Embark on a celestial odyssey where ancient realms converge and cosmic destinies unfold in "Stellar Serenade: Cosmic Connections" In the celestial tapestry of interconnected worlds, Luminara must navigate the delicate balance between forces much mor...
"I- I'm Luminara, and you?" Luminara stammered. Neither of them moved an inch. "Clarinet. My name is Clarinet" She says. Her wings outstretch and close back in again. "Hi! I'm Aral!" Aral said, running over. "Ooh! She's thinking-"
"Don't read out my thoughts- please" Clarinet said quickly, holding her hand out at Aral. "I'm guessing you're trying to find the Sanctuary?" Clarinet said, stepping back. "Mhm," Aral confirmed. "We are?" Horus asked. Aral slapped her forehead and grunted. Clarinet looked around the area, glanced at her map, and scowled.
"Clarinet thinks your map is trashy" Aral called out.
"Huh? How could this map be incorrect?" Luminara said, gesturing to the celestial map. Clarinet examined the map, lining her fingers across every pathway and every label, and then she nodded.
"Your map is outdated, you need to update it," Clarinet said bluntly.
"To fix the map you need some ink, and the blood of a spirit still young" Clarinet muttered.
"Well, you seem to know these woods well, can you take us there?" Aral suggested. Clarinet sat down and thought for a bit.
"Don't do that" Aral said.
"Do what?" Luminara asked.
"Leave my brain alone- please," Clarinet said.
"She has a brain?" Horus chuckled, then coughed. Aral stifled a laugh.
"I'll take you" Clarinet smiled.
"May She-Whom-Unnamed bless you" Horus smirked, skepticism everywhere on his face. Clarinet flapped her wings and took to the skies, large gusts of air and dust surrounded them. Clarinet, now hovering with her wings extended, channeled light through her antlers and feathers, illuminating the path.
"Follow me, keep your eyes on the stars" Clarinet advised, flying towards the trees that surround the opening clear of grass. Luminara and Aral quickly followed and found themselves in the middle of the forest in a mere amount of seconds. The millions of leaves coat the skies in green and cast shadows over the ground, yet the moon's illuminating light still pours through.
Father...?
Luminara shook the sentimental feelings off, continuing to follow Clarinet through the forest. Luminara could see a faint purple glow in the distance, and frankly to her luck Clarinet moved in that very direction, and landed as soon as they got close.
Two roads that split.
The Celestial Crossroads, a nexus of cosmic energies, a mirage made to falsely guide others away from the sanctuary, it emanated a soft celestial glow. The earthly and celestial elements converged at this celestial juncture, creating an otherworldly ambiance that beckoned the trio forward. Stars above and celestial energies below marked the celestial threshold.
The air around the Celestial Crossroads vibrated with a sublime symphony, as if unseen divine instruments played a cosmic melody. Clarinet, attuned to the celestial rhythm, moved with purpose, leading Luminara and Aral through the celestial crescendo toward the heart of the crossroads.
"Which one?" Horus and Aral said in union. "The path changes depending on our intentions" Clarinet answered. Luminara crouched, in the middle of the crossroads, buried in vines were two stone signs that point to one of the paths, written in ruins over thousands of years old, it seemed from the ages of the Aztecs.
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Horus's head loomed over the stones, attempting to read the writing. "Meh, sounds stupid to me" He sighed.
"You understand?" Clarinet inquired.
"Yeah of course I understand. We've been alive for ages, except this rock-for-a-brain is too lazy to learn anything!" Horus argued.
"Oh talk to me when you can get your own body!" Aral countered.
"Fresh wound- I- I'll let that slide" Horus stammered.
"Anyways, here's what the stone tablets say.."
May one deem themselves worthy of gold and power that surpasses the stars yet cry?
For that one is wrong and lying.
Stellar remains a watchful star over that being, over all of us.
"That's the first tablet, the weird brown one, right?" Aral said, Horus nodded in response.
Efforts given and blood was lost
Mind is shed in layers of frost
May summer come and burn winter down, and truth shall shine through.
"It's the first one, obviously," Clarinet said.
"No, it isn't! That one LITERALLY states that it's wrong!" Aral argued.
"Yeah but if we were to take reverse physiology into account-"
"Who in the right mind cares about reverse physiology, Luminara" Horus shouted.
"Anybody who wants to get to sanctuary!" Aral said.
Clarinet squeezed her temples, stepping back to let the group argue away.
"Yeah, but I have nothing to do with these? So how does it change per person?" Luminara asked.
" I think the better option is the gray tablet, with the ones about the frost and stuff?" Aral said.
"So we're going towards the right path?" Clarinet said and the rest of them nodded in response.
The road was paved with shimmering stardust, casting a celestial radiance that lit up the surrounding landscape. Each step upon the stardust sent ripples of light.
Embedded within the stardust, symbols, and constellations twinkled with luminescence. The patterns resonated with the pendant around Clarinet's neck, aligning with some otherworldly energy.
The sides of the celestial road were adorned with sublime flora and divine fauna, their earthly and cosmic elements blending seamlessly.
Flowers with petals that shimmered like stars and creatures with wings dotted the path, creating a tableau that seemed to come alive as they walked forward.
At intervals along the road, archways of light spanned the pathway. These archways emitted a gentle glow, creating portals that seemed to connect different realms. Passing through these archways felt like traversing celestial thresholds, and the second she passed through them her head began throbbing intensely.
She looked down at her hands as they shifted and changed form, a yellow liquid spilling from her fingers. She stepped back, losing balance. She tried grabbing a tree to hold herself, but her hand just seemed to faze through it.
She closed her eyes, rubbed her head, and looked up again. Luminara double-checked the tree, finding herself capable of touching it.
That was weird...
Aral looked at her worryingly, pulling her aside.
"Are you okay, Lumi?" Aral asked, even Horus looked concerned.
Luminara nodded frantically.
"I'm worried for you" Aral sighed, squeezing her shoulder.
Luminara pulled away, continuing down the path.
At the end of the celestial road, a pinnacle rose, crowned with an ethereal glow. This summit projected solar light like a lighthouse, humming a slow melody.
