Bound By Stars

Late! She was running late, Lyria realized, as faint music met her ears at the bottom of the grand staircase. Gathering the skirts of her midnight-to-sky blue gown in her delicate hands, she dashed up the stairs. The crystals sewn into the fabric caught the light with each movement, casting tiny, star-like reflections along the corridor. Her ascent was swift and graceful, the ethereal sleeves of her gown flowing behind her like wisps of cloud as she hastened to join the other guests.

Drawing closer to the entrance, there was no mistaking that the Celebration for the Sun Emperor and Empress’s thousand-year reign had begun. The grand music grew louder, and Lyria paused just behind the door to catch her breath before attempting to sneak in. Cracking the door, she could see the grandeur awaiting inside. The ballroom under the celestial dome was alive with vibrant energy as ethereal mystic beings glided across the dance floor, their movements elegant and graceful as if they were swimming through space. Luminous orbs floated high above, resembling miniature suns, bathing the room in a warm, golden glow. Every corner of the ballroom whispered of magic and ancient celestial power.

“A fitting spectacle for the universe’s elite,” Lyria thought as she eyed the room for a certain governor, hoping he hadn’t noticed her absence.

As if fortune had decided to favor her this evening, Lyria spotted Governor Cyrius at the heart of the ballroom, his arms entwined with a beautiful red-headed starling in a deep red dress. “Perfect,” Lyria thought to herself as she made her way down the golden spiral staircase. She made it halfway before she felt someone watching her. She looked up and found Cyrius’s silver eyes locking onto hers, his gaze piercing, his jaw ticking in what Lyria knew was irritation. Her heart skipped, but she held his gaze. Lyria cursed under her breath—so much for sneaking in.

Not breaking eye contact with him, Lyria squared her shoulders and descended the last few steps with regal confidence, her gown shimmering with starlight. She couldn’t help but feel confident and elegant as she reached the ballroom floor, that is until she collided into something solid—someone, a Jovian.

The impact nearly sent her staggering, but the Jovian caught her by the arms, steadying her with an ease that spoke of his formidable strength. He was tall, his build like that of ancient celestial warriors, and his eyes were the color of Jupiter’s tumultuous storms, expressing both surprise and subtle amusement.

“Forgive me,” Lyria began, her voice a mix of embarrassment and gratitude, heat flaming her cheeks.

“No harm done,” the Jovian replied, his voice deep and resonant like thunder rolling across a stormy sky. “But just so you know, making a collision course with me isn’t necessary to capture my attention—though it’s certainly one way to keep it,” he said with a teasing wink, his eyes playfully locking with hers.

Caught off guard by his lightheartedness, Lyria couldn’t help but smile. “I’ll keep that in mind for the future,” she retorted with equal lightness.

His smile widened at her response, and he offered his hand with a graceful bow. “May I have the honor of this dance, Lady—?”

“Lyria!” a deep voice cut through their conversation. Lyria felt his presence, icy heat prickling her skin. Before she saw him, Governor Cyrius was already standing by her side, his presence imposing, his appearance strikingly handsome.

“General Stratos,” Cyrius began, his tone clipped in a way that didn’t quite mask his irritation, “I’m afraid Lady Lyria is going to have to delay that dance.”

“Why?” Lyria and the general asked simultaneously.

“Well, I didn’t want to draw attention to it, but my starling is having a wardrobe problem,” Cyrius uttered quietly, keeping the conversation private amidst the festivities.

“A what?” Lyria thought, perplexed, before responding more confidentally, “There’s nothing wrong with my dress.”

“Are you sure about that?” Cyrius asked, arching an eyebrow.

No sooner had Cyrius finished speaking, when Lyria felt it. A chill brush against her skin as the zipper gave way, her dress threatening to betray her. Heat rushed to her cheeks as she mumbled an apology and swiftly made her way to the women’s lounge, one hand clutching the back of her dress.

* * *

“How could this have happened?” Lyria wondered, examining the damage to the zipper, when the door to the women’s lounge swung open quietly, though no one entered. A shiver of unease traveled down her spine. Lyria cautiously approached the door, her heart rate accelerating. She opened it further and peered around the corner, the grand ballroom’s distant music muffling the silence of the hallway.

There was nothing. Lyria was about to blame her nerves when she felt a familiar icy hot sensation. She turned sharply to find Governor Cyrius casually leaning against the wall, smirking. With a subtle gesture of his hand, her dress was perfectly zipped up again.

“You!” Lyria exclaimed, her voice laced with anger. “How could you embarrass me like that?” She stared at Cyrius, who casually leaned against the wall, his demeanor infuriatingly relaxed.

“Me? Embarrass one of my little starlings? Never,” he replied smoothly, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “As far as I’m concerned—and everyone else—it was just a simple wardrobe malfunction.”

His tone shifted suddenly though, a mix of heat and ice. “But the same could be asked of you. How could you embarrass me? You had one requirement—be on time for our presentation to the Emperor and Empress. I was the only governor in the entire galaxy who did not have all his people present and in order. Do you know how that looks to the other governors, let alone the Emperor and Empress?” His voice was deadly low, so no one could overhear them, but the anger laced in his tone was unmistakable.

