Star Spark

by Day Leitao

  “It’s not like I wouldn’t notice you’re seeing someone.”

  Marcus ran his hands over his braids again, but more as if he were confused. “It’s not like that. It was just last night.”

  Right. Just… a night. Like that? Was that why she had been giving Dess attention? Had she been looking for someone for a night?

  Marcus waved his hands. “Stop with that look. I told you, she’s cool. I’m not you, who can snap your fingers and girls will come running to you.”

  Dess frowned. “You think I have girl-magnet-finger-snapping magic?”

  Marcus shrugged. “You know what I mean.”

  Dess stared at his friend and snapped his fingers. The sound reverberated on the walls, accentuating the silence around them. He wanted to joke to forget the nauseous feeling he had. The silence didn’t last, though. Sylvia and Layla walked in.

  Dess looked away, unsure whether they looked in their direction or nodded “Hi”. It didn’t matter. What mattered was ahead of him, a single moment in time condensing years of training, his future about to be decided. At least it was in his hands. He touched his rings: infinity and power.

  3

  Cheers for the Brokenhearted

  Nowla wasn’t at their sleeping house. Saytera was about to look for her friend somewhere else when she noticed the room looked different. Her friend’s shells were not on her table. Saytera opened a chest, and found it empty. Nowla’s clothes were not there. Had her friend finally left the island, like she wanted? Perhaps. But why so soon? Had she been punished for hearing the conversation? If so, why only her? Rain poured outside, and the wind shook the trees. Still, Saytera was determined to find Yansin and ask some questions. Before she left, she heard a soft knock on the door and opened it. Yansin was there, looking dry and unaffected by the rain. The woman entered the room, looked at Saytera and seemed to understand her every thought, which was comforting and scary at the same time.

  “I’m really sorry Nowla did not have time to say goodbye. Vivian left, and took your friend with her. You know how much she wanted to leave.”

  That was true. And still… “They couldn’t have waited? Just a couple hours?”

  “Unfortunately not.”

  That was a very dry answer – even for Yansin. It seemed to relate back to the argument Saytera had heard earlier. Saytera had to ask, and by the way Yansin stared she could tell she obviously knew how much Saytera had heard.

  There wasn’t much point in pretending. “What did Vivian want with me?”

  Yansin shrugged. “She believes your future is in the place you were born, because you’re not from here.”

  That was a simple answer. Perhaps too simple.

  Yansin continued, “Now, I don’t necessarily disagree with her. But I believe your future depends on how well prepared you are for it. It’s no use to rush.”

  Saytera still had more to ask but somehow all her questions did not quite fit into words.

  Yansin seemed to notice her questioning eyes and said, “Patience. Trust time.”

  Yansin tapped Saytera’s head then left. The remaining question was “for what?”, not that Saytera thought there was no point in what she was doing, only that she did not know or understand where she was going or where she was supposed to go. Time was an endless line. Everything seemed to fit together, but into what shape?

  The next day an apprentice, Myomi, was assigned to oversee Saytera’s training. As if it would make up for all her friends who were gone. The girl was clearly upset at missing her training with Yansin, perhaps thinking she was babysitting Saytera. All she did was share her glorious knowledge of the Trinity Systems. Saytera knew about them, okay, perhaps not too much, but she didn’t really understand why they were talking about these distant systems. Myomi talked especially about the planets she called the big three: Ringon, New Glory and Spacitude, with some strange obsession on Ringon and its revolution gone wrong, bringing a totalitarian government that controlled a big chunk of the Human Universe, calling themselves the Peace Alliance.

  All this talk about war only made Saytera wonder about the Mainland Planet, where they lived, and its war with Sapphirlune, its moon. She couldn’t help thinking whether she did have a destiny and all this talk about the distant universe was just a way of distracting her from her nearer reality.

  Those distant planets were in Viarena, where most human systems were located. Mainland was in Spiraly, as far from Ringon and their deposed evil monarchy and new evil government as one could be. Fine, the Peace Alliance in theory ruled over the Mainland system, too, but it wasn’t as if they bothered to come and help them get rid of those stupid Lunars. Reading or hearing about Ringon was like learning about the Blues or the Lost Galaxies. Interesting, but then, how useful was it, when there was a moon staring at them and sharpening its weapons at that very moment?

  At least Myomi left her alone on the day of the Summer Celebration. As Saytera got ready for the party, she felt as if a cold storm raged inside her. Eagerness and fear. So much fear, and it was strange that she should be afraid of something she’d been anticipating for so many months. Just the thought of Cayo stirred something inside her perhaps more terrifying than facing crab kings. Well, that was ridiculous. Maybe not. She’d shot the crabs. She’d never be able to shoot him—or her feelings. And then those unanswered letters. How could eagerness and dread occupy the same spot? Well, they did, and they seemed to be quite close together, like some sort of cousins.

