Lord Cedric Varian stood tall on the garrison wall surrounding the encampment, his sharp gaze locked on the hazy horizon. In the distance, the flickering glow of his enemies lit up the night like malevolent nebulae. The deafening roar of the approaching Starless echoed through the silent, night sky. The ominous groans and crackles of starlight sent shivers down his spine as his men hustled around the garrison, knowing that it was only a matter of time before the destruction would reach them.

The weight of his decision pressed heavily on his shoulders, threatening to break through his carefully held composure. Still, he stood tall, his blonde hair catching the flicker of firelight, while the dragon motifs on his dark armor seemed to twist and shift, almost alive in their anticipation of the battle to come.

Cedric’s contemplation was interrupted when one of his knights strode up to him, His voice carried the rough, edged drawl of the Wastes, each word weathered by sand and sun. “You look like you could use a drink,” he quipped, holding out a goblet of wine.

Cedric smirked, finding amusement in the thought of drinking at the brink of a war. Despite the circumstances, he couldn't turn down a drink. He raised the goblet to his lips and tipped it back, savoring the fiery taste of the alcohol. As he handed back the empty cup, he couldn't help but admire his friend's unwavering steadiness.

Emrick scanned the tense encampment and couldn't resist stating the obvious, "Seems like everyone’s on edge tonight,"

Cedric nodded, his gaze sweeping the area with a calm detachment. The weight of the situation was not lost on him. "Fear’s a strong motivator. The thought of not making it home, of never seeing the people you love again, can drive a man mad." He flashed a brief, pained smile toward Emrick, as if both men knew this feeling all too well.

His friend lowered his head with a heavy sigh, running a hand through his tangled, matted black hair, worn by days under the unrelenting sun. His skin, the deep, rich hue of earth, contrasted sharply with the pale glow of the fire, casting light on Cedric's grim expression.

With a scoff, Emrick tightened his grip on the hilt of his spear. "And yet, they say the Starless outnumber us ten to one. No wonder the men are restless." Though his tone remained casual, his sharp amber eyes betrayed a restlessness and unease that mirrored the others.

Cedric shook his head, a faint frown pulling at his lips. "Numbers don’t win battles. It’s about how you fight, the decisions you make." His gaze shifted to the distant glow on the horizon, his tone firm but not boastful. "And I’ll make sure we have the advantage."

As Cedric spoke, his fingers absently traced the constellation-like scars that marred his skin, reminders of past battles and the inevitable decision he was now facing. It was why he stood here tonight, contemplating a pact that would alter everything. His mind churned as he thought of the Starless, their monstrous forms a warning of what could become of him if he failed to secure a celestial pact. Emrick, still standing nearby, was none the wiser to the storm brewing in Cedric’s mind.

“Do you believe in destiny?” Cedric asked abruptly, his voice low, edged with something unreadable beneath the calm surface.

Emrick’s gaze shifted, brow furrowing as he considered the question. He scratched at the stubble on his chin, a habit he had picked up not long before joining Cedric’s forces. “I can't say I do,” he replied, his tone dry and unconvinced. “Seems like too much of a luxury for a man who’s spent most of his life running from it.”

Cedric caught a quick glance from him, as if aware of where this conversation was heading. "Then you’re a fool," Cedric responded, his tone colder now, with an edge sharper than usual. "Destiny exists, but it isn’t something simply given to us. It’s something we take, with our own hands. Our choices define us. If we fail… well, then we pay the price." His gaze drifted towards the distance, where the low light of the Starless flickered menacingly, waiting to devour them all. "They may outnumber us, but I'll make them regret stepping foot in Selnia."

Then with a dismissive gesture, Cedric waved his old friend off to rejoin the other soldiers, and was left with the sound of the man's boots crunching against the dry earth as he made his way back toward the encampment.