Lyria shook her head, incredulous. “This is all about appearances? You’re on your high horse if you think one little starling makes a difference.”

It was Cyrius’s turn to shake his head, his expression incredulous. “You have no idea what you’re talking about…” But before he could continue, he paused, turning his head sharply toward the door.

Lyria was about to ask what was wrong when Cyrius abruptly grabbed her hand and pulled her close. A shimmer passed over them, camouflaging them just as the door swung open and several celestial beings walked in, whispering quietly.

“It’s tonight,” murmured a hushed voice, tinged with excitement and apprehension. “The Moon Duchess has planned her move carefully.”

“The gift,” another whispered, “It’s nothing short of genius. When she presents it to the Sun Empress… that’s our cue.”

“Are we sure the other supporters will recognize the cue?” a third voice questioned, its tone cautious.

Lyria’s heart thudded ominously as she absorbed the implications. A gift from one sister to another, meant as a symbol of love and loyalty, was instead laden with betrayal. From the whisperings, she gathered it was designed to destabilize the solar order; creating chaos and possibly a war. 

“They’ve been instructed. The Moon Duchess’s jealousy has reached its height; she can no longer bear being overshadowed by her sister,” the fourth voice confirmed,.

Cyrius’s grip on Lyria tightened momentarily as if he could not believe the acts of betrayal he was hearing. But there was no denying what was said. As the whispering ended, the rebellious group dispersed one by one. Lyria’s mind raced from the conversation she just overheard and couldn’t even fathom being betrayed by one she loved, let alone one she called sister. She knew the moon duchess and Sun empress had their disputes, but isn’t that normal among siblings? Either way, Lyria knew she had to do something to help. She liked the moon duchess but could not imagine her as the empress of the universe; unlike the Sun empress, the Moon duchess, although beautiful, always had a cruel side to her, at least Lyria thought so. 

As soon as the last rebel left Cyrius removed the camouflage. Lyria turned to him. “We have to do something, Cyrius; we cannot let their plan succeed.”

Cyrius, with a grim expression, simply nodded before saying, ”The Moon Duchess’s actions tonight could spark a civil war among the celestials. We must warn the Sun Empress, but carefully—we don’t know how deep this treachery runs or who else might be involved.”

“So, what do we do? Who can we trust?” Lyria asked 

“Hmm I believe I know just the person,” Cyrius replied thoughtfully. “Take my hand,” he instructed, and for once, Lyria did as he requested.

* * *

In the blink of eye, Lyria went from the corner of the lavish women’s lounge of the sun castle to….she wasn’t sure where she was, but it definitely looked like a place that didn’t see visitors often.

“where are we?’ Asked Lyria as she took in her new surroundings. Observing that Cyrius had transported them right in front of ancient wooden door.

“A very ancient part of the Sun Castle,” Cyrius replied, as he pushed the door open before Lyria could ask any more questions about there where about, which Cyrius seemed to have deemed pointless as of right now.

The hinges groaned as the door opened, revealing a room frozen in time. Books and scrolls surrounded them, some piled high to the ceiling, others scattered on the floor. The air smelled of old paper and whispered secrets.

Lyria wondered who could work amid such chaos but then she saw him. Bent over a large tome was Talus, the only other being in the room. His dark, leathery skin matched the book he was studying, and his wild white hair tangled with an unkempt beard sprawled across his chest.

At the sound of their footsteps, Talus lifted his head. His eyes narrowed. “Governor Cyrius, this is an unexpected surprise,” he said gruffly, his voice a testament to years spent more with books than people. “And you brought a guest,” he added, peering at Lyria curiously. “It must be important if you and your companion are not at the ball.”

Cyrius stepped forward, respectful. “Talus, my apologies for the intrusion. We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t urgent. We believe a plot against the Sun Empress will unfold tonight, involving a gift meant for the ceremony.”

Talus’s eyes widened, then narrowed as he studied Cyrius. “This is a serious accusation, but I sense your words ring true. We must act quickly. People will soon gather the presents for the ceremony. Come.”

Closing his book, Talus gestured for them to follow. They navigated the labyrinth of books until they reached the back, where Talus waved his hand, and an enchanted door materialized.

Lyria noticed this door was different, covered in intricate, faintly glowing runes. Before she could ponder further, Talus produced an intricate key from his robe. “It’s protected by both physical and magical barriers,” he explained, inserting the key. The runes glowed in response, and the door swung open, revealing a chamber filled with carefully arranged gifts. Lyria quietly gasped as worry crept into her mind but managed to ask the question they were all thinking, “Which one is from the Moon Duchess?”

“Ah, that is the question of the hour, isn’t it, Lady Lyria? I have no clue,” Talus responded thoughtfully. “But if what you claim is true, I suspect the Moon Duchess’s gift would be extravagant in appearance and one that fits the theme of her rule—cold but beautiful. There is no way the Sun Empress wouldn’t recognize her sister’s gift.”

