The wind shrieked as Riku and Erynn ascended the Astral Peaks. The golden glow from the altar had been extinguished, leaving only the harsh reality of the mountain before them. Snow blew through the air in relentless flurries, and the path had narrowed to a treacherous trail carved into the cliffside. Every step was precarious, as icy ground threatened to send them tumbling into the chasm below.
"How much farther to this mentor of yours?" Riku asked, his voice barely audible over the wind.
Erynn glanced back at him, her expression as grim as the weather. "Not far. If we keep moving, we should reach his sanctuary by nightfall."
The kitten poked its head out of Riku's satchel, blinking at the snow before retreating with a soft mewl. Riku couldn't blame it—he'd rather curl up somewhere warm, too.
The trail opened into a sheltered valley between two peaks. Here, the air was deathly still, the crushing hum of celestial energy pressing down on them again. Riku's breath came in ragged gasps, his legs aching with exhaustion.
"Is this it?" he asked, looking around.
Erynn nodded. "The Sanctuary of Lumis. He should be here.
The valley was dominated by a great stone structure carved straight into the mountain face. Riku had never seen anything like it: the spires and carvings on it glowed with soft gold light, the designs so intricate they seemed to evoke the runes on the altar.
Erynn walked ahead of them, lighting their way with her staff. As they approached the sanctuary, the doors - two massive slabs of shimmering crystal - swung open with a deep, resonant hum.
Inside, the air was warm, and the walls exuded a soft, pacifying light. The gigantic room was full of rows upon rows of shelves holding antique books and relics, testifying to the knowledge it contained within.
There, in the center of the room, was a figure.
The man was tall and gaunt, his silver hair sweeping past his shoulders. He wore robes of deep indigo and gold, the fabric shimmering with an ethereal glow. His piercing violet eyes locked onto Riku, and for a moment, it felt as if the man could see directly into his soul.
"So," the man said, his voice smooth and commanding. "This is the bearer of the Shadow Star."
Riku swallowed hard. "That's me, I suppose."
The man looked at Erynn. "You should have brought him here sooner."
"It wasn't safe," Erynn said, with a little bit of a defensive tone. "The village needed protection, and—"
The man raised his hand, stopping her from talking. "Excuses. But what's done is done. The question now is whether he can survive what lies ahead.
"I'm standing right here, you know," Riku said, bristling. "And I'd really appreciate it if people stopped talking about me like I'm some lost cause."
The man arched an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Feisty. That's good. You'll need that spirit if you hope to control the darkness within you."
Erynn stepped forward. "Master Lumis, will you help him?"
He sat in still silence, studying Riku for what felt like an eternity. Lumis finally nodded his great head. "I will. But the path that is ahead of me is a deadly one. And should you fall, boy, then it is not merely yourself which the Shadow Star shall engulf and consume—and everything you hold dear and everyone whom you love and trust.
The smaller chamber was bare and plain, its walls left blank except for a single glowing glyph in the center of the floor. Lumis stood beside that glyph, his face tight.
"This is the Starbound Seal," he explained. "It will suppress the Shadow Star's influence temporarily, allowing you to confront its essence directly. If you can face the shadow within and emerge intact, you will gain a measure of control over its power."
"And if I don't?" Riku asked, though he suspected he already knew the answer.
"You will be lost," Lumis said simply.
"Great," Riku muttered. "No pressure."
Erynn touched his shoulder. "You have made it this far, Riku. I believe in you."
Riku nodded, attempting to draw upon some semblance of confidence. He stepped into the glyph, and the light beneath his feet flared to life. The mark on his chest burned as the whispers returned, louder than ever.
Foolish boy.
You cannot escape me.
Lumis raised his hands and spoke in a language Riku did not understand. Light began to emanate from the glyph, casting all over him.
The world wrenched.
Riku found himself within an enormous, dark emptiness. The floor before him was slick and chill, stretching out in all directions endlessly. Above, crimson-streaked clouds thrashed across the sky.
"You again," came the voice that was familiar to Riku.
The Shadow Star materialized before him, its cloaked form towering over him. Its red eyes glowed with malice, and the air around it pulsed with power.
"You cannot win this fight," it said, its voice echoing in the void. "I am a part of you. To destroy me is to destroy yourself."
Riku clenched his fists. "I'm not here to destroy you. I'm here to take back control."
Laughter rolled through the void from the Shadow Star. "Control? You think you can control me? You are but a spark in the darkness, boy. I am eternity."
"Yeah?" Riku returned. "Well, maybe it's time someone flipped on the lights."
The Shadow Star roared. Its form shifted into the shape of a gargantuan, serpentine beast. Its dark coils writhed as it launched itself at him, its jaws snapping.
Riku dodged, calling upon his own strength. Dark tendrils of energy burst from his hands and into the beast. It howled, recoiling, but the exertion sent Riku stumbling back, his energy dwindling.
You are weak, the Shadow Star sneered. You cannot survive without me.
"Perhaps not," Riku said through clenched teeth. "But I'm finished being your puppet."
The mark on his chest flared, and for a moment, he felt the presence of something else—a warm, golden light pushing back the darkness.
The Shadow Star recoiled, its form flickering.
"This. this is not possible!" it hissed.
Riku stepped forward, the light growing stronger. "I don't need to destroy you. I just need to remind you who's in charge.
And with that last burst of determination, he released the light upon the Shadow Star.
The darkness shuddered and the creature let out a scream, then dissolved into mist.
Riku's eyes opened. He was back in the chamber, the glyph's light dying out beneath him. He swayed, just keeping himself from falling over.
Lumis observed him, a small smile playing across his lips. "Well done.
Erynn rushed to his side, a look of mixed relief and pride on her face. "You did it."
"Barely," Riku said, trying to clear his dry throat.
"It's not over yet, but you've taken that first step today," warned Lumis. "The Shadow Star doesn't give easily, but it knows that it now has met a match.
Riku nodded, exhaustion tugging at his heels. But now for the first time in months he felt he stood a possibility.