Work Text:
The outskirts of Astera were calm and the grass danced at the euphonious night chime. Compared to the first time Iris met Aster, this was a chill night. But midnight was getting closer, and the girls swam through the front lodge of the Klepsydra Monument, escaping the guards’ sight and entering the grand building successfully. Large marble pillars surrounded the space of marble flooring and a big, circular skylight. It was perfectly on top of two large cups hanging and surrounded by concentrated elemental energy. A large pool at the bottom of the cups worked as restored energy for the city and the entrance to a realm beyond.
“How is it that there are no guards here?” Aster whispered.
“It was the best Fade could do for us. Any more requests and they would suspect”
“You gave her a name?” Aster said curiously, but also… happy?
“Yes!” Iris laughed, remembering the time they met. “She saved me when I strayed away. I was thinking of a name to give her, and Fade was the only thing that came to mind. She danced in circles and sang in excitement when she heard it” Her mind wondered and began to imitate said dance.
Aster laughed at the silly dance Iris mirrored. However, her eyes interrupted her.
“Those cups are hanging. What are they for exactly?” She pointed at the now top empty cup, while the one in the bottom was full.
“It marks the- the time! That means the festival is about to begin!” Iris still whispered, but in a more serious tone than usual. “We must hurry! I’ll explain later!” She took Aster by the hand and swam towards the bottom of the water clock, where a big puddle of the concentrated elemental energy rested.
Iris passed through the puddle, with the condensed energy submerging them slowly into the realm beyond. It wasn’t her first time, but it was for Aster. She could feel the condensed energy on her skin, but it was a faint touch, like flying through the clouds of her homeland. She watched the energy dance like veils as she moved them around with her body.
“I don’t want to ruin your fun, but this will make it even slower to fall” Iris laughed as their heads were about to be covered by the condensed energy. “This trip will be hard to go through for you, but I am with you” she said in a monotone voice, trying to convey that the situation was serious.
“Fall? What do you mean fall–?” Aster was interrupted by the energy submerging her even deeper to the point that she couldn’t talk. But Iris holding her hand was enough to calm her down.
The girls’ vision was dark and had no sense of direction. Suddenly they were now falling into a strong and harsh current, and no trail of condensed energy was left on them. Aster’s energy began to decline little by little in absolute darkness, being overwhelmed by the noisy currents, she opened her eyes in hopes to see anything. But not even Iris’ presence was noticeable, even though she was holding her hand a minute ago.
“Is she still holding my hand? Did I let go by accident? Where am I?” Aster’s mind began to doubt.
The cold temperature didn’t help to know if Iris was still with her, so she moved around trying to swim upwards, but a force pulled her close into a tight embrace.
“It’s ok! I’m here!” Iris shouted out loud enough to be heard, but her voice still rippled through the harsh streams.
Despite getting more tranquil, Aster held on tighter to Iris as they were still moved around. Aster was still able to hold on to the environment, but her heart betrayed her intentions. Her chest lit up in a snap as an act of desperation. She could see Iris’ face thanks to her light shining more vividly. Her eyes locked onto Iris’. Both let out a laugh in relief of seeing each other.
“I think it’s time to teach you how to swim properly,” Iris said. “That is, if we want to get there faster”
Aster’s shoulders sulked. Her eyes couldn’t meet Iris as soon as she heard that.
“Hey, you told me you were a star! What is there to fear when you shine like this?”
Those words left her unspoken, and their eyes met again in a long pause. Could Aster trust Iris like this once again? But with nothing more to say, Aster’s body let go of Iris, except for her hand still holding on to hers.
“Alright. You can still hold my hand, but you’ll have to loosen up. Just place your legs together and follow my movements” Iris said in a sweet and melodic voice.
Iris swam slowly up and down in the narrow space, simulating a wave. Aster followed her swimming and began to catch the pattern. Having Iris in the lead helped her learn swimming faster, following the same movement, but she slowly started to get tired, almost passing out. It didn’t take long for Iris to notice, so she caught her body and placed her on her back, holding her arms that surrounder her neck for support.
