The Fallen Star

Six years ago, when I was thirty-four, there was an abnormal change in the night sky; a star fell from the heavens. All the astrologers were frantically studying this phenomenon, trying to decipher the divine message. But I chose a different path...

Based on my observations of the star's trajectory and all the information I could find, I decided to search for the fallen star! It took me three years, during which I traveled across the northern continent, but I finally found it!"

As she spoke, Natalie's apparition gently raised her hand, revealing a small, black stone the size of a fist.

"This is the 'fallen star' I found. It looks like an ordinary stone! Of course, this is just a small piece I broke off. When I found it, it was as large as a house. Its impact created a huge crater, and I could see signs of a great fire—trees reduced to ashes, plains turned into valleys! Such destructive power could only be matched by the highest level of magical spells."

Freyr couldn't help but sigh. This female astrologer, Natalie, seemed truly remarkable to him.

In a place where the creation of everything was attributed to deities, she dared to question this notion... and in some ways, she was approaching the truth!

"It's unimaginable that what we call a star is just a huge rock. More importantly, this stone is entirely different from any known material in our world! It's hard and possesses a magical attraction. I spent a lot of time consulting experienced magical alchemists and even some elderly blacksmiths, but none could identify this new 'substance'! This means... the star is not from our world at all!"

Natalie's apparition began to flicker, a sign that the magic was about to run out. Freyr quickly refocused his attention, praying the magic would last a bit longer.

"From then on, I began to question all the texts about the deities creating this world. If the deities created this world, bringing forth all life, giving us day and night, and the changing seasons... then, who established all these laws? Was it the deities?

I spent almost my entire life studying the stars, and in the end, I discovered that the idea that 'the changes in the positions of stars are divine messages to humanity' is utterly absurd! I spent ten years recording and studying the positions of some visible stars. During these ten years, I observed and recorded the positions of these stars every night.

As the nights passed, when the sky was dark and clouds obscured the stars, I could no longer observe them with the naked eye. During such times, I had to find another method... I thought of magic. If magic could sense all the subtle changes in nature, then could I use it to sense the stars' positions when I couldn't see them?

Eventually, I discovered the power of the stars! If I could harness this power, I could wield it just like a Wizard harnesses the forces of nature... I could harness the power of the stars!

After finding a way to sense the power of the stars, I made another astonishing discovery!

The power of the stars is not limited to the night!

Even under the blazing sun of daylight, through meditation and expanding my mental sensing abilities, I could still sense the presence of the stars! They exist in the sky, day or night! During the day, their light is simply overshadowed by the bright sun.

Over the past ten years, I recorded the positions of the stars I observed and found that, although they undergo some changes, these changes follow certain cyclical patterns! It's as if everything is in a loop! For example, a star might be in the east during summer and move to the west in winter, only to return to the east the following year... everything follows a specific trajectory, repeating in cycles!

So, these changes are not divine messages to humanity! Nor are they divine riddles left for us! All these changes follow a certain set of rules—the rules of the stars! The laws of the stars!"

Natalie's apparition grew fainter, signaling the end of her remaining energy.

Her voice took on a grave tone: "The temple tells us that the stars are divine riddles and messages for humanity, but I discovered that the changes in the stars' positions follow a fixed set of rules, unrelated to any divine riddles. The temple tells us that the stars are ornaments left in the night sky by the gods, but I found that the stars exist not only at night but also during the bright daylight, unseen by the naked eye. The temple tells us that this world was created by the gods, but I found that the stars are made of an unknown stone that doesn't belong to any known material in our world."

Finally, the great female astrologer lifted her head and made her concluding statement: "I began to doubt whether the stars were created by the gods... and eventually, I started to question the existence of the so-called gods themselves!"

Freyr, watching the apparition of this female astrologer, felt a sudden surge of respect for her. She was the first person he had encountered in this world who dared to question and challenge common knowledge and authority!

Compared to those who blindly believed that "the gods created everything," this woman, who dared to question and challenge authority, and spent her entire life researching, earned Freyr's deepest respect.

"My lifetime of research is stored in this room. These shelves are filled with what I have left for you. The other door outside is a decoy. If one cannot understand my astrological hints, they will only find the false door leading to worldly treasures, while here lies my true legacy, left by Natalie Russell!

Suddenly, the light beam flickered, and the glow began to fade. The female astrologer's apparition grew more indistinct, and her voice weakened: