[Planet Oz｣]
While Noah and Omid were both plotting and contemplating the best moment to enact their respective plans of murder and betrayal, in the depths of the Milky Way Galaxy, far away from the star system where the current struggle between the duo was taking place was a small space station.
Well… In this situation, the word small was only used relatively, compared to the size of the planet that Noah was inhabiting. Objectively speaking, however, it was still a super large station that could easily accommodate more than fifty thousand people without the slightest problem or strain in space or resources to maintain them. It was a behemoth among individual space stations for sure.
The space station was orbiting quietly around a planet that looked oddly similar to an emerald jewel glimmering in the darkness of eternal space. Had Noah been present in this location, he would have described this planet as looking particularly similar to Uranus. The only difference were this planet was emerald in color and the obvious signs of life that could be seen at a glance.
This was the planet called Oz. A planet that was home to one of the biggest forces in the entire Milky Way Galaxy and under the control of a young woman who was renowned for her kindness and cunningness throughout the Sea of Stars.
Dorothy Gale— the de facto Queen of the Emerald City and the ruler of Oz.
.
.
.
Sitting on her throne, floating at the highest spot in the entire space station, with her legs crossed, Dorothy gazed at the holographic screen before her with a toothy grin on her face. It was uncharacteristic for a ruler of such an enormous force but the person on the other side was special. At least, he had a special place in her heart.
Dark, flowing locks that appeared to swallow light itself, a somewhat oval face framed by her obsidian locks, creating an illusion of youth beyond her actual years, and her eyes... From afar, those eyes of hers appeared as nothing more than beautiful blue orbs. Yet, observed up close, one would have the impression that they were being drawn into the vastness of the infinite cosmos, swimming amidst a Sea of Stars.
Even though she was beautiful, mesmerizing even… her beauty was of the charming and endearing kind. Cloaked in a snug-fitting suit, her allure remained captivating without provoking inappropriate thoughts from those who observed. She commanded respect and thoughts of endearment rather than any animalistic desires from men.
“So. In the end, you came to me after all, huh? Alibaba.”
In the holographic screen's reflection stood a man clad in power armor, strikingly similar to Morgiana's. The futuristic piece of armor comprised a faceless helmet and silver-black plating, all concealed beneath a red hood that cast a shadow over the contours of the face plating.
On his back, a few swords could be seen hanging in different colored sheaths, giving off a rather sinister and austere appearance.
He was Morgiana’s friend and partner, the person she had been talking to before head diving into Alpha Centauri.
Alibaba was once the son of a renowned merchant on his home planet. He had lost everything and escaped from that sinister place after barely surviving himself. After many adventures, he managed to become a high-ranked adventurer despite his rather tumultuous past and was respected by many people who believed in his skills and integrity.
Dorothy was one such person and one of the very few people he could call his friend in the vastness of the universe. After all, Alibaba was one of the reasons she had managed to fight the wicked witches of Oz and reclaim her throne, her right to rule over Emerald City and ultimately Oz itself.
This was a fact very few people knew even though she would have wished for nothing more than to let the entire galaxy know she owed her life to the man before her.
｢I guess I should not have made a bet with the Witch of Stars herself, known for her powers of precognition.｣
His voice was gruff, slightly deformed by the helmet that was currently donned over his head. However, she did not care about his current appearance and simply laughed at the slightest notes of embarrassment he could hear in his voice.
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“Indeed. I knew such a day would come. Though I did not need to read the stars to predict such a circumstance presenting itself before us. It was clear that you would need my help one day in your crusade. You may be an idealist but you are not stupid, at least that’s my belief. Take it however you will.”
｢Many people would disagree about the stupid part you know. It seems like I am seen as quite the boorish person out there. However, it’s good to know that you are not one of them.｣
“An appreciated wordplay. But such people are foolish and not worth having a discussion over.”
Dorothy released a sigh before leaning back into her throne to get into a more comfortable position.
“Are you able to locate her?”
