That evening, a small transport vessel from Harbor District Six arrived at the Stargate.

  It did not descend into the main courtyard, nor did it land on the usual platforms. Instead, it settled atop the central keep itself. By Leroy’s suggestion, Starfall’s return was hidden from public sight. No ship bearing the sigil of House Star came to receive him.

  Every guard in the Stargate was recalled upward for security. They stood in rigid lines as Starfall was marched between them, chains clinking softly with each step. His head was bowed. His pale face was dulled by soot and burn marks. His once immaculate attire hung in torn shreds.

  He was not taken to the family dining hall.

  They led him down.

  Beneath the mansion lay a fortified chamber, a hidden bunker adjacent to the relic vaults. The room was white and elegant despite its depth, designed like a private dining hall. Banners of the Extraterrestrial faction and House Star hung along the walls.

  Starmist sat there in silence beside Lady Star.

  Lord Star stood apart, his back to the entrance, staring at a large family portrait mounted upon the wall.

  The door opened.

  The guards removed most of the restraints, leaving only the chains coiled around Starfall’s wrists and ankles. Then they withdrew. One by one, they exited the underground chamber, sealing the family within.

  No one looked at Starfall.

  Starfall, however, lifted his head. His gaze was sharp, defiant, fixed on his father’s back.

  “Everything I did,” he said coldly, “is because of what you did to me.”

  Lady Star rose.

  She crossed the room without haste. In a single motion, she struck him. The force of it sent Starfall crashing into the wall beside him.

  “Enough,” she said, her voice trembling with restrained fury. “Close that insolent mouth.”

  Starfall remained where he had fallen. Slowly, he sat up, brushing aside the white fringe that veiled his eyes. He looked at his mother for a moment. Her face was tight, caught between rage and grief.

  He smiled thinly.

  Rising again, he stepped back toward the center of the chamber and turned his attention to Starmist.

  “So,” he said, mockery edging his tone, “what is my punishment, beloved aunt?”

  Starmist did not answer. She kept her eyes lowered, refusing to meet his gaze.

  Starfall laughed softly. “No punishment, then? Let me guess. Because of my father. Lord Star. So feared that even the council dares not touch him.”

  Lord Star’s fists clenched. Pale light leaked from his hands as he turned, fury finally breaking through his composure.

  “What I did was to protect you,” he said. “But now I see it clearly. You are not a man who understands honor.”

  “Honor?” Starfall snapped, his voice rising. “Ask yourself where your honor was when you could not trust your own son to carry out his mission.”

  The door opened again.

  Starslayer entered, unhurried, carrying a cup of hot chocolate. A faint, crooked smile played on his lips as he glanced at his brother with open disdain. He took a seat beside Starmist, relaxed, as if this were no more than a late evening gathering.

  “It’s over,” Lord Star said, shaking his head. “You’re finished now, son.”

  Starfall’s eyes slid toward Starslayer. “Then give him my status as heir,” he said coldly. “A man like him won’t sleep peacefully until his dream is fulfilled.”

  Starslayer’s smile widened, lips closed, teeth hidden. He did not even look back at Starfall. He merely sipped his chocolate, savoring it.

  “You have no right to speak about this family anymore,” Lady Star said, her voice trembling as she fought to keep it steady.

  “Then say it now,” Starfall shouted, lifting his chin in challenge. “What is my punishment?”

  Starmist spoke softly, still not lifting her gaze. “The council has agreed. You will be placed under house confinement.”

  Starfall burst into laughter.

  “How beautiful my life has become,” he said mockingly. “Thank you, council. No, forgive me. Thank you, Father.”

  He laughed again, bitter and sharp. “Such a great father you are. Half the council were once your juniors, weren’t they? Leroy, Lucretius, Bjorn, Amaterasu. None of them dare lay a hand on us.”

  Lady Star raised her hand again, anger flashing across her face. This time she stopped herself and lowered it slowly.

  “Even now your thoughts remain narrow,” Lord Star roared. “Though you were spared punishment, our entire family is already condemned by your depravity.”

  He pointed at Starfall. “I would force you to kiss the hands of every council member if that would awaken even a shred of sense in you.”

  Starfall stood tall, lifting his gaze without fear.

  Lord Star turned sharply and summoned the guards. “Take him to the southern keep. The small citadel. That will be his chamber and his prison for the duration of this judgment.”

  He looked back once more. “You are finished here. You will have plenty of time to reflect on your foolishness and your failure. Perhaps even on the revocation of your inheritance.”

  The guards stepped forward to seize Starfall.

  He moved before they could touch him.

  Without resistance, without a word, Starfall turned and walked out of the chamber on his own. He did not care for the title of heir. He never had.

