The stars were falling.

Not one.

Not ten.

Thousands.

They streaked across the black sky like burning arrows.

Kairo stood in the middle of the underground station, staring upward.

The Celestial Mask covered half of his face.

The white side glowed with silver light.

The black side pulsed like a living shadow.

Mira stood several steps away.

Her sword was still in her hand.

But she wasn’t holding it tightly anymore.

Her fingers were shaking.

“Kairo.”

He didn’t answer.

“Kairo, listen to me.”

His eyes remained fixed on the ceiling.

He could see through it.

He could see the city.

The buildings.

The streets.

The people.

And beyond everything…

The stars.

But something else was there.

Something that shouldn’t have been.

A massive black crack had appeared across the sky.

It stretched from one horizon to another.

Kairo stared at it.

“What is that?”

Mira’s voice was quiet.

“The Gate.”

“What gate?”

“The Gate Between Worlds.”

Kairo slowly turned toward her.

“What did you do?”

Mira looked shocked.

“I didn’t do anything.”

“You said this was because of me.”

“It is.”

“Then how do we stop it?”

Mira looked toward Veyra.

He was standing in the tunnel.

Watching them.

Smiling.

Veyra raised his hand.

The ground beneath them cracked.

Mira immediately grabbed Kairo.

“Run!”

They ran.

A wave of black energy exploded behind them.

The underground station collapsed.

Kairo looked back.

Veyra was still standing.

Unharmed.

“He’s coming!”

Mira pulled Kairo through a narrow doorway.

They entered a dark tunnel.

The door closed behind them.

For several seconds, neither spoke.

Kairo removed the mask.

The moment it left his face…

His eyes returned to normal.

Mira stared at him.

“What?”

Kairo looked at her.

“You knew this would happen.”

“No.”

“You knew the mask existed.”

“Yes.”

“You knew about my mother.”

Mira looked away.

“Yes.”

Kairo’s anger returned.

“Then why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because you weren’t ready.”

“Ready for what?”

“To hear the truth.”

Kairo stepped closer.

“You don’t get to decide what truth I can handle.”

Mira remained silent.

Kairo’s voice became louder.

“My whole life has been a lie.”

“No.”

“Then what is it?”

“A protection.”

“From who?”

“Everyone.”

Kairo laughed bitterly.

“That’s not an answer.”

Mira looked at him.

“Your mother was part of the Starborn.”

Kairo froze.

“What?”

“She was one of the strongest.”

“Then why did she leave me?”

“She didn’t.”

“You said she was taken.”

“She was.”

“By Veyra?”

Mira shook her head.

“No.”

“Then who?”

Mira hesitated.

Kairo’s heart began beating faster.

“Who took my mother?”

Mira finally answered.

“The Guardians.”

Kairo stared.

“Who are the Guardians?”

“The people who protect the balance between worlds.”

“Then why would they take my mother?”

“Because they believed she had betrayed them.”

Kairo frowned.

“How?”

“She fell in love.”

Kairo froze.

“With my father?”

Mira nodded.

Kairo’s voice became quiet.

“Who was he?”

Mira didn’t answer.

Kairo grabbed her shoulder.

“Who was my father?”

Mira looked into his eyes.

“His name was Kael Ren.”

Kairo’s heart stopped.

“My name…”

“Yes.”

“Who was he?”

“The last Starborn warrior.”

Kairo stepped backward.

“The last?”

Mira nodded.

“Before you.”

Kairo stared at the floor.

“Then why didn’t anyone tell me?”

“Because your father wasn’t just a warrior.”

“What was he?”

Mira’s expression became dark.

“He was the one who opened the Gate.”

Silence.

Kairo shook his head.

“No.”

“Yes.”

“My father couldn’t have done that.”

“He did.”

“Why?”

“To save your mother.”

Kairo looked at her.

Mira continued.

“Your father discovered that the Guardians had captured her.”

