Asterius's body ached as he pushed himself up from the hard floor of his room. His muscles, once capable of withstanding intense training, were now weak and frail. He hadn't attended classes in weeks—there was no point. His body, once full of potential, had withered to the point where even standing for too long left him dizzy. But he wasn't ready to give up, not yet.
The memories of Astral's past haunted him, and the knowledge of the Star Dragon's existence ignited a flicker of hope deep within him. He knew he needed to grow stronger if he were to help Astral reclaim what was lost and find Astra. But how could he train when his body was in such a state?
Dragging himself to the bathroom, Asterius resolved to take a shower, hoping it might ease some of the tension in his tired muscles. The water was cold as it cascaded over him, but he welcomed the chill, letting it wash away the grime and fatigue. He closed his eyes, his mind wandering to the memories of Astral's glorious battles, the power that once coursed through the god's being.
As he stood there, lost in thought, he felt something strange—a presence that wasn't there before. He opened his eyes and nearly stumbled backward. Before him, where the steam from the shower had gathered, a figure began to take shape. At first, it was just a silhouette, but as the steam dissipated, the form became clearer.
Standing in front of him was a girl, her body glowing with a soft, ethereal light. Her features were delicate, her long, flowing hair cascading down her back like a waterfall of starlight. Her eyes, a deep, celestial blue, stared at him with a mix of surprise and something else—something that made Asterius's heart skip a beat.
For a moment, he was too stunned to move. He simply stared at the beautiful girl who had appeared out of nowhere. But then reality hit him, and he realized he was completely naked.
Astral's form flickered, and she quickly turned away, her cheeks flushing a deep shade of pink. "I—I'm sorry!" she stammered, her voice wavering. "I didn't realize... I mean, I've never seen... I didn't mean to intrude!"
Asterius quickly reached for a towel, his face burning with embarrassment. "Who—who are you?" he managed to ask, his voice shaking as he wrapped the towel around his waist. "And how did you get in here?"
Astral hesitated, still facing away from him. "I... I didn't mean to startle you. It's just... I wanted to check on you, but I didn't expect to see you like this."
"Check on me?" Asterius repeated, confusion mixing with his embarrassment. "But who are you? And why do you care?"
Slowly, Astral turned back to face him, her expression softening. "It's me, Asterius. I'm Astral."
For a moment, Asterius simply stared at her, trying to process what she had just said. "Astral?" he echoed, disbelief coloring his tone. "But... Astral is..."
"I know," she interrupted gently, her eyes reflecting a sadness that matched the one in his own heart. "I didn't tell you what I truly look like before. This is my true form, the form I had before I was cast into the Void."
Asterius felt a wave of emotions wash over him—confusion, awe, and a lingering sense of vulnerability. "But... you're..."
"A girl?" Astral finished for him, a small, rueful smile tugging at her lips. "Yes, I am. I hope you're not too disappointed."
Asterius shook his head, still trying to make sense of it all. "No, it's just... I didn't expect... I mean, you're..."
Astral's smile widened, though it was tinged with sadness. "I'm not what you imagined, am I? I understand. But this is who I am. And I want to help you, Asterius."
Asterius's eyes dropped to the floor, his earlier embarrassment returning in full force. "I don't understand," he mumbled. "Why would you want to help me? Look at me... I'm weak, pathetic..."
Astral's expression darkened as she looked at him, her eyes lingering on his thin, frail body. "You're not pathetic," she said firmly, her voice tinged with anger. "But your body has suffered far too much. It's not right... it's not fair that you've been treated this way."
Asterius flinched at the intensity in her voice. "But I can't do anything about it," he whispered. "I'm too weak to fight back..."
"No," Astral interrupted, her tone softening. "You're not too weak. You're just... untrained. But that can change. I can help you, Asterius. I can train you."
"Train me?" Asterius looked up at her, his eyes wide with a mix of hope and doubt. "But how? My body... it's too far gone."
Astral stepped closer to him, her hand reaching out to gently touch his shoulder. "Your body is weak, yes," she admitted, "but it's not beyond saving. With my help, you can regain your strength. You can become stronger than you ever were before."
Asterius stared at her, the weight of her words slowly sinking in. "But... why would you do that for me?"
"Because," Astral replied, her voice filled with quiet determination, "you're the only one who believed in me when no one else did. You gave me a chance to return, and for that, I owe you everything. Besides..." Her gaze softened as she looked at him, her hand tightening slightly on his shoulder. "I can't stand to see you like this. You deserve better, Asterius."
Asterius felt a lump form in his throat as he listened to her words. There was a sincerity in her voice that he hadn't expected, a genuine concern that made his heart ache. He had spent so long feeling worthless, convinced that no one cared about him. But now, here was someone—a god, no less—who not only cared but wanted to help him.
"I... I don't know what to say," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
"You don't have to say anything," Astral replied gently. "Just let me help you."
Asterius nodded slowly, still trying to process everything. "Okay," he finally said. "I'll try."
Astral smiled, a warm, reassuring smile that made Asterius's heart flutter. "Good. Now, finish your shower and get dressed. We have a lot of work to do."
Asterius nodded again, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he watched her step back. He finished his shower quickly, his mind racing with thoughts of what lay ahead. When he finally stepped out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist, he froze in his tracks.
Sitting on his bed, looking around the room with a curious expression, was the beautiful girl from before—Astral. She was dressed in elegant, goddess-like clothing, her presence radiating an aura of divine power. For a moment, Asterius simply stared at her, unable to believe what he was seeing.
"Um... excuse me?" he stammered, trying to find his voice. "What are you doing in my room?"
Astral looked up at him, her celestial blue eyes meeting his. She smiled softly, a gentle, knowing smile. "I told you, Asterius. I'm here to help you. This is my true form, the form I had before everything was taken from me. I'll be staying with you from now on."
Asterius blinked, his mind struggling to keep up. "But... why?"
"Because," Astral said, her voice filled with a quiet resolve, "you need someone to guide you, to help you unlock your true potential. You've been through so much, Asterius. You deserve to be strong, to be the person you were meant to be. And I'm going to help you achieve that."
Asterius felt his heart swell with gratitude and determination. For the first time in a long while, he didn't feel alone. He had someone by his side, someone who believed in him and wanted to help him grow. And for that, he was willing to do whatever it took.
"Alright," he said, his voice steady. "Let's start the training."