Zteel

Year: 2193.

Location: Lunenrane Coastline, a few hundreds of miles northeast of the District of Lunanova, the continent of Saprius's capital.

A small settlement, the lowly-populated town of Lunenrane had a population of no more than two thousand people.

Lunenrane was a town unlike any other, a close-knit community nestled between rolling, verdant hills and the endless expanse of the ocean.

It thrived off the sea's bounty, with its bustling markets filled with the finest catches and its streets carrying the aromas of grilled fish, spiced crabs, and other local delicacies.

At night, the town was bathed in a celestial glow, its characteristic vivid starlit skies inspiring both awe and a quiet sense of pride among its residents.

Despite its charm, Lunenrane was an enigma to the outside world. Its people rarely ventured beyond the surrounding hills, and trade with other regions was minimal if present at all.

The town seemed self-sufficient, its economy flourishing without the need for outside influence and those who lived here cherishing its quiet isolation.

What truly set Lunenrane apart, however, was its people. In a world where most of the population possess a Modus Operandi, Lunenrane was extraordinary in that every single one of its two thousand or so inhabitants had an ability.

It would turn out that Modi Operandi were as much a part of life in Lunenrane as the air the townsfolk breathed.

Lunenrane's people lived by their own rules, their quiet strength rooted in their unity and their connection to the land and sea. To those beyond its hills, Lunenrane was unheard of, this town of stars and secrets, thriving in its own quiet, remarkable way.

In this town was a boy, Nyota Atar, who at this time would be ten years of age.

One afternoon, Nyota walked with his mother, Nora, down the cobblestone paths.

They'd just bought food from a stand, Nyota holding a bowl of rice with bits of grilled chicken. 

"Mama," he called, his mouth full as he chewed.

"Swallow your food, Nyota," she corrected. "You know better than that. What is it?"

He swallowed. "I don't want to go on errands with Father today," he complained. "Couldn't we do something else?

How about another craft workshop? Or—ooh, the beach! We haven't gone to the beach in a while. Could I go with my friends?"

"Nyota," Nora laughed. "You know you'd have to take that up with him. And we both know you don't want to do that."

He pouted, shaking his head. "No…"

She knelt down to his eye level. "Look, I'll do what I can. Maybe we can go stargazing again.

But I'll be honest, I'll only take you if you shadow your father and his duties. You earn your play time by working hard, okay?" She lifted his head by the touch of his chin.

Reluctantly, he nodded. "Okay."

"Great," she patted him on the back. "Now, let's get back home, shall we?"

The two went home and stayed there for a little while, awaiting Nyota's father's return in between errands.

Their home was quite expansive. Although it wasn't one in actuality, it was considered a mansion of sorts relative to the other more niche townhouses, sporting a complete kitchen and dining room, four bedrooms, a living room, and three full bathrooms, all evenly distributed throughout two levels.

Eventually, Nyota's father walked through the door, Nora seated on the living room couch.

Expecting his arrival, Nyota waited atop the stairwell, exiting his room.

"Welcome back!" She greeted with a hug and a kiss. He returned the gesture.

"Hey!" He greeted with enthusiasm. "It's been a busy day so far."

"Another one, huh?"

"Yeah," he laughed with an exhale. "The town is in the process of starting a new self-defense program for the kids and, naturally, I'm spearheading it.

The elder advisors have been helping me pretty well with all this, so that's great. It's just all… a lot."

"I get it," Nora comforted. "But if there's anyone who can do it, who else would it be aside from Chief Orion, huh?" She joked.

"Yeah," Orion nodded.

"Plus, you're bringing your son along with you. I think it's great for him to see how things are done, considering he'll be in your role one day."

"Yeah. Speaking of, where is he?" Orion looked at his watch. "We have to leave out soon."

Nyota made his way down the stairs. "I'm here," he called.

"Perfect, are you ready?"

Nyota gave a quick glance to his mother, who nodded as a means of reassurance.

"Just as promised." Though no words were spoken, it was almost as though Nyota could hear Nora speak to him through the expression on her face. 

In turn, Nyota turned to his father and nodded.