  The doors closed behind him.

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  Those who remained inside sank back into their seats, silence stretching between them. For a long moment, no one spoke.

  At last, Lord Star turned his gaze toward his sister.

  “Starmist,” Lord Star said at last, his voice heavy, “so the council chose to protect its image rather than cast my son into the Abyss?”

  Starmist met her brother’s gaze. Fatigue weighed on her features. “The decision was unanimous, brother. There was no room left to argue.”

  Lord Star leaned back slowly. “I expected nothing less. Cygnus would never allow it.”

  Lady Star turned to him. “You’re certain this was his design?”

  “Without question,” Lord Star replied. “He has always been the same, since our earliest days on the council.”

  Starmist nodded in quiet agreement.

  “Still,” Lord Star continued, his voice tightening, “this cannot stand. I will speak to Cygnus myself. This is a mistake. Law must prevail, even when it is my own son who stands accused.”

  “I’m sorry,” Starmist said softly. “That will no longer be possible.”

  She slid a folded sheet of paper across the table. It was a proof draft, sent by Elysius an hour before Starfall’s arrival. Tomorrow’s Cognisource headline.

  STARFALL THWARTS ILLEGAL BLACK MARKET OPERATIONS AT DOCK FOUR,

  INCIDENT SPREADS TO DOCKS ONE THROUGH THREE

  Lord Star’s jaw clenched as he read. “Bjorn has gone too far,” he muttered. “Even the people of the Mainland already know.”

  He looked up sharply. “Starmist, who instructed Elysius to publish this? Cygnus? Or all of you together?”

  Starmist did not answer. Instead, she shifted the conversation, her voice measured.

  “Cygnus has already deployed cryptic associates. Anyone who knows the truth is being silenced.”

  Silence fell.

  Lord Star and Lady Star exchanged a glance. Across the room, Starslayer smiled. He set his cup down, clearly pleased.

  “A remarkable statesman,” Starslayer said lightly. “Cygnus Spellbane understands exactly what must be preserved and what must be erased. No hesitation.”

  No one responded.

  After a moment, Lady Star spoke. “And Leroy?”

  Starmist looked at her and brushed her hair back from her face. “Honestly, I pity him. He works harder than any of us. He buries his own desires for the council.”

  She paused, then added with a faint, almost playful tone, “Perhaps if he hadn’t broken into our house all those years ago, he wouldn’t have become the man he is now.”

  It was meant as a jest. No one laughed.

  “We owe Leroy much,” Lady Star said quietly. “He came here himself to warn us about Starfall.”

  Elsewhere, Starfall was escorted through the corridors under heavy guard.

  In one of the long passageways, he passed Starlax.

  His younger sister stood still as he walked by, chains clinking softly. Her eyes were filled with sadness, but no words came. She did not know how to reach him. They had never been close enough for that.

  Starfall did not look at her.

  He kept his gaze forward and continued on, walking toward his prison without resistance, leaving behind a family fractured beyond repair.

  Starlax went straight to her room.

  She closed the door behind her, took her transmitter, and activated a secure channel to the Abyss. Prince Morrigan answered almost at once.

  “Hello, Starlax. What’s wrong?” Morrigan asked. The crackle of a hearth echoed through the vast hall behind him.

  “Are you busy?” Starlax asked quietly.

  “Not right now. In a few hours, my sister and I will be training with General Raidbones,” the prince replied.

  Starlax hesitated, then spoke. She told him about Starfall. Not every detail, but enough. She made Morrigan swear not to tell anyone. For half an hour she talked, voice shaking at times, asking what she could do to comfort her brother. She wanted to be a good sister. She did not know how.

  Morrigan thought for a moment. “You know my sister can be harsh too,” he said carefully. “But if your brother is like that right now, it might be better not to approach him for a few days.”

  “But won’t he feel alone?” Starlax asked.

  “I don’t know your brother well,” Morrigan admitted. “But after what he did, I think distance is wiser choice.”

  Starlax smiled faintly. The answer hurt, but it made sense.

  The door opened softly. Starmist entered the room and sat beside her niece, wrapping her arms around her as Starlax sat on the bed.

  “Hello, Prince Morrigan,” Starmist said gently, leaning into the transmitter. “How are you?”

  “Lady Starmist,” Morrigan replied quickly, raising his voice in respect. “I’m well. Thank you for asking.”

  “That’s good to hear,” Starmist said. “Please send my regards to King Darkon, Princess Samartian, and Lucretius.”

  “Of course, my lady… I mean, Lady Starmist,” Morrigan said awkwardly.

  Starlax smiled. “Morrigan, I’ll talk to you later. Thank you.”