Left alone, Cedric’s mind raced with the thought of what he was about to do. The decision weighed heavily on him, but there was no turning back. He had already made up his mind. The pact would be his, and with it, he would secure victory—not just for King Alden, but for himself. He would survive, and if that meant the price of power was becoming something less than human, then so be it.

"No more hesitation," Cedric murmured to himself, his voice barely audible over the distant clang of weapons being prepared from the encampment below.

His hand tightened into a fist, the constellation-like scars shifting beneath his skin, as if responding to his will. The weight of his decision pressed on him, but there was no turning back now. With a determined stride, Cedric moved toward the encampment below, preparing himself for what was to come. In only a matter of hours, the Starless would descend upon them, and they would be left vulnerable, at the mercy of the constellations.

As Cedric paced the perimeter of the camp, his piercing blue eyes narrowed, and his thoughts ran rampant. The stories of the celestial pacts echoed in his mind, whispers of unimaginable power, but also the sacrifices that came with it.

His pacing continued as chaos erupted around. Soldiers scrambled in a frenzy, their movements purposeful and frantic as they prepared for the impending storm of Starless. The air was filled with the clanging of metal against metal, swords being unsheathed, and armor being fastened. The flickering light of torches cast sporadic shadows across the camp, making the soldiers appear as ghostly figures preparing for battle under the cover of night.

Shouts and orders roared through the encampment with a mix of urgency and fear. Blacksmiths worked tirelessly at their anvils, forging weapons under the intense glow of the firelight. Archers checked their bows and sharpened arrows with swift precision, some uttering prayers to very constellations who damned this world, while others focused intently on their tasks. Horses neighed in their stalls as riders equipped themselves with saddles and armor, their unsettlement evident in every movement.

The clatter of shields and chainmail blended with an underlying hum of nervous energy that seemed to echo through the very ground beneath Cedric's feet. Every soldier moved with determination, aware of what was coming yet still plagued by fears of facing these beings born of starlight, stripped of all humanity.

In the midst of the frenzy, a few commanders shouted orders in an attempt to restore order. But even their voices were drowned out by the collective tension pulsing through the camp. It was a place teetering on the edge of uncertainty, where every action and breath seemed weighted by the unknown.

As Cedric rounded a corner, the unmistakable figure of King Alden emerged, his tall frame a steady presence. Despite the noise and frenetic energy that buzzed around the garrison, the king remained calm and collected, as if none of it touched him. His regal countenance was carved with age and experience, a weathered face bearing the marks of countless battles fought and won. His hair, silvered with time, framed his sharp gray eyes, eyes that had seen the rise and fall of empires, and yet held a calm, steady resolve. He was the kind of king whose wisdom carried weight without need for shouting, a man who had built an empire on subtlety, patience, and precision.

"You walk as if the weight of the world rests on your shoulders, Cedric," Alden said, his voice low and steady, though there was a warmth behind it. "I thought you had grown past such brooding."

Cedric stopped in his tracks, his lips curling into a faint, wry smile. "Some burdens don't lift so easily, Your Majesty."

Alden’s eyes softened. He gave a small nod, as if understanding the hidden struggle in Cedric's words. "Indeed. But you carry them well. Better than I did at your age, I suppose." He let out a dry chuckle. "Though, I've had more time to learn how to carry them."

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Cedric’s gaze softened, though his words carried the same weight as before. "And yet you continue to carry them. What makes you so sure that I can?"

Alden’s expression grew serious, his eyes thoughtful. "Ambition, like fire, can bring both warmth and destruction. It’s how one fuels it that matters. You’ve seen what ambition can do, the devastation it can cause, but also the empires it can build. The key is knowing which path to take."

Cedric shifted uncomfortably, glancing towards the horizon where he knew the flickering lights of the Starless were waiting. Their ever-growing numbers were like a looming tidal wave, and thoughts of celestial bargains filled his mind. The allure of their power was undeniable, but he had witnessed firsthand the toll it could take on a person's soul. "And what if that flame consumes everything I care about, Your Majesty?" he asked, his voice almost a whisper.

