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"Why did Fang call him Cepheus when his name is Errai?"
I just learned about all these things so anything off demands an answer.
"If a Constellation Overlord holds great status and power within their Domain, they often use the name of their Constellation in place of their true name."
He explained, his white attire already visible from where I sat.
Errai stepped into the hall at an unhurried pace, each step deliberately slow, almost as though he had all the time in existence. There was no tension in his posture, only a languid calm that bordered on indifference.
By the time he reached the centre, I could see him clearly. At first glance, he resembled an Angel: white hair, flowing white garments, and that same immaculate presence they all carried. Yet the illusion broke the moment I met his eyes.
They were not the warm red of life, but a deep, unsettling shade that didn't suit an Angel at all. It clashed with everything else about him, as if something beneath the surface refused to align.
He looked like a child—playful, almost harmless—but there was a laziness to him that felt intentional, as though effort itself bored him.
"Lady Elara."
He bowed with casual respect, like someone paying courtesy out of habit rather than reverence.
"Errai of Cepheus Constellation. As stated earlier, he's ranked first in the Superworld for generations."
"Generations, Class?"
"Yes. This kid is old, he's hailing from the Age of Gods."
"A..A Class?"
It's surprising but now it makes sense how he takes the lead without even trying.
"He's one of the oldest and first-generation Supergods. He's ranked first in both Elyvra and the Pond."
That revelation added mystery to the lazy Supergod.
"The Apex of Supergods."
I addressed him. My question more demanding than the mysterious powers he possess.
"Errai, there must be something about you that makes you ahead of others. You said it's not strength, speed, IQ, transcendence and certainly not Class. Then what is it?"
He chuckles.
"Not everyone dares to question me like that, you know."
His smile grew broad.
"It's obviously my Class."
He finally answers.
"Stars from older Classes will always be at the top no matter how strong the current Class is or how the future Class gets. That's just the trend."
"Come on, we all know you're hiding something. It can't be 'just you'."
"It's obviously 'just me'."
He pressed, shrugging.
"No tricks, no games."
"Ok, how about this. Give me details on your one hundred percent. You know, the transcendence, dimensionality and all."
"Lady Elara, where did you find this cute one? I'm starting to like him."
"Answer his question first."
"Alright."
He raised both hands in resignation.
"I can tweak and remove the laws and some of my words need not Structural Concepts."
"Y.. you ' re tampering with Structural Concepts, is that even possible?"
"It is and the worlds aren't 'tempering' with them, they're surpassing them. Meaning they can function without them. That's transcendence of you, little Star."
"Hmm, yeah, that's weird."
"Keep this a secret between us. I can also interact with the Major Concepts."
He whispered. But if I can hear him, then so can Ayla and Ela.
"O..ok..What's Major Concepts though?"
He flinched at my question.
"No way?"
He asked, his eyes catching Ela's and she gave him the approval.
"OK. I'll keep it short. Unlike Minor Concepts which are limited to one reality alone, Major Concept encompasses all realities within their space. There you have it, the briefest and basic difference between the two."
"Hmm... I see. What about the Laws you talked about?"
They had another eye-to-eye conversation.
"Laws are the fundamental script behind their existence. They are the rules that define what exists and shouldn't in their limited space. Major and Minor Concepts are merely part of the script."
He snapped his fingers, pointing at me.
"Forms. That's also part of the Major Concept so… that's it I guess. A 'brief' explanation."
He gave a lazy shrug, as though he'd already done more than enough.
"Forms?"
"Yeah. This is a circle."
He drew a perfect circle right next to him. It hovered there, its outline too precise to be mistaken for anything drawn by hand
"This is what we see in the Physical Plane but that's not its absolute and pure form. Forms are pure, perfect and superior to all that exists because all that exists are merely an imperfect form of what they really are. A tree for example."
With a 'poof' sound, a tree appeared at the centre of the hall right next to him.
"This is its physical form, its real and pure form is abstract and conceptual. Given the fact that Conceptual Planes are the blueprint for Physical and Spiritual Planes to manifest!"
