Chapter 3: The Celestial Order

The night air was crisp as Luna left the observatory, her thoughts whirling in a thousand directions. The weight of what she had just learned—about her parents, the Celestial Order, and Ethan—was almost too much to bear. She could feel the stars overhead, as if they were watching her, judging her, waiting for her next move.

Ethan's words echoed in her mind. "You'll need more than just astrology to face them, Luna. The stars may guide you, but the real battle will be fought on the ground."

What did he mean by that? What was the Celestial Order truly capable of? And why hadn't her parents told her anything about it?

Luna walked quickly down the quiet street, the city lights blurring around her as she lost herself in her thoughts. She wasn't sure where she was going, only that she needed to think, to process everything. Her parents had been involved in something much larger than she had ever imagined. They had kept their secrets well hidden, and now, she was being thrust into the middle of it all.

Her phone buzzed, pulling her from her reverie. It was a message from Sophia:

"Are you okay? I'm really worried about you. Call me when you can."

Luna paused for a moment, her fingers hovering over the screen. Sophia had always been the practical one, the one who kept her grounded. But after what she had learned tonight, Luna didn't think she could talk to her about it—not yet. Sophia wouldn't understand. No one could.

With a sigh, Luna pocketed her phone and continued walking. She didn't know where she was headed, but there was one place she could go to clear her mind: the rooftop of her apartment building.

The stairs creaked as Luna climbed to the rooftop, the familiar scent of the night air mingling with the scent of old concrete. She pushed the door open, stepping out onto the roof where she had spent countless nights gazing at the stars. Here, alone in the quiet, she could think without distractions. It was her sanctuary.

The stars were clear tonight, and as Luna looked up at them, she felt a strange sense of connection. For the first time, she felt like the stars were more than just distant points of light in the sky. They were alive, breathing, and waiting. It was as if they had been speaking to her all along, and now, she was finally listening.

Luna closed her eyes, reaching deep within herself, allowing the familiar patterns of the stars to flow through her. As her mind connected with the celestial bodies, something shifted. A new pattern emerged—a constellation she had never seen before, one that wasn't in any of the books she had studied. It was faint, almost invisible, but it was there, drawing her in.

The stars were telling her something. But what?

Luna's heart raced as she focused on the constellation. She had to know. There was no turning back now.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed again, interrupting her trance. It was Ethan.

"Meet me tomorrow. I've found something that could help. The Celestial Order is closer than you think."

Luna's heart skipped a beat. The Celestial Order. It wasn't just a name anymore—it was real, and it was coming for her. She could feel the weight of their presence in the air, a palpable tension that seemed to draw closer with every passing moment.

She knew one thing for sure: her journey had only just begun. And there was no turning back.