Kelly felt stuck in a loop—a messy, suffocating quagmire she couldn't escape no matter how hard she tried.
"Sister, save me!"
The acrid stench of smoke, burning flesh, wailing, and screams tore through the air, choking her, making her stomach churn.
"Your family is gone now, and no one else but me gives a damn fuck about you. Follow me if you want to live," a familiar voice snarled.
More voices came next, overlapping in a chaotic chorus, like a crowd screaming all at once inside her head.
"There she is! Get her! She'll fetch a fortune on the black market—we can't let her get away!"
"Run, child, run! Don't look back. Just survive!"
Gunshots. Explosions. A familiar scream.
Then her own sobs. Quiet and broken.
A guttural laugh followed. "Girl, do you even know how to use a gun? Your hands are shaking so bad. Let's do each other a favor—just drop it and walk away. I won't even bother chasing you."
Another gunshot rang out.
Then came the sickening sound of someone retching. A girl. Her.
"Wh–why?" Kelly heard her voice echo through the void.
Another answered, weak and dying. "Because I've been a burden to you all this time. So taking a bullet for you... it's the least I could do."
The voices wouldn't stop. They circled and clawed at her mind, dragging her into madness.
'PLEASE STOP,' Kelly begged, clutching at the shreds of her sanity.
'STOP. STOP. STOP. STOP. STOP.'
She kept screaming inside, her mind chaotic. But just before she completely lost it, the voices began to fade—shrinking to soft, whispering echoes.
And with what little will she had left, Kelly forced her eyes to open.
Her eyelids felt impossibly heavy, her fogged brain resisting every effort. But she had to wake up. She had to.
Because even in her delirium, one thing was clear—she was still surrounded by lunatics.
And so, she tried again—this time harder, slamming against the invisible wall that kept her trapped in sleep. Her mental strength began to fray at the edges, her head pounding like a drum, but she didn't let up. She pushed through the pain, refusing to give in.
Then it happened.
A sharp crack echoed through her subconscious, followed by a brilliant flash of white light. Instinctively, she stepped into it, one foot after another, deeper into the blinding brilliance. With each step, her awareness sharpened, the fog around her mind thinning.
And after what felt like a lifetime of walking through that light—her eyelids snapped open.
She woke up.
The first thing Kelly saw was a girl seated beside the bed—blonde, serene, and absolutely stunning—with nine fluffy white tails fanned out behind her like a halo. Her deep green eyes stared at Kelly with open curiosity. Dressed in something only royalty could afford, she radiated an elegance so refined it made Kelly feel like she'd just crawled out of a ditch.
Kelly wanted to say something. Maybe even compliment her—this girl was easily one of the most beautiful people she'd ever seen. But then she remembered what happened to that Knight... and wisely decided to keep her mouth shut.
The girl's lips curled into a grin. Harmless as it looked, Kelly still felt a cold shiver run down her spine.
"Congratulations on your breakthrough to the second stage of the Dust Initiate realm," the girl said, her voice smooth and composed. "It's rare to see someone progress in their sleep. I suppose you've helped broaden my horizons today."
At first, Kelly had no idea what the girl was talking about—until she felt it. That rush of strength humming through her veins like liquid fire. She felt like she could easily beat her past self from just a few hours ago in a fight. The sensation was exhilarating, almost addicting.
But even in her awe, Kelly wasn't delusional. She knew what she felt was only a sliver of what true power must be in this world. Sure, she'd gotten stronger—but she was still far from strong.
Still, she wasn't going to downplay her progress either. After all, she had only just broken into the first stage of this so-called 'Dust Initiate Realm' less than a day ago. To already reach the second stage? That had to be rare... maybe even monstrous.
She looked up at the girl in front of her, debating how to voice the question that had been bugging her for a while now. She half-hoped it wouldn't get her killed. The image of that Knight's brutal death still lingered vividly in her mind.
"These realms," Kelly asked slowly, cautiously. "What... exactly are they?"
The girl's eyes sharpened—curious, focused, like she was analyzing something odd under a microscope.
