The Boy Without a Star
The Boy Who Collected Broken Stars · July 22, 2026
In the Kingdom of Elarion, every child was born beneath the stars.
Not ordinary stars.
These were called Destiny Stars—small glowing crystals that appeared in the sky on the night a child was born. Each star carried a mysterious power connected to the person below.
Some stars were blue, giving their owners the ability to control water.
Some were red, granting incredible strength.
Some were golden, blessing their owners with healing abilities.
And some were violet, giving their owners the power to see the future.
Every person had a star.
Every person…
Except Aren Vale.
Aren was seventeen years old and had spent his entire life hearing the same sentence.
“The boy without a star.”
He heard it from villagers.
He heard it from merchants.
He heard it from children who were younger than him.
Sometimes, he even heard it from people who were supposed to be his friends.
But Aren had stopped caring.
At least, that was what he told himself.
“Move!”
Aren jumped aside as a wooden cart came rushing toward him.
The cart stopped just inches from his feet.
A young man sitting on top of it shouted.
“Hey! Watch where you’re standing!”
Aren stared at him.
“You almost ran me over.”
The young man laughed.
“Then you should have moved faster.”
Aren looked at the glowing blue star floating above the man’s head.
A Water Star.
Of course.
People with Destiny Stars always thought they were better than everyone else.
Aren picked up the basket of apples that had fallen from his hands.
“Sorry, Your Majesty.”
The man frowned.
“What did you call me?”
Aren smiled.
“Nothing.”
The man drove away.
Aren watched the cart disappear.
“Idiot.”
“Talking to yourself again?”
Aren turned.
A girl was standing behind him.
Her name was Mira.
She was one of the few people in the village who didn’t treat Aren like he was cursed.
She had short brown hair and a bright yellow Destiny Star.
A Light Star.
Mira crossed her arms.
“You’re going to be late.”
“For what?”
She stared at him.
“The festival.”
Aren’s face changed.
“Oh.”
“You forgot?”
“Maybe.”
“How can you forget the biggest night of the year?”
Aren shrugged.
“Because I don’t care.”
Mira stared at him.
“Liar.”
Aren smiled.
“Maybe.”
Every year, the people of Elarion celebrated the Night of Falling Stars.
According to ancient legends, once every hundred years, thousands of Destiny Stars fell from the heavens.
People traveled from distant kingdoms to watch.
But this year was different.
This year, the stars weren’t just falling.
They were disappearing.
For the past six months, strange reports had reached the village.
Destiny Stars were vanishing from the sky.
At first, everyone thought it was a natural phenomenon.
Then people began losing their powers.
A healer who had possessed a golden star suddenly couldn’t heal anyone.
A warrior with a red star lost his strength.
A girl who could see the future woke up one morning unable to remember anything beyond the present.
Something was happening.
Something terrible.
But Aren didn’t care.
He had bigger problems.
He had no star.
No power.
No destiny.
No future.
At least, that’s what everyone believed.
That evening, the entire village gathered in the central square.
Hundreds of lanterns illuminated the streets.
Children ran around laughing.
Musicians played magical instruments.
Food stalls filled the air with delicious smells.
Aren stood at the edge of the crowd.
Mira appeared beside him.
“You look miserable.”
“I’m surrounded by thousands of people.”
“Yes.”
“Exactly.”
She laughed.
“You could try enjoying yourself.”
“I’ll consider it.”
“You always say that.”
“And I never do it.”
Mira rolled her eyes.
Above them, the night sky began to change.
The stars became brighter.
The entire crowd became silent.
The festival had begun.
One by one…
The first falling stars appeared.
A golden streak crossed the sky.
Then another.
Then hundreds.
Everyone cheered.
Aren looked up.
For the first time that night, he smiled.
The stars were beautiful.
He had spent his entire life looking at them.
Wondering why they had chosen everyone except him.
Then something strange happened.
Aren noticed one star.
It wasn’t falling.
It was breaking.
A crack appeared across its glowing surface.
Aren’s smile disappeared.
“What’s wrong?”
Mira looked at him.
“That star.”
“Which one?”
