Starlight Calls Alike

During the Age of the Fallen, where humanity fought against divine forces, four powerful clans claimed different regions.

Moon, Sun, Winter, and Star.

Each founder of these clans was an Ophanim of a god; someone who has ascended or evolved into a divine path.

Named after the ancient angels that chariot God's throne, they reforged the devastating era back to its former state with the help of their divine powers.

The skies were blue again, no longer tainted black with red clouds.

The grass was green again. The air was breathable, along with clean rivers and oceans.

It was almost as if nothing happened. People could convince themselves the horror they just faced was a nightmare, but the history and years worth of technology did not recover as quickly.

Five thousand years passed before the Earth resembled the modern world, with advancements in technology and systems, along with a few key differences.

Instead of being ruled by presidents and governors, the people were ruled by the Pillars of the Four Holy Clans.

The western continent belonged to the Sun Clan. The eastern continent belonged to the Moon Clan. The southern continent was governed by the Star Clan. The northern continent was ruled by the Winter Clan.

The ancestors made a pact; they would work together for the sake of rebuilding the world, but as unpredictable nature in this era is, emotions were worse.

After five thousand years of friendly negotiations and trade between the Four Holy Clans, mankind once again faced the age of extinction. This time, from within rather than out.

Six years earlier.

Year 4078, October 31.

“Do I have to?” Kaltain asks once more, sending pleading glances at her parents in the front.

“Yes, honey, we’ve been over this a hundred times,” her mother replies. “With your older sister gone, you are the next heir of the Winter Clan, you must do this. For the Snow.”

The gleaming black silk car glides smoothly on the flat, even roads, featuring tinted windows and purple cushioned seats. A smell of lime and fine leather drift between the Melpomene family. A gentle, cool breeze wafts from both underneath and above the seats.

“I can’t fight,” Kaltain pressed.

Her father, Hael, chuckles. “Yes, you can. The best of the Winter Clan taught you. Including me.”

“I’m a druggy. My lungs suck and I hate running. I will fail before the first class. I’ll bring shame to our family.”

“Stop saying nonsense, Kitty,” her mother chimes in.

Kitty. She hated that damn nickname.

Hael Melpomene, current Pillar of the Winter Clan and Zolani Inara Melpomene, wife of the Pillar.

Ten years after the Tragedy of the North, the heir of the Winter Clan overdosed on Crystalline Rock, a drug created by a mad genius scientist known as Great Night.

Crystalline Rock highly enhanced one’s physical and divine powers without the need for training. One could become a god with no effort, or so rumors say.

Ziven Melpomene was a promising talent who had the potential to officially become an Ophanim like his father. He was as strong as the Celestial’s—a Pillar's right hand man. He graduated the Lightless institute with perfect grades, ranked first in all diversions and had a flawless record in duels: however, a year before he could take over as Pillar, he was found in his room, drowning in his own mangled limbs with crystallized blood.

After his death, the next heir was his twin sister, Ataraxia, but she had ran away shortly after, leaving the two youngest.

Kaltain and Casimir Melpomene. The latter is approaching fifteen years old and the former sixteen.

“This is bullshit,” Kaltain grumbles, raking a hand through her mass of white hair. Her fair skin appears golden in the brilliant sunlight shining through the back windows, while her ice blue eyes crinkle in disdain.

“Language!” Zolani scolds.

“This is bubbles.”

“I think you mean baloney.”

Kaltain eyed her brother with a scoff. ‘Should I jump out of the car?’

To distract herself from her rushing thoughts, Kaltain asks her father in a cursory voice, “You’re the Pillar, should you really be driving me there?”

“You’re my daughter, so yes,” he says simply. “Besides, all Pillars are going to be there. They always are.”

‘That question was naive.’ Kaltain suppresses her embarrassment with a light sigh. ‘Why did you have to fucking die?’

Kaltain hated her brother and sister for forcing this fate upon her. She was never meant to be involved in clan business. At best, she would be in the army should war arise, but up until last year, she never dreamed of this. No one did.

To top it off, women are rarely Pillars in the Winter Clan. In fact, she would be the first if she survives the academy.

She will always have to prove to the world why she is their leader and a Pillar of a holy clan. One mistake will shadow all achievements.