“Agreed,” Cyrius said, surveying the room. “The best way to go about this is to divide and conquer. Lyria, you tackle the gifts in the back. I will take the ones to my left. Talus, if you could go through the ones closest to you, I would be extremely grateful.”

* * *

Twenty minutes flew by, and no progress had been made. All suspected presents yielded nothing, and time was running out. Cyrius let out a yell of frustration, “Maybe it’s not here. Maybe we’re wrong, Lyria.”

“What do you mean?” Lyria asked, walking over to him, his once neatly combed silver hair now disheveled.

“What if it’s hidden somewhere less obvious?” Cyrius replied, running his hands through his hair in irritation. He was about to do it again when Talus’s voice broke through the stacks of presents. “Hey, ho! I think I found it.”

“What makes you say that?” Cyrius asked, his voice skeptical, not letting hope or excitement bloom.

Emerging from behind a particularly large stack of gifts, Talus held a small, plain wooden box. “This,” he said, gesturing to the box. “It’s different. Too simple, almost as if it’s trying not to be noticed.

Lyria and Cyrius exchanged a glance, as if saying whats one more present. ”Let’s take a look,” Cyrius said, standing up and brushing off his frustration. He joined Talus, and Lyria followed closely, her curiosity piqued.

Together, they gathered around the little box. Lyria held her breath as she watched Talus carefully open it. She squeezed Cyrius’s fingers, hoping this was the present they were looking for.

Suddenly, an invisible force burst forth, squeezing the air from her lungs and lifting her and Cyrius off the ground, suspended by unseen magic.

Confusion and panic surged through Lyria. “Talus! What’s happening?” she gasped.

Cyrius, equally caught off guard, twisted in the air, trying to make sense of the attack. A cruel, sharp laugh echoed around them. “Well, now, that was just too easy,” Talus said, but his voice morphed, taking on a higher pitch as his appearance shimmered. The light temporarily blinded them, and when they opened their eyes, it wasn’t Talus standing before them—it was the red starling, Scarlett.

“Scarlett,” Cyrius growled, his voice laced with anger and disbelief.

Scarlett smirked, her eyes gleaming with triumph. “Talus would never betray his Empress,” she said smoothly. “The real Talus is safely locked away in a storage room. I took on his appearance to stop you from interfering in the Moon Duchess’s plan.”

Lyria and Cyrius exchanged glances, their eyes reflecting their combined shock and determination.

“Why?” Cyrius managed to grit out, his voice strained.

Scarlett strolled around them, her gaze calculating. “The Sun Court has overshadowed us for too long. Tonight, that ends. The Moon Duchess will rise, and I will be by her side. Now that you two are taken care of, I can sit back and watch the show,” she explained, her smile wicked.

“Someone will stop you,” Cyrius said, struggling for breath as the binds tightened around them.

“Oh, I seriously doubt that,” Scarlett replied condescendingly as she walked toward the exit. “You two—enjoy the night or whatever is left of it,” she laughed, blowing them a kiss before locking the door behind her.

The sound of the lock clicking shut echoed in the room, intensifying their urgency. Lyria’s mind raced with desperation and determination, but she couldn’t concentrate with the air being crushed from her body. She glanced at Cyrius. “Stop struggling; you’re only making the bindings tighter,” she snapped.

“Oh really, I hadn’t noticed, Lyria. What else would you suggest we do? Watch paint dry?” Cyrius retorted, his sarcasm sharp despite the strain in his voice.

“Listen,” she hissed back, forcing herself to stay calm. “We need to stay calm and relax.”

“Oh, that’s it. Why didn’t you say so in the first place?” Cyrius cut her off.

“I wasn’t done,” Lyria responded, rolling her eyes. “We have to focus on channeling the spell’s energy back on itself. Now, focus with me or else it won’t work.”

Cyrius took a deep breath, his frustration giving way to determination. “Fine. Let’s do this.”

Lyria closed her eyes, tuning out the discomfort and fear, and instead concentrated on the magical bindings that held them. She felt the energy’s pulse, chaotic and oppressive.

“Match your breathing to mine,” she instructed Cyrius, who followed suit. Together, they synchronized their breaths, creating a steady rhythm before mentally reaching out to the magic, feeling its contours and flow. Pushing back gently at first, then with more force, bending the energy to their will. The bindings resisted, tightening momentarily before beginning to give way.

“Keep going,” Lyria urged, her voice barely a whisper. “We’re almost there.”

With one final, concerted effort, they redirected the spell’s energy. The invisible bonds snapped, and they fell to the floor, gasping for breath.

Cyrius looked at Lyria with a mixture of relief and admiration.“Not bad for one little starling,” he said with a grin. “Not bad at all.”

“Hmm, I guess one little starling can make a difference, no matter how small the act is” Lyria mused, her confidence boosted.

“True, but what you just did was in no way small,” Cyrius replied, squinting as he bent to pick something up. “In any case, you’re definitely cleverer than Scarlett.”

He rose, holding up the enchanted key, his grin now a blinding smile. “Are you ready, little starling? We have a duchess to stop,” he said, reaching for her hand.

Together, they stepped out of the enchanted room, ready for whatever came next, determined to protect the Sun Empress and her reign.