ASTRUM
coming 2026…
Prologue
✧
One year ago
Two gods stood hand in hand at the helm of a ship in the cosmos. It zipped through the universe, stars and darkness swirling around them like an old friend.
The first god—Thitia—looked to her companion as the world opened up beneath them. They were growing closer to the planet by the minute, and she wanted to be sure of their decision.
Argethor looked back at her. “You are wondering if this is the right decision, yes?”
Thitia pondered the question for a moment before confirming. “Yes, I am. Are you sure it is time?”
“Oraldir seems certain that our time is nearing. We will be needed in Ivia soon.”
“Why? We swore to leave them behind when our magic corrupted their blood.”
“It was our mistakes that led to this,” Argethor murmured as a shooting star whistled past his ear. “It is by our sacrifice only that our mistakes can be undone.”
“So what Oralidir says is true, then?” Thitia questioned. “They’ve brought it to Ivia?” She shuddered at the memory—the mere thought of their creation sent shivers down her spine. Even a group of gods as powerful as them had no right to do what they’d done; now, they only could pray to the essence that tied every world together that they could fix it.
“Yes, they have. The boy from the vision is hosting it.”
“But he is to die, the fates said it is so.”
“He will die in a short time, but not before the king succeeds in his mission to harness it.”
“And what of the girls, the ones we blamed?”
“One is stuck in the garden between worlds, the other lives with the mortals. When the time comes, they will answer as well. Soon, if Oraldir’s visions are correct”
“How certain are you that this will play out in our favor?” Thitia asked.
“Hardly,” Argethor whispered as the last of the stars crashed in a flurry around them. He glanced around at the shimmering lights. “I only know it is time that we step in to end what we started so long ago.”
“Shall we call upon the others?”
“Cina and Oraldir wait for us in our old home, they will receive us.”
“And the rest?”
“They’ll return in due time, this war cannot be fought without them,” he said. He pulled back on the steering column, the wood crackling softly as the ship slowed to a gentle pace; the world and the swirling stars slowed to a near halt as the boat drifted close to the Gods’ Isle.
“Let us pray that luck is on our side,” Argethor whispered into the cosmos.
“We are the ones they pray to,” Thitia reminded him. “There is no more interference beyond us.”
“That’s why we have nothing left to do but pray.”
As the isle drew nearer, they shared a final look between them.
“It is time,” Thitia agreed. She laced her fingers between Argethor’s and they stepped off the ship, welcoming the blissful silence of the still air, thousands of miles above Ivia. They floated down as the ship made of stars turned and made its way back out to the other side of the universe. And so, with a final longing look at the blissful peace they’d left behind, the two gods returned to the world they’d left in ruins. At last, it was time.
Chapter One: Azaraya
Dreamscape
The silver dagger gleams as it slams down into Trellan’s skull. I can practically feel the bones crunch and crumble beneath the blade.
“NO!” I catch myself screaming, but the effort is futile. The silver becomes laced with red blood. It slicks down his curly afro. I can feel it clinging to my hands, the warm sticky sensation of it makes me sick. I look at his face, watching through my tears as black blood trickles down and down and down.
His eyes roll back. “Azaraya,” he warns. “You must tell them what you know.”
“But I don’t know anything!” I scream at Trellan’s dying form. My breath hitches and I scream as his body goes limp before my eyes. His eyes stay there, trained on the ceiling. And then he fades. Dead. Cold. Gone.
I break out of the Dreamscape—for it must be that—panting and sweating. I blink furiously as the world around me comes back into form. Cold metal bars. Darkness. Alone.