Prologue - The Preamble of the Journey

In this vast and boundless universe, countless life forms grow, reproduce, and perish quietly. Some exist deep in remote galaxies, while others hide in corners unknown to all. To most humans, this starry sky symbolizes loneliness and emptiness. But in reality, it carries stories yet to be discovered.

Every time they gaze at the boundless universe, a sense of longing emerges in their heart. He yearn to discover those lives that have been forgotten or not yet found, to listen to their stories. Perhaps their existence has never been known to other creatures, perhaps their deeds are only quietly circulated in some dark corner of the universe. He firmly believe that every life has its own ballad, and every journey is worth recording.

This time, He gaze is focused on a coordinate 7000 light-years away from Earth - the Pillars of Creation. According to the data observed by humans today, this is a massive structure composed of gas and dust, the cradle of countless stars. However, He sense that deep within the nebula, there is also the breath of an intelligent life form.

"In the nebula 7000 light-years away, it seems there are stories yet to be witnessed," He whispered to himself, he tone calm but with an unmistakable curiosity. His bright golden eyes sparkled with a desire for exploration. He doesn't carry any mission. He simply yearn to understand, record, and witness those unique and brilliant stories.

"The truth and life hidden in this nebula, untouched by anyone, will be explored by me." He murmured to himself, then set off. A brand-new journey begins.

Act 1 - Arrival at the Nebula

He traversed countless nebulae, crossed endless galaxies, and along the way, discovered some wreckage resembling spaceships, likely left behind by those who attempted to explore the Pillars of Creation but ultimately failed for various reasons. After a while, he successfully arrived at this unknown region. He paused at the edge of the nebula, feeling the gradually brightening glow around him. In the distance, a newborn star slowly emerged from the nebula's fog, radiating dazzling light. The birth of a star is always a miracle in the universe. He quietly watched the star about to be fully born, its light breaking through the darkness as if a newly born heart begins to beat, shattering the silent void.

The birth of a star is not an instant but a complex process. The surrounding gas gathers due to gravity, gradually concentrating towards the center, the internal temperature rises, nuclear fusion begins, and a dazzling light and intense heat burst out in an instant. At that moment, he seemed to see the birth of life, even though this was an unconscious star, it is still the result of the universe's creation.

He did not rush to approach but continued to quietly watch, allowing the light to illuminate the surrounding nebula. The edge of the nebula was illuminated into subtle colors by the light, from light blue to purple, gradually becoming a deep dark black. That beauty is indescribable, full of the power of life and regeneration. Although this scene is no longer novel to him, every gaze still triggers deep contemplation. He did not come here for an urgent goal but to enjoy the tranquility and vastness brought by the nebula. Time has no meaning to him; he has no tasks and can stay anywhere until he is satisfied. He perceives the energy fluctuations around him, the gas and dust in the nebula undergoing subtle changes during the star's birth, the brilliance making these substances brighter, as if a magnificent performance. The birth of each star is a miracle in the universe's performance, the beginning of a story.

After a while, the star's brilliance gradually stabilized, changing from dazzling white to a warm yellow, and the soft light exuded vitality. He knew that this star had completed its birth and become a mature star, beginning to illuminate the surrounding space and continue its journey through the universe.

His gaze shifted from the star to a farther place, where the spectacle named "Pillars of Creation" by humans stood. He sensed that celestial body standing quietly in the void, as if it had been waiting for his arrival, but he did not rush to approach and remained immersed in the beauty of the nebula. His gaze pierced through the nebula, looking at the distant sea of stars, the stars in the universe like fallen gems, scattered in the darkness. An indescribable feeling of emotion rose in his heart; the universe, though vast, is full of countless interconnected lives and stories. Each star, each nebula, is a long melody in the universe, playing the symphony of life and time.

As time passed, he decided to fly towards the Pillars of Creation. The Pillars of Creation is the core of this nebula, the source of all stories. Therefore, it will also become the key to this journey.

The closer he got to the Pillars of Creation, the more he could feel the powerful energy fluctuations. This force is different from the star's light, different from any celestial body he has ever seen. It does not shine like an ordinary star but is a deep and complex force, as if it is the source of the universe, with an indescribable sense of mystery.

