Star's body was tense, his head tilted downward, his black hair covering his empty eyes.
Aliana could feel his hesitation, his fear ran deeper than she had expected.
His shoulders rose just slightly, like his lungs were caught between breath and silence.
_ _ _
Then, in his usual flat, trembling voice, he muttered:
"I... I can't release them."
His back was still turned to her, as if he couldn't bear to look at her face.
Aliana frowned. "Why not?"
He clenched his fists. His breathing grew uneven.
"Because..."
His lips quivered, his body slightly shaking-but his expression remained emotionless, just as always.
"Because then..." He took a deep breath. "I will be alone again."
Aliana's heart sank.
Star's voice, though monotone, carried an ache she hadn't expected.
His hands dug into his arms as he whispered, "If I let them go... Master will punish me... like before..."
"Befo-?" Her voice caught before it could finish.
Because at that moment, Star's cloak shifted-just enough.
A scar.
Long. Jagged. Pale against his dark skin.
It slashed from his collarbone down his ribs-torn, not cut.
Not clean. Not surgical.
Her breath caught.
"Wh-what... hap...pened?" she whispered, the words trembling out, more exhale than voice.
Star froze.
Then, slowly-he pulled the cloak tighter around him, shrinking inward.
"Master..." he said softly, voice small. "Master was... very sad... that time..."
Aliana's stomach twisted.
Sad?
Her fingers twitched at her sides, nails digging into her palms.
She wanted to scream but Star was already trembling.
She knew he needed to know the reality of that situation.
"That wasn't sadness. That was abuse. That was... monstrous." she finally let it all out.
Her gaze didn't leave him.
"How old were you?" she asked, trying to steady her voice.
Star hesitated.
"Five."
Aliana's jaw clenched so hard it hurt.
"A five-year-old... punished for disobedience with a wound like that?"
And he still thinks it was because he made Master sad?
She forced her voice to stay soft, but something inside her had already started to boil.
"Why?"
Star looked down, ashamed.
"Because... I broke a spell. I let one of my friends go..."
Aliana gasped softly.
"He knew how to release them."
For a few moments, there was nothing but silence.
_ _ _
Then, Star lowered his head again and whispered-
"I could."
He shivered and took a breath.
"I knew how."
His voice cracked-barely audible.
"But I was too afraid... to ever try again."
Aliana's breath hitched. The scar on his chest, the beating, his fear-it all made sense now.
_ _ _
After another tense moment, Aliana said in a serious tone, "You don't need to be scared. If you free them... I'll stay with you. You won't be... alone."
Star's fingers twitched. His breathing grew unsteady.
He stared at his trembling hands-tools of control, tools of survival.
He remembered the blood, the pain and the days without food.
He remembered Master's voice whispering, "You only get to live if they stay."
His lips parted. Nothing came out. Just air. Just fear.
But Aliana didn't look away.
"Yo-You won't... run away?" Star trembled.
" If I cry, if I mess up, if I'm... not useful?"
The words hit her like a punch.
Not useful?
He didn't even say "if I'm bad." she thought.
He thought his "worth" was measured in usefulness.
Aliana finally nodded, stepping closer. "No. I won't."
"I promise. Because you are a human who belongs."
There was another long silence.
Star's fingers twitched and his breathing became unsteady.
For the first time in his life, he had a choice.