Chapter 44: Trail of the Comet
The comet appeared three nights later.
A silver blaze streaking across the midnight sky, arcing slowly over the northern horizon. It moved like a beacon—less a celestial body, more a summons.
Andrew stood on the high walls of Velmora as the capital buzzed with awe and superstition. But he knew what it meant.
The time to wait was over.
- Departure -
Mihai packed in silence.
Neither of them spoke of the Vault or the vision. The battles ahead would be worse. Older. The kind where swords were less important than choices.
"North?" Mihai asked, strapping a blade to his back.
Andrew nodded.
"Toward the Shattered Skies. That's where the comet points."
"And if it's a trap?"
Andrew's hand gripped Ashren.
"Then I'm tired of waiting for them to come to me."
- The City in the Clouds -
After a week's journey through wind-blasted canyons and mountain passes, the land began to shift—becoming almost dreamlike. The skies shimmered with arcane haze. Birds flew in reverse. Shadows lingered after their owners had passed.
And then… they saw it.
Suspended above the highest peak floated a city of alabaster towers and cascading crystal bridges—Seradiel, the legendary sky-city spoken of in old war songs.
The capital of the Starbound Order.
It had returned from hiding.
- Gatekeepers of the Past -
At the foot of the mountain, they were met by three figures cloaked in stardust armor. Each carried a different weapon: a crescent blade, a staff of constellations, and a burning chain.
One of them stepped forward, removing her hood.
A woman. Young in appearance. Ageless in aura. Her silver eyes locked with Andrew's.
"We've waited for the Shadowbearer."
"I'm not who I was," Andrew said flatly.
"We know," she replied. "That's why we still hope."
- The Trial of Stars -
They did not allow him into Seradiel immediately.
First, a rite.
Andrew stood beneath a floating ring of runes, each symbol representing a fragment of his past power. The city whispered, recognizing the soul inside him. The sky dimmed, and starlight bent toward him.
"You will face echoes of who you were," the woman said."And if you cannot stand against them… you are not worthy of leading what remains."
Andrew nodded.
"I'm not here to rule," he said."I'm here to stop what's coming."
The trial began.
And from the light, his past selves emerged—some as kings, others as killers.
- Meanwhile, in the Shadows... -
Far to the south, Kaelreth watched the comet from the ruins of a black tower.
A hooded figure stood beside him, cloaked in bone and rusted iron.
"The Starbound have shown themselves," Kaelreth muttered.
"And so has he," the figure rasped.
"Let him gather them," Kaelreth said, turning toward a dark portal."When his strength is full… we'll burn it down again."