Volume 1 — The Awakening of the Seals Chapter 1 — The Starbound Chest

Some discoveries change your life.

Others change the world.

For thirteen-year-old Ayame Hoshino, both were about to happen.

She just didn't know it yet.

---

An Ordinary Morning

"AYAME! You're going to be late!"

"I'm awake!"

"No, you're not!"

"I am!"

"You've been saying that for ten minutes!"

Ayame Hoshino opened her eyes.

She stared at the ceiling for a moment.

Then she looked at her alarm clock.

Her eyes widened.

"Seven forty-five?!"

She jumped out of bed.

"I'm late!"

Ayame was thirteen years old and a second-year student at Mizuhana Middle School.

She was an ordinary girl—or at least, she believed she was.

Her grades were average.

She wasn't particularly athletic.

She wasn't famous at school.

And she had a terrible habit of forgetting things.

Her mother, Haruka Hoshino, often told her:

«"Ayame, you could probably lose your own shoes while wearing them."»

Ayame always argued that this was impossible.

But deep down, she knew her mother had a point.

She quickly put on her uniform, brushed her dark hair and rushed downstairs.

Her younger brother, Sora Hoshino, was already eating breakfast.

He looked at her.

Then at the clock.

Then back at her.

"Late again?"

"Don't start."

"You said you'd wake up early."

"I know."

"You said you'd prepare your bag last night."

"I know."

Sora smiled.

"You're really good at saying that."

Ayame grabbed a piece of toast.

"One more word and this is mine."

She pointed at his breakfast.

Sora immediately protected his plate.

"That's mine!"

Their mother laughed.

"Both of you, stop fighting."

Takumi Hoshino, Ayame's father, lowered his newspaper.

"Morning, Ayame."

"Morning, Dad."

"You look tired."

"I was reading."

"Reading?"

"An astronomy book."

Takumi smiled.

"Again?"

Ayame nodded.

She had always loved the stars.

She liked reading about constellations, planets and ancient stories connected to the night sky.

Sometimes she even drew her own constellations.

Mina Aizawa, her best friend, called them "Ayame's secret stars."

Ayame liked that name.

She had always wondered if there were things hidden beyond the ordinary world.

Something nobody had discovered.

Something impossible.

She just never expected that such a thing would discover her first.

---

Mizuhana Middle School

"Ayame!"

Ayame turned around.

Her best friend, Mina Aizawa, was waving at her.

"You almost missed the first bell!"

"I know!"

"You really need to start waking up earlier."

"I'll try tomorrow."

"You said that yesterday."

"And the day before."

Mina laughed.

"At least you're consistent."

They walked toward their classroom together.

Mina noticed Ayame's notebook.

"More stars?"

Ayame nodded.

"I was thinking about a new constellation."

"What's it called?"

"I haven't decided yet."

Mina smiled.

"You really love the night sky."

Ayame looked toward the window.

"I don't know why."

She paused.

"Whenever I look at the stars, I feel like something is calling me."

Mina stared at her.

"Calling you?"

Ayame laughed awkwardly.

"Forget I said that."

Neither of them noticed the faint silver light that briefly appeared outside the window.

---

The East Wing

After school, Ayame stayed behind.

Her teacher, Kaori Fujimoto, had asked her to help clean an old storage room.

"Why do I feel like this is punishment?"

Kaori laughed.

"Because you volunteered."

"I thought you said there was extra credit."

"I said there might be."

Ayame sighed.

"Fine."

She walked toward the old east wing.

The hallway was almost empty.

The lights flickered.

Ayame stopped.

"This place is creepy."

She opened the storage room.

Inside were old desks, broken chairs and boxes covered in dust.

She began cleaning.

Twenty minutes passed.

Then she noticed something behind an old cabinet.

A small metal chest.

Ayame crouched down.

"What are you doing here?"

She pulled it out.

The chest was beautiful.

Silver constellations were engraved across its dark surface.

Seven small stars surrounded a strange central symbol.

Ayame touched it.

The moment her fingers touched the symbol—

Click.

The chest opened.

A brilliant silver light exploded from inside.

"W-What?!"

Seven glowing symbols rose into the air.

Ayame stared.

One resembled fire.

Another looked like water.

Another resembled a feather.

The symbols began spinning.

Then—

They flew away.

Straight through the walls.

Ayame ran to the window.

"Wait!"

They disappeared into the city.

