House of the Celestials: Crown of Stars Rewrite

Leon

Sewer tunnel

Downtown, Chicago

Terra, Gaea Solar system

Neutral free Zone

January 14th 2019

Leon gazed up at the midnight sky, millions of stars trailing across the heavens as he lay back on the grasslands of Xiargos Mountain. The stars made the night come alive, each speck adorning the vast expanse like an intricate painting. Yet, despite their brilliance, a pang of loneliness struck his heart as he stared at them. The surrounding landscape was breathtaking: towering trees stretched below the mountain's edge, a network of rivers winding their way to a nearby lake. The cool breeze carried the untainted freshness of the wild—a stark contrast to the polluted air of Terran cities. But none of it compared to the beauty of the girl leaning over him.She was in her early twenties, her brown skin glowing softly under the starlight. Honey-colored hair brushed against his ear as she whispered his name, her voice a melody that made his chest ache. Leon drew her closer, pressing his lips gently against hers. Her scent—lemons and junipers—filled his senses, soothing him, making his body relax as his eyes fluttered closed.

The exhilaration was too overwhelming. He couldn't keep his eyes shut. When he opened them again, she was gone. The serene surroundings shifted into chaos. Smoke blackened the sky as a raging fire tore through the giant forest below. Leon tried to move, to rush toward the inferno, but shadows began rising from the ground around him, surrounding him on all sides. They morphed into humanoid figures, their presence oppressive, the stench of Infernal energy suffocating. Someone screamed his name. Before he could react, one of the shadowy forms drove a blade into him. Pain coursed through his body as he tumbled to the ground. The shadows parted, revealing a figure running toward him. It was her—the girl from before—but she had changed. Her Terran features were gone, replaced by otherworldly beauty. Her green hair shimmered in the light of the inferno, and her emerald eyes, fierce yet sorrowful, locked onto his. She knelt beside him, tears streaming down her face as she called his name, her cries piercing through the haze of pain. Leon wanted to reach out, to wipe away her tears. He had made a promise that she would never have to cry for him. But something held him back. His body refused to move. All he could do was watch as the darkness engulfed her, pulling her away from him, dragging him toward a blinding light at...

"Leon! Leon! Wake the fuck up already."

Emily's sharp voice cut through the haze, followed by the sting of her hand slapping him back to reality. Leon Haravok blinked rapidly, shaking off the fog clouding his mind. He was no longer in Xiargos Mountain or the dreamscape that had consumed him. He was back in the stinking sewage tunnels of Chicago. The air was thick with the nauseating stench of waste, the sound of flowing water echoing ominously in the dark. Leon groaned as Emily grabbed his arm and hauled him to his feet.

"That was close," he muttered, managing a wry smile as he inspected his armor. The energy blast from the Erlking had sent him hurtling across the sewer, slamming him into the slimy walls. He must have been out for a while—long enough to slip back into his subconscious, where those vivid dreams awaited him. Dreams he wished he had the time to decode, to understand why they haunted him so relentlessly. But time wasn't on his side, and patience was an even rarer commodity. He was so close...

"You're lucky that blast didn't tear a hole through your chest," Emily said, her tone as sharp as her words. "Good thing your defenses held up." Leon glanced at her, noting the state she was in. Sweat glistened on her dark brown skin, her midnight-black hair clinging to her face. The pink highlights in her hair were dulled with dirt, and her black jacket was torn, revealing a gash across her leg. The wound still bled sluggishly but was already beginning to heal—a testament to her enhanced physiology. She looked battered, but otherwise okay. Leon, on the other hand, felt like he'd been trampled by a stampede. His ribs screamed in protest with every breath, the lingering pain a harsh reminder of how close he'd come to death. If he hadn't activated his defensive skill at the exact moment of impact, that blast would've done more than knock him out. It would've killed him outright. His body shuddered at the thought. This hunting trip was spiraling out of control, far from the clean execution he'd envisioned.

