We finally escaped those insane creatures they called Void Hunters.
And honestly?
They were terrifying.
Their glowing red eyes, their monstrous forms hidden beneath the darkness, and the way they moved through the storm like predators hunting their prey it was the kind of thing nightmares were made of.
Even now, after leaving Earth behind, I couldn't stop thinking about them.
But at the same time...
I couldn't think straight because the moment I stepped through the portal, I saw something so beautiful that words simply weren't enough to describe it. "...Wow" The word escaped my lips before I could stop it.
Nothing on Earth could have prepared me for what stood before me.
The sky wasn't blue but It wasn't black either in stead, it shimmered with countless shades of purple, silver, gold, and deep sapphire entire galaxies drifted overhead like glowing oceans suspended above the world.
Stars floated close enough to touch some moved across the sky like graceful birds others danced around one another in beautiful spirals and far in the distance, giant rings of light surrounded entire planets hanging above the horizon.
The clouds sparkled like crushed diamonds and rivers of glowing silver water flowed through floating valleys.
Mountains made of crystal stretched toward the heavens, reflecting thousands of colors with every movement of light and above everything else... Castles floated among the stars.
Massive celestial castles drifted through the sky, connected by bridges of pure starlight and entire cities floated around them.
Buildings made from crystal and silver rose high above the clouds while glowing waterfalls cascaded from floating islands into the endless sky below... I stared speechlessly.
My brain completely stopped functioning hahaha not because I was scared but because it was beautiful well too beautiful lik beautiful enough to hurt. "You okay there, Princess?"
Solen's voice snapped me back to reality, i blinked "What?"
He smirked slightly.
"You've been staring at the sky for five minutes." i look at him bombastically side eye "Five minutes?!" Lyra laughed softly.
"It happens to everyone the first time."
I looked around again even the animals weren't normal.
Creatures shaped like deer wandered nearby, except their bodies seemed made of light itself their antlers glowed with tiny constellations.
Birds with rainbow colored wings soared through the sky, leaving trails of sparkling stardust behind them.
Some creatures looked like giant foxes covered in shimmering crystals.
Others floated through the air without wings at all like for realll everything sparkled and everything glowed wtf everything felt alive It was like stepping into a dream or else heaven.
"This place is real?" I whispered,,, Caelum smiled.
"Welcome to Celestra Dominan." I turned toward him.
"Celestra Dominion?" One of the floating cities drifted overhead as he nodded. "One of the remaining Galaxy Kingdoms."
The smile slowly faded from Lyra's face "One of the survivors."
Something in her voice made my chest tighten. "Survivors?"
The three guardians exchanged glances but then Lyra sighed quietly "This kingdom survived the attacks of Xorodor."
The name immediately sounded wrong like DANGEROUS!
Like a shadow creeping through a beautiful dream...
"Who's Xorodor?" I asked suddenly the moment I asked the name, silence fell between us lyra stopped walking Solen's expression hardened even Caelum looked away briefly.
For the first time since arriving, the beauty around us suddenly felt fragile like glass that could shatter at any moment finally, Lyra spoke "Xorodor is the reason your father disappeared." My heart skipped a beat The breeze suddenly felt colder.
"He is the ruler of the Void Empire," she continued quietly. "The one responsible for the war consuming the constellations."
I listened carefully "He created the Void Hunters." instantly, memories flashed through my mind the glowing red eyes.
The darkness watching me from the cliffs the terrifying voice inside my head we finally found you.
A chill ran down my spine.
"Those creatures were sent by him?" Caelum nodded.
"They were searching for you."
"But why?"
"Because you're King Fullcrest's daughter."
The answer came immediately simple but terrifying.
"Xorodor has spent 100 years hunting the royal bloodline," Solen explained. "If he captures you, he'll gain access to powers capable of destroying every remaining kingdom."
I swallowed hard suddenly being a princess didn't sound very exciting anymore Lyra pointed toward the distant horizon.
I followed her gaze far beyond the floating cities stood a massive crystal tower stretching high into the sky.
