Chương 369: The God of Stars

(1 Week Later(Vale POV)) Deep within the ancient forest within the Tower of Ruin, far beyond the protective walls of Irea, five young adults made their way through the endless wilderness. Towering trees blotted out most of the morning sun, their colossal branches weaving together into a living canopy that cast shifting patches of emerald light across the forest floor.

Every step echoed softly through the ancient woods, accompanied only by rustling leaves and the distant cries of creatures hidden somewhere beyond sight. The air itself carried the scent of damp earth and ancient moss, untouched by civilization for untold ages. At the head of the group walked a black-haired boy with unnaturally pale eyes. He cast neither a true shadow nor a reflection, as though light itself refused to acknowledge his existence.

Yet wherever he moved, a silent knight of living darkness mirrored every motion with unwavering precision, following him like an extension of his own body. Beside him strode a towering young man with a broad, athletic frame, deep brown hair, and matching eyes that constantly swept across the surrounding forest for any sign of danger. Not far ahead walked a crimson-haired youth whose remaining icy blue eye never drifted from the path before them.

The empty sleeve where his right arm had once been, and the scar covering his missing eye, did little to diminish the calm confidence with which he carried himself. Clinging tightly to his remaining arm was a petite blonde girl with dark sapphire eyes whose pale complexion contrasted sharply against his sun-kissed skin. Bringing up the rear was a young woman with long, onyx-black hair.

Her gaze rarely rose from the ground beneath her feet, and although her expression remained as composed as ever, there was a heaviness behind her eyes that suggested thoughts she had no intention of sharing. Behind them lumbered a massive forest drake whose deep brown scales blended almost perfectly with the surrounding trees.

The enormous beast carried the group's packs and supplies across its broad back while its two curious young darted between ancient roots before hurrying back to their mother whenever they strayed too far. Vale released a long yawn as a stray beam of sunlight slipped through the canopy and struck his eyes.

"I really could've used a few more hours of sleep."

"We can't stay in one place for too long," Eskar replied.

"If we linger, predators will eventually find us. We might not actually be easy prey..." His gaze swept across the forest.

"... but we certainly look like it." Korin nodded in agreement.

"He's right. I know you've got a lot on your mind, but stopping isn't really an option." His eyes shifted toward the shadow following Vale with silent precision.

"If you're really that exhausted, why not have Shade carry you?" Vale pointed an accusing finger toward the living shadow.

"Seriously? You want him to carry me? I'd look ridiculous." Shade slowly turned its glowing crimson eyes toward Korin before looking away, refusing the suggestion before Vale had even finished speaking. Korin sighed.

"Suit yourself." The group continued onward. It had been nearly two weeks since the expedition began. A week into their journey, they had miraculously stumbled across Eskar deep within the forest. The odds of finding him had been astronomically small. Vale hadn't seen him in months, and although the young swordsman had returned missing an arm and an eye, simply knowing he was alive had lifted a burden Vale hadn't realized he was carrying. Unfortunately... Very little good had followed after that.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Vale's body still trembled whenever fragments of his recovered memories surfaced. The voice. That man... or whatever he truly was. The being responsible for his death. Merely remembering that voice sent an icy chill racing down his spine. Every muscle instinctively tightened, his breathing became uneven, and for a brief moment, it no longer felt like he was remembering the past.

"Vale?" He blinked. Nym had quietly fallen into step beside him. She studied him for several moments, hesitation lingering behind her peculiar expression.

"Are you alright?" Vale forced a faint smile and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Yeah. I'm still recovering from... everything." His smile weakened.

"So don't worry about me." Nym gave a slow nod, though the concern in her eyes never disappeared. The march continued. Despite the storm raging inside his mind, Vale somehow maintained his composure. Before long, his thoughts drifted elsewhere. Illu. The raven's smiling face surfaced within his memories before quietly fading away once more. His jaw tightened. Illu was gone. No amount of wishing would ever change that. But Ember... August... Hurricane... They were still somewhere out there.

Once he found them, he would give Illu the farewell he deserved. Until then... He had no choice but to keep moving. Vale exhaled slowly, forcing those thoughts aside before lifting his gaze toward Nova. Nym quietly noticed. Her own eyes shifted toward the blonde girl before returning to Vale. Concern lingered within her gaze... and beneath it rested the faintest trace of jealousy she desperately tried to suppress.

"Hey, Nova." The blonde looked over.

"Yeah?"

"Something wrong, Vale?" He tilted his head slightly.

"What Plane are you connected to again? I don't think I ever asked." Nova blinked.

"Seriously? I thought everyone at the academy knew." Vale sighed.

"Well... The moment I officially joined, the New Order happened." Recognition crossed her face.

"Oh... right." She scratched her cheek awkwardly.

"I forgot. You were too dumb to join at first, so they had to give you special lessons." Silence. Several members of the group visibly winced. Vale slowly rolled his eyes.

"That's certainly one way of saying I had complete amnesia." Nova froze.

"Ah." She quickly lowered her head.

"Sorry. That came out way worse than I meant." Vale waved the apology away.

"It's fine. Just answer the question." She nodded enthusiastically.

"Right. So... technically I'm not connected to a Plane the same way everyone else is." She smiled proudly.

"One of the Roses, Ariel, was considered an anomaly long before I was born."

"I awakened with the same abilities she has." Vale frowned thoughtfully.

"So your Plane is...?"

"Stars." He didn't react immediately. For several long seconds, he simply stared at her. Then his eyes widened.

"Stars?" Nova nodded.

"Yep. I'm connected to the Plane of Stars." She scratched her cheek again.

"Though from everything I've heard, it's less of a Plane... and more like an actual god." Without another word, Vale slowly raised his metallic arm. Zellion. The silver limb gleamed beneath the scattered sunlight filtering through the canopy. His gaze lingered upon it.

"If that's true..." He murmured mostly to himself,"... have you ever met your Enigma? Or learned anything about it?" Nova shook her head.

"Not really. Neither Ariel nor I have ever had direct contact with our Enigma." She puffed out her cheeks dramatically.

"He hasn't even acknowledged either of us."

"What a jerk." She laughed quietly. Vale barely heard her. His eyes remained fixed on Zellion.

'The God of Stars...'

'But Zellion...'

'If the two are connected... then-' His thoughts came to an abrupt halt. Every muscle in his body stiffened. His head snapped toward the dense forest behind them. His pale eyes swept across the towering trees, the tangled undergrowth, the swaying branches high above, and finally the endless shadows stretching between the ancient trunks. Slowly, methodically, he turned in a complete circle, scanning every direction with frightening intensity. The rest of the group stopped as well.

Even the forest drake lowered its massive head uneasily, its instincts reacting before its mind could understand why.

"Vale?" Eskar frowned.

"Something wrong?" Vale remained silent. Without taking his eyes off the forest, he gave a single, almost imperceptible nod toward Shade. The shadow knight reacted. Its body dissolved into liquid darkness before slipping silently across the ground, weaving between roots and beneath tangled brush without producing the slightest sound. Korin stepped forward, his expression becoming noticeably more serious.

"So. It's that time." Vale released a chuckle.

"You noticed too?" Korin simply nodded.

"I can feel it." Vale's pale eyes locked onto a point somewhere far beyond their destination.

"So far away... and yet its killing intent is reaching all the way here." The forest suddenly became suffocatingly still. Not a single bird sang. No insects chirped. Even the wind seemed to abandon the ancient woods. Vale narrowed his eyes, every instinct within him screaming the same warning.

"Whatever is waiting in that direction... It' hunting us."