novilunium was around the bend once again.
     somehow, helios had managed to (finally) get a handle on all of his duties as the solis. being the man in charge, as appealing as it did sound, was definitely not all that it appeared to be. well, actually it was, but it was also more. a lot more.
     being helios gave him great responsibility. to keep everyone in check, but to also keep himself in check. many planetae along the galaxy had solely relied on the lux and warmth of the sun to keep sustained. and without him to make it happen, there would most likely be no planetae to sustain in the first place. so, he better keep doing what he was.
     after much time in suspense and utmost patience (in heliosâ expert opinion) he was more than ready to welcome the next novilunium in the wake. when he was younger, and the former helios was still the solis, the intervals didnât really hold any weight on his conscience. but now, helios had a responsibility. and hopefully a new friend in the making, too.
     âwhat catches your thoughts, my love?â helios turned his head to his mother who had slowly made her way up to him from behind, placing her hand on his shoulder. she gripped it and then rubbed, forming soothing circles on the skin of his back. helios sighed, relaxing in his motherâs hold, before lifting his gaze to the caelum again.
     âdo people ever leave the complexio, mother?â
     âthey do, yes,â his mother said. âoften they leave if they need something.â
     âdo people ever leave just because they want to?â
     âyes and no,â she said, loosening her grip on his shoulder to stand beside him on the balcony. she leaned her weight on her hands as she placed them on the railing, leaning over to watch the caelum with her son. âsometimes people leave just because they feel like it. but it isnât really encouraged.â
     âbecause, we only know so much about the universum beyond, sunshine. there are so many potential dangers of the world that could injure or harm any stella, and it is just not a risk that we are prepared to take.â she reasoned, turning her gaze to focus on her son, who was blankly staring ahead of him with no focal direction. âbut, if a stella decides their reason to leave is enough, it is their decision to do so.â
     heliosâ eyes fixated on a gleaming calcis in the distance, roaming the nox with such a ferocity he almost mistook him for a rogue star. he stared for a long time.
    his mother watched him stare ahead, and of course as a mother, she knew exactly what this was about. âdo you want to?â
    helios was brought back from his thoughts, confused. âwhat?â
     âdo you want to go across?â she repeated.
      âi do,â helios said. âbut anticuus said i couldnât.â
     âand why not?â
     âbecause âit isnât doneâ,â he mocked, scoffing back any further remarks. he was angry, but anticuus had always proved that he only wanted what was best for helios. so, in some messed up, annoying way, his ruling of the âno-leaving-the-complexioâ law must have been justified. âhe didnât tell me why, but probably because it is dangerous.â
     âit is dangerous, my love,â his mother agreed. âbut sometimes the danger is worth it.â
     or maybe it wasnât justified, because all of a sudden it seemed as though his mother was encouraging him to do something that apparently âwasnât doneâ.
     his mother laughed, turning to face the castellum and leaning her back against the balcony railing. âleaving the protection of the militum is always dangerous. but sometimes the risk is worth it.â
    âare you saying i should go?â
     âi am not saying anything, dream. but if you really want to go across you will be okay. novilunium is the only safe time to cross the terminus as it is when the silex complexio is the closest. other times they are too far beyond reach. so if you want to go, you have to go now or wait until the next novilunium.â
     âhelios! venustus!â his ears flitted from his motherâs voice to the drawl that was calling him. flickering his eyes from his companion, he turned them to where the voice was coming from. looking down, anticuus was standing on a cloud, just below them. he was huffing, most likely in a rush, and had that bloody scroll in his hand. âcome, now. novilunium is on the horizon.â
     he perked up at this, his motherâs words ringing in the back of his brain. they would have to continue this conversation later.
it was just as beautiful as the last time.
    helios watched as orbis terrarum travelled further away to make room for the silex complexio. with every ticking interval, the moon grew larger and closer, glowing with such a bright intensity the stellae faded around him.
     he was anxious, nervous, apprehensive. tension building in his shoulders as the silex complexio grew closer and closer. he wasnât sure why, novilunium happened every many intervals. it wasnât an abnormal occurrence, so what was so different about this time?
     âyou are nervous, my love.â venustus gripped her son on his shoulder, peering up at him through a gentle smile. âdonât be.â
     âi am not,â he said, pinching the skin on his elbow. âi am just⊠justââ
     âjust, nervous.â she warbled, the pinch in her brows giving him an all-knowing look. âi know my son like the back of my hand. but do not be, my dream. you are fierce and strong.â
     âfierce and strong,â he mumbled, to himself more than anyone. he continued to softly chant to himself as a reminder that he most definitely was fierce and strong and most definitely not nervous. âfierce and strong, fierce and strong,â and his eyes rose from the ground to straight in front of him, where his next word got caught in his throat. âfierââ his breath hiccupped in his lungs, lost in the sea of the eyes before him.
     he was standing this time, lanky in his build but not as tall as helios. his hair was messy, falling into several places but it complimented him well. his eyes were brown but they were brighter than the sky lit by heliosâ lux, and his glow was pale, but somehow tender and warm. the boy was grinning, from ear to ear, excited to see helios again.
    he was nothing short of beautiful.
     helios grinned back, eyes and all. he had never wanted to meet a person more. his smile turned into one masking sadness, torn from the inside. how were they to ever meet? helios had never left the stella complexio before, he wasnât even sure if it was safe, anticuus had ordered that it wasât even allowedâ
     âdo you want to go across?â
     helios tore his attention away from selene, glancing down at his mother once again, eyebrows knitted in tension.