  Then there was all that talk, the woman, Nowla being sent away… The answers were not coming tonight, so she’d better not dwell on that. Later, with time, perhaps she’d get Yansin or Kerely to reveal bits and pieces of whatever truth they were hiding, and then Saytera would put them together. Tonight was a time for fun—if she could quiet down her inner storm.

  Saytera made her way through the sandy path towards the ceremonial fire, when someone called her, “Teh!”

  Soft, warm, familiar. Only one person had that voice, only one person called her that. Saytera turned around slowly, almost afraid that it had been an illusion, but it wasn’t; it was real. Cayo was there, with a friend. He looked taller. Same deep eyes, hair tied back. Saytera had to catch her breath.

  Thankfully he didn’t wait for her to speak. “Hey.” he looked down, as if embarrassed or if something wasn’t right. “I wanted to see you.”

  He didn’t sound as if he meant it, which was odd. But he’d said it. Something must have happened in the time he’d been away.

  “I’m here,” she replied.

  “I know.” He looked at the ground as if he’d dropped his words and was trying to find them. He faced up, smiled, then said quickly, “I… I want you to meet my girlfriend.” He pointed to the tall girl standing next to him.

  Girlfriend? Time stopped, as Saytera tried to understand what he’d just said. Girlfriend. She knew the word, she had seen apprentices kissing and holding hands, and yet, and yet, she had no idea it could happen. Not to Cayo. Not already. Saytera tried to look at the girl, but somehow her vision became blurry. All she saw was a tall shape.

  Cayo continued, “Saytera, this is Neoma, Neoma, this is Saytera. She’s practically a sister to me.”

  What a bizarre thing to say about a girlfriend. No, wait, he meant Saytera. Sister. Had she been upgraded from friend? Or downgraded from something that had never really existed? The walls of her throat decided to stick together, so talking was almost impossible.

  The girl approached her. “I’m happy to see you. Cayo talks so much about you! So, do you plan on ever coming to Blaze Island? To study?”

  Saytera shrugged.

  “Or visit?” The girl insisted, apparently waiting for a response.

  “Don’t know,” Saytera managed to mumble.

  “Cause then we could spend more time together. But I know you are here with Yansin, and I understand you wouldn’t want to trade it for… just being one of us…” She laughed.

  One of whom? Saytera had no idea what the
girl was even saying.

  “Come,” Cayo pulled Neoma, seeming also eager to end that awkward conversation. “There are more people we need to meet.”

  Before turning away, his eyes met Saytera’s for a second. A brief second, then he immediately looked away, almost as if he was afraid to look. What if he’d caught a glimpse of her silly pain? On top of her dizziness, she now felt embarrassed. But then, perhaps he had no idea. At least now she understood the reason he’d stopped visiting or writing. A silly reason. If they were friends, they shouldn’t stop being friends, should they? And yet, there was this something, this distance between them.

  Saytera found herself sitting on a bench and staring at the huge ceremonial fire without any idea how she’d gotten there. On a corner, they were roasting the crabs. Perhaps she should feel a tinge of pride. The drums, the shees, and the forlum stood at one end, waiting for their owners to weave power and beauty from them. Would the music still sound the same?

  “Hey, how is it going?” A voice snapped her out of her thoughts, and she turned to see Kilmara sitting by her.

  Saytera was happy to see her friend, but had to muster some effort to speak without crying. Crying, now this was really going too far. “Good.”

  Kilmara frowned. “Really? You don’t look too well.”

  “Uh, tired.”

  “Going on boat adventures with Kerely?”

  Saytera nodded.

  Kilmara laughed. “Right, right. Same little Saytera. I missed you. I was just looking at this fire… and thinking. It seems like yesterday we were kids running around it. Yesterday. And now…” There was a tone of sadness in her voice.

  “Now what?” f

  Kimara shrugged. “I don’t know. I like Blaze Island and everything, but sometimes I wish I were still the little girl who would get up and run whenever she felt like it.”

  Saytera looked at the fire and at her friend. In reality there was nothing stopping them. “Let’s go,” she teased.

  Her friend laughed.

  Saytera felt lighter. “It’s good to see you.” Her voice was returning. “And your brother… I’m happy he’s happy and, uh, I’m super happy.”

  “Yeah…” Kilmara sounded uncertain. “I’m glad you feel that way.”

  Saytera smiled. “Delighted.” Ouch, that sounded super fake. She didn’t want her friend to notice her feelings. “Cause he’s like, almost like a brother to me, so it’s good to see him. And you too.” The last part was true.

  The girl kissed her cheek. “It’s good to see you too. Wanna get up and run around the fire?”

  Of course the girl was kidding. Saytera scrunched her nose. “Nah.”

  “Oh, you liar!” More laughs. “Do you want to come sit with us?” Kilmara pointed to a group of teenagers.

  Cayo was there, sitting near his girl. He didn’t seem the same playful, relaxed Cayo. Instead he stood still as if afraid of something. Or was it that Saytera saw him differently now? She didn’t want to go over there; she wanted some time alone. Just some time alone.

