Tears of Astoria

by J.B. Wright

For anyone who has felt different. Your differences are a strength, learn them— use them. You, my dears, are the ones who will change the world.

A flicker of light soaring over the dark waters catches my attention. I look up. The stars begin to race along the edge of

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our realm. Faster and faster, stars shoot down from the night sky, leaving trails of lavender and silver. Diamond dust rains from sky to sea— shining brighter than any of the other stars freckling in the deep blue above us. What began as a drizzle is now a downpour. No matter how many times I see it, it still takes my breath away. Audrina’s hand tightens on my own. Somehow, she knows I need the extra comfort.

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The story of the Tears happens to be one of my favorites. It attributes the phenomenon to the goddess of beauty and night, Astoria—our province’s namesake. It begins with a sacrifice. One asked of her by her own father, Haile, King of Gods. He and his brother, Egon, were counterparts in every way. Where Haile was light, Egon was dark. Haile was known for kindness. Egon was known for cruelty. Haile was the god of life. Egon was the

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god of death. The two brothers had engaged themselves in a war. Egon believed he should be the king of the gods— for what holds more dominion over life than death?

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Egon’s son, Erebus—who ruled over the Shadows—proposed he take Astoria as a wife to create a bridge between the dark and light. The two of them would serve as advisors to their fathers and boast fairness and equality. Haile wanted his daughter to have love and happiness as he had with her mother. He worried she would wither and her light would fade if shackled to Erebus for eternity. Once a marriage vow was spoken between gods, it could not be undone. But after hearing the proposal, the good and kind Astoria agreed to it, for the betterment of the realms, both mortal and gods, and an end to the war that had already claimed so many lives.

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Each night, Astoria weeps for them— for her lost children. Each night, her tears of starlight shred through the realms. Each night, we see the Tears of Astoria.

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The dim purple light continues to shine through the narrow tunnel. It seems never ending as we descend into the unknown until we finally drop below into a room with only one chair and a small table, a quill standing upon it—awaiting its master's return. There is nothing remarkable about the room other than the wall the chair faces being made entirely of a window, the edges of which are mirrored, leading me to believe it is a half-silvered mirror. I press my face against the cold glass, trying to get a glimpse beyond it. The other side is blanketed entirely in darkness, but with the help of the dim purple light, I can make out large shapes of furniture. A conference table is centered in the room, and the walls are lined with shelves. Edges of books come into focus as I strain my eyes on a set of shelves directly across from me.

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“His story is a sad one to be sure. Found on the streets as a newborn. A family took him in that already had nine children they could hardly feed. The father died of oxidous poisoning when working in the mines… terrible conditions those mines… and the mother followed just a year later. Suicide. Nasty business. I suspect she struggled keeping the family afloat after her husband passed, and I’m sure she succumbed to the grief of it all. Poor DeLuca was only five when she went, but he still remembers. He was the one who found her. The two oldest boys joined the royal army and were sent to the border of Dailotta. They always sent home money to the younger siblings—until they didn’t. All eight remaining children needed to find work after. The two little girls were able to assist tailors. The oldest sister I believe served in the tavern. The second eldest girl left for the capital and hasn't been heard from since. The rest of the boys, DeLuca and his brothers, went to work in the mines. They use children as runners. They are quick and can get supplies to and from faster than the adult workers.”

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“It’s a transportation system used for servs. Many of us live in Ashe rather than staying in serv quarters in the manor. Our trams only run through town and since most of the people in Ashe are too poor for their own transport we had no way to get back and forth. The Urson's built this transport system in some of the unused mine shafts. It takes fifteen minutes either way.”

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“A concoction made of strovia herb and the extremely rare indicus oil—a thick black oil taken from indi blossoms. They are only to be found in the Roussian village of Eurel. This concoction is known to make its victims susceptible to influence and alter their way of thinking. It was used three hundred years ago on the Roussian ruler, Dukkah. The assailant convinced him to invade Dailotta and Stellera, beginning the Trinity war. It has since been outlawed by punishment of death.”

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“They call themselves the Liberators. Their leader's name is Pierce Decatur. He was a serv from Nylen. He worked in Lord Earh’s house and eventually broke from the treatment he and his wife received. After his wife was killed in one of Lord Earh’s hunts, Pierce left for the Capital. He started preaching to crowds about equality and the evils of the high houses. His following soon was big enough that they were being noticed and arrested for treason. It only made matters worse. Their numbers grew from there. They started attacking high houses….” “They took Vallae just after my father left,” I add.

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I’d walk through a thousand miles of fire if it meant I could keep you safe.”

Romance Favorite Quote

“How could you possibly think I hate you? How could anyone hate you? You are a light in this world that is overrun by darkness.”

Romance Favorite Quote

I fucking knew, the second your hand accidentally brushed against mine and you turned those gorgeous green eyes to me that I would let all of Katova burn for you and that if you were ever hurt, I’d be the one burning it. Because in the depths of your gaze I saw my future. I saw my home.”

Romance Favorite Quote

“Uldaoka means ‘friend’ in Daeiliot.

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“Daeiliot…you mean Old Daeil? The language of the gods? No one has spoken that in…centuries.”

