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"So… what's your name?"
Her large, deep purple eyes met mine, reflecting my small, curious face back at me.
"Um… Antares."
"Antares?"
She echoed, tilting her head slightly.
"Yeah… am I missing something? Like a second name?"
I asked, glancing at her. Her brow furrowed as if she were measuring me, weighing my answer.
"How old are you? You should at least know that, right?"
"Ela told me I was seventy years old this morning."
I said, trying to sound confident.
"Ela?"
She repeated.
"You mean the Goddess of Life, Lady Elara? You should learn to address her properly."
She said, voice calm but firm.
"Don't blame me. This is my first time out here. I don't know anything."
I replied, innocence spilling from every word.
She sighed softly, but there was a small smile tugging at her lips.
"Okay, I see. I'll do my job and make sure you know what you're supposed to know. Follow me."
And with that, the two of us—two small beings in a vast, crystalline world—ventured deeper into the Palace, the halls stretching endlessly before us.
Aya began by explaining how certain human concepts like time, clan, tribe, knowledge, culture, and other familiar ideas—could be translated to the lives of Stars within the Star Realm. Her voice was steady and patient, guiding me through ideas that felt both alien and familiar.
We started with time, comparing its flow in the human world to how Stars experienced it, then moved on to culture, and from there to countless other subjects. Each explanation was layered, yet clear, and our discussion kept the space alive for hours.
Once she had covered the basics, the tone of her teaching shifted. Her eyes gleamed with focus, and I could sense the depth of her intent. It was no longer about mere knowledge—this was the real work, the lessons that would shape me beyond understanding
(This paragraph is crucial because the worlds in the Star Realm have no minutes, hours, days, years, culture, family, or other human concepts. Aya uses human terms as examples to make the story easier to follow.
In reality, temporal flow in the Star Realm can be so fractured that a "day" in Hyperworld A, Hyperworld B, and the human world might all pass at completely different pace. She did the same and so will I. So take note.)
"For starters, as a Star, you must belong to a Constellation. Think of these Constellations as clans or families."
She began, her tone patient but firm.
"For example, take Naruto Uzumaki. His name is Naruto, and he comes from the Uzumaki Clan. So, Antares… what's your Constellation?"
Her deep purple eyes met mine, waiting.
The question hung in the air like a challenge I wasn't quite ready for, but I could feel her guiding presence gently nudging me forward.
(I had to use Naruto so it'll be understandable.)
"I… I don't know, but I'll ask Ela… I mean, Lady Elara about that."
I said, correcting myself mid-sentence, careful not to cause any trouble.
"You should."
She replied firmly.
"Because without a Constellation, you're not a Star. And obviously not a Dark Star either, because even they have Constellations."
"Dark Stars? That sounds… so cool. And evil."
I added, unable to hide my excitement. Since we're pure and divine, Dark Stars must be the bad guys we constantly fight against.
Aya paused, her gaze lingering on me for a moment, a mixture of amusement and incredulity in her eyes. She continued, unfazed by my childish fascination.
"They're evil, yes, but they're not cool. Dark Stars are Stars who fell from Grace, which means they have no Divinity," she said, her tone firm and unyielding.
"Whoa, easy there… new words. I think I'm having a headache."
I said, pausing and faking it once again, hoping to lighten the mood.
"Stop playing around. Stars don't get ill."
She replied, voice sharp and straight.
At least learn to take a joke.
I thought, smirking inwardly. It was just a test, but already I could tell Aya wasn't as soft as Ela.
"I know, I was just joking around. So… what's Divinity?"
I asked, curiosity bubbling up within me.
"Naturally, Stars are born with high Divinity Points." She explained, her voice calm and precise.
"These points are what set us apart from the rest of creation and ultimately make us the strongest. I know, high Divinity Points don't automatically make us the strongest, because some lack Divinity altogether yet are stronger than most of us."
"Like the Dark Stars?"
I prompted.
"Yes,"
She nodded.
"Divinity is just a state of holiness. And as beings with high Divinity Points, we're often called Supreme Beings, or the Race of Gods."
"And Dark Stars lack Divinity, so they're evil… like demons countering angels."
I concluded, testing my understanding.
"On point."
She said, a small approving smile tugging at her lips.
"But you're not an Angel. You're superior."
Her words resonated with me, a quiet affirmation of my place.
We continued walking in silence for a few moments, the air around us calm and vast, until we finally reached the top.
"What sets Dark Stars apart from us is that they can harness the power of darkness."
She explained, her tone steady but carrying a hint of caution.
"Then… what do we use?"
I asked, my curiosity sharp, eager to grasp even a fraction of the vast knowledge she held.
"I'm not permitted to go through that topic. Please consult with the Lady first."
She replied, her voice calm but firm, leaving a trace of frustration in me.
'Hmm. I guess I'm still being left behind in some areas.'
I thought, a pang of impatience and determination rising within me.
'I'll try talking to Ela about that.'
"Anything else I need to know? The basics?"
I asked, a hint of eagerness in my voice, though a small knot of nervousness twisted in my chest.
"Hmm… there are a lot, but not really the basics. The Class."
She said, her eyes glinting with a mix of patience and quiet expectation, leaving me to brace myself for the next layer of understanding.
"Class?"
I asked, dumbfounded.
"Others call it generations, but we call it Class. Stars can be categorised based on our Class."
She began.
"Since the dawn of the Star Realm, there's been a total of six Classes up till now. It started with the O-Class—the first-generation Stars to walk the Star Realm we know today.
Next up is the B-Class. That's the period when Hypergods were added to the Star ranks."
"Another… weird thing again."
I muttered, furrowing my brows in confusion.
"That's not basic, so I won't go into it. A-Class, also called the Age of Gods."
She continued, unfazed by my small complaints.
"Ok… maybe I'll just listen for now."
I said, trying to keep up, though a hint of frustration and amusement mingled in my voice.
"F-Class, G-Class, and lastly, M-Class—our current generation. These are the basics even a ten-year-old Star should know."
She added, her gaze calm but expectant, as if testing my focus.
"Thanks for taking your time with me."
I said earnestly, a small warmth spreading through me for her patience.
"So polite."
She remarked, giving me a gauging look.
"It's the least I can do."
I replied, my tone soft but sincere.
"Well… I trust you two had a good time?"
The familiar voice called out.
We turned, and there she was—Ela, appearing behind us as if my allotted time had simply come to an end.
"It was amazing. Aya told me a lot of things."
I replied, happy to see her again.
"Oh really? Do you mind sharing them with me?"
Ela asked, her eyes glinting with curiosity as she gestured for me to follow.
I turned to check on Aya, but she was gone, vanished as quietly as Ela had appeared.
"Um…"
I hesitated, a small flutter of nervousness rising in my chest.
Once we returned to our sacred space, Ela settled down and began asking me about what I had learned today, her tone patient but expectant.
I felt a mix of pride and anxiety, eager to impress yet aware of how much I still had to understand.
To be continued...