Legends of the Stars

Chapter 26: Transcendence

Chapter 26

Transcendence

The newborn sun shined bright across an infinite horizon. As Jaden shielded his eyes from the light, he noticed that he no longer held the First Star in his hand. He looked down and saw he was wearing his black coat again, now mended like the rest of his clothes. In fact, all his wounds had miraculously healed.

The Ark Knight found himself alone in a grassy field high above the clouds. Hundreds of Astraea Flowers were scattered all around him, dotting the green grass with a spread of blue. Tall mountain peaks towered up into the starry sky, which was adorned with the sun and moon. Everything in sight was bathed in the glow of the celestial twilight. He was confused beyond belief. It all felt like a dream, but another horrific thought shot through his mind.

Am I dead?

"Jaden..."

That beautiful voice rang through Jaden's ears like an angelic melody. He knew who it belonged to. He just couldn't believe it was real.

He turned around and to see a feminine shape across him amidst this empyrean landscape. This young woman, dressed in white, stood amongst the flowers with her golden hair dancing in the breeze.

Please, God, don't let this be a dream!

He walked closer to see that it was indeed Astra.

"Is it really you?" she asked.

"Who else would I be?" he asked jokingly.

Astra couldn't help but giggle with unbridled happiness. They ran over to each other and met with a firm embrace. She cried joyous tears as Jaden buried himself in her golden, rose-scented locks. He held her tight, fearing letting go meant losing her again. They then pressed their lips together in a loving kiss that sent their hearts soaring like doves. The warmth of her soft lips made Jaden feel truly alive.

They were alive.

* * *

Jaden and Astra stood together on the edge of the field, staring out into the infinite skies. Having spent enough time silently savoring their reunion, the Princess finally asked him a pressing question.

"So, where are we?"

"I wish I knew," he responded.

Even after minutes together in the mysterious place, they didn't spend much of it trying to figure it out. They were so focused on being together again, they didn't much care where there were.

"Jaden...look."

The Ark Knight turned to see a city floating in the sky in front of him, its towers shining gold in the face of the ethereal twilight.

"It's Arkrelm."

Jaden knew he had to be staring at his homeworld, which had somehow returned to its former glory. All the faded ruins he had explored before had been restored to the dazzling utopia it once was.

"That's your home... It's beautiful."

"Yeah, but...how is this possible?"

"I can explain that!"

Both Champions heard a calm, masculine voice call out next to them. They turned right to see a blonde-haired man in a blue tunic with a black cape billowing in the wind. He stared at the island hanging in the clouds with eyes as blue as sapphires. His sharp gaze radiated with a light of ease and contentment almost unfamiliar to them. Jaden still recognized him as the man from his dream, the one who had always watched and guided him from afar.