"I doubt luck had anything to do with it," Leon muttered. He told himself that often, especially when faced with life-or-death situations. It had been two months since Congress had exiled him and Emily from the Divine Federation's collective planets. Forced to relocate to Terra—a backwater world in the Neutral Free Zone, millions of light-years away from the Federation—they'd made do, but the transition wasn't easy. Most of Leon's free time had been consumed by chasing down leads to find the Fallen Stars. Yet, each one so far had been a dead end. This was his twelfth attempt. The intel he'd gathered had led him to one of Terra's many foul-smelling sewers, where he and Emily had encountered the dark beast—an Abomination breaking the Sacred Accord. Initially, Leon had thought this lead would be easier to handle than the last. But reality, as always, proved crueler than he anticipated. The Erlking was far stronger than the reports had suggested, and Leon had underestimated it. The throbbing pain in his head was a sharp reminder of his miscalculation. He pushed away the memory of the vision that had surfaced earlier; there was no time to dwell on it. The stakes were too high. Emily stood beside him, her eyes closed in concentration. She was tracking the creature's movements with her Internal senses. Leon was grateful it was her and not him—Emily was a far better Sensor, and the pounding in his skull made it impossible for him to extend his senses over any significant distance.

"It's injured but still moving," Emily said, opening her eyes. "This way."

Without hesitation, she sprinted forward, and Leon followed close behind. They moved like wind through the sewer, their inhuman speed carrying them swiftly through the labyrinthine tunnels. Leon kept his pace slightly slower than hers, allowing her to lead while she tracked the creature. The oppressive darkness of the sewer didn't hinder them. Their enhanced vision, coupled with their Internal senses, allowed them to navigate with ease. Even in the pitch black, Leon could detect the ambush waiting ahead. He summoned his Seriphium blade as the Striges emerged from the shadows. These bat-like creatures had humanoid faces with grotesque beak-like mouths and long, whip-like tails ending in razor-sharp blades. Mana surged through Leon's sword, illuminating the tunnel as he activated its power. He slashed through the creatures effortlessly, their numbers failing to overwhelm him. Behind him, Emily fought with precision, her silver daggers flashing as she cut them down, her face stoic and unyielding.

Fucking Erlking.

Striges weren't native to Terra. So how in the Nine Hells had the Erlking summoned them here? Heat coursed through Leon's veins as his blade burned brighter. He didn't want to waste his Mana on these weaklings, but they needed to be dealt with quickly so he and Emily could reach the real threat. With a growl, he activated an elemental technique, releasing rays of golden light that streaked through the tunnel like bullets, obliterating the remaining Striges in a brilliant flash.

"You couldn't do that at the start?" Emily asked, her voice laced with dry sarcasm as she resumed tracking the Erlking. They moved deeper into the tunnel, the air growing heavier with each step. The oppressive darkness gave way to a faint orange glow as they reached a dead end. Emily stopped abruptly, and Leon came to a halt beside her. The Erlking was there, waiting for them. It leaned against the wall, one of its arms missing thanks to Leon's earlier attack. Though the wound had stopped bleeding, Leon knew it wouldn't be long before the beast began regenerating. The creature was massive, its hulking form covered in black fur that bristled across its shoulders. Jagged, onyx-colored antlers jutted from its tangled hair, and its bloodshot eyes gleamed with unrestrained malice. It wore filthy, tattered pants that clung awkwardly to its muscular legs. The Erlking's grotesque mouth opened, revealing rows of jagged teeth as it traced glowing orange symbols etched into the wall. A crack formed where the symbols converged, revealing a shimmering portal.

"Leaving already?" Leon said, a crooked smile tugging at his lips as he twirled his Seriphium blade in hand. "And here I thought we were having so much fun. Before you go, mind telling me what I want to know? Pretty please?"

"Stop playing with the prey and finish him off," Emily snapped. Her voice held an edge, though her face remained impassive. Leon could see the subtle tension in her posture—her guard was up, and she wasn't taking any chances. Leon sighed, groaning inwardly. He wanted to prolong the fight, to draw out some excitement he'd been missing these past weeks. But Emily, as always, was right. His tendency to toy with his enemies had already cost him once today. He couldn't afford to make the same mistake twice.

"That's what got you blasted before," she added. "Trying to take the easy way."

Leon rolled his shoulders, reluctantly admitting she had a point.

"You're the ones who are gonna die, Paladins!" the Erlking roared, its voice a guttural snarl. Its bloodshot eyes gleamed with madness as it crouched, ready to strike. For the fourth time since encountering the beast, Leon wondered how it had become an Abomination. Terra's low spiritual energy rarely attracted creatures of this caliber. Among the thousand planets in the Neutral Free Zone, Terra was one of the least likely places to find a monster of this strength. The Erlking lunged at him, and Leon responded in kind, leaping forward. With a burst of Mana, he created an invisible foothold in midair, propelling himself above the creature's reach. His blade slashed across its ribs as he passed, spilling dark blood across the tunnel. The beast snarled, its attention shifting to Emily.

