Elegy for a Star

Gwen jumped to her feet when the portal opened. Everyone did. This wasn’t the same sort of portal that they had all walked out of. This was something bright and burning. This wasn't a Trial. This was an invasion of their Void pocket.

“Stop!” came a voice from beyond the portal, “Tess, stop!” The voice screamed, “You’re dangerous! You’re going to hurt somebody!”

The creature stepped through the portal before it closed, the remaining words muffling to silence.

Gwendolyn’s sword was in her hand before she knew it. Miren was up and Mairaela even put down Joyona’s lost soul before drawing her bow.

The thing was a being of starlight and darkness, a cutout of the night sky in the shape of a human. A silhouette of stars and darkness. Its shoulder-length hair and loose clothing floated as though nothing tied it to the ground. Only the tips of its toes slid along the floor as it moved.

Gwen’s grip tightened. “Wydwen,” she called out, “What is that?!”

“Nothing of my doing,” Wydwen replied dryly. What was it about the Old God that kept him so calm? "But it looks bad," the cat concluded, "I did not make the portal, and the place beyond is no Trial of mine."

It was difficult to tell, given its nature as a silhouette, but Gwen thought it moved its head around to look at each of them in turn. “What is it?” Mairaela asked. There was a rattle in her voice. She was disturbed.

So was Gwen.

They’d fought beasts and monsters in the past, but nothing quite like this. Even outside of the Black Sun, Gwendolyn had seen her fair share of violence and deathbringers, but within it? Anything could happen, and right now was one of those moments.

As it opened its mouth, it shone with a white light pouring through it, just like its wide-open eyes. As it spoke, its voice felt powerful as it echoed throughout the tower. Whatever it said, its words were incomprehensible. It spoke in a language that Gwen wasn’t familiar with, and according to the confused stares of her Fey allies, they didn’t understand it either. Each word sounded like it belonged within a twinkling music box instead; tinny, melodic and occasionally made of multiple notes at once, but they were words nevertheless. They sounded like twinkling stars, but there was nothing cute about them. It was alien and discomforting.

Wydwen was the only one that acknowledged the words with some level of understanding. The cat god perked his ears up, canted his head to the side a bit and responded, “Because you look unwell.”

Perhaps it was these words that made Gwen take a second, closer look. The length of its hair. The waviness. The silhouette of its form.

“...Tess?” That’s what the voice was shouting about. It should have been obvious but this… this wasn’t Tess. It couldn’t be. What became of her? The voice beyond the portal said she was dangerous. The thought was unimaginable.

But then the figure turned to look at her. Gwen’s heart sank. Her throat tightened. She wasn't wrong. It was Tess.

“Oh gods, Tess…” Gwen repeated, the grip on her sword failing her. The heavy blade clattered to the ground with a harsh, scraping sound. Mairaela’s arrow lowered, but Miren looked to be just as alarmed as before. “Tess, what happened?” Gwen added, her voice wavering.

Gwen took a few steps forward, her heart pounding, her mind running at a frantic pace. Adrenaline burned through her veins. Something did this to her and Gwendolyn needed to fix it! That was all that she could think of.

Tess opened her mouth and that language came again.

“Tess, I don’t understand you…” Gwen replied, "I don't know what you need."

It—no, Tess—began to speak Imperial, “You look afraid.”

“I am afraid,” Gwen replied, “I’m scared for you. I don’t know what happened. Are you okay?”

“Of course,” she replied, “Don't be alarmed.”

Those bright eyes of hers looked so uncaring, emotionless, blank.

“Tess, you aren’t-... you aren’t looking normal. Did something happen to you?” Gwen asked, taking another step forward, “Tess, whatever is going on, how can we stop it?”

“I don’t want to stop it,” Tess responded, “Why should I?”

“Because I want… I want my Tess back,” Gwen replied, hoping that her words would not be taken so selfishly as they felt when she said them, “You’re not acting the same. You’re-... you’re different and I want-... I want you back.”

Gwen was nearing her now, only a few paces away.

