Aster held the peculiar shard, turning it over in his hands. "What could this be...?" he muttered, lost in thought.

“Youngster, what did you find?” came Gen’s voice, smooth as a whisper, right at Aster’s back.

Aster nearly jumped out of his skin, stumbling forward. “God, Elder! Don’t creep up on me like that—you’re like a shadow!” he exclaimed, clutching his chest as if to steady his racing heart.

“Oh, simmer down,” Gen teased with a grin. “Don’t be such a scaredy cat. Now, tell me—did you find anything?”

Aster held out the shard for Gen to examine. As Gen studied it, his eyes widened in disbelief. Without hesitation, he snatched the shard from Aster's hand.

“Is this... truly what I think it is?” Gen murmured.

Aster raised an eyebrow and shrugged. “What’s the big deal, Elder? Is it some kind of ancient artifact or something?”

“Son, do you realize what you’ve found?” Gen’s voice was heavy with urgency.

“Not exactly,” Aster replied, still unsure.

Gen's eyes narrowed. “The shards of Saturn.”

“The shards of Saturn?”

“Yes. Long ago, there was a cataclysmic battle that shook the very fabric of the universe—the Council of the Heavenly Virtue against The celestial beings. They fought for supremacy, each faction determined to control the fate of the cosmos.”

Aster furrowed his brow. “What were their beliefs?”

Gen shook his head. “I don’t know the specifics. But what I do know is this: Saturn, the Planet Lord and leader of the celestial beings, was slain in that war. Upon his death, his shards scattered across the world—fifty of them.”

Aster raised an eyebrow. “Well, that’s quite the backstory… But what do we do with it now?”

Before Gen could answer, a deafening boom shook the ground.

“What was that?!” Aster shouted, panic rising in his voice.

Gen’s face hardened. “Hurry, Aster. Outside. Now.”

They arrived outside, and Aster froze at the sight of a Ginkkin, kneeling on the ground, clutching at Gen’s legs with desperation. The creature began speaking rapidly in its native language, its voice trembling with urgency.

Gen knelt down to meet its gaze, his expression shifting to one of concern. He responded in the same tongue, his voice calm but firm as he tried to understand the Ginkkin’s plight.

The Ginkkin nodded urgently and sprinted away.

“What did he say to you? And why is he running?” Aster asked, confusion etched on his face.

Gen turned to Aster, his expression grim. “Take your friends and leave. Now.”

“What’s going on, Gen?” Aster demanded, panic creeping into his voice.

Gen's eyes darkened. “Mercury is here.”

In an instant, blinding flashes of light filled the sky as thousands of divine troopers materialized, standing at attention. They awaited their lord's arrival. Mercury descended gracefully from above, flanked by Gengnar, the God of War and second in command, and Kamaria, the Goddess of the Moon, ranked third among the divine hierarchy.

Kamaria tilted her head, her silver eyes glimmering with curiosity. “Mercury, what exactly are we here for?”

Mercury’s gaze swept over the dense jungle below, a cold smile forming on his lips. “A little bird told me my father's shard was hidden here,” he replied. “And I intend to retrieve it.”

Aster secured his armor, mounted Leon on his camel, and double-checked their supplies. As they prepared to leave the dense jungle, he turned back to see Gen surrounded by the Ginkkin, their anxious eyes watching him.

“Gen, where will you and your people go now?” Aster asked, concern lacing his voice.

“I have no idea,” Gen replied with a weary sigh. “But we Ginkkin will find a way. For now, we need to migrate to a safer place. Focus on getting yourself and your friend as far away as possible.”

Aster nodded solemnly, gripping the reins of his camel. But just as he was about to leave, Gen stepped forward and placed the shard into Aster’s hand.

“Take this,” Gen urged. “Keep it safe and ensure it never falls into Mercury’s hands.”

Without a word, Aster tucked the shard securely into his bag. With a final nod to Gen, he urged Leon and the camel forward, speeding through the underbrush as they raced away from the approaching divine forces.

“ Come on child.” Gen and the Ginkkin dig underground fastly. We see Mercury, Gengnar, and Kamaria walk into the ancient, weathered temple they walked down and the door was already open.

“Heh, looks like the door’s got good manners — at least it knows how to welcome a guest,” Mercury chuckled, surveying the ancient, creaking entrance.

Kamaria glanced at him. “I believe the door was already open before we arrived.”

