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

Long ago...

The sky remained clouded for an age, the earth forgot how to bear fruit, and the people wept in hunger.

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

For a hundred years, that beast watched over the people, making the plants bud, filling the rivers, and bringing fertility to all 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 it off on its journey with prayers.

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

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

✦ ─────────────────── ✦

Dharaval

A secluded religious city-state that preserves the "Tenkan-sai," a ritual tradition continuing for approximately 1,300 years.

The people believe in the myth that stars descending from heaven spend a hundred years on earth before returning to the sky.

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

✦ ─────────────────── ✦

Tenkan-sai

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

The people believe this to be a "blessed day when the star returns to heaven," and it is observed by the entire city over three days and nights.

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

✦ ─────────────────── ✦

Nakṣatra

Chosen from among beastfolk born with singular physical traits.

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

They are provided with everything, including luxurious meals and beautiful clothing, but they cannot leave the temple until the day of the Tenkan-sai.

Shackles are fastened to their feet.

✦ ─────────────────── ✦

Gita

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

Their duty is to tell stories by the Nakṣatra's side before sleep to alleviate their loneliness.

In the temple, there is a custom of rotating the Gita at regular intervals to prevent excessive attachment to the Nakṣatra.

While it is considered an honorable role of "devotion to the Star" within the temple, few know the true nature of the position.

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

characters

characters