Final Breath of the Stars: a Tale of Fiction
They’ve watched you evolve, and they’ve seen you thrive. Their envy is masked, but their vengeance is written in the stars.
Restrained by the manipulative constellations feeding lies and deceiving words to the noblest of souls who were not so noble after all, the stars are not as righteous nor peaceful as one would think. You gaze up at them with utmost admiration, envy and yearning — but it is them that laugh in your face in your darkest hour. They give you a facade of granting you light, but they are watching you very closely to see you stumble and wither away. They are but arrogant creations constantly caught twinkling with laughter at your failure, and yet, you look up at them with so much love.
The Cave of Manifestations is one which no one has ever seen or wandered through, but was known through words of passing. The murmured rumour entailed that a person can only catch a glimpse of the cave during their final breath of life — so there was little to work with on what inhabited it.
Despite that, tales told restlessly curious adventurers that the cave can indeed be entered in their current lifetime. To locate the Cave of Manifestations, the person seeking it must be of the purest heart, the bravest soul, and the strongest warrior. Because no one ever had all three qualities, no one ever saw the cave as they were alive. It was ruled by the snobbish stars, and their envy was amplified every time a mere human failed to reach it.
Until one day, Alexander the Mighty Warrior and Noble Knight was born, and everything changed. It was written in the stars, who writhed with jealousy at the infant curled in his mother’s arms, that he would grow to someday become the greatest warrior in history — a knight that was brave, strong, and had a heart harboring endless kindness.
Alexander only heard of the Cave of Manifestations when he had gone to the tavern for a well deserved celebration in a battle he led his fellow selfless knights to in the face of a cruel enemy. He smiled modestly at his friends as they all raised their glasses in victory, before he took a sip of his drink.
“I’m telling you, the Cave of Manifestations feeds on the vulnerable fighters who thought they stood a chance against the stars.” A man tutted behind Alexander.
Alexander’s ears perked up at the discussion folding at the table behind his and his friends’, curious to what they were speaking of.
“Serves them right for thinking they were worthy, if you ask me. These men were not vulnerable — they were all snobs too foolish, fishing for glory.” The other man huffed gruffly.
Alexander turned around, gazing at the two men with intrigue, and as they acknowledged his presence, their eyes widened in realisation.
“Sir Alexander!” The first man spluttered. “We were not aware you were here tonight.”
Alexander nodded in greeting. “Good evening.”
“Our apologies if we were too loud and disturbed your evening with your knights.” The second man looked sheepish, and Alexander smiled.
“You didn’t bother me in the slightest, I assure you.” He expressed. “I actually wanted to learn more about your topic of discussion. What is the Cave of Manifestations, exactly?”
The first man hesitantly leaned forward, glancing warily at his friend, before confessing, “Sir — the cave need not trouble your mind. It is a treacherous journey that no one ever came back from alive.”
“If it is something that threatens our people, then it is my duty to put a stop to it.” Alexander persisted. “Tell me what it is, and how to get to it.”
The second man sighed resignedly. “Very well then, Sir, if you insist. The Cave of Manifestations is a place where the noblest of souls can survive and live to tell the tale. Only issue is, no one has ever actually survived … every man who ever pursued the cave was given a set of trials by the stars, and should they fail these trials, their souls are taken prisoner by the stars until the end of time — in the Cave of Manifestations.”
“The reason it goes by that name is because if whoever pursues the cave passes these trials, they are granted one wish in this cave and it would come true. Whatever you manifest, you shall receive.” The first man elaborated. “You’d have to be the purest of heart, the bravest soul, and the strongest warrior. If you have all three qualities, you would pass the trials.”
Alexander remained awfully quiet for a few seconds as he tried to register this, and he furrowed his brows in deep thought. “And you’re saying no one’s ever passed these trials?”
“None, Sir.” The men said in unison.
Alexander pursed his lips determinedly. “Very well, then. I shall be the first one to pass the trials. How do I locate the cave?”
Their eyes widened in trepidation for the knight’s safety. “Sir, how can you be certain that you’d pass and live to tell the tale?”
Alexander smiled. “I am a determined man. I am not worried about these trials you speak of.”
“But they are treacherous trials, Sir!” One of the men cried. “Do not take this lightly!”
Alexander nodded and placed a firm hand on the man’s shoulder. “Do not fret. I am capable of succeeding. Just tell me how to start my journey.”
To be continued …
Part 2 of Final Breath of the Stars will be out soon!