How fantastic.

The anxious pressure in Kaltain's chest heightens at the sight of the grand and imposing structure of Lightless institute. The sturdy walls were made of red stone, with tall cream watch towers rising up into the heavens. The sprawling complex held a wide central courtyard surrounded by various buildings and training fields.

As their car approaches the gothic gates, Kaltain eyes drag over to the arched clear windows of the classrooms, narrowing in on the largest one with intricate dragon, siren, angel, and phoenix designs marking the walls.

Each clan was guarded by a mythical creature, with the founding families said to possess extraordinary traits of their guardians.

Dragons were the North protectors, allowing the Winter Clan family to have heightened sight, strong endurance, spatial memory, rejuvenation, beast transformation and effortless flight skill.

The Lightless institute is a military academy that trains people with the talent to glimpse a divine path. It was established on the day the clan ancestor Pillars signed a pact. The institute allows anyone to register, but making it through the Heavenly Trials is another story.

People die or quit in fear of their lives during these trials. Only once you survive them, will your position at the academy be guaranteed.

Mainly those from holy clans main branches or with special conditions have succeeded in graduating.

The survival and success rate is below 26%.

10 minutes later.

Kaltain knew she was in hell the second the smell of decay reached her nostrils. There were no dead bodies, as far as she could see, yet the entire area was laced with death.

Her expression was blank, yet her eyes blazed with her displeasure.

Around her were countless rows of students dressed in similar attire: a black jumpsuit made of fitted silk, allowing them to stretch and move freely.

Towering walls surround them, their tips gleaming with pointed stars. The ground was clear and expansive, appearing as a training field, while a bridge connected at the top, where elite students and Pillars of the Clans, along with the council of Lightless were seated.

Despite not being able to see them due to gray fog, she knew their location thanks to the knowledge blabbed by her deceased brother. Ziven used to share tales of this place at weekend dinners and family time.

He stated that as a senior you will participate in the trials once more, but as proctors. This is very helpful for future Pillars to select talented warriors with the potential to ascend to an Ophanim; the highest rank a being can possess.

Kaltain shifts her feet. The dirt rumbled beneath her combat boots, pricking the rich leather. A hint of impatience shot through her.

Kaltain wasn’t worried about the trials one bit. She knew how serious and dangerous they were, she just lacked the care of her own survival. If she lived, great. If she didn’t, oh well.

Life was full of possibilities. A galaxy habited with endless stars, each trailing into different realities and realms. Kaltain was carefree and laidback, to her parents' dismay.

‘I want to read and eat. How long will this take? Ziven trial took a month. If I get what I want, it’ll be in a day, but that’s just hopeful thinking.’

“Hello!” A soft tap on her right shoulder causes Kaltain to look back. “I’m Wyn! Wyn Misul! The slit in your eyes tells me you’re from the north, and since you're taking this trial, you must be Kaltain Melpomene, second daughter of the Snow God.”

Kaltain gaze lazily seeps over the short chick. She possesses pale skin, dark orange eyes, and a button nose. Her sleek, silver hair is styled into two buns with orange knife clips, and wavy bangs frame her chiseled features.

Misul. The founding name of the Moon Clan. This family has connections to the sirens of the rivers. The mythological legends of this clan begin with the Goddess of the Moon, who is said to have blessed mankind with spiritual existence.

The current heir to the Moon Clan is unknown. Many speculate it to be the youngest son, Akira.

“Yo!” Kaltain waves casually before turning her attention back up front, thinking that’ll be the end of their conversation.

“Goddess, this is nerve racking, right?” Wyn looks around with darting eyes. “I mean, most of the people around us will be, well, you know, dead. I think me and you will survive. Which is why I am talking to you. I don’t want to make friends with a future dead person, you know.”

‘No, I don’t, since I don’t wanna make friends with either.’ Kaltain chose to ignore the girl, hoping she’ll take the sign and go away.

She didn’t.

Wyn talked her ear off for the next hour as they waited for the arrival of the instructors.

Finally, after what felt like forever, Kaltain saw a figure cloaked in a black robe appear before them.

“Welcome to Lightless!” His musky voice booms, sending vibrations into the very air. “As you all know, to become an Ophanim you must pass these trials and graduate from this academy with perfect scores in all divisions—physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual.”

The true reason for the difficulty of the trials is because even if you succeed, in the end, when you’re given a divine path, some people’s bodies can’t handle the mark of divinity and die.

“This year there will only be one trial. Afterward, if you survive, you'll duel a senior proctor and if you survive it all, you’ll gain a divine path, which will be explained more later.”

He pauses, his hidden gaze seemingly scanning the crowd of teenagers and young adults.

“Deathly Journey is the name of the trial. You will begin your journey by traveling to the top of the mountain that surrounds this building. Along the way, you'll encounter roads made of ice, lava, and cold rivers, as well as various snow beasts. Once you reach the top, you will take a different path down. This descent will be free of physical dangers but will challenge you with mental games and questions about our history. If you fail to answer a question correctly, you must walk down that path, return here, and then redo the first path again. After successfully completing both paths, you will return here and wait for the other contenders to start the duel.”

Nervous mumbling broke out around Kaltain. She forces her gaze to remain on the loud man, not wanting to give away her anxiety as she was most likely being watched.

She was the daughter of Hael Melpomene—Snow God of the North, and sister of Ziven—Warrior Prince. Two successful people in the Winter Clan. If she showed any signs of weakness then it’ll be used against them.

‘Though it’s not like we’re not already a disgrace,’ she muses. ‘Thanks, brother and sister! The runway whore and druggy brother!”

It didn’t really matter if she brought shame to an already shunned clan, but being mocked is different than actually being weak.

For once in her life, she had something to prove. She wasn’t simply here as an heir but a messenger.

“Let them know, Kitty,” her father whispered sternly before parting in farewell. “The Winter Clan is just as promising and terrifying as the others.”

She shall not fail in her delivery.

****

‘That had to be cheating.’ Kallias jogs across a narrow surface. Lava bubbles around him, with loud popping sounds echoing through the mountain. His movements are swift and steady, appearing like a blare of light.

His purple crystalline eyes were locked on the flying gorgeous girl. Her speed wasn’t as quick as his, but she was moving up the mountain effortlessly.

Kaltain Melpomene.

‘Well, it’s not like I can judge.’

Kallias Polymina, third son of Arian Polymina, Pillar of the South. He turned fifteen last month, the age at which people can start to register at Lightless institute.

The Polymina’s are the founding family of the Star Clan and for generations, an heir is chosen through a brawl with the Pillar’s children on the day the clan was founded— August 19.

In five years, the brawl will go down, leaving Kallias, Calix, and Kavish, not much time to catch up to their eldest brothers.

The Star Clan family guardians are angels, granting them the traits of enhanced memory, speed, angelic wings, and light control.

As the contenders advanced past icy and lava roads, they approached a large pond with no bridge. Its glistening surface gleams with a crystal glow. The water was freezing to the point some froze to death upon entry.

Kallias was the only Polymina with no wings, a shame his brothers never failed to taunt him with. With no other option, he dove in, his pale skin tingling with a biting coldness.

With speed, he zooms across swiftly.

Those who witnessed this grumbled under their breath at both him and the girl above, who made the trial look so easy that it was sickening.

Upon hearing their complaints, Kaltain taunts, “Work smarter, not harder, kids!”

Kallias wasn’t offended, but he could tell from the rough splashes others were. He knew of Kaltain. All the Four Holy Clans children were aware of each other thanks to their families history.

As Kallias crawls out the river, his body trembles and muscles tighten, a cold breath escaping him and forming visible puffs in the air before him. He lays flat on his back for a while. He could hear people advancing and knew he should as well.

‘Five more minutes.’ Kallias shuts his eyes and rests an arm on his forehead.

His mind drifts into darkness, only coming back to his senses at the feeling of someone moving him.

Kallias eyes snap open. In his vision was Kaltain, her slender fingers wrapped firmly around his left ankle, dragging him up warm grass.

“What are you doing?” His voice was raspy and filled with shock.

“My brother has a crush on you,” she says flatly, keeping her eyes upfront. “You would hurt his feelings if your face got fucked up.”

“Pardon?” His straight brows rose to his hairline. “What about my feelings? It’s my face!”