“That one.”
Mira followed his finger.
She frowned.
“I don’t see anything.”
Aren’s eyes widened.
The star was getting darker.
Then…
It shattered.
A burst of silver light exploded across the sky.
The entire village screamed.
Thousands of stars suddenly disappeared.
The music stopped.
The lanterns went out.
A cold wind swept through the streets.
Then a single object fell from the sky.
It landed outside the village.
In the direction of the forbidden Starfall Forest.
Aren stared.
Mira grabbed his arm.
“Don’t.”
“I’m not doing anything.”
“You’re thinking about going there.”
“How do you know?”
“Because you’re an idiot.”
Aren looked toward the forest.
“Something fell.”
“So?”
“It might be dangerous.”
“Exactly.”
“That’s why I should check.”
Mira grabbed his other arm.
“No.”
Aren looked at her.
“Why?”
“Because nobody comes back from Starfall Forest.”
Aren frowned.
“People go there all the time.”
“Yes.”
“Then why do you say nobody comes back?”
“Because the people who come back aren’t the same.”
Aren became silent.
He knew the stories.
Starfall Forest was older than the kingdom itself.
According to legend, the forest was created when the first Destiny Star fell to Earth.
People who entered the forest reported seeing strange things.
Ghosts.
Monsters.
Dead relatives.
Memories that didn’t belong to them.
Some people returned after days.
Others returned after years.
And some never returned at all.
Aren looked at the forest.
Something inside him told him to go.
Mira shook her head.
“Don’t do it.”
Aren smiled.
“Don’t worry.”
“That’s exactly what people say before doing something stupid.”
“I’ll be back soon.”
“Aren.”
He turned.
Mira was serious now.
“Promise me.”
Aren looked at her.
Then smiled.
“I promise.”
He ran toward the forest.
Mira shouted after him.
“I HATE YOU!”
Aren laughed.
“YOU’LL MISS ME!”
“I WON’T!”
“YOU WILL!”
“I’LL CELEBRATE!”
Aren disappeared into the darkness.
Mira stared after him.
Then whispered:
“Idiot.”
But she didn’t leave.
She stayed there.
Waiting.
The deeper Aren went into the forest…
The stranger everything became.
The trees were enormous.
Their branches twisted together like giant hands.
Blue flowers glowed beneath his feet.
Strange creatures watched him from the darkness.
Aren walked carefully.
“Okay.”
He looked around.
“This was a terrible idea.”
Something moved behind him.
Aren froze.
He slowly turned.
Nothing.
“Very funny.”
He continued walking.
A branch snapped.
Aren jumped.
“Who’s there?”
Silence.
Then…
A small creature jumped onto his shoulder.
Aren screamed.
The creature screamed too.
They stared at each other.
It was a tiny fox-like animal with glowing purple ears.
Aren whispered:
“You’re not scary.”
The creature hissed.
“Okay.”
Aren raised his hands.
“You’re slightly scary.”
The creature jumped away.
Aren followed.
“Wait!”
The creature disappeared behind a tree.
Aren reached the tree.
Nothing.
He sighed.
“Wonderful.”
Then he saw it.
A glowing object lying in the grass.
A Broken Star.
Aren’s heart began beating faster.
He had never seen one this close.
It was beautiful.
A small crystal.
Cracked down the middle.
Silver light escaped from inside.
Aren reached toward it.
The moment his fingers touched the star…
The world disappeared.
Aren gasped.
Suddenly, he was standing in a completely different place.
A village.
Burning.
People were screaming.
A young girl was running.
She was holding a star.
A man chased her.
“Give it to me!”
The girl screamed.
“No!”
The man raised a sword.
Aren tried to move.
He couldn’t.
He was only watching.
The girl fell.
The star broke.
The vision suddenly disappeared.
Aren fell onto the grass.
He was breathing heavily.
“What was that?”
He looked at the broken star.
The crystal was glowing.
Aren slowly realized something.
He could see memories.
The memories of the person who had once owned the star.
He picked it up.
The moment he did…
A voice whispered.
“Find the others.”
Aren froze.
“Who said that?”
