Starlight

Aila’s face was filled with disbelief after hearing Midir’s answer. Instead of showing joy, she instinctively took a step back, her short blade instantly unsheathed as she fell into a defensive stance, her voice thick with caution and doubt.

“Impossible! How could you be Midir’s master? No one has been here for at least a hundred years. How could he possibly know you!”

Faced with Aila’s skepticism, Carlos didn't get angry. Instead, a hint of curiosity surfaced as he asked gently, “Oh? And why do you think that, little girl?”

Aila gripped her blade tightly, her body tense and her emotions running high.

“Midir fainted once before, and we called a doctor to give him a thorough examination. Based on the age of his bones and muscles, he’s thirty at the most. How could someone like him have any connection to someone like you? Midir, don’t let yourself be fooled!”

However, Midir was currently caught in a surging torrent of memories. The sudden influx of information crashed into his mind like a tide, leaving him unable to spare any attention for Aila’s warning.

He stood there in a daze, his eyes hollow, completely captivated by fragments of the past, unable to pull himself away.

“Midir... Meteor? How unexpected. To think you’d choose such a name for yourself this time. It actually suits your temperament quite well; not bad taste.”

Carlos smiled and reached out to gently pat the top of Midir’s head, like a loving elder showing affection and approval for a junior.

However, in the eyes of the wary Aila, this action looked very different. Mistaking it for an attempt to harm Midir, she lunged forward like an arrow from a bow, swinging her short blade directly toward Carlos’s wrist.

Carlos shook his head slightly, the gentle smile still on his face. With a casual wave of his other hand, the ground seemed to respond to his call, three-colored light interweaving as if coming to life.

The light rapidly solidified into a barrier that not only steadily blocked Aila’s blade but also spread further, wrapping around her arms and calves, gently binding her in place.

“Little girl, don’t be so hasty. Why are you just as impulsive as that silly boy? Hmm... Po Kong-Mars—you should be quite familiar with him, shouldn't you? What is he to you? Your grandfather? Or your father?” After seeing the raised earth seize Aila’s wrists so she couldn't break free, Carlos narrowed his eyes and looked her up and down for a moment before suddenly speaking.

Aila was profoundly shocked to hear her father’s name, and for a moment, she even forgot to try and struggle out of her restraints.

“How do you know that! Do you know my father?” Aila asked.

“Of course~ otherwise, how could I recognize you at a glance? So, just how much time has passed? How is his daughter still this small? It seems his progress isn't very fast either~”

The corners of Carlos’s mouth curled into a smile, and his illusory fingers lightly stroked his chin as he spoke with a touch of playfulness.

“What are you talking about? What progress! Let me go!” Realizing the man wasn't showing any malice, Aila suddenly remembered her hands were still firmly held and shouted in a low voice.

Carlos seemed to snap back to his senses and quickly waved his hand, saying in an almost exaggerated tone, “Oh, right, right. My apologies. I’ll let you go right now.”

With another wave of his hand, the ground binding Aila receded like a tide, as if nothing had ever happened.

“Can we talk properly now? The silly boy’s young daughter.”

Aila frowned, clearly dissatisfied with the address.

“I’m not just some silly boy’s daughter, my name is Aila! And who exactly are you? What happened to Midir?” Aila spoke huffily, though her brow still betrayed her confusion.

Carlos raised an eyebrow, putting on a look of surprise.

“Oh? I thought Midir would have told you by now. I am Carlos. As for Midir... do you really not have even a single doubt or suspicion in your heart?” His gaze was deep, as if waiting for Aila to uncover the mystery herself.

Listening to Carlos’s words—which seemed to hold deep meaning yet felt somewhat disjointed—Aila couldn't help but feel a surge of irritation. However, she forced herself to calm down and carefully chewed over every word he had just said.

Soon, Carlos’s laughter broke the silence, carrying a hint of pride and anticipation.

“Hahaha! It seems you truly know nothing. In that case, my arrangement was quite a success. Since you’re so curious, I’ll reveal a bit to you.”

“His body is indeed only in its twenties. But what would you think if I told you he isn't a person of this era?”

Aila stared into Carlos’s heterochromatic eyes, trying to find a hint of deception, but his gaze was so steady and sincere that it didn't look like he was lying at all.

“Not a person of this era! Could... could it be...!” At that moment, Aila seemed to realize something. She jerked her head to look at Midir, who was still standing silently to the side, and cried out in surprise.

Seeing that he had caught her train of thought, Carlos continued to smile.

“Hmm... what did you think of? I won't tease you anymore, little Aila. His name—to be precise, his previous name—was Starlight. Starlight-White.”

Those words exploded in Aila’s ears like a bomb. Although the name wasn't widely circulated across the continent, as a member of ＜Starry Moon Shadow＞, she had grown up hearing it. To suddenly be told that this man who had disappeared a hundred years ago was standing right before her—how could she not be shocked?

“You’re saying Midir is Starlight!? Didn't he perish along with the Heavenly Demon a hundred years ago! That was confirmed by my dad and the others! How could... no, that’s absolutely impossible!”

“Oh, so a hundred years have passed without me noticing! It seems your parents didn't mention this to you. Well done!” Carlos nodded with satisfaction, his words full of hidden meaning.

“They didn't mention it to me...? I see! No wonder the clues I found along the way contradicted the previous reports. That stupid old man and the others intentionally modified history! Starlight didn't die at all, did he!” Aila’s voice carried a mix of anger and relief.

“Yes, but also no~ because from the perspective of human life and death, he did indeed experience a death once. And that story you’re so familiar with was indeed adjusted by your father and the others for certain necessary reasons.” As Carlos answered, he turned toward Midir, his eyes full of concern.

At that moment, Midir, who had been keeping his eyes tightly shut, suddenly opened them. His dark eyes revealed a deep, heavy exhaustion.

His legs went weak, and he began to slump to the side. Aila quickly caught his shoulder to keep him from falling to the ground.

“How do you feel, Little Star? Accepting so many memories at once certainly isn't a good feeling. And that’s not even all of them yet.”

Carlos moved closer out of concern, intending to support his other shoulder, but his body made of light was like a ghost without substance, passing straight through Midir’s shoulder.

Midir managed a weak smile and lightly rubbed his temples, his voice faint.

“I’m okay... my head just hurts a lot. But I can already recall some fragments, even if they’re still a mess.”