The Kingdom Above the Clouds
The Boy Who Collected Broken Stars · July 22, 2026
The clouds were below them.
The sky was above them.
And somewhere between the two…
Aren and Liora were falling.
“WHY ARE WE FALLING AGAIN?”
Aren’s voice echoed through the endless sky.
Liora screamed back:
“BECAUSE THE PORTAL BROKE!”
“WHY?”
“I DON’T KNOW!”
“YOU’RE THE MAGIC GIRL!”
“I’m not a magic girl!”
“YOU CREATE PORTALS!”
“THAT DOESN’T MAKE ME A MAGIC GIRL!”
“WHAT DOES IT MAKE YOU?”
“I DON’T KNOW!”
Aren looked down.
The ground was getting closer.
Very quickly.
“LIORA!”
“What?”
“WE’RE ABOUT TO DIE!”
“Oh.”
Aren stared at her.
“OH?”
“Don’t worry.”
“WHY?”
Liora grabbed his hand.
“Because I have a plan.”
Aren sighed.
“Please don’t say we’re going to jump.”
Liora smiled.
“We’re going to jump.”
“LIORA!”
They jumped.
A silver portal opened beneath them.
They disappeared.
And landed directly inside a fountain.
SPLASH!
Aren came out of the water first.
He was completely soaked.
He looked around.
Hundreds of people were staring at him.
Aren slowly turned toward Liora.
She was sitting beside him in the fountain.
“Please tell me we’re dead.”
Liora looked around.
“No.”
Aren sighed.
“That’s unfortunate.”
Suddenly…
A guard shouted:
“INTRUDERS!”
Aren and Liora looked at each other.
Aren whispered:
“Run?”
Liora nodded.
“Run.”
They jumped out of the fountain.
And ran.
The Kingdom Above the Clouds was unlike anything Aren had ever seen.
Huge golden towers floated in the sky.
Bridges made of light connected islands.
Magical trains flew between buildings.
Strange creatures walked beside humans.
And everywhere…
People were looking at Aren.
Not because he was famous.
Because something was wrong.
Aren had no shadow.
He looked down.
His shadow was missing.
“What happened to my shadow?”
Liora grabbed his arm.
“Don’t worry.”
“Why don’t I have a shadow?”
“Because we’re in the Shadowless Kingdom.”
Aren stared at her.
“That doesn’t explain anything.”
“Everyone here loses their shadow when they enter.”
“Why?”
“Because the kingdom’s star controls them.”
Aren looked up.
At the center of the kingdom…
A massive golden star floated above a palace.
The Second Broken Star.
Aren could feel it.
It was calling to him.
“That’s it.”
Liora nodded.
“Yes.”
“The second star.”
“Yes.”
Aren smiled.
“Let’s take it.”
Liora stared at him.
“Just like that?”
“Yes.”
“From the palace?”
“Yes.”
“Where the king lives?”
“Yes.”
“Where thousands of guards are waiting?”
Aren thought about it.
“Okay.”
He paused.
“Maybe not just like that.”
Liora laughed.
“You’re learning.”
Suddenly…
A loud announcement echoed through the kingdom.
“THE ROYAL HUNT BEGINS IN ONE HOUR!”
Aren looked at Liora.
“What is the Royal Hunt?”
“An ancient competition.”
“What’s the prize?”
“The winner gets one wish.”
Aren’s eyes widened.
“Any wish?”
“Almost.”
Aren smiled.
“Then we’ll win.”
Liora stared.
“Why?”
“Because we’ll wish for the star.”
Liora’s smile disappeared.
“Aren…”
“What?”
“The Royal Hunt is dangerous.”
“How dangerous?”
“People die.”
Aren looked at the palace.
“Then we better not lose.”
Liora stared at him.
“You really are crazy.”
Aren smiled.
“You like me anyway.”
Liora immediately looked away.
“Don’t remind me.”
Aren laughed.
The Royal Hunt began at sunset.
Hundreds of competitors gathered in a massive arena.
Warriors.
Mages.
Monsters.
Assassins.
And one very confused boy.
Aren looked around.
“Why is everyone staring at me?”
Liora looked at him.
“Because you’re wearing a kitchen apron.”
Aren looked down.
He was still wearing the apron from the village.
“Oh.”
Liora smiled.
“You look adorable.”
Aren’s face turned red.
“I do not.”
“You do.”
“I look dangerous.”
“Of course.”
“Stop laughing.”
“I can’t.”
A bell rang.