“What are you doing?” Tess asked. There wasn't a hint of fear in her voice, but it did sound preemptive, precautionary; defensive.

“I want to help,” Gwen said softly, as calmly as she could.

Tess shook her head, “I don’t need help. I won't ever need help again.”

“Please,” Gwen whispered.

“No.”

What could Gwendolyn do? What could she possibly do to help. This was something beyond her. Beyond the College and Corps. Beyond-... beyond anything she knew, and there was nothing in this tower that could help her. Wydwen only looked on, unconcerned. Was this the realm of gods?

She wasn’t sure if she could get Tess back. The idea of that sort of permanency choked her, built up a fear and an anguish in her body that she couldn’t release. She just wanted her friend back, but that may not happen, and it certainly couldn't happen now when Gwendolyn had no idea as far as what to do. 

“Can-... Tess? Can I give you a hug?” Gwen asked softly, shakily, inching forward, “Please? I just want a hug.”

Tess looked utterly baffled, but she didn’t protest, nor did she budge.

Gwen got close enough to the shorter, odd-looking girl, wrapping her arms around her floating silhouette. She wasn’t able to pull her close, so she leaned in, instead.

There was no warmth. No cold. It was like hugging a statue with no texture. It wasn’t like hugging Tess. It wasn't enough, but it was all that she could get. It was bittersweet.

“That’s enough,” Tess said coldly.

Gwendolyn couldn’t let go. She didn’t know what to do. She couldn’t help Tess; She had no idea of what she could do to bring Tess back. Instead, she just wanted to hold what Tess was now. Then there was a hand on her throat and Gwendolyn’s feet came up off of the ground. There was only the briefest glimpse of the starry figure lifting Gwen by the neck.

Tess squeezed so roughly that Gwen's vision went black immediately. She felt something. Something unreal. Something cosmic. She could see her life. All that she was, is, and will be. She could feel Tess’ hand lifting her whole self off of the chains that bound it in place. She felt her whole life—her existence—peeling away.

Oblivion awaited her.

When Gwendolyn opened her eyes, she was lying down in a shallow lake that didn't manage to cover her face. Water lapped at her ears and stars filled the night sky. There was a shooting star every second, streaking across the sky like a painter’s brush.

Gwendolyn climbed to her feet, dripping wet from head to toe. The water was only ankle high, but there was nothing but its reflective surface for miles. Far, far in the distance were mountainous peaks or the glint of a town's firelight.

Tess was there, though, standing in the lake nearby, staring up at the star-sprinkled sky. The real Tess. Not whatever starlit creature she’d been speaking to before. Tess was in a white sundress, sleeveless and with a low neckline, with its skirt growing more and more sheer toward its knee-height hem. There was a gentle, warm breeze coming off of the water, catching Tess' hair and dress and causing them to float and billow and sway. She looked magical.

As Gwendolyn approached, Tess turned to look at her, smiling brightly.

“Tess?” Gwen asked warily, wading through the shallow water.

She beamed a sunny smile, “Hey there.”

“Where are we?”

“The Sea of Stars. I wanted to bring you here,” Tess said softly, stepping toward Gwendolyn and taking her hand. Fingers interlaced and Tess pointed into the sky.

"The-..." Gwen paused, looking around at the great sea they were in, "The Sea of Stars? That's near Hastenburgh. Near Starport?"

Tess nodded her head. Was that something Tess remembered? Gwen couldn't recall if she'd mentioned Starport to Tess or not. This Tess didn't seem to have the constant self-doubt, as though her clouded mind and memory may be failing her regarding anything she said or did. This Tess seemed comfortable and confident.

"Now look," Tess whispered, pointing back to the stars, "Isn't it beautiful?"

“Yeah,” Gwen said, though her eyes didn’t turn away from Tess. 

There was a realization in her mind, but the idea caused her to shiver. She looked around with a bit of growing fear, before looking back at her companion. Through a tight throat, she managed to ask, “Tess, am I dead?”

