Star Chosen

In the halls of the Royal Academy, there were stained glass murals in every window. The murals depicted the Astra Mountain, and the great star above that had long blessed it. If you looked closely enough, you could see that the mountain was three figures. The Princess, who was the mountain’s heart. The Queen, who was the mountain’s mind. And She of the Star on High, who was the mountain’s spirit. Every girl of the Royal Academy knew about this mural because it told the most important truth about the mountain’s power. Astra was a gift to all of its daughters, but the three of the mountain were the most glorious of all.

She of the Star on High was truly glorious, too. Just basking in her light made Lena’s body feel better and even made Astra emanate off her skin. It did the same to Mira and Kyoka, making the two glow before her eyes, but the beauty of She of the Star on High always stole her attention back.

“I have met many daughters today, and many more in my time. Even still, I am honored by their awe,” She said.

Kyoka stammered, but managed to find her words first. “She of the Star on High… um, wow. I knew I’d meet you one day but I never thought it would be like this.”

She of the Star on High gave her a loving smile. “I have awaited the time we would meet, Kyoka. Since it was first known that Sayako bore a daughter.”

Kyoka covered her mouth. “You know my name? You know my mom’s?”

“I know all of your names. Daughter Mira. Daughter Lena. Your mothers were not known to me, but I have known your names since the day they were spoken.”

Tears welled in Mira’s eyes. It took Lena a moment to realize the same was happening to her. Her heart was beating rapidly too, but she put this elated feeling aside and stepped closer to She of the Star on High.

“Madame Star, you said you met many daughters today?”

“I have Lena. I have seen how strong they are and how far they will go. I have ushered them on their way as I will do with you.”

“What about the girls you haven’t met though? The ones still stuck in the labyrinth.”

She of the Star on High gave Lena a gentle smile and cupped her cheek.

“Would you save them, daughter Lena?”

“If I could!” Lena exclaimed.

“Me too!” Kyoka followed.

“Me three,” Mira added.

“Can you save them, Madame Star?” Lena touched her hand.

Sadly, She of the Star on High shook her head. “They must find their way to me, just as you have done. To appear before them before they know to call me is to take them up the mountain before they climb it themselves.”

Lena’s heart broke. She couldn’t understand.

“You mean we have to get through the labyrinth? Because it’s a trial?” Mira asked, and Lena was thankful for her.

Once again, She of the Star on High moved her head with honest sorrow. “The first trial is to meet the Astra in forms that do not favor you. To do so turns the labyrinth into a straight road. Each turn is as sure as the brilliance of the Star on High.”

“So we just have to leave them?” Lena almost whimpered.

She of the Star on High took her hand back but gave Lena another smile. “No, you must simply shine for them. Do this much and the labyrinth will let them go free.”

“Shine for them?” Again, she didn’t understand.

“Astrana…” Kyoka murmured, stricken by understanding of her own.

She of the Star on High approached her.

“Shall you bear the star first, daughter Kyoka?”

Kyoka’s expression hardened, and she nodded firmly. “Please.”

She of the Star on High extended her staff, touching both of Kyoka’s shoulders and then her heart. A star blossomed between them, and gently, Kyoka grasped it.

“Let your Astra flow into it.”

The glow that surrounded the girl brightened, and the star moved, drawing a constellation in front of her. It reminded Lena of a bow, and she knew immediately what it was.

“Daughter Kyoka, chosen by the Bow of Sagittarius.”

Kyoka touched it, and the constellation bow filled her hands.

“Is that the power of the star?” Mira asked. “Not just Astra–it’s light–but the star itself?”

“Daughter Mira.” She of the Star on High approached her next. She took her hand. “It was you who felt me in this room; does your heart know Astra better than your mind?”

Mira flushed and shook her head. “No, Madame… I just studied really well. I believe Astra is amazing. I want to know everything about it. I…” Mira slowed as She of the Star on High raised her staff.

The same ceremony followed, and this time the star drew a constellation of wings. Mira touched it, and shimmering black plumage emerged from her back.

“Daughter Mira, chosen by the Wings of Corvus.”

Mira gasped, and her wings beat. They glowed for a moment, and a crow spun together on her shoulder. Her eyes shone until she blinked it away.

“Magic!” She gasped again.

She of the Star on High simply smiled and came to Lena.

“Are you ready, Daughter Lena?”

Ready for what? She was lost already and had only lost her way more. What had Kyoka called this? Astrana? And what was that? They had learned nothing of it in their studies, and yet it seemed more important than anything else in the world.

“Your heart is heavy, Daughter Lena.”

“I’m… just… overwhelmed!” It was true. “I don’t know what’s going on, really. I just wanted to try and protect the other girls. I feel like…” She had the wrong person.

Kyoka made sense. Amelia made sense. Even Mira made sense, regardless of her lack of legacy. Lena, however? How could she say she should be here when she couldn’t even keep up? She was trying to think of a way to say that when She of the Star on High performed the ceremony. The Star appeared, and she looked at it with trepidation.

“Trust the star as it trusts you, Daughter Lena. Its light has guided you through combat. It shines for you now.”

She swallowed hard, but those words hit home. She had already decided to come this far, had made it this far, and whatever Astrana was, it could help the other girls.

She filled the Star with her Astra, and it drew a constellation of a prowling lioness. Lena touched it, and golden claws wove from her wrists to her fingertips. Her breath caught in her throat; her heart began to race again and… yes, tears were streaming from her eyes. There was no weight to the claws, but they still felt heavy, weighing on her chest as if she was hoisting something up.

“Daughter Lena, chosen by the Claws of Leo.”

“Is this it… can I help the others now?” She wanted to wipe the tears away but thought it’d be awkward with the claws.

“It can be, Daughter Lena. Proceed forward and declare that you will fight for them.”

She could do that. She would do that. But there was one more thing she had to ask.

“Madame Star, I don’t want them to go back home. I want them to stay and learn and maybe get an Astrana one day too!”

She of the Star on High smiled. “This would mean hardships in their future. Ones you cannot protect them from.”

“I know but…” She imagined her parents and how close she was to seeing them again. “They deserve a chance, even if I save them today.”

“Then shine bright, Daughter Lena. See that the Astra stays rich in the mountain.” She of the Star on High stepped back. “Go now, daughters of the mountain. You have conquered the labyrinth, but the mountain shall ask more of you.”

She began to fade.

All the girls found themselves reaching out to her, but their hands passed through stardust as it blew away on a breeze. Kyoka came over and wiped Lena’s tears, then took one hand in hers and gave the other to Mira.

“We can’t just stand around being cry babies. We got other girls to save, right?” She grinned.

Lena laughed, mostly at her tears, and nodded. “Let’s go.”

A new door had appeared, and the three of them wasted no time taking it together…