“So he opened the Gate?”

“Yes.”

“To rescue her?”

“Yes.”

“What happened?”

“He succeeded.”

Kairo froze.

“He rescued her?”

“Yes.”

“Then where is she?”

Mira looked at him.

“That’s the question.”

A deep sound echoed through the tunnel.

Kairo turned.

“What was that?”

Mira raised her sword.

“Something followed us.”

The darkness moved.

Two red eyes appeared.

Then four.

Then six.

Kairo stepped backward.

“What are those?”

Mira whispered:

“Shadow Hounds.”

The creatures emerged.

They were massive.

Their bodies looked like black smoke.

Their claws scratched against the stone floor.

Mira stepped in front of Kairo.

“Stay behind me.”

Kairo looked at her.

“You always say that.”

“Because you never listen.”

The first creature attacked.

Mira swung her sword.

Light exploded.

The creature disappeared.

Two more jumped.

Mira moved quickly.

Slash.

Strike.

Light.

One creature vanished.

The other knocked Mira into the wall.

“Mira!”

Kairo ran toward her.

The creature turned.

It opened its mouth.

Kairo froze.

The Celestial Mask appeared in his hand.

He didn’t know how.

But his body knew what to do.

He put the mask on.

The world changed.

Everything became slow.

The creature’s movement became visible.

Kairo raised his hand.

A circle of stars appeared.

The creature screamed.

Then it disappeared.

Kairo removed the mask.

Mira stared at him.

“You controlled it.”

“What?”

“The power.”

Kairo looked at his hands.

“I don’t know how.”

“You used the Astral Pulse.”

“What is that?”

“Your father’s ability.”

Kairo froze.

“My father could do that?”

“Yes.”

“Then teach me.”

Mira stared.

“Why?”

“Because I need to find my mother.”

“You’re not ready.”

“Then make me ready.”

Mira remained silent.

Kairo stepped closer.

“Please.”

Something changed in Mira’s expression.

She looked away.

“Fine.”

Kairo smiled.

“But if you die…”

“I won’t.”

“I didn’t finish.”

“I know.”

Mira sighed.

“If you die, your mother will never forgive me.”

Kairo’s smile disappeared.

“Why?”

Mira looked at him.

“Because I promised her.”

“Promised her what?”

“That I would protect you.”

Kairo stared.

“When?”

Mira’s eyes became sad.

“The night she disappeared.”

---

They continued through the tunnel.

After nearly an hour, they reached an old metal door.

Mira placed her hand against it.

A symbol appeared.

The door opened.

Kairo stepped inside.

His mouth fell open.

A massive underground city stretched before them.

Buildings rose beneath the ground.

Thousands of glowing lights illuminated the streets.

People moved everywhere.

Some had glowing eyes.

Some had wings.

Some had horns.

Others looked completely human.

Kairo stared.

“What is this place?”

Mira smiled.

“Welcome to Lunaris.”

“The city beneath Astralis.”

Kairo looked around.

“This is real?”

“Very.”

“How has nobody found it?”

“Because nobody knows it exists.”

“Except the Starborn.”

“Yes.”

Kairo walked through the streets.

Everyone stared at him.

Whispers followed.

“That’s him.”

“The new Starborn.”

“He’s alive.”

“The Mask chose him.”

Kairo looked at Mira.

“Why are they staring?”

“Because you’re famous.”

“I’ve never heard of myself.”

“They have.”

“That’s terrifying.”

Mira laughed.

It was the first time Kairo had heard her laugh.

He smiled.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“You laughed.”

“So?”

“I didn’t think you could.”

Mira punched his shoulder.

“Keep talking and you’ll find out what else I can do.”

Kairo laughed.

For a moment…

Everything felt normal.

Then a little girl ran toward them.

She stopped in front of Kairo.

Her eyes widened.

“You’re him.”

Kairo crouched.

“Who?”

