"Katy, grab that book for me, will you?" Shin called out from his chair, his nose buried in a dusty tome of ancient history.
Katy looked over from her own book, a rare smile playing on her lips as she placed a finger to mark her spot. She slid gracefully across the worn wooden floorboards, her long hair trailing behind her like a shadow. The room was small, the walls lined with books and scrolls, a single candle flickering in the corner. It was their sanctuary from the oppressive gloom of the Sector of Devota.
"Here you go, Shin," she said, passing him the book titled "The Fabled Cosmos."
He took it with a nod of thanks, his eyes never leaving the page he was reading. "Thanks, sis."
Her smile widened. "You know, you really should take a break from studying. It's not good for your eyes, or your soul, for that matter."
Shin chuckled, glancing up briefly. "I know, but I can't help it. I need to know everything there is about these constellations, especially Devota."
The disciple academy for constellation entry test was an event that shook the Sector every year. It was a grim reminder of their fate, a twisted tradition that had emerged from the ashes of the war. The strongest students were chosen to serve the constellations, to become their pawns in the endless game of power and dominance. For the siblings, it was a stark reality that had always loomed in the background, a specter they could never fully ignore.
Shin felt a cold knot in his stomach as he watched the selection process unfold from the safety of their hideaway. The chosen ones were paraded through the streets, their faces a mix of fear and hope, never knowing what awaited them beyond the gleaming gates of the academy. "It's barbaric," he murmured, his voice barely audible.
Katy laid a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry about it, Shin. We're safe here."
But the comfort in her voice was a lie, a thin veil over the fear that gnawed at their hearts. They both knew the truth—no one was truly safe from Devota's grasp. The constellation's hunger for power was insatiable, and she had a cruel streak that ran deeper than the darkest of nights.
"How much time until the next sacrifice selection?" Shin asked, his eyes never leaving the page.
Katy's smile faltered. "A week," she replied softly.
The sacrifice—a ritual so heinous it made the strongest of souls tremble. Each month, Devota demanded a life to maintain her power, to keep her place in the constellation hierarchy. It was a fate that could fall on any of them, a lottery of horror that no one wanted to win. The chosen were taken to the altar, their life essence bled into the very fabric of the cosmos to fuel the constellation's strength. It was said that those who watched the ceremony never forgot the screams, the smell of burning flesh, or the sight of a soul torn from its body.
Katy could see the tension coiled in Shin's shoulders, the way his knuckles whitened as he gripped the book.
"It's not fair," he said through clenched teeth. "We shouldn't have to live like this."
Katy's eyes searched his, a silent question lingering in their depths. "What can we do, Shin?"
Shin sighed, placing the book down and rubbing his eyes. "We can't change the world, not yet. We can only pray this tragedy to befall another person.
Katy nodded solemnly, her eyes clouding over with sadness. "I know, but every month it feels like we're losing more of ourselves to her hunger."
Shin's gaze snapped up to meet hers, a spark of determination flaring in his eyes. "But what if we could do something?" he said, his voice low and urgent.
Katy frowned. "What do you mean?"
Shin leaned back in his chair, his eyes alight with an idea. "What if we could find a way to pass the affinity test? To become disciples ourselves , in the academy you don't have to worry about be chosen as sacrifice.
Katy's eyes widened in shock. "You can't be serious. It's impossible. Only the strongest and most talented can even hope to be chosen. Besides, it's not like we have any fighting experience."
Shin nodded, understanding her fear but not willing to let it deter him. "I know, but think about it. If we could get close to her, maybe we could find a way to bring her down. To put an end to all of this."
Katy stared at him, her heart racing with a mix of fear and admiration. She knew her brother's spirit was unbreakable, but this was madness. Yet, something within her resonated with his words, a whisper of hope that had been buried deep for too long.
Their parents had been taken during the last war, Shin had been the one to hold her, to whisper reassurances that everything would be alright. He'd been her rock, her shield against the world's cruelty. And even though she had seen the grief etched into his soul, he had always been the brave one, the one who faced their fate with a fiery resolve.
