The Boy With Stars On His Skin

Prologue I

"MANY MILLENNIUMS AGO," a grave voice speaks into the still silence. "The goddess of moons fell in love."
     The atmosphere is tranquil— the people of Callisto are fast asleep. Stars glisten in the sky, and Nereus looks up at them as he speaks as if he can almost touch them.
     "This particular moon goddess, named Selene, ruled Luna. Luna was Earth's one and only moon. She watched over Earth's people as they slept, and cared deeply for each of them. But one night, she noticed a young shepherd—"
     "Endymion! Endymion!" A much younger voice cuts in.
     The gravelly voice soothes into a soft chuckle. "That's right, son. His name was Endymion."
     A small boy was sat upon his father's lap, eagerly listening to his favorite bedtime story. At least that's what Nereus, his father, called it. Nereus called it a fable, a legend. But the boy thought it was much bigger than that. He believed it was true.
Nereus leans his head back and closes his eyes the way he always does. He tells his son the legend of Selene and Endymion just like he has a million times before.
     "Endymion was a shepherd-prince. A very handsome prince, who cared immensely for his people— one thing he and the goddess had in common.
     "When Selene saw Endymion, she instantly fell deeply in love with him. She pleaded with Zeus to make the prince immortal. Finally, Zeus gave Endymion the choice of his destiny. Endymion chose to be immortal, and be with Selene.
     "They loved each other unbelievably so. Every night she visited him. Eventually, she bore him a child— a son named Astraeus, meaning starry. And this child was very peculiar. Birthed from a moon goddess, the boy seemed to be made up of stardust. His skin was covered in it. He even had the strangest of birthmarks— stars! Stars that continued to appear even as the years went on.
     "As the boy continued to grow, more and more stars began to develop on his skin. No one understood why. Not only were they apart of his body, but they were also apart of him. When he felt things very deeply, they would shimmer and glow right along with his emotions.
     "As the young boy became a man, a great war broke loose on Luna. Phobos and Deimos, moons of Mars, were both attacking Luna in order to take its inhabitants captive. At the time, it was a small civilization. There were not many immortals whose homes were on Luna, because that moon was a dangerous place— it orbited a planet with billions of curious beings that do not know of our kind.
     "So although the number of lives at risk was not great, Astraeus still took it upon himself to protect his fatherland, and fight the armies.
     "After nearly ten years, the armies were finally defeated by Astraeus and the powers which his stars held. The great powers the small stars possessed were never recorded— and no one who witnessed the war lives to tell the tale. But there was something magical about that boy born from the love of a goddess and a mortal; the boy with stars on his skin."
     "Like me, Papa?" Aydin says quietly, gazing up at Nereus with wide eyes.
     Nereus nods his head. "Yes, just like you. But not as brave as you'll grow up to be, my little fire." He says this like a promise, standing up with the boy in his arms.
     Aydin nods his head, making an angry face as to seem threatening. "I'm going to be a hero, papa." He says, holding his arms out in front of him to look at his stars. "I'm gonna have superpowers!" He squeals, shaking his arms giddily.
     Nereus chuckles, carrying the boy back to their small house. "Settle down now, son. Astraeus didn't discover his powers until it mattered most— when he was in the middle of the scariest moment of his life. When he chose to stand and fight, and save his people."
     Aydin looks at his arms again. He was born with three stars. One was on his forehead, one was on the back of his left hand, and the third was on his right pinky. But as he grew older, more began to appear— just like in the legend.
     Now, at six years old, he has an additional two on his left arm, one on his right, one on his knee, and one on his collarbone.
     And just like Astraeus, his body was covered with shimmering stardust. It reminded Aydin of regular freckles, only silver. He thought it made him look magical.
     Stepping inside their snug home, Aydin immediately wants nothing more than to be under the stars once again. "Already, Papa?" He pouts. "I wanna look at the sky!"
     Nereus simply smiles as he walks to Aydin's bedroom. "I'm sorry, my little fire. We'll go back out tomorrow night. Okay?" Aydin nods solemnly, so he continues, "You know I would look at the stars forever if I could. Perhaps one day you can. But for now, you're a growing boy who needs his rest."
     Nereus lays Aydin down on his bed, and he slips his feet under his covers. Nereus helps bring the blanket up to the boy's chin. "Son, can you promise me something?" He asks warmly, kneeling down at his bedside.
     "What, Papa?"
     "That even in the direst of times, you will never give up hope? Can you promise me, Aydin Tarak Endymion, that you will be just like Astraeus when it matters most? You will fight, and save your people?"
     Aydin nods his head firmly and brings his arms out from under his blanket to flex his muscles. "I promise I will fight, Papa. I will beat all the bad guys!"
     Nereus smiles and gently kisses his son's forehead. "As long as you promise to come back home."
     Aydin looks up at his father, smiling with the uttermost innocence. "I will always come home, Papa. I just have to protect you from the bad guys first!"
     "I know you will, my little fire." Nereus touches his son's cheek and finally begins to walk out of his bedroom. "Goodnight, Aydin. I love you."
     "I love you too, Papa," Aydin whispers. And with the utmost delight, he watches as the star on the back of his left hand shimmers as he says those words.