The Stellar Bet of Life
A. J. F. Link
Whenever a human is born on Earth, a star is also born in the sky. In addition, whenever a human fades from this plane of existence, his or her star stops shining in the sky. However, what would a human do if his or her star stops shining, yet nothing happens to that said human? The human would be drawn to me, Stella the Wise, Goddess of the Stars and Heavens. This is the reason why a human approaches my shrine without being accompanied by a priest or priestess, as tradition requires. However, I am never one to uphold sacred and ritual-oriented traditions.
When the male human, named Yusha, stands before me, he kneels on one knee and bows his head. I hate this form of attention! Nevertheless, my deity brethren claim that this is simply "customary." Again, I am Stella the Wise. Since when did I comply with such things as traditional customs? Never! Ergo, why should I allow Yusha to subject himself to these customaries?
"Stella the Wise, Goddess of the Stars and Heavens, I must pry you wishfully to explain to me how I am still alive, if you so desire." I find the degree of his humility, self-offered subjection, and his polite tone to be a conglomerate of surprise, annoyance, and appeal.
"Yusha, get up! Please address and engage in conversation with me in the same manner in which you would if I was another human being." He stands up and looks at me with an expression of loss, yet he seems to be slightly less vexated.
"You are alive because I adamantly desire it. I made your star stop shining because I knew that you would eventually be drawn to come to this shrine. Now, here you are." My response seemed to greatly confuse him. Regardless, I cannot help but give him an innocent smile.
"Am I being punished?"
"No you—"
"Am I cursed?"
"No! Please let me—"
"Do you find delight and entertainment in my vexation and confusion?"
"OF COURSE NOT!"
"THEN, WHY IN YOUR NAME AM I HERE!?"
Drat! I was hoping that Yusha would not jump straight to this. However, I assume that it simply cannot be avoided. I walk towards him until we are nearly face-to-face with each other. Yusha does not seem to be phased by this, for he is—as of the moment—currently absorbed in a deep train of thought of revolving around betrayal, confusion, and anxiety. It is my fault, mostly, for not anticipating this. He has done many great things at my wishing and fought many hardships and combats of many forms in order to help me accomplish my dream of bring peace to Earth and of bring the distrust between the deities and humans to an end. I would react the same if I was currently in his situation.
I can only assume that Yusha feels mostly betrayal towards me. He has every right to be. I have taken away from him a symbol of our alliance and our bond of trust by forcing his star to stop shining in the sky. It wounds my heart immensely to see him like this. There is only one action that can express how much he means to me as well as the world.
"Please! Just tell me, Stella. What have I d—" I silence and snap him out of his deep train of thought by means of a lip-to-lip kiss. I never felt so alive! Unfortunately, as with all things, the kiss comes to an end.
This time I smile with an expression of deep, untainted, romantic love and profound respect to Yusha.
3
"Why? That is simple, Yusha. The world needs you and I need you, my hero."