No answer.
Then the forest began shaking.
Aren stood.
“What is happening?”
The ground cracked.
Trees fell.
Birds flew into the sky.
Something enormous moved between the trees.
Aren ran.
He didn’t know where he was going.
He only knew one thing.
Something was chasing him.
He ran faster.
Branches scratched his face.
The creature roared behind him.
Aren looked back.
Big mistake.
He didn’t see the cliff.
His foot slipped.
“OH NO!”
He fell.
Down.
Down.
Down.
He crashed through branches.
Then…
He hit the ground.
Hard.
Aren groaned.
“Ow.”
He opened his eyes.
He was lying inside a small clearing.
The creature was gone.
But there was something else.
A light.
A beautiful silver light.
Aren slowly sat up.
“What is that?”
The light became brighter.
Then…
Something fell from the sky.
A person.
A girl.
She crashed directly into him.
BAM!
Aren’s head hit the ground.
The girl landed on top of him.
For several seconds…
Neither moved.
Then the girl opened her eyes.
She had long silver hair.
Her eyes were a strange shade of violet.
And above her head…
There was no Destiny Star.
Aren stared.
The girl stared back.
“Who are you?”
Aren blinked.
“You landed on me.”
The girl looked confused.
“Did I?”
“Yes.”
“Sorry.”
“Thank you.”
She stood.
Aren slowly got up.
Then he noticed something.
A glowing object was lying beside her.
A star.
But this star was different.
It was broken.
Completely shattered.
Aren looked at it.
Then at the girl.
“Is that yours?”
The girl’s expression changed.
“Don’t touch it.”
Aren stopped.
“Why?”
“Because it’s dangerous.”
“Everything in this forest is dangerous.”
The girl stared at him.
“You’re not afraid?”
Aren laughed.
“Of course I’m afraid.”
“Then why are you here?”
“I don’t know.”
The girl looked at him.
For some reason…
Aren felt like she was studying him.
“What’s your name?”
“Aren.”
“Aren what?”
“Aren Vale.”
The girl’s eyes widened.
“You?”
Aren frowned.
“What?”
“You’re Aren Vale?”
“Yes.”
The girl stepped backward.
“That’s impossible.”
Aren was becoming annoyed.
“Why does everyone keep saying that?”
The girl stared at him.
“You were never supposed to be born.”
Aren froze.
“What?”
The girl looked at the broken star.
Then at him.
“You don’t have a Destiny Star.”
“I know.”
“No.”
Her voice became serious.
“You don’t understand.”
She stepped closer.
“You don’t have a Destiny Star because…”
She looked directly into his eyes.
“…your star was destroyed before you were born.”
Aren couldn’t speak.
The forest became silent.
“What?”
The girl continued.
“Someone destroyed your destiny.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then how do you know?”
The girl hesitated.
“Because I was there.”
Aren stared at her.
“You were there?”
The girl nodded.
“Seventeen years ago.”
Aren’s heart began beating faster.
“Who are you?”
The girl looked toward the sky.
“My name is Liora.”
“And why were you watching me?”
Liora’s expression became sad.
“Because I’ve been searching for you.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re the only person who can save this world.”
Aren laughed.
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t even have a star.”
“Exactly.”
Aren stopped laughing.
Liora stepped closer.
“The stars are dying.”
Aren looked at the broken crystal.
“Why?”
“Someone is destroying them.”
“Who?”
“We don’t know.”
“Then how can I stop them?”
Liora looked into his eyes.
“You can collect the broken ones.”
Aren frowned.
“What will that do?”
“You can restore them.”
“How?”
Liora pointed toward the broken star.
“By touching them.”
Aren stared.
“That’s my power?”
“No.”
“Then what is it?”
Liora whispered:
“Your power is something much more dangerous.”
Aren’s heart skipped.
“What?”
Liora stepped closer.
She placed her hand against his chest.
A strange warmth spread through his body.
Then…
Aren saw something.
A massive black star.
Floating above the world.
Thousands of broken stars surrounded it.
And in the center…
Was a shadow.
A voice whispered:
“The Starless Boy has awakened.”
