Scenario:Created by the Stars, Loved by the Skies - The Astral Artifacts - Chapter 3: Heart of Sorrow - Episode 1

Created by the Stars, Loved by the Skies - The Astral Artifacts - Chapter 3: Heart of Sorrow - Episode 1

An island named Albion defends its independence using primal beast Luminiera's power. To use that power, a skydweller must form a pact with Luminiera, but the pactbearer always dies from the strain within a few years. Although the current pactbearer empathizes with Luminiera and is willingly to give his life to protect Albion, that does nothing to address the sad cycle of sacrifice.

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In the aftermath of the War, this island was renamed to Albion.

Pactbearer: Aaaaah!

Luminiera: ...

Pactbearer: Nnh... Lumini... era...

Albion Authority: Hm... This one didn't even last a full year...

Attendant: Can't you see how pointless this is? How many times must we watch this futility play out!

Albion Authority: Then what's your brilliant idea to rein in Luminiera?

Attendant: I-I don't know, but—

Albion Authority: Because it sounds to me like we have a volunteer for the primal beast's next master.

Attendant: N-no! Anything but that!

Albion Authority: Then I hope next time you'll keep your opinions to yourself unless someone asks for them.

Attendant: Understood...

Albion Authority: As I feared, we skydwellers can't handle it.

Albion Authority: How can we harness the power of Luminiera like the Astrals did when we're not Astrals?

Lucifer: Cosmos, may I ask a question?

Cosmos: What is it?

Lucifer: Why didn't you stop Sylph?

Lucifer: The negative by-product of alma shouldn't be lost on you.

Cosmos: ...

Cosmos: Alma is a powerful medicine. You could argue its negative by-product is needed to balance it out.

Lucifer: I see... That's one way to interpret it.

Cosmos: But above all else...

Cosmos: I could not bring myself to snatch away her dreams.

Cosmos: I just couldn't...

New Pactbearer: I see. So I'm the next one up to form a pact with Luminiera.

Albion Authority: Yes. Are you prepared for the responsibility?

New Pactbearer: I'm assuming I'm not allowed to refuse.

Albion Authority: That's right.

New Pactbearer: Well, I guess that's that then. I... humbly accept this honor.

Luminiera: ...

New Pactbearer: (Primal beast Luminiera...)

New Pactbearer: (When you were bound to an Astral, you displayed power worthy of an Astral knight.)

New Pactbearer: (But the minds and bodies of us skydwellers aren't strong enough to support you.)

New Pactbearer: Unfortunately, that's the best we can offer.

Luminiera: ...

Attendant: Why'd it have to be you!

New Pactbearer: Luminiera is a primal beast who will eventually disappear unless she's tethered to someone.

New Pactbearer: So someone has to do it.

Attendant: Yeah, but that "someone" could've been anyone else.

New Pactbearer: Don't be sad. I have no regrets.

Attendant: How can you not! While I understand Luminiera's importance to Albion...

Attendant: When a skydweller forms a pact with Luminiera, their life is drastically cut short.

Attendant: At worst, they might not even reach their next birthday before their body falls apart.

New Pactbearer: Yep, that's what I've heard.

New Pactbearer: In the near future, I'm probably looking at having my insides gnawed away by the primal's power, then croaking like the previous pactbearers.

Attendant: Then why did you say yes if you know what's going to happen!

New Pactbearer: I have a better understanding now that I've formed the pact.

New Pactbearer: Luminiera is a benevolent primal beast.

Attendant: You can't be serious! Can she even understand what we're saying?

New Pactbearer: Sometimes you don't need words to get the point across. I can feel... warmth and kindness.

New Pactbearer: She understands that we're trying to protect something.

Attendant: You truly believe that?

New Pactbearer: Might is essential if Albion is to fend off incursion and retain its autonomy.

It's been some time since the skydwellers won the War and took back their freedom from the Astrals.

The people of the skies were once united against the invaders to their realm.

But what should be a period of peace now sees frequent flare-ups between fellow skydwellers vying for supremacy.

New Pactbearer: Albion's my home, and I aim to protect it. That's why I made the pact with Luminiera.

New Pactbearer: The time we have to use Luminiera's power is fleeting, so we can't take it for granted.

New Pactbearer: I really think Luminiera understands us better than we think.

Attendant: ...

New Pactbearer: I may not be long for this world, but when I pass on, please don't let her pass away too.

Watching his friend walk away, the man can only clench his fists tightly.

Attendant: Is this the price of peace? To pay with a never-ending stream of sacrifice? How can anyone think this is right?