"You're not from this world, are you?"
It wasn't a question. It was a statement. And it left Kelly with no room to maneuver.
Not that she planned to lie. Lying to someone from a clan that could casually murder people with a smile didn't seem like a smart life choice.
"Yes," Kelly answered plainly.
Surprisingly, the girl didn't press for more, which Kelly was deeply thankful for. If she had to explain Earth to someone with nine tails and possibly a god complex, she might've just died of stress first.
Instead, the girl rose to her feet and stretched, her perfect curves on full display—an infuriating sight that made Kelly want to groan in jealousy.
"Ugh, I feel so stiff and hot," the girl complained dramatically. "This place sucks. The forest stinks. The mosquitoes are vicious. I swear, Daddy is such a liar. 'Experience', he said. What a joke. He just wanted to dump me in this backwater nightmare."
Kelly raised an eyebrow, not exactly sure how this royal rant was supposed to involve her.
"And 'you'," the girl continued, her tone suddenly accusatory, "don't look at me like I'm going to bite you. I'm clearly trying to build a connection here. It's unbefitting of my image, you know. I'm such a cute and adorable child—you should feel honored just talking to this princess!"
She pointed at herself proudly, a little too pleased with her own declaration, and Kelly had to fight the twitch threatening her eyebrow.
"My name is Aurelia Vanthowart, Princess of the Tribe of the Tailed Foxes. And I just want to say—it's so nice to finally meet someone as cute as I am." She huffed dramatically. "Though no one could tell at first, what with all the dirt and the very questionable odor. But once we forced you into that much-needed bath? Boom—adorable. A little shocking, honestly."
Kelly blinked.
"Anyway," Aurelia continued without pause, "as a reward for being so visually pleasing, I've decided to bestow upon you a great honor—the privilege of being my friend. So tell me, cute person, what's your name?"
Somehow, the ridiculousness of her rambling helped Kelly relax. And honestly, it's not like using her real name mattered here—no one in this world even knew who she was.
"Kelly Drexler," she replied.
Aurelia made a face like she'd just tasted vinegar. "Ugh. Tell me the truth—was your old man drunk when he gave you that name?"
Kelly bit her lower lip, trying really hard not to snap. "No, he was perfectly sane. And seriously? I could say the same about your name. 'Aurelia' sounds like something a Greek monk muttered after waking from a century-long nap. No offense."
She winced inwardly, praying that little jab didn't cost her her head. But this princess was seriously testing her patience.
Aurelia frowned. "What's a Greek?" She waved it off just as quickly. "Doesn't matter. My name is super-duper awesome, just like me. But since you're clinging so hard to that name 'Kelly,' I guess weird naming sense runs in your family. But hey, I won't hold it against you. Daddy always says no friend is perfect, and we must accept their flaws, so…" she shrugged dramatically, "I'll let it slide."
Kelly decided right then that silence was the best strategy. Talking to this girl was like trying to reason with a sugar-high peacock.
Aurelia, of course, took her silence as surrender. The smug grin growing on her lips was infuriating. Kelly's fingers twitched. She'd never felt such a strong urge to smack someone so beautiful.
The princess stepped forward, her nine fluffy tails swaying in a mesmerizing pattern. Her movements left afterimages, like a dream half-remembered—enough to make Kelly slightly dizzy.
"Explaining Astral Ascendance from scratch would take forever," Aurelia said, lifting one glowing white finger. "So I'm gonna simplify it."
Kelly's eyes widened. "Wait, what are you—"
But before she could finish, Aurelia tapped her forehead.
A white light surged from the contact, flowing into her mind. It felt like a dam had burst, flooding her with knowledge so overwhelming it stung behind her eyes. But the pain wasn't what made her gasp.
It was the sheer truth of it.
The way the universe really worked.
And how, in the grand cosmic scheme, Earth was barely a speck—just a forgotten bug under the boot of infinity.
