The night air was crisp, a perfect blend of cool and comforting as we gathered around the bonfire, the flickering flames casting playful shadows across our faces. The Astronomy class was different today, not the usual lecture-filled session, but a practical one: a stargazing outing in the middle of the grounds, far from the castle's looming walls. The sky above us was a canvas of dark velvet, spattered with stars that seemed to shimmer with secret magic.
Solace, as always, was perched lazily on a large stone, his golden eyes glinting like the stars themselves. He caught my gaze and flashed a grin, his usual wild charm not lost even in the quiet of the night. He had that way of making everything seem effortless, like he was born to be this free. As I sat on the grass beside Ellie, I could feel the quiet pulse of magic in the air, almost like the stars themselves were watching over us.
Ellie, always bubbling with curiosity, was practically bouncing as she looked up at the stars. "Look at them!" she exclaimed, her red hair catching the firelight as she gestured excitedly. "They're so bright tonight, like they're alive or something. Can't you just feel it?"
I couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. "Yeah, they're nice," I muttered, my attention more focused on Solace, who was lazily leaning back against the stone, watching us all with a relaxed smile.
"I heard there's a star out there that doesn't belong," Ellie continued, now turning her gaze to me. "Like, a star that wasn't born from the rest of the sky... How crazy is that?"
Before I could answer, Finnian, sitting across from me with his usual dry humor, chimed in. "A rogue star, huh? Next, you'll tell me there's a star with a dark sense of humor, too."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the chuckle that slipped out. Finnian had a knack for twisting everything into some sarcastic quip, but it made nights like this feel a bit lighter. Even if he was often harder to read than the stars themselves.
From the other side of the fire, I noticed a girl I hadn't seen much of. Elara, a charmingly beautiful girl with violet-colored hair and eyes, and pearl-white skin, was sitting with her knees pulled up to her chest. Her hair was of medium length, curled at the bottom, giving her an ethereal and graceful appearance. She had a delicate frame and moved with a quiet elegance that drew attention. Elara was looking up at the stars with an intensity that caught my attention. She seemed to be in a world of her own, her expression wistful, almost like she was searching for something among the constellations.
"Is it true that the stars can tell stories?" she asked, her voice barely rising above the crackling fire.
I looked at her curiously. She was speaking to the group, but her gaze was directed toward Solace, like she was waiting for him to respond. He caught her look, and there was a brief, almost imperceptible shift in his posture—something softer, more approachable in the way he tilted his head toward her.
"I don't know if they tell stories, but I think they're full of secrets," Solace replied, his voice as smooth as always, a playful smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He seemed more than content in this moment, like the stars had somehow come alive around him.
Elara smiled softly, her cheeks tinged pink. She was clearly trying to keep her nerves in check. "I've always wondered about the moon, too. There's something about it... something... lonely, maybe. Or maybe just... distant?" She let out a small laugh, as though realizing how silly her thoughts sounded. "I know that sounds ridiculous."
"Not ridiculous at all," I said, my voice soft but steady. "I think the moon's just... different. It's not really lonely. It's the kind of thing you look at and think it's full of stories... even if it won't ever tell them."
She looked at me, surprised, and something in her posture softened. "Yeah, that's kind of how I feel about it."
Ellie, eager to keep things light, immediately piped up, "That's beautiful... But, uh, where's the part where they fight a giant snake or something?"
I couldn't help but laugh. Ellie always managed to bring a bit of chaos into even the most peaceful moments. Elara smiled softly, but there was a hint of something in her eyes—maybe relief, maybe understanding—that hadn't been there before.
Solace, always quick to seize the moment, grinned mischievously. "Well, Ellie, I think the moon's story would make a better book than a movie. No giant snakes, but lots of depth."
Elara's eyes sparkled, and she seemed to gather her courage. "Actually, I have a story about the moon. It's one my mum used to tell me."
We all turned to her, intrigued. She cleared her throat and began:
---
"Once upon a time, there was a lonely moon who watched over the earth every night. She was beautiful and luminous, but she felt empty because she had no one to share her light with. She looked down at the earth and saw all the people with their families and friends, and she wished she could be a part of that world.
One night, the moon noticed a single star falling from the sky. It was a lost star, separated from its constellation. The moon watched as the star drifted closer and closer to the earth, its light flickering weakly. The moon decided she couldn't let the star fade away, so she used her light to guide it back into the sky.
The star, grateful for the moon's kindness, asked, 'Why did you help me?'
The moon replied, 'Because I know what it feels like to be alone.'
The star understood and promised to visit the moon every night. And so, every night, the star would shine brightly beside the moon, and together they would light up the sky. The moon was no longer lonely, for she had found a friend who understood her.
And from that night on, the moon and the star would whisper stories to each other, stories of the earth and the sky, stories of dreams and wishes. They became a part of each other's world, bound by a friendship that transcended the vastness of space."
---
Elara's voice was soft and melodic, and as she finished, there was a moment of silence around the fire. The story had a gentle magic to it, and I could see how much it meant to her.
"That was beautiful, Elara," I said, genuinely moved. "Thank you for sharing it with us."
She smiled, her eyes twinkling like the stars above. "Thanks for listening."
"Can we get some snacks?" Finnian asked, his dry humor breaking the silence as he nudged me with his elbow. "I swear, I'm not going to make it through this storytelling business without some chocolate."
"Here, here!" Ellie agreed, practically bouncing to her feet. "Snacks are always the best part!"
As we settled into the rhythm of conversation, the fire warming our faces, I couldn't help but think that this was the closest I'd ever felt to truly understanding someone else—especially Elara, who had opened up just a little bit tonight. And maybe, just maybe, it was the stars themselves who had brought us together.