached out a hand, but Donal stopped him with a gentle palm to the chest.

"Give him a second," Donal murmured, watching Zorn with softness. "That was a lot for a kid to swallow in one sitting."

Zorn’s voice cracked when he finally spoke.

"Am I a monster?"

Khor leaned back, crossing his arms.

"Why? Did you do something monstrous lately, or are you just feeling dramatic?"

"The monster on the beach," Zorn said, ignoring the jab. "Tall, clad in iron. He told me stopping him from killing Sabrina was a mistake. He looked like... he looked like death.”

Donal’s brow furrowed.

"Monster? Hmmm... Iron armor? Purple and black cape, maybe?"

Zorn nodded quickly.

"How did you know?"

Donal let out a short, airy chuckle that didn't reach his eyes.

"Because Plush here has brothers. That 'death' you saw was a Relic Knight. They’re like... the scariest cops in this kingdom. Haha!"

"I'm sorry?! BROTHERS?!" Zorn surged forward, nearly tipping the table.

"THAT thing is related to HIM!?" He jabbed a shaky finger toward Khor. "Are you the youngest?!"

Khor didn't look up, instead studying a knot in the wooden table.

"I am the third oldest."

He glanced up with a curious expression.

"But it's... concerning. He shouldn't have been the one hunting Sabrina."

"Why?" Zorn asked.

Donal’s playful energy vanished.

He set his chin in his hand, his gaze suddenly heavy enough to make Zorn wince.

"Because he’s a Relic Knight. They don't pull guard duty for people; they guard things. Specifically, the Lunar Relic gifted by the Moon Mage, Esmaril. That artifact is a powerful tool that must not fall into the wrong hands."

He sat back, wearing his usual smile, and chuckled.

"And it did. It's in the hands of a very fun-loving Convert."

Zorn sank back into the booth's red leather.

The pieces clicked.

"She took it. Sabrina stole the Lunar Relic."

"Bingo," Donal murmured.

"Which means," Khor added, "Esmaril's fragmented half, Brennan, is coming. They call him the Eclipsed Moon God, and he’ll want his property back."

Donal flashed a sudden, roguish grin.

"Good news is, you get to meet a god!"

Zorn threw his hands up in exasperation.

"And the bad news?!"

"Bad news?" Donal shrugged. "I dunno. He's psychotic?"

Zorn groaned, his forehead hitting the table with a dull thud.

“That is bad news, Don.”

Donal tilted his head with one shoulder.

“Eh.”

"Stop whining," Khor said, though his voice wasn't unkind. "Since we are all in this together, tell us which realm you actually came from. You claim you've never seen daylight. That door didn't lead you from nowhere."

Zorn sat up, his shoulders tense.

"The Sixth Realm. The Eternal Night. It’s... It’s a place of demons. That’s what I am." He looked at them, waiting for the horror, but Donal just looked curious.

"I’m looking for someone," Zorn continued, his voice hurried. "Lira. She was from the Third Realm. Some... some giant eye in the sky took her. It told me I didn't belong with a Herald of Light. She told me to carry my pain through a wish on a star. To let the stream hear it, too. Then a glyph burned itself into my skin, and I found a door, then I fell."

"The Third?" Donal hummed, tapping his chin. "That's a long way from the Sixth. High divinity. The Goddess Realm. Plush is from there! You’re a long way from that, kid."

"She is aware of the forbidden wish-making ritual utilizing pain and yearning," Khor remarked, his eyes narrowing. "That's probably why that eye snatched her."

The arrival of food broke the tension. Trays of steaming meat and tall glasses were dropped onto the table.

Zorn blinked, confused by the sudden feast.

"We didn't even order."

"Perks of being a regular," Donal said, already uncorking a bottle of peach ale. "Moira probably told the kitchen while walking with Sabrina. Haha!"

POP!

He poured a glass for Khor and offered the bottle to Zorn.

Zorn pulled back. "I've heard stories about the fae offering drinks."

Donal laughed.

"It's not that deep," he chuckled. "Besides, you already followed me through the woods and accepted half of my offers. I just did it indirectly through Plush. You’re safe, Zorn. Not sure about Sabrina, though. Haha!"

"He's fifteen, you moron," Khor growled, snatching the bottle away. "No ale for the boy."

"I drank at fifteen!" Donal protested.

"And look how you turned out!" Khor snapped.

"TURNED OUT LIKE WHAT?!"

Zorn watched them, a small, genuine smile creeping onto his face despite the looming threat of a Moon God.

"Is this what the guild is like? Just... this?"

Khor stopped bickering.

Donal snatched the ale from Khor's hands and started to drink from the bottle.

Khor rolled his eyes with a sigh, then looked at Zorn.

"Yeah. It's hectic. The Fae Star Guild is full of misfits who want the right to live freely. Star Soul or not."

Donal raised his bottle in a drunken toast, his eyes already a bit glassy.

"We have a manifesto... somewhere. 'Our greatest works are the ones nobody hears about.' Wait, no, that's not it..."

Khor shook his head, leaning over to Zorn.

"Ignore him; there is no manifesto. We rebel against oppression no matter how dangerous and dirty it gets. This guild is full of different types of individuals from different realms, with different backgrounds and goals that led them to join the rebellion. You can identify the freedom fighter by that seven-pointed star," he points to Donal’s gold pin.

"We're... staaaars," Donal slurred with a chuckle.

"He's already drunk?" Zorn pointed.

"Lightweight," Khor replied. "He's also super addicted to Peach Ale. He has a problem."

"Do not!"

"Do too."

***

Moira led the way up the spiraling mahogany staircase, her movements so fluid she seemed to float rather than climb.

Sabrina followed, her chin tilted at an angle that suggested she was evaluating every floorboard.

“You have a remarkable eye for architecture, Moira,” Sabrina remarked, her voice echoing slightly in the quiet hallway. “Though I am surprised a… person of your lineage chooses to dwell within wooden walls. I would have expected a mountain or a vault.”

Moira chuckled, a low sound that vibrated in her chest.

“Stone is cold, dear. And mountains are terribly lonely. I find that when one lives for centuries, the company of ‘fleeting’ things- wood, silk, and people- provides a much-needed warmth.”

They reached the third floor, where the hallway opened into a gallery lined with tapestries that shimmered like silver.

Moira stopped before a pair of heavy, carved doors.

“Donal mentioned you were a traveler with Zorn,” Moira said, turning back. Her golden eyes seemed to catch the light from the chandeliers. “But you don't walk like a traveler like him. You walk like someone who has spent a long time holding something heavy. Or perhaps something very precious?” She adjusted the round frames with her fingertips.

Sabrina's grip tightened on the pocket of her dress, her heart skipping a beat.

She forced a languid smile.

“The road is long. One carries what one must.”

“Indeed.” Moira pushed the doors open, revealing a room that took Sabrina's breath away.

Midnight-blue velvet draped the walls, and the bed rose as a mountain of plush pillows and embroidered silks. But it was the balcony that drew the eye: a wide, arched opening that looked out over the starlit coast they had just traversed.

“This is the Star-Gazer suite,” Moira announced, stepping inside.

“The silk is woven from the Northern Peaks. It's said to draw out the tension of those who are… troubled by their burdens.”

Sabrina walked toward the balcony, her eyes scanning the horizon.

She could see the faint white line of the surf on the beach where the iron-clad knight had confronted them.

“It's lovely. Almost enough to make one forget their troubles.”

“Almost,” Moira agreed, walking to a small table where a crystal decanter sat, pre-prepped for new guests as a complimentary drink.

She poured a single glass of a pale, shimmering liquid.

“But I find that a woman of your intelligence doesn't forget. She plans. She calculates.”

Moira walked over and offered Sabrina the glass.

Her height was imposing, but her smile remained disarmingly soft.

“Tell me, Sabrina. Donal is a fool for many things, but he is rarely a fool for people. He treats that boy, Zorn, like a fragile glass sculpture. And he treats you like a storm he's trying to navigate. Which one of you is the real danger?”

Sabrina took the glass, her fingers brushing against Moira's warm, dark skin.

“Obviously him. Not a fool for people?” Sabrina replied, taking a sip. It tasted like honey and cinnamon. “He barked in a cobbler's shop, and he mocked me in the forest. He can't handle a girl with a sense of self-worth,” she said, tilting her chin with arrogance.

Moira's smile widened.

“I suppose."

She turned toward a large, ornate wardrobe in the corner.

“Now, about those silks. I have a set that was gifted to me by a merchant from the Sun-Drenched Isles. They say the fabric changes color based on the wearer's mood. I've been dying to see if the legends are true. Would you care to help me settle a bet with myself?”

Sabrina looked at the door, then back at the dragon-woman.

Looking at the luxury before her and the captivating woman offering it, she found her resolve slipping.

“I guess,” Sabrina said, setting her glass down, “I can spare a few minutes for a legend.”

***

The warmth of the tavern had turned to a tomb-like chill by the time the moon had reached its zenith.

In the Star-Gazer suite, Sabrina sat perched on the edge of the velvet bed.

The luxury Moira had flaunted now felt like a shroud.

The room felt more like a gilded cage.

With a sharp exhale, she closed her eyes and gripped her red brooch.

"Open."

The air fractured.

Two figures, draped in robes the color of blood, stepped out of the shadows.

The Red Saints.

“It's done,” Sabrina whispered, holding out a weighted, cloth-wrapped object. “The Lunar Relic is yours. But there is more. There is a boy. I believe he carries a star mark. I'll confirm it now. If he is a Star Person, then I'll hand him over to you.”

The Saints bowed, their faces hidden behind porcelain masks, and vanished with a whisper of air, taking the Relic with them.

Sabrina didn't wait.

She slipped into the hallway, her heart racing.

She reached Zorn's door and eased it open. The boy lay sprawled, blankets kicked off, snoring softly.

His signature red jacket draped over his bedpost; he slept in his black T-shirt, his gold, beaded scorpion chain around his neck.

She crept to his side, her fingers trembling as she reached for his left arm.

She held her breath and saw it: a gothic, obsidian scorpio glyph that seemed to swallow the dim light of the room.

“I knew it.”

The voice came from the shadows in Zorn's closet.

Sabrina bolted upright, but a massive hand of blue and gold light clamped onto her shoulder like a vice.

“Going for a midnight stroll, Snake?” Khor stepped into the sliver of moonlight, his face a mask of cold fury, and held out glowing fingers.

"My feelings were right about you."

Before she could scream, he spun her around, pinning her arms behind her back and slamming her chest-first against the heavy oak wardrobe.

SLAM!

“I felt the shift, Sabrina,” Khor growled into her ear. “Space doesn't tear like that unless a Saint is nearby. Where is the Relic?”!

“Get off me, you brute!” Sabrina hissed, struggling against his strength. “I already gave it to them! You have no idea whom you're messing with!”

“I know I'm about five seconds away from breaking your wrists,” Khor snapped.

The floorboards suddenly creaked behind them as shod footsteps sounded.

Step.

Donal stood in the threshold.

He wasn't the bumbling, drunk fae from dinner.

He stood straight, his arms crossed over his chest.

“The plot thickens, eh?” he said, tilting his head.

Khor and Sabrina looked back at him.

"Don! Help me! This demon is out of control!" Sabrina demanded.

Donal stepped into the room. The floorboards creaked calmly under his weight.

"Help you?"

Sabrina's brows furrowed as her muscles tensed under Khor’s pinning strength.

"Yes! He's hurting me!"