“The Starborn.”

Kairo smiled.

“Apparently.”

The girl reached toward his face.

Mira immediately stepped between them.

“Don’t touch the Mask.”

The girl stepped backward.

“I’m sorry.”

Kairo noticed her sadness.

“It’s okay.”

Mira looked at him.

“Don’t.”

“What?”

“Don’t get attached.”

“She’s a child.”

“Exactly.”

Kairo frowned.

“What does that mean?”

Mira didn’t answer.

The little girl suddenly looked at Kairo.

“Your mother is alive.”

Kairo froze.

“What?”

The girl smiled.

“I saw her.”

Mira grabbed the girl’s arm.

“Where?”

The girl pointed toward the northern district.

“The Black Tower.”

Mira’s face went pale.

Kairo noticed.

“What?”

Mira released the girl.

“We have to go.”

“Why?”

“Now.”

They ran.

Kairo followed.

“Mira!”

“Keep moving.”

“What’s in the Black Tower?”

“Nothing good.”

“Then why are we going there?”

“Because your mother might be there.”

Kairo stopped.

Mira turned.

“What are you doing?”

“Waiting.”

“For what?”

“The truth.”

Mira stared.

Kairo’s voice became serious.

“Tell me everything.”

“We don’t have time.”

“We have to.”

“Kairo…”

“Who is my mother?”

Mira remained silent.

Kairo stepped closer.

“Why did the Guardians take her?”

Silence.

“Why did my father open the Gate?”

Nothing.

“And why…”

Kairo’s voice broke.

“…did you promise her to protect me?”

Mira looked away.

Kairo whispered:

“Because you loved her.”

Mira’s eyes filled with tears.

Kairo froze.

“You loved my mother.”

Mira shook her head.

“Not the way you think.”

“Then how?”

“She was my sister.”

Kairo stopped breathing.

“What?”

“Your mother was my sister.”

The world seemed to disappear.

Mira continued.

“Her name was Lyra Solen.”

Kairo stared.

“My mother’s name was Lyra Ren.”

“She took your father’s name.”

“Why?”

“Because she loved him.”

Kairo looked at her.

“Then you’re my…”

Mira smiled sadly.

“Your aunt.”

Kairo couldn’t speak.

He looked at the girl who had been fighting beside him.

The girl who had saved his life.

The girl who had known his mother.

His family.

His past.

Everything.

“You knew who I was.”

“Yes.”

“From the beginning.”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because your mother told me not to.”

Kairo’s eyes filled with tears.

“What else did she tell you?”

Mira looked at him.

“She told me that if you ever awakened the Mask…”

She paused.

“…I had to take you to the Black Tower.”

Kairo stared.

“Why?”

Mira looked toward the enormous black tower rising above the underground city.

“Because that’s where she left the truth.”

---

The Black Tower was silent.

Too silent.

Kairo and Mira entered through enormous doors.

Inside, the walls were covered with ancient symbols.

Kairo recognized some of them.

The same symbols appeared on the Celestial Mask.

“This place is connected to it.”

Mira nodded.

“Yes.”

“How?”

“Your father built it.”

Kairo stopped.

“My father built this?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“To hide the Mask.”

Kairo touched the wall.

“Why would he hide it?”

“Because Veyra wanted it.”

Kairo’s expression hardened.

“Then why did he let me find it?”

“He didn’t.”

Kairo looked at her.

Mira’s voice became quiet.

“The Mask found you.”

Kairo stared.

“What does that mean?”

“It chooses its owner.”

“Why me?”

Mira shook her head.

“We don’t know.”

Suddenly, a voice echoed through the tower.

“Because you’re not human.”

Kairo turned.

A figure appeared at the top of the staircase.

Kairo froze.

The figure wore a white cloak.

Long silver hair.

Golden eyes.

A familiar face.

Kairo couldn’t breathe.

“Mom?”

The woman smiled.

