It’s All Written in the Stars

The constellations of this pocket world shine so bright tonight, Miss. A small figure sat on the azure blue rooftops of the University, far away from all the commotion produced by the students. The streets of the city were full of people celebrating the yearly Days of Harvest, adorned with red, orange, green and yellow lights and decorations, some made with magic, some crafted out of metal and wood. Almost all cultures of the Meridian had their own corner here: stalls with local food, stages with dancers and singers... Everyone was welcome to enjoy the festivities, even the stern teachers seemed to have a good time alongside their pupils, although most would deny such allegations when their classes would resume.

Jarayia listened to the shouts and laughter, a blend of sounds that slowly dissipated as it made its way up to her. It was the same story as the years before: she would go to the fair at the beginning of the Second Break with her best friend... and then wait for her to come back from her trip back home. The girl sighed, thinking about how lonely the world can feel when everybody you know is so far away. Melinda shall come back, Miss, a whisper came as an answer. Or, we could go visit her... She did say her family can be unbearable. Jarayia moved herself on the cold tiles of the roof, looking up at the fake sky of the Exarhi plane, shifting her attention from the fair. "You always do creepy stuff like this, Abaraxis," she said out loud. There is no need to yell, Miss. What if someone hears you talking to yourself? "There's nobody here, and even then, look at all that chaos down there. I think we are pretty safe here." She touched her purple necklace. "You should come out, too. Keep me company." As you wish, Miss.

A shadowy figure emerged next to the girl, taking a humanoid shape, slowly morphing into a girl with pitch-black skin and shiny purple eyes. Her clothes were made of lingering darkness, her whole being shifting nervously under the starlight. "Here I am, Miss." "Long time no see, Abaraxis." Jarayia let a small smile form in the corners of her mouth. "I can enjoy your company so much better when you are not whispering into my mind." The shadow made a gesture, mimicking the motion of lowering the head, although it rather looked like curling up or crouching. "It is the only way I can communicate with you without raising suspicion, Miss." "Yeah, I know that. It's just... better when I can look at you." The two stared at each other in silence for a couple of moments, before shifting their gaze at the skylights once more.

"Abaraxis, tell me a story," the girl said, breaking the stillness of the moment. "Tell me about the constellations, about the heroes and gods that lived and died." The dark keeper shifted itself, morphing back into liquid darkness and surrounding Jarayia. "You always ask this, Miss... you know these stars were made by mortal hands. They are the imprints of the first Exalted Council, the mages that crafted this space out of the very fabric of the Meridian plane..." The girl nodded, the soothing voice and the warmth of the shadow guiding her to sleep. "Keep going, Abara..." The keeper stopped for a moment, then proceeded. "As you know, this story begins hundreds and hundreds of years ago..."