Finally, he stopped at the edge of the Pillars of Creation. That huge celestial body, like a pillar reaching into the void, is full of mystery. Its outline is faintly visible under the glow of the nebula, emitting a faint light. The surface is interwoven with gas and dust into a complex structure, as if it does not belong to the known material world. The power of the Pillars of Creation is the source of star birth and the source of life in the star domain.

Standing from a distance, he gazed calmly, sensing every fluctuation from the Pillars of Creation. The energy emanating from the Pillars of Creation seemed to silently converse with the universe, promoting the evolution of the nebula and nurturing new life. A strong emotion rose in his heart, awe for the universe, and reverence for the power of life.

He decided to get closer to the Pillars of Creation, slowly flying towards the interior of that huge celestial body. With each step, he could feel the deeper force coming from the core of the Pillars of Creation, as if there was an infinite gravity trying to pull everything in.

When he finally arrived at the surface of the Pillars of Creation, he was surprised to find that its "ground" was not as hard as a planet's. The surface seemed to be composed of unstable substances, slightly flowing, as if stepping on a film, ready to break at any time. He did not feel uncomfortable but comfortable, knowing that his spatiotemporal abilities allowed him to move freely in this environment.

"This... Could this be the special feature of the Pillars of Creation?" He whispered to himself, continuing to stand quietly on this mysterious "ground," feeling the power around him.

Suddenly, he sensed a subtle life fluctuation, seemingly coming from afar. He turned towards the source of the fluctuation and saw a humanoid translucent life form, standing quietly, out of place in the empty world. He did not act immediately but stopped and observed the figure. As the distance closed, he could clearly feel the breath of life. The life form had eyes as brilliant as the Milky Way, white hair like a nebula, and a calm gaze.

He observed silently, and when he was about to approach, the figure sensed his presence and turned to look at him. In his perception, a clear voice emerged, calm but with a hint of fear. "Who are you?" The inquisitive voice came softly.

—————————————————————————————

"Worldview"

Pillars of Creation

This is a special "structure". It does not have the "substance" that people perceive, but is composed of gas and dust, so it cannot be called a planet. It is about 7000 light-years away from the solar system we are familiar with. Here, many stars are produced every moment to light up the universe.

He saw a hint of fear in the eyes of the creature. So, he stepped out from the rock that had been blocking his body and stood at a distance from the creature. He said in a gentle voice, "My name is 'Artmory,' a traveler of time and space."

"Time and space... traveler?" The creature asked.

Artmory continued, "I mean no harm. I travel through the universe, exploring and recording chapters that have been forgotten or have not yet been discovered."

The creature listened quietly, her eyes now sparkling with curiosity about the unknown. "Explore and record... chapters? Hmm... Okay, I believe you mean no harm. So, what do you want to record here?" The creature asked.

"My journey has no set goals; I record anything I see and find interesting along the way," such as the Pillars of Creation I am standing on now, Artmory replied.

"Pillars of Creation?"

"Yes, the place we are standing on now. The name 'Pillars of Creation' was given by people living on a planet called Earth, which is 7000 light-years away... That's very, very far. By the way, speaking of names, I don't know your name yet."

The creature replied, "Name? I have no name. I have lived here alone since my birth, creating new stars. No one has ever given me a name."

Artmory felt the loneliness of the ages in her words. "Then, let me give you a name," Artmory said after pondering for a while.

"The place where you live is called the Pillars of Creation, and you are the creature living here, responsible for creating many stars. How about 'Stellar Creator'? Or, to simplify, just 'Stera.' What do you think?"

"Stera?" She repeated her new name softly, as if trying to get used to this new identity. "It's a very nice name. Thank you, Artmory." Stera revealed a brilliant smile.

Suddenly, Stera seemed to think of something. She searched her body and took out a rather worn novel, saying, "Um... Artmory, can I ask you for a favor? I found this when I was creating a star. I saw a huge piece of iron nearby, and then I found this inside that big piece of iron. There are many beautiful pictures inside, and there should be some language explaining these pictures, but I can't understand this language. You've been to so many places, so I think you must understand the content inside. I'd like you to help me understand what these pictures are about. Please!"