Together, the two got into the back of a horse-drawn carriage, the wagon being manned by a coachman.

The two went on to stop at many places, including various community buildings as well as the town's central hall to attend meetings with other town officials, elders, and nobles.

Nyota would watch as Orion interacted with dozens of people. A bright smile always remained on his face. 

He took note of all of Orion's duties, from battling crime and preserving safety to leading construction efforts.

Although Nyota could certainly wait until the day he was due to replace his father, there were many things to admire about him.

He witnessed his charismatic character, how Orion just seemed to lighten everyone's day. How good Orion was as a leader of a people and how he inspired those around him as well.

People would praise him and idolize him at times, and he was always sure to humbly reject, instead reminding to exalt the gods first and foremost.

It was true, Nyota, like the typical young man, didn't want to shadow his father all the time, even if his relationship with Orion was very good, one that many young children could only dream of having.

Despite this, one thing was certain: Nyota wanted to be just like Orion.

This, in turn, positively impacted Nyota's behavior, giving him quite the reputation among the many children and adults who interacted with him.

He found himself giving to others in need in the community, which gave him the reputation of being outgoing, considerate and hospitable.

Nyota would often congregate with other young boys in the town, hosting different sports tournaments among themselves to prove their superiority.

Although he had no MO at the time, Nyota especially enjoyed sparring and was pretty good at it for his age, excelling more than most of his peers.

After many hours of persistent travel across town, Nyota and Orion made their way back home.

"Great work today," Orion patted Nyota on his back as they made their way back to their carriage. "I know hanging with your old man isn't the most thrilling experience.

It just brings me joy hanging out with you, mentoring you and such, it's my way of giving back and investing in the future, you know?" He hugged Nyota, who simply replied with a smile.

"Yeah, I know."

Eventually, the two would return home. When they arrived, Nora had already made dinner, so the trio ate together in one sitting.

Nyota rushed through his food, scoffing in mere minutes. When he was finished, he quickly stood up and rushed to his room.

"Ah-ah-ah…!" Nora called before he could get far. She pointed to his plate. Right away, he picked it up along with his utensils and washed them before rushing back to his room.

"What's the rush?" Orion asked Nora at the table.

"Stargazing, he wants to go again tonight."

"Again?" He joked. "Maybe I should finally join you two this time around."

"Oh, no need," she quickly replied. "Only unless you really wanted to."

"Ah, maybe another time," he yawned. "I think I'll probably stay inside again, read a little, maybe even head to bed early."

"Okay," Nora grabbed her plate as well as his before walking back to the kitchen and washing the dishes.

Nyota rushed back down the stairs and stood near the front door. "Mama! I'm ready!" He called.

"Coming!" She dried her hands before putting on a jacket.

"Be safe!" Orion called before his wife and son made their exit.

"We will!" They called back.

Nyota and Nora walked side by side, their steps light on the narrow path that led out of Lunenrane, trailing off from the central road with vehicle terminals that, too, led from it.

The town's soft glow faded behind them as they climbed the gentle rise of the hills, the scent of the ocean giving way to the earthy aroma of damp soil and fresh leaves.

In Nora's hand was a woven picnic basket, its handles smooth from years of use, a folded blanket peeking out from its top.

The full moon hung high above, its light spilling through the canopy of trees that lined their path. The leaves shimmered from every breeze as the moonlight bled through, casting shifting patterns of silver on the ground.

When they reached the clearing, Nora paused, her gaze sweeping over the hills that stretched endlessly around them. The moon bathed the world in a soft, ethereal glow, and the stars overhead seemed impossibly bright, like scattered jewels across the dark expanse of sky.

"This is the spot," she said with a smile, setting the basket down.

With practiced ease, she pulled out the blanket and spread it across the grass, smoothing its edges with her hands. The woven fabric bore the faint smell of lavender, a comforting contrast to the crisp night air.

Nyota huffed behind her, exhausted from the long walking and the loftiness of the hills.

"That was tiring," Nyota exhaled as he collapsed onto the grass. He sat there on the hilltop and finally laid his back to the ground with his arms and legs wide out.

"Already?" Nora laughed and shook her head.