Golden light pulsed from its center "What is that?" I asked.
"The Star Heart." The name sounded important, ancient, sacred
Caelum nodded.
"Every Galaxy Kingdom possesses a Star Heart." I frowned slightly "A Star Heart?" i looked at them with confusion
"The source of a kingdom's life."
As we continued walking, he explained "Long ago, when the Galaxy People first built the constellation kingdoms, they created powerful celestial cores known as Star Hearts."
His voice grew serious.
"They protect entire worlds."
"They maintain balance," Lyra added.
"They provide energy to cities, ecosystems, and celestial life."
I stared at the glowing tower again.
"So if something happens to one?..."
The expressions on their faces answered before they spoke.
"The kingdom dies," Solen said quietly
A cold feeling settled in my stomach
Then Caelum continued.
"There were originally ten great Galaxy Kingdoms." I stopped walking "Ten?" He nodded "Ten kingdoms connected by the Constellation. "
My heart sank before he even finished speaking
"How many are left?" Silence then Lyra answered softly.
"Four." The number hit harder than I expected only four
That meant..."Six kingdoms are gone?"Solen looked toward the sky "Destroyed." The word felt heavy like soo painful
I looked around at the beautiful kingdom surrounding us
The floating cities...
The crystal rivers...
The shining castles...
The peaceful creatures wandering nearby
And suddenly I imagined all of it gone
Burned, destroyed, reduced to nothing, and the thought made me sick. "Why did Xorodor destroy them?"
Caelum's eyes darkened "Because every fallen kingdom brings him closer to absolute control of the constellations."
The group continued walking toward a massive bridge made entirely of crystal, people filled the streets ahead.
Galaxy People... Hundreds of them some looked almost human and others had glowing markings across their skin.
Some possessed silver eyes others had wings made from starlight as we passed, many stopped and stared whispers spread through the crowd.
Their eyes widened
Some looked hopeful
Others looked shocked
And a few even bowed their heads i suddenly felt very uncomfortable.
"Why are they looking at me like that?" Lyra smiled gently "Because they recognize you." My stomach dropped "What?"
"They know who you are the Galactians know who you are" Galactians? Soo galaxy people's called Galactians but then the realization hit me immediately
These people knew my father or at least knew of him.
To them, I wasn't some random girl from Earth i was the princess they all waiting for.
The daughter of their king the thought was overwhelming as we reached the center of the city, I finally asked the question that had been bothering me.
"Why did we come here first?" caelum slowed his pace.
"Because this is where your journey begins." i frowned.
"My journey?" He nodded "The remaining kingdoms are connected." I listened carefully "Each kingdom protects a Star Heart."
"The Star Hearts are linked together through the Constellation Network," Lyra explained "If one falls, the others weaken."
My chest tightened then Solen finished the explanation "And right now, they're dying." I stared at them
"What does that have to do with me?"
The three guardians stopped walking Caelum looked directly into my eyes "Everything." The city noise seemed to fade around us "Your father spent centuries protecting the constellation kingdoms."
His voice was calm but serious "Now six of them have already fallen." I swallowed hard "And the remaining four?"
"They won't survive much longer." The reality of the situation settled heavily on my shoulders.
For the first time, I truly understood why they came looking for me this wasn't just about finding a missing princess People were depending on me.
Entire worlds
Entire civilizations
Entire galaxies
Caelum stepped closer
"To save the constellations, you must visit each remaining kingdom." I stared at him.
"Me?"
"You."
"Why?"
"Because only the heir of King Fullcrest can restore the Star Hearts." The necklace around my neck suddenly glowed warmly almost as if it agreed.
Fear and excitement twisted together inside my chest a few days ago, my biggest problem was surviving high school.
Now I was standing inside a floating city among the stars, being told that the fate of galaxies rested in my hands.
It sounded impossible maybe it was but looking at the hope in the eyes of the people around me... Looking at the kingdoms fighting to survive...
I knew one thing... My adventure had truly begun.
And somewhere beyond the stars...
Xorodor was waiting.