Erebus's Story

We are all connected in the great big world of the stars. In these lands under the stars, kingdoms rise and fall under the leadership of those who bring peace versus those who sought out power. The people choose leaders in a dictatorship. Unlike any other system, we do not follow family bloodlines for rulers as that could cause further corruption. The stars sometimes step in for a say and we the people of paradox oblige to our ancestors and their prophecies. For they have chosen many fair rules in the past that had brought nothing but peace, love, wellness, security, and prosperities to these land. Rulers are not fully kings, queens, and majesties until they are 30 years of age. The stars found having mid-20-year-olds be labeled such high names and positions often went to their minds and corrupted them with the thought they are self-important. Early teens and twenty-year-olds were untrained and not suited to rule everything just yet. You hold the title prince, princess, and little royal until you are 30.

However, in the midst of those chosen every generation, a certain star managed to become a black hole gradually. His name was Erebus Novet. He was chosen to rule one of the most important kingdom in all of the land, The Kingdom of the Stars located on the planet Lunaltia. “His umbra may not falter for the world needs one of illumination.” His prophecy was practically written for Erebus to be the brightest star of the next generation.

 Every ruler has traveled up their world’s sacred peak to meet the most important ancestors, the ten foretellers. The Foretellers transact messages between the afterlife of the stars and the living mortal plains. In the world of Paradox, there are twelve guardians and thus there are twelve people who must be protected. The Zodiac Guardian's job are to help guide their assigned ruler through their journey in life and to keep them afloat from the darkness that once plagued this land, the tenebrous state. Not everyone who is given a Zodiac Guardian is a ruler or person of importance, but the one the stars deemed worthy of their companionship. Erebus’s Zodiac Guardian was a green lion named Leo. Leo and Erebus got along and would often talk about things they had in common and didn’t have in common. It took both of them time to warm up to each other and not be so awkward. Leo loved having his new companion around and being able to help him every step of the way. 

However… years down the line Leo started to catch feelings for his assigned companion. Thus making him question everything and sending him into a panic. Erebus ignored this behavior at first thinking Leo was just being weird and thought it would resolve on its own. However, Erebus understood more and more as he watched Leo’s reactions and replies. Erebus was aware Leo liked him in that manner, but Erebus did not feel the same whatsoever. Around this time, Erebus grew cold and unresponsive to the stars, he would not head their messages any longer. In fact, he felt like the stars owed him for everything they put him through. “I’ve listened to everything, all your messages, your words, your wisdom and delivered them all and yet you don’t appreciate me as your ruler.” Erebus frowned waiting for a reply from the foretellers. “We do appreciate you, you are doing a good job and upholding your prophecy you are a beacon of light and hope for the future.” Erebus had grown tired of being a messenger and would rather the stars go away and let him rule everything. The stars had asked him to test his bravery and loyalty to them by using his starian powers to light up the sky. The stars know of Erebus’s powers, but he was unable to do it on command, he had not yet learned how to harness his powers and the stars had been asking him to do it for years. Erebus broke down, screaming he hates how worthless he’s been and that he in fact, cannot give the stars what they wanted. The foretellers were trying to comfort him and tell him it was okay. Erebus ran out of the room shoving Leo out of the way who had been listening from afar. 

The stars told Leo that they believe he was altering his prophecy from the inside out. They believe the original prophecy is failing and that the cracks are finally starting to reveal themselves. Leo confronts the stars trying to say that he’s only ever been able to set the light once, but lately, he’s been so nasty to everyone, even people of his own kingdom. Leo sighed and left the room.

One thing lead to another and in a blink of an eye, everything was in ruins. Erebus and the Foretellers got into an argument which resulted in Erebus being able to use his powers out of anger, but it quickly turned black and Erebus’s form turned. Leo had failed, his assigned companion turned into the one thing he was supposed to prevent and he blamed himself. Blamed himself for not keeping watch and letting his own feelings get in the way. Unable to see how much pain and suffering he was going through. Unfortunately it was too late, Erebus had become a monster. Erebus smashed the communicator and whipped his head around to speak to Leo. Calling him fake, halfassed, and useless, blaming him for everything that had transpired. “You’re nothing but a leach, the forteller’s spy. Leo, I was aware you liked me, but, I don’t love you back and I never will.” Leo’s heart shattered. “I understand you’re aware, but beside that I’ve always been there for you, it was never about the foretellers that connected me to you, our bond has-” Leo was cut off with a sword to his face. Erebus stood there with a powerful stance pointing his sword at someone he once considered the most important person to him.

“You never stood by my side, you are nothing and for that, you along with the rest of the kingdom will perish by my hands.” Leo stood in shock and bolted towards the door trying to escape, but Erebus was much faster in his new form. He grabbed Leo by the neck and threw him down to the floor. “If you move, you’re dead. So don’t even think about it.” Erebus kept his gaze on Leo who was injured from that impact. Leo was cunning, he tried to convince Erebus he was on his side and that the stars really were manipulating him after all. Unfortunately, Erebus has known Leo for far too long for it to work and Erebus held him down. “What do you intend to do with the kingdom.” “Oh me? I will give it the treatment it deserves, in a pit of flames. My powers are real and finally, I can use it at will.” “You got your powers?” Leo confused by this, but in a wave of panic that shot though his body, he realized how he’s going to set the kingdom a blaze. Leo squirmed and almost got out of Erebus’s grasp. Erebus sighed, taking the sword, and swung with all his might cutting a deep wound across Leo’s chest. Leo screamed and rhythed in pain and agony. He was loosing blood quickly, that was the last time he ever saw Erebus. Erebus ran off and the kingdom was set a blaze, he quickly grabbed a torch and helped the fire spread. The stars were having trouble reaching the foretellers and inevitably handled the crisis on their own by making it forcibly rain hours later. The remainer of the kingdom and people who survived remembered that day forever. Erebus fled and wouldn’t be seen for ages again. 

Before passing out, Leo used his emergency call for help to contact the other Zodiac members. Aries found Leo passed out and clinging onto his dear life. Aries saw the destruction and damage of his kingdom and without a word picked up the unconscious Leo and teleported both of them to their real home. 

I stood there at the ceremony, it had been years since Erebus had abandoned all of us. I was just a boy, and I was told to go to town central. There was a very important message for us, the foretellers were there. One of the foretellers walked up in their astral form and spoke “As you may know our old prophecy unfortunately failed and no other ruler has stepped up since. However, we are ready to help you all replace him.” I had a bad feeling in my stomach. They read my prophecy and asked me to reveal myself. I was born with a symbol birthmark, I never knew what it meant until now. “Everyone please welcome your next prince, Orion Apollo.” My heart dropped, I was shaking, I was so scared. “No this isn’t what I wanted, this isn’t what I dreamed of or what I sought out my destiny to be, please...”