After Mars asked the rest of the leaders about Pluto's plan to freeze the sun, Venus replied, justifying,
"He must have just been trying to stir up chaos among us. I don't think he can carry out something like that. We're talking about freezing the sun; it's not just difficult, it's fundamentally impossible. Especially since the perpetrator is Pluto; despite his distance from the sun, he loves it."
Neptune responded to the second planet's leader, his tone carrying complete seriousness,
"I don't think he was joking in that particular situation. Sparks were flying from his eyes. And knowing Pluto well, he keeps his promises, no matter the goal or the outcome."
Uranus, who hadn't been at ease lately, added to Neptune's words,
"We know Pluto very well, but he was conflicted at the time... I can't be sure he won't do anything, nor can I be sure he will do anything. He has always been calm and attentive... It's not like him to rush into decisions."
Earth responded in a faint, hoarse voice, as if suffering from some illness,
"I think we shouldn't think about... uh, about the matter too much..."
Earth didn't finish his sentence before falling from his wooden chair. Everyone rushed towards him in panic. Earth was in severe pain, expressing his agony by clutching his head and writhing. In a moment of realization, Mars shouted,
"Now we'll move him to the 'Kaitipas', come on, come on!"
Amidst the commotion, Earth muttered, stopping his comrades,
"There's no need for that... It's okay, take me to my planet..."
None of the leaders answered him until Mars yelled sharply,
"Shut your mouth."
As they exited the hall, a figure in a radiant gray robe, the color of the moon, distinguished by a violet patch over his right eye, hurried towards them.
"What happened? Where are you taking my master? What's wrong with him?"
Venus replied angrily,
"Get out of here, moon! We're going to the Kastipas, so keep quiet."
Earth's only moon had no choice but to lower his head and remain silent, repeating Venus's words in his mind,
"The... Kastipas? Is my master alright?"
———⟡ ☽ ⟡———
The Kastipas is a hidden chamber, its entrance a small door almost invisible, as if part of the wall itself, yet hiding behind it a vast space exceeding all expectations. Entering it feels like stepping into another world, where a huge internal space extends, its dimensions many times larger than what appears from the outside, akin to a dimensional pocket independent of reality.
At its heart lies the primary healing center. In the middle of the room, there is a huge transparent capsule filled with a multicolored liquid, moving within it like dancing spectral waves, as if possessing a life of its own. This liquid is not just a random mixture, but pure energy extracted from the sun's core itself, capable of repairing physical and spiritual damage.
The chamber walls are adorned with mysterious glowing inscriptions, like ancient writings telling the history of the planets and their connection to this room. The lighting is soft and its source completely unknown, giving the place an aura of both serenity and awe. The Kastipas is not just a healing room, but a cosmic legacy dating back to the early ages of the solar system, and it is the only refuge for anyone needing true healing.
Its usage mechanism is such that when one person enters the room, there will be one crystal capsule, whereas if, for example, 200 people enter, there will be exactly 200 capsules in the room, ensuring healing for everyone, moons or planets.
———⟡ ☽ ⟡———
On the other bank of the river of stars, near the Kuiper Belt specifically, things weren't going well either, as mysteries continued to grow around the truth of the Unknown and the reality of his plan to "freeze the sun." As the Kai progressed, Pluto, his moons, and the unknown guest sat working tirelessly. They knew their plan wouldn't be easy, but it would change the solar system forever.
Pluto said in a calm, determined voice,
"This time, I won't be the victim. I'll make them pay for everything they did to me."
The mad Unknown replied with a smile, but it looked like a smile of pure evil,
"Don't worry, everything is going according to plan. We've taken a big step towards success; failure is not in our dictionary."
But this guest was being watched intently, glances that explained what Pluto's second moon, Nix, wanted to say or do. Huddled alone in a corner of the room, Nix sat tense, not sharing the enthusiasm engulfing his master and the guest. His eyes followed their conversation sharply, but his mind was elsewhere, boiling with thoughts and hesitation.
