Starlight stayed seated for a while, catching his breath. He needed to get stronger. As soon as he got back to the government, he would demand they teach him about fighting and surviving in the trials and around the Void!
But first, he needed to get out of this cave. Starlight had thought defeating the slug would be the end of the trial, but it didn't end. This meant that he would have to fight stronger monsters to get out.
He shivered at the thought. Looking around, the glowing slime from the slug had not disappeared. Starlight did not know if, after defeating a monster, their body would disappear or not. He had prayed that it wouldn't, the slime was his only light source. Without it... he did not want to entertain that thought.
Then he remembered:
"I got an artifact from killing that monster, didn't I. I hope it's a weapon or something else useful!"
Just thinking about the artifact summoned a group of symbols, the same as the ones that he had seen at the beginning of the trial.
They read:
***
[Name: Starlight]
[Title: Stargazer]
[Rank: 0]
[Relic: N/A]
[Runes: N/A]
[Abilities: N/A]
[Punishment: N/A]
[Artifacts: Shroud of Ivory, Coin of the Star]
***
Starlight stared in disbelief, amazed by the fact that the Hex - and what created it - could show such a thing, but also by the fact that he had a title.
Titles are bestowed upon Divers who have completed or achieved something noteworthy to the Hex. How could he have one?
He wasn't concerned about not having a relic, runes, abilities, or a punishment, as those came after the first trial. Or the fact that his rank was 0, all Divers who challenged the void had that rank. It would be strange if it were different.
Starlight moved his finger over the symbols that showed [Stargazer]. Immediately, the symbols changed, showing:
***
[Title: Stargazer]
[Description: The one who gazes at the stars, knowing he won't be able to reach them...for now.]
***
'What does that title mean? I won't be able to reach the stars...for now?' Starlight thought to himself.
'Now, the new Artifact!'
The symbols shifted again and read:
***
[Artifact: Coin of the Stars]
[Type: Amulet]
[Rank: Spiritual]
[Description: "From the first batch of coins to honor the brightest star, may you ever guide us with your grace."]
[Ability: Trail of Grace (Passive) "No matter where you are in the Void, the grace of the star will always lead you to his temple."]
***
"Brightest Star," he murmured, 'are they talking about Proxima?'
'And the ability Trail of Grace is passive, which should mean it doesn't require any essence to use. Also, since when does Proxima have a temple? If the ability leads me to that temple, does it mean I can get out of this cave?'
Starlight summoned the artifact; it appeared in his hand after a few seconds of materializing in a cluster of gold sparks.
He held the Coin in his hand; it was about the size of a regular coin from the Overworld. The coin was made of gold, featuring an image of a star on one side and a mask on the other. The mask was humanoid but devoid of all other features, just eye sockets.
'This star must represent Proxima, then, and the other side...weird, what is it?'
He turned the coin over again so that the star was facing him, slightly caressing the depiction of the star.
He felt strange, as if a missing piece inside him burst forward and revealed itself to him.
Before he could make sense of the feeling, the coin started to glow. Small particles of light formed around the coin, creating a trail of light leading towards the darkness, like a path.
'So this is what it means to be led by grace.'
Following the path of light, he came to a dark part of the cave; the dim light of the slug's slime didn't reach this part, so it was pitch black.
Starlight stared for a second, unsure of what to do; he did not want to go into the darkness.
Looking behind him for a possible solution to his problem, his gaze landed on his cape. Starlight walked over to it, half expecting it to be torn, but it wasn't. It was in the same condition it had always been in, except for the spot covered in the glowing slime.
'That's it.'
Starlight picked up his cape and walked over to the nearest pile of slime. He then bent down and started scooping the slime onto the cape. When he felt like he had had enough, he smeared the slime all over the cape and put it on his back.
With the cape on his back, he walked towards the darkness, but now he was basically a torch. The glow of the slime was illuminating the cave; all Starlight had to do was follow the trail from the coin.
...
After some time of walking, Starlight finally reached the outside of the cave. He covered his eyes, adjusting to the blinding light of swarms of stars in a dark blue sky.
What he saw was stunning and frightening.
Below the cave was a vast forest filled with trees, their thick leaves expanding so far you couldn't even see the ground. The dark blue sky was filled with an abundance of stars, lighting up the entire world. He also saw clouds, puffy white shapes that drifted across the sky. He had only heard about them in stories about the Overworld. How were they in the Void?
He looked down, staring at the mesmerizing trees. Their green leaves filled the dense forest, seeming to form a single, giant organism.
Around him lay the entrance to the cave; it was a greyish brown stone leading under the canopy of leaves. It wasn't a massive drop, but a slightly steep hill littered with organized rocks that hinted at a staircase or path.
Starlight sighed as he began to climb down the hill, stumbling on the uneven ground.
After reaching the bottom, he stood once again, mesmerized. All of the trees were massive; they looked pristine, with no signs of damage. Their thick, brown bark contained intricate patterns, as if a seamstress had woven them.
The forest floor was filled with thick patches of grass and leaves. Light from the stars shone through the expansive branches, highlighting parts of the forest floor.
A breeze blew over the blades of grass, pushing Starlight. He lifted his legs every step so as not to trip over the thick layers of grass and roots. He occasionally stopped to stare into the unlit sections of the forest that surrounded him. He shivered at the thought of having to walk through those dark parts.
Despite not having a clear sight of the sky above, Starlight could tell that the light of the stars was dimming and night would come fast.
He had to find shelter from the dark quickly.
Starlight still didn't know what lurked in the dark of the forest.
He activated the ability of his coin, and once again the trail of light formed, leading through the forest. Starlight stared into the woods and began walking.
...
The light cycle was nearing its end, and the trees all around him began to envelop him with what seemed to be shadows. Starlight was getting more frantic; his once peaceful stroll had now turned into a full-on run.
In the distance, he spotted a faint glow; it was not that of a star, but rather fire.
"Fire," Starlight breathed.
'Does that mean that there are other humans here?'
Quickly changing directions, he ran right over to the faint glow, breaking off the trail provided by his artifact.
He crashed through bushes and branches, blood gushing over his pale skin. His once-fancy government clothes were now no better than rags.
Bursting through the bushes, he fell into an open space illuminated by a bonfire. The fire was surrounded by five rocks, each with its own person on it.
All of the other humans looked at him. Their gazes penetrated through his soul, making Starlight shiver. Each of them was prepared to draw their weapons.
Suddenly, a man stood up; he looked no older than twenty, with short brown hair and eyes of the same color. He wore a silver chest piece and matching arm guards; his pants were leather with silver thigh and shin pieces. He looked at Starlight with confusion in his eyes.
A slight smile formed at his mouth, and his expression got warmer. He broke the silence.
"What do we have here now? What's a boy your age doing out here?"