Katy had watched her brother train in the shadows of their small home, his body moving with a grace that belied his lack of formal training. His dedication was unwavering, driven by a talent that seemed to burn within him. But she knew her own limitations—she had no such gift for combat or the arcane arts that powered the constellations.
"We could run," she suggested tentatively. "Find a place where Devota's influence doesn't reach."
Shin shook his head. "only disciples or above can leave"
Katy bit her lip, her eyes welling with tears. "Then what do we do?"
Shin's gaze grew distant, his mind racing. "We have to accept it," he said finally, his voice heavy with defeat. "We're not warriors. We're not disciples. We're just two people trying to survive.
Katy's heart sank, but she knew he was right. They had no way to fight Devota, no means to challenge her power. They were just a drop in an ocean of fear and despair.
Their conversation was cut short by a sharp knock on the door. The siblings exchanged a nervous glance. It was the district manager, a stooped man with a cruel glint in his eye. He didn't wait for an invitation, pushing the door open and barging in.
"Shin, Katy," he said, his voice oily. "It's that time of the month again. Your tribute to Devota."
Shin's stomach lurched. The tribute—a monthly tax in the form of supplies and labor to maintain the constellation's power. It was a reminder of their servitude, a demand that stung like a fresh wound each time it came.
"We don't have much," Katy said, her voice tight. "But we'll give what we can."
The manager sneered. "Your offerings are always lacking, but I'm sure Devota will appreciate the effort ,if you cant pay with money we can find another way.
Katy felt a chill run down her spine as his eyes lingered on her chest, a lecherous smile spreading across his face. "Perhaps, your sister's purity could be this month's tribute?" he suggested, his voice thick with implication.
Shin's fists clenched at his side, his jaw tightening with rage. "Get out," he snarled, his voice a low growl.
The manager's smile didn't falter. "Ah, so spirited. But remember, if your tribute isn't sufficient, it's your name that'll top the sacrifice list next time. And who knows, perhaps your sister's purity will be just what Devota needs to grant you favor."
Shin's rage boiled over, and he lunged at the manager. Katy screamed, trying to pull him back, but her grip was no match for his fury. The manager stumbled backward, his eyes wide with surprise.
But before Shin could land a blow, a powerful force slammed into him, sending him crashing into the bookshelves. Books rained down around him as stars danced before his eyes, the room spinning. He coughed, tasting blood, and pushed himself up to see what had hit him.
A towering figure in black armor, a helm shaped like a skull with glowing red eyes, had appeared in their doorway. "You dare raise your hand to one who speaks in Devota's name?" the knight growled, his voice echoing with the thunder of the cosmos.
Shin staggered to his feet, his vision swimming. The knight loomed over him, the symbol of the constellation etched into his chest plate, the very essence of the fear that ruled their lives.
"I-I didn't mean it," he stammered, his heart racing. "It's just... we have nothing left to give."
The knight's gaze flicked from Shin to Katy, then back again. "Your tribute is lacking," he said coldly. "But your sister... that intrigues me."
Shin felt a surge of protective fury, his hand shooting out to push Katy behind him. "Don't you dare lay a finger on her," he snarled.
The knight's eyes narrowed, the red glow in them dimming slightly. "You think you can challenge a servant of Devota?" His voice was a low rumble, a promise of doom.
The world is fallen after the war of constellation, the strongest one decided to divide the world and everyone rules is part with the iron fist and ther rules, shin is your average student who lives in one of the lowest sector of a terrible costellation name Devota who claim every month a random sacrifice from the people to increase her fable and surpass the other in the rank of the constellation, the list where the gods fight for position,power,life and death.
The story start when shin sister, Katy is chose to be the month sacrifice, to save is sister from a cruelsome death shin want to take her spot but he cant even dream to go near a cosntellation, in the end is weakness cost his sister life under is eyes and the laugh and scorn of devota who watch him like the god she is.
Desperate and on the verge of breaking a powerful entity listen to the rage burst of shin and make a pact with him.
"you want power? You want revenge ? You want to trump over this punk ass fake god? Well me too , i want a body you want the blood , make a deal with the forbitten one child and the armageddon shall fall over them.