Cyrus POV
"Welcome, my fellow brother of destruction," a cold and stern voice echoed in my mind, the expression in the eyes before me staring with such intensity that it felt like they were piercing into my very soul.
"Brother of destruction?" I muttered under my breath, trying to understand what the voice could be referring to. "Who or what are you? And why have you revealed yourself to me?"
"I am Malakar. As for why I've revealed myself—well, that's simple. My essence only activates in this book when someone harbors a deep-rooted desire for destruction, revenge, and a lust for the power to obtain them."
His response made my jaw tighten and my teeth clench. This spirit—this ancient myth—had read me like the very book that hovered before me.
"You can't hide it, boy. It's too obvious. Practically seeping from your pores. But now the question is—what will you do about it? I can sense something great and ancient within you. You're no ordinary Starbound, are you?"
The book of withered leaves began to slowly circle around me.
I remained silent, alert, refusing to give in to whatever this mythic spirit was trying to provoke.
"Nothing to say? I bet you're wondering how I'm even talking to you right now, aren't you?"
"Aren't you supposed to be dead or something?"
"Oh, so you do know about me. Dead? Ha! Those old fools weren't nearly strong enough to kill me back then. It took nearly the entire clan just to seal me. And now, that seal is barely holding on for dear life."
The book met my eyes once again, hovering just inches away.
"How were you so powerful that even the leaders of one of the strongest clans in the world couldn't defeat you alone?" I asked coldly, refusing to break eye contact with the ones manifested before me.
"Oh, they must have wiped that from the history books already." He chuckled darkly. "It was because I had two constellations."
"Two?!" I couldn't help the shock in my voice.
"Yes. I, of course, possessed the Eldertree Sage constellation, being born of the Syltharion clan. But the other... Tell me, boy, have you ever heard the ancient tale of the astral behemoth that could consume a star?"
"No, I haven't."
"Tch. What do they even teach you people these days?" He sighed. "Fine. Back when the first ever rift was created at the dawn of the universe, there was a behemoth named Vel'thoryx. A serpent made of pure entropy—a living paradox of decay energy. Wherever it coiled, matter eroded. Stars were bled of light until only husks remained. It became the first astral behemoth to reach the rank of Eclipser."
"Its power was so immense, even the pantheon feared its great strength. So strong that Vel'thoryx killed and absorbed the essence of one of them and gained the ability to create a constellation of its own. That constellation—the one I connected to—is called the Eclipse Serpent."
"What?" I whispered. "A constellation strong enough to kill a Pantheon… something like that really exists. Where there anyone else who were connected to the constellation?"
"Indeed. I was just as surprised when I learned of it. A power that breaks your understanding of what's possible. But yes, back then there was another connected to it, it was my master. He is most likely long gone by now. I doubt he took on any others, he was very selective with who he took on to teach the ways of the eclipse serpent. You would have been a candidate for him for sure. I can sense it in you too—the curiosity, the rage, the potential of raw uncontrollable power."
"I've waited for someone like you—a candidate worthy of this knowledge and power. Someone who shares the resolve and conviction I once had. Someone who has the talent of controlling cosmic energy that I did. Never has the little bit of essence I left here in this withered book reacted to someone so strongly. Ever member of this cult I created is a dud compared to you. Help release my seal, and I will guide you down the path of true power."
His words were tempting. The sheer magnitude of his power, the idea of wielding two constellations—it was something I'd believed to be a myth. But clearly, it was possible. I wondered whether my core could even handle something like that.
"How does one gain a second constellation?" I asked, trying to discern if Malakar was telling the truth—or merely leading me into a trap.
"There are a few paths—most of them end in death if the person isn't adept enough. My method involved an ancient astral relic, even rare in my time. It was called the Star-Tethered Chains. It forcibly infused a second constellation's essence into my core. But to survive the process, one's core must be significantly larger than average."
"This forces the Starbound to split their nexus—balancing the resonance and power of two constellations. Only those with exceptional meditation, focus, and complete control of their mind can survive. All others perish."
"That doesn't sound so bad," I replied, dryly. "I've been through worse. Maybe I'll figure it out someday. But for now? No. I'm not helping you escape your seal."
I tightened my grip on my blade. "I'm not stupid enough to release something into the world that only wants to destroy the one I want to live in. I may be young and reckless—but I'm not a fool."
With that, I drew my sword and slashed through the cursed book of withered leaves, cleaving it in two.