Mira chewed the squirrel meat without tasting anything. It felt like chewing rubber. Mira’s eyes didn’t look at the food; they preferred to scan the darkness among the trees. Left. Right. Behind. There was no sound at all except for the occasional gust of autumn wind.
“Calm down, Mira. I can sense if something is approaching.” Kars chewed slowly on the meat he held. He leaned casually against one of the pine trees opposite Mira. A small campfire burned between them.
“You said this forest is dangerous.” Mira struggled to swallow the meat she hadn’t chewed properly.
“Indeed. But you forgot who you’re with right now.”
“You really feel like a strong person, don’t you, Kars?”
"That's true." Kars continued to chew casually. One of Stealix's advantages is that during the night, the stars shelter them. It feels like their source of power becomes limitless. But during the day, they shouldn't be underestimated either. The sun is also a star, capable of giving Stealix more freedom because of its broader reach.
"Finish your meal and then sleep; tomorrow we will continue our journey," Kars added. He could see that Mira's guard was still up. The woman was full of vigilance. "Even while asleep, my senses remain active. You don’t need to worry."
Kars exhaled; he felt like he had talked a lot today, more than he had on previous days.
Mira didn't respond or make a sound; she just continued to eat her meal in silence.
***
The cold does not knock; it seeps silently into the bones, flooding the entire blood with a flow of cold that never eases.
Mira sank into her thick brown coat, its fur already turning white, covered with a fragile layer of frost crystals. As the girl stepped forward, the layer of ice–frost cracked, leaving wet traces on the coat.
There was no mud beneath her feet. Since last night, the ground had hardened, hidden beneath a carpet of rust-colored pine needles. The forest around her moved slowly, accompanying Mira's journey. Yet every tree and every leaf did not sway even a little, as if holding its breath.
Thousands of larch trees rose like pillars of aged gold, their color glowing in contrast to the pale gray sky above.
Mira let out a long breath, watching how thick white vapor escaped from her lips, hanging in the dry air before slowly fading. The scent around her was sharp and clean, the smell of old wood and dry leaves, which somehow reminded her of something long dead yet perfectly preserved.
Their journey had been long, the distance no longer countable. Yet, the only thing they encountered was the darkness of the forest. Even now, with the sun supposed to be right above, its rays failed to touch the ground.
"Why is Stealix being hunted?" Mira asked, her voice breaking the silence.
"Because they’re afraid of us," Kars replied without looking back at where Mira was.
"They?" Mira’s body moved in a zigzag, avoiding paths that could injure her feet. Sharp rocks, pointed pines, and the like.
“Golden Angels Order,” said Kars, emphasizing each word. Kars stared sharply, far into the darkness of the deep forest. The scene changed: the sudden blackness there turned into a blazing black fire. No one could extinguish it.
Star magic at that time was an unmatched massive force among the eight types of magic that existed. Even shadow magic and neutralizing elemental magic couldn’t stop the supremacy of star power. At that moment, if you encountered Stealix, it was better to run for your life than to fight them.
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Back then, when Kars was still a newcomer at the Stealix headquarters, he witnessed the massive slaughter carried out by the Golden Angels Order. People thought star magic was unbeatable, but not for the Golden Angels Order. Wind-type elemental magic and blood-type anomaly magic were a deadly combo that could end someone’s life instantly.
Not only that. Support magic also played a role in that massacre. The support magic users lowered the health of the Stealix to its lowest point, forcing it to use star magic suboptimally.
Kars staggered past several ruined buildings. His head was spinning uncontrollably from the effects of the alcohol he had gulped down a little while ago. He could only curse himself for his foolishness, as now there was nothing he could do.
Kars stumbled over something soft, and he bent down to see what it was.
It wasn't a stone, but rather Old Master Haren, the baker who gave him a full basket when Kars first came here. The old man was still hugging his bread basket. But there is no bread there. Where Haren's face was, there was only a giant hole that showed a splattered brain.
Next to him, a cloth doll lay with his hands severed, his smiling face staring blankly towards the burning sky. No one is running. No one resisted. They are all just... stop.
Then, someone appeared before him. He wore a long white robe with gold accents. On his left chest is a pin with the symbol of the sun, and on his right chest is inscribed "Holy Angel."
The person raised his hand to the same level as Kars, who was still lowered.
"Born to be holy."
“Why are they afraid?” Mira’s voice shattered Kars’ daydream. The girl still wanted more answers.
Kars felt relieved to be back in reality. Until now, he had thought he was the last Stealix. But now he had a friend, something he had rarely experienced in his life.
“Because the Order of the Golden Angels values stability. To them, Stealix brings disorder. Star magic is unpredictable, uncontrollable. Singus is an example. If two or more Stealix use Singus at the same time, they could collide and create a catastrophic cosmic explosion. That’s what happened in the tragedy of the destruction of two stars. A tragedy that claimed the lives of millions of beings overnight.”
“Is star magic inherited?” Mira asked cautiously. She noticed a shift in Kars’ demeanor. That man, like star magic, was unpredictable.
"No. Star magic chooses its own user."
"Then, why did it choose me?" That question wasn’t directed at Kars, but at Mira herself.
"Because yesterday you used Singus, most likely the Golden Angels Order detected it too, that's why I immediately took you out of that rotten place." Kars didn’t answer Mira’s question and chose to continue his explanation.
"Just like other types of magic, star magic has its own type or style. There’s Gravity Style, Light Style, Plasma Style, Flare Style, Stellarbane Style, Stardust Style, and so on." Kars raised his finger each time he mentioned a style of star magic.
“What about the levels? Every type of magic must have its own progression, right?”
“Of course, Stealix used to have its own stages. You’ll find out as you dive into star magic.”
Mira didn’t look pleased. Her eyebrows were already furrowed, even though Kars didn’t notice. “I need a clear answer.”
“You’ll learn directly in the field. No need for theory, no need for detailed explanations. Magic is more effective if you practice it directly.”
“But I just want to know what stages I need to reach in the future,” Mira replied, frustrated. The person who was supposed to guide her instead left her with many questions. “And I want to know where my stage currently stands.”
Kars chuckled. He turned towards Mira and then stopped. Mira also stopped walking. “You’re still at the Mote Stage, you’re still a beginner. You haven’t mastered a single style yet, right?”
“Mote? So that’s equivalent to the Copper Stage in elemental magic?”
“You could say that.” Kars nodded slowly. Although Mira was a restless person, she could still learn quickly. Well, she was a princess, an educated person. Teaching her wouldn’t be difficult. Kars tried to convince himself.
“And you?”
“There are eight stages in star magic. If you study it well, you’ll know how far I’ve progressed.” Kars turned around and continued walking.
Mira was still feeling irritated. But if she stayed like this, she wouldn’t start learning. She took a deep breath and then followed Kars from behind. “So what style is suitable for a beginner like me?”
“We’ll find out later.”