A circle of light manifested around her as her cold, blue-tinged eyes glimmered in the dim sewer. With a quick gesture, the air pressure around her intensified, slamming the Erlking against the wall. Ice erupted from the air, freezing the creature in place as its movements slowed, the cold biting deep into its flesh. Leon landed smoothly in front of the trapped beast, the Seriphium blade still glowing in his hand.The Erlking's rage was palpable. Saliva dripped from its fanged maw, and a spike of Infernal energy radiated from its form as it shattered the ice with a deafening boom. Its claws came for Leon's neck with desperate speed, but Leon grinned at the display. Pathetic. The creature's frantic struggle only fueled his desire to let out some of the pent-up frustration that had been building within him. Summoning a blade of pure golden light, Leon intercepted the attack, driving the weapon through the creature's clawed palm. With a flick of his wrist, he dragged the beast through the air and slammed it into the ground, shards of stone flying as the impact sent tremors through the tunnel. Blood sprayed from the Erlking's mangled hand as the light from Leon's blade seared its flesh. The stench of burning skin filled the air, making Leon's heart race with exhilaration. The creature twisted violently, tearing its own hand free from the blade in a desperate bid to escape. Leon sighed, the excitement of the battle beginning to wane. He studied the beast's injuries—its smaller wounds were healing rapidly, but the torn left arm was regenerating at a much slower rate, and the damage to its right hand left it virtually crippled. It wasn't a challenge anymore.

Maybe I should put it out of its misery, he thought, his grip tightening on the Seriphium blade as he prepared to end the fight. Nah, screw that.

Leon vanished, reappearing beside the creature in an instant. His boot connected with the Erlking's face, sending it crashing into the wall with a resounding boom that echoed through the sewer. He didn't give it a moment to recover. Before it could orient itself, Leon launched a relentless barrage of attacks. His movements blurred, each strike delivered with near-subsonic speed. The Erlking staggered, its massive form swaying as vertigo overtook it. Seizing the moment, Leon summoned a volley of golden Light blades. They materialized above the creature, shimmering like falling stars before raining down in a brilliant, destructive cascade. When the dust settled, the beast lay pinned to the ground, its grotesque body impaled by swords and spears of radiant energy. Blood pooled around Leon's boots, the crimson liquid contrasting sharply with the golden glow of his weapons. Despite its grievous injuries, the Erlking still clung to life, its unyielding tenacity catching Leon's notice.

"So... will you tell me what you're doing down here?" Leon asked, stifling a yawn. To him, the fight was already over.

"I'll tell you... nothing," the creature growled, choking on its blood.

Leon's expression twisted with disgust. He grabbed the beast's jaw, his grip tightening as he inhaled the acrid stench of fear rolling off it. Leaning in, he studied the creature more closely. It wasn't fully an Abomination yet. Beneath its grotesque exterior, the beast still resisted the Corruption that sought to consume it. His frown deepened as the smell of urine and filth hit him, but a darker part of him relished the beast's suffering. Without hesitation, he struck it across the face, breaking several of its fangs. The Erlking howled, but Leon's assault didn't stop. He struck again and again, the hollow thrill of violence driving his actions. The fleeting ecstasy faded, leaving behind a cold emptiness, but still, he continued. By the time he stopped, most of the creature's fangs were shattered, its muzzle a bloody ruin. Grabbing the beast's matted hair, Leon yanked its head close to his.

"You don't have to tell us anything," he murmured coldly. At his nod, Emily stepped forward, her expression calm and detached as she placed her hand on the Erlking's neck.

"You think this female can get what you want from me?" the creature spat, though its voice was weak and trembling.

"Emily's the best at getting information," Leon said, his tone almost conversational. "Don't worry—you don't have to talk for it to work." Before the creature could respond, Leon silenced it with a swift slash of his blade, severing its tongue. Blood sprayed, staining its dark fur as the beast gurgled in pain.

"This is going to hurt more," Emily said, her voice devoid of emotion as she pressed her hand to the Erlking's temple.

The beast's screams filled the tunnel, raw and guttural, as Emily delved into its mind. Leon stood back, arms crossed, watching her work. Her ability to tear through mental wards and extract information was unmatched. As the creature convulsed under her touch, Leon's mind wandered back to his own experience with the Truth Seeker in Agartha. It had been his fourth time standing before the Stellar Councils, forced to relive his decisions during missions. He could still remember the invasive, searing pain as the Truth Seeker dismantled his mental defenses, violating every hidden thought. It was a memory that left a bitter taste in his mouth, but it wasn't enough to make him reconsider letting Emily do the same to the Erlking. The screaming stopped abruptly. Emily withdrew her hand, and Leon dismissed the golden weapons impaling the creature. Its body slumped lifelessly to the ground, barely clinging to consciousness.

