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Shuffling through his quiver, Faith retrieves the small, leather-bound tome. He’ll have to return it to that group later, when he joins them to rebuild the Archives. But for this final hour, he flips through the pages and rereads the text, transfixed by what he finds inside.

It’s a legend.

It’s the one that silly, selfish, rebellious group had scribed with the Court when they’d congregated at the stargazer. At that point, he wasn’t supposed to be there, since everyone but the rulers and rebellious eight had gone home. But Faith had perched outside during the proceedings, content to sulk on the parapet.

He hadn’t known what they were doing inside the dome. Not until shortly after, when that god had presented Faith with the book. Endorsed by the Court and blessed by the stars, the pages include a prologue of mythic tales.

One tale is about a star that refuses to shine: a mischievous goddess who falls in love with a mortal.

One tale is about a star that flashes too harshly in the sky: a rebel god who falls in love with a misfit.

One tale is about a star that drifts in the sky: a wildflower goddess who falls in love with a devil.

One tale is about a star that winks in the sky, as well as a star that drowns in the sky: a vain god and spitfire goddess who fall in love with each other.

The book continues with the legend itself, of deities who live alongside humanity, both of whom exist in a world of destiny and choice.

The final page declares the most puzzling thing.

If a deity falls in love, it shall be a union of fate and free will.

Closing the notebook, Faith cocks his head and whispers to himself, “What does that feel like?”

Then he smiles, because now he’ll have the chance to find out.

When he glances toward the celestials, the sky shifts colors along with the hour. And his smile widens.

Finally. The stars are out.

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