Kaltain ignores him.

Kallias rolls his eyes. ‘What type of reasoning is this? No, what the hell type of situation is this?!’

“You know who I am?” He asks her.

“Kallias Polymina.”

“We’re not friends. You don’t have to help me.”

“We’re not enemies.”

“I’m not weak. I can walk.”

“Then why aren’t you?”

He goes silent and then clicks his tongue. “You can at least carry me. You have a flying trait, right? Does it only work on yourself?”

Once again, Kaltain ignores him.

“You’re very rude.”

“Believe it or not this is the kindest thing I’ve done in years to an outsider.” Her voice carried a hint of amusement.

“Considering how the deed is being carried out, or should I say dragged out, I’ll say I’m a believer.”

“You’re funny.”

“You’re not laughing.”

“Too much energy.”

Kallias chest rumbles with a chuckle. He brings his arms behind his head as it bounces off a bumpy bark and peers around. 

Giant green trees are adorned with red apples and oranges, surrounded by fresh and healthy bark. Furry silver birds perch on the branches, while light brown squirrels hang upside down and swing around. Compared to the olden trees at the beginning of the mountain these appear to have been planted a few decades ago. Signs of human life appear dimmer than when they first advanced the mountain.

Thousands of contenders dropped to a mere hundred.

He wasn’t sure how long the trial has been going on, only that it’s been a damn while. If he had to guess, two weeks.

From traveling up hellish landscapes and battling fierce snow beasts, his energy was drained unlike Kaltain’s, who he believed soared the skies the whole time.

“Hey, pretty boy, you’re on your own now.” Kaltain lets go and begins to walk away.

Kallias leaps to his feet and follows her. “You think I’m pretty?”

“Don’t flirt with me, we both know I am not your type.”

Kallias entire being freezes, and then he grasps her shoulders, turning her to face him. His head whirled around to make sure no one heard her. “Shhh.”

“Why?” She blinks. “Are you ashamed?”

“No!” He takes a deep breath. His head drops, causing his short purple hair to frame his clouded eyes. “You don’t understand. My father.. he’ll take away my inheritance if he ever found out, so please don’t tell anyone.”

“Okay.” She brushes him off and continues calmly down the rocky hill.

‘Just like that? She’s not going to ask for something in return or mock my cowardliness?’ Kallias was surprised and grateful. He didn’t know how she knew of his secret. It took him a good moment to figure it out. ‘She said her brother liked me.. her brother. Oh!’

His first kiss was with a beautiful boy from the Winter Clan. ‘Did he tell her? Why? Does he trust her that much? Is his family okay with it?’

“Kaltain!” A shout came from behind, jolting him out his inky thoughts.

He spins and comes face to face with a short pretty girl. Wyn Misul. She rushes past him and hooks an arm around Kaltain, who appears unfazed.

“You’re doing perfect so far, Kaltain—not that I’m surprised. If anyone asks, I predicted your greatness!”

Kaltain lips purse, sparing the girl a brief look then focusing on the layers of games scattered into different fields.

‘I am not the only one she ignores.’ Kallias doesn’t know why he felt comforted by that. Maybe because some part of him feared she might be treating him with such disinterest because of his secret, but then again, she helped him because of her brother’s crush on him.

“Why don’t we all work together?” Kallias suggests in a cool tone, walking to the right of Kaltain. “I don’t like to brag, but I have an excellent memory.”

“Good idea!” Wyn acknowledges him with a bright smile. “It’s been a while, Lia. How have you’ve been?”

Kallias grimaces before kissing her cheek in greeting. “Wyn.” The holy clans hosted special events annually, some for everyone on the continents and others just for themselves. In those times, the Moon Clan and Star Clan families were the closest, visiting each other even when events weren’t held, while the Winter Clan kept to themselves, and Sun Clan Pillar forbade unnecessary gatherings. “You’re not a toddler anymore, please call me by my given name.”

“Whatever, Lia.” Wyn stuck her tongue out at him.

Kaltain pulls herself free from Wyn grip and makes her way over to the first station. She halts before a rusted wooden stand pushed back against a small tree, reading the bold words spelling out a question.

In the fallen age, many gods fell, along with their churches, name two who still have a temple in this era.

