Star stepped into the half-sunken temple first, the air inside thick with the musty scent of forgotten rain and stone. Glowing runes danced along the walls, shifting shapes every time he blinked, casting perpetual twilight through cracks in the sagging roof. Crumbling altars dotted the main hall, some tipped over like drunken giants, others etched with faded stars that pulsed faintly. Elandor's hand stayed firm on Star's shoulder, a steady warmth amid the chill that seeped from the floor. Lila skipped ahead, her auburn curls bouncing, eyes wide with a mix of awe and mischief, while Duchess Calera moved slower, her hawk eyes scanning every shadow. Thorne lingered at the rear, masked and silent, as if the ruins spoke to him in a language only he understood.
They spread out to explore, footsteps echoing soft and hollow. Star traced a rune with his fingertip; it hummed under his touch, sending a tingle up his arm straight to his birthmark. The laughter Elandor had rebuilt last night still echoed warm in his chest, a fragile shield against the growing hollows. He glanced at the king, catching Elandor's green eyes on him, full of that quiet, fierce love that made Star's heart stutter. Lila called out from a side chamber, her voice excited and bubbly. "Over here! There's a puzzle thingy on this big slab. Looks like stars and moons all jumbled up."
The group gathered around the central altar, a massive stone table carved with interlocking runes that formed a constellation puzzle. Elandor knelt beside it, brow furrowed in concentration, his dark wavy hair falling into his eyes. Star joined him, their knees brushing, and together they twisted the glowing pieces, fitting stars into orbits. Duchess Calera murmured hints from old lore, her stern face softening with rare enthusiasm. Thorne watched without helping, but his posture screamed approval when the final rune clicked into place. A hidden compartment groaned open, revealing a small protective amulet on a silver chain, shimmering with inner light.
Star reached for it, fingers closing around the cool metal. The amulet flared bright, bonding instantly to his birthmark with a sharp, electric buzz. But then pain ripped through him; his birthmark cracked wider, leaking faint silver light that dripped like liquid stars onto the stone floor. He gasped, dropping to one knee, face twisted in agony. Elandor caught him, alarm flashing across his regal features, pulling Star close with trembling hands. Lila's warm eyes filled with worry, her freckled cheeks paling as she hovered helpless. The amulet's protection came at a cost, weakening the very mark that tied Star to his destiny.
As the pain ebbed, a soft voice filled the temple, not from any direction but everywhere at once. The Dreaming Queen materialized in the center, stepping from swirling shadows as if born from the runes themselves. Her silver hair cascaded like frozen rivers, blood-red eyes gentle yet piercing, her ancient form wrapped in robes that whispered against the stone. She smiled motherly, head tilted, voice smooth as honeyed wine. "Poor children. Chasing trinkets in my old playground." Star stared, breath caught, emotions churning between fear and defiant curiosity. Elandor's grip tightened, his expression a storm of protectiveness and rage.
She circled them slowly, fingers trailing the altar without touch. "I helped Cassian forge the Shadow Crown ages ago, you know. We shaped it from fallen stars and broken dreams, to bind kingdoms and unmake them. Now I want this one shattered, so I can rule the pretty ruins." Her red eyes locked on Star, soft and almost pitying. Lila edged back, face brave but hands shaking. Duchess Calera drew her dagger, stern features hardening into a warrior's glare. Thorne remained still, masked face unreadable, but tension coiled in his stance. The Queen's presence filled the room, heavy and intimate, making the air taste of faded memories.
Elandor stood tall, pulling Star up with him. "You won't touch him again." The Queen chuckled lightly, a sound both melodic and chilling. She revealed more in that motherly tone: her twin bond with some ancient Maevor, her craving to unravel the prophecy that bound Star and Elandor. Star's heart pounded, emotions raw and swirling; doubt crept in, but Elandor's nearness pushed it back. The Queen leaned close, whispering secrets of how love's fragility made it the perfect tool for breaking empires. Her blood-red eyes gleamed with wicked delight.
Then Cassian struck from afar, invisible but precise. As the sixth moon's influence peaked outside, a fresh agony bloomed in Star's mind. The memory of their first kiss vanished, the stolen throne-room moment after the banquet, shadows hiding heated whispers and desperate lips. Star staggered, eyes wide with sudden emptiness, doubting everything. Was their bond real, or just palace tricks? He pulled away from Elandor, face crumpled in confusion and hurt. The group froze, expressions a mix of horror and resolve; Lila's voice cracked as she called his name.
Elandor refused to let go. He cupped Star's face gently, green eyes burning with unwavering love. "It was real. Let me show you." He kissed Star then, soft and tender in the rune-lit gloom, remaking the memory with each press of lips. Again and again, kisses deepened, hands roaming to anchor the lost warmth. Star's doubt cracked under the onslaught, emotions flooding back in waves of heat and certainty. The Queen watched, her motherly smile fading to a sneer. Lila averted her eyes with a grin, freckles flushing; Duchess Calera stood guard, face stoic but approving.
The kisses built to a passionate peak, Elandor's whispers between them retelling every stolen shadow detail until Star laughed breathlessly, the hollowness filling with new, brighter fire. The amulet on his chest hummed, but his birthmark wept more silver light, weakened further. The Dreaming Queen stepped back into shadows, her parting whisper echoing soft and venomous. "Love is only leverage when it breaks." She vanished, leaving the temple colder, the runes dimmer. Star clung to Elandor, face alight with renewed defiance, as the group turned to the next shadowed path, hearts pounding with fun, fierce determination.