Aster’s light was getting dimmer as she was passing out, but it wasn’t an obstacle. For Iris, following the stream wasn’t difficult even in the darkness. Having been there many times already helped as training to know which way to go, and not because the stream was always the same. She was more worried about Aster’s state rather than not being able to see the currents, but her worries banished when she heard a song in the distance. It traveled a long space and she could still hear it even from afar.
The path ahead was clearing up with bright, golden light. Iris was so focused on getting there faster that she couldn’t notice Aster slowly waking up due to the light getting closer. Knowing she was still holding onto her back was enough to know she didn’t diverge and get lost.
“We are almost there…”
***
The golden light blurred Iris’ vision. Getting closer to it from a dark path wasn’t helping, but the temperature neutralized and warmed the girls’ bodies. The light was getting closer, and an endless rising and beautiful harmony of songs welcomed the two girls. Finally, everything was visible, and the girls entered the realm splashing through a fountain overflowing with the same condensed energy, pointing towards the skylight above them. The sudden launch made Iris lose control of her swimming due to the lack of water, but landed safely on the crimson grass.
“You’re awake!” Iris said in relief.
“I did so long ago!” Aster answered, unsurprised. “Never mind that. This realm… It’s so different from Astera. I can actually walk and not swim in here!” She said in excitement, dancing her feet around the grass.
Looking around, the girls saw a similar building as the Klepsydra Monument, except for it being opened to the outside, with no walls and no windows.
The sky had a golden hue to it, with a lively view of festival arrangements floating around. Melodious instruments accompanied the dancing sylphs, and shapeshifted into a similar body as Iris’. That’s when Iris realized the festival had barely just begun, so they sat down on the grass like everybody else.
The sylphs’ dances created a story in an amplified stage, located against one of the ends of the grand building. The actors wore wavy fin diadems on their heads, making allusions to Astera Citizens. The main dancer outshined the others with special attires and silver jewelry all around the feminine figure and a silver staff on her right hand. It was the story of a hero. A hero whose people rebel against their deity, bringing sorrow and pain because it tested their faith. Alas, a verdict fell upon them, being casted away and never able to see the moonlight again.
Although the play was thought to be a fiction piece, Aster couldn’t help but feel a rushing chill run through her spine and follow every inch of her body, despite the environment being warm. Memories were coming back and felt most alive. That night she lost what she had promised to save.
“Aster! Aster!” a familiar voice was calling to her. “You’re crying. What’s wrong?” Iris said in a worrying tone.
Hearing her name being called out like that, she snapped back into reality. She then realized the play had already finished and wiped the tears off her face.
“I forgot to blink,” she said, but her voice cracked.
“It’s ok, you can cry. It’ll get better soon” she consoled her with a sweet, laughing voice, coming in closer to embrace her and thought the story was just that sad.
Of course, Iris didn’t believe Aster just forgot to blink, but she let her feelings pour.
The next play was about to begin after an intermission.
Part 2
***
The streets of the Lunar Palace were busy, and the capital was guarded. Slowly, stars began to gather, welcoming large scout teams from seven different directions, and each landing in front of the main palace. All groups had a leader and their assigned right hand, with proper uniforms and winged staffs at hand.
A sylphlike figure with long, silver hair exited the large doors of the main palace and stood in front of everyone. Her radiant presence indicated the news would be shared, and the worries of the people would be pacified. Or at least, that’s what they had hoped.
“You may speak, child” She said to one of them in an expectant voice.
Seeing how no leader and right hand would raise their voices, the lady’s features sulked in disappointment and shock.
“We’ll begin a new plan when the full moon comes… I thank you for your service” She said, but her voice sounded empty and tired and her eyes looked down for a brief moment.
She then kneeled to the scouts, with her face facing the ground. The lights of the people dimmed upon seeing such a deity like her lose hope. Some gasped, and some even grew tears. Nevertheless, they followed her action in silence.
But right there, in a moment of hopelessness, the lights of the stars grew brighter than before. A sensation of discomfort and survival instinct manifested in unison. It was a call for help.
The stars cried in relief that one of their own might still be out there. The queendom found their hope once again.
The white haired lady felt her light grow warmer, and released a long sigh. She stood back up again and looked in amusement at her people. Her body begged to embrace them all, so she walked down the few steps in a rush to reach them.