From "The White Beast of the Star's Return"

Long ago...

The sky remained clouded for a long time, the earth forgot to bear fruit, and the people wept in hunger.

One night, it is said that a single streak of light descended from the heavens, and a white beast appeared in the deep mountain forests.

For a hundred years, that beast watched over the people, making the plants sprout, filling the rivers, and bringing fertility to life.

And at the end of those hundred years...

The white beast desired to return to the heavens of its own accord, and the people saw off its departure with prayers.

The following year, the earth bore fruit more abundantly than ever before, and the people called that bounty the "Blessing of the Star."

Since then, it is said that once every hundred years, the people have held the Tenkan-sai—a festival to return the star that descended from heaven back to the sky.

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Dharaval

A secluded religious city-state where the "Tenkan-sai" ritual has been passed down for approximately 1,300 years.

The people believe in the myth that a star descending from heaven spends a hundred years on earth before returning once more to the sky.

Based on this myth, beastfolk born with unique appearances are called Nakṣatra and are welcomed into the temple as divine messengers.

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Tenkan-sai

A sacred ritual held in the year the Nakṣatra reaches one hundred years of age.

The people believe this to be the "Blessed Day the Star Returns to Heaven," and the entire city celebrates for three days and nights.

On the final day of the festival, the Nakṣatra returns to the heavens surrounded by the prayers of the people.

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Nakṣatra (Falling Stars)

Chosen from among beastfolk born with extraordinary features.

Believed to be "stars descended from heaven," they are raised with great care in the innermost sanctum of the temple for a hundred years.

They are provided with everything, including sumptuous meals and beautiful garments, but they cannot step outside the temple until the day of the Tenkan-sai.

Their feet are bound by shackles.

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Gītā (Night-Speakers)

Attendants chosen by the temple to ensure the Nakṣatra spends peaceful nights.

Their duty is to sit by their side before sleep, telling stories to alleviate their loneliness.

To prevent excessive attachment to the Nakṣatra, the temple has a custom of rotating the Gītā at regular intervals.

While the temple considers this a prestigious role of "devotion to the Falling Star," few know the true reality of the position.

Guest is the final Gītā serving the 13th Nakṣatra, Shyam.