There was a silence as Tess brought her eyes down and turned to look at Gwen.

Tess shook her head, “No, you’re okay."

She took a deep breath, giving Gwen's hand a comforting squeeze, "I’ll be okay, too. Everything’s okay.” She gave Gwen a small, soft smile, “So stop worrying so much and just watch the sky with me. It's gorgeous.”

Gwen wasn’t sure what to think, but she pulled her eyes away from Tess to look above. Stars leapt across the sky in a beautiful dance. It made Gwen feel small. It made her problems feel smaller. It dawned on her that the Black Sun wasn't up in the sky. She saw no streak of light pulling energy away from Thyr. She saw no empty, blank splotch in the sky. It was just all stars. Beautiful, blinking stars.

Gwen couldn’t keep from looking away from Tess for too long, though. She brought her eyes back down, seeing the stars in the reflection of the pristine lake. Looking at Tess, who kept her eyes upward, Gwen reached out and pulled the beautiful woman’s chin toward her.

Tess turned easily, looking at Gwendolyn with a lover’s smile, “Hey, you.”

“Hey, you,” Gwen replied, leaning in and pressing a kiss to Tess’ lips. It was relatively chaste as far as most kisses go, but they kept their foreheads pressed together for a while, holding onto each other. Tess embraced her, which was all Gwen wanted. If this was the afterlife, she could die happily.

“I don’t know what’s going on,” Gwen whispered under her breath.

"I know. I don't completely understand either," Tess tucked her head against Gwendolyn’s neck, rubbing her back comfortably, “Do you want to go back now?”

“Back where?” Gwen asked, burying her face into Tess’ hair, "Back there, I'm terrified. I don't know what happened to you."

“To the tower,” Tess replied gently, “Then back to the real world. Back to Kravana. Back to bed.” Tess paused, but then added, “Or we can stay here a while longer.”

"I can't go back until you're better," Gwen insisted.

Tess squeezed her close, "I'll be better soon."

Gwen held her tightly. She was so soft. Fragile, even. “Then let’s go back,” Gwen whispered against Tess’ neck, smiling, “Can you imagine Maupoissant’s face if we failed our first assignment?”

There was a quiet laugh, but Gwen could feel Tess nodding against her body. “I’ll be back soon,” she said.

“You’re not coming with me?”

“No. Remember? I'll be better soon. I’ll be there soon,” Tess said, backing away from Gwen and breaking the embrace, “I promise."

Gwen’s eyes opened wide and she gasped for air. Back in the tower, but now Miren was above her, resting Gwendolyn’s head in her lap. “Mairaela!” The Winter Fey shouted off to the side, “She’s awake!”

Shooting up, Gwen looked around to see the starry figure kneeling in one side of the room, back turned. Mairaela was beside the starlit Tess. “What is going on?” Gwen asked, trying to get to her feet.

“Easy,” Miren said, helping to steady the silvery woman, rising with her.

Gwen crept toward the other two.

Mairaela was teary-eyed, looking back at Gwen, “She has a piece-...” Her voice was cracking, her lips quivering, “Tess had a piece of Joyona’s soul.” Mairaela wiped her eyes with her forearm, “She’s-...”

The cosmic figure placed a strange, orange shard into the lost soul; It was all that remained of Joyona. The yellow light expanded, widened, lengthened, until it formed the shape of the Evigkin, lying upon her back. The yellow light faded, and only Joyona remained, without a shred of clothing.

The starlit figure rose and looked at Gwen. There was a soft, brilliantly lit smile, before the night-sky faded from her body. For a moment, it was just her face that was normal, while the rest of her body was covered in stars. She was immaculate. Her hair was the last to change to normal, but as it did, it succumbed to gravity and fell upon her shoulders with a bounce. All that remained was Tess. Soft and beautiful Tess. Sweet and gentle Tess.

Gwen could only imagine that she looked like a ghost. She could feel her heart pounding in her throat. “You came back,” Gwen muttered dizzily.

“Told you I would,” Tess said to Gwen, “I just had something to do first.”