"So..." Leon said, his voice sharp with impatience.

"It's a little murky," Emily said, her voice calm yet distant. "But I caught a name. Vashin Priyham. And..." She trailed off, her eyes flickering with brief uncertainty as she processed the fragmented memories stolen from the Erlking's fractured mind. Though her face betrayed no emotion, Leon could see the faint shadow of disdain she carried for what she'd just done, even if it had been to a Fallen Beast.

The Erlking's laughter, deep and guttural, filled the tunnel as it pushed itself up with its remaining arm. Its tongue had already regenerated, the rapid healing outpacing the rest of its injuries.

"Fools," it sneered. "You have no idea what's com—"

Leon's blade cut through its throat in a flash, silencing the creature mid-sentence. He watched intently as the blood gushed from its mouth, the light in its eyes fading into nothingness. The act, though brutal, brought him a flicker of genuine satisfaction—a pleasure the lackluster fight had failed to provide. Retracting his blade, he wiped it clean on his jacket sleeve as the Erlking's body disintegrated into particles of black dust.

"Well, that was a waste of time," Emily remarked, her tone flat but edged with irritation. "You know we could've taken it in for further interrogation."

"What's the point?" Leon replied, sheathing his blade. "The bastard was about to become an Abomination. I did it a favor."

Emily frowned slightly. "I still don't get how a Beastman could become an Abomination. This planet doesn't have the Odic energy to sustain their kind." Leon shrugged and retrieved a flask from his jacket, taking a long swig. The burn of alcohol did little to lift his mood, but it was better than nothing. Finishing his drink, he bent down and picked up the shard left behind by the Erlking's death. The black-orange fragment pulsed faintly, radiating a dense Odic essence. Without a word, he tucked it into his dimensional storage, a sleek silver band on his wrist that glimmered briefly as it absorbed the shard.

"I do wonder where the Beast was planning to go," Leon mused, glancing at the now-inert portal etched into the wall.

"Probably somewhere in the Hidden World," Emily said, stepping closer to examine the symbols surrounding it. The runes were ancient and intricate, glowing faintly as if still holding residual energy.

Leon joined her, narrowing his eyes at the markings. "You recognize these?"

Emily shook her head, her brow furrowed. "Not exactly. They share some similarities with the runes we use, but they're... different. I've never seen anything quite like them."

Leon ran his fingers across the symbols, their texture faintly warm and alive. They reminded him of the Celestial runes used by the Clerics of the Starlight Temples, but there was something distinctly off about them—like a corrupted echo of the originals.

"Probably an offshoot rune," he muttered. The moment his fingers lingered too long on one of the etchings, a spark of energy lashed out, making him jerk his hand back. "Damn it," he hissed, sucking his stinging finger. Emily, unfazed, pulled out her Zodiak—a sleek, arcane device—and captured detailed images of the runes. After inspecting her work, she straightened up. "I'll send this to Ginny and see what she makes of it."

Stowing the device, she retrieved a silver disk from her pocket and placed it on the ground. "Ready to leave?"

"Yeah," Leon said, taking another swig from his flask.

Emily pressed the red button at the center of the Exodus disk. A radiant blue light flared outward, engulfing them both. In the blink of an eye, they were no longer in the damp, foul-smelling sewers of Chicago. They reappeared in the penthouse suite of one of the city's most exclusive hotels—a favorite among members of the Hidden World. The hotel's black and red decor exuded understated luxury, and the faint hum of magical wards kept prying eyes at bay. As Leon and Emily made their way through the grand entrance hall, one of the receptionists approached them—a cheerful demi-human woman dressed sharply in the hotel's uniform. Her fox ears twitched atop her head, and her bushy tail swayed with excitement. In her hands was a silver tray, its contents hidden beneath a foil covering. She practically beamed as she presented it to Leon.

"Leon... Mister Haravok, here's the dish I promised," the receptionist said, her voice soft as she pressed the tray into his hands. Leon recognized her immediately—Alicia, the demi-human he'd met two nights ago at the hotel bar. They'd struck up a casual conversation about the Hidden World delicacies he wanted to try while on Terra. Later that night, he'd walked her home, and their encounter had taken a more... intimate turn.

"Thanks, Alicia," Leon said, offering her a warm smile as he accepted the tray. Her cheeks flushed a deep red, and she quickly looked away, her fox tail flicking nervously behind her.

