Malachite (Valmora Academy #1)

Before Where It All Began

BEFORE

Where It All Began

For eons, the Stars made their beds in the ink-black sky, looking down as cities were built across the lands, and all manner of living creatures began inhabiting them.

When the Stars grew bored, some would play wicked games on those below, turning cities to rubble and dust, just to see who would survive.

It went on like this, until one Star decided she was sick of being an observer. She’d seen the world below crash, burn, rebuild and repeat too many times and decided that with the power she possessed she could help these creatures instead.

But to Fall would be to give up her immortality; she would have to relinquish her celestial body and take on a humanoid form.

To Fall would mean to never again see the world from above.

However, her gentle heart couldn’t stomach the ache of witnessing endless suffering any longer.

She wished to use her power to help the creatures below, to bestow them with gifts like her own so their sicknesses might heal faster, offering them a longer life and filling their hearts with hope.

This sacrifice would be mighty and isolating. So, before she fell, Opalus – the Star of hope, optimism and passion, and the creator of the sea, lakes and rivers – convinced three of her brothers to Fall with her.

Obsidianus – the Star of protection and shields, and the creator of shadows and night – was next.

Unable to let his sister Fall alone, he followed her down, for she was the light to his darkness.

Created in the same inky pocket of the sky, they never strayed from one another.

In the sky they shone side by side, and Obsidianus planned to do the same in their new realms.

Achātēs – the Star of clarity and intuition, and the creator of the wind that filled the sky – was the third to Fall. He observed what his siblings had done with keen eyes, watching as they carved out their own areas and began building civilisations where they were revered.

Finally, the fourth Star, Molochītis – the Star of growth, risk and love, and the creator of fire – Fell.

He loved all his siblings with ferocity and quickly began to love the creatures that flocked to his side as well.

Molochītis became willing to protect them with his life.

He followed in his siblings’ footsteps, hoping to create a world that thrived and remained prosperous.

Opalus encouraged her brothers to do as she did and bestow gifts to the creatures they found.

Achātēs was not a jealous Star, but a tactical one.

He had seen the horrors such a world could endure, and he had decided the gifts he’d bestow onto his creatures would enhance their minds.

He believed if they were intelligent and strategic, they could rule their worlds rather than be crushed beneath them.

Molochītis bestowed courage and bravery to his creatures, inspiring them to take risks and most of all, love.

In battle they had to be brave, or they would die afraid, which in his eyes was no way to die at all.

The only fate worse was to die with no purpose.

So, he gave them love, in hopes that having something to fight for would make them stronger, quicker, more resilient.

Obsidianus decided to gift his favourite creatures with protection, not only from physical attacks, but from any threat. He ensured that his creatures could not die at all.

For years, the Stars went on, teaching their creatures how to harness their abilities. To create a new way of life and nurture a realm where they grew and prospered. Until, one day, Achātēs called them to his side of the world. He missed his siblings and had been without them for too long.

‘Brothers and Sister, come. I have created a place where we can all live harmoniously together again. Let us combine our worlds. Bring your creatures; offer them sanctuary here among others like them and watch as they thrive.’

The Stars were together once more. They lived harmoniously, enveloped in the power they brought to their new home, basking in the glory that was their success, until one Star began to pull away from the others.

Slowly a rivalry began to fester among them.

Jealousy, spite and betrayal became their true downfall, and they succumbed to the same tragedies they Fell to prevent.

The four Stars died with hatred in their ancient hearts.

Left behind were not just those the Stars had infused with their magic to carry on their legacy, but a war that would continue for hundreds of years.