The Star Weaver

The Torn Masterpiece

Bright lights filled Asteria's vision as she walked carefully across the unlit road that lay between her home and Orion's. The sight of hundreds of lamps all throughout the village was breathtaking in a way, but it was a sight that she had long since grown accustomed to. The sun would leave the sky often, and during that time the only available light was that which was provided by the gentle flicker of flames, be it candlelight, bonfires, or small hand-held oil lamps. Once, they had put up large street lamps that cast light for a good distance, but the fuel to keep them lit was expensive, and it didn't take long for the people of Cassiopeia to tire of paying for it.

"Where are you taking me, foolish girl?" Aquila's magic form stood on her shoulder, frowning as Asteria marched on through the dark. The small stone girl, though she had said her little body wasn't real, seemed to add an extra weight onto her shoulders, and Asteria found herself wondering if that was caused by the creature herself, or the weight of her previous words. "It is not wise for us to travel through the darkness. There are...things that travel in the shadows. With the light gone, there will be more of them, and I don't fancy seeing you get mauled." Clutching the stone star tightly in her hand, Asteria pursed her lips, her mind reeling with questions that she wouldn't allow herself to ask. She knew some of what traveled in the dark, but they were unlikely to bother her as long as she had the lamp. So she continued on.

When Aquila had declared that Asteria would be finding and mending the now shredded blanket of stars, her voice had been filled with certainty. Despite this, Asteria had still thought she was joking, bursting out in loud laughter that had pierced the then quiet night, void of the haunting singing that Aquila had been so sure would continue on until the sun rose. It had taken her a long time to realize that the Röksteinn hadn't been making an attempt at humor, but was dead serious.

It was then, as she was staring at Aquila's ironically stoney expression, that she had stood, grabbing both her still-lit lamp and the small stone necklace into her hands, and walking out of her home. For the last five minutes, she had been making her way silently down the road, her eyes trained forward as she marched onward, a feeling of angry determination rising in her stomach to combat the fear that had taken root there when the stars had first started falling. Up until this moment, Aquila had been silent, appearing on Asteria's shoulder as soon as she had left the house and watching as she marched angrily through the dark. It wasn't until Asteria was halfway to her destination that the small stone girl again found her voice.

Taking in a long breath of cold night air, Asteria answered softly, though there was an edge to her voice that hadn't been there before. "I'm going to see my friend. His father...he might have some information that will be able to help me."

Aquila, slowly lowering so that it appeared she was sitting cross-legged on Asteria's shoulder, frowned. "You seem to be taking my news awfully well. You did hear me correctly, didn't you? You have been instructed to find the blanket of stars, mend them, and ensure that they returned to their proper location." She paused, as if giving her words time to sink in before continuing. "This will not be an easy quest. You understand that, don't you?"

Asteria gave no response, continuing on with her hand clutched tightly around the little stone star. In truth, she had no intention of going on a mission of any sort, and after a long period of thought she had begun to wonder if Aquila was insane. It was the only logical explanation. Röksteinn, though possessing vast knowledge, were often said to be a bit touched in the head. Extensive information, beyond the reaches of any person's wildest imaginings, could turn even the strongest of minds. Asteria did not doubt this was true, even for ancient beings like the Röksteinn who had been created by the Earth Watcher himself.

There was no way that someone as powerful as the Earth Watcher, whom Asteria still wasn't completely sure was real, would want someone like her to save something as precious as the stars. Besides, even if he did, she had no intention of crossing the Sun Master. The empty void, vacant of its once plentiful glowing lights, was proof of how dangerous the Sun's creator really was.