"Freeze the sun?! Has Master Pluto gone mad?! This isn't justice... this isn't revenge... this is annihilation!"
He pressed his hand on his knee, trying to calm himself, but his breaths were quickening. He couldn't believe Pluto had agreed to this madness. He understood his wound, knew the pain he had lived through since the expulsion, but... was this really the solution?
He took a deep breath and cast a furtive glance towards the Unknown, who was laughing between sentences, as if enjoying what was happening. As if he wasn't part of the solar system, he had no personal motive, but was treating the matter like a mere game — a game whose fate was the destruction of the entire system.
"No... this can't continue. I have to stop him... but how? Master Pluto won't listen to me now, he's drowned in his hatred. And I'm alone... I can't face them by myself."
He closed his eyes, then opened them with a sharper gaze. He had to move carefully, find a way to foil this plan without raising suspicion. And if necessary... stand up to his master himself.
"But will I be able to do that? No, I must stop this madness even if I die."
He looked at Pluto again, at his master who had changed so much... then at the distant sun, still burning with its warm light, despite its distance from them, unaware of what was being plotted against it in the shadows.
———⟡ ☽ ⟡———
In an isolated room filled with silence, a faint knocking sound was heard, not on the door, but on the Kastipas capsule. A weak voice responded from inside after opening his eyes,
"Who..."
His words sounded frail, laden with his pain. The visitor looked with calm eyes and said,
"I came to check on you, Earth."
Earth slowly raised his head, revealing pale features and exhausted eyes.
"Thank you, Mars."
Although he wasn't reacting physically, his voice came from the Kastipas speakers, making his presence felt.
The fourth planet's leader surveyed the room with sad eyes, then said in a low tone,
"How are you now? What do you feel?"
Earth lowered his head slightly before answering in a tired voice,
"I'm fine. I'll finish this Kai like this, then recover afterwards. I have many tasks waiting for me, and I must visit the planet as soon as possible. If I'm not there quickly, I might lose many lives."
Mars fell silent and closed his eyes, before opening them again, growling,
"Don't you realize yet, you fool? You're the victim here. Your only enemy in this universe are those you're trying to protect."
Earth raised his head in sudden anger and shouted,
"I won't repeat myself, Mars. You are my dear friend, but I won't allow anyone to speak ill of my planet's inhabitants. They suffer just as I suffer, perhaps more. The reason for my condition is an epidemic spreading across most parts of the planet. What's my fault or their fault? We are cooperating to solve this crisis together."
Mars smiled sarcastically and replied after light laughter highlighting his sarcasm,
"Heheh. Who are you trying to lie to, Earth? You don't deceive me or them. You only deceive yourself. Haven't you ever asked yourself why you always bear the burden alone? You wrong yourself, overload yourself, while they..."
Earth interrupted him furiously,
"Enough! Enough nonsense! You know nothing! All your words are just slander!"
Mars retreated slightly, then continued in a sharp tone,
"Listen carefully, the worst thing about you is your denial of the truth. Your planet isn't an ordinary planet; you are Earth, the planet chosen by the solar system. If you were any other planet, your fate would be expulsion like Pluto or neglect like Eris. Have you forgotten what happened to them when they lost their power? The system shows no mercy to the weak. Remember who you are. We won't tolerate more losses.
Remember, we were all together fighting, laughing, and racing together... Despite our large number, we moved forward together... Whatever the mission... we headed towards it together. Despite the differences in our personalities and fighting styles, we defeated hundreds, even thousands of enemies at once... We don't know if the story of our crystals is true... or the sun that sacrificed its life for us... but we protect that star...
I believe we took our mission of protection as a reason to stay together... to face loneliness together, we, the 'Fourteen Brothers'. So please don't reduce the number any further, I beg you."
Mars stood sighing, and added before leaving,
"If you get better, I'll wait for you at my headquarters. Don't be late."
