"And why do Constellation names matter?" The teacher was rambling on again, throwing cheap questions.

Everyone knew a Constellation name was their identity, their power, their rank, and even their [Life], but here we were discussing something as banal as their name instead of their [Name].

"They need one to be recognized, so we know what Livestream to use!" One of the students at the back mock answered.

Of course that was a fair answer, not that it was the right one, that only affected us since we lived below them, closer to anyone else, but on the planes below? They couldn't even see those livestreams anyway.

"That only matters to us Axel, those living below us in the planes can't access the StarStream Intraweb." The teacher answered, see, he was right.

Something must have been on my face as that one turned to me, "And what does our top scorer ■■■■ have to say?"

The whole class turned towards me at that, damnation, couldn't we just spend the last days in peace?

"A name is irrelevant for a Constellation, they discard those as soon as they join the StarStream anyway. What matters is the [Name]." Might as well get it over with, the teacher was giving me a stinky eye as I fixed what was probably her excuse to give a long speech about using the correct term.

Well screw you, you didn't stop Axel from singling me, that's on you.

"Why does it matter if it's a name or a [Name] then smartass?" And this one was at fault too, he still wanted to bother me?

"A name is what we mortal use, it's like saying my name is ■■■■ if I was a constellation no one could even say that, not even myself could. But as soon as you get picked to be a member of the StarStream and join the other constellations?" And wasn't that what we all wanted?

We joined this Academy, the [StarStream Prep School] in hopes of being selected, a new world was joining the StarStream Services, and soon new constellations would rise. Some from that world yes, local gods and devils, but as the ones closer to the outer planes. Some of us would be able to [Rise].

"Those of us that manage to join the constellations will be granted a [Name], a new identity." A new hope in life, granted we would need to make a living, hope that we could make a contract with someone interesting enough and then there were the restrictions on you depending on the [Power] you could grant.

I didn't want anything special, an average power could work just fine. I don't need something overly special that could eclipse my contractor, just a standard power was fine.

Why would I need the power to summon a hundred cavalry to distract my viewers? Or the power to match a thousand men in combat.

No, simple is better. A sole mage in the middle of a war fighting for his life was better, I don't need the power to match a thousand men, nor the power to summon a thousand men.

No, "So yes a constellation name's is irrelevant. What matters is the [Name]." I said turning back to the other around me.

Really, if someone had a chance to become a constellation on this school it was a wild guess who it would be. Top scorer? Why does that matter?

No one knew what metrics the StarStream used to select the constellations, so we came and joined these schools in hopes of learning from previous constellations, those that rose to the ranks at the top provided their power to educate us and make sure that if one of us rose to their ranks we would know better than those that joined before.

We benefit from their gifts, but in exchange, we promised to listen and study their customs, and we made a pledge, should we get one of the [Forbidden] powers, we would grant it to someone in a list they provided.

We didn't want another [Constellation Killer] on the loose, we didn't want to lose another continent till someone managed to put him down.

"I still think I would make a fine constellation," Axel said again, he wanted to become a constellation for the fame, to make a living and make out with the constellation [Aphrodite].

"Wouldn't ■■■■ or ■■■ be the ones to become constellations?" A girl at the front said, she only said our names because she was third on the ranking, so if we; number 1 and 2 became a constellation. Then she as number 3 would have an easier time doing so.

"Again with that Karla?" Axel said, "And what would they even do? Studying stream?"

"Scores mean nothing, besides we didn't even get taught how the StarStream works or what the gold coins we give them do." I answered before this devolved further.

"■■■■ we can't teach that since those are secret privy only to [Constellations]." The teacher came in this time, of course, she would. The b#tch only taught here because she still clung to the hope of becoming a constellation too.

I was sure they had access to that knowledge but decided to not share, just so that if they became a constellation they would have an edge over everyone else.

Not that it mattered in the end, what matters is the [Contractor], [Name], and [Content]. Even those that gave rise to the [Constellation Killer] couldn't be stopped by other constellations since their power rose with the [Constellation Killer].

They still died under the hands of the [Constellation Killer] though, that let us confirm two things, a constellation dying does not take away the power of a contractor, and two... Killing the constellation does reduce the power of the contractor.

So what does this mean?

