The palace of Aureval was quiet, but never at peace. Even in the stillness of midnight, Aster could hear the whispers through the marble halls.
The council had gathered again that evening. And as always, his name had been spoken like a curse.
"Prince Aster's loyalty is questionable," one noble had said. "His sympathy for that outsider Erian borders on treason."
He had smiled then, hiding his fury behind calm eyes. Treason. The word was sharp, but it no longer frightened him.
Now, back in his private chamber, Aster stood before the mirror, undoing the clasps of his ceremonial armor. The faint reflection of moonlight caught the edge of his silver hair. His expression was unreadable.
He could feel the tremor in his hands.
The bond between him and Erian was silent but alive. Sometimes, when the night grew too quiet, he could feel Erian's heartbeat faintly echo in his chest.
Aster pressed his palm against the glass, whispering.
"Where are you now?"
The mirror rippled faintly, and for a fleeting moment, he saw stars distant, shifting, alive.
Then the reflection changed.
Behind him stood a woman in a gown of black and white silk, her face half hidden beneath a silver veil. Her presence was soft, yet carried weight that silenced the air around her.
"Still searching for ghosts, my prince?" she asked. Her voice was melodic, edged with secrets.
Aster didn't turn. "You shouldn't be here, Lady Selene."
"And yet I am," she said, stepping closer. The scent of cold night air followed her. "The council plans to strip you of command tomorrow. They say you're too close to him."
Aster's jaw tightened. "They're afraid of what they don't understand."
Selene smiled faintly beneath the veil. "Fear is the oldest form of loyalty."
She walked to the window, gazing out at the moon that hung like a blade above the horizon. "Tell me, Aster. Is he worth all this?"
Aster's gaze hardened. "He's more than they think he is."
"And to you?"
He didn't answer immediately. The silence between them stretched, filled only by the whisper of wind.
Then he said softly, "He's the only truth I've found in this palace of lies."
Selene's eyes glimmered faintly in the moonlight. "Then you'll need allies who can lie better than the rest."
Aster finally turned to face her. "You're offering your help?"
She inclined her head. "Let's say I'm offering balance. The gods are moving pieces again, and I prefer not to be one of them."
Her voice lowered to a near whisper. "Erian is no ordinary human. You know this, and so do they. But you've only seen one side of what he carries."
"What do you mean?"
Selene's expression softened. "The light in him… isn't meant for this world. If he awakens fully, heaven itself may burn. And yet, if you abandon him, everything you are will fade with it."
She turned, her veil fluttering like smoke. "Choose wisely, Aster. The moon can only hide the sun for so long."
Before he could reply, she vanished leaving behind only the faint scent of starlight and roses.
Aster stood alone once more, his reflection shifting in the mirror.
He looked at his own eyes. For the first time, he saw something unfamiliar there light that didn't belong to him.
The bond between him and Erian pulsed again, stronger than before.
A storm was coming. And neither crown nor god would be able to stop it.