Silence returned.

Ayame slowly looked down.

"...I'm in trouble."

A tiny voice answered behind her.

"Yes."

Ayame screamed.

"AAAAAH!"

She spun around.

A small creature was floating in the air.

It had silver fur, long ears and translucent wings.

Ayame pointed at it.

"You can talk!"

"Yes."

"You can fly!"

"Yes."

"You're a magical creature!"

Lumi crossed his arms.

"Technically, I am a guardian."

"That's even stranger!"

"My name is Lumi."

Ayame stared at him.

"I'm Ayame."

"I know."

"How?"

Lumi pointed at the chest.

"You opened the Starbound Chest."

Ayame looked at the empty chest.

"What did I release?"

"The Astral Seals."

"Are they dangerous?"

"Potentially."

"Potentially?!"

Lumi sighed.

"Each Seal possesses a different magical force."

Ayame looked toward the city.

"And now they're free."

"Yes."

"What happens next?"

"Their powers will gradually influence the world around them."

Ayame became serious.

"People could get hurt."

"Yes."

"Then I have to bring them back."

Lumi smiled.

"That's why the chest chose you."

Ayame frowned.

"Why me?"

Lumi hesitated.

"Because you possess something unusual."

"What?"

"Magical potential."

Ayame blinked.

"Magical... potential?"

"Your body contains a natural affinity for astral energy."

"But I've never used magic before."

"Potential doesn't mean mastery."

Lumi flew closer.

"You've probably experienced strange things throughout your life."

Ayame thought about it.

She remembered lights turning on when she was angry.

Dreams that sometimes seemed strangely real.

The feeling of warmth whenever she looked at the stars.

And once, when she was younger, a broken flower had suddenly bloomed after she touched it.

She had always assumed those things were coincidences.

"Wait..."

Lumi smiled.

"Now you understand."

Ayame looked at her hands.

"That was magic?"

"Perhaps."

"Perhaps?"

"Your potential has never awakened properly."

Lumi took out a silver pendant.

"But the Starbound Chest reacted to you."

He placed the pendant in her hand.

"This is the Astral Crest."

The moment Ayame touched it—

FWOOSH!

Silver light surrounded her.

Her hair moved as if caught by an invisible wind.

A glowing constellation appeared beneath her feet.

Ayame stared in shock.

"What is happening?"

"Your magic is responding."

The light disappeared.

Ayame looked at her hands.

"I did that?"

"Yes."

She smiled.

Then her expression changed.

"Can I do it again?"

Lumi laughed.

"Not yet."

"Why?"

"Because you don't know how."

Ayame puffed out her cheeks.

"That's annoying."

"Magic requires control."

"So teach me."

Lumi blinked.

"Immediately?"

"Yes."

"You don't even know what kind of magic you possess."

"Then let's find out."

Lumi smiled.

"That's exactly what a Guardian should say."

---

A Secret

Ayame looked at the pendant.

"Does my family know?"

"No."

"Are they connected to magic?"

"No."

"Does anyone at school know?"

"Not as far as I know."

Ayame sighed with relief.

"Good."

She thought about Haruka, Takumi and Sora.

Her mother would worry.

Her father would ask hundreds of questions.

And Sora would probably tell everyone.

"I'll keep it secret."

Lumi nodded.

"That may be wise."

"Why?"

Lumi's expression became mysterious.

"Because the Astral Seals aren't the only things that awakened tonight."

Ayame froze.

"What does that mean?"

Before Lumi could answer—

BOOM!

The school building shook.

A blue light flashed across the city.

Ayame rushed toward the window.

"What was that?"

Lumi looked toward the distant glow.

"The first Seal."

Ayame grabbed her schoolbag.

"Then let's go."

"You don't know how to use magic."

"I know."

"You don't know how strong the Seal is."

"I know."

"You could be hurt."

Ayame paused.

Then she smiled.

"I'm scared."

She tightened her grip around the Astral Crest.

"But I released it."

She looked toward the city.

"So I'll be the one to bring it back."

Lumi smiled.

"Then your journey begins, Ayame Hoshino."

Far behind them, inside the abandoned storage room, the Starbound Chest slowly closed.

Seven stars were engraved upon its surface.

Six remained dark.

One was glowing.

And somewhere beneath the city lights, something ancient opened its eyes.

The first Astral Seal had awakened.

And it had already sensed its Guardian.

end of chapter one