Donal tilted his head, watching Sabrina struggle.

"Why? He's doing what I told him to do."

Sabrina's eyes widened.

"What?!"

Donal leaned against the mirror of the same wardrobe Sabrina was pinned against.

"There is nothing I trust more than Khor's intuition. You see, he has a sixth sense most demons would never match. When he tells me he has a feeling about something or someone..."

His voice tensed slightly as he leaned in.

"I listen to it."

Sabrina gritted her teeth with a grunt.

Donal didn't flinch.

"He told me that he had a sudden feeling that you would try to do something to Zorn in his sleep, so I told him to wait in his closet, and if you ever showed up and touched Zorn, to pin you. He's quite small, but his strength is undeniable."

He looked over at Khor and waved his hand.

"You can let her go."

After Khor released her, Sabrina shoved Khor back and booked it to the door.

Donal smiled and shrugged.

"Your legs are too heavy, Sabrina. How can you run?"

Suddenly, her legs gave out, and she hit the floor, her body feeling as though it was weighed down by lead.

"Agh! What the?! What is happening?!"

Donal chuckled.

"I'm trying to show you something, but you ran away," he said, looking down at her.

Sabrina stared back with wide eyes, frightened by Donal’s mysterious power.

How did he do that?! Why can't I move?!

He walked up to her and knelt, then reached into a pocket hidden by his purple cloak.

"Recognize this~?"

He pulled out the stolen Lunar Relic, tossing it lightly in the air.

Twing!

It pulsed with a rhythmic, divine glow.

Sabrina gasped, her face pressed against the rug by the sheer force of Donal's presence.

“Wait, how did you get that?! If you have it, then what did I give...”

“A clever illusion and a tracking ward,” Donal replied, a ghost of a cold smile playing on his lips. "Remember that time I patted your shoulder, insisting I buy you new shoes? That was when I swapped them in your pocket. I'm quite known for my speed."

She gasped, her chest heaving as she fought the weight pressing her into the rug.

“How… What are you?! This whole group is weird! Including that dragon woman!"

Donal didn't answer.

He leaned down, his emerald eyes fixed on hers.

“You're a guest in my friend's house,” Donal whispered. “And you're trying to disrespect her by scheming with Red Saints, attacking Zorn, and calling Moira, of all people, weird after all the luxuries she offered you, despite the brooch you wear? All under her roof, by the way."

Zorn stirred, his eyes fluttering open.

He looked up, shocked to see his “silly” mentor standing above Sabrina.

“D-Don…?” Zorn mumbled.

Donal’s gaze softened just a fraction as he looked at the boy.

“Go back to sleep, kid. The grown-ups are talking.”

Donal’s head shifted back to Sabrina.

“You're going to sit in that chair,” Donal pointed to a seat at a small desk in the corner, “and you're going to tell us why the Red Saints are so interested in this Lunar Relic. And you're going to do it quietly.”

“Okay! Anything! I'll do anything! Just don't hurt me! Please!” Sabrina pleaded.

“You will do anything because I said so, Sabrina,” Donal replied curtly.

Sabrina suddenly felt her own free will be overwritten. A power took over, controlling every fiber of her being.

Sabrina's thoughts ran rampant as her body got up on its own and staggered across the room toward the chair.

How?! How is he controlling me?! I…I..!

Zorn gasped at the power he was witnessing.

He backed up against his headboard, gripping his sheets.

What the hell is happening?! What did I wake up to?!

Donal turned to Khor, pointing back at Zorn with his thumb.

“Plush, get the boy some water. He looks like he's seen a ghost.”

Plush slowly gave a small bow.

“Yes, sir.”

Zorn watched Khor leave as quickly as possible.

His eyes shifted to Sabrina, sitting in the chair now as Donal’s puppet.

He saw Donal standing across from the girl, tossing and catching the Lunar Relic in his hand with a relaxed posture.

Is... he controlling her with... words?!