***
Astral Ascendance was the power system of the Mortal Universe, divided into eight realms:
- Dust Initiate
- Dust Adept
- Dust Wielder
- Astral Forger
- Celestial Sentinel
- Nebula Sovereign
- Void Ascendant
- Starborn Deity
Each realm held nine sub-stages. Those who stepped onto the path of Astral Ascendance were known as the Stellari, respected by mortals and revered by many—because not everyone could become one.
You had to be chosen to wield the Dust.
Some clans possessed bloodlines that made them superior to the average Stellari. These bloodlines influenced their Cosmic Dust, allowing it to convert into other energy forms—like fire, ice, illusions, and countless more.
The information flooding into Kelly's mind was too vast to absorb all at once, but one detail stood out, tugging at her attention.
By all logic, a Dust Initiate wasn't supposed to feel Cosmic Dust yet—much less use it. That ability only came with the Dust Adept stage, where you could start enhancing parts of your body.
So why the hell could she project Cosmic Dust outward—something that shouldn't even be possible until the Dust Wielder stage?
Was she a freak? Or… something else?
***
Kelly glanced up at Aurelia, doing her best to hide the confusion in her eyes. The last thing she needed was anyone figuring out her little secret. Attention in this world could get you killed.
But something had changed about the princess.
Gone was the bubbly, self-absorbed girl from moments ago. What stood before her now was cold, calculating.
Her eyes had shifted—the same kind of sharp, dissecting stare that Jayden used to give her back on Earth.
The stare of someone looking at a specimen.
Kelly's muscles tensed on instinct. She reached inward, brushing against the flow of Cosmic Dust in the air, ready to react at a moment's notice.
Something was off.
"Is… is something wrong?" Kelly asked cautiously, her brows furrowed.
"I suppose," Aurelia said, voice flat and emotionless. It sent a chill crawling up Kelly's spine. "Since you're from another world—an inferior one, no doubt, considering you're still at the Dust Initiate realm at your age—you must be wondering why I've changed."
The tone. The words. The emptiness in her voice.
Aurelia was definitely not the same girl anymore.
Kelly didn't respond. Her eyes stayed locked on the fox girl, unblinking, unmoving.
Aurelia turned away from her, looking past the fabric of the tent to where the Galaxy Star had already risen into the sky, casting soft hues of silver and lavender across the horizon.
"We fox-kin are... quite unique," Aurelia said quietly. "Our souls aren't a simple, unified whole like those of other mortals. Instead, they're fragmented. Fractured. But not broken. Our soul is an art piece—painted by the universe to be beautiful in its complexity."
Kelly blinked. "I have no idea what the hell you're talking about."
Aurelia turned her gaze back to her, and the chilling emptiness in her eyes made Kelly's heart stutter.
"How rare," Aurelia said, her tone disturbingly calm. "Most Stellari without bloodlines—purebloods like you—know better than to speak so casually to someone above them. It's almost fascinating. Either you're incredibly stupid, or you have no idea how close you are to dying."
That was enough warning. Kelly decided it was in her best interest to shut up now.
Aurelia's eyes drifted back toward the horizon. "These fragments I speak of... are the different faces our soul wears. Each born from a dominant emotion. Each one tied to the number of tails we're born with. So, for your limited understanding—call them alter-egos."
Kelly's eyes narrowed slightly. That explained a few things—the Celestial Maiden's shift in personality, and now this colder version of Aurelia. But she couldn't shake the unease. This side of Aurelia didn't feel like someone she could afford to trust.
"So," Aurelia continued, walking toward her, "it's not wrong to say I have eight sisters living in the same body."
She sat on the edge of the bed and reached out, gently brushing her fingers against the side of Kelly's face.
Kelly stiffened. Instinct told her to pull away—but her better judgment said to stay still.
"Jester is the funny one. Mourner's always sad. Tyrant gets angry a lot. Saint's too kind. The Dreamer spends her days chasing prince charming, and Fiend..." Aurelia's voice dropped, "well, she's cruel. The Charmer's flirty and full of mischief, while the Pariah—she just shakes and trembles all day, drowning in fear and anxiety."
Kelly's voice came out in a whisper. "And who... am I talking to now?"
Silence stretched for a few seconds before the reply came—calm, indifferent, detached.
"I'm Shadow. The cold one."
Kelly let out a breath, lips twitching into a small smile. "You know... that doesn't sound too bad. As long as you're not Tyrant—"
Aurelia's finger pressed softly to her lips, silencing her mid-sentence. Kelly met those icy green eyes again, and this time she knew for sure—Shadow wasn't one to joke around.
"You know," Aurelia murmured, gently brushing a hand through Kelly's hair, almost like she was petting a stray cat, "people always make the same mistake. Anger is predictable. I'm not. My sisters are ruled by emotion—but I'm the anomaly."
Her hand stilled.
"Because I don't feel."
Kelly took a slow, shaky breath, fingers curling into a fist beneath the blanket. She hadn't been certain before—but now she was. To Aurelia, or rather Shadow, she was nothing more than a curiosity. Maybe even a pet.
"Then why," Kelly said, voice low and strained, "why am I still here? What do I have that makes me worth keeping around?"
Aurelia rose from the bed, her eyes never leaving Kelly's. But now, something had changed. There was a flicker of recognition there. Like she'd just started to see Kelly in a different light.
Like Kelly might be just a little less of an idiot than she first thought.
"How smart," she said, a glint of amusement in her cold eyes. "The Ring of Aether reacted to you. I don't care, nor do I want to know, how you're connected to the abominations of the Aether—but there's something in that realm I want. The Soul Flower. Bring it to me. And anything else you find there."
With that, she flicked her finger, sending a small spark of Illusory Cosmic Dust into Kelly.
Kelly gasped as it curled around her heart like a serpent, squeezing just tight enough to spike her fear. She instinctively resisted, focusing inward until she felt the foreign energy slither inside her—and to her surprise, she felt a strange sense of control. Subtle, but there.
Without thinking, she nudged the Dust outward, just enough to test if she could eject it without being noticed.
She regretted it immediately. She should've waited until she was alone. But her body had moved on instinct, faster than her thoughts could catch up. Now all she could do was hope Aurelia didn't notice.
"Don't be afraid," Aurelia said softly, brushing her hand through Kelly's hair again like she was stroking a nervous animal. "The Dust in your heart is just... assurance. A little motivation to make sure you complete my mission."
Kelly forced her face to stay calm, but inside, her rage simmered. This psycho would regret ever underestimating her.
A bag appeared in Aurelia's hand. She tossed it over casually. "That's your travel bag. Enhanced with space laws—it'll carry ten times its size. You'll find everything you need in there to survive your..." she paused, "adventure."
"I really don't get it," Kelly said, voice tired but tinged with curiosity. "I'm only at the Dust Initiate realm—barely able to use Cosmic Dust, let alone control it. There are others way stronger than me. You included. So why me?"
Aurelia held out her hand, and a ring materialized, glowing with a thick silver light. Before Kelly's eyes, it grew larger, hovering midair, a few inches taller than Kelly herself.
"The Ring of Aether chooses who faces the trial," Aurelia said, her voice flat, almost like she was reciting a bedtime story. "Only those connected to the Aether get picked."
Amused, Kelly grabbed the bag and walked toward the ring, where a swirling portal spun like a vortex. She paused a step away, turning to face Aurelia with a complicated expression.
"Thanks, really. When I first showed up, I was thirsty and starving, but now I'm fine. You even gave me food and water—and sent me off on some 'adventure' that's supposed to make me stronger. I won't forget that favor."
Aurelia's voice stayed cold and impassive. "You're mistaken. Everything you find in the Aether belongs to me. You're not getting stronger—you're going in as my personal slave. Any selfish move, and the consciousness I planted in my Cosmic Dust will kill you."
Kelly smirked a little. "Oh yeah? You really think that?"
She caught the flash of confusion in Aurelia's eyes before they widened—like she'd just realized something. Then, Aurelia's face twisted into pure fury.
Before Aurelia could react, Kelly stepped into the portal. A roar echoed behind her, followed by a crashing wave of Cosmic Dust.
"BITCH!!!"
Yep. Definitely the Tyrant.