Five years had passed now since the day Star was freed from his master.
Now 22 years old, Star was no longer the quiet, fearful boy who once only knew the walls of his master's home. His work with magic had earned him a reputation in town - not as a dark sorcerer, but as a skilled problem-solver who used his black magic to help people. Some townsfolk still whispered about his strange, depressing past, but most recognized him as the mysterious yet kind magician who quietly made their lives better.
His house, once cold and empty, now had signs of life. The books Eric gave him stacked neatly on shelves, little trinkets from May and Henry rested on his desk, and Luna's music sheets were always scattered somewhere. He wasn't alone anymore - his seven remaining friends had become his chosen family.
But even in this new life, Star found his mind drifting back to someone from his past.
Aliana.
One evening, as they all gathered at Star's house, laughing over one of Kade's wild soccer stories, Star suddenly fell silent.
Nia noticed first. "Star... you okay?"
He hesitated, then softly said, "It's been... five years."
The room quieted.
"Since... since Aliana left."
Her name hung in the air. The girl who first held his hand when he was dying, who taught him what loyalty and warmth felt like - and who had to leave, promising that even if she couldn't stay, he'd never truly be alone.
"I haven't heard from her since," Star continued, his voice unusually heavy. "No letters, no calls... nothing."
The friends exchanged looks. They knew Aliana's departure had left a deeper mark on Star than he ever admitted.
Henry leaned forward. "Do you... miss her?"
Star didn't answer right away. His fingers tapped lightly on his knee - an old habit when his thoughts tangled.
"I... don't know," he finally said. "It's... a mix of feelings. I miss her. But... I don't know what to call it."
May smiled softly. "Sounds like you care about her. A lot."
Star nodded but still seemed unsure.
That's when Kade spoke up. "Well... the real question is - where is she now?"
The problem was - they didn't know.
Aliana had left for her hometown, but Star never asked for details. To him, back then, the world beyond his master's house had seemed too big to comprehend. He didn't think about cities or addresses - just that she was gone.
"How do we even find her?" Star asked. "It's been five years."
Before anyone could respond, the TV, playing softly in the background, suddenly caught their attention.
A news segment flashed across the screen - a formal event, a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a newly opened business. The camera panned to a well-dressed businessman speaking about the success of his new company. But what made Star's heart stop was the girl standing beside him.
Aliana.
Now 20 years old, she stood there gracefully, dressed elegantly, smiling politely at the cameras. The businessman proudly introduced her as "my daughter", and Star's mind raced.
The caption revealed the event's location - and more importantly, the city where Aliana lived.
"There... that's her," Star whispered, almost in disbelief.
The friends stared, just as shocked.
"We know where she lives now," Eric said slowly.
But before anyone could process it, Star was already standing, his fists clenched in determination. "I have to go see her."
Kade laughed. "Easy there, Romeo."
Star's head snapped toward him, confused. "What?"
May smiled. "He means, don't rush. You can't just show up at her door unannounced after five years."
"But... why not?" Star asked earnestly.
Nia chuckled. "Because that's not how surprises work, Star."
Henry added, "We get you want to see her - but take a second. She might not even be home. Or she might be busy. You need a plan."
Star sat back down, though his impatience was clear. "I just... I want her to see how much I've changed."
Luna softly placed a hand on his arm. "And she will. But let's do it right."
The room settled again, but this time with a shared excitement. For the first time in years, Star had a chance to reconnect with someone who once meant the world to him.
_ _ _
The next day arrived, and there was a strange energy in Star's house - a quiet tension mixed with anticipation.
Everyone was getting ready for their trip to the city to find Aliana. But what caught the others' attention was how carefully Star was dressing.
Usually indifferent about his appearance, he now stood in front of a small mirror, adjusting his shirt multiple times, running his fingers through his hair again and again, and even dusting off his old cloak - the same one from years ago, though now cleaner and more well-kept.
Kade smirked. "Hey, Star... you going to a battle or a date?"
The others chuckled, but Star didn't respond immediately. His face, calm as ever, had a hint of something underneath - an emotion even he couldn't understand.
Nia tilted her head. "You okay? You've been fixing your hair for like... 20 minutes."
Star's hands froze mid-adjustment. "...I don't know."
May gave him a gentle smile. "What's on your mind?"
Star slowly lowered his hands. "It's... nothing. I just... I can't explain how I feel right now."
And for the first time, the friends saw a rare flicker of vulnerability in him - not fear like in the past, but uncertainty.
Without pressing him further, they set off for the city.
----
The bus ride felt both long and short. Star barely spoke the whole way, his gaze fixed on the passing scenery, lost in his thoughts.
His friends chatted quietly, trying to give him space but also keeping the mood light.
When they finally arrived, the city buzzed with life - much louder and more crowded than the quiet town Star had grown used to. It reminded him a little of the first time he ever went into town, overwhelmed by strangers and noise.
But this time, it wasn't fear he felt - just a growing storm of emotions he still couldn't name.
After asking for directions, they found the house - large, elegant, clearly belonging to someone of wealth.
And then came the moment Star had been waiting for - or perhaps, dreading.
Five years.
Five years of silence.
Five years of wondering if he was just a forgotten chapter in her story.
The door felt like more than wood and metal - it felt like the barrier between everything he'd become and everything he'd left unsaid.
Suddenly, more thoughts raced his mind due to Gem and Lila betraying.
What if she doesn't remember me?
What if she's moved on, and I'm just a shadow from a time she'd rather forget?
He didn't had the time to think, he knew he had to do this when he came so far.
Finally, garnering confidence, his knuckles met the surface with three soft knocks. No turning back now.
His heart was pounding as he stood waiting while his friends were excitedly chatting with each other wanting to meet her as fast as possible.