Ok, he's acting weird now that he's talking fast.
"Every time, every space, even planet, every flower, every shape, every world in all worlds is ultimately an imperfect shadow of the Major Concept of time, space, planet, worlds...!"
Each time he gave an example, the concrete version of that thing appeared in the hall.
"Silence."
With one word, he became mute.
"There're more to Major Concepts. You've taken in a lot already."
Elara intervened.
"I'm fine, I understand. So each Nest has a Major Concept, the force holding all realities. Each Superworld in the Nest has its unique Minor Concepts.
These Major Concepts also include perfect forms of all the Major and Minor Concepts in whole right?"
She paused, perhaps not expecting me to understand them this quickly.
"I see. You're right. Other species call these perfect forms, ideas, ideals, universals. In the Star Realm, we call them archetypes. Feel free to use anyone because they all mean the same thing."
"Ok."
I nodded. After Errai calmed down, she released him.
"Those are traits of a Hypergod and he's strong enough to possess them. However, he's a wasted potential. He could've been Elyvra's first Hypergod but he's too lazy to work it out. That's the Sloth King Cepheus for you."
He bowed and spread his arms wide.
"That's me, My Lady."
"Enough about me, now..."
He disappeared, appearing behind my throne.
"What can you tell me about yourself?"
He asked, his hands resting on my shoulders.
"You insolent god."
Ayla conjured a golden chain, ready to strike, but Ela gave a faint shake of her head. Instantly, Ayla relented, the chain fading from her hand as if it had never been.
"I'm just a seventy-year-old Dwarf. There's nothing is interesting about me."
I replied without turning to look at him. I didn't need to. I have to keep my composure like the king i am.
"That in itself is something interesting."
He replied.
"A White Dwarf ought to bow and lick the floor before a Star like me. You're too abnormal and calm for a Dwarf."
"Heh, that's who I am. I don't care about your status. Because it is possible for something you ought to lick my feet for."
"Oh, interesting. And what's that?"
He asked, curiosity and testing.
"I'm a king."
"I'm also a king. The Slothful King."
"I am the Last King..."
"I'm the First King..."
"Of Scorpios."
I cut off his words just as he's about to properly introduce himself.
"Oh..."
He backed off, taking his hands off me.
"So you're a descendant of those Stars. That explains your self-willed nature. I wonder what is going to happen, an old Constellation appearing in such a weak Class. I truly can't wait to see what's going to happen."
He teleported back to his previous position.
"He's still young, I would like to volunteer to be his tutor, My Lady."
He requested.
"No way in heavens will I let you corrupt Anta chan. I have someone whom I can count on."
"Zhou of Seperns?"
She nodded at his guess.
"How about this? I'll challenge Ton to a one-on-one. The winner gets to be Anta's tutor?"
"Hmm, the logic 'Stars from older Class will always be at the top no matter how strong the current Class is nor how the future Class gets' doesn't work with Ton."
"I know he's close to something unattainable but, I'd win."
"I'm not having this conversation. Even if you win, which will never be the case, I've already chosen him."
"Ok. I respect your decision but I'll try."
"Hmm, stubborn brat. Go get yourself killed."
"Cepheus, I'm Antares."
The words left me before I could reconsider them. They felt small in my mouth, yet heavy with intent.
"Are you serious, Anta chan? You're choosing Cepheus as your friend?"
Ela protested, her tone half-warning, as if I had just stepped onto uncertain ground.
"Yes. We're both kings, so there is a connection."
I replied with stubborn smile.
If titles meant anything here, then perhaps they could be a bridge. Or at least an excuse not to stand alone.
For a moment, I wondered if I'd spoken out of place. The hall was vast, and I was still new to it, still learning which words carried weight and which ones broke things.
"Call me by my real name, Errai."
He replied. There was no hostility in his voice, only a quiet correction. Still, it felt like an acceptance.
"It'll be a while before I can come up here again. I need good news before then."