Be careful with whom you contract with, study them, and do not think of them as lessers even if they are from the lower planes, that was an important lesson they gave without end.

"Prepare yourself, everyone, the countdown is starting!" The teacher said bringing everyone back to their seats and so everyone focused.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

If someone from the lower planes were to see us, they would wonder why we were staring at nothing.

This was a privilege granted to us as inhabitants of the topmost layer, the closest one to the StarStream and the [Constellations].

Notice:

New channels about to open in the StarStream Server...

Connection with new dimension...

Dimension #616342D27

Inhabitants....59214568795e+307

Calculating the number of local gods, administrators, and entities above the required threshold to become constellations...

Calculating number of viable inhabitants to ascend to the constellation status...

Prepare yourself, evaluation in course...

The only real advantage we had over the lower planes, and the thing we used to access the StarStream service.

The System.

No one knew who made it or when, but this was what allowed us to become constellations, and let us watch, support, and even become contractors to a constellation.

Those on the lower planes could access a version of it too, as soon as they joined the StarStream, but they weren't able to watch the [Live] feature unless they achieved a big enough power, and even then, it was limited.

Only we at the top of the planes could reliably use the service, comment, and even give gold coins to the Constellations.

And this was the reason why we all focused so much, the [System] was evaluating and deciding the new constellations that would join the StarStream.

Notice:

Evaluation finished.

The [StarStream Live Service] welcomes you new user.

May your [Channel] thrive and may you ascend to the highest [Echeleons] of the Ranking.

Welcome Constellation [The Collector].

The world seemed to stop, the color gone and only a blue screen shone with color in this stopped world, around me everyone was staring forward with empty eyes.

They all were looking at black screens.

No wait, I could see their system screens?

Sure enough, standing up and walking to the closest one to me I found a [System] message, telling one of my classmates that he hadn't been chosen as a constellation.

A few extra tries found that everyone had the same message.

"■■■■? What is happening?" A voice behind me asked.

I recognized that voice, it was the second place on the ranking, the one that always pestered me for study guides even though most of it came from the school library.

A scion of a rich family who wanted to be a Constellation because his parents wanted more fame.

"■■■? Huh...■■■...I can't say your name?" Why couldn't I say his name?

No actually, the same was with him, why couldn't he say my name? Why did he call me ■■■■ when my name was [The Collector]?

No wait, that wasn't my name. My name is [The Collector]...

"Identity crisis? Why are you all always having identity crises, newbies are always like this, didn't you pay attention in class?" A new voice suddenly spoke.

I knew this voice, [The NewsCaster], a constellation that focused on news about new worlds, constellations, and end-of-the-world scenarios. He made his livestream about other constellations. If you wanted to stay up to date with what was happening in the StarStream, then you subscribed to him and watched his videos.

He even made live edits of his videos on his stream. He was standing in front of us with his purple hair and sunglasses, unlike how he was in his livestreams it was as if I could touch him so long I did a few steps forward.

"Let's see... [The Collector] and [The Undying Plague]?" Was he speaking of us? "Yikes, two of the forbidden list in the same spot? The StarStream is getting bored isn't he...?”

Forbidden list?

Oh right, the list of powers that one must listen to and that limits the type of contractor one can have...

"I'm just gonna make sure but...What are the main powers you can give?" Asked [The NewsCaster]. "You only need to focus on your [System] and it will give you the basic definition."

Yes, I knew how this was supposed to work, please...don't give me one of the forbidden lists...

"[System: Skill descriptor]" I intoned, it wasn't needed to do, you could do it with mental commands, or just by willing it.

But some said that for first timers it was better to do this way, so I would do it this way, [The NewsCaster] nodded at me and sure enough, a blue screen manifested in front of me.

The one that announced my ascension to the [Constellation] status was still there, on my seat, but this new one seemed more ornate than the one before.

And in it...The answer to my questions, and the herald of harsher times. My status as a constellation.

Status

Name: The Collector

LiveStream Status: Offline

Affiliation: None

Channel Type: Undecided

Subscriptions: 0

Memberships: 0

Gold: 0

That was the normal information you could find online from gossip channels, well, no one could find this about me yet but they would infer it soon enough, but that wasn't what I wanted.

So I focused more on [Me] and my [Skill].

