Previously on Stardust & Fox Ears:

After thinking she overslept, Sophia has her first day at the magic academy. She gets a bit sad that nobody noticed her there during the magic lesson, but after that day she enjoys the night sky with Foxy.

Chapter 4

What are Sternchen?

Released 26 November 2025

Foxy and Sophia are having breakfast at the cafeteria.

Foxy
Foxy
It's already been a week since you arrived here. Already got used to it?

Sophia
Sophia
Yeah, I guess...

Foxy notices something wrong with Sophia. They're sitting alone at the table, like they usually do.

Foxy
Foxy
Why don't you try and sit on another table with people there?

Sophia
Sophia
Because I'd just bother them, they probably wouldn't want me in the first place...

Sophia sighs...

Sophia
Sophia
I mean, if people were actually interested in me, then they'd have already talked to me...

Foxy
Foxy
I see...
What do you think about the magic lessons then~? ☆

Sophia
Sophia
Oh they're fine...
In fact I love doing magic~! ☆

Sophia
Sophia
It's just that...
Seeing other people having fun together makes me sad...
Like why can't I have it?
Why is someone like that black catgirl so popular...?

Foxy
Foxy
You really look up to her, don't you?

Sophia
Sophia
I feel like we have so many things in common, and could be good friends...
But she already has many friends, so she wouldn't want me...

Sophia
Sophia
(Maybe I should start getting used to never having any friends...)

Sophia
Sophia
Anyways, let's talk about something else...

Except Sophia doesn't know what to talk about, so they're just sitting there in silence.


They arrive a bit early at the lecture hall. Sophia notices again how everyone is in their small groups again and talking.

???
???
Amelia! Did you hear that new song?

Amelia
Amelia
Yes I did!
It was great!!

Foxy quickly notices Sophia's mood going down.

Foxy
Foxy
Don't worry, you still have me! ☆

Sophia
Sophia
That's not really the same...

Finally the teacher comes.

Seraphina
Seraphina
Hello everyone! ★
Today we'll talk about the origins of Sternchen! ★

Seraphina
Seraphina
As you already know, humans normally don't have any magic.
But when you made that pact with your familiar, you all gained magic power that's directly linked to your Sternchen.

Seraphina
Seraphina
I guess it's no secret that we're special creatures then! ★
So, does anyone want to guess where we come from~?

Everyone starts thinking...

???
???
Is it the sun?

Seraphina
Seraphina
No, that'd be way too hot.

???
???
Maybe in the depth of the earth?

Seraphina
Seraphina
Also wrong.
What do stars remind you of?

Sophia
Sophia
(Something with space... Maybe it's the moon...?)

Amelia
Amelia
Is it the moon?

Seraphina
Seraphina
That's right!

Sophia
Sophia
(oh...)

Seraphina
Seraphina
We're called Sternchen, after all, which means stars.
And every Sternchen comes from a star.
But since every star is so far away, we all live meet at the moon.

Seraphina
Seraphina
But why would we give magic away to humans, you may ask?
Because we didn't know what else to do it, and thought that giving magic to humans would be fun!
And humans are also so smart!

Seraphina
Seraphina
So our idea was that in exchange for giving humans magic, they could help us advance in magic!!
No pressure of course, you can also just have fun with magic! ★

Sophia
Sophia
(kinda sounds like the education system from our world, without the fun part...)


On their way back home, Sophia decides to take a detour and walk in the park. The park is really quiet in the night, and you can also see the stars perfectly there. It's dark, but it's a full moon, so they can still see their environment.
Sophia sits down on a nearby bench, and holds Foxy in her arms while looking up at the sky.

Sophia
Sophia
I don't understand it...
Why does history have to repeat itself?
I thought things were supposed to be different...

Foxy
Foxy
What do you mean? You became a witch, a foxgirl even! How's that not being different?

Sophia
Sophia
BUT I'M STILL ALONE!!

Foxy is quiet.

Sophia
Sophia
Sorry for screaming...
I know that since becoming a foxgirl witch that life has been much better...
And I love doing magic, it's really fun!

Sophia
Sophia
But...
Seeing all the other people being happy in their groups does make me very jealous...
I mean I'm really the only one here that's all alone...

Foxy keeps being quiet again.

Sophia
Sophia
Maybe I'm just too different from everyone.
Like sure, nobody is normal here, but...

Sophia
Sophia
I feel like I'm still too different from all the others...

Sophia
Sophia
My life has always felt like I was an animal in a petting zoo, inside a cage.
Now that I've become a fox, I guess that analogy works better now...

Sophia
Sophia
Humans always come and walk past my cage.
Some of them do come in and maybe pet me, or give me food, but then they just go and move on with their lives...
I mean they can, since they're not in that cage.
But I do want to be with the humans I see every day.
But the cage prevents me from that...

Sophia
Sophia
So I guess I should start getting used to always being alone...

Suddenly someone pats her on her head.

???
???
Oh what a cute petting fox~ ♪

Next chapter:
Who's petting the petting fox?