Mercury rolled his eyes. “I was making a jo—oh, forget it.” He turned to Gengnar, who stood silently behind him. “Did you get the joke, Gengnar?”

The towering God of War simply nodded, his stoic expression unchanged.

Mercury sighed in exasperation. “You really ought to speak up once in a while, you know.”

They entered the vast chamber, its walls covered in ancient illustrations depicting the epic battles between Saturn, the Planet Lord, and the Celestial Beings against the Council of the Heavenly Virtue.Kamaria wandered to one of the illustrations of Saturn, her fingertips brushing gently over the image. She paused, her gaze lingering on the scene, a deep sigh escaping her lips tinged with a hint of sorrow.

Mercury approached her quietly, his expression softening. He placed a hand on her shoulder, his voice low. “You still miss him, don’t you?” Mercury said softly. “I know the feeling... I miss my father too. He was a great man. But we can’t let sadness weigh us down.” He paused, his gaze shifting to the illustration of Saturn. “That’s why we’re here, searching for his shards, right? To honor what he left behind.”

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Kamaria closed her eyes for a moment, letting his words sink in. “I understand, Mercury,” she whispered, her voice steadier now.

“Good,” Mercury said, turning to Gengnar. “Hey, did you find anything?”

Gengnar silently nodded and approached, carrying an old, ornate box he had discovered. He presented it to Mercury, who took it eagerly.

“Ah, this must be where the shard is hidden,” Mercury said with a grin. He carefully took the box from Gengnar's hands and, with a steady breath, began to open it.

As the lid creaked open, his expression quickly shifted from excitement to confusion. The box was completely empty.

“ Huh. how?”

Kamaria leaned in to inspect the empty box. “Perhaps... someone arrived before us and took the shard,” she suggested thoughtfully.

Mercury’s jaw tightened, his fists clenching in rage. “Damn it! Whoever took it will pay,” he growled. “I’ll find them, no matter where they hide, and erase their existence from the universe.”

As the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, the animals of the jungle gently tended to their young, guiding them back to sleep. The cycle of day and night, the sun and moon, began once more. When the moon rose again, it would usher in a new chapter in the endless dance of time.

Aster sat on his camel, staring intently at the shard in his hand, his eyes narrowing as he examined it closely.

"What does this thing even do?" he muttered under his breath. "Why was it in that box? Gen said it was one of the Shards of Saturn. That means there are many more of these... fifty, I think he mentioned. But what happens if all the shards are collected? So many questions..."

He sighed, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on him. "I just hope Gen and his child found safety. I can only pray they escaped in time."

Aster decided to take a break, the journey taking its toll on both him and his camel. He unpacked his supplies and grabbed Leon's map from the saddlebag. Leaning back against a nearby tree, he spread the map out in front of him.

"Seems like we’re almost there. We might make it in two days," he murmured, tracing their route with his finger as he scanned the map.

Just then, Leon groaned from his spot on the camel. "Leon!" Aster called out, his voice with relief. Aster gently lifted Leon off the camel and placed him on the ground. Leon’s eyes slowly opened, widening slightly as he met Aster’s gaze.

“Aster…” he murmured, his voice still groggy.

Aster crouched down beside him, concern in his eyes. “Leon, are you okay?”

Leon blinked, struggling to clear his foggy mind. “Yeah… I think so. My head’s just... in a daze, like I got hit in the head by a hammer a hundred times over.” He winced, pressing his hand to his temple as if trying to steady himself.

Do you remember anything before you were knocked out?” Aster asked, watching Leon closely.

Leon furrowed his brows, trying to recall. “Umm… I was walking through the jungle, looking for more berries. I picked a few, but then... I saw this golden light. It had the shape of a woman, like she was floating in the air.” He paused, his face scrunching up in pain. “But then, out of nowhere, I felt a sharp sting on my neck, like a needle piercing deep. My whole body went numb, and then... nothing.”

Aster stiffened, realizing it was likely the work of the Ginkkin, but he decided it was best not to reveal the truth. Instead, he forced a casual tone and shrugged. “Maybe... it was just some kind of fruit or nut that fell on your head and knocked you out cold? Or maybe a branch dropped from above?” He tried to sound convincing, hoping to divert Leon's thoughts.

Leon stared at him for a moment, half-convinced but too tired to question it further. “Yeah... maybe,” he mumbled. “Whatever it was, I’m still in one piece, so I guess it doesn’t matter.” He let out a weak chuckle, deciding not to dwell on it.

