Chapter 11: The Celestial Tear

With the shard of the Void safely in our possession, our next target was the tear of a celestial being. According to the scroll, such tears were incredibly rare, falling only during celestial events like meteor showers or eclipses. The closest celestial event was the **Starlight Convergence**, a once-in-a-decade phenomenon where the stars aligned in a specific pattern.

"The Starlight Convergence happens tomorrow night," I said, studying the star chart we'd borrowed from the academy library. "If we're going to get a celestial tear, that's our best chance."

*"Great!"* Skully said, hopping onto my shoulder. *"Where do we need to go?"*

"The **Celestial Peak**," I replied, pointing to a mountain on the map. "It's the highest point in the region, and the best place to observe the Convergence. But it's also dangerous—the path is steep, and the mountain is home to wind elementals."

Skully grinned. *"Dangerous is my middle name. Well, it would be if I had a middle name. Or a last name. Or a name besides Skully, really."*

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help smiling. Skully's enthusiasm was infectious, even if it was sometimes misplaced.

We set out early the next morning, the shard of the Void safely tucked away in my bag. The journey to Celestial Peak was grueling, the steep path winding through jagged rocks and narrow ledges. The higher we climbed, the stronger the wind became, howling around us like a living thing.

"Watch your step," I warned as we crossed a particularly narrow ledge. "One wrong move, and it's a long way down."

*"Don't worry, Master,"* Skully said, balancing effortlessly on my shoulder. *"I've got great balance. It's one of the perks of being a skeleton."*

As we neared the summit, the wind grew even stronger, and I could see faint, glowing shapes swirling in the air—wind elementals. They were beautiful but dangerous, their razor-sharp gusts capable of cutting through stone.

"Stay close," I muttered, gripping my staff tightly. "We don't want to attract their attention."

But of course, we did. One of the elementals noticed us and let out a high-pitched screech, summoning its companions. Within moments, we were surrounded by glowing, swirling figures, their gusts slicing through the air.

"Skully, we need a plan!" I shouted over the howling wind.

*"I'm working on it!"* Skully replied, his rune glowing brightly. He leaped off my shoulder and landed on the ground, his bones rattling as he faced the elementals. *"Hey, windy jerks! Over here!"*

The elementals turned their attention to Skully, their gusts converging on him. But Skully was ready. He clapped his hands, and a wave of golden energy erupted from his rune, dispersing the elementals' forms.

*"That's right!"* Skully shouted, striking a triumphant pose. *"Who's next?"*

The elementals regrouped, their forms swirling faster as they prepared to attack again. But before they could strike, I cast a barrier spell, creating a protective dome around us.

"We don't have time for this," I said, grabbing Skully and pulling him toward the summit. "The Convergence is about to start!"

We reached the summit just as the first stars began to align. The sky was a breathtaking tapestry of light, the stars forming intricate patterns that seemed to pulse with energy. At the center of it all was a single, glowing star—the source of the celestial tear.

"There it is," I whispered, pointing to the star. "We just need to catch the tear when it falls."

Skully tilted his head, his eye sockets narrowing. *"And how exactly are we supposed to do that?"*

I pulled out a small crystal vial I'd brought for this purpose. "We wait."

We didn't have to wait long. As the stars reached their peak alignment, the glowing star began to shimmer, and a single, glowing tear fell from the sky. I held out the vial, catching the tear just before it hit the ground.

"Got it!" I said, sealing the vial and holding it up to the light. The tear glowed with a soft, ethereal light, its energy warm and comforting.

*"Nice catch, Master,"* Skully said, grinning. *"One more ingredient to go."*