Chapter Text
He didn’t understand why this was happening to him. One moment, he was watching Jack and Dazzle finally reconcile, a moment he had waited for a long time.
The tension between them had always been palpable, a heavy weight on everyone’s shoulders, and now that it was resolved, Solar had felt a fleeting sense of relief. But before he could even process it, everything shifted.
The next moment, he found himself in a meeting, sitting in a room surrounded by powerful figures, their expressions serious, their presence overwhelming.
He wasn’t paying attention to the conversation, though he knew he should be. His mind was elsewhere, tangled in a mess of thoughts and unanswered questions.
He still couldn’t process the fact that two Astrals had decided he would be a good addition to their group. Who were they to make such a decision? And why him? He had never imagined that, besides the Astrals he already knew, there could be others, ones he had never even heard of. His understanding of the Astrals had always been limited to those his family had encountered, the ones who symbolized the twelve zodiac signs.
That was the world he knew. But now, he was being introduced to a different reality. These two new Astrals weren’t tied to the Western zodiac but rather to the Chinese horóscopo specifically, the Ox and the Goat.
The one representing the Ox was a tall, broad-shouldered man, his expression unreadable but his presence commanding. He looked to be in his late twenties, perhaps barely thirty, with a posture that exuded quiet strength. His movements were measured, his words deliberate. He was the kind of person who didn’t waste time with unnecessary talk but carried an air of authority that made others listen.
The one symbolizing the Goat, on the other hand, had a completely different aura. His presence was comforting, almost fatherly. There was something in the way he spoke, in the gentle patience of his gaze, that made Solar think of someone he used to know. It should have reassured him, but instead, it only deepened the weight in his chest.
He knew he should be paying attention, every instinct told him that this meeting was importante but his mind was still lagging behind, struggling to catch up with everything that had happened.
Suddenly, the Ox spoke, his voice deep and steady.
“We must take drastic measures. We can’t allow ourselves to be captured one by one…”
There was a tension in the room, something unspoken but heavy. Solar could feel it pressing down on him like a weight on his shoulders. He swallowed hard, trying to focus.
“We need to act with intelligence and wisdom. Let’s not launch counterattacks without thinking, and let’s not show unease… That’s exactly what he wants to see.”
A murmur of agreement swept through the room. The words made sense, but there was something unsettling about them. The idea that someone dangerous was actively hunting Astrals sent a chill down Solar’s spine.
“He’s capturing Astrals from another dimension. We don’t know when he’ll come to ours and start his hunt. That’s why we must all be prepared for when that moment arrives—fortify our temples and intensify our training.”
A slow realization settled over Solar. This wasn’t just a hypothetical danger. This was real. This was happening now. He was part of it.
“Besides, each of us has a protector by our side. So, he’ll have to get through them first before facing any of us directly.”
A small flicker of reassurance tried to settle in his chest, but it was quickly extinguished by the next words spoken.
“Well… all of us have one, except Solar~”
A few chuckles echoed around the room, but they weren’t malicious, just amused observations. Even so, the weight of all those eyes on him made his stomach twist.
“Fufufu, of course. Being new among us, he hasn’t chosen one yet.”
Solar shifted in his seat, feeling the heat of their attention. It wasn’t that he didn’t want a protector. He just… hadn’t had the time to think about it. Everything had happened so quickly, and now he was sitting among these powerful beings, expected to make decisions he wasn’t ready for.
All the members turned their attention to Solar, making him even more uncomfortable. It was strange but at least, being part of the Astrals now meant he could protect his family. That thought steadied him. If nothing else, at least he had that purpose. He could be their shield and their sword.
“W-Well,” he coughed slightly, forcing himself to speak. He didn’t want to show nerves in front of them. “I still have no idea how to choose one. I’ve been too busy processing all of this… So, I apologize.”
The Goat Astral, Xang, shook his head with a small, understanding smile. “Kid, there’s no need to apologize for that. We understand your situation. It’s not easy to adjust to this new life and responsibility. I’m sure you’ll choose one soon, there’s no rush.”
“Thank you, Mr. Xang.”
Xang reminded him a little of Earth, if she were a guy. The way he spoke, his paternal aura… it all felt familiar. Xang had a deep love for nature, valued sincerity and honesty, and was an excellent healer. It was no surprise that the other members went to him when they were injured after battle.
“Kid, no need for formalities. You’re one of us now, you can call me by my name.”
Yes, he definitely reminded him of Earth and that was a good thing.
“I’ll remember that, Xang,” Solar replied.
“I know, but given the situation, he should already have one,” spoke the Astral representing the Rooster.
He was energetic, like a human teenager, but also efficient and orderly. A good conversationalist and a sharp observer. He reminded Solar of Sun, at least in terms of organization. He sat with his feet propped up on the table and his arms behind his head like a pillow
“I have an idea!”
The one who spoke was the Astral representing the Tiger. Despite being the only child among them a mere ten-year-old—he carried himself with a confidence that was impossible to ignore. His golden eyes gleamed with excitement, his small hands clapping together as he straightened up in his seat.
Solar found himself intrigued by this child. He was young, yes, but if he was part of the Astrals, that meant he is stronger than most would ever suspect. The thought made him uneasy. How much had this boy seen? How much had he endured to be sitting among them, recognized as an equal?