The gates opened.
Everyone rushed forward.
Aren and Liora ran together.
The first challenge was a giant maze.
Aren looked at the walls.
“Which way?”
Liora pointed left.
“Left.”
Aren went right.
“Why did you go right?”
“Because you said left.”
“Exactly.”
“I don’t trust left.”
“Why?”
“Bad experiences.”
Liora stared.
“With directions?”
“Yes.”
They ran deeper into the maze.
Suddenly…
A giant creature jumped from the wall.
Aren screamed.
Liora screamed.
The creature screamed.
Everyone froze.
Aren slowly raised his sword.
“Did you just scream?”
The creature nodded.
Aren lowered his sword.
“Okay.”
He pointed toward the exit.
“Go.”
The creature ran away.
Liora stared at him.
“What?”
“You just scared a monster.”
“I have that effect.”
They continued.
Finally, they reached the end.
But another competitor was waiting.
A tall warrior with a red Destiny Star.
He smiled.
“You two.”
Aren pointed at himself.
“Us?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to fight you.”
Aren looked at Liora.
“Do I know him?”
“No.”
“Then why does he want to fight me?”
“Because you’re annoying.”
Aren frowned.
“That’s not a reason.”
The warrior attacked.
Aren jumped.
The warrior’s sword struck the ground.
Aren rolled away.
Liora raised her hand.
“Wait!”
The warrior attacked again.
Aren blocked.
The impact sent him flying.
He crashed into a wall.
“Aren!”
He stood.
“I’m fine.”
The warrior laughed.
“You’re weak.”
Aren’s eyes narrowed.
“I’ve heard that before.”
The warrior attacked.
This time…
Aren didn’t move.
He waited.
At the last second…
He stepped aside.
The warrior missed.
Aren grabbed his arm.
Then threw him over his shoulder.
BOOM!
The warrior landed on the ground.
Everyone stared.
Aren stared too.
“Did I just do that?”
Liora smiled.
“Yes.”
Aren looked at the warrior.
“Sorry.”
The warrior stood.
He looked confused.
Then he laughed.
“Interesting.”
He walked away.
Aren looked at Liora.
“Who was that?”
“Someone who will probably become your friend.”
“Why?”
“Because anime.”
Aren frowned.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
The final challenge began at midnight.
Only three teams remained.
Aren and Liora.
A group of royal warriors.
And a mysterious masked competitor.
The three teams entered the final arena.
A giant platform floating above the clouds.
The King of the Shadowless Kingdom watched from his throne.
Beside him stood the Crown Prince.
Aren immediately recognized him.
The prince had no shadow.
But above his head…
Was the Second Broken Star.
The prince smiled.
“Welcome.”
Aren stepped forward.
“We want the star.”
The entire arena became silent.
Liora whispered:
“Aren.”
“What?”
“You can’t just say that.”
“Why?”
“It’s rude.”
Aren looked at the prince.
“Sorry.”
The prince laughed.
“I like him.”
Liora sighed.
“Of course you do.”
The prince stood.
“Then let the final battle begin.”
The masked competitor attacked first.
He moved incredibly fast.
Aren barely dodged.
Liora created a shield.
The masked man destroyed it.
Aren attacked.
The man blocked.
Aren jumped.
The man kicked him.
Aren flew across the arena.
“Liora!”
She ran toward him.
The masked man suddenly appeared behind her.
Aren saw it.
“Liora!”
He jumped between them.
The attack hit him.
Aren fell.
Liora screamed.
“Aren!”
He looked up.
“I’m okay.”
“You’re bleeding!”
Aren touched his forehead.
“That’s new.”
Liora’s eyes became bright.
A powerful silver light exploded from her body.
The entire arena shook.
The masked man stepped backward.
“What are you?”
Liora’s eyes glowed violet.
Aren stared.
He had never seen her like this.
The masked man whispered:
“The Star Guardian.”
Liora froze.
Aren looked at her.
“The what?”
The masked man removed his mask.
Aren recognized him.
Lord Vael.
Again.
Aren shouted:
“YOU!”
Lord Vael smiled.
“You really need to stop being surprised every time you see me.”
Liora attacked.
Lord Vael blocked.
Their powers collided.
The sky turned black.
The royal guards ran.
The King stood.
“Stop!”
Nobody listened.
Lord Vael grabbed Liora.
Aren rushed toward them.
“LET HER GO!”
Lord Vael laughed.
“Still protecting her?”
Aren attacked.