Artmory smiled and said, "No problem. What you're holding is what I mentioned earlier, a 'novel' from a planet called Earth. Each novel tells various interesting stories created by humans, a very unique creature living on Earth." Then, Artmory took the novel from Stera and began to tell her the content of the story.

The Dance of Acknowledgement

"On the edge of a bustling city, there is a dilapidated theater. Its name has long been forgotten, leaving only the mottled outer walls and rickety seats as witnesses to its former glory. In this theater, there is a girl who is passionate about dance. Her dance is like the brightest star in the night sky. Even though the audience in the theater is sparse, she insists on every performance. The girl's life is not affluent; she makes a living by drawing on the streets during the day and showcasing her dance in the theater at night. Her paintings are full of color and vitality, just like her dance. Every jump and every rotation infuses all her emotions and strength.

But on a cold winter day, the theater manager suddenly announced that the theater could no longer continue to operate due to the troupe's income. Therefore, the theater would close in a month. When the girl heard this news, her heart was filled with reluctance and despair, but she knew she had to give the theater and herself the most gorgeous performance.

The girl began to plan an unprecedented dance performance, investing all her savings into this show. From costumes to music, from stage design to lighting effects, every detail strives for perfection. She rehearses day and night, practicing every movement repeatedly until her body is extremely tired, until every dance step is integrated into her soul.

At the same time, the girl's paintings on the street have become more profound and touching. She pours all her love for dance and reluctance to let go of the theater onto the canvas. Her paintings attract more and more people to stop and her story gradually becomes known to others.

Finally, the day of the performance arrived. The theater was packed with people, including the girl's relatives and friends, strangers moved by her paintings, and city dwellers who had ignored the theater before. The girl stood behind the stage, taking a deep breath, her heart filled with tension and anticipation.

The curtain slowly opened, and the girl, like an elegant swan, gracefully stepped onto the stage. As the music started, every movement was filled with strength and passion. Her dance seemed to tell a story about dreams, persistence, and love. The audience was deeply moved, with applause and cheers rising one after another.

When the last note fell, the girl completed her curtain call. She stood on the stage, sweat and tears intermingling, knowing that this was not only a farewell to the theater but also a new starting point in her artistic career. The girl's dance and her story, like her previous paintings, became a legend in the city.

The theater eventually closed, but the girl's artistic journey had just begun. Her story inspired everyone with dreams, showing that even in the most difficult times, one must do their best to create their most gorgeous performance.

After Artmory finished telling the story from the worn novel to Stera, they both fell into a silence. The protagonist's love for art and the emotions poured into the performance in the story obviously touched Stera, who savored the content of the novel repeatedly.

Stera quietly gazed at the novel and asked, "Humans convey their inner world to others through performance, and every movement is filled with their emotions. Then, am I... am I also performing when I create stars? A performance with the universe as the audience?"

Artmory felt the confusion and exploration in Stera's words and replied, "Every performance is an emotional exchange between the performer and the audience. Your creation is silent, but it is also a very gorgeous poem in the universe. Every existence in life conveys their thoughts in different forms to this universe, and you are no exception."

Stera's gaze pierced through the nebula, as if searching for something. Her voice trembled slightly as she asked, "So, does my existence only serve a performance? What is my place in the universe?"

Artmory pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "We are all looking for the meaning of existence, aren't we? Why does life exist? It's an ancient and profound question. Perhaps, life exists to experience, feel, and create. Every existence in life conveys their thoughts and emotions to this universe in different forms. You are no exception. The stars you create, their light and heat, are the ways you communicate with this universe, and they are also the marks of your existence. Perhaps our existence itself is a miracle in the universe. You create stars, illuminating the corners of the universe, which is a unique existence in itself."

Stera was silent for a while, then a new firmness appeared in her eyes: "I understand. Although my existence may just be a performance in the universe, the stars I create, their light will illuminate countless worlds. This makes me feel that my purpose for being born is not just to create endlessly, but as an art, a performance."

