“... you’ll have a month to acclimate to Astralis and partake in regular training with your sponsor. I trust that you’ll make the most of this time. The challenges will take place each month, with the last happening just before the summer solstice. Your sponsor will now lead you to your housing. May the stars guide you. The constellations are the only constant.”
What’s constant is this nightmare giving me a headache. The teams slowly disperse, some faster than others. My eyes linger on the back of the man with wild energy. “When can we get some information about the others?”
“You all will get acquainted soon enough.”
“Very specific, thank you, Orion.” I angle my body away from him to ignore his response and make a plan with Lenny to find each other once we’re settled in. Only when I’ve finished do I return my attention to the Astral impatiently waiting beside me.
“Ready?” Orion doesn’t wait for a response before taking off towards the door we first entered.
“No.” I unwillingly follow. What other choice do I have? It’s time to persevere.
Ten
I’ve experienced nothing like Astralis in all my years. Granted, I’ve spent the entirety of my existence in the unit on Lunara, but still. This city, and every building within it, is built all underneath one large shimmering dome. There aren’t lengthy, bleak hallways and limited destinations. Instead, the possibilities are endless. There are open-air skyboxes that follow a pulley across the skyline. Aircraft that hover zoom in and out of alleyways, rich smells—and color, my stars, the color is everywhere.
Citizens walk joyfully through the streets in enchanted clothing, colors changing and patterns moving as they walk. I’ve spied an assortment of eclectic hats, some so tall I wonder how they stay on, others short and rounded. The dressings and accessories are so different from the uniform, plain clothing we’re issued or can purchase in Lunara. Some carry elixirs—elongated glass bottles in their hands in swirling, bright colors; others hold large, thick tomes or bags big enough that I could crawl inside.
Some openly use their magic to assist them or to pester their companions. A female flicks water from her palms at the male by her side, making him laugh. A younger boy with more tomes than hands floats the tomes he can’t hold in a trail behind him. The tomes follow him willfully, bobbing along as if it were the most natural thing in all the worlds. The displays of magic are something I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to.
Midnight blue cobblestones are lined by bioluminescent flora, weaving in and out of parks and buildings that are surrounded by mauve grass beddings. The gardens are lush with gold features, curved benches, and an abundance of flora. Sleek buildings of the deepest obsidian reach upwards, with goldenorb posts surrounding the spires. With so many dusky details, one would assume the city feels dark—instead, the entire city gleams. Orb lights are everywhere—whether they are strung, stationary, or hovering. They twinkle like stars to mirror the beauty of the nebulae above us. A river cuts diagonally through the city, with a crystalline bridge connecting the divided halves. The bridge is astounding in itself, yet its beauty is further enhanced by the flowers that grow on its sides. Moonflowers with large, white lobed petals, bright yellow evening primrose, and white sweet alyssum glow in the bathing moonlight. A bridge of flowers underneath the stars.
In the north, flourishing self-watering gardens with fruit and vegetables are nestled into fields on the outskirts of the city. The apartments for the challengers are situated atop a hill overlooking the bustling streets below, on the western side of the city. In the east, most businesses can be found, with the south remaining untouched, ripe with potential. I’ve been informed that our training will take place in the southern part of the city, which makes me believe there is more in the south than meets the eye.
Orion has led me to my quarters, which are triple the size of my chambers back in the unit. I stare out into the City of Wonder and the inky sky beyond, attempting to commit each part to memory. How could all of this have existed without my knowledge? This city, teeming with such life, is in stark contrast to the upbringing and surroundings I’m accustomed to. And it makes meenraged. Why have we missed out on all of this? Because we are human? We work diligently every day of our lives to collect items that the Kosmos and likely every individual living in Astralis uses in potions or elixirs, and this is how they repay us? By depriving us of dreams and possibilities? Who made the executive decision that one species was more privileged than another?
I should loathe this city’s very existence, and yet… I can’t. It’s beautiful. Perhaps the beauty is deceiving, masking a lurking evil beneath. Only time will tell. Orion sits behind me on a deep, sophisticated sofa with golden accents. He remains silent, but I’ve already discovered this maneuver of his. He is biding his time, waiting for me to be ready. Right now, I appreciate his patience. Perhaps we were well-suited as partners, after all.
“What’s in this for you?” I continue my slow perusal of the city outside.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean,” I spin, folding my arms, and leaning against the windowsill, “why are you doing this? What do you get out of this?”
Orion’s arm rests against the back of the sofa, with his leg resting over his knee. “Besides the pleasure of your company?”
“Can you be serious for more than two seconds?”
“You’re right, I’m sorry.”
I force as much contempt as I can into my stare, but Orion disarms me with a charming wink. “I’ve been working toward this specific job. I’m an excellent reader of character, and I’m trained in multiple military tactics—which will benefit you in training, by the way. Honestly? I enjoy rooting for the underdog.”
“And that’s me? The underdog?”
“Humans, yes. To be transparent, the winning sponsor is offered a role within the Kosmos. It’s a dream position, one where I can work for further equality for my people. I’m sure that’s something you feel strongly about?”
The gall of this man! I stalk forward, leaning closely in towards Orion’s face. He remains unnerved, save for a tick in his jaw. “We. Are. Not. The. Same. You? Your privilege? You know fuckingnothing.”
“Let me make one thing clear, Zellie. I’mveryaware of how humans live. Why do you think I’m doing this? To getin. To make changes. Next time, don’t lump us all in the same category with your biased assumptions. Nowget out of my fucking face.”
My spine straightens, and for the first time, I feel a flicker of hope. “I think you and I will be just fine, Riri.”
Eleven
Abinder lands with a resoundingsmackon the table in front of me. I take another bite of the bowl of pasta Orion made—stars, this tastes so much better than beans. “What’s this?”
He slides coolly into the seat directly across from mine with his bowl. “I’ve done my homework; now do yours.”
I raise an eyebrow, pushing my bowl to the side and grabbing the binder. The folder opens with a creak, revealing layers and layers of thick parchment. As I flick through, realization settles over me. This is information about all the other contestants. “Am I supposed to have this?”
