"Who are you?"
"No—what are you?"
The creature's smile widened, slow and deliberate, like it was savoring the question.
"Oh, we're starting with philosophy," it said mildly. "Cute."
It straightened, clasping its hands behind its back as it paced a short circle around Nyra, boots clicking softly against the stone floor despite the fact that it had not existed five minutes ago.
"I am not a who in the way you are," it said. "I don't bleed conveniently. I don't die when stabbed. I don't age into irrelevance. And I certainly don't answer to temples."
It stopped in front of her.
"I am the Hollow Crown. Or rather, what remains of it after the gods tore out its heart and left me to rot in silence."
Finn swallowed. "You're… the crown?"
"Inconvenient truth, yes." The entity glanced at him. "Short attention span, no. I am the will of the Crown. The record. The adjudicator. The failsafe they regretted installing."
Nyra's head throbbed. The pressure behind her eyes pulsed in time with her heartbeat.
"You said… assimilation," she said carefully. "What did you do to me?"
"Oh, relax. If I'd finished assimilating you, you'd be glowing, screaming, and missing several unnecessary organs." It waved a hand. "We're in the trial phase."
"The what phase?" Finn snapped.
The entity looked pleased. "Ah. You're responsive. That's promising."
Nyra clenched her fists. "Answer the question."
It blinked slowly, then sighed.
"Very well, Starkeeper. Formalities, then."
The air in the room shifted. The pressure intensified, like gravity itself had leaned in to listen.
"Designation: Astrael-Null," it said.
"Function: Celestial Arbiter, Crown-Core Intelligence, Keeper of Broken Thrones."
"Status: Severely underutilized. Mildly irritated."
A translucent pane flickered into existence before Nyra's eyes.
Finn gasped. "What is that?"
Nyra stared.
The pane hovered in the air, etched with silver script that rearranged itself as she focused.
HOST STATUS — NYRA
Designation: Starkeeper
Bloodline: Forgotten Line (Verified)
Crown Integration: 12%
Stability: Questionable
Authority Level: Restricted
Warning: Crown resistance detected. Emotional regulation advised. (Ignored.)
"What the hell is this?" Nyra whispered.
"A courtesy," Astrael-Null said. "Your ancestors preferred intuition and prophecy. That didn't work out. We're trying something new."
Finn stepped closer to her side, eyes darting between the pane and the entity. "Why can she see that and I can't?"
A second pane snapped into existence, and this one was facing Finn.
CANDIDATE STATUS — FINN
Designation: Starbearer
Bloodline: Royal Astral Line (Obscured)
Crown Compatibility: High
Coronation Status: Pending
Risk Assessment: Catastrophic
Note: Do not give unchecked power. Ever.
Finn stared at it. "…Catastrophic?"
Nyra shot Astrael-Null a look. "You didn't have to phrase it like that."
"I absolutely did," it replied. "Precision matters."
The air suddenly hummed.
Nyra felt it before she heard it, a distant vibration, low and rhythmic, threading through the stone beneath her feet.
Astrael-Null's head tilted.
"Oh. That'll be them."
Finn stiffened. "Who?"
"The people who built this lovely prison," it said lightly. "And who are currently losing their collective minds."
As if summoned by its words, a sharp clang echoed through the chamber doors. Runes flared along the walls, glowing brighter.
Nyra's breath hitched. "They're here already."
"Of course they are," Astrael-Null said. "The temple has excellent instincts. Morals? Questionable. Instincts? Impeccable."
The door shuddered under a heavy strike.
A voice rang out from beyond it. It was measured, cold, amplified by magic.
"Nyra of the Forgotten Line. Finn of no recorded significance. By decree of the Celestial Synod, you are to present yourselves immediately."
Finn muttered, "They really hate being wrong."
The entity chuckled. "Understatement."
Another blow hit the door. Cracks spiderwebbed through the enchantments.
Nyra turned to Astrael-Null. "Can you stop them?"
It raised a brow. "Can I? Yes. Should I? Debatable."
"Debatable?" Finn echoed.
"I'm evaluating whether letting them in will be educational," it said. "Pain is an excellent teacher."
Nyra stepped forward. "No. If they see you..."
"They'll either try to worship me or dissect me," Astrael-Null finished. "Historically, both outcomes end poorly, and they actually can't see me unless i want them to."
The door groaned. The runes dimmed.
Astrael-Null sighed dramatically. "Fine. Temporary concealment."
It snapped its fingers.
The room collapsed inwardly, not physically, but perceptually. The walls dulled, the air stilled. Astrael-Null blurred, its form dissolving back into smoke that streamed toward Nyra like iron filings drawn to a magnet.
She gasped as the smoke sank into her chest.
The pressure returned, heavier now.
Its voice echoed in her head alone.
"Do not panic. Panic causes inefficient heart rates."
Finn grabbed her shoulders. "Nyra...what's happening?"
She swallowed hard. "It's… inside me again."
The door burst open.
Temple soldiers flooded the room, armor gleaming, weapons raised. Behind them strode three robed figures, silver-threaded mantles marking them as High Priests.
At their center was a tall woman with ash-blonde hair pulled back tight and eyes like cut glass.
The High Astromancer.
Her gaze locked onto Nyra instantly.
"You've changed," she said softly.
Nyra forced herself to stand. "What did you expect?" she responded "I'm not a child anymore"
The woman smiled thinly. "Interesting."
Her eyes flicked briefly to Finn, then back to Nyra.
"Where is the Hollow Crown?"
Nyra felt Astrael-Null stir.
"Lie," it suggested cheerfully. "I want to see how creative you are."
She met the Astromancer's gaze. "It's gone."
A murmur rippled through the room.
The Astromancer studied her for a long moment. Then she said, quietly, "No. It isn't."
Her eyes glowed faintly silver.
Nyra's heart slammed against her ribs.
Astrael-Null hummed with amusement.
"Oh, I like her. She might last longer than the others."
Finn shifted beside Nyra, jaw tight.
The Astromancer raised a hand.
"Prepare the binding circle," she ordered. "If the Crown has chosen a host… we will extract it."
Astrael-Null's voice dropped, sharp and delighted.
"Ah," it whispered. "Here we go."
Nyra clenched her fists.
Inside her, something ancient smiled.
And for the first time in centuries, the Hollow Crown prepared to fight back. It wasn't going to let these idiots ruin thing again.