And besides that blue screen a new one showed up, that had the information [The NewsCaster] wanted to confirm, he wouldn't order me to show it to him, no one could force you, but they could find it soon enough when you started streaming, and then...

Well, they could order their contractors to kill yours, or force a [War], and then gang on you. So I needed to make sure.

Constellation Skill:

The Collector: Allows the user of the skill to [Collect] something out of the target objective, can be used to harvest specific parts of prey, be it organs, skin, bones, blood, soul, essence, skills, status, memories, abilities, or knowledge.

Anything and everything that can be measured by the StarStream can be a target of this skill.

To [Collect] of someone alive you need permission from the target, no matter how much of a difference between the target and you exist, be it in your favor or against, but consent must be acquired.

To [Collect] of a dead target you only need to touch the body.

[Note: The Skill can be used on objects too.]

Okay, yes, that was on the forbidden list, no doubt about it. I couldn't remember this version of the skill, but I hadn't read all the ones available on that list. But harvesting...no, wrong word. [Collecting] skills of others?

That was awfully close to [The Plunderer] and he was on the list.

"I'm out, my skill sounds like something from the list." I said turning my attention towards number 2. "Should have guessed it since I'm [The Collector]."

Might as well present myself and try to get a good impression, if [The NewsCaster] decides to do a video on me as a new constellation I want to get a good image going forward, since that may be the only thing I have after this.

"Nice to meet you [Collector], and don't mind it, just get a good contractor and upgrade your [Channel], you can either get a secondary skill or upgrade your control over the skill so your contractors can't access the prohibited parts of the skill." [The NewsCaster] said, how did he do that?

[The NewsCaster]....The [NewsCaster]? Oh, nice trick there.

"I think I'm out too....Mine is a [Regressor] one, also I'm [The Undying Plague]...obviously." Number two said that wasn't that bad...

Okay, that was bad, depending on how that one worked it may even be worse than mine.

"Yeah, sorry about that you two. This should be the brightest moment of your life...But yes, the new list of approved contractors for you two will go live in a few days on the forums." The [NewsCaster] said while he started turning into motes of light, "And welcome to [The StarStream], may your channel bloom into the brightest star in the sky."

With those words he dissipated, leaving us in the stopped-time classroom.

So that was it, after he dissipated a notification rang and my [Status] updated itself to a new subscription, the membership list stayed at 0 though.

And navigating to the menu showed my new subscription was [The NewsCaster], was this a pity subscription? Or did he just want to keep up to date about my contractor?

Probably the second, if he did an article on me I would probably get more suscriptions from other constellations too, warmonger ones, waiting to prey on me.

"What are we going to do?" The [Undying Plague] asked me, he seemed to be on the verge of breaking down already.

"We pick the best contractor we can from the list of pre-approved ones, we don't squander the gold we get, upgrade our skill if possible, or get a totally different one and restart our channels," I answered, already making a plan, I couldn't depend on the contractor.

The list of approved ones usually had the worst possible ones, not that you could get a good one nowadays, most of the older constellations would scramble to get the good ones early on.

An inhabitant of the lower planes would pick a bigger constellation over a small one, I would do the same. Unless the [Skill] I got offered was something I wanted, but usually bigger constellations offered better skills.

Mine could be powerful, overly powerful, but for the same reason I would be on the list, any skill that allowed you to steal others meant that you could grow out of control. And out-of-control growth could mean that you were a danger to others.

Absolute power absolutely corrupts.

"But my family will want a contract with me!" The [Undying Plague] screamed at me.

"Well, then I hope they make it to the list, because if not and you make a contract with them...You will die." I said making a mental note to keep up to date with his channel, it wouldn't do to be hit by collateral fire.

Chances were they wouldn't make it to that list.

The classroom's color started to return, so that meant our time was running short.

"I will see you around I guess," I said as I turned my attention back to the blue screen in front of me.

I willed for it to show me what was next and a blue screen answered.

Do you wish to access the StarStream? Y/N

I selected yes of course, and soon enough my body started to turn into motes of light, the classroom around me started to vanish from my sight and soon enough I would start a new life.

A life away from everything and everyone I knew, a life where ■■■■ was no more and only [The Collector] remained... I would need to think about what kind of LiveStream I would make, because, for one, my Skill couldn't be the main subject of it.