Alden’s expression softened further, his hands clasped behind his back as he regarded the younger man with a mixture of paternal affection and quiet strength. "Then I believe it’s up to you to ensure that it does not. But you cannot shrink from it, Cedric. The kingdom, your people, they look to you now. There are no easy answers, only choices, and the consequences of those choices." His gaze flickered toward the camp, where preparations were still in full motion. "The battle ahead is not just one of swords. It is one of hearts and minds. Power is a tool, yes, but it is the hand that wields it that determines its value."

Cedric stood silently for a long moment, the weight of Alden’s words pressing down on him like the very earth beneath their feet. He thought of the Starless, their inhuman eyes burning with a hunger for the land he was sworn to protect. He thought of the celestial pact, a bond forged with fire and blood, and the price that came with it.

"And if my hand trembles?" Cedric finally asked, his voice low, the vulnerability beneath his mask clear.

"Then steady it," Alden replied, his voice a quiet command. "We rise not just in the face of victory, but in the face of our own doubt. Power is a terrible thing to waste, Cedric. You’ve been given the chance to wield it, but you must choose wisely."

Cedric looked into Alden eyes, those eyes that had seen kingdoms crumble and rise again. For a moment, he felt the weight of everything on his shoulders, but also a flicker of hope. The king had not faltered in his duty, even when the world seemed bent on breaking him.

Alden gripped Cedric’s shoulder tightly, his voice carrying a sense of urgency "There is no path without struggle. But it is in that struggle that you will find your true strength. Do not forget that."

Suddenly, a blood-curdling screech rent the air, far off in the distance. The eerie wail, a horrific, inhuman sound that pierced the night, echoed like the cry of something ancient, something wrong. It was a sound that reverberated through the camp, unsettling the men who froze at the unnatural noise. The very earth seemed to tremble beneath them.

Cedric tensed up, his neck hairs standing on end as he turned towards where the sound had come from. They were already here.

As the name "The Starless" left Cedric's lips, the weight of it settled on him like a curse. He had hoped the rumors were exaggerated. "How do we fight such beings?" he asked, his voice now low, almost a whisper, as if the gravity of the question pressed down on him. His determination did not waver, but the urgency in his tone was unmistakable.

The king's jaw tightened, his expression a mask of focused calm, though there was a flicker of something deeper, something more serious behind his eyes. “With steel, faith, and no small amount of luck," he replied, his voice sharp but steady. “But I fear that may not be enough this time.”

Another screech shattered the silence, even more chilling than the first. This time, the cry was closer, sharper, as though the Starless were closing in.

Cedric’s eyes narrowed, the weight of his duty pressing harder on him. He could feel it in his bones, the time to act was now. His heart pounded in his chest. He needed to go. Now.

"I’ll make them regret ever setting foot in Selnia," Cedric said, his voice clipped and resolute, but his gaze flickered toward the camp, toward the direction he must go. His pact.

Alden’s gaze followed, seeming to know exactly where Cedric's mind had gone. A flicker of understanding passed between them, silent but unmistakable. "You must hurry," Alden said, his voice a little sharper now, though his calm demeanor never faltered. “I need to command my armies. I cannot waste another moment.” His eyes softened slightly, his hand resting briefly on Cedric’s shoulder. “But remember this, Cedric. Do not let your ambition blind you. Power may save us, but it will come at a cost. And the price… may be more than you’re willing to pay."

Cedric swallowed the lump in his throat, but the urgency inside him won. "I know what I’m doing," he said, though it sounded like a half-truth even to his own ears.

The screech again, louder now, reverberated across the camp, growing nearer with each passing second. Cedric took one last look at Alden, his king, his mentor. “I’ll see you on the other side,” he said, his voice steady but filled with unspoken promises.

Without waiting for a response, he turned, his boots thudding against the earth, each step carrying him farther from the camp—and closer to the pact that would change everything.