"You're welcome," she squeaked before hurrying back to the reception desk.

Leon chuckled softly and stepped into the elevator with Emily, balancing the tray in one hand. As the elevator ascended, he lifted the foil, letting the warm steam waft up. The dish revealed itself to be a brownish pudding-like meat. It smelled unfamiliar but enticing. Taking a fork, he carved out a chunk and popped it into his mouth. The texture was soft and warm, sizzling slightly as he swallowed.

"Not bad," Leon said, tilting the dish toward Emily. "Want some?"

She gave him a cold, flat look that spoke volumes without words.

"It's really good," he insisted.

"No thanks," Emily replied, her tone dry. "I'm not interested in fried slime pudding." The elevator doors opened to their suite, and they stepped into the penthouse Leon had booked for their stay in Chicago. It was far from the luxurious standards of the Federation, but for Terra, it was one of the best. The two-story suite featured a panoramic view of the city from the terrace, a spacious living room with modern furniture, and an electric fireplace that added warmth to the room. Upstairs were four bedrooms and a luxurious bathroom with an efficient hot water system. Leon dumped the empty tray in the kitchen sink while Emily made her way to the bathroom.

"I need to process the memories I pulled from the Beastman before we move forward," Emily said, already unzipping her jacket. The frustration in her voice was subtle but present. Terra was grating on her. The food, the air, even the color of the planet—all of it felt wrong to her. But she kept her complaints to herself, knowing the sooner they made progress, the sooner they could leave for Luna.

"Go for it," Leon said as he pulled a silver tablet from his jacket.

While Emily disappeared into the bathroom to wash away the stench of the sewers, Leon sank into the couch and powered up his tablet. Sigils and glyphs floated across the screen, forming a network accessible only to Paladins of the Starlight Order. The Starlight Network served as a secure hub for missions, intel, and private communications among Paladins. Leon scrolled through the latest postings. Unsurprisingly, there was little new information about the Fallen Stars—a group of former Paladins who had rebelled against the Divine Federation two decades ago. Though most had been captured or killed, remnants of the group still lurked in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to reignite their cause. For Leon, tracking them down wasn't about justice or loyalty to the Federation. Finding the Fallen Stars was a means to an end, a tool in his broader agenda. Unfortunately, accurate intel was scarce. The prevailing rumor was that they'd taken refuge in the Neutral Free Zones, far beyond the Federation's reach. It was a frustrating puzzle, but Leon was certain the answer lay in those lawless territories.

Exiting the Starlight Network, he switched to the Golden Dawn database. Though not a member, Leon's family ties afforded him limited access. He searched for any reports of Abominations in Chicago. Nothing. Not a single mention of the creature they had encountered in the sewers. Leon frowned, his mind racing. That Beast had been active for weeks, hunting and killing. Its presence should have drawn the Golden Dawn's attention, yet it had remained unnoticed. Someone must have been helping it stay hidden. And whoever Vashin Priyham was, Leon suspected they were the key to unraveling this mystery—and finding the Fallen Stars. The sound of footsteps drew his attention. Emily descended the staircase, her damp hair tied back and her clean clothes—a pink t-shirt, black skirt, leggings, and her signature combat boots—marking a stark contrast to the grime of earlier.

"So, what's it like out there?" she asked, nodding toward his tablet.

"Too quiet," Leon replied, tossing the device onto the coffee table. "The Abomination somehow stayed off the Golden Dawn's radar. Doesn't make sense."

"Any updates on the Fallen Stars?"

"Nothing," Leon said with a sigh. "The same dead ends. I'll need to hit the streets and figure out who this Vashin Priyham is." Emily nodded.

"Once I finish sorting through the Beastman's memories, I'll let you know. But promise me, Leon—if this doesn't pan out, can we just ride out the banishment? Wait until the Federation lifts it?" Emily asked. Her voice carried a hint of exasperation, but her expression remained calm, as was often the case. Leon had grown accustomed to the contrast between her tone and demeanor, but he could see the weariness in her eyes. She was tired of Terra and longed to return to Luna, content to wait out their exile in relative peace until they could finally go home. Leon's thoughts drifted to the broker who had sold him the intel that had led them to the Erlking's trail. The information had come at a steep price, but it had been worth it—or so he believed. Maybe it was time to pay her another visit. He wasn't ready to give up just yet.

"You and I both know the Federation isn't that forgiving," Leon said as he rose from the couch.

Emily watched him, her arms crossed. "Where are you going now?"

"I'm going to freshen up—and then get some answers," he replied, already heading toward his room.