"Don't worry. If Ela permits—"
"Nope. I won't."
She finalised it without hesitation, her voice absolute. There was no room to bargain with her when she decided something.
"Ok. One day I'll escape and come visit you."
I whispered, leaning in as though the walls themselves might overhear. It felt rebellious saying it out loud, like making a promise I had no idea how to keep. Still, I meant it.
He nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"I know you can. So good luck. I'll be waiting for you."
He whispered back.
It was a childish exchange, the sort of secret vow only children would make. Yet for me, it felt important.
For the first time since stepping into this vast, overwhelming place, I had someone who would wait.
"Errai of Cepheus Constellation..."
Ayla interrupted, appearing before Errai holding a hammer twice her size.
"Your presence is no longer needed in this hall!"
She caught him off guard, the hammer slamming into his small frame.
The strike redirected him clean across the hall, mid-flight, he let out a loud, exaggerated wail, the kind of drawn-out cry a child makes when scolded. His body sailed across the hall, right toward the translucent gates.
As if in on the joke, they opened just in time to let him through, then slammed shut the moment he was ejected.
"He's funny. I like him."
"It's weird for a Star to possess feelings especially towards another Star."
"I don't mean a romantic relationship."
I waved dismissively.
"I know. Lucky for you, you're raised in Elyvra and I'm the person I'm the one spoiling you. It won't be a problem for now."
(Yeah, it's not impossible for Stars in Elyvra to feel emotions.)
"..."
"You did good back there. I thought you'd stay put and let me do the talking but I was wrong."
"I'm understanding it better than ever. And luckily, they are no headaches."
(Better than ever...)
It was a joke so we laughed at it.
"Since there are no Hypergods, they are no Hyperworlds right?"
"Yes. Most Nests are just floating around. However, I created a few Hyperworlds and Cepheus ended up claiming them all."
"He's strong and funny. A strange combo."
"A strange combo indeed."
"There's more to his strength, than weaving the laws and Major Concepts right?"
I asked, because they had to be.
"Is that your intuition?"
"Yes."
"Hmm. Let's head back. We'll talk on our way back."
"Ok."
I jumped off my throne, holding her hands.
"…one day I'll be able to learn all about Existence, right?"
"No, one day you may be the reason behind Existence."
(Pin.)
"Heh?"
"Sorry. I was just thinking about something else. Go get some rest."
Her words lingered longer than they should have.
It sounded too bi, like a sentence meant for someone else entirely. I didn't understand it, and judging by the way she brushed it aside, I wasn't supposed to. Not yet.
Still, it stayed with me.
I gave a small nod, though my mind was nowhere near rest. There was a strange warmth in my chest and a quiet confusion wrapped around it. Questions I couldn't form properly. Thoughts too large for a child's head.
"Tomorrow, I want you can meet Aya and some of the young Stars."
"Why?"
"Why? Don't you like to hang out with your mates?"
A faint blush crept along my face.
"I do."
"It's the first step of growth. Getting to know about the people around you. You can roam around all you want."
"Ok. It's just a meeting so why do I feel so fatigued?"
I faked a yawn, stretching my little arms as I crashed onto the bed.
"It's been twenty seven years since we left."
"Heh?! That's absurd."
"It's not. Normally, this part of the Palace is free from Order and Laws. I had to adjust some elements so you can live here. The same applies to the hall, time was fractured there."
She explained, her body glowing and a new set of clothes replaced the old ones.
"Are you going somewhere?"
"Yes, to Solaria. I suggest you take some rest. I'll be back in no time."
"Ok. I'll be waiting."
"You don't have to. You can go around and explore the Palace. And don't think that because you're three years short you can learn something."
She turned, her voice firm, almost like a warning.
"You have to wait for that one hundred. Who knows if it'll tick before I come back."
"I'm eager to learn but I'll wait for your permission."
"Good Star."
She replied with a warm, understanding smile resting gently on her face before she vanished in a soft flash of light, leaving me alone
To be continued...