Prologue
The twilight mist of death’s sweet kiss danced around his darkened cloak. The castle was silent and still, all except for the never air attempting to pierce the sun-veiled walls. He made his way through the empty castle-determination and fear fueling his every step. The only sign of his nerves were the dots of light dew that floated off his skin. His mind raced over and over again as he reached the large metal door. The same thoughts, same conversations he has had a thousand times preparing him for this moment. While fully knowing what he would find behind this door and what he must do but still in the back of his mind, wishing this could all be undone, set aside, rewritten but fate was an unkind author.
The queen’s faint light radiated off of her illuminating the room. As he crept closer its warmth caressed his trembling soul causing desire, dread, and love to stir inside of him. Looking upon her glowing skin, the words of the Oracle spoken in a soft whisper, played on repeat inside his mind. With that reminder, he knew what he must do and his duty won the war over his emotions. The love of this kingdom, of the people in its walls, outweighed his love for this woman.
The weight in his chest grew as sharp as a dagger while he pried the seedling from her gentle grasp. His eyes locked on the queen, pleading for the slumber curse to hold a while longer. A soft apology for the pain this would bring her danced in his eyes while he looked upon his queen for the last time. The Never air threw the doors open wide, filling the room. He reached for the harness to take him and the seedling safety away. Suddenly a silver tether caught between the seed, now fully tangled in a darkening orb of mist, and her mother. His breath caught and his heartbeat froze. The idea of a Starlight protection- one of the strongest Nychta powers- on a Light and still holding in the Shapash kingdom was unfathomable. His mind raced for a solution when the mist yanked the seedling from his arms as it gently danced around the queen, stirring her from her slumber. He has seen the Nychata starlight magic many times in the realms but their power was too weak here in the heart of the light. For one to be fully formed and have the ability to break the curse- the power of fate must be stronger than ever recorded in the dynasty.
She gently pulled herself up off the cumulus-sheeted bed, still weak from birth and hazed from the curse. When she saw the man looming behind her only child, all the pain and tiredness vanished, taken over by pure terror and rage. He was draped in the black uniform of Nychta guards- ruler of the night realm and holders of the Never powers. Only his eyes were left exposed. Those glowing eyes that she had seen a thousand times, the eyes that she trusted and grew to depend on. She rejected the fear and betrayal that engulfed her, shooting towards her child as this man- no, this monster that she had once called a friend, did the same.
She screamed as she lunged for the seedling but her scream only fell on deaf ears as the castle gently slept. The pleading in her eyes for her daughter fell on the blind and the burning of her rage was felt by no one except for him. His heart broke as all of his senses were overtaken by his queen but his determination didn’t waver. A quick burst of energy threw her back to the bed.
His mission could not fail. There would be no way to simply hide the child away from this land like they had planned, not with the queen seeing him and not with the starlight shield. He never wanted to hurt this child. He never wanted to hurt anyone. He was a guardian, a protector and that is exactly what he was doing. Protecting the kingdom and the rest of the realms.
He threw another quick blow to the queen ensuring she was unable to leave the bed and prepared everything he had for one final blow. A single chance to break a Starlight protection, a shot to kill the aire to the kingdom. He gathered his light essence below his core, pouring every ounce of himself into the attack. He felt his life being poured into the attack. As he was about to draw his last breath, the very mortal feeling of self-preservation overcame him and he released the quaking energy that had formed. The queen dove in front of her child. She did not let out a scream of pain or show any fear as the spell struck through her chest. Just a single tear as she stared at the child she would never know. The light of the sun escaped through her open wound and her soul floated into Never Sky.
Throughout the land, millions were blinded by her light as she died. Those closest to the castle flocked to the gates; only to find the guards and servants asleep at their post, a king having his last peaceful night’s sleep unaware that his wife, love of 100 years, and Eroludas was no more, and a seedling of light lay in a pile of ash and stardust- softly crying.