“Kairo.”

He ran.

Mira grabbed him.

“Wait.”

“That’s my mother!”

“Kairo, stop!”

He struggled.

“Let me go!”

The woman watched.

Her expression was sad.

“Kairo.”

He stopped.

She looked exactly like the woman from his memories.

His mother.

Alive.

He whispered:

“Mom.”

She stepped down the stairs.

“I’ve waited so long.”

Kairo’s eyes filled with tears.

“Why did you leave me?”

Her face broke.

“I didn’t.”

“You disappeared.”

“I was taken.”

“By the Guardians?”

She nodded.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because they wanted to use me to control your father.”

Kairo froze.

“Did it work?”

“No.”

“Then where is Dad?”

His mother looked away.

Kairo’s heart sank.

“Mom.”

She closed her eyes.

“Your father is dead.”

“No.”

“Kairo…”

“No!”

His power exploded.

The tower shook.

Mira grabbed him.

“Kairo!”

His mother cried.

“I am sorry.”

“No!”

Kairo fell to his knees.

“My father isn’t dead.”

His mother walked toward him.

She touched his face.

“I wish he wasn’t.”

Kairo cried.

“Then why didn’t you come back?”

“Because I couldn’t.”

“Why?”

“Because I made a deal.”

Kairo looked up.

“What deal?”

His mother whispered:

“With Veyra.”

Silence.

Mira immediately drew her sword.

Kairo stared at his mother.

“You made a deal with him?”

“I had no choice.”

“What did you promise?”

His mother looked at the Mask.

“Your power.”

Kairo froze.

“My power?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“To save your father.”

Kairo stared.

His mother continued:

“Veyra promised to return him.”

“Return him?”

“Your father wasn’t killed.”

Kairo’s heart stopped.

“Then where is he?”

His mother looked toward the ceiling.

“Beyond the Gate.”

Kairo whispered:

“He’s alive.”

“Yes.”

“Where?”

“The other world.”

Kairo looked at Mira.

Then back at his mother.

“Then we go there.”

His mother shook her head.

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because that’s exactly what Veyra wants.”

Kairo’s voice became hard.

“I don’t care.”

“Kairo.”

“I’ve spent my whole life without answers.”

He stood.

“I’m done.”

His mother grabbed his hand.

“Listen to me.”

“No.”

“You don’t understand.”

“I understand enough.”

“No!”

Her voice echoed through the tower.

Kairo froze.

His mother looked terrified.

“Veyra doesn’t want your power.”

Kairo stared.

“Then what?”

She whispered:

“He wants you.”

Silence.

“Why?”

“Because you are the only one who can open the Gate permanently.”

Kairo looked at the Celestial Mask.

His mother continued.

“Your father opened it once.”

“He can open it again.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because he’s dead.”

Kairo shook his head.

“You just said he was alive.”

“His body is dead.”

Kairo froze.

“Then what is alive?”

His mother looked at him.

“His soul.”

Suddenly…

The lights went out.

Mira raised her sword.

“He’s here.”

A deep laugh echoed through the tower.

Veyra.

Kairo’s mother stepped backward.

“No.”

The doors exploded.

Veyra entered.

Behind him stood hundreds of Eclipse warriors.

Veyra looked at Kairo.

“Hello again.”

Kairo stepped forward.

“You lied to me.”

Veyra smiled.

“About what?”

“My father.”

“He is alive.”

“His body is dead.”

“That is true.”

“Then why do you want me?”

Veyra looked at the Mask.

“Because your father gave me something.”

“What?”

Veyra smiled.

“His soul.”

Kairo froze.

“He gave me his soul in exchange for your mother’s freedom.”

Kairo’s mother closed her eyes.

“No.”

Veyra continued.

“Your father sacrificed himself.”

Kairo’s fists tightened.

“You’re lying.”

“Am I?”

Veyra raised his hand.

A black portal opened.