"Come, Nyota," she beckoned, her voice warm and inviting. She knelt on the blanket and began unpacking the basket—a small flask of tea, a few pastries wrapped in cloth, and slices of fresh fruit glistening in the moonlight.

Nyota sat beside her, his eyes drawn skyward. The stars were almost too bright, their light weaving a story in the heavens.

"The stars look different tonight," he said, his voice quiet, almost reverent.

Nora glanced at him, a smile tugging at her lips. "Isn't that always the case?" She replied, her tone light but carrying a depth that made Nyota pause.

She poured tea into two small cups, the steam curling in the moonlight, and handed one to Nyota.

They laid back on the blanket, their shoulders brushing, gazing up at the sky. The breeze tickled their skin, carrying with it the faint hum of crickets and the soothing rustle of grass.

For a long time, they said nothing, letting the serenity of the night speak for itself. Yet, in that silence, there was a connection, an understanding, as if the stars themselves were watching, blessing their quiet escape from the world below.

"You know," Nora began. "There's a story about these stars, why they shine as bright as they do."

Nyota looked to his mother, who's gaze remained high to the sky. "What is it?"

"You do remember the story of the creation of this planet, Nora, correct?"

"That it was named after you?" Nyota joked.

Nora laughed. "No, the collection of gods, the God Council. They modified it so humanity could thrive.

This planet Nora used to be called Mars. It had two moons and there was no life on it, nor was there water on its surface. No oceans, no seas, no continents, could you imagine?

We used to live on the planet Earth, but when we couldn't any longer, the God Council fused Nora's two moons into one, created continents like on Earth and washed the surface of the planet with water, creating the oceans and seas as we know them.

This allowed humankind to relocate to 'another Earth.' Before all of this, humans weren't entirely sure if a god could exist, but this event made them realize that gods certainly do.

As if this wasn't enough proof, each continent has a peculiar orb structure that serves as its life source. The science behind them cannot be explained, it would be foolish to claim any man could've created these.

It's all a very generous gesture if you ask me."

Nora continued. "Anyway, they say the stars in the sky represent the souls of humans throughout the history of creation, and those that shine brightest are souls who seek redemption or vengeance."

"Vengeance for what?" Nyota grew curious.

She replied, her gaze still remained on the stars. "Who knows? It could be anything. The common denominator is that the brightest of stars seem to be the ones that watch over this town, and somewhere along the line, they or their people were wronged."

Nyota paused again, he wondered what it would be like for his family to be in danger and realized he hadn't known.

But what was certain is that he would put his life on the line to save them.

He reflected on the role of his father within the town, how both of his parents treated him, and how locals in Lunenrane interacted with one another.

If it's anything he knew about himself at such a young age, it was that a strong and stable sense of family was something he'd never take for granted.

Then, Nyota posed another question. "Well, what does the brightness of the stars have to do with the creation of this planet?"

His mother smiled and looked back down at him. "Just thought I'd mention it. Some even say the brightest of the stars are the gods themselves, too."

She sighed. "Regardless, they're both philosophical matters. Although, it should be known that the history of the brightness of the stars among the hills of Lunenrane is only a local tale as old as this town. Who knows what to believe or not?"

She looked back up at the sky, now silent. Nyota looked at her, then the sky. However, his eyes were met with a miraculous surprise.

The stars above the town had seemingly aligned into a singular one that extended across the galaxy, and Nyota's eyes grew wide.

He was starstruck.

Nyota's mother looked at him and smiled when she saw the look in his eyes, the stars reflecting from his irises and pupils. Then she looked back up.

Nyota took his eyes off the sight and looked at his mother briefly, who was still admiring the sensation, smiling.

Eventually, she stood up and prepared to venture back to the town.

As she collected their things and rearranged them into the basket, she gave one final remark.

"But one thing we never question is the existence of gods. They gave us a new planet to thrive. They gave us a second chance. Do you understand?"

Nyota stood and nodded his head, then gave one final gaze at the stars. He had always enjoyed stargazing before, but it was this night where he found himself growing some sort of intimacy with the stars in the sky.

"Yeah. I do."

"Come on." She waved him along. "Let's head back, it's getting late."