  He agreed, and the connection closed.

  Starmist looked at her niece. “I’m glad you have someone your age you can talk to.”

  “There aren’t many,” Starlax replied softly. “Outside our faction, it’s really only Morrigan.”

  “I just remembered, when I visit Takamagahara again,” Starmist said, stroking her hair, “I’ll introduce you to Vine Viper.”

  Starlax’s eyes widened. “Vine Viper? The plant elementalist?”

  “Yes. You’re only a few years older than her. Amaterasu suggested it as well. She’s never seen the outside world. She’s lived her whole life with the Forest Maiden. Would you like that?”

  Starlax nodded eagerly, a bright smile breaking through. “I want friends from many factions, like you.”

  Starmist smiled back. “Your journey is still long. You’ll find friends of your own.”

  Starlax fell quiet, fiddling with her blanket as she looked toward the southern window.

  “Aunt,” she asked at last, “when my brother came back… how were Father and Mother?”

  Starmist did not answer right away. She took Starlax’s hand instead, squeezing it gently.

  “What matters now,” she said softly, “is that you behave kindly. Don’t add to their burden for the moment.”

  “I’m always well behaved,” Starlax said softly. “But my brother… Starslayer. Will he really replace Starfall now?”

  Starmist tilted her head. “Why do you ask?”

  “I…” Starlax hesitated, fingers tightening in the blanket. “I don’t like him.”

  Starmist fell silent. She understood. Neither Starfall nor Starslayer had ever been gentle with their younger sister.

  “If I could choose my brothers,” Starlax added, almost whispering, “I would choose Leroy and Elysius instead.”

  This time, Starmist truly had no words.

  “Starlax,” she said at last, pinching her niece’s cheek gently, trying to mask her surprise, “that’s not a nice thing to say.”

  “But it’s true,” the girl replied with innocent certainty. “Leroy is kind to Father and Mother. He’s always been kind to you too. And Elysius always brings gifts when he visits. Sometimes he even plays with me. They’d be the best big brothers in all of All Realm.”

  Starmist laughed quietly, the sound fragile. She drew Starlax into a hug and whispered, “Yes… if only.”

  That night, there was no family dinner at the long white table. Meals were sent quietly to each room, untouched by conversation. Starmist stayed with Starlax, sleeping beside her as she often did. The girl fell into deep sleep quickly, and Starmist held her close, one arm around her small frame while she read beneath dim light.

  Outside, the Stargate basked under a clear night sky.

  Starfall sat alone in his chamber, back against the wall, facing a stained glass window whose shifting colors blurred the world beyond it. He did not move.

  Elsewhere, Starslayer wrote in silence, pen scratching steadily across parchment.

  Lady Star sat on her bed, knitting with careful hands, thread looping endlessly.

  Lord Star stood on the balcony, unmoving, gazing at the moonlight as it washed over the stone.

  From the garden below, Sicilia saw Lord Star standing alone on the balcony above, a pale silhouette against moonlight. She lingered only a moment, then turned away and returned to her chambers nearby.

  She had just begun to prepare for sleep when her transmitter vibrated.

  Sicilia froze.

  She lifted it with both hands.

  A heavy voice filled the room. “Sicilia.”

  “Master Spellbane,” she replied at once, straightening instinctively. “What may I do for you?”

  “Why have you failed to report to the spiritual sorcerer for several months?” Cygnus asked.

  Sicilia swallowed. “Forgive me, Master Spellbane. If you command it, I will go there tomorrow.”

  “Good,” Cygnus said coolly. “I thought perhaps you had begun to stray from the teachings of our faction.”

  “No,” Sicilia answered quickly, breath hitching. “Never, Master Spellbane."

  For a moment, there was silence.

  Then Cygnus spoke again, his tone softer. “Sicilia, do you still remember the fundamental of an adviser in our way?”

  She hesitated. Understanding dawned. “Master Spellbane… after what happened with Starfall… are you asking me to do that?”

  “You grasp quickly,” Cygnus replied. “From this point on, extend your observation to Lord Star as well.”

  “Yes, Master,” Sicilia said without pause. “I will not fail you.”

  “One more thing,” Cygnus continued. “Starmist will remain there for some time. The council has granted her leave.”

  A thin smile touched Sicilia’s lips. “I will send you regular reports.”

  “Understood,” Cygnus said. “But you are forbidden to intervene unless you are explicitly invited into discussion. Do you understand?”

  “I understand, Master Spellbane.”

  The transmission ended.

  Sicilia lowered the device and extinguished the lights. She lay back, eyes open in the darkness, her thoughts circling the weight of her orders.

  Above her, House Star slept uneasily.

  And unseen threads tightened quietly around them all.