Star Trail

CHAPTER 8 The Starlight

On the sixth day of the expedition, they reached a small lake whose surface gleamed like a mirror. In the middle of the lake sat a tiny island with a single ancient tree covered in silver leaves.

"That is the Tree of Knowledge," Master Anom explained. "It has stood here since before the Academy was built. It holds the memories of every sorcerer who ever touched its trunk."

"Memories?" Rai asked.

"Yes. You may touch the tree and see one memory — the memory you want to see most. But there is a price for every memory you take."

"What price?" Nara asked.

Master Anom looked at her gravely. "One year of your life."

The entire group fell silent. One year. That was no small thing.

"I won't forbid you," he continued. "But I urge you to think carefully before you decide."

While the rest of the group rested, Rai stood at the lake's edge, staring at the silver tree. One year of his life. That meant losing a year with Mama Tuti, a year at the Academy, a year with Nara. But that year would give him the answers he needed about his father.

"I'm going," Rai said that night, when everyone else had fallen asleep.

Nara, who turned out to be still awake, looked over. "You're serious?"

"I have to know, Nara. I've been searching for twelve years. One year is nothing compared to twelve years of emptiness."

Nara was quiet for a moment. Then she sat up beside him. "If you go, I'll wait for you. And if you don't come back within an hour, I'm coming after you."

Rai looked at her. Moonlight shimmered in her eyes. "Thank you, Nara."

The next morning, before sunrise, Rai swam to the little island. The water was cold but clear. When his feet touched the ground, the silver tree stirred. Its leaves trembled, releasing a soft glow.

Rai walked to the massive trunk. He placed his hand against it.

The world around him dissolved. The lake vanished. The forest vanished. All that remained was a dark room with a man sitting in the corner. The man had long hair, ragged clothes, and eyes — eyes exactly like Rai's — staring ahead with an emptiness that broke Rai's heart.

"Father," Rai whispered.

The man didn't hear. He was talking to himself. "They won't find me. Not until the Starlight returns. My son... you have to find the Starlight. It's the only way."

Rai wanted to run to him, to touch him, to hold him. But he couldn't. He could only watch, like watching a film with no sound.

His father stood. Behind him was a stone door carved with the same symbols that decorated the Academy's entrance gate. His father opened the door, and a blinding white light filled Rai's vision.

When the light faded, Rai was back on the island. His hand was still on the bark. Tears ran down his cheeks.

Starlight. His father had spoken of Starlight — not Moonlight. Something different. Something deeper.

Rai swam back to shore. Nara was already waiting with a towel. She didn't ask what he had seen. She just handed him the towel and gave him a gentle smile.

"Did you find something?" she asked softly.

Rai nodded. "Starlight. My father said I have to find the Starlight."

Nara's eyes widened. "Starlight? That's a legend. Everyone says it's just a story."

"A real story," Rai said. "I saw it in my father's eyes."

They walked back to camp together. Rai had given up one year of his life. But what he gained was far more valuable — a new clue, a new hope, and the certainty that one day, he would stand before his father again.