In a tense silence, the group of them stood, uncertain of their next move. Stella, feeling the need to assert control of the situation, was the first to break the awkward and quiet atmosphere. “Lunarette and Solarie, enlighten me. What manner of creature have you brought before my throne? I should have you banished where you stand for this travesty. I always knew the two of you were not to be trusted..”

Instantly, the annoyance on Solarie's face became evident. Her eyes flared with red, a telltale sign of her growing frustration. Sensing the impending outburst, Lunarette intervened, managing to silence her sister with a glance before stepping forward to kneel before their queen.

“My lady, we are as clueless as you about this entity. By some eldritch magic, it bypassed the barrier between Earth and the celestial realm, a concerning breach of our security.” Lunarette's voice remained poised and dignified. “A rift appeared, and from it emerged this creature.” As if in response to being discussed, the monster emitted a menacing snarl.

“We attempted to communicate with it, but it proved incapable of coherent communication,” Solarie interjected. “All it repeated was the name 'Cavaris'. And it somehow knew that whoever this Cavaris is, they are here in the palace somewhere.”

Stella listened to them intently, her curiosity piqued. She had faced void creatures before, but none capable of comprehension. “Very well. I shall arrange for its return to whence it came. The universe has suffered enough of its kind,” Stella declared, her tone devoid of emotion.

At that moment, the mysterious man who had also materialized through the rift spoke, his fear palpable. “W-Wait, Don’t harm Xander! Please... he's my brother,” Cavaris pleaded, tears streaming down his face.

Xander, seemingly responding to his friend's call, broke free from his bindings and rushed to Cavaris, embracing him tightly.

“You will divulge all you know, or suffer the same fate,” Stella commanded, her anger simmering beneath the surface. Yume trembled; she had seen her mother angry before, but never like this.

O-okay! I'll tell you everything I remember,” Cavaris stammered, raising his hands as he seated himself on the ground for some strange reason.

“The truth is, I recall little. For eons, my brother and I roamed the void beyond the universe. When the rifts from which the dark worm escaped were sealed, we accidentally fell in.” Gasps echoed in the room, excluding Yume, deliberately kept in the dark about this event. Stella struggled to maintain her composure but urged Cavaris to continue.

“We wandered aimlessly for what felt like an eternity,” Cavaris continued, tears streaming down his face. “I remember nothing of our time there, only the separation from my brother. We roamed together initially, but darkness consumed him. I've missed him dearly.”

The brothers embraced once more as Cavaris spoke. “But what has the darkness turned you into, dear brother? Do you still remember me?” Xander offered no reply, merely nodding his head. A vestige of humanity remained.

Stella, regaining her queenly demeanor, spoke.“You shall remain in the astral palace until we find a way to restore Xander. However, you will be under strict surveillance. Betray my trust, and you shall join your brother in exile.” She fixed Cavaris with an icy glare.

The situation seemed to finally die down, so Yume finally regained the courage to take part in the conversation. But just as Yume dared to step forward, Xander stared at her with pure fury. And as if driven by animalistic instinct, it repelled Cavaris away and violently ran to attack Yume. Lunarette and Solarie intercepted, unleashing their combined magic to repel the monster. “NO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?” Cavaris screamed as he witnessed his brother turned monster attack an innocent.

After seeing such a horrific event Stella lost her queenly composure once again. She wasted no time reasoning with Cavaris. With a flick of her wrist, she banished them both to a secure cell, guarded by powerful golems made of stardust.

Yume, now distraught after almost being killed, sought solace in Lunarette's arms. Stella watched, feeling a pang of betrayal. Overhearing Yume's remark about the guardian sisters feeling more like family, Stella's heart ached. But deep down, she knew she had brought it upon herself.

“Yum-yum? Are you alright?” Lunarette's voice, filled with concern, pierced the silence. Yume didn't respond, only clinging tighter to her honorary aunt. Meanwhile, Solarie seethed with fury, blaming herself for the chaos. If she had only killed the monster where it stood..

Stella, her anger subsided, addressed the sisters. "Lunarette and Solarie Centurion, I appointed you as Yume's guardians and teachers, yet you almost got her killed by bringing a dangerous beast to my palace. For how long have you reigned as guardians? Yet you decided to place your trust in such a strange monster?” Stella glared at them as she spoke. And giving them no chance to state their side, she continued.

Henceforth, you're relieved of your duty and banned from the astral palace during my reign."

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The shock on the sisters' faces was beyond words. Yet, it was Yume's devastation that pierced through their hearts like a dagger. Heartbroken beyond belief, she fell to her knees.

Stella's heart shattered upon witnessing Yume's anguish. Struggling to contain her own emotions, she reached out to her daughter, hoping to offer solace. However, Yume's response struck her like a thunderbolt. "No," she uttered, her voice laced with anguish. "I hate you. I wish I was never born into this cursed bloodline." With those words, she fled the room, tears streaming down her cheeks like a torrential rain.

"Bravo," Solarie remarked sarcastically, earning a reprimand from Lunarette. The three stood in silence, grappling with the aftermath.

"Find her," Stella commanded, her voice devoid of emotion, clearly struggling to hide her own tears. "But my lady, we are no longer your hired tutors. And the one she needs now, is her beloved mother," Lunarette retorted in a tone just as sarcastic as her sister, prompting their exit.

As Yume sat on her bed, tears streamed down her cheeks, mingling with the memories of Luna and Sol's teachings that flooded her mind like a relentless tide. Every laugh, every tear shed during their lessons echoed within her, a painful reminder of what once was, and now she would never see them again.

With a sudden surge of frustration, she let out a piercing scream and hurled her favorite pillow at the window. It collided with a soft thud before dropping to the ground. Standing amidst the scattered feathers, she felt a pang of regret and moved to retrieve it.

Outside, the familiar twin stars cast their gentle glow upon her, offering a glimmer of solace in the darkness of her despair. Yet, their distant light only served to deepen her sense of loneliness. "Heh... I guess we never will," she murmured, her voice tinged with resignation as she gazed longingly at the stars, her heart heavy with despair.

A voice interrupted her reverie, a voice she hadn't heard address her by her true name in years. "Yume... May we come in?" The words hung in the air, causing her heart to skip a beat. It was Stella, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, she had called her by the name that held so much meaning.

Yume sat on her bed, silent and unmoving, as the voices outside persisted, seeking entry. Their repeated inquiries echoed through the door until finally, two more voices joined in the chorus. With a heavy sigh, Yume relented, conceding to their request, and granted them entry.

Stella approached Yume's bedside with a tender grace, her presence comforting yet weighed down by the gravity of the situation. Lunarette and Solarie trailed behind, their concern evident in their expressions.

In that moment, Yume's emotions overwhelmed her once more, and tears welled up in her eyes anew. With a heavy heart, she nestled her head in her mother's lap, seeking solace in her embrace. Stella said nothing, understanding the depth of her daughter's pain, and instead offered silent support, her gentle touch a soothing balm to Yume's troubled soul.

"My dear Yume, words fail to capture the depth of my love for you. Without your love, the title of conduit would mean nothing to me," Stella began, her voice soft but burdened with the weight of responsibility. "It pains me beyond measure to prioritize my duty as queen over the love I hold for you as your mother," she confessed. "But there are moments when duty demands precedence over emotion. There is nothing I can do about it. For if the universe wills it, I must obey."

"So, did you come to rub it in?" Yume's voice carried an undercurrent of anger, the sense of betrayal resurfacing within her.

"Nonono!" Solarie interjected, wearing a smug smile that irritated Stella. "She has something else to tell you as well~"

Stella shot Solarie a disapproving glance before continuing, her voice betraying a tremor of emotion. "Yes. Solarie and Lunarette informed me," she began, her tone faltering slightly. "They were planning to journey to Arcaturus, to seek counsel with Stellarin. Of what, they did not disclose." It was evident that this admission was difficult for Stella, her struggle with the decision palpable. Both sisters nodded eagerly in confirmation.

And... They would like you to come along," Stella announced, displaying the kind and motherly smile Yume had not seen since she was very little. "And for the great bravery and courage they displayed when they came to your aid earlier, I have approved their request."

Yume sat up straight, her expression frozen in shock.

"But do not misunderstand," Stella added, attempting to regain her regal demeanor, though her effort was met with a snicker from the sisters. "This will be a one-time thing."

"We will not force you into anything, Yumyum," Lunarette interjected. "So, what do you say? Will you take this journey with us?"

Without uttering a word, Yume pulled them all into a hug.

"Yes... I'm ready for the adventure of a lifetime," Yume declared, tears streaming down her face as she spoke. The hug that followed was warm, filled with memories already made and the promise of new ones to come, to be treasured forever.

Stella was the first to break the silence. "Altough it is painful for me to let you leave, i trust your safety in the hands of Solarie and Lunarette. Do not let me down." she stated, regaining her queenly composure.

"You shall train with them in combat for the upcoming two weeks. In the meantime, I shall personally keep an eye on Cavaris and the monster."

And thus, the stage was set for the adventure to begin. As Stella left the room, Solarie gave Yume a fist-bump. “Told you the plan would work!”