The night was strangely quiet.
Erian lay awake, staring at the faint shimmer of moonlight seeping through his window. Ever since his training earlier, his body had felt… different. Lighter, yet restless.
He closed his eyes, but the starlight behind his eyelids wouldn't fade. It pulsed in rhythm with something distant, like a heartbeat that wasn't his own.
Then, the world dissolved.
He opened his eyes again only to find himself standing in a vast hall of mirrors.
Cold wind swept across the marble floor. The reflection before him was not his. It was Aster, kneeling amidst shattered glass, his silver hair soaked in crimson light.
Erian's breath caught. "Aster…?"
The prince didn't seem to hear. His armor was cracked, his crown lying broken beside him. Around him stood countless figures faceless nobles, priests, soldiers all whispering in mockery.
"Unfit to rule."
"A cursed heir."
"The child of a fallen star."
Aster's fists trembled. He raised his head, his blue eyes filled with fury and despair. "I never asked for this blood!"
The echoes twisted, growing louder until Erian couldn't stand it. He ran forward, reaching out. "Stop it! He can't hear you!"
When his hand touched Aster's shoulder, the vision flickered. The whispers vanished. The mirrors melted away, leaving only silence and a faint starlit glow around them.
Aster turned sharply, eyes wide. "Erian…?"
His voice was soft, disbelieving.
Erian blinked, realizing what was happening. "We're dreaming… together."
Aster stared at him for a long moment, then gave a bitter smile. "Of all the places you could see, you found this one."
Erian looked around. The fragments of the crown shimmered faintly at their feet. "Is this… your memory?"
Aster nodded slowly. "The day I was declared heir. The priests said I carried the mark of a fallen star that my birth would bring ruin. My father called it a divine sign. My mother called it a curse."
His hand brushed over the cracked crown. "Since then, I've ruled in shadows, surrounded by faith and fear. Never love."
Erian hesitated, then said softly, "You don't have to carry that alone anymore."
Aster's eyes flickered toward him. "You think you can save me, Erian?"
"I think," Erian said, stepping closer, "you've spent too long believing no one could."
Their gazes met two souls glowing faintly under the same phantom starlight.
The space between them trembled.
For the first time, Aster's walls seemed to break. He reached out, brushing his fingers against Erian's wrist. The touch sent warmth through the void, a pulse that echoed in both their hearts.
But just as their connection deepened, a sudden roar of energy tore the dream apart.
Erian gasped as the world shattered again.
Before fading, Aster's voice reached him through the light.
"Next time you see me… don't trust anyone wearing the symbol of the sun."
Erian jolted awake, drenched in cold sweat. The mark on his chest the faint sigil of starlight was glowing.
He looked out the window. Far away, in the royal palace, a faint silver glow answered his own.
They were still connected.