He moved quickly, his boots crunching against the dry leaves, the sound of his pace cutting through the eerie quiet of the forest. The air was cool, tinged with the scent of wet moss and damp earth—a fleeting comfort, far removed from the heat of the garrison and the impending storm. But there was no time to savor it. Cedric’s mind raced as he pressed deeper into the woods, every step carrying him farther from the camp, and closer to the pact that loomed over him like a dark cloud. The distant screeches of the Starless echoed through the trees, a harsh reminder that time was slipping away.

Rounding the back of the garrison, the trees parted slightly, and the vast expanse of the sky stretched out before him. The stars shone brightly, their cold light piercing the velvet darkness above, offering a fleeting moment of peace. He stopped for a moment, his gaze locked on the celestial bodies, distant and indifferent to the struggles below. They were beautiful, untouched by the chaos that threatened to consume the world.

But that beauty did nothing to quiet the fear in his chest.

He stared at the constellations, searching for something, anything, as his heart pounded in his chest. Then he saw him. The constellation he was looking for. His pulse raced, urgency clawing at his insides. "Draco!" he shouted, his voice breaking through the night like a desperate plea. "Can you hear me?"

The world around him seemed to fall silent, the wind stilling in anticipation, as if the very air held its breath. Cedric’s throat tightened as he stood there, the weight of his decision crashing down upon him. A pact with Draco could end the war, could shift the tide, but it would demand a price, something he wasn’t sure he could pay.

His hands shook as he clenched his fists. "What right do I have to hesitate?" he muttered, his voice raw. The faces of the people of Selnia flickered before him, families, children, soldiers, all of them depending on him to protect them. "What’s the cost of their lives, Draco? What’s the cost of my soul?" He turned his gaze upward again, his heart pounding, every breath a struggle. "I can’t fail them. I won’t fail them!"

He fell to his knees, his desperation breaking through. "Please, Draco," he begged, his voice ragged. "I offer myself. I offer whatever you demand. Just... please, make it enough. Give me the power to save them, to save Selnia. I’ll give anything. I’ll give everything!"

With a deafening boom, the air around Cedric seemed to crack open, warping and distorting in response to the intensity of his desperation. The peaceful sounds of the forest fell away, swallowed by an oppressive, suffocating silence that pressed in from all sides. Cedric’s heart hammered in his chest as the world around him seemed to fold in on itself, the very fabric of reality bending and warping in a way that defied reason.

His breath caught in his throat as he lifted his head, eyes wide with disbelief. The night sky before him tore open, the stars—those cold, distant pinpricks of light—shattering like fragile glass and gathering together in a swirling vortex of raw energy. The very heavens seemed to come alive, descending with a terrifying speed and force.

From the depths of that maelstrom emerged Draco. The dragon was no mere creature—it was an entity of pure celestial energy, its form composed of shimmering constellations, each scale blazing with a thousand flickering stars. It was as though the universe itself had manifested before him, a being born of starlight and cosmic power. The pressure of its presence was overwhelming, the sheer force of it pressing against Cedric’s skin like the weight of an entire galaxy, threatening to crush him under its suffocating weight.

If Cedric had not already been on his knees, he would have collapsed under the intensity of Draco’s arrival. His breath came in ragged gasps, and his heart pounded like a war drum in his chest. His hands trembled as he reached out, fingers digging into the earth as if trying to ground himself against the impossible reality unfolding before him.

"Gods..." His voice barely escaped him, hoarse and weak, his words faltering under the weight of the sight before him.

Draco’s eyes, swords of piercing light, locked onto Cedric, and the world seemed to stop. Time itself seemed to hold its breath as the dragon’s gaze bored into Cedric’s very soul, unraveling every thought, every fear, every hesitation. When it spoke, its voice wasn’t just heard, it vibrated through his very bones, shaking him to his core, the sound a deep rumble like thunder from the heavens above.

Draco's words landed like a thunderbolt, shaking Cedric to his core. "So," he said, his voice sharp and piercing. "You wish to make a pact?"