｢No. I would have loved to reach her last destination but any traces of her travel seem to have already been erased so it’s useless going down that route. She could be anywhere in the galaxy. Her ship is also unable to send its signal across long distances. So all I can do now is turn to you..｣
“Hum, that does seem like you… Nevertheless, you should know that reading the stars is not an easy task for me. Significantly so on the current premise, when I have such little information to access and use for my search and observation. This has been quite reckless of you Alibaba, I have known you to be more careful.”
｢...｣
“Well, I will not remonstrate you for this matter. Dear Morgiana will do that in my stead. Alright, I will help you and I have faith that I can locate her, even though it will take a toll on me.”
｢Thank...｣
Dorothy raised her hand; as if stopping him from continuing his speech before she spoke in a hushed tone,
“But…”
She looked up, her eyes shining as she enunciated each word, “You will allow me to follow you on your next adventure.”
｢… Dorothy…｣
“I am not the child I once was, old friend. In fact, aren't I more than five times older than you? Anyway, I’ve matured you know? I am not simply doing this for just the thrill of adventure as you seem to think.”
She clenched her fist ever so slightly, “I can hear it. The Call of the Stars. I can hear them whispering to me. A great destiny is about to unfold and missing the occasion is not something I would ever do. Nay, I can’t miss such an opportunity.”
Alibaba grew concerned at the mention of those words. Dorothy was an Astrologer and as odd as it may seem to be able to somehow read the future by knowing someone's constellations or observing the stars, Dorothy was somehow able to enact such wondrous miracles.
This was why she was dubbed as the Witch of Stars. A very apt name that encapsulated her predominant skills. Of course, her other nickname, the Witch of Space-Time was one of the reasons why he needed her help right now.
He didn’t need to know the future at the moment, he just needed to urgently locate his partner. His senses were flaring at him that she was in immediate danger and he needed to move fast to save her from peril.
｢I would like to ask if you know more but I can already guess what kind of answer I will receive.｣
“You know me too well, old friend. The fate that the stars show me is quite blurry if I say so myself, and rarely clear for me to look at it objectively. I have to follow my intuition on most matters and the best I have ever been able to glean are mere glimpses. However, what I do know is that our destinies are about to change in a very unexpected and overwhelming fashion. A storm is approaching us, old friend. Whether this will work in our favor or not… I have yet to determine.”
Dorothy did not delve deeper into the mysteries of heaven. This was a realm of advanced quantum mechanics that could drive her into insanity if she did not prepare herself for such an ordeal. But she knew that the omen she had received had been neutral for now.
A new constellation was about to form along the depths of the Sea of Stars. One that could be the harbinger of Apocalypse or one that would bring an era of Prosperity and Peace, and for those reasons— she had to find the brightest star and welcome it into her fold.
Only by acting as its mentor and observing it with her own eyes will she be able to determine whether he was the harbinger of Doom or the spark of Hope — the hope they desperately sought.
‘How fascinating.’
Indubitably, the universe was a tapestry woven with endless wonders.
Once she made up her mind. Dorothy stood up. Her lithe figure and her petite body advanced quietly into the air as if stepping on the invisible barriers of space that constituted reality, until—
Step—
The entire throne room started to change, her one step, once akin to entering a previously calm lake, now shook everything in her surroundings.
The light in her eyes shone and her pupils spun like an endlessly devouring black hole. Thousands upon thousands of stars started to appear in her surroundings, a manifestation of her will that encapsulated the Sea of Stars. Her consciousness seemed to both elevate and descend in a special realm, as she observed her surroundings with eyes that could see through all.
『 Planetarium 』
A skill that belonged only to her. One she had created using her own expertise and power and that could only be used to the fullest in her seat of power and her Mecha.
Lost in the vast Sea of Stars, Dorothy started walking along the waves, lost in her search.
She had someone to find and a few trillion planets to observe.
I am going to have a mighty headache after this.
This was not going to be fun but it was necessary nonetheless.
To save a friend.
To help another friend.
And finally, to find her star.