  “Later,” Saytera replied, as her throat started to close again.

  “No problem.”

  Her friend walked away. Saytera looked down at her feet on the sand, as she felt the fullness of the bitter taste in her mouth and sick feeling and her stomach. The music started and she closed her eyes, feeling the drums reverberating through her heart, the melody taking her mind away from her thoughts.

  A few familiar chords were strummed, and with them, some cheers and yells from some apprentices. Saytera liked that song, but she hadn’t understood why it seemed to be everyone’s favorite—until now. How appropriate. “Cheers for the Brokenhearted”.

  Before the melody started, the singer said, “Today I bring a song. It's not any song, it's a special song. Because you deserve some cheers!” The singer was the one who got a loud cheer. Perhaps the cheers were for her too. Actually, they probably were.

  The melody was sad but beautiful, as if it transmuted pain into something else. And then came the words, not sad, not angry, not even meek, but strong and powerful, and yes, cheerful, of course.

  Then the shees and forlum quieted down, leaving only the drums. As if they refused to stop beating. The instruments came back, and the song went to the other part, softer and more melodic.

  The words faded away from Saytera’s notice as she looked at his direction again. He was not hugging or holding the girl’s hands. If he hadn’t said anything, Saytera would never have known.

  As she looked, he looked in her direction and their eyes met before Saytera looked away. What had he seen in her eyes? At that distance, she wasn’t sure what was in his. One thing she knew was that he still looked in her direction. What was he looking at?

  Everyone else was busy. Nobody would notice her absence, except perhaps Cayo, but at this point, why should she worry? Soon some apprentices would change the color of the fire or do other demonstrations—nothing she hadn’t seen dozens of times. She got up and made her way back to her sleeping house.

  Halfway through the path, someone called her. “Something wrong?” Yansin was right behind her.

  Saytera looked down, afraid that her master would look into her eyes and find out the reason for her sadness. “Tired.”

  “Go. Rest.” Yansin kissed her forehead. “Tomorrow the sun rises again. And so will you.”

  Saytera nodded and continued on her way. Did Yansin know what she’d been feeling? No way to know. The one thing Saytera knew was that the Sun did not rise. The planet was the one that circled it.

  She lay down, hearing the drums in the distance insisting on beating. Nowla called her in a soft whisper. A dream? But then someone shook her shoulder: her friend, standing right in front of her. The surprise was such that Saytera gasped.

  Nowla took a step back and whispered, “I thought you’d be happy to see me.”

  “No, it’s just… such a surprise!” Once the surprise sank in, Saytera became happy and excited. “Did you come back? How come nobody…”

  “Shh.” Nowla put a finger over her mouth. “Don’t speak so loud. I’m not supposed to be here.” She leaned in. “Can you come for a walk?”

  “Now?”

  “Yes, I have some things to tell you.” She looked around. “But I don’t want anyone to hear us.”

  Saytera looked around, searching for the imaginary listener they had to avoid, and found nobody. Still, she was curious, so she nodded instead of protesting. Nowla got up, peeped outside, then gestured for Saytera to follow her. The girl stepped on the side of the patch, over moss and plants.

  She turned to Saytera. “Make sure you don’t leave footprints.”

  Nowla was being a little paranoid. Who would look for footprints? And even if someone found their footprints, so what if they went for a walk? Still, Saytera did as her friend said, walking over plants and trying to ignore the prickling on her feet. Nowla led them to the inner beach, walking without difficulty in the dark, much like Saytera, who knew the paths in the island well. The tide was low and the boats seemed very far from the water they were supposed to reach. Sapphirlune shone brightly over the sea, and it would have looked beautiful to anyone who didn’t know about its attacks on the planet. Nowla walked over the grass by the beach until its far edge, then climbed the rocks that led to an even smaller beach, only accessible at low tides. As Saytera climbed the sharp and slippery rocks, she started to think that this walk was literally going too far.

  Nowla finally stopped and sighed. “We’re safe here.”

  Saytera agreed they were safe, although she thought they would be just as safe in the sleeping house—if not even safer. But the fresh evening air and the soft sound of small night waves were pleasant, as well as seeing her friend. Walking on the sand instead of on the prickling grass was good, too.

  Nowla looked around, then found a branch on the sand and sat on it. So did Saytera. Her heart beat faster than usual, maybe because of the walk, maybe in anticipation of something, something
… she had no idea what.

  Nowla then asked, “Did you catch anything from the conversation we heard?”

  Saytera nodded. The mere mention of that talk gave her goosebumps.

  Nowla also nodded. “I spoke to Vivian about it. She explained to me what she could, cause I think Yansin put a curse on her or something.”

  In another situation, Saytera would protest that curses didn’t exist, but she was too curious to interrupt Nowla.

  Her friend continued, “She said we could be important in ending this war, that both of us have missions, but she can’t give us details—yet. ”

  In a lighter situation, Saytera would laugh at trying to picture herself as having anything to do with any war. In fact what she feared most about leaