Star Hall—
Julius sat upon the towering throne, his thoughts swirling in a chaotic storm. Just moments ago, he had been told that his arrival in this world was a mistake—a consequence of the Dark King's error. And now, they had granted him dominion over this place. King? Deity? No. He was neither. Just a man struggling to survive.
A searing pain flared from the sigil on his palm, tearing through his thoughts. At the same time, a voice echoed within his mind—faint yet desperate, like a prayer whispered in anguish.
"King of Shadows… my savior… In the name of the great Charon, please… save my father. He did not kill Uncle Chris. My father is innocent… Please, answer my call."
The voice belonged to a child, trembling with sorrow, thick with helplessness.
Julius felt a pang of sympathy but remained silent. How was he supposed to respond? He barely understood what this place was, let alone how it functioned.
His gaze drifted to a brilliant star, pulsing near the throne as if calling to him. Before he could second-guess himself, his hand reached out, fingertips brushing against its radiant surface—
—And suddenly, he was no longer in the Star Hall.
Julius found himself standing in front of the very child who had called out for help. His surroundings were hazy, distorted, as if reality itself wavered at the edges.
What just happened?
His mind raced. Did I… transfer here just by touching that star?
Before he could find an answer, his attention fell upon the boy kneeling on the ground. The child clutched a peculiar stone, its engraved patterns glowing with an eerie, azure light. He was still sobbing, still pleading.
Yet—Julius frowned. The boy did not react to his presence. Not even a flicker of acknowledgment.
He can't see me?
Julius hesitated, then spoke. "Child, why do you weep?"
The boy gasped, his grip on the stone slipping in shock. The moment it hit the ground, Julius felt a powerful force yank him away—
—And he was back.
The Star Hall reappeared around him, its oppressive silence pressing against his senses. His breath was ragged. His heart pounded.
"Damn it… what just happened?"
The burning sensation on his palm had faded, along with the whispered prayers. A brief relief—
Until the pain returned, sharper than before, sending fire through his nerves.
"No way…"
The child's voice rang in his ears again, trembling with disbelief.
"King of Shadows! My lord, you answered my prayers! I— I will serve you, however you wish! But please… save my father from the prison!"
Julius clenched his jaw, frustration boiling beneath his skin.
"Save your father?" He nearly laughed at the absurdity of it. "I can't even save myself from this damn nightmare!"
Yet, something nagged at him. The pain in his palm—
It had vanished when he touched the star.
And when he had appeared before the boy… it had disappeared entirely.
A realization struck him. The pain… it's connected to his prayers. Whenever he calls upon me, I suffer.
Gritting his teeth, Julius reached for the star once more.
Light swallowed him whole.
And he was there again.
The boy still knelt, head bowed in desperate supplication. His frail frame trembled under the weight of his hope.
Julius narrowed his eyes.
"Did you summon me?"
The child flinched. His breath hitched. Slowly, as if afraid this was all a cruel illusion, he lifted his head.
When his gaze landed upon Julius, his lips parted in stunned silence—
And then, tears spilled freely down his cheeks.
"M-my lord… you… you have truly come!"
His voice cracked with overwhelming relief.
"I have prayed to you for over a month! Every day, every night! And now—ahhh!"
His sobs grew uncontrollable.
Julius stood frozen, absorbing the revelation. A month? He has been calling out to me for an entire month?
The depth of the boy's faith… was staggering.
Yet, his weeping grated against Julius' patience.
With a sharp tone, he cut through the child's cries.
"You dare summon me… only to waste my time with your sniveling?"
Instantly, the boy silenced himself. His hands clenched into fists, his tiny shoulders shaking. He swallowed his sobs, forcing himself into stillness.
Even as tears continued to well in his eyes, his face shone with a desperate, unyielding joy.
"F-forgive me, my lord… I… I still cannot believe you have answered me."
Julius exhaled, rubbing his temple.
"Enough. Tell me—how did you reach me?"
The boy wiped his face and spoke in hushed reverence.
"Through this, my lord."
He held up the glowing stone.
"They say that whoever clutches this and prays to the King of Shadows… will be heard. But only by those truly faithful."
Julius narrowed his eyes.
"So, this is the damned thing responsible for my torment?"
His irritation flared. He wanted to shatter the wretched artifact right then and there.
Yet, another detail caught his attention.
He's still not looking at me.
Julius' eyes flickered with suspicion.
"Child… can you see me?"
The boy flinched, blinking rapidly.
"W-what? See you, my lord?"
His head snapped left, then right, as if searching—yet his gaze never landed on Julius himself.
"I… I cannot. How could I possibly gaze upon your divine form?"
Julius' breath hitched.
"He truly can't see me?"
A strange thought struck him.
He took a step forward. Reached out—
And placed a hand on the boy's shoulder.
The moment his fingers made contact—
A surge of electricity crashed through his body.
A force unlike anything he had ever known roared through his veins, overwhelming his senses.
Before he could even gasp, the world twisted—
And once again, he was back in the Star Hall.
Chest heaving. Hands trembling. Every inch of him electrified with lingering shock.
"What… was that?"
He steadied himself, gaze snapping toward the star.
It was different now.
The once-luminous light had shifted, its glow now a celestial blue—
The same shade as the child's stone.
Julius stared, his mind a whirlwind of questions.
Before he could make sense of it all, a voice shattered the silence.
"Where… am I?"
Julius' blood ran cold.
Slowly, he turned his gaze downward—toward the base of his throne.
And there—standing amidst the ethereal expanse of the Star Hall—
Was the child.