Chapter 325: The Guardian Of The Stars

Where am I?

I found myself staring at a sky littered with countless stars.

"Ah... it’s that dream again."

Yes, it was that dream once again.

A dream I had after I died.

"Are you sure you want things to end like this?"

I’ve had this dream so many times. And yet, every time I see it, I’m reminded of the choice I made back then.

What if I had chosen differently?

Would things have ended back then?

A young man with short black hair and green eyes looked at me calmly. I had never seen him before, yet he felt like a friend whom I had never met.

No. He was more than that.

He was like... family.

Family I never had.

"Astravor. Do you know what your name means?"

I didn’t know what my name meant. It was a name I have given myself. I didn’t know why I thought of this name back then. It just felt right to have this name for myself.

"It means the Guardian of the Stars. Right now, there is a star you need to protect. A small star who still doesn’t have enough strength to shine on his own. A star whose spark might disappear on this very day if no one protects it."

Then, the image of the battlefield appeared.

There, I saw Boris fighting recklessly as if it had gone mad from anger. I couldn’t help but call him an "idiot lizard" at the sight. Yet, I also felt a profound emotion within me as it roared with anger toward the Bronze Dragon.

I didn’t feel anything at first.

No pain, no sadness, no ache...

But now, all those emotions surged at once.

As much as I didn’t want to admit it, the stupid lizard had grown on me. If it continued to fight against the Dragon head-on, then it would only be a matter of time before it would perish as well.

"Stupid Boris," I said softly.

I wanted to clench my claws, but I no longer had them. In fact... I didn’t seem to have a body at all. It reminded me that I had died and had become a soul.

Then, my gaze landed on a young man, lying on the ground unconscious. Blood seeped from his nose and from the corner of his lips. It looked like he had pushed himself too hard just to defend his people.

Seeing him like this... made me feel a little angry.

"Do you wish to have another chance?" the young man asked. "Do you wish to see that little star rise up to the heavens and shine brilliantly? Or... do you wish for it all to end? Whatever you end up choosing, I will respect it."

A second chance? Am I about to have a second chance?

"Who are you?" I asked. "Are you the Earth Mother whom the barbarians worship?"

Suddenly, a loud laughter spread inside that world.

Daedalus, the grimoire who was always right beside Leone, laughed loudly as if it had just heard the funniest joke in its life.

"Earth Mother! Hahaha!" Daedalus laughed. "You were actually called the Earth Mother! Hahaha!"

But the young man ignored the grimoire and continued to smile at me.

"My name is Thirteen," Thirteen said. "And this talking book right here is Fourteen."

"Hey!" Daedalus complained. "That’s confidential information!"

I watched as Daedalus whacked the man’s head with its body. However, Thirteen remained calm and smiling all throughout. It was as if the grimoire’s relentless attacks were dealing no damage to him whatsoever.

"Thirteen... If I remember correctly, that’s what humans call numbers, right?" I asked.

"Yes, it is," Thirteen replied. "Are you curious how I got my name?"

"Hey! We don’t have time for this!" Daedalus once again complained. "Astravor, become the Guardian of the Aslan Tribe! If you don’t, Leone will die!"

’Well, that’s what ’He’ said," Thirteen shrugged. "So, do you want a second chance or not?"

"Do you have the power to bring me back to life?" Astravor asked.

"I don’t have that power," Thirteen answered. "However, Fourteen can create miracles with a little bit of my help. Though, you should know that you only have a minute to decide. After that, no one will be able to save you. With that said, what will it be, Astravor? Will you become the guardian of an Extra?"

"Star!" Daedalus corrected. "Leone is a star!"

"Fine. Star it is." Thirteen then pointed at the starry sky and traced his hands over them.

There, a constellation formed.

The constellation of the Lion.

"Each star shines in their own way," Thirteen said. "But together, they can do big things. Now, Astravor, what’s your call?"

The young man extended his hands toward me, as if waiting for me to make a decision.

"Do you wish to protect that Little King until he shines brightly throughout the heavens?"

I glanced at the battlefield once more. I could tell that Boris was already on its last legs. The moment it fell, the Aslan Tribe would surely follow suit.

And if that happened... Leone would also perish.

"Yes," I replied. "Please send me back."

"Good." Thirteen smiled faintly. "Then go, Astravor, Guardian of the Stars. Guard the Little King until the day he shines brightly throughout the heavens."

The young man then held Daedalus and opened its pages.

"Be reborn," Thirteen declared. "And protect what you hold sacred."

At that, the dream finally ended.

When I opened my eyes, the sun was already rising from the east, its rays falling down upon the world as if greeting those who were there to meet it.

I wanted to rise and take a better look at the sunrise, but that was currently not possible.

Sleeping, snoring, and hugging me from behind was none other than the stupid lizard, Boris.

Ever since the fool had gained wings to fly, it had pestered me day and night. And sometimes, it would even sneak up on my nest while I was asleep to sleep by my side.

A sigh escaped my lips. It seems like no matter how many times I told this idiot to stop bothering me, it would never listen.

It was like talking to a rock, so I eventually gave up.

’If I remember correctly, we will be having guests today,’ I thought.

Leone informed me that a little over five hundred people from the Bonegnash Tribe would be staying with the Aslan Tribe from now on.

It was then that I noticed it. I was so surprised by it that I forcefully freed myself from Boris’ grasp in order to take a better look.

"Hah... you really did it," I muttered helplessly.

Out of nowhere, a city around the mountain had formed overnight. It wasn’t there when I closed my eyes. It seemed that Leone had planned to surprise everyone.

’Right, there will be two Wyverns coming as well,’ I mused. ’I pity them. Boris will definitely treat them as new playmates.’

It was then that I realized something. Maybe having more people wasn’t a bad thing. If Boris had more playmates, wouldn’t that mean this stupid lizard would stop bothering me from morning till night?

’Please arrive soon, Bonegnash Tribe,’ I prayed silently at the thought. ’Play with this idiot so that it will finally leave me alone.’

Somewhere beyond the heavens, I thought I heard a faint chuckle.

’Is that you, Thirteen?’ I thought as I stared at the sky.

Yet, no answer came.

I once again remembered the final words he left me before I was sent back to the world of the living.

"Your Little King still needs to face several challenges and be tempered by the fires of countless trials. Then and only then can he shine like a sharp blade that can cut the threads of fate, the same threads that prevent him from becoming the King he aspires to become."

A King?

I couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought of Leone becoming a King.

Though, if there was a one in a million chance for that to happen, then I believe that Leone might just be foolish enough to make that one chance become reality.

After all, ever since that Little King had entered my life, he had been accomplishing one impossible feat after another.

Perhaps... that was exactly why I had decided to come back.

To make sure that this pitiful young man shone against the darkness like the morning sun.