Erika sighed, folding her arms as she looked at the two siblings high-fiving across the table. "Don't get distracted, you two. We were talking about the war, remember?"
Both Akira and Selena froze, glanced at each other, then muttered in unison, "Sorry." They sat back down properly, though still grinning like kids caught red-handed.
Erika couldn't help but watch them closely. The way Akira and Selena had become so close so quickly surprised her. Akira wasn't the type to open up easily. Even with her, it had taken days before he'd lowered his guard. Yet here he was, smiling and laughing with his sister as if they'd known each other forever. For a brief moment, something tightened in her chest, a flicker of jealousy she didn't want to admit. Selena, of course, noticed. She smiled to herself, but chose not to say anything, smoothly continuing her explanation.
"Now, where was I?"
"Something about the war between the Imaginary Tree and the Sea of Nihility," Akira said.
Selena nodded. "Right. The Sea and the Tree continued fighting, and the Oblivions and the Asterians clashed across countless worlds. It was a war that shook all of reality. A gruesome war. At first, our ancestors had the upper hand, since their Stellar Radiance could actually harm the Oblivions. But the Oblivions had the advantage of sheer numbers, and the native races of those worlds couldn't fight them at all. Over time, our side was pushed into a corner."
Akira leaned forward, eyes glowing in interest. "So what happened next?"
"One of our ancestors created something," Selena said, her tone carrying weight. "A device that could modify the soul of a native, allowing them to infuse their attacks with artificial Stellar Radiance. Those devices were called Star Souls."
"Wait, they actually made something like that?" Akira asked, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. "So that means anyone could use Stellar Radiance?"
Selena shook her head, smiling faintly. "Not the real thing. Star Souls only create an imitation of true Stellar Radiance. It's powerful, but never as pure as the real deal. And not everyone can survive the infusion. Only those with great willpower and strong fate can endure it."
Erika frowned in confusion. "I can understand willpower, but… what do you mean by fate?"
Selena placed her hand on her chin, tilting her head playfully. "It's complicated, but to put it simply… those with strong fate are the ones who stand out, who shine brighter than others. The ones destined to influence the flow of events. If I had to say it in simple terms…" She smirked. "Think of them as the main characters."
"Main characters?" Erika echoed, clearly confused.
Akira, however, nodded in understanding. "I get it. But what about the side characters? Do they get a chance, too, or only the leads?"
"Side characters can survive as well," Selena replied with a teasing smile. "As long as they're not random background mobs with no name or purpose. If someone has something important to show and the willpower to back it up, they can wield a Star Soul."
Erika tilted her head, still confused. "I… still don't really get it. So does that mean I'm compatible with one?"
Selena's grin widened. "Oh, Erika-chan, all of your traits practically scream main character. You'd be able to perfectly fuse with a Star Soul."
"Eh? How am I a main character?" Erika asked, thinking she was not that important of a person.
"Of course you are! You're part vampire, you've got a tragic backstory, you've already had a near-death experience, and" Selena leaned forward dramatically, "you've had plenty of anime-like moments."
"And most importantly," Akira cut in, pointing at her like it was obvious, "you're my childhood friend. That automatically makes you a main character."
"…I hate that you're probably right," Erika muttered, sighing in resignation, as far as she knows, if anyone in the world that can be called a main character, it would be Akira. "Fine, I get it somehow."
"So, what happened after that?" Akira asked, steering the conversation back.
Selena continued, her tone more serious now. "Once the natives gained Star Souls, they fought side by side with the Asterians. Together, they formed the Order of the Star Chase."
"Star Chase…" Akira murmured the words under his breath, as if savouring the name. Then his eyes lit up. "Wait, so are they like the Flame Chasers?"
Selena tilted her head, thinking for a moment before chuckling. "Not really. The name sounds similar, sure, but the Order of the Star Chase was basically a superpowered army. They don't have that many similarities."
"The Star Chasers were incredibly powerful," Selena went on. "Together, they travelled across worlds, defeating Oblivions and gathering allies. Bit by bit, they pushed the Oblivions back into the Sea of Nihility and sealed them away. Finally, peace returned to the worlds."
"So, when did everything go wrong?", Akira asked with a serious expression.
"That sounds like a happy ending, right?" Erika turned to Akira and asked. "What do you mean? Where did everything go wrong?"
Akira shrugged. "Come on, Erika. You really think it ends there? If things calmed down that easily, the plot wouldn't move forward."
Erika gave him a look like he was the biggest idiot alive. Selena giggled softly. "He's right, though. The Star Chasers did win, and peace did come. But it didn't last. After the war, the Order disbanded. The Asterians settled down, many of them marrying other races and having children. But as generations passed, their bloodlines grew thinner. Their overwhelming power faded. The ability to wield Stellar Radiance diminished more and more. Still, no one minded. After all, the Oblivions were sealed, and they believed they would never have to fight them again."
She paused, her smile fading, her eyes glinting with something heavier.
"And then… everything changed when the Oblivions attacked."