Even in the darkest of times, one can still find light. They just have to look at the stars.
Humans have been blessed by the Divines. For centuries, civilization has flourished, and mankind has rapidly progressed with the use of innate magical power...
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Recovering his energy with a brief four-hour nap, Riarshi awoke and sent a group text to Tabito and Hara.
Hey guys. I know this is really short notice, but can you two meet me at Merino's at 2:00? I need to talk to you.
After sending the message with a stalled, hesitated press of the screen, Riarshi ran across town and jumped on a bus to Spiritfield. He arrived at Merino's front door around one-thirty with sweat dripping from his forehead and down his back.
Riarshi pushed open the door to the diner, chiming the tiny bell above the frame to signal his arrival. The everyday sounds and smells which normally flooded the diner were surprisngly fainter than usual. The diner must have recently finished the lunch rush hour, having only a few tables filled with one or two people deep in conversation or twiddling on their phones.
Scanning the left and right dining rooms with a cautious gaze, Riarshi slowly stepped through the entrance and up to the host stand.
A shorter, curly black-haired lady named Ginah greeted Riarshi with her familiar nod and high-pitched 'hello'.
During the last three months, Merino's employees began to consider Riarshi as a regular at the diner, greeting him by name, giving him discounts, and going out of their way to help him with whatever he needed. So when Riarshi wandered into the scarcely filled diner on this afternoon, the hostess recognized him instantly.
"Hey, Ginah." said Riarshi. "I'm gonna grab a table. Can you let me know when Tabito and Hara get here? I'm supposed to meet with them today."
Ginah squeaked with her cute little giggle, one she often let slip while she worked. She pointed to the side dining room where four-person booths were positioned along the windows.
"Funny," Ginah smiled, "they said the same thing about you. They're already over there."
Riarshi's eyes shot to where Ginah pointed. Three tables away from the hostess stand sat Tabito and Hara, both scrolling aimlessly through their phones. Tabito managed to raise his eyes from his phone just in time to notice Riarshi. The teen then waved without a word, lips quirking at the corners.
Riarshi nodded, acknowledging the silent greeting. He smiled at Ginah, turned, and walked down the aisle. Hara looked back, too.
He felt their gazes gracing his skin, fluttering his stomach. How exactly would he start this?
Pausing at the end of the checkerboard patterned table, Riarshi sucked in a sharp breath. Eyes locked on his classmates, he turned his body and slid into the red leather booth.
They sat in silence for several beats, glancing away once they made eye contact.
Here it goes.
"So... uhm, thank you guys for coming here on such short notice," Riarshi began reluctantly, interlacing his white-knuckled fingers. His thumbs twirled around each other.