Below these words were two indented boxes for answers. Kaltain glanced down at the letters stored in the boxes before the stand. They appear untouched and she guessed it’s because others started in different areas.

“We’re working together,” Wyn says, bending down to pick up the letters.

“No.”

Wyn frowns and looks up at Kaltain. “Why not? The instructor never said we couldn’t work together.”

“That’s because it’s obvious you should work solo to boost your value in the eyes of the most important people.” Her fingers quote her last words.

Kallias leans against the tree, raising a brow at her. “Why did you do that?”

Kaltain locks eyes with him. “Do what?”

He chuckles, a grin spreading across his clear complexion. “Are you mocking the Pillars?”

“Are you twisting my words?”

He shrugs.

Kaltain shoos them away and picks up the letters to form two names, her pulse spiking with a hint of nervousness.

Hades. Persephone.

She was confident in her answer thanks to her spatial memory, yet doubt was a leech no human nor monster could avoid.

When the wooden stand shatters into a spark of starlight, sending a resounding ding echoing through the mountain, the dusty starlight falls softly on the back of her hand, forming a crescent star.

Kaltain wasn’t sure what she was expecting, but she knew her answer was correct, so that’s all that mattered. She sensed the mark on her skin was significant as she headed over to the second station.

In her peripheral vision, she saw the first station rebuild itself, appearing slightly olden than before, with a new question forming on the surface.

Which divine beings fell from heaven and became human?

****

“Who do you think is the most promising?” Aysun Misul, Pillar of the East, asks her youngest son. She sat in a throne-like chair, clad in an elegant red and yellow gown, with gold jewelry covering every bare inch of her golden skin.

The young boy beside her wore a black silk Hanfu robe with wide sleeves and white furry edges. He had sharp, dark pink eyes, fair skin, a diamond-shaped face, and neatly styled medium-length black hair.

He was Akira Misul.

“Kaltain Melpomene.” His tone is flat and disinterested. “And Calix Polymina.”

“What about Kallias? He’s not too far behind his brother.”

“He’s a weak man trying to be strong.”

The Pillar hums thoughtfully. “You aren’t wrong about that, child.” Her light pink eyes travel to the right of her son, where the Pillar of the north and his wife sat. “I thought they would have sent that boy instead of the girl. They’re not that far apart in years. I guess she just has more potential.”

Akira follows his mother's gaze and ends locking eyes with golden ones. Casimir Melpomene flashes him a bright smile.

Akira looks away first, resting his chin gracefully upon his knuckles. He wasn’t close with the Northern children, rarely seeing them. Aysun always told him they barely make an appearance because they think they’re better than everyone else. She wasted no time in laughing heartily at the shameful death of their eldest.

For some reason, Akira didn’t believe that. From what he saw, they appear tired of the same political games and mocking conversation plaster with fake smiles and fancy wine. They had the power to ignore the bullshit. 

His attention snaps back to the screens showcasing different contenders. Kaltain hasn’t broken a sweat and it’s been a mouth in those mountains so far.

The star divine path possesses time abilities, which means they have cast the entire area into different temporal domains.

To the contenders, reality appears to be unfolding at a normal pace; however, they are actually in a fast-moving domain that allows the audience to watch the entire trial unfold within a week.

1 week later—— two months.

To Kaltain disdain, she was the second to return to the center after completing both paths. However, to her joy, she ranked first in the duel battle against a senior proctor. She defeated him in under 10 minutes.

After successfully completing all the mental games and questions, gaining a mark every time, which forged a symbol of a full moon surrounded by snowflakes on her skin, she glances around at other people's skin, realizing she’s the only one with two designs. Some had a singular star, sunlight, or a crescent moon. She discreetly hid her hand in her sleeve, a hint of concern knotting in her belly.

“A divine mark. Only after making it this far can you glimpse destiny. The questions and games created in the second half led to markings appearing on your skin,” explains the instructor as the 43 contenders stood on a bloody platform. Above them are twinkling stars, each blinking in acknowledgement. “You’ll learn more about the divine marks and the one you’ve gained in classes tomorrow. But before that, every new student of the Lightless institute must rephrase this oath. Starlight Calls Alike—translated to "we are one with power or we are none!”