Shooting Stars: Chapter 6
Ever since Xavier left that time, I didn't see him again for a very long time.
Afterwards, due to reasons that can't be shared with outsiders, the Titulus Ceremony was not held as planned, and Xavier never did return to the Academy either.
No one told me why. Master also refused to reveal his whereabouts.
A month after Xavier left, I passed the Lightseeker selection trial, just like Master had planned for me, and took the first step towards becoming the Grandis Knight.
After some more time, the King passed away. Following royal etiquette, there must be a mourning period of two hundred years. Only after that will talk about crowning a new King begin.
As day after day and year after year passes, gradually, to the people of Philos, whether or not there is a King seems to have become not that important any more.
This has been an empty two hundred years, and no one ever brings up that unheld Titulus Ceremony.
I continue to walk the planned path, step by step, until I finally become the Captain of an elite vanguard team.
But losing our King has made the knights much less powerful than before. Many of the troops scatter across Philos, , and have lost contact with one another.
During that period of time, I wave my sword on instinct, and walk forwards on instinct. As for where I am headed, I’m not clear about that either.
I just keep thinking, what if one day, Xavier will still return…
What if finally, he becomes the King of Philos, then…
I don’t wish for the person standing by his side to be anyone else.
Years Later
In the depths of the dark forest, I have been leading the vanguard team in fierce battle with Wanderers for several days.
Due to the continuous, unpredictable battles, everyone is
At night, I sit alone in a forest clearing, contemplating the next step in our strategy.
Jeremiah: This Starfall Forest has always been the core of Protofield instability. So many teams have entered in the past few months, and not a single one has come back out.
Jeremiah: This stubborn bonehead. I think even we may have
MC: Don't say discouraging things. If even the most elite team in the Lightseekers can't chew through it, who else can?
Jeremiah: This is the exact forest Xavier entered that year he underwent the Gladius Ceremony.
Jeremiah: You've always brooded over that incident, and this time you're so persistent, surely it’s not because of…
MC: Of course not…!
After graduating from the Academy, Jeremiah also became a member of the Lightseekers, and is the most capable comrade under my flag nowadays.
In these 200 years, he is the only person left that I can continue to talk to about Xavier.
MC: I am indeed curious about Xavier, but… I won't risk everyone’s lives to satisfy my curiosity.
Jeremiah sighs.
Jeremiah: Since the King passed away, your master has also left to travel among the stars.
Jeremiah: The Lightseekers should have been handed over to the crown prince, but Xavier, that rascal… What a bastard.
Jeremiah: Now every team does their own thing, and we don't even know how many have quietly disbanded. Otherwise, we wouldn't be right now.
MC: Don't complain anymore, take this opportunity to catch our breath, rest a little more.
Jeremiah gives my shoulder a heavy pat, then rejoins the crowd.
The oaks and yews here have weathered hundreds of thousands of years, and the forest canopy blocks the moon. After the campfire is put out, there isn't even a little light.
After who knows how long, everyone’s breathing steadily grows heavy with sleep, and the cries of birds vanish.
I don’t dare fall asleep, and at this very moment, a pure white figure appears from the depths of the forest.
In spite of the utter darkness, that figure’s outline seems to be bathed in a soft light. It turns back to give me a quick glance, then walks back into the depths of the forest.
MC: That's…
MC: (Xavier…?!)
MC: Xavier!
I chase after that figure’s back. He doesn’t walk too quickly, but he keeps a distance between us that I’m unable to close.
In my heart, I understand clearly that this could be a mirage, but…
What if he really is Xavier.
MC: Xavier! Wait for me!
I blink once from exhaustion, and the figure vanishes.
The surrounding trees also vanish, and a vast galaxy suddenly opens up before me, spreading all around me like smoke.
It really is a mirage…
With my heartbeat pounding heavily in my ears, I lift my head towards the galaxy, only to fall backwards unknowingly.
MC: Damn it!!!
In an instant, the world turns upside down, and I plunge swiftly towards the deepest depths of the universe, as if I have turned weightless.
MC: What is this place…!
Just like a stone falling into the middle of a lake, until finally, even the billions of stars leave me, leaving only boundless darkness behind.
MC: Am I…still in the Forest…
When surrounded by absolute darkness,
Time, space, all cease to exist.
Opening my eyes, or closing them, there is no difference.
And even the boundary between life and death turns blurry.
Right now am I… dead
It turns out the world after one dies is so quiet and light.
Like a feather floating in the center of the universe
Then it seems, death is nothing much to be afraid of.
The only regret…
Is not being able to see Xavier once more.
??: (MC)? Is that you?
MC: (This voice… so familiar.)
??: Answer me! Where are you?!
MC: (...I’m so sleepy, I’ve already lost the energy to open my mouth.)
??: (MC)!
On the border of consciousness, just as I’m about to fall asleep, a blinding flash of white pierces my eyes.
It seems like… a ray of light.
Just like the birth of the universe at the beginning, the dense darkness is split open by light, forming a crack that continues to expand.
The world unfolds just behind that light.
I force my eyes open, unsure if what’s before my eyes is still that beguiling mirage from before…
Xavier: (MC), don't sleep… wake up!
In such an unimaginably brilliant world, I unexpectedly manage to see Xavier's face again after such a long time.
Xavier: Don’t sleep… Come back, come home with me, together.
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