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Doug remembers wishing on shootings stars when he was kid, when his family, his tribe, was still alive. The innocence while being lifted on his father’s shoulders as they watched the stars shoot across the sky, the eagerness as he wished in his heart for something trivial, the love he felt from his parents as they brought him back inside, sleepy from staying up so late. All of it was imprinted in his mind, even to this day.
When he discovered his family and tribe slaughtered in their village, it was nearly night and the stars were beginning to shine. He was hoping for a star to fall until he stumbled upon the gruesome sight visible from the entrance to his village. The shock, despair, and wrath filled him one after the other over next several weeks, being fed what he now knew to be lies by the Sechs Empire. He never wished on a shooting star after that. After all, wishes were made to be granted by your own two hands.
Meeting Frey was a like a rodeo – full of ups and downs. Aside from being attracted at first sight, he had still been on guard. The Sechs had told him about the rune spheres that Frey had been coming to deliver to Ventuswill, and the burning desire for revenge prevented him from trusting her completely. Yet, watching her melted those feelings little by little.
Seeing her try so hard for the townspeople she barely met, doing her best despite her memory loss, it all seemed to warm him from the inside out. Even as his mission and drive for revenge put them at odds, racing to find the rune spheres for their own purposes, he still felt attracted to her. Before he realized it, he trusted her as a friend. Knew how good she was as a person.
It was for that very reason that Doug felt hurt and confused, knowing that Frey was trying so hard for the sake of the Native Dragon that had killed his tribe, his parents. The parents who brought beauty to the night sky that had long since been snuffed out.
Well, discovering the truth behind the murder of his family and tribe, it felt like a burden had both been lifted and placed on him all at once. He was relieved and determined to do right by Selphia, and above all, Frey. It had been during the events thereafter when Doug finally realized he had fallen for Frey. Hard. Everything else became a whirlwind. Every moment he spent battling against and with Frey, he started seeing the beauty of Selphia, Ventuswill, and even the night sky.
“Uh, Frey? I don’t mind having a late night date, but why the roof of the General Store?” he asked, pretty confused why his girlfriend suddenly asked him on an impromptu date that involved climbing onto a rooftop. He had to admit, he certainly thought they would be doing other things this late at night.
“Well, when I was checking the harvest report, I came across an interesting prediction.”
“An interesting prediction?” Doug was officially more confused than he was before.
“Ah! It’s starting! Look up!”
Following his beloved’s finger pointing at the clear, dark sky, he saw it. One shooting star, and then another. More soon followed after, and the sight of stars streaking across the darkened backdrop was breathtaking. Feeling Frey’s excitement next to him, he glanced over at her, and noticed her eyes were glued to the stars. Seeing her entranced by this phenomenon brought a smile to the dwarf’s heated face.
Doug glanced back at the stars, pondering all that had led him here. With Frey by his side, healing his wounded heart, he started to think that maybe he could believe in that superstition again. And so, for the first time in a very long time, he made a wish one on one of the many falling stars. His wish? For the time he spent next to Frey’s side to last forever.