In the Fallen Stars, Our Hopes Lie

Episode One. Cassiopeia (1)

"...I knew you would say that, Cassie."

With a small sigh, I muttered. But ignoring my discontent, the voice continued to speak with even more enthusiasm.

"Our wishes lie in the fallen stars! Don't you get it? If we can get one of those fallen stars..."

"It's just a myth. Isn't it about time you realized?"

Sudden silence filled the room.

Was it a mistake to make such a straightforward statement? Maybe it was too forceful. Are they now angry and preparing to argue?

As each second passed, another piece of anxiety added itself to the pile of worries.

"Cassie... I'm sorry."

Cassie, whose full name is Cassiopeia, was an old friend of mine.

We were of the same age, and since our village children were all brought up by the single dedicated family, we might as well be family as well.

Not wanting to lose that family made me make an apology that I didn't really want to make - and when I raised my head and saw Cassie smile, all the anxiety flew away like leaves met with a gust of wind.

Instead, the empty space was filled with annoyance.

"What makes you think that story is real? That legend about stars falling is centuries old, and there is nothing to prove it. And even if it is real, where would you get that 'fallen star' in the first place? Nobody found one!"

This was the hundreth time Cassie brought up the topic, and the hundreth time I refused to talk more about it.

So I knew what was going to happen next.

Cassie would still try to convince me with no proof, and the meaningless conversation would continue until the Moon rises.

Usually our conversation would end then, since it meant that our day at work would start.

But today was an odd day.

Instead of arguing more, Cassie, with that smile still on their face, said in a small voice:

"I have something to show you. Come to the Eastern forest after your shift at the plains."

And with that sentence, Cassie left the tent, leaving me puzzled.

What were they talking about? Did they truly go crazy?

The Eastern forest was one of the places that we should not visit unless told to do so by the village elders.

In fact, we already went through a lot of trouble because of our visits there - Cassie, being the only child of the village's leader, was able to lie that it was their parent's orders, but I had no such exceptions. My work shift at the plains today was actually assigned as punishment for the last unauthorized visit.

"I know you won't mean to cause trouble for me, Cassie, but isn't this over the line?"

Since Cassie already left, I just spoke to myself and let out another sigh.

I couldn't refuse the offer anyway.

Cassie always acted on their own volition, sometimes even childish, and other villagers tended to avoid them as a result.

Since I was Cassie's friend, I was treated as an accomplice to their action and was also avoided by the villagers.

As a result, we only had each other.

"This is the last time I am accepting this request, I guess."

Shoving a dark colored cloak into my bag - hoping it would decrease the chances of us getting caught - I watched the full moon rise from the horizon.

It was time for work, and the plains were far from the village.

Better get going, or the person from the last shift would be very annoyed.