Starlight Court

4- Starlight Court

The journey to the Starlight Court is treacherous. Only so because our original path that would have gotten us there in an hour or so, was completely destroyed by Orion's sudden burst of strength. Sirius had offered a path he knew but warned it would take us longer to arrive, he promised that due to it being out of the Astral Forest, we would not have to fear another attack but did say to maintain an air of carefulness. 

I glance back at the two brothers, Orion on his stag, Leo and Sirius floating gracefully next to him, his shimmery wings making no sound as they pumped him upright. Orion glances up and flashes me a tepid smile and my heart skips. He was still Orion, still the boy I knew. With his tousled, brown hair, those eyes that melted me to the core and his strong frame that never failed to hold me up. 

"We should be there soon," Sirius says as we reach a clearing. A small, winding creek stands before us, its water shimmering like moonlight, so crisp and clear. I suddenly remember that I have not eaten or had anything to drink since our departure. My throat dries and I lick at my drying lips. 

"I think we should stop for some water," Faye, who had been quiet almost the whole way here, finally says. I find myself nodding before I'm clambering off of Cressida, nearly falling face first into the water. My father huffs.

"Lyra, please, we are all thirsty as well, but don't hurt yourself, we cannot have any more injuries," he says. He subconsciously holds onto the pink twinged fabric I had wrapped around his wrist after his bout with the beast. I roll my eyes and make my way to the bank of the creek. I cup my hands and dip them into the water, the cold sending chills down my spine. I sip. The water is smooth and tastes as though it reigns from an eternal spring fountain. "It's delicious," I moan, as the water quenches my thirst. Orion and Sirius are next to me cupping their hands and sipping from the divine liquid. Even the stags bend to take a few laps at it. 

I sit back on the grass. "How long do you think until we're there," I ask, looking to Sirius who wipes his blade with the water.

"We should be there by late afternoon, but I know your father was planning for this to only be a short trip."

I look to my father who sits on the far side of the bank, his silver hair flopped onto his forehead, his eyes closed, and head lulled back as he stretches out the knots that have formed there. My father was powerful, the youngest king that had ever been appointed. He had been reigning since the thirty fifth anniversary of freedom but recently he seemed more beaten down. His eyes were weathered, his brows drawn, jaw clenched. He was battling something only he knew and I dared not to ask. 

We eventually decide to keep going before it's too dark to continue. 

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As we finally crossed into the Stellar Plains, a sense of awe washes over us. I had only heard stories of this region, only Celestial Knights and the King dared to make the journey here. The landscape seemed to shimmer with an iridescent glow and the air hummed with electricity that made the hairs on my arm stand on end.  

Towering crystalline structures stood before us, purples, blues, greens, and even yellows jutted out of the ground. Beings of light floated around, their hands filled with baskets that bolstered fruits and crops, their gowns long and velvet, despite the day's heat. Their faces are contempt, slacken with joy and carefree. They seem to not take notice of us, laughing and talking amongst themselves as we pass through the town center. Even the ground seems to be made of some sort of marble or crystal, flecks of gold embellished beneath. 

As we approached the Stellar Orb, the centerpiece of the town, I grew weary. The thought of what the Stellariums prophesized or what they knew was daunting. I had only heard stories of their power, of what they were capable of seeing in the future and across the cosmos, but this, this was different. This was nothing like reading about them in the textbooks, this could mean life or death. We approached the giant orb that sat in front of us. In front, there was a towering fountain, a cascade of the bluest water I had ever seen, falling into a pool filled with blooming flowers and fish. On each side of the fountain stood statues carved from what seemed to be Alumite, a rare metal, only found within select regions or gifted to higher beings as a sign of peace. The rich, golden hues glimmered on the figures.  Astraeus, the Titan God of the Stars, stood tall, his form bathed in radiant light, countless stars adorning his body. His long, flowing hair trailed behind him like a comet's tail. His attire was carved with the utmost attention to detail, his robes flecked with intricate patterns of constellations and nebulae, a crown weaved of orbs. He was beautfiul.