“Yes.”

  “Eh..?” said Naritsune.

  “What…?” Feldaner gasped, dropping his crook.

  “WHAT?!” a voice erupted from the direction of the pavilion, followed by a cloud.

  “Great news!” Haronsal applauded. “All four of us are going.”

  “Not by the sound of whoever is over there,” Naritsune said. That definitely wasn’t thunder; more like a displeased leopard or bear.

  “Are you sure, Kyray,” said Serencia. “As a Selected?”

  “Yes, My Lady,” Kyray replied as Feldaner picked up his crook. “As a - Selected.”

  “Choice accepted,” Serencia said. “All four of you are now Selected. Now we can move onto the subject of Celestes.”

  Naritsune looked at Haronsal, then at an equally blank Kyray.

  “How about patrons,” said Killyria, glancing at Serencia. “More or less the same thing.”

  “But patrons support artists,” Haronsal began. “I haven’t sketched for months.”

  “Up here they support those who choose to go to Outeransei,” Serencia explained. “Say hello first thing in the morning; give details on the daily task.”

  “You mean, they come with us?” said Naritsune.

  “Now that would be too easy, wouldn’t it,” said Killyria. “Stand back while they do all the work.”

  “The Celestes - no patrons - are based here, but will be able to communicate with you in Outeransei,” Serencia said. “Don’t worry, it will become clear once you arrive.”

  “Hands-free,” Killyria added. “Or a communicative hat if you wish.”

  “Ah, I get it,” said Haronsal. “Speaking and listening crystals. They’ve had them in Farrismarrai since-”

  “It was a bonfire,” said Feldaner. “And the people had to flee to Maysine or Gelervindon. Compliments of his infamous ancestor.”

  “That incident lies at the door of a certain Koukarin the Fireblade,” Kyray replied. “As dangerous an enemy to Shouriah-Nargactt as my ancestor seems to have been to you.”

  “My, how restraint is a virtue one or two need more of,” Killyria said, focusing on Feldaner, who seemed to shrink.

  “But before you arrive in Outeransei,” Serencia began. “Wouldn’t you like to know the names of your patrons?”

  * * *

  “Thank Sparkles for that,” said Andromeda, looking around a pillar. “I thought she wanted us to pop over there.”

  “One or two wouldn’t mind,” Virgo chuckled, glancing at the quiet forms of Astraea and Callisto. “But then, it would be three going to Outeransei since one would be ashes or dinner dependent on who got to him first.”

  “I wasn’t expecting all four of them to go ahead. Especially the Darkyrie.”

  “Doesn’t improve the selection box, even with him attending. The Hermitory Lord doesn’t seem a pleasant option and the happy merchant - can’t even go there.”

  “What’s wrong with being cheerful?”

  “Moonshine-Lunaria-Lengal crazy, that’s what,” said Virgo. “Mr Tsukiyama will be fine for me. Seems a lot more stable since Killyria chastised him.”

  “Sky’s going dark,” Andromeda said, looking up. “Here we go….”

  * * *

  “What’s going on,” said Haronsal as everything dimmed.

  “Change of scenery,” said Killyria, a silver-white moon rising above the horizon. “Look, you can the planets.”

  “But how - did you do that?” asked Naritsune, looking at the moon.

  “Might want to ask Serencia about that. One of her gifts, as you would call it.”

  “I’ve never seen the stars look so sharp,” said Feldaner, looking up. “You can pick out the colours.”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  “One benefit of a fresh perspective,” said Serencia, hair and garments twinkling by star, moon and her own light. “Some of the comets could give lessons in colour schemes for interior, or rather stellar, design.”

  Naritsune, Haronsal and Kyray all looked at her.

  “May as well tell them folk live on the moons,” said Killyria.

  “Even the blue one that’s around in the day?” Haronsal said. “I’d so love to-”

  “Please don’t say to windsurf or eat some blue cheese,” Naritsune sighed. “I’ve heard all the stories.”

  “A new one for me,” said Kyray, eyebrows raised.

  “I don’t need to go into constellations, do I?” Serencia continued.

  “Are things that bad in schools, nowadays,” Feldaner began.

  “I know what that one is,” Haronsal replied, pointing up. “Pegasus, the Flying Horse. Although, it looks like an enormous square to me.”

  “Looks like it’s upside down,” said Naritsune, looking at the stars that formed a great square. “Especially with the two legs and the shape of the head and - it’s glowing.”

  “And got lines running between the dots,” Haronsal pointed.

  “I’m sure that I had a book where you could join up the dots and make shapes,” said Feldaner, as the lines glowed a delicate blue.

  “There’s a great big page in the sky, now,” said Kyray.

  “Hang on,” said Naritsune. “Why aren’t they glowing?”

