A Glimpse of the Stars

Kai sat at his desk, the soft glow of his desk lamp casting long shadows across his room. His notebook lay open, filled with sketches of constellations—Orion, Ursa Major, Scorpius. The lines were rough, but the passion behind them was very clear.

 He leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling, where glow-in-the-dark stars formed their own miniature galaxy.

“Kai!” 

The door burst open, and Yumi, his younger sister, bounded in, her pigtails bouncing.

 “You’re still staring at your stars? You’re such a nerd!”

 “Sigh!, They’re not my stars, Yumi. They’re everyone’s stars.” Kai said not bothering to look up.

Yumi plopped onto his bed, kicking her legs. 

“Yeah, yeah. Grandpa called. He wants you to clean out the attic. Like, ASAP.”

 “The attic? Why now?” Kai replied with a frown, finally turning to face her. 

“Dunno. Maybe he found your old action figures or something.” She grinned mischievously. “Or maybe he’s finally getting rid of all your embarrassing childhood stuff.”

Kai rolls his eyes but couldn’t suppress a small smile. “Fine. I’ll go tomorrow.”

“Good. And don’t forget to take out the trash while you’re at it.” Yumi hopped off the bed and headed for the door, pausing to glance at his telescope. “You know, if you spent half as much time talking to people as you do staring at the sky, you might actually have friends.”

“Thanks for the advice,” Kai muttered, but Yumi was already gone, her laughter echoing down the hallway.He turned back to his notebook, tracing the lines of Orion with his finger. The stars had always been his escape—a way to forget about the noise of the city, the pressure of school, and the emptiness he felt since his mom passed away. 

He glanced at the photo on his desk, a faded picture of her smiling under a starry sky. She had been the one who first showed him the constellations, her voice soft and full of wonder.

“I miss you,” he whispered, his chest tightening.

His phone buzzed, breaking the silence. It was a text from Nero , his best friend.

Nero: "Hey man, you coming to the arcade tonight?"

Kai hesitated, his fingers hovering over the screen. He typed a quick reply.

Kai: "Can’t. Got stuff to do."

Nero: "Stuff? Like what? Staring at your telescope again?"

"Sigh!". Nero meant well, but sometimes his teasing felt a bit much.

Kai: "Something like that."

Nero: "You’re such a loner, man. But okay, your loss. Catch you later."

Kai set his phone down, his gaze drifting through the window. The city lights drowning out most of the stars, but he could still make out a few faint pinpricks of light. He stood up, grabbing his jacket from the back of his chair. "Maybe a walk would clear my head and I could buy a mask for tomorrow."

The attic smelled of dust and old wood, the air was thick with memories. Kai stepped carefully, his flashlight cutting through the darkness. Boxes lined the walls, their contents spilling out—old clothes, broken toys, yellowed photographs. He picked up a photo of his mother, her smile frozen in time. She looked so young, and so full of life.

“Why did you have to go?” he whispered with sad smile, his voice barely audible.

He set the photo aside, his eyes falling on a small wooden box tucked beneath a pile of old books. It was intricately carved, with symbols that seemed to shift and dance in the dim light. He picked it up, the wood warm to the touch. A faint hum emanated from it, like the distant sound of wind chimes.

“What are you?” he murmured, running his fingers over the carvings.

The box seemed to have its own heart beat in response, the symbols glowing faintly. Kai’s heart raced as he turned it over, searching for a latch. His fingers found a small indentation, and with a soft click, the box opened.

A blinding light erupted, filling the entire attic. Kai stumbled back, shielding his eyes. The air around him seemed to vibrate, the hum growing louder, and more insistent. He felt a strange pull, as if the light was drawing him in.

“What’s happening?” he gasped, his voice being swallowed by the roar of energy.

The light enveloped him, and for a moment, he felt weightless, as if he were floating in a sea of stars. Then, just as suddenly as it began, the light faded, leaving him in total darkness.

Kai blinked, as his vision slowly begins adjust to the soft glow of the aurora above. The air was cool and crisp, filled with the scent of blooming flowers and fresh earth. He sat up, his head spinning, and his eyes scanned his surroundings.

“Where am I?” he muttered, his voice trembling.

The forest around him was unlike anything he had ever seen. The trees were tall and slender, their bark shimmering with a faint silver light. The leaves rustled in the breeze, their colors shifting from deep green to vibrant gold. Above, the aurora danced, casting the world in an mysterious ethereal glow.

“Hello?” he called, his voice echoing through the trees.

There was no response, only the sound of the wind and the distant call of a bird. He stood up, his legs shaky, and took a step forward. The ground beneath his feet was soft, covered in a carpet of moss that glowed faintly with each step.

“This can’t be real,” he whispered, his heart pounding. “I must be dreaming.”

“You’re not dreaming,” a voice said, soft and melodic.

Kai spun around, his breath caught in his throat. A girl stood a few feet away, her silver hair catching the light of the aurora. She wore a flowing dress made of shimmering fabric, and in her hand, she held a staff adorned with glowing crystals. Her eyes, a bright green, studied him with curiosity.

“Who—who are you?” Kai stammered, taking slow a step back.

The girl tilted her head, a small smile playing on her lips. “I’m Liora. And you… you’re not from here, are you?”

Kai shook his head, his mind racing. “I… I don’t know where I am. One minute I was in my grandfather’s attic, and the next…”

Liora’s smile widened. “You found the Horizon Shard, didn’t you?”

“The what shard?”

She stepped closer, her movements graceful, and elegant. “The box. The one that brought you here. It’s called the Horizon Shard. It’s… special.”

Kai stared at her, his heart still pounding. “Special? What does that mean?”

Liora’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “It means you’re here for a reason. Come with me, I’ll explain everything.”

She reached out her hand, and after a moment’s hesitation, Kai took it. Her touch was warm, reassuring, and mysteriously he felt a glimmer of hope.