Collide: The Memory of Stars

Third Person's POV

Selene stood at the heart of Eldoria, where the ruins of the old kingdom had begun to pulse with newfound life.

The once-dormant Heart of Eldoria now thrummed beneath her feet, its glow stretching far beyond the sanctuary that had sheltered them.

The sky no longer bore the weight of sorrow, yet a strange, unshakable tension filled the air.

A slow, deliberate clapping echoed around her.

She turned swiftly, already knowing who it was before her eyes confirmed it. Standing at the edge of the light was a figure bathed in an ethereal glow, their very presence bending reality as if the stars themselves had taken shape.

The Luminescent One.

"So," it said, amusement laced in its voice.

"You actually did it."

Selene narrowed her eyes. "Were you expecting me to fail?"

The figure gave a soft chuckle, stepping closer, its glowing form shifting like a reflection on water.

"Oh, absolutely. You were struggling to hold everything together last time we met. If anything, I thought you'd collapse before reaching the end."

Selene exhaled, but there was no anger in her voice when she spoke. "Yet, here we are."

"Yes, here we are," the Luminescent One mused, tilting its head.

"You have fully awakened the Heart of Eldoria, its power flowing throughout the kingdom. A feat that many before you have failed to achieve."

Selene crossed her arms. "Then why do I get the feeling you're not just here to congratulate me?"

The glow surrounding the figure dimmed slightly, its voice lowering into something more serious. "Because your task is far from over."

Selene frowned. "What do you mean?"

"The other kingdoms." The words were heavy, laced with an unspoken warning.

"They watched from the shadows while Eldoria fell. They did nothing as its people scattered, as the Heart lay dormant. But now?" The Luminescent One took a step closer, its eyes—if they could even be called that—locked onto her own.

"Now they will not stay still."

A chill ran down Selene's spine. She had anticipated resistance, even doubted whether the people of Eldoria would accept the Heart's restoration so easily.

But the other kingdoms… she hadn't yet considered what this meant beyond their borders.

"They fear what Eldoria could become," the Luminescent One continued.

"They do not wish to see the old kingdom rise again, especially not under someone like you."

Selene clenched her fists. "Someone like me?"

The figure's glow pulsed faintly. "Someone with power. Someone who defied fate itself."

She looked away, her mind racing.

"So what do you expect me to do? Sit back and let them come?"

A quiet laugh. "Hardly. You have always been stubborn, haven't you?"

Selene exhaled sharply. "And what about Eltheria?" she asked.

"She would have known this would happen, wouldn't she?"

The Luminescent One paused. "Eltheria was many things," it said at last.

"A legend to some, a reckless fool to others. But if there was one truth about her, it was this—she was relentless when it came to you."

Selene's breath hitched. "Me?"

"Yes," the figure confirmed. "She was strong-willed, hard-headed, and unwavering in her cause, but if it was for you, she would defy reason itself."

Selene's heart ached at the thought. She had heard the stories, knew the sacrifices Eltheria had made. But to hear that she had fought not just for Eldoria—but for her—it was almost too much.

The Luminescent One continued, its voice softer. "She would be proud. But she would also warn you, just as I am doing now."

Selene straightened. "I won't let Eldoria fall again."

The figure's glow brightened once more, as if satisfied with her resolve. "Then prepare yourself, Child of Eldoria. Your true battle is only just beginning."

Selene stood still in the dimming glow of the Luminescent One's departure, her mind a storm of thoughts. The weight of its warning pressed against her chest, but she had no time to dwell on it.

As the ethereal light faded, the sound of voices, hesitant and disbelieving, filled the air behind her.

She turned.

Before her stood the people of Eldoria—warriors and scholars, merchants and farmers, all gathered in the makeshift sanctuary that had been their refuge around the Heart.

They had watched the sky ignite as magic surged through their land once more, had felt the tremors as Eldoria itself seemed to awaken.

But now? Now they hesitated, torn between hope and fear.

A man stepped forward—an elder with deep lines of hardship etched into his face. "It's true, then?" His voice wavered, uncertain.

"Eldoria… has returned?"

Selene met his gaze and nodded. "It has."

A murmur rippled through the crowd. Some faces lit up with joy, others tightened with skepticism. A woman clutched the hand of a child beside her, as if afraid to believe. A younger warrior, his armor worn but sturdy, exhaled sharply.

