The Sky’s Embrace

Still no sign of it? The meteor shower…

After an indeterminate stretch of waiting, both South Creek and Fanny felt their spirits wane. The prolonged wait, coupled with the profound weariness of the late hour, had nearly robbed them of the energy to even converse. Their limbs grew cold, their backsides numb, as an oppressive, endless darkness enveloped them. To ward off sleep, they found themselves stubbornly propped up on the grass, fighting against the encroaching slumber.

“I’m so sleepy, so cold, and it’s so dark… Why hasn’t this year’s meteor shower arrived yet? This is truly bizarre.”

Unable to suppress another yawn, Fanny’s eyelids drooped, battling against the heavy pull of sleep. She glanced at South Creek, who was just as drowsy beside her, before her gaze drifted to the still-inky night sky, her frustration threatening to spill over.

“Haa—tch—Perhaps… we should just head back?”

Mustering every ounce of her dwindling strength, South Creek proposed this, her sole desire now to return home and sink into a peaceful slumber in her own bed. While missing the meteor shower was a genuine pity, she simply couldn’t endure it any longer.

“Well… but…”

Despite a pang of reluctance in her heart, Fanny, too, sensed she was nearing her breaking point. Just as she prepared to concede, a woman’s voice suddenly echoed in their ears.

“South Creek—Fanny—where are you?”

It was Elise.

Though she had known beforehand that the two girls intended to watch the meteor shower somewhere in the village, having waited a considerable time at the church without their return, a familiar worry began to stir within her. After inquiring around, she learned that someone had spotted the two heading towards the orchard, prompting her to make her way there, calling out their names.

“It’s Elise…”

“Is it truly this late? I hadn’t noticed at all.”

South Creek, forcing herself to summon a flicker of energy, rubbed her small eyes. With Fanny’s assistance, she eventually managed to rise to her feet, calling out towards the source of the voice:

“Elise—I’m here—”

Moments later, accompanied by the rustling of parted bushes, Elise’s figure gradually materialized before them. She held her right hand slightly aloft, where a brilliant light coalesced, momentarily causing the two girls to squint, unable to fully open their eyes.

“You two little ones, what do you think you’re doing staying out here so late instead of heading home?”

“We’re here to watch the meteor shower…” In response to Elise’s questioning, South Creek replied meekly. She cautiously stole a glance at Elise’s face from the corner of her eye, only to find her displaying a thoughtful expression.

“A meteor shower, you say? I do recall it was scheduled for tonight, but for it to still not have appeared at this hour… has it truly come to this?”

“Elise…”

“You two thoughtless children, you don’t even understand the wisdom of knowing when to retreat. Staying out here like this, now that it’s so late and so dark, how exactly do you intend to get home?”

“…”

As expected, they received a stern lecture, and both South Creek and Fanny, in a rare moment of unison, obediently sealed their lips. By this hour, the night market had long since closed its stalls, and with its sole source of light gone, the entire village was plunged into profound darkness. Had Elise not come searching for them, they might well have found themselves stranded, unable to make their way home.

“I’ve told you repeatedly to be mindful of your safety… why is it you never seem to understand?”

Gazing at the two dispirited girls before her, Elise found she couldn’t bring herself to continue her lecture. A beautiful meteor shower was, after all, one of the most enchanting sights for children. After a moment of thoughtful silence, she suddenly posed a question:

“Do you still want to see the meteor shower?”

“No, no, we don’t!”

Shaking her head vigorously, Fanny, failing to grasp the true meaning behind Elise’s words, merely assumed she was still being scolded and hastened to admit her perceived wrongdoing.

“…………”

South Creek, however, remained quietly observant beside her. Knowing Elise well, she understood the true intention behind her words, yet she offered no sound, simply watching in quiet anticipation.

“Alright, South Creek, Fanny, look closely now. The meteor shower is about to begin.”

With a gentle smile, Elise turned, raising both hands high. The light coalescing in her palms grew ever brighter. Faintly, it seemed as though some unseen essence was continuously flowing into her, fueling the radiance.

“What is this?”

To the girl’s astonished gasp, Elise offered no reply, merely smiling as she always did, her gaze fixed upon the dark, profound night sky. The light pulsed and expanded within Elise’s palms, ultimately growing as incandescent and dazzling as a nascent sun.

Then, in a single, breathtaking moment, the sun ascended.

The light shot directly into the night sky, imbued with an unstoppable momentum, piercing the heavens and vanishing into the clouds. There, this blossoming ‘sun’ found fertile ground for its magnificent unfolding.

And then, the sun bloomed.

In that instant, countless stars burst forth, scattering across the boundless expanse of night. Each star raced freely in a distinct direction, pouring forth every ounce of its brilliant, resplendent light. The endless darkness was dispelled, and in that singular moment, the sky blazed with the brilliance of midday.

As if rooted to the spot, South Creek gazed, utterly motionless, at the night sky illuminated by the myriad stars. Such a magnificent and awe-inspiring spectacle was a dreamscape typically confined to the pages of storybooks or the verses of poets. It surpassed all the village’s fireworks displays, and even a genuine meteor shower would pale in comparison to such a breathtaking vista.

Yet, much like a true meteor shower, even the most ethereal of scenes could not endure indefinitely. As time wore on, the stars grew ever more distant, their brilliance gradually dimming. Darkness reclaimed the sky, leaving behind only a few faint, lingering hues.

“Truly… it has been quite some time since I indulged in such playful mischief.”

Lost in her own musings, Elise gazed at the sky, now once again swallowed by darkness, yet a peculiar sparkle danced in her eyes. She clapped her hands, a gentle signal for the two utterly mesmerized girls to return to their senses.

“Elise… are you a goddess who descended from the heavens?”

“How could that be? Look, am I not standing right here, waiting for you both to go home to bed?”

“But… such incredible things, creating something so beautiful… surely only a deity could accomplish it!”

Completely lost in a state of wonder, Fanny’s gaze towards Elise was now filled with adoration. Never in her life had she witnessed more than a few simple spells, let alone such a magnificent divine miracle.

“Alright, you’ve seen the meteor shower; now be content and go home to sleep soundly.”

Elise merely smiled, stroking Fanny’s head without offering any further explanation. She simply took the two girls’ hands, leading them homeward.

“Elise…”

“Hmm, what is it?”

“Thank you…”

“—!”

In that moment, Elise’s face bloomed with a smile as radiant as a flower. She did not turn back, continuing forward, though her steps seemed to slow just a fraction.

“There’s nothing to thank me for… After all, I am the sister in the world who loves you most.”