Lunar: Black Star Rising
By Thomas Knapp
Chapter Ten
As Hiro strode aside Lucia, he couldn't help but worry as to what they were doing. The Star Dragon had not been the most sociable of dragons… as a matter of fact, it had been the worst.
Using her pendant, Lucia activated the pathway between Lunar and the Blue Star. Without hesitation, the princess of the Blue Star stepped inside the circle of light, followed by Toras, then the slightly more uncertain trio of adventurers.
Travelling the lighted path, Hiro cringed in expectation of the angered roar that came but a second later. As if from nowhere, the Star Dragon appeared, blocking further travel.
"Why are you traveling the Star Path?" The dragon demanded, the tone not exactly used to welcome someone to tea.
Lucia was totally unfazed, "I wish to speak to your master with all due haste."
This statement gave the Star Dragon pause. Hiro was quite shocked to hear a new tone to the fifth dragon's voice… that of surprise. Much against all preconceptions, the Star Dragon stammered, "You mean… Mihall? How did you know…?"
"When I inherited Althena's power, I inherited her knowledge as well. Where is he?" Lucia said as if she wasn't talking about anything beyond common knowledge.
The others, however, were totally floored. Hiro tried to speak, but couldn't seem to get his jaw to match his lips, and thus came out, "Buh… Buh… Whut da… Who es…"
The Star Dragon suddenly spoke again, and declared, "The third diety of the Blue Star shall see you… follow me."
With that, the immense dragon turned, and Lucia was quick to take up pace. Toras was second, although he was distracted by his… most magical surroundings. Hiro, Lemina, and Jean followed, just far enough not to draw immediate attention, but close enough to keep up.
Hiro turned to Jean, and asked, "Do you know ANYTHING about this?"
Jean was flabbergasted, and retorted, "YOU'RE the one LIVING with Lucia. She didn't indicate ANYTHING about this… Mihall?"
"That is because I wish my identity to remain as secret as possible, Jean." A deep baritone resounded. Looking around, they noticed they were suddenly in a great hall lighted by two rows of glowing energy on the walls to each side.
Sitting in an ornately carved wooden chair was a thin figure dressed in a long gray robe, a crop of brown hair falling beyond his shoulders, framing a regal face with firm, square features.
"Welcome, Princess of the Blue Star, and her companions." Mihall stated firmly.
"Mihall, I know how much you dislike being disturbed, but there is a dire situation…"
"I am AWARE of what has transpired, Princess." Mihall interrupted, "I would state with all due certainty that I was the FIRST to know of the threat to the Blue Star and her moons."
"Then why have you…" Lucia began.
Once again, the god interrupted, "I have followed the path I have always taken, and that is to stay out of the affairs of humankind."
"If only Zophar followed your wisdom." Toras commented.
Mihall seemed to take note of the scientist for the first time, and said, "Most impressive… a man of the Black Moon has found his way to Lunar. Yes, if only my brother and sister had followed my lead, and left humankind to their own devices, much turmoil between us and mortals could have been avoided."
Lucia dropped her head in acknowledgement, and Hiro finally gathered the wits and courage to step into the conversation. "Your brother and sister… do you mean, Althena and… Zophar?"
"Well, we are not siblings in the mortal sense." Mihall chuckled, anticipating what the former Dragonmaster was implying. "We DO share a common origin, however. Unfortunately, the similarities between Althena, Zophar, and I end there."
The little known third diety then stood, and gazed down at Toras assuringly, "I can see the desire for knowledge in you… the kind of desire that I strove to have Althena and Zophar see. I tried to explain to them what their interference would do, but Althena was set on giving humans a guiding hand, and Zophar equally set on manipulating them."
"But didn't Althena CREATE humankind?" Lemina asked.
This caused Mihall's eyebrows to raise, and for Lucia to flush. The god smirked, and stated wryly, "At what point does Althena EVER claim to have created humans? That WAS what became implied over the course of history, something that I don't think Althena tried to dissuade. However, I am here to tell you that humankind came to be about by an agency outside of us three, even I am unsure as to what or who."
Mihall sat again, and stroked his chin, "I suppose it is due time that Althena's CHILDREN learned the truth. The truth as to how us three happened upon the Blue Star, and what our actions did to the people. This is what you've always desired to learn, correct, Toras? The history of the Blue Star, and why the people of Lunar and the Black Moon separated?"
The pale-faced scientist nodded in spite of himself, partly in awe and partly in anticipation.
"Well, I saw the events unfold first-hand. No doubt this is what your fellows on the Black Moon would call… a breakthrough of epic proportions. Perhaps you should write this down, for I will NOT repeat it."
A pad of note paper and a stylus appeared in front of Toras, who swiftly snatched the articles out of midair, and began to write just as the mysterious deity began to speak…