Lord Vael easily blocked him.
“You don’t understand.”
“What?”
“She’s not your enemy.”
Aren froze.
Lord Vael looked at Liora.
“She is the reason you’re alive.”
Liora screamed:
“Don’t listen to him!”
Lord Vael smiled.
Then he disappeared.
The battle stopped.
Aren turned toward Liora.
“What’s happening?”
“I don’t know.”
“You’re lying.”
Liora looked at him.
“I don’t know everything.”
“But you know something.”
“Yes.”
“What?”
Liora looked toward the Second Broken Star.
“The star isn’t the prize.”
Aren frowned.
“Then what is?”
“The person who owns it.”
Aren looked at the Crown Prince.
The prince was standing silently.
Suddenly…
His shadow appeared.
Everyone screamed.
Aren stared.
The prince’s shadow was enormous.
It stretched across the entire arena.
And inside it…
Were hundreds of trapped souls.
Aren whispered:
“What is that?”
The prince smiled.
“My destiny.”
Aren stepped backward.
“You’re the one stealing people’s shadows.”
The prince laughed.
“Not stealing.”
“Collecting.”
“Why?”
“Because shadows contain memories.”
Aren froze.
Memories.
The same thing he saw inside Broken Stars.
The prince looked at him.
“You collect stars.”
“I collect shadows.”
“Together…”
He raised his hand.
“…we can control destiny.”
Liora stepped forward.
“You’re insane.”
The prince smiled.
“Perhaps.”
He raised his hand.
The entire kingdom shook.
People began screaming.
Their shadows were being pulled from their bodies.
Aren felt something inside his chest.
His Eclipse Star awakened.
A silver light exploded.
The stolen shadows stopped.
The prince stared.
“Impossible.”
Aren looked at his hands.
“I don’t know what I’m doing.”
Liora stood beside him.
“Then trust yourself.”
Aren looked at her.
“Do you trust me?”
“With my life.”
He smiled.
“That’s enough.”
They attacked together.
Liora created a massive shield.
Aren jumped from it.
He flew toward the prince.
The prince released thousands of shadows.
Aren touched one.
Suddenly…
He saw a memory.
A little boy.
Crying.
His mother disappearing.
Another shadow.
A young warrior.
Losing his family.
Another.
A girl.
Being betrayed.
Aren realized the truth.
The prince wasn’t collecting shadows for power.
He was collecting people’s pain.
He had been absorbing their memories.
Their suffering.
Their loneliness.
Aren stopped.
The prince stared.
“Why aren’t you attacking?”
Aren lowered his sword.
“Because I understand.”
The prince froze.
“You don’t need their shadows.”
“What?”
“You think you’re protecting them.”
Aren looked at the trapped souls.
“But you’re only carrying their pain.”
The prince’s eyes filled with tears.
“My people suffer.”
“Yes.”
“Then why shouldn’t I take their pain?”
“Because pain isn’t something you can steal.”
The prince looked confused.
Aren stepped closer.
“People need to remember.”
“Even painful memories.”
“Because memories make us who we are.”
The prince slowly lowered his hand.
Aren looked at Liora.
She smiled.
The prince began crying.
For the first time…
His shadow disappeared.
The trapped souls were released.
The entire kingdom became silent.
Then the Second Broken Star fell from the sky.
Aren caught it.
The moment he touched it…
Another vision appeared.
A little girl.
Liora.
Standing beside him.
But this time…
Aren saw something else.
A woman.
She had the same face as Liora.
But she was older.
She was crying.
And she was holding a baby.
Aren.
Then a voice whispered:
“Take him far away.”
The woman handed the baby to someone.
Aren couldn’t see who.
Then…
The woman disappeared.
The vision ended.
Aren opened his eyes.
Liora was staring at him.
“What did you see?”
Aren looked at her.
“My mother.”
Liora froze.
“She was alive.”
Liora’s face changed.
“Yes.”
“Where is she?”
Liora didn’t answer.
Aren stepped closer.
“Liora.”
“I don’t know.”
“You’re lying.”
Liora shook her head.
“I don’t know where she is now.”
“But you knew her.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Liora looked down.
“Because she was the Queen of the Star Guardians.”
Aren stared.
“Your mother?”
Liora nodded.
Aren’s mind raced.
Then he remembered the vision.
The woman holding him.
The same silver hair.
The same violet eyes.
Aren looked at Liora.
“She’s your mother too.”
Liora’s eyes widened.
Silence.
