Walking along the gentle cream-colored pathways within the small town of Aquarius, that sat along the edges of the gilded lake. That same gilded great lake sat below the soaring continent that had been inverted above the chunk of ground that had once held its contents.
Now that floating chunk of land larger than the greatest cities of Vallmora, held the greatest kingdom to ever exist within these lands.
"Valloria-The Eternal Kingdom Of Orion..." Hans said in awe, staring up at the golden city that hovered gracefully above the ever-flowing lake.
"What are we even doing this far from the Southern Mountains?" Gideon asked with a frown.
Skylar, who had taken the appearance of a crook with a dark hood that covered his beggar-clothing that certainly didn't improve on his pale complexion-simply grinned at his friends.
Hans also raised an eyebrow out of curiosity for the reason of this long vacation North.
"That is a secret my friends, and you were the ones who insisted on going..." Skylar stated, as he continued down the road-searching for the place he had been asked to meet at.
"Nonsense!" Gideon exclaimed, biting into a pretzel he had purchased from a street vendor.
Hans kept quiet-studying Skylar out of the corner of his eye, as if he had somehow already known about this secret meeting.
Skylar passed it off as Hans just being the weird guy that he usually was.
The three of them eventually stopped at a small tavern on the edge of town, with a dangling wooden sign that read "The Windy Will..."
"Wait outside..." Skylar said flatly, before entering the tavern.
Walking into the place had quickly become a major regret as violent guitars ripped open his eardrums.
'What terrible music...' Skylar thought with a disgusted frown as his face.
He walked past several drunk soldiers of Valloria, all of which: Leaning against the wooden half wall that served as a coat rack.
At the end of the Tavern's main hall, sat a familiar figure with black hair and indigo streaks running through it like cosmic deities roaming the night sky itself.
She sat a small booth next to the large window with a brilliant view of the mighty kingdom of Orion.
Star had changed much since the last time the two of them had met, but Skylar had no doubt that there would still be a flame burning within her heart, just as his.
He walked over and sat down across from her, immediately drawing her indigo gaze towards his dark green eyes.
"It's been a while..." Skylar cracked a small smile.
Star blinked a couple of times before shaking her head and reaching into her bag.
"Yes, What has it been? Six years or so?" She smiled, pulling out a small parchment sealed with the House of Orion's sigil-and handing it out for Skylar too take.
He reached his hand out cautiously, but just before he could reach the parchment, she yanked it away.
"I said this was a trade... I need you to do something for me..." Star smirked with a wink.
Skylar shrugged, captivated by what contents were within those ancient papers.
"Anything, name it." He said confidently, unsure as what his childhood crush would have him offer up.
She shook her head. "No no, I don't need much, just information..." She said, reaching into her satchel bag.
Her loose and elegant blue and black long-sleeve shirt rustled, as she dug within her bag.
Skylar couldn't help but look at her, how the dark bags under her eyes wouldn't mix with her soft and warm skin.
She then pulled out a brand new poster-setting it on the table as she turned her gaze curiously towards him.
Skylar stared blankly at the overly-dramatic sketch of his friend Chase, and the large sum of money rewarded upon his life or death...
"You knew him correct? Chase of House Phoenix?"
Skylar nearly choked on air, but calmed his beating heart before it rose too panic.
"I kinda knew him, played Aetherball with him, but other than that we aint get along much... Shame he died though, wouldn't wish that kinda fate on anyone..." Skylar made sure to include the last part with a good bit of well-acted sincerity.
However, once he spoke the words: It was as if every soldier in the tavern found their eyes fixated on the skinny boy across from Star.
Star slyly chuckled to herself, then pointed at the sealed parchments on the table.
"Open it..." She said losing whatever patience she already had. Her eyebrows wavering dangerously above her sharp glare.
Skylar did as she said, curious himself as to what was in these parchments.
As he gently tore them open, Star continued. "In the letter you sent, you said that you wished you could be as strong as your companions... Then said that you were only around nine star output... Pathetic... You of all people should know the gap between just one star, especially the higher you climb... I am no fool, I know that you aided in The Rider Revolution, and wore the badge of Unity... I am Star of House Aries, not some fool."
Skylar flinched under her gaze, revealing the first piece of paper within the small paper package.
It read. "The Dark Arts (Page 1-12)" and the next page said, "Cursed Arts (Pages 1-4) and so on.
"What is this?" He asked, feeling suspicions rise about the meeting.
"You want to get stronger... I want my rival to the throne truly dead... If he can kill Rider... How is it that Corruption can kill him instantly? Just tell me where he is, and you will be rewarded the rest of the pages. You already carry no life within your body-born with the curse of the undead..."
She raised her soft hand above the table in an elegant manner.
"By my zombie... Help me take my father's throne... And you can become not just stronger... But I can make you the strongest."
Skylar grit his teeth, but steeled his nerve.
"I'm serious... I don't know if Chase survived or not, I didn't like the guy... But... I can help you find him if he is still alive..." Skylar lied through his teeth, accepting her offer and taking her hand.
The corner of her lips twitched, but she smiled through her anger and accepted that maybe Skylar truly knew nothing of the boy who survived.