“So, where are we now, Aster?” Leon asked, still rubbing his head.

Aster glanced at the map again. “Judging by the rivers we’ve crossed and the ones that run straight ahead, I’d say we’re close to our destination. Probably about two more days left.”

Leon gave a tired but relieved smile. “That’s good to hear. Well, let me rest for a bit… then we can finish this mission.”

“Of course,” Aster replied with a nod. He patted Leon gently on the head as his friend’s eyes began to flutter shut. “Rest well, my friend. I’ll make sure we reach out location.”

As Leon drifted off, Aster stood up and walked over to their camels. He grabbed a small bag of berries and fed them to the animals, stroking their necks as they munched contentedly.

“All right, you two,” Aster whispered to the camels. “I need you to watch over Leon while I’m gone. I’m going to explore for a bit, so make sure no harm comes his way.”

The camels gave soft grunts in response, almost as if they understood his words. Aster summoned a sword and ventured deeper into the jungle, cutting through vine after vine. As he progressed, he eventually reached a river, and on the other side, he spotted a massive entrance covered in thick vines.

“What’s in there?” he wondered aloud. Crossing the river cautiously, he gripped his sword tightly, preparing to slice through the vines. But before he could make a move, the vines parted on their own, revealing a woman sitting on a huge lotus flower on huge bodies of water.

"You have entered my domain. State your purpose," the woman demanded in a calm, commanding voice.

Aster, still confused, hesitated before replying, “Uh, who are you? And, well, I don’t really have a reason. I was just exploring the jungle, cutting through vines, and when I tried to slice yours, they just... opened up, revealing you.”

The woman studied him with eyes as golden as solid ingots. “You speak the truth. Welcome, Aster.”

Aster's eyes widened. “How do you know my name?”

“I know everything in the universe,” she replied with a serene smile. “I can tell you your date of birth, the names of your parents, and even the moment of your death.”

“My death? My birth? Who... who are you?” he asked, a shiver running down his spine.

The woman chuckled softly, her smile widening. “My name is Thandozanani, the All-Knowing Queen. But if you prefer, you may call me by my birth name, Lulama. Which would you prefer?”

“I’ll just stick with Lulama—that’s easier to say,” Aster replied with a nervous chuckle, trying to steady himself.

“So, Lulama, what are you doing out here?” Aster asked curiously.

Lulama smiled gently. “I was simply meditating and praying,” she replied, her voice as calm as a breeze.

“Really? That sounds nice... Wait,” Aster paused, narrowing his eyes. “If you truly know everything, then you must’ve seen what’s been happening in the jungle.”

“Of course,” Lulama nodded. “You and Leon were captured by the Ginkkin. After that, you and your companion, Gen, discovered a shard of Saturn. But then Mercury himself appeared, searching for that very shard. You fled from him and his divine troopers, and eventually, you wandered here.”

Aster’s eyes widened in surprise. “So you know about all of that... Very impressive,” he said, a hint of admiration in his tone. “Hey, my friend mentioned something about a golden woman appearing in the sky. That wouldn’t happen to be you, would it?”

Lulama’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “Indeed, it was I. I was looking for my lost pet. He ran away from my home.”

Aster replied “ Well ain't you the all-knowing should you know where your pet is.”

Lulama chuckled softly, her laughter like the chime of distant bells. “Yes, yes, I suppose you’re right,” she admitted, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “But even for one who knows all, there are some things that cannot be predicted. My pet has a knack for slipping through my sight, especially when he’s feeling rebellious.”

Aster raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “Really? So even the all-knowing queen can be outsmarted by a runaway pet?”

“Outsmarted? Perhaps,” Lulama said with a playful grin. “But that’s part of the fun, isn’t it? Even the universe’s secrets need a little mystery to keep life interesting.”

They sat and chatted for about thirty minutes before Aster stood to leave. “It’s been a pleasure talking with you, Lulama. But I better go see if Leon woke up yet. I hope we cross paths again soon.”

“Oh, you will—sooner than you think.”

With a final wave, Aster departed, making his way to meet Leon.

Lulama, gazing after him, conjured a lotus flower in the palm of her hand. “Ah, I see. Master Zen, the monk of the Four Cardinal Directions, is teaching young Zander some spells. I’m eager to meet you, Mighty Zander. It’s only a matter of time before our paths cross.”