the arrival of the eye

Korrin came running into the meadow, with the dawn held back and a trembling smile still clinging to her lips. The white dress her mother had hand-embroidered for her was stained with stardust, and blades of luminous grass had clung to her stockings. With one hand still against her chest, she clutched the pocket where she kept the small blue crystal key her father had entrusted to her moments before. It was still vibrating, as if breathing, a dull, warm beat that reminded her of the hologram's metal heart.

The meadow stretched like an ocean of light under the polished sky of Utopia-7. Luminous flowers dotted the landscape, pulsing in warm tones to the rhythm of the artificial wind blowing from the bioclimatic ducts. In the midst of that programmed paradise, Kaito and Yuki pranced between holographic trees, engaged in a chaotic chase. Their laughter was like digital bells, a sound that once filled her with joy and now sounded hollow, distant.

Kaito, with disheveled hair and a sharp grin, was nimbly climbing a code-generated tree structure. Seeing her arrive, he gave a mocking bow.

"You're late, you crybaby! We already beat you three rounds."

His voice reverberated through the trees with a video game echo.

Korrin stopped a few feet away, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His eyes glittered with excitement, but a shadow of doubt was also cast on his face.

"My dad showed me something amazing!" she exclaimed, shaking her hands to shake off the imaginary stardust. "It was like... like a giant firefly, but made of metal! And... I think he heard me."

Yuki, who was trying to catch a data butterfly fluttering with sparkles, turned to her with a smile. His tone was sweet, though tinged with a hint of disbelief.

"A giant firefly? You're not dreaming again?".

Kaito jumped out of the tree, landing with the grace of one who has won every game.

"Save your fantasies for later. Let's go! This time it's your turn to be the boss of the level.... let's see how long you can hold out.

He touched a projected panel and a new round of the game was activated. Digital creatures emerged from the ground in a dancing pattern, and platforms began to float slowly through the trees.

Korrin tried to keep up with them. He ran, he jumped, he tried to shoot energy pulses with the game glove he was wearing, but it was obvious that he couldn't match Kaito's speed or Yuki's aim.

She stumbled once. Then another. Her frustration grew, until finally she fell to her knees among the luminous flowers.

"It's not fair...! I lost again!" she wailed, her voice breaking with tears. The sweat on her face was beginning to mix with tears.

Kaito halted his departure, his agitated footsteps leaving a slight tremor in the projection of the floor. He crossed his arms, though his tone was no longer mocking, but somewhat uncomfortable.

"If you keep crying, you're never going to beat me. You're a crybaby, Korrin."

Yuki walked towards her, turning off her game interface with a gesture. She knelt down next to Korrin, her tone now more protective.

"Leave her alone. She's smaller than us. She's still learning. She even thinks fireflies are fairies."

"I am not a child!" cried Korrin in tears, and with desperate strength she tried to push Kaito. Her small hands struck the boy's chest, but she herself lost her balance and fell backwards onto the grass.

A tense silence settled for a moment. Kaito took a step toward her, with an embarrassed expression.

"Hey... yeah, sorry. Come on, get up."

He held out his hand, and Korrin looked at it hesitantly.

Hardly had Korrin stood up when a dull rumble ran through the air like a restrained roar. The earth trembled beneath his feet, and an invisible shudder ran through the meadow. Kaito and Yuki stood motionless, their faces pale. The luminous flowers faded one by one, as if someone had cut off the flow of life energy in the area.

And then they all heard it: a crack, like that of a giant crystal slowly breaking... coming from the sky.