I Can Copy And Evolve Talents

Chapter 1242: The Constellations

”Child of prophecy, how knowledgeable are you about the Constellations?”

Northern was silent for a moment as he walked with Anike, the cool night air brushing past them.

’Can she stop with that child of prophecy thing...’

”Not much. I merely know about the months of the year—I’ve also had the opportunity to see the runes of some constellations that I never knew existed.”

She nodded with a smile and looked forward as they continued walking, her wings folding neatly against her back.

”There was a time... where the constellations walked the realm like water flowing across the lands.” Her voice carried a distant quality, as if she were recounting a dream. ”They were stars, bright individually, embodying radiance that could destroy an entire world. Yet millions of them walked in one world... Can you imagine that?”

Northern thought about it for a moment.

’Terrifying...’

Millions of beings, each capable of annihilating everything. And yet—

Anike’s voice added, softer now.

”And yet, that world never knew war, violence... it was the most perfect, the most peaceful the world had been.”

Northern arched an eyebrow, curiosity pulling at him.

”Oh? What changed?”

Anike’s face grew somber, tired. The kind of exhaustion that came from carrying old knowledge.

”Death’s Abyss.”

Northern furrowed his brows.

’A lot of variables are beginning to enter this whole thing and we aren’t even done confronting the ones that still exist...’

”By Death’s Abyss, you mean... death in its literal form?”

Anike was still smiling, albeit somberly.

”Immortality is a very relative concept. No one truly is, not even the constellations.”

She paused her steps and looked at Northern, studying his face as if searching for understanding.

”I presume you know about the Void. What do you think gave birth to it? Do you think she pre-existed the constellations?”

Northern thought for a moment, turning the question over in his mind.

’Honestly, I’m starting to think cosmic history is deliberately confusing.’

”Honestly? I have no clue. I don’t know which came first. What I do know is that the Void has existed for a very long time—separated and gave birth to Chaos, which drifted from its purpose and began to do... other things. These other things found their way back to the Void and soon contaminated it.”

Anike sighed and resumed her steps, the bridge stretching ahead of them.

”Well, those, however important they are, are merely effects... to solve a problem, we must understand its root.”

Northern looked at her intently as he followed her from behind, watching the way she moved with that careful, reverent grace.

”Which is Death’s Abyss?”

Anike nodded, then paused to admire the night view of the clouds with a small, appreciative smile.

”This is the first time any of us have been out since we were born. We will never be grateful enough to you.” She glanced back at him. ”And surely we owe you everything.”

Northern chuckled lightly, closing his eyes for a moment.

’Let’s not get into debts and obligations. I’ve had enough of those.’

”You owe me nothing. But if you do want to commit yourself to helping me in the future, I won’t refuse.”

Anike laughed lightly, the sound like wind chimes in a gentle breeze. Then she resumed, her tone shifting back to that storyteller cadence.

”There are some things known as Primordials... they are known to never be known. One could be walking in our midst right now and we’d never even realize it.” She paused, as if considering her own words. ”A Primordial is the strongest, yet the weakest being to ever exist. Constricted to the formalities of existence, yet banished by those same formalities. They’re a bunch that don’t really belong anywhere—yet are the owners of everything... and they aren’t even aware of themselves.”

Northern tilted his head slightly.

”Oh... that’s quite sad.”

’Actually, that sounds like a nightmare. Imagine having that much power and not even knowing it.’

Anike looked at him fondly.

”Isn’t it? But they cursed themselves in such a manner because they believed that was the only true way for worlds to exist. If Primordials remained aware, world destruction would be like another bad weather... world creation would have the same... insignificance. They understood this and decided to curse themselves anyway.” She paused. ”All of them except one, the constellations believe.”

Northern sighed.

’Of course. There’s always that one.’

”Let me guess—Death’s Abyss?”

Anike continued, her voice steady and unceremonious.

”After the Primordials cursed themselves, creation began to flourish. First came the stars, burning bright in the very bellies of the Primordials. They shone a thousand times and played around infinitely, without purpose or care. But the stars, after millions of years, began to die.”

Northern listened as they continued to walk on the open bridge leading to another dome. Despite it being night, so many Seraphae were flying around in the dark clouds, diving into them with distant laughs and childish giggles. The sound echoed strangely in the vast space.

’How long has it been since they felt this kind of freedom?’

Anike’s story continued.

”At first, no one knew why. Death was not exactly a familiar concept—for millions of years, it simply didn’t exist. So it was very impossible for them to comprehend what was happening. But they tried to save their world. Twelve of them were selected to discover what was wrong.” She glanced at him. ”They were the Twelve Worthy.”

She stopped and leaned on the terrace of the bridge, her hands resting on the smooth stone.

”These twelve employed different methods. El Fach created Light. El Dech created Order. El Shain created Memory. Amend created Life and Growth. Metynnis created Fate. Taco created Unity. Yeslvine tried to truly understand Death’s Abyss—perhaps they came the closest—but they created corruption as a result of it. They had claimed that in their effort to understand what plagued them, they had given it rules, and thus it had learned how to break those rules.”

Northern’s expression darkened slightly.

’Great. Someone tried to understand death and accidentally made it worse.’

Anike continued, her voice growing heavier with each name.

”Turquaise created Boundaries. Rauthaurn created Transformation. Then Orion hunted the Abyss itself—he led many Constellations to destroy the concept of end that plagued them. But it was useless... pointless. Death’s Abyss learned to hide.”

She took a breath.

”Temeris, in an attempt to salvage something of the stars, created Purpose. Made their endings meaningful. And Davon created Eternal Movement...freedom.”

She finally looked at Northern, her eyes searching his face.

”This has all been to stop Death’s Abyss. Yet we never know, even till today, if it succeeded or not. We do not know if Death’s Abyss was truly defeated by the twelve constellations and the other minorities, or if it is the reason why they are sealed away now. What we do know is...”

She gestured around them, at the dome, the clouds, the flying Seraphae.

”These things grew to become the backbone of reality, which we now walk upon. They were never intended to be so.”

Northern let out an absurd chuckle, shaking his head.

’So the entire structure of existence is basically jury-rigged emergency measures. Of course it is.’

”So you’re saying the laws of existence were created by mistake?”

She tilted her head, considering.

”Perhaps not... perhaps this whole thing has been set in motion the moment the Primordials did what they did... but when this is what we know...” She spread her hands. ”What else do we conclude?”