  “Aren’t they all glowing,” said Killyria.

  “The stars that make up the horse’s back legs and the corner of the square which joins them.”

  Feldaner burst into laughter as Killyria chuckled.

  “Might not want to say that too loudly, Naritsune,” Serencia whispered. “A certain Celeste might take issue with that.”

  “I think it’s called Andromeda,” said Kyray, as the two lines of stars that joined at the upper left corner of the square, grew brighter. “The star in the square where the lines join is the constellation’s main one: Alpheratz.”

  “Well put, Kyray,” said Killyria.

  “Better than the Back Legs,” Feldaner said, holding his side. “Sounds like a play hors-” then stopped as thunder or a growl seemed to erupt from the far side of the lake.

  “She is Andromeda,” said Killyria. “The Celestial Princess, and her constellation. And, so it happens, is one of your patrons.”

  Haronsal put a hand to his mouth while Naritsune stared at the collection of stars shaped like a horizontal ‘V’.

  “One of four,” Serencia added. “Astraea, Princess of Divine Justice,” as a constellation shaped like a person with Sword and Scales glowed pale green. “Callisto, Princess of the Seven Stars,” as a second constellation gleamed stellar lemon. “And finally Virgo, Princess of the Equatorial Procession,” as a third constellation, that looked as if it were in the midst of a swim, shone a delicate blue.

  “But they’re,” Haronsal gasped whilst Naritsune and Kyray sat down. “They’re….”

  “Constellations, and yet people?” Killyria began. “Tell me about it.”

  “What you’re looking up at is each of their realms,” said Serencia. " And everything that comes with it. After all, they are Princesses.”

  “Celestial Princesses,” Killyria said, twinkling with starlight.

  “And, if you look at the back of your left or right hands, there you will find the star and colour of your chosen patron.”

  * * *

  “Is this necessary,” Astraea said, fist pounding the table. “Just tell them, Serencia.”

  “Don’t believe this,” Andromeda added, swatting one of the airborne butterflies back toward Astraea. “The - nerve of it.”

  “What can you mean, Andromeda?” Virgo tried to speak with a straight face.

  “You haven’t just been called the hind legs of a flying horse.”

  “Could be worse,” Callisto giggled. “Could have called you the back end of a panto horse.”

  “Best - thing - I’ve heard in ages,” Virgo chuckled, almost in tears.

  “I’m not laughing,” Andromeda said.

  “I would,” Astraea began. “But we’re about to get some clarification.”

  “On Andromeda’s stellar equine connection,” said Virgo. “Bring it on.”

  * * *

  Haronsal raised his hand; upon the back of which gleamed a lemon star. “Yellow. The star’s yellow; like the constellation that has a tail.”

  “One way of putting it,” said Serencia. “Callisto, Princess of the Seven Stars, is your patron, Haronsal.”

  “Whatever you do, don’t mention anything - bear-related,” Killyria added. “Unless you have a genuine interest in them.”

  “Bear?” Haronsal began.

  “The Seven Stars are what some call the Plough,” Feldaner whispered, tilting his hand toward the skylights. “The Plough that is part of the Great - Bear.”

  “W-w-what?”

  “Don’t - say it,” Killyria said, hand raised.

  “Are they - supposed to keep changing like this,” asked Naritsune, looking at the back of his hand. “It’s like a rainbow.”

  “Same here,” said Kyray.

  “And me,” added Feldaner.

  “That doesn’t usually happen,” Serencia said, glancing at Killyria. “At least not for a milen-”

  Naritsune checked his hand. “It’s stopped.”

  “What’s the colour?” asked Haronsal.

  “Oh no,” he said as the star flashed mint green, then delicate blue. “It’s changed again.”

  “Mine’s stayed on green if that helps,” said Feldaner. “Like the constellation with the sword and scales.”

  “Which means you are the Knight-Errant of the Princess of Divine Justice,” said Serencia. “Astraea Celeste.”

  “Who does not tolerate fools, or those guided by internal flames,” Killyria added.

  “This has stopped too,” said Naritsune. “White, like the constellation shaped like a tipped - what was that?”

  He couldn’t have been seeing things. Had that been a flash of light in the pavilion?

  “Sounds like Andromeda is your patron, Naritsune,” said Killyria. “I wouldn’t mention any sort of Pegasus link. Now, or after.”

  “Which means that the Celestial Maiden is your patron, Kyray,” Serencia said. “Virgo Celeste.”

  “Noooo!!!”

  Naritsune had to put his hands over his ears, as Kyray and Feldaner shook and Haronsal squeaked. Killyria seemed to brighten then vanished as screams and yells came from the - Pavillion.

  “Who’s - in - there?” said Kyray.

  “Don’t think that I want to find - out,” moaned Haronsal.

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