New Eden: Live to Play, Play to Live

Looking into the sky, Phoenix noticed the stars warping and funnelling toward them. Some stars followed the funnel, forming the shape of a person.

Soon enough, a tall, slender woman was standing in front of both Phoenix and Astaroth. A grin appeared on the latter’s face, as his eyes were still closed.

Opening his eyes, Astaroth saw Lady Anulo’s smiling face.

“You have called, child. I cannot stay long, so speak your mind.”

Astaroth nodded. He would also prefer not to take too long.

He had some things to do outside New Eden after this. In the meantime, Phoenix was still slack-jawed at Lady Anulo’s appearance.

Alantha watched the human girl next to him from the corner of her eye and could see the strings of fate tying them together. Her smile softened.

“I had a favour to ask of you, Lady Anulo.”

The deity tilted her head. It wasn’t rare for a mortal to ask a favour from a god, but rarely did they call them to the mortal realm to do so.

“Speak.”

Pointing at the fruit at Lady Anulo’s feet, Astaroth explained what he wanted.

“I have a being that works for me, stuck at the semi-legendary stage. Eating this fruit would break him through to legendary.”

“Indeed, it would. But you don’t need me for this.”

“I do not, no. But I thought of something else. You are familiar with the constellation Leo, am I right?”

“I am the minor goddess of the stars. Of course I am.”

“The being I am trying to evolve is a lion beast-man. I was wondering if infusing the fruit with the constellation’s power would make him go one step further. Could it make it evolve further?”

Lady Anulo looked at him wide-eyed for a second. What he was asking was to infuse a mortal being with power far beyond its shell’s capacity.

But then she looked at it from another angle. If they infused the fruit, and the beast-man consumed it, he might be able to digest the energy more passively.

It was an insane idea, but the potential stayed undeniable. She resolved herself to help.

It wasn’t a loss for her, either. If they infused the mortal in question with star aether, that would tie it to her domain, adding a powerful being to her following.

While she thought of those things, Phoenix elbowed Astaroth in the side, whispering to him.

“Is she the reason you are strong? Her power seems similar to Luna’s, are they related?”

Astaroth whispered back.

“No. I derive my power from spirits and souls. She is the one that made my weapon though, albeit a long time ago. As for Luna, someday I’ll present you her genitor.”

Phoenix nodded, before noticing the deity was looking at them. She snapped back upright, lowering her head.

Lady Anulo locked her gaze on Astaroth’s.

“I will grant your favour. As for the return, I will redeem it in due time. I have a feeling it will be necessary soon.”

Astaroth nodded.

Lady Anulo turned around, facing herself to the stars. She smiled, seeing that Astaroth had already made sure they were looking at the right constellation.

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Astaroth could see a bright string of energy suddenly extend from the sky to the deity’s hand. The next moment, Lady Anulo levitated the fruit into her other hand.

As soon as she did, the fruit started siphoning the aether like a dried-up desert flower finally receiving rain. To Astaroth’s sense, the fruit was filling up rapidly before condensing and repeating the process.

He could see a nucleus of Aether forming inside the fruit, and that alone was a sign his plan was working. At least for this part.

The next step was more of a gamble

After about a minute of infusing the power of the star Regulus inside the small fruit, it finally looked gorged. To Astaroth, this fruit looked like a miniature sun, shining brighter than anything he had ever seen.

Even Phoenix could feel the intense energy radiating from the previously listless fruit.

Lady Anulo looked tired but satisfied with her handiwork. She handed the fruit to Astaroth, who took it with the care you would give a newborn.

“I have granted your favour. I must now leave, as I have drained my power. But I will observe from my domain, hoping for your success. Goodbye, child.”

Astaroth bowed his upper body, still sitting on the branch, and bade farewell to the minor goddess. Phoenix followed his motion.

After a flash of purple and pink, Lady Anulo disappeared from their realm once more.

Astaroth had the grin of a fool plastered on his face. It almost made Phoenix laugh.

The whole situation lasted around half an hour, and the moon was still high in the sky. Astaroth could meld back with Morpheus at any moment, to go back down.

But he instead enjoyed the starlit night a bit. It was a gorgeous sight, after all.

Phoenix, seeing him lie down, joined in and cuddled next to him, looking at the stars. She turned her head towards him.

“Do you think she is still looking this way?”

“I doubt she will look back down for a little while. This must have taken an enormous amount of her energy. Why?”

“I was wondering what she would think of me if I violated her precious child in front of her gaze.”

Astaroth laughed.

“I doubt matters of the living get her attention like that. She has been alive for a long time, and I think she’s seen her fair share. I wouldn’t be surprised if she did some frolicking of her own at some point.”

“Good. Cause I’m about to frolic you up.”

Phoenix rolled over Astaroth, pinning down his shoulders. She started kissing him vigorously, but before she could go any further, the sound of wings flapping interrupted her.

“There you are. I’ve been looking for you, butterfly. You can have sex after I talk to you.”

Phoenix looked at the disruptor with anger.

“Khalor. I wasn’t expecting to see you here… like… ever,” Astaroth blurted in disappointment.

“Well, we need to talk.”