Aren suddenly understood.
“You and I…”
Liora shook her head.
“No.”
“Are we related?”
“No!”
“Then what?”
Liora looked at him.
Her eyes were filled with tears.
“We were supposed to be enemies.”
Aren froze.
“Why?”
“Because you were the heir of the Eclipse Star.”
“And you?”
“The heir of the Star Guardians.”
Aren stared.
“Then why do you love me?”
Liora’s voice broke.
“Because I chose you.”
Aren’s heart stopped.
Liora stepped closer.
“Everyone told me what I was supposed to be.”
“Your enemy.”
“Your destroyer.”
“The person who would kill you.”
“But I never believed them.”
Aren looked at her.
“Why?”
Liora smiled through her tears.
“Because the first time I met you…”
She touched his face.
“…you were just a boy who shared his last piece of bread with a starving girl.”
Aren froze.
A memory appeared.
Aren was five.
Liora was five.
They were sitting beneath a tree.
Aren was giving her half of an apple.
He smiled.
“You can have it.”
The memory disappeared.
Aren whispered:
“I remember.”
Liora smiled.
“You were the first person who ever chose me.”
Aren’s eyes filled with tears.
“And you’re the first person who ever made me feel like I wasn’t broken.”
Liora hugged him.
Aren held her tightly.
Then…
The Second Broken Star entered his chest.
The two stars combined.
A massive silver light exploded.
Aren screamed.
Liora grabbed his hand.
Seven stars appeared in the sky.
Two were glowing.
Five remained dark.
Then a voice echoed across the kingdom.
“Two collected.”
Everyone looked up.
The sky turned black.
A massive eye appeared among the clouds.
Aren stared.
“Who is that?”
Liora whispered:
“Your father.”
Aren’s blood turned cold.
A man’s voice echoed through the sky.
“My son.”
Aren stepped forward.
“Show yourself!”
The clouds opened.
A giant figure appeared.
Aren couldn’t see his face.
But he knew the voice.
His father.
“You have collected two stars.”
Aren clenched his fists.
“I’ll collect all seven.”
His father laughed.
“And when you do…”
The sky began cracking.
“…you will finally remember what you did to your mother.”
Aren froze.
“What?”
The voice disappeared.
The sky returned to normal.
Aren stood in silence.
Liora looked at him.
“Aren…”
He turned toward her.
“What did I do?”
Liora’s face became pale.
“I don’t know.”
Aren stared at her.
This time…
He believed her.
Because she was afraid.
Truly afraid.
Aren took her hand.
“Then we’ll find out.”
Liora looked at him.
“Together?”
“Together.”
The Crown Prince walked toward them.
“Take the star.”
Aren looked at him.
“You don’t want it?”
“No.”
“Why?”
The prince smiled.
“Because I finally understand.”
He looked at his people.
“Destiny isn’t something we control.”
“Then what is it?”
The prince looked at Aren.
“Something we choose.”
Aren smiled.
He and Liora stepped toward the portal.
Before leaving…
The prince called out.
“Starless Boy!”
Aren turned.
“Yes?”
The prince smiled.
“Your journey will be painful.”
Aren looked at Liora.
She held his hand.
He smiled.
“Then I’ll bring someone who makes it worth it.”
Liora’s cheeks turned red.
“You’re getting better at this.”
“At what?”
“Being romantic.”
Aren laughed.
They stepped into the portal.
But as they disappeared…
Aren heard a whisper.
Not from his father.
Not from Lord Vael.
From inside his own mind.
“Three stars remain.”
Aren froze.
“Wait.”
Liora looked at him.
“What?”
Aren looked toward the dark sky.
“Three?”
Liora frowned.
“There are five.”
Aren shook his head.
“No.”
His eyes glowed silver.
“Only three.”
Liora’s face became pale.
“What do you mean?”
Aren whispered:
“Two of the Broken Stars…”
He looked at his hands.
“…have already been collected.”
Liora stared.
“By whom?”
Aren slowly looked toward the portal.
A terrifying realization appeared in his eyes.
“Someone else.”
Far away…
In a dark castle…
A mysterious woman with silver hair stood before a black throne.
Five Broken Stars floated around her.
Two were glowing.
Three were dark.
She smiled.
“Let him collect the rest.”
A shadow appeared behind her.
“Why?”
The woman turned.
Because the moment Aren collects the seventh star…
She smiled.
“…his memories will return.”
And for the first time…
The woman revealed her face.
She looked exactly like Liora.