Axel, standing by Selene's side, spoke next. "We have restored the Heart, but that is only the beginning."

His blue eyes swept over the gathering. "This land still bears the scars of the past. We will need time to rebuild—to reclaim what was lost."

Khael crossed his arms, his usual fire subdued but present in his voice. "And we won't be the only ones moving."

Tyra's expression darkened. "The other kingdoms won't stand by and watch. Not anymore."

The elder stiffened. "What are you saying?"

Selene inhaled deeply, then took a step forward, her voice unwavering. "The Luminescent One warned us—the other kingdoms watched as Eldoria fell, and they did nothing. But now that we have risen again, they will act. Some may come with open hands, seeking alliance."

Her gaze hardened. "Others will come with swords."

A heavy silence followed. Then, from within the crowd, a voice called out, raw with emotion. "Then let them come!"

All eyes turned to the speaker—a middle-aged man, his hands rough with years of labor. "I watched my home fall to ruin. I watched my family starve, my people scatter. I won't watch it happen again."

Murmurs of agreement followed, soft at first, then growing in strength. A woman stepped forward. "We have survived this long. If war is coming, we will not cower."

Axel turned to Selene. "You wanted them to believe. Now they do."

She looked at the faces before her, no longer filled with hesitation, but with a fierce determination she hadn't seen in years.

The people of Eldoria weren't just waiting to be saved—they were ready to stand.

Selene lifted her chin. "Then we prepare. We rebuild. We fight for our home."

A cheer erupted, not loud, not overwhelming, but strong. A promise.

Eldoria had returned.

The night sky stretched endlessly above them, the stars flickering like distant echoes of lost time. The air still carried the faint scent of magic, remnants of the restoration that had shaken the very core of Eldoria. Yet, for the first time in what felt like ages, the world was still.

Selene sat on the edge of a broken stone wall, one of the many remnants of Eldoria's past that still littered the land.

Her fingers absentmindedly traced the cracks, feeling the weight of history beneath her touch. The exhaustion had settled deep in her bones, but her mind refused to rest.

"You should sleep," Axel's voice broke through the silence. He stood a few steps away, his gaze not on her, but on the vast, reclaimed land before them.

"You've done enough for today."

She sighed, tilting her head back to take in the stars. "I don't think I can."

Axel finally turned to her, his blue eyes softer than usual. "Still thinking about the Luminescent One's warning?"

She nodded. "The other kingdoms won't ignore this. Some might see it as hope, but others…"

She trailed off, her grip tightening against the stone. "They'll see it as a threat."

Axel stepped closer, leaning against the wall beside her. "You don't have to face this alone."

Selene let out a quiet chuckle. "I know. But it doesn't make it any easier."

For a moment, silence stretched between them, comfortable yet heavy with unspoken words. The wind carried a soft breeze, stirring the ends of Selene's dark hair.

"I used to think I had no place in this world," Axel admitted suddenly.

"Even before everything fell apart, I never really belonged anywhere. But now… standing here, with you, it feels different."

She turned to him, surprised by the admission. "Different how?"

He exhaled, glancing at her before looking away again. "Like maybe this is where I was always meant to be."

Selene's heart ached at his words. She understood that feeling all too well—the uncertainty, the longing for something solid to hold onto. "You do belong here," she said, her voice quieter now.

"And not just because of Eldoria. Because you're you."

Axel's lips curled into a faint smile. "That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me."

Selene rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips. "Don't get used to it."

The moment lingered between them, a fragile piece of warmth amidst the cold reality of what lay ahead.

Then, as if summoned by their thoughts, the stillness was broken by the distant sound of hooves against stone.

Both Selene and Axel tensed, their peaceful moment shattered.

A small group of riders approached from the eastern road, their banners barely visible in the dim light. As they drew closer, the sigil of Aetheria gleamed in the moonlight—a crest of silver and deep blue, the emblem of the Celestial Council.

Selene pushed off the wall, her exhaustion forgotten. "It's starting," she murmured.

Axel nodded, his expression hardening. "Let's see what they want."

Together, they stepped forward to meet their unexpected visitors, the weight of the future pressing down on them once more.

To be continued.