Inside…

Kairo saw a man.

Standing in darkness.

A man with silver hair.

His father.

Kairo couldn’t breathe.

“Dad.”

The man looked at him.

“Kairo.”

Kairo stepped forward.

“Father!”

His mother screamed.

“Don’t!”

The portal began closing.

Kairo ran toward it.

His father shouted:

“Don’t trust Veyra!”

The portal disappeared.

Kairo stopped.

Silence.

Then Veyra smiled.

“Now you understand.”

Kairo turned toward him.

“You want me to open the Gate.”

“Yes.”

“And you’ll return my father.”

“Yes.”

Kairo stared.

“What happens if I refuse?”

Veyra looked at his mother.

“Then I kill her.”

Kairo froze.

Mira stepped forward.

“Don’t listen to him.”

Veyra smiled.

“He has a choice.”

Kairo looked at his mother.

She was crying.

“Kairo.”

He looked at her.

“Don’t.”

“Mom…”

“Whatever happens…”

She stepped closer.

“…don’t open the Gate.”

Veyra raised his hand.

Dark energy surrounded her.

Kairo’s eyes widened.

“Stop!”

Veyra smiled.

“Choose.”

Kairo looked at his mother.

Then at Mira.

Then at the Celestial Mask.

He remembered his father.

His mother’s voice.

The stars.

The Gate.

Everything.

Kairo put the Mask on.

Mira screamed.

“Kairo!”

The entire tower shook.

The black crack in the sky expanded.

Veyra laughed.

“Yes.”

Kairo’s eyes became galaxies.

“I’ll open the Gate.”

His mother stared at him.

“No!”

Kairo looked at Veyra.

“But not for you.”

Veyra’s smile disappeared.

Kairo raised his hand.

The stars appeared around him.

“I’ll open it…”

The tower began collapsing.

“…so I can destroy it.”

Veyra stared.

“What?”

Kairo’s power exploded.

A massive portal opened above the city.

But instead of darkness…

A beautiful world appeared.

A world filled with floating islands.

Golden oceans.

Thousands of stars.

And at the center…

A massive white castle.

Kairo stared.

His father stood on the castle balcony.

But he wasn’t alone.

Behind him stood a woman.

Kairo’s eyes widened.

Mira stepped closer.

“Who is that?”

Kairo’s mother looked at the portal.

Her face turned pale.

“That’s impossible.”

“Mom?”

She whispered:

“She’s the Queen of the Other World.”

Veyra smiled.

Kairo looked at him.

“You knew.”

“Of course.”

“Why?”

“Because she’s the reason your father is still alive.”

Kairo stared at the woman.

The Queen looked directly at him.

Then she smiled.

The stars began screaming.

Kairo heard a voice inside his mind.

Not his mother’s.

Not his father’s.

Something ancient.

Something powerful.

Something that had been waiting for him since birth.

Come home, Starborn.

Kairo stepped toward the portal.

Mira grabbed his hand.

“Don’t.”

Kairo looked at her.

“I have to.”

“Why?”

He looked at his father.

Then at the mysterious Queen.

Then at Veyra.

“Because the answers are there.”

Mira shook her head.

“And if you don’t come back?”

Kairo smiled sadly.

“Then come find me.”

Mira’s eyes filled with tears.

“Kairo.”

He stepped into the portal.

The world exploded with light.

And the last thing he heard before disappearing…

Was Veyra’s voice.

“You fool.”

Kairo turned.

Veyra was smiling.

“You just opened the door to the place that destroyed your father.”

The portal closed.

Mira stood alone.

Kairo was gone.

His mother was gone.

The Black Tower was collapsing.

And somewhere beyond the stars…

Kairo Ren had entered another world.

A world where his father was alive.

A world ruled by an unknown Queen.

A world where ancient gods waited.

And where the truth about the Celestial Mask…

Was finally about to be revealed.

TO BE CONTINUED…