Earth closed his blue eyes and whispered weakly,
"Chosen? Don't repeat that word again..."
———⟡ ☽ ⟡———
Mars left the room with steady steps, but inside, his mind was teeming with tangled thoughts. As he crossed the corridor, he met the gaze of the afflicted one's moon.
"Oh.. Lord Mars.. Were you visiting my master?" he asked in a low voice, trying to hide his nervousness.
Mars paused for a moment, then replied in a calm tone that held a hidden chill,
"Yes, I was worried about him after the last incident. By the way, who do you think is the reason for his miserable state?"
Morv swallowed hard; it was an inescapable question, and he knew any wrong answer could incur the wrath of the red planet's leader. He had no choice but to face the truth.
"The reason? Umm.. We all know his inhabitants are the cause. He loves them so much... but he doesn't realize they are the root of all these misfortunes."
Silence reigned for a moment, as if the whole world held its breath. Then Mars broke the silence in a softer but more impactful tone,
"If you know the problem, why don't you warn him? You are the closest to him."
Earth's moon's eyes slowly moved towards the floor, as if Mars's gaze weighed heavily upon him. He answered in a barely audible voice,
"I tried.. but he always flares up.. he doesn't allow anyone to speak ill of them. In the past.. his anger was worse than what you saw now."
Mars stared at him for a long time, as if searching for something in his words, then narrowed his eyes and said sharply,
"Were you eavesdropping on our conversation?"
Earth's moon became flustered and stammered,
"N-.. No! Of course not! I was here the whole time!"
Mars didn't seem convinced, but he smiled coldly and said in a low voice, carrying a hidden threat,
"Hah. Alright, fine. But if you repeat this act, you'll have to choose between me killing you myself.. or me telling Earth you cursed his inhabitants."
Earth's moon froze in place, as if time had stopped around him, while he felt Mars's coldness suffocate his breath.
Suddenly, a laugh emanated from a corner of the room, followed by a sarcastic voice,
"What a coward you are, Morv!"
But the laughter vanished as soon as Mars roared angrily,
"Deimos! Let's go, we're late for Phobos! All the tasks are piling up on him now!"
Mars left, leaving Earth's moon standing like a statue of dread.
But he quickly gathered himself, took a deep breath before entering the room where Earth was recovering. He sat beside him, stared at him sadly, then whispered in a choked voice,
"I hope you're okay, master..."
But the words had barely left his lips when Earth's eyelid slowly opened, revealing eyes glowing with anger as he asked sharply,
"Where were you all this time?"
Morv hesitated slightly before answering,
"I was talking with Lord Mars.. It seems he was worried about you."
Earth grumbled in annoyance,
"I don't want to hear that. Did you do what I asked you?"
Earth's moon nodded quickly, trying to maintain his composure,
"Yes, master. The Star Key is hidden in the place you indicated."
Silence fell again, before Earth mumbled in a heavy tone,
"Good. You never disappoint me... Precaution is necessary. I don't want it to fall into the wrong hands. Especially since I... am uneasy about the matter."
And light-years away from here, on planet Pluto specifically, or what used to be called that, the scene was completely different.
Pluto stood before his five moons, alongside the Unknown, and said in an angry voice,
"They mocked us, insulted us, expelled us from the solar system! We will not stand idly by anymore! Your leader wants revenge. So what do my moons want?!"
Everyone shouted in unison, determined to achieve victory,
"Revenge!"
But this time, the one who shouted loudest was Pluto's second moon, Nix!
Was he.. trying to feign agreement..
The answer simply is.. no..
The guest and Pluto returned to the latter's headquarters, and he smiled and said,
"We are now at the end of the road. Well done, both of you, you and Neso. Our next plan is..."
Neso, the second figure who appeared frail with a color closer to violet and round glasses covering his right eye, completed,
"The Star Key and the Star Lock."
So what is the reality of the astral key and the astral lock?
— End of Chapter —