Aren suddenly opened his eyes.
He was back in the forest.
Liora was standing in front of him.
Aren was breathing heavily.
“What was that?”
Liora looked terrified.
“You saw it?”
“Yes.”
“What did you see?”
“A black star.”
Liora closed her eyes.
“Then it’s begun.”
“What has begun?”
“The end.”
Aren stared at her.
“That’s not very comforting.”
Liora almost smiled.
“Sorry.”
Aren looked toward the forest.
“So what do we do now?”
Liora pointed toward the horizon.
“First, we find the other broken stars.”
“How many?”
“Seven.”
Aren sighed.
“Only seven?”
Liora shook her head.
“Seven hundred and twenty-three.”
Aren stared at her.
“You’re joking.”
“No.”
“Seven hundred and twenty-three?”
“Yes.”
“Can we start tomorrow?”
“No.”
“Next week?”
“No.”
“Next year?”
“Aren.”
“Fine.”
Liora smiled.
Then suddenly…
A loud roar echoed through the forest.
Aren looked behind him.
The enormous creature appeared between the trees.
Its eyes glowed red.
Aren froze.
“Liora.”
“Yes?”
“Is that one of the things we’re supposed to fight?”
“Yes.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“What?”
“Do you have a plan?”
Liora smiled.
“Of course.”
Aren relaxed.
“Great.”
Liora grabbed his hand.
“Run!”
They ran.
Aren shouted:
“THAT’S YOUR PLAN?”
“YES!”
“THAT’S NOT A PLAN!”
“It is if we survive!”
They raced through the forest.
The creature chased them.
Liora pulled Aren toward a glowing tree.
“Jump!”
“What?”
“JUMP!”
They leaped.
A portal opened beneath them.
Aren screamed.
“WHY IS THERE A PORTAL?”
Liora laughed.
“Because I made one!”
They fell through.
The world disappeared.
And when Aren opened his eyes…
He was standing on the roof of a massive castle.
But the castle wasn’t on the ground.
It was floating in the sky.
Aren stared in disbelief.
“Where are we?”
Liora stood beside him.
“Welcome to the Kingdom Above the Clouds.”
Aren looked down.
Far below…
The world stretched endlessly.
Then he noticed something.
Thousands of stars were falling from the sky.
But they weren’t falling toward the earth.
They were falling into the darkness.
Aren looked at Liora.
“Who is doing this?”
Liora’s expression became serious.
“We don’t know.”
Then a voice came from behind them.
“I do.”
Aren and Liora turned.
A tall figure stood at the entrance of the castle.
His face was hidden beneath a black hood.
Aren stepped forward.
“Who are you?”
The figure smiled.
“The person who destroyed your star.”
Aren froze.
Liora immediately grabbed his arm.
“Don’t listen to him.”
But the figure laughed.
“She never told you the truth, did she?”
Aren looked at Liora.
“What truth?”
Liora’s face went pale.
The figure slowly removed his hood.
Aren stared.
He recognized the face.
It was the same man from the memory of the broken star.
The man who had been chasing the little girl.
Aren whispered:
“Who are you?”
The man smiled.
“I am Lord Vael.”
Liora stepped forward.
“Stay away from him.”
Lord Vael laughed.
“Still protecting him after all these years?”
Aren turned toward Liora.
“What does he mean?”
Liora didn’t answer.
Aren’s voice became louder.
“Liora!”
She looked at him.
Tears filled her eyes.
“I didn’t want you to know.”
“Know what?”
She whispered:
“Lord Vael is your uncle.”
Aren froze.
And then Lord Vael said the words that changed everything.
“Not only am I your uncle.”
He pointed at Liora.
“She is the one who destroyed your star.”
Aren slowly turned toward Liora.
She was crying.
“That’s not true.”
Lord Vael smiled.
“Ask her.”
Aren stared at Liora.
“Is it true?”
Liora couldn’t speak.
Aren’s heart broke.
“Liora…”
She finally whispered:
“Yes.”
The sky above them suddenly turned black.
Thousands of stars disappeared.
And Aren realized…
His journey had only just begun.