“Do you all remember the destruction of several dimensions? Because I do,” the Tiger continued, his voice almost playful, despite the grim subject. He leaned forward, placing his small hands flat on the table. “After that happened, I went to check out the dimensions that weren’t completely destroyed.”
“And guess what?” The Tiger’s grin widened. “I just so happened to find the body of an animatronic, a lunar one, specifically.”
A murmur spread across the room, some of the Astrals exchanging glances.
The Tiger continued, undeterred. “It’s completely wrecked, barely holding together, and honestly, it was this close to being lost forever.” He held up his fingers to emphasize the tiny gap between them. “But! It can still be repaired. Its essence is still there. We can bring it back.” His legs swung beneath the table, the motion almost childlike, but there was an undeniable fire in his eyes. “Isn’t that great?”
Solar felt a strange twist in his chest. A Moon animatronic… from a dimension?
The Astral representing the Rabbit clapped her hands together, seemingly pleased. “That’s a good option.”
“Right?!” The Tiger’s excitement only grew. He turned his gaze toward the Ox and the Rabbit, his expression expectant. “All it needs is for you two to use your powers to bring it back to life, and then it can take on the role.”
Solar wasn’t sure how to feel about this.
“Where exactly do you have the body of this animatronic?” The question came from the Monkey Astral, her tone dripping with amusement. She tilted her head, a sharp grin playing on her lips. “Fufufu, don’t tell me you’re keeping it in your toy room~”
The room shifted, the energy momentarily lightening as a few chuckles passed through the group.
The Tiger didn’t hesitate. “I am! I wanted to keep it as part of my collection of toys, and I was planning to ask for it to be fixed so it could be my new playmate.” He rested his chin on his hands, his gaze flicking toward Solar. “But now, given the situation… I think it’s better if Solar takes it as his protector and assistant!” His smile was innocent, almost too innocent for someone who had just admitted to keeping a broken animatronic like a discarded toy. “Besides, they’re from the same species. I bet they’ll get along! After all, Solar’s already friends with three lunar animatronics. Well… two now. The first one died screaming.”
Solar tensed at that. The way the Tiger spoke about it so nonchalantly, like death was just another mundane event in his day-to-day life, sent a shiver down his spine.
“That’s a good idea,” the Rabbit agreed.
“Yes! It just needs the Ox and the Rabbit to use their powers to bring it back. Then it can fulfill its role.” The Tiger clapped his hands, looking between the two mentioned Astrals, his excitement practically radiating off him.
Solar’s mind was racing. An animatronic from another dimension… Could it really serve as his protector?
“The only one who should bring it back to life is Solar himself,” the Horse Astral spoke, his voice calm but firm. “To establish a bond between Astral and protector, it must be done by his own hands.”
“Exactly,” the Pig Astral added. “For example, Xang gave his right-hand man a ring that grants him special powers to protect him. That ring is also a symbol of their bond. If the protector dies in service, both the protector’s ring and the Astral’s ring will disintegrate, signaling the end of the bond… and informing the Astral of their protector’s passing.”
Solar stiffened. “Has that… ever happened before?”
The room fell silent.
Instead of answering, the conversation shifted.
“Anyway,” the Goat Astral spoke up, his voice gentle yet firm. “Are we sure that this lunar animatronic will be able to fulfill its duty?”
Solar hesitated. He knew the answer before he even spoke it. “W-Well… If we’re talking about protecting me, I don’t think that Moon would be able to do it…”
“Then it’s useless,” the Ox Astral cut in bluntly. “Might as well leave it as the Tiger’s broken toy.”
Solar clenched his jaw. He didn’t want to dismiss the idea entirely, but… he also couldn’t deny the truth.
“But! It could help me with other things,” he quickly added. “Like being my assistant, my helper. If I’m going to be an Astral, I’ll need someone at my side.”
“Hmmm.” The Goat Astral studied him carefully before nodding. “That’s acceptable. But regardless, you still need someone who can be your guardian. Someone who’s a skilled fighter, has great endurance… and isn’t afraid to kill if necessary.”
Solar felt a chill run down his spine.
Those requirements. A skilled fighter. Someone with great endurance. Someone unafraid to kill when needed.
He knew two.
Two beings who fit that description perfectly.
One of them was his son.
His grip tightened. No. No way. He had just rescued Lunar and Dazzle from their creator’s control. He had just reconciled with them. There was no way in hell he was going to drag his son into this.
Which left only one other option.
“Do you know of someone from your… species who fits these requirements?” The Monkey Astral asked, eyes gleaming with curiosity. “It would be very helpful if you shared that with us, dear Solar~”
Solar exhaled slowly. He had to say it.
“…Yeah. Yeah, I do.”
The Monkey Astral smirked. “Then just say it, darling~ We’re all eager to know.”
Solar hesitated for only a second before speaking the name.
“They’re called Bloodmoon.”
The room fell silent.
"But they are dead" He finished talking solar, waiting for one to have the floor again.
Then the Ox Astral sighed. “Well, shit.” He crossed his arms. “Looks like we’ll have to bring them back too.”
Solar let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding and part of this now.
And whether he was ready or not… he had a role to play.