As the last red stains of day dipped below the horizon and night fully blanketed the sky, the stars rejoiced, filling Stellan ears with their twinkling songs.

Though under Helios's guarded eyes, I lounged on the roof of the building with Saki on my back.

"I've never seen the stars this bright," Saki stared up at the night sky. "Can you hear them, Hoshi? The stars, thanking us?"

I strained my hearing to its limits to hear the faint whispers of the tranquil sounds my companion described. "Yes," I promised. "Though I can't hear what they're saying."

Saki reached toward the sky, her hand hovering over one of the constellations. "When I listen hard, I can hear a multitude of voices thanking us. I think by killing the dark mage, we dispelled some kind of curse."

I nodded slowly, admittedly dozing off.

Saki's gasp brought me back to full awareness. "What happened!?" I barely refrained from standing and knocking her off of my back.

"The stars are moving!" Saki's voice rang in a mix of shock and wonder.

"Like shooting stars?" I blinked in confusion as I shifted my focus to the dark sky. My eyes widened as the celestial lights dislodged from their positions and raced down towards us.

Two small stars raced down from the sky as Saki sat up and slid off of my back. The dim stars stopped and hovered above the ground, then slowly formed into two Stellans made of faint starlight.

I froze as Saki tearfully ran up to them.

"Mom! Dad!" My Stellan companion raced toward the two figures, tears in her eyes and her arms wide for a hug. However, she went through their stellar forms. With a small giggle, she turned back and hugged them after they reformed, much more careful to not disturb their incorporeal forms.

Her father put a proud hand on Saki's head while both of her parents gave her an astral hug. 

I mentally begged the stars to make sure they didn't notice me. For now, they seemed occupied with Saki.

Helios stood as another star fell before him and formed into a woman. "Terra," the general's stone stare melted like butter. Tears welled in his face as he stepped closer to the figure and put a hand on the woman's translucent cheek.

The woman, Terra, leaned into his hand with a soft smile as she returned the gesture. Helios stood there, silently crying for several moments until Terra turned towards me.

I froze as she approached, despite her gentle smile. Her tears glittered with stardust as she kneeled in front of me and looked upon my visage with a gentle gaze. "You still have his eyes," she whispered in a caring voice. "You have been through so much, I'm proud and thankful for everything you've done," her faint voice flowed into my ears like the rustling of grass in a slight breeze. My ears strained to hear her beautiful voice. She smiled a bit more and gently reached towards me with her hands cupped under my chin, "don't let Liam be too hard on you."

I flinched as her touch burned me like Saki's magic.

She noticed my pain and retracted her hand with an apologetic look. I looked up at her, frowning at her hurt expression.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled a genuine apology, unsure how else to interact with the woman. I felt a strange connection to her, one I couldn't understand or explain. I felt like I knew her. However, I figured she was one of the Stellans whose blood stained my paws.

"Perhaps one day," her faint vice whispered into my ears, "I will be able to touch and hold you again."

Before I could voice my confusion, an entire constellation dove from the skies. Lines of light connected the six stars in the shape of Euquis, the messenger constellation. The starry horse being was formed with the same glittery projections as the others, the linked stars visible within his form. My fur stood on end as the being

"Hoshiryu, Saki," The horse's voice was louder than Terra's, but still a whisper to my ears. "All stars thank you for what you've done in your efforts to destroy the dark mage's curse over the skies and restore our power." He bowed his head.

I blinked in surprise at the bow. "But we... we didn't kill him, I tried, but Courage finished him."

"But you were the catalyst, without you, we may have been silenced for another hundred years. For that, we thank you," The constellation spoke, "you have served the stars well."

I stood, briefly stunned at the constellation's words. Remembering the manners Saki taught me, I bowed my head in respect for the starlight being. "It is an honor to have served the stars."

The stellar steed nodded, then looked back up to the sky. "I must return, stars cannot stay long without loose our light." He glanced at the other stars, then gave one last nod to me before his celestial form raised back to the sky with streaks of light.

I managed to wave, unsure what else to do. After a moment of gazing at the stars, my fur stood on end. I looked toward the cause of the tingling sensation.

Helios stared at me with wide eyes as the stellar woman spoke to him, her soft voice intelligible to my ears. They talked for a few moments, and I ignored them until I noticed Helios move toward me.

Helios's eyes wavered as he slowly approached, "You —I..." the general's conflicted tone struggled to form a coherent sentence. The woman put a gentle hand on Helios's shoulder.

After a glance at the starry figure, the general's stoic expression collapsed. He inhaled, "Hoshiryu, you are my son," the words rang with conviction. "My wife, your mother, Terra, has been watching over you since you were taken from us by monsters." He struggled to continue as if mentally reliving a traumatic moment, "I'm sorry... I'm sorry I didn't arrive fast enough to save both of you. I'm sorry for everything you have gone through, including what occurred by my hand."

I hesitated, mind whirling. "You couldn't have known," I slowly rose to my feet. "I need time to think all of this over." Without another word, I descended the roof access steps, entering the base and the ceiling shielding me from the sight of the stars.

My mind whirled as I trudged back to my bed, struggling to comprehend the gravity of the news. How, out of all Stellans, am I related to him? I couldn't believe the dark mage saying I was made with a Stellan soul,

I thumped my tail against the hard mattress. I wanted to burn some energy,  but knew I should reserve every ounce of magic as possible.

At least I hope this means he'll treat me better. Perhaps they all will, eventually. I smiled a bit at the thought as I settled down to sleep.