Let me tell you a story, kids. The story of a woman named Vespera. She was a star.

Yes, a star. Why did I call her a woman, you ask?

On occasions, a star will drop to our realm. Before it does, it dies and explodes. From it, a new form appeared.

They are called "starbornes", fragments of what used to be the star. A creation so bright, now so dim and hollow.

They are fragments of the star's power — or rather what it used to be. Most of the time, those fragments would fall to the ground and shatter, creating the dust of light.

But, on rare occasions, they would host a body. Mostly a fae as it sleeps, or a fairy as it works, even a faerie that is lazing around.

Even humans who eventually gain its power, or terrifying skinwalkers who eventually gain consciousness and manage to survive without eating humans.

But. Vespera. A shard, a fragment, a piece...she landed on a calm lake, far from humans, far from cities. She — gained a body.

The first ever shard to gain a body of its own. Soon, many will follow.

Vespera found herself in the outskirts of a city. A bustling city too. She decided to explore.

The knights didn't allow a random lady in, but they did look down at her figure, their eyes speaking something otherwise.

Vespera had the power of the stars. Why did she need to listen to them anyways?

She traveled around, gaining foreign knowledge, learning languages and herbs, even learning the human body and mind.

In cities where she was welcomed in, they always seemed to prosper. She eventually became a sign of luck.

The sight of a woman who looks no less than 24, long back-length dull black hair, pale pink eyes that seem to hold the stars in them, pale skin. Even having one of those traits was a sign of luck.

Not all cities received her well though. Some manipulated her, tortured her, kidnapped her — even killed her.

But as we know — everytime a star dies, a new one is born in its place. And revive, did she. Taking on the form of anyone similar to her, as long as it was a corpse.

She awoke with the knowledge, the lessons, the scars — but never with memories of the humans.

One certain day, she was murdered. After a while, she opened her eyes again. This time, in a large puddle in the woods — a pale, frail body with her former scars awaited her, long black hair sticking to her skin, eyes distant.

"Sir." A voice rang, disturbing her peace

She had been summoned.

She knew that because she had revived only after what felt like a day. But she returned way too quickly.

"The mage." The earlier voice rang out again. Right, the mage. She turned her head to the source of the voice, finding several knights and one specially seated on a fine-bred horse.

The one who sat on the fine-bred horse stared at her in silence. Of course, when someone thought of a mage, they certainly wouldn't think of a woman who was clotheless.

But Vespera paid no mind. Who even said she was a human, why she should care about decency as much as they do?

"The king has summoned you via a spell." The fine-bred horse's rider said as he got off, "fair mage, I'm General Arthur Wilhelm of the Avenell Kingdom. Uh...you?"

Vespera stared at him with judgement in her eyes. Obviously she didn't like the forced politeness in his voice.

With the wave of her hand, she froze time all around them. "If you have anything to say, say it from the depths of your heart. I'm tired or hearing your pathetic respect."

The general stayed silent for a moment before scoffing, brushing his dark medium-length hair back with his gloved hand.

"Milady is quite observant. You see, I, as a general, only serve the king. So, lowering myself to a mage is—"

Before he could finish speaking, the Starborne had already wrapped a hand around his throat. The general raised his head, exposing his neck to the lady.

"That's better." Vespera hummed softly as the general drew out his sword, attacking already. She quickly teleported away, not getting struck by the blade.

The general turned to see the woman, noticing that though her body was pale, it was covered in multiple scars and wounds.

"Even immortals get hurt?" The general asked in surprise, "would you like to be one?" The woman asked him back, teleporting away to beside him.

"Rather not."

"You're missing out."

The general swiftly dodged the woman, managing to guess her next move and holding the sword at her neck.

The woman sighed reluctantly before teleporting away. "Well, seems like you're good enough."

With that, she unfroze time all around them. The general had one question, though he just couldn't ask yet — why were the stars so powerful, that they could do this?

They aren't time itself. And from the astrologists and mages that lived in the palace, stars were born and died like humans.

He held himself back, knowing now wasn't the time or situation to ask. Biting back his tongue, he motioned to his knights to prepare the carriage.

"No need." The Starborne huffed as she raised her arms to the sky. "Aeons of the Stars, hear the plea of this Starborne, send us all to the entrance of..."

"Avenell." The general reminded softly.

"Of the Avenell Kingdom. Move as fast as light does, without wasting a second." And with that, the group now realized that they were no longer in the forest.

The knights spoke in hushed whispers. The Starborne stood in silence. Was this really it...the one and only place where they won't mercilessly end her?

The only place where she won't be put through torture that she was forced to forget? The mind may forget, but the body doesn't.

It was pretty obvious by how far she stood from the caravan of knights. Too afraid to move. Too afraid to walk.

To put it into simple, paranoia and muscle memory.

The king was the one who summoned her. Via a tale he heard from different folks and nobles. They said a woman of great beauty and wisdom resided in the neighboring kingdoms.

One as old as time itself, one as wise as the wizards of old. It was said she held the wisdom of many decades, living and surviving through each time.

Everything except the last one was true. She indeed was wise, she indeed was old though her body didn't say so.

She indeed held the wisdom of many decades. But actually surviving? No. She was forced to die several times in the hands of corrupt humans.

She died and died more times than she could process everything. Worse of all, she was made to forget who killed her.

She only remembered how she died — burned, beheaded, torn, and more. But she never remembered where or who did it.

Perhaps it was for the best. She would have probably massacred everyone. Though I personally think they deserve it.

Except for the innocent ones of course.

"Ah, the Fair Starborne Mage." The king greeted with a large grin as he stood up from his throne, seeing his general and the mage side-by-side while the rest of the knights stood behind.

"This Starborne greets the Royal Majesty of Avenell. It is certainly my pleasure to meet you again." She said with an enchanting smile, making the smile on the king's lips falter for a second.

The general noticed the slight falter, glancing over to the woman suspiciously. She seemed pretty normal.

Perhaps it wasn't her but the king's own lust. With that, the general quickly remembered something.

Removing his cape, he wrapped it around the woman who seemed confused for a second before remembering.

Right. Just because she wasn't human doesn't mean she didn't look human and could go without clothes.

She gave a silent nod to the general as she bowed. "Ah, forgive my improper conduct. I'm not used to living as a human much."

"No worries!" The king laughed loudly. The woman seemed to have a piece of her memory replayed. Deja vu?

The laughter was certainly familiar. But she couldn't remember where she had heard that sound. It just sounded...

"As my general has told you, I summoned you to help my kingdom. You see, we're in a bit of trouble due to the monsters attacking the border."

"And the number of mages that are attack based are getting lower by the day." The king explained. Well, that made sense.

If you frequently have monsters, how do you expect to have mages? Vespera scoffed slightly, gaining the slight scowl from the general.

"Since His Majesty has sincerely requested for my help, I guess I have no choice but to agree, especially since I was summoned." Vespera said with a smile.

She hated working. Already she had to work to survive for so many centuries, and even now she had to work?

She genuinely felt like strangling the entire human race. Just because she was an immortal didn't mean that she would never get tired.

Sickos.

With that, she left the throne room with the general behind her. "You know, you could have been a bit more respectful, m'lady."

"Say whatever you want, boy. But I'm the one who has the upper hand." She brushed him off without a care as she walked away.

"I'm supposed to be leading you to your room." He informed, trying to hide his displeasure in being called 'boy'. He definitely wasn't young.

"Well, then why are you behind me?" The woman retorted before stopping and pointing to the space in front of her, "go ahead in front and lead the way, boy."

Seems like both of them had something in common after all — the urge to strangle the other.