Artmory smiled and nodded, "Indeed. Every life communicates with the universe in its own way, and the stars you create are your works, your words, your paintings, and your dance steps."

A smile appeared on Stera's face as she looked up at the starry sky, her eyes twinkling with anticipation for the future: "Then, I will continue my creation, turning every star into the most gorgeous performance in the universe."

"Go for it, I believe in you," Artmory replied.

—————————————————————————————

"Character Introduction"

Artmory (Name meaning: Depict, Memory)

Introduction: A traveler through time and space, embarking on boundless journeys across the universe. Enjoys meeting new friends, tasting various foods they have never eaten before (but not this time), and likes to record the stories that happen during their travels. "What will happen on this journey?"

"Thank you."

"Thank me for what?"

"Thank you for telling me such a wonderful story and for comforting me. Um, didn't you come here to record the story of the Pillars of Creation?"

"If you don't mind, as a thank you for helping me, I'll take you to see the various scenes of the Pillars of Creation."

"Sure," Artmory responded.

The two began to walk through every corner of the Pillars of Creation, with Stera introducing every detail to Artmory. During the tour, Artmory suddenly asked a question: "By the way... Stera, you are also a living being, so how do you usually replenish your energy? Or can you directly absorb the energy stored in the Pillars of Creation to live?"

Stera stopped and raised one arm, then Artmory felt an intangible energy gathering in Stera's hand, and after the energy gathered sufficiently, Stera swallowed it in one breath.

Artmory: "..."

Stera looked puzzled at Artmory: "Huh? Is it strange? I usually replenish my strength by absorbing the scattered dark energy and dark matter in the universe. But dark matter is relatively scarce around the Pillars of Creation, so most of the time, I can only absorb dark energy.

Artmory: "No, it's not strange. It's just that when you gather dark energy, it's so sci-fi, and then you just swallow the dark energy with your mouth, which I can't react to for a while."

Stera: "..."

As they continued to move forward, the two arrived at the top of the Pillars of Creation.

At the top of the Pillars of Creation, Stera demonstrated how she creates new stars.

"Artmory, look," Stera said, extending her hands into the void. Then, her hands began to emit a faint light, which was proof of her connection with the Pillars of Creation. Stera closed her eyes and took a deep breath; her body began to emit a brighter light. Her connection with the Pillars of Creation seemed to become even tighter at this moment.

The energy of the Pillars of Creation gradually converged between her hands, eventually forming a light ball. This light ball was initially only fist-sized, but as energy continued to converge, it gradually became larger and brighter. This light ball contained extremely high temperatures and pressures, the prototype of a star's birth.

"This is the seed of a star," Stera said, her voice now mixed with a serious tone.

As energy continued to be injected, the light ball became unstable; the pressure and temperature inside reached a critical point. Stera knew it was time to release this star seed into the universe.

She opened her eyes, pushed her hands forward, and sent the light ball into the void. After leaving Stera's hands, the light ball began to expand rapidly; its light became more dazzling, and the temperature and pressure continued to rise.

Under the gaze of Artmory and Stera, the light ball gradually turned into a huge fireball; intense reactions occurred inside, releasing tremendous energy. This process continued until the fireball gradually stabilized and became a new star.

"This is how a new star is born," Stera said, her eyes sparkling with pride and satisfaction.

Artmory gazed at the newborn star, deeply attracted and shocked by this magnificent spectacle. Stera smiled, her gaze filled with anticipation for the future. "Yes, the birth of every star is a breath, a heartbeat of the universe. I am glad to share all of this with you."

The two then continued to stay quietly at the top of the Pillars of Creation for a while, enjoying the moment of tranquility.

—————————————————————————————

"Character Introduction"

Stellar Creator [Stera] (Name meaning: A creature that creates the new stars)

Introduction: A wise life form living in the Pillars of Creation, usually responsible for creating new stars. She enjoys looking at the images in a rather worn-out novel (which she found in the wreckage of a spaceship that was hit by a star near the Pillars of Creation and exploded). She also likes to go to the top of the Pillars of Creation to enjoy the entire universe.