Chapter 1

January 25th, 3023

Itus sat atop the small hill in the Valerian family's backyard, his knees drawn close to his chest as he gazed into the endless sky. At eleven years old, he already felt the weight of expectations pressing down on his narrow shoulders. The peaceful moment was shattered when a pair of hands suddenly gripped him, accompanied by a gleeful shout.

"Boo!"

Itus jerked in surprise, his heart racing as he turned to face his older sister. At nineteen, she towered over him, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Jeez! What's wrong with you?" Itus grumbled, attempting to shove her away. "I thought you weren't coming home until Saturday."

Selene plopped down beside him, her laughter fading into a more serious expression. "I missed you," she said, but Itus could sense there was more to the story.

"Sure," he replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "What's the real reason?"

Selene sighed. "My mission got a little sidetracked, so I wasn't able to complete it and I decided to come back early. You know, instead of feeling bad about myself, unlike some people." 

Selene’s eyes drifted onto Itus's face, eyeing him with a mocking expression.

Itus's eyes narrowed. "You don't have to lie. I know Dad called you."

"No! No, he didn't. I swear!" Selene protested, but her laughter gave her away.

"Itus... Itus... Itus. Little star," she sang, trying to coax a smile from her brother.

"Selene, stop!" Itus snapped, his anger turning to embarrassment. "I told you to stop calling me that. I'm not a child anymore."

Selene grabbed Itus, pulling him into a hug despite his resistance. "You might think that you are a man, but you are still my little brother, so you are always going to be my little baby. My little star."

Itus sighed heavily, finally relaxing into the embrace.

"So, are you going to tell me what happened?" Selene asked gently.

"I thought you said that Dad didn't call you," Itus mumbled.

"Yeah, but you only come here when you are upset."

Itus's shoulders slumped. "It's always the same."

He stood abruptly, mimicking their father's authoritative stance. In a mocking tone, he recited: "Itus! What is the meaning of this? How can you be such an idiot? You almost blew up our neighborhood's ship! All because you wanted to show off your science skills to that Lucas boy! Who, I tell you all the time, he is a bad influence and a sadist. You are such a disappointment to this family! Why can't you be like your older brother!! Every day, I wake up ashamed to know you!"

"He didn't say that," Selene insisted, but Itus could see the concern in her eyes.

"He might as well have," Itus replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "I know that's what he's thinking."

Selene pulled her little brother back down, enveloping him in another hug. This time, Itus returned it without hesitation. "Well, I'm proud of you. Every day. That's why you're my favorite, not Helios," she said.

Itus couldn't help but laugh. "Don't let Helios hear you say that. He thinks that everyone loves him."

"Naturally," Selene replied with a roll of her eyes. "As the eldest, you must think that the world revolves around you."

As Itus rested his head on her shoulder, Selene asked, "Do you want to hear about my mission?"

"I thought you said it failed," Itus replied, curiosity piquing despite himself.

"It did, but I heard about the coolest thing."

"Okay. Tell me."

"Have you heard of the Heralds of Vignus?"

Itus shook his head. "No. Can't say I have."

Selene's eyes lit up as she began to weave her tale. "Me neither, but my mission partner was telling me all about it. He said that they were mysterious travelers who wielded ancient technologies. They can manipulate time and space, to journey to the furthest reaches of the cosmos, and to peer into the heart of reality itself. They can tell a person their prophecy and change their fate."

Itus looked at her skeptically. "No such person exists."

"Yes, they do," Selene insisted. "They've been banished to the end of the universe. They were silenced, their prophecies forgotten, and their wisdom ignored. But they are out there, and if you hear their prophecy, your fate is sealed, and there is no escape."

Suddenly, Selene tackled Itus to the ground, her fingers finding his ticklish spots. "Listen to my words!" she declared dramatically. "You are the chosen one, dear Itus! You will change the world with your strength and kind heart."

Their laughter echoed across the yard, a moment of pure joy amidst the pressures of their lives.