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All children born to a Child of Astoria will have an ability. Without exception, even if said ability is weak. There will always be a hint of it.”

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“I just want to be close to you, to feel you near me. I want to make up for every minute we were apart.”

Romance Favorite Quote Favorite Part

“Marked? What are you talking about?” I look all over my exposed skin. When I don’t find anything I lift my shirt while walking to the standing mirror in the corner of my room. I let a gasp slip. Starting from my right shoulder and ending at my belly button a bruise spirals down my body. Or not a bruise… It’s gray. Like the remnant of a shadow. I rub at it gently with a finger. Beneath my finger an icy chill erupts, spreading the entirety of the mark. It feels… hollow. Cold. Foreboding.

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“You will never be safe until he’s dead, not while you wear his mark. I once told you I’d walk through a thousand miles of fire for you. It wasn’t a figure of speech. I will kill Erebus and set you free of him.”

Romance Favorite Quote

“Erebus is the god of shadows… and trickery… with his mark, you might not always be able to trust what you see. He could send false visions. Both when you’re awake and asleep.”

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I wasn’t alive until you… living… but not alive. You stoked the flame that now burns fiercely inside of me.”

Romance Favorite Quote

This boy… god… man... Rainier DeLuca will be the death of me.

Favorite Part

Soren. Astoria’s most favored brother, God of Storms and Skies. Makes sense because we will be flying. Felix. God of Luck. Also makes sense. We could use all the luck we can get. Agnar. God of the Hunt... and War. In case we fail.

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You are, and will always be, my family.”

Favorite Quote

“The silver mixed with the dirt you just kicked up, it’s Hopea dust. Essentially pollen but is said to have medicinal uses, like the ability to remove poisons and toxins from a body.”

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There’s no rush because I love you, Aislinn Theodora, now and always. That’s never going to change.”

Romance Favorite Quote

“I want to spend eternity with you, Luc.”

Romance Favorite Quote

I love you, Aislinn Theodora, with everything that I am. Mortal or god or whatever else there is, I love you.” “I love you too, Rainier DeLuca, more than I can put into words. I am yours, completely.”

Romance Favorite Quote

“They don’t call him the God of Shadows and Trickery for nothing,” Dover adds.

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I love you, Luc. With every inch of my heart and body, I love you. When you were still a serv, I would fantasize about a life without complications. About stripping my title and just being with you. It would be enough for me. A small house somewhere. I never wanted to be a highborn. I just wanted to be happy and loved.”

Romance Favorite Quote

“She’s incredible…but the greatest thing she has ever made is you. You are my favorite fallen star.”

Romance Favorite Quote

“They are. Mostly. We are often forgotten about. We’re technically part of the nation of Stellera and officially accepted as one of their own provinces, but before the Trinity War, the Islands of the Sons were their own nation. We had our own government and had since the beginning of time. When Rousse attacked Stellera, they knew coming from the south would be their best chance of surprise. There are border walls running the whole of the Rousse-Dailotta border and the Dailotta-Stellera border, but there never has been any kind of defense in the south. So, the Rousse took over the Islands. Being that we were peaceful people, it was easy for them. There was no way to fight back. They used us as a stronghold and invaded the southern provinces from the sea. That’s why Stellera has so many military forts along the coast now and they turned our smallest island, Isoie, into a naval port,” Audrina explains.

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“This is Shadow Isle, but its written Istaleia Viisolo.”

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Millena and Agnar conceived only once after their union before the goddess met her untimely death. Their child was born with three heads and one body. They named each head for they all presented their own unique personality and talent. Forbis could see events that had come before. Opari could see any place in the exact moment. Viitor could see events that had not yet come to pass but would, in time, to come. Together, the heads made the Utikalo.

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“That’s the best part! Mama has a whole load of them that have been passed down in our family! The Soleil line was gifted the stones to keep them protected and hidden. From the days of the Secret Guardian Children or whatever they were called. They kept them in case a Child went bad.” She claps.

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“You’re right, I will be of no help. I am far too selfish right now. But you did it, so now you know you can do it. You’re amazing, Rainier DeLuca.”

Romance Favorite Quote

DeLuca doesn’t waste a beat. Doesn’t hesitate. He captures my head with his hands and looks me in the eye. “I have no life without you, Aislinn Theodora. No family. No friends. No home. You are everything. If we can make Erebus mortal, we can make me mortal too. I don’t want any of this without you.

Favorite Part

I’d rather live eighty years with you than an eternity alone with nothing but a beautiful memory to haunt my every waking moment.”

Romance Favorite Quote

“I love you, Rainier DeLuca.” “And I love you, Aislinn. More than you could ever know.”

Romance

“I love you,” he whispers. I can barely get the words out between moans.“I—love—you—Luc.” His movements become more desperate. Our moans grow louder. My climax hits like the rush of the ocean waves below, and he follows immediately as if he was fighting it back, waiting for me. Another loud crack of thunder sounds as DeLuca yells out with his final thrust. He collapses on top of me, and we lay there, our hearts synchronizing as we listen to each other’s breath and the storm raging outside.

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