The City of Shadows

The Sky

It was beautiful. Absolutely horrifying – and yet incredible at the same time. The large streaks of fire lined the sky over Aneron. The flares that created these streams were huge, even at a significant distance. For a few hours now, these gigantic "stars" barreled over the skyline, capturing everyone's attention. This was the first situation that was immediately presented to the general populace, yet no panic ensued. In fact, some cheered and danced in the streets. Tomorrow was the festival, and many if not all took this as a meaningful sign of hope.

Lunar: "I've never seen anything like this."

Solar: "That's because you're not very observant."

Perched on the balcony connected to Solar's study, the pair watched the sky in awe just like everyone else did below.

Lunar: "What do you think this means for tomorrow?"

Solar sighed and planted her face in her hands, and when she spoke it came out muffled.

Solar: "I don't know. I'm not sure I know anything anymore."

Lunar: "Well that's reassuring."

Solar looked up enough to shoot him a look, but his gaze was set firm on the sky, his eyes full of thought. She leaned up and watched him for a few more minutes.

Solar: "What're you thinking about?"

Lunar glanced over at her then looked back at his hands. Or, at least, his eyes were in the direction of his hands, but he was looking at something further beyond that.

Lunar: "I've just been tossing around an idea."

Solar: "Oh yeah? Let's hear it."

Lunar nodded a few times and mentally straightened his papers.

Lunar: "What if we were to try to send out a message tomorrow?"

Solar: "Message? How? Why?"

Lunar: "Well just hear me out. If I'm right, and this 'eclipse' is a person, they need to be told where to go. After all, we've been banished here for centuries. I doubt we're nothing more than a myth."

Solar: "Alright. I get the why, but what I still don't understand is how."

Lunar smiled warily at his counterpart.

Lunar: "Someone has to leave."

Solar: "No."

Lunar: "Listen, it's the only way."

Solar: "I don't care how powerful or... stubborn you are, you're not leaving this surface. And it's not because I don't want you to stay here, but because you physically can't leave. We're bound here."

Lunar: "Every day for the past few weeks there's been something new. Yesterday it was the whispering, today it's the shooting stars. If we're assuming the eclipse is a person, then that leaves the silver and gold sky tomorrow. Historically, our people's powers have surged during those times."

Solar: "According to some ancient textbooks that are a few days away from becoming dust. I think it's a fun idea, and it was nice while it lasted, but my answer is no."

Lunar stiffened and his gaze turned hard, as if he knew this was the answer he was going to get, and he had practiced his rebuttal.

Lunar: "I don't need your permission. I'm going tomorrow, even if it's the death of me. But I won't sit here and waste an opportunity, wondering for the rest of my life 'what if'."

Solar fumed at his response. How could he be so stubborn? So foolish? So... admirable?

Solar: "Alright. Say I let you go –"

Lunar crossed his arms and rolled his eyes.

Solar: " – then what are you going to do? Just fly around until you find the right person?"

Lunar: "No, I don't think it'll be like that. Something tells me I just have to wait until they find me."

Unable to find any more words, Solar leaned back over the balcony, and they watched the last of the shooting stars together.