starlight, starlight

Wish upon a shooting star, and your fate will forever be left chasing it. A story from Rio's home, now just a distant pinprick of light in the night sky. Nonsense, perhaps. Certainly cautionary. A curse, whispered some, content with the scale of their lives. A blessing, whispered others, brave in the ways of thrill-seekers and treasure hunters.Rio considered himself neither. And yet even without a star to chase, Rio set off in search of purpose. A dozen stars, a hundred comrades, a thousand brushes with death in wars he could not condone--despite it all, he was careful to never make a wish.(...Until he met the man who called himself Arisugawa Dice, that is.) Or: One day, a King would meet a Thief in search of salvation and a Scientist who'd nearly forgotten himself. One day he'd return to the war-torn star he'd fled, thrown into chaos after the assassination of an Empress as desperate, powerful factions fought over its throne. One day, he would rebuild it in a way his ancestors could have only ever dreamed.But before all of that-- it began with the Prince who fled the Palace and the mercenary tasked with bringing him back.