     âwhat?â he voiced aloud. he seemed to be asking that a lot lately.
     âdo you want to go across?â she repeated.
     he was honest. âyes.â and his mother gave him an all-knowing smile.
     âwhat?â he repeated. his voice was swimming with uncertainty. he had never ever in his saeculum ever seen anyone leave the stella complexio. even after the talk with his mother, he wasnât sure if she was being serious. âbut, how would i do that?â
     venustus tittered, the laugh bubbling from deep within. her son was all cheek until it came to love. âjust walk, my love. the stars will catch you.â
     âbut, butâ whereâs anticuus?â
     âheâs rounding some rogue stellae. now, off you go.â
     âbut anticuus saidââ
     âanticuus isnât here. now go.â
     so he turned back to face the regnum in the silex complexio, back to selene, who was still gazing at him with curiosity in his eyes. deciding that he was too eager to make a new friend, it was worth it to perhaps break a rule.
     and so he walked across the way.
     selene, noticing his departure from the stella complexio, followed him into the sky, leaving the deep blue that was home and to the fade, where the day met the night. he met helios on the horizon, looking up into his eyes, greener than the tropic ocean on the orbis terrarum.
     âhello, helios.â he breathed, voice lilting in a soft greeting. âit is an honour.â
     helios blushed, cheeks turning a soft pink. he bowed his head in response. âthe honour is mine, selene.â
     selene looked immediately uncomfortable, and helios felt like an absolute idiot. âplease, you donât have to call me that.â the luna sighed. âi know itâs very feminine.â
     helios was confused. âbut, itâs your name, is it not?â
     âwell, yes, i suppose.â selene agreed, but still with hesitancy in his voice. âbut iâm a boy, and the name is entirely feminine. i know some people donât like boys with feminine attributes.â
     âi donât think your name is feminine.â helios reasoned. âyes, your name is after your great ancestor who ruled before all else, and she was a female. but, she was almighty and powerful: not only did she have the greatest control over tempest, but she had the power to give people dreams. she was transcendent, and i would think it an honour to be named after someone so seraphic.â
     selene was taken aback. âiâ i had never thought of it that way,â the boy was in shock, struck that anyone could possibly think that. it was common when he was younger to receive the teasing of other boys, he was appointed to be the next luna when he was quite young. it was difficult to make friends. âi suppose i have always been embarrassed. it was a foul point of mockery when i was young.â
     âit should not have been.â helios replied. âmy mother is the strongest person i know. she raised me from the moment i became in this universe, and she will continue to be by me until my final lux burns. i owe all i am to her.â helios was confused as to why he received any ill treatment being appointed as luna. it was one of, if not the greatest title one could receive â being entrusted to lead the entire kingdom was not an easy job, but it was rewarding. and glorifying. âyou are strong, selene. and your name only makes you stronger.â
     selene smiled, a blush tinting his own pale cheeks. âthank you, helios. i have only met you but i feel like i have known you since my own becoming.â
     helios had felt exactly the same. âperhaps in another life we were best friends.â
     selene grinned, a laugh bubbling from his throat. âperhaps in this one, we will be as well.â
     lost in conversation, the pair were startled from their bond when a voice trilled through the sky. âhelios!â venustus called from behind him. âyou must return. tempus continues forward.â
    growing sad, he turns his neck to shout behind him. âi am coming!â he replied, turning back to selene. âi must go, novilunium will end soon.â
     âokay, but before you go,â the boy stole his attention one last time. âi am the selene, that is what they call me,â helios took note of how he avoided referring to himself as selene. âbut my mum called me george. what did yours call you?â
     george, hm? it was short and sweet, tranquil on the tongue with two soft consonants. âmy mother called me dream.â
    âdream? wow,â the selene uttered. âthat makes my name seem a little bland.â
     âmy mother always told me that before me, the imperium was struggling with the loss of their former helios. they hoped all through time for a strong and just leader, and then i became. i was a miracle. a reverie, she tells me. a dream.â
     âwell, i havenât known you long,â george said, voice rendering with notable confidence. âbut it appears she was right.â
     âdream!â heliosâ mother called from across the way, rising in unnerve. ânow, please.â
     âi must go,â he said with a soft smile, sadness ringing in his mumble.
     âwell, it was lovely to make your acquaintance, helios.â
     âplease,â dream waved his hand. âwe are friends now. call me dream.â
     âwell,â the selene sang, lifting his own hand in a handshake, waiting for heliosâ reaction. âif i call you dream, you must call me george. after all, we are friends now.â
     helios lifted his own hand, meeting georgeâs palm in the middle, aligned with the line of the horizon, at the edge of day and night. between heliosâ golden glow and the seleneâs pale shine. âgoodbye, george. i will see you next novilunium.â
     âsee you then, dream.â