The Journey of Life

  Your time with Artemis and Helios may be over for now, but your journey continues—whether through discoveries or new challenges.

  Whatever you have experienced or whatever lies ahead, each moment holds its own kind of value. Let yourself be inspired by the moments that give you strength, no matter where you are. Often, it’s the small things that bring us joy and hope.

  You have the ability to write your own unique story of life—with adventures great and small.

  The Connection to Mythology

  In ancient Greek mythology, Artemis is a goddess associated with nature and the moon. She loves animals and the forests and ensures that everything remains healthy and balanced. NASA—a space exploration organization—has also launched an Artemis program of extensive missions to explore the moon.

  The name Helios also originates from ancient Greek mythology, representing the god of the sun. He drives a chariot across the sky, similar to the way Helios in my story pilots his spaceship.

  While I don’t intend to equate my characters with the Greek gods, I found it fitting to incorporate some of their traits into Helios, the Linea, and Artemis, the turtle.

  The Creation of Names

  For the names in my story, I used a method called anagramming, where letters are rearranged to form new words.

  For example:

  Ehlaw: This name comes from the English word “Whale.”

  Linea: The name of Helios's species comes from the word “Alien.” This term originally derives from the Latin aliēnus, meaning “foreign,” “different,” or “from another place.” In English, “Alien” was first used to describe something or someone foreign or from another land.

  Gordan: The name derives from the English word “Dragon.” In many cultures, dragons are considered powerful beings that rule both the skies and the waters.

  Flow: This name was, for me, the best way to rearrange the letters of the word “Wolf.” In this case, it’s simply “Wolf” spelled backward. Interestingly, as a teenager, I (Florian) often used the name “Flow” in online forums. My father explained “Flow” to me as a state of deep concentration and immersion, where one is engaged in a challenging but manageable activity.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  The Meaning of Terms

  The following terms in the story are derived from Japanese:

  Kensho Stone: Kenshō means “seeing one’s true nature” or “self-realization.” It is a significant experience in the Zen Buddhist tradition.

  Warai Fruit: Warai means “laughter” or “humor.”

  Satori Nut: Satori means “understanding” or “enlightenment” and is also a central concept in Zen Buddhism.

  The Big Question

  Are we alone in the universe? This question fascinated me even as a child. In fact, more and more planets are being discovered where life is not only possible but actually likely.

  But even on our own planet, there are still many mysteries. For example, in our oceans, creatures are still being found whose existence was previously unknown to us. The universe is similar, only much, much larger. It offers endless possibilities and plenty of space for discoveries.

  How will we respond to non-human intelligence? Are we prepared to learn from and with each other?

  It is entirely up to us which path we choose to follow.

  The Illustrations

  I initially tried to illustrate the book myself, as I had done for earlier projects. I’ve always loved creating art—but this time, the gap between what I imagined and what I was able to put on paper became painfully clear. With limited time and growing frustration, I was close to abandoning the project altogether.

  That’s when I started experimenting with artificial intelligence (AI) as a creative tool. I used AI to generate rough drafts and combined them with my own digital editing and Photoshop work—refining each image until it matched my vision. It was a fusion of technology and personal touch.

  In the print version of the book (and the free PDF version), these illustrations became an integral part of the journey. Unfortunately, they can't be included here on Royal Road—but I hope the imagery still comes alive in your mind.

  For me, AI isn’t a shortcut or a replacement for creativity. It’s a tool—one that helped me turn distant visions into something real.

  But I also like that the story can stand on its own here.

  Author's Note

  Writing this story was a long journey for me—one I couldn’t have completed without the quiet support of my wife Sarah and our daughter Emilia. Their patience and encouragement gave me the space to dream and write.

  I'm also thankful to the wonderful friends who helped shape this book with their thoughtful feedback and sharp eyes—especially Anja, Katrina, and Gitta. Your support meant the world.

  Last but not least, I want to thank you, dear reader, for taking this detour on your journey through life. Feel free to leave a comment—I’d love to hear your thoughts.

  Available Formats:

  Free PDF version available here:

  I also Self-Published the story in January 2025

  English ISBN Numbers (Musings oft he Stars - Voyage into the Unknown):

  Hardcover: 9783769339789 | Softcover: 9783769300680 | E-Book: 9783769385342

  International Softcover-Version: 9783000808807

  German ISBN Numbers (Gedanken der Sterne - Reise ins Unbekannte):

  Hardcover: 9783769315455 | Softcover: 9783769339956 | E-Book: 9783769385069

  Contact:

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  Copyright Notice:

  ? Florian Hirte, 2025. The automated analysis of this work to extract information, especially concerning patterns, trends, and correlations as per §44b UrhG ("Text and Data Mining"), is prohibited.

  Honest, heartfelt, or just a short thought.