The night air was thick with tension as Luna and Ethan slipped away from the masquerade, their steps hurried but careful. The weight of the Celestial Order's expectations pressed against her ribs, each breath feeling heavier than the last.
She could still hear Lord Castian's voice in her head.
"The one who will reshape fate itself."
Was it true? Could she really alter destiny? Or was this just another lie—another manipulation from a group that wanted to control her?
Ethan's grip on her wrist was firm as they moved through the darkened city streets. He didn't speak until they reached his apartment—a safe house, tucked away in a quiet corner of the city. Only once the door was locked behind them did he let out a long breath and turn to face her.
"We need to figure this out fast," he said. "The Order won't wait forever."
Luna ran a hand through her hair. "And how do you suggest we do that? Just… stare at the sky until the stars give me an answer?"
Ethan smirked. "You're closer than you think."
She frowned. "What do you mean?"
Ethan walked over to a shelf lined with ancient tomes, selecting a heavy leather-bound book. "Your abilities aren't just a prophecy, Luna. They're real. And the sooner we understand them, the better." He opened the book, flipping to a page with a detailed illustration of constellations shifting unnaturally. "If you are Starborn, then you don't just read the stars—you interact with them."
Luna's breath caught. "Interact how?"
Ethan met her gaze. "Let's find out."
The Experiment
Ethan led her to the rooftop, where the city lights blurred into the horizon. Above them, the sky was clear—endless, stretching like a celestial map waiting to be read.
"Alright," Ethan said, standing beside her. "Close your eyes."
Luna hesitated. "And then what?"
"Feel," he said simply. "You told me the stars spoke to you. Try listening."
Luna exhaled and closed her eyes. At first, all she heard was the distant hum of the city, the rustling of the wind. But then… something shifted.
A pulse.
A rhythm.
She wasn't hearing words, exactly. It was more like a pull, a gentle thread weaving through her veins, connecting her to something far beyond herself. Her breath slowed, her heart aligning with the cosmic pulse.
And then—light.
Her eyes snapped open.
Above her, the stars shimmered—brighter than before. The constellation of the Forgotten Star, which had appeared only nights ago, glowed in response.
Ethan sucked in a sharp breath. "Holy—Luna, do you see that?"
She did.
The stars were moving.
Not in the slow, steady course they usually followed. No, this was different. It was as if the cosmos itself had shifted—realigning, responding to her.
Luna took a step back, her hands trembling. "I… I didn't mean to—"
Ethan grabbed her wrist. "You did this. You just manipulated a celestial pattern."
Luna's mind reeled. "But that's—how is that even possible?"
Ethan's voice was quiet but firm. "Because you are the Starborn."
A wave of dizziness crashed over her. She had spent her whole life looking to the stars for answers, but never—never—had she expected to be part of the answer.
If the Celestial Order saw this, they would stop at nothing to control her.
She needed to get stronger.
She needed to understand what she had just done.
She needed to be ready.