Drunken Revelations and Starlit Anticipation

“Hold on, watch yourself.”

Due to his hasty movements, Wede tumbled onto the bed in an incredibly awkward posture, causing the wooden frame to creak in protest.

“Don’t fuss so much. We’ve already brought him here, haven’t we? By the way, is this really his home? It’s the first time I’ve ever seen a place more dilapidated than mine…”

“Perhaps there’s a special reason…”

Reaching out, South Creek attempted to shift Wede into a proper position on the bed. Just then, a spark of clarity flickered in Wede’s previously muddled gaze. He looked at the indistinct figure before him, a smile welling up, as if on the verge of tears.

“Don’t bother with me… why? Even this is pointless. In a world as hopeless as this, everyone’s going to die anyway. There’s no meaning in caring for someone like me, who’s already rotting away…”

“Hopeless… die… What do you mean?”

Catching the unusual undertone in his words with keen perception, South Creek instinctively questioned him, causing Wede’s clouded eyes to turn towards her.

“It means nothing… How long has it been since the sun last appeared? The days are growing shorter… The Demon King’s army is relentlessly advancing eastward, and no one can stop them… It’s either death or starvation… Such… such a world—!”

His words abruptly ceased. In that final moment, Wede saw the girl’s troubled expression and her extraordinarily clear gaze. His mind cleared in an instant, and he stared at the South Creek before him, utterly stunned, almost losing his power of speech.

“What exactly… do you mean?”

[What did I just say?]

Realizing immediately, a cold sweat broke out on Wede’s forehead. What had he just uttered to this child, as pure and kind as an angel? These unblemished children should never know the world behind the curtain. Their pristine, unadulterated hope must be shielded from the taint of malice before it can blossom, even if that shield is a bulwark of lies… Yet, just moments ago, he had dared to chip a small hole in that very wall.

“No, no, that was just me babbling nonsense. I drank too much, and those self-deprecating words just spilled out. My apologies.”

“Oh, you’re awake, Mr. Wede…”

Blinking, South Creek hadn’t anticipated his sudden awakening, but it was a welcome development. At the very least, they no longer needed to worry about him.

“Did you two bring me back? You’ve helped me so much, I’m truly grateful.”

“You absolutely must thank us properly. If we hadn’t hauled you back, you’d probably still be sprawled on the road right now.”

“That’s certainly true… I drank far too much alone and ended up collapsing by the roadside. To think I relied on you two to bring me back, it’s quite improper… I’ve caused you worry, and I’ll be sure to thank you properly later.”

Offering a string of apologetic smiles, Wede seemed to revert to his usual cheerful self. He scratched his head, giving a wry smile as he thanked the two girls, bearing no resemblance to someone who had just sobered up from a drunken stupor.

“You two probably want to keep exploring the night market, don’t you? It’s hardly worth wasting so much time on such a minor matter. Thanks to you, I feel much more clear-headed now—go on, hurry and explore a bit more. There are still plenty of wonderful sights to see, my two young ladies.”

“Exactly, exactly! Since he’s already awake, let’s not linger here. I still want to see how Aunt Xuela manages to attract so many fireflies!”

Upon hearing this, Fanny pulled South Creek even more eagerly towards the night market. There were still so many fun things to do, beautiful sights to see, and delicious foods to taste; she simply hadn’t had enough!

“I understand… Well then, Mr. Wede, we’ll see you next time.”

“Have a pleasant journey, girls.”

He waved them off warmly. As the door creaked shut, the last vestiges of light abandoned the dilapidated cottage entirely.

“I’ve caused trouble for others… I just hope the pastor isn’t angry because of this. I’ve already…”

“Isn’t it too bright here? I feel like I can’t see anything at all.”

As midnight drew near, the grand festivities gradually concluded. Yet, this was not the night’s final act; on such a beautiful evening, there remained one essential thing for people to do.

Watch the meteor shower.

As one of the origins of this ancient festival, a beautiful and spectacular meteor shower typically graced the night sky on this particular evening. Though the exact date remained unknown to most, there was always someone who could disseminate the royal city’s astrologers’ predictions to every corner of the region.

According to the divination, the meteor shower was destined to arrive tonight.

“Just wait a moment. With all this bright firelight, of course you can’t see the stars in the sky.”

After swiftly moving through the village and spending more time enjoying the night market, the two girls concluded their delightful outing with a bountiful haul. Now, they were diligently searching for the optimal spot to witness the meteor shower. While they didn’t know precisely when the meteor shower would grace the area, the night sky was already illuminated by the bright market lights. Consequently, finding the most suitable viewing location required a place sufficiently secluded with an unobstructed view.

In previous Starfall Festivals, they had tried various locations, but the viewing experience had always been less than satisfactory, never quite matching the breathtaking spectacle described by the village elders. Although they weren’t sure why, this year they had finally discovered the perfect spot.

“Isn’t it too dark here? What if some wild beast suddenly appears?”

“I don’t think so. I recall there aren’t many animals around this area.”

“You say that, but how did you even find such a perfect spot? I never knew about it before!”

Indeed, the two girls were headed precisely to the place where Jack usually fed his animal companions. This area was not only secluded and quiet, situated a good distance from the night market, but it also featured a perfectly flat, open space nearby, free from the obstruction of buildings or trees. It was unequivocally a rare and auspicious location.

“It’s a secret.”

Feigning an air of mystery, South Creek led Fanny through the winding village paths, eventually arriving at the western edge of the orchard. Everything here was enveloped in tranquil darkness, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves.

To South Creek’s relief, Jack was not there; otherwise, she would have had to spend ages explaining things to Fanny again.

Fumbling, they settled onto a patch of grass, sitting shoulder to shoulder, leaning against each other as they gazed up at the dark and profound sky.

“We can’t see the stars here, either…”

A flicker of doubt arose in South Creek’s heart, and she suddenly recalled Wede’s drunken words. A world where night perpetually overshadowed day, perhaps, held reasons unknown to them.

“When do you think this year’s meteor shower will finally arrive?”

The meteor shower’s appearance time varied each year, but it was always guaranteed to occur tonight and last for at least several hours. With midnight already passed, the wait shouldn’t be much longer.

“I’m a bit sleepy…”

After all, South Creek was a well-behaved child with a highly regular routine (thanks to Elise’s tutelage). Staying up late like this happened perhaps only a few times a year, so feeling drowsy was only natural.

“Hehe, I knew you’d be like this. Let’s just chat for a while; I have so, so many things I want to tell you!”

“Alright…”

Her response was weak, devoid of energy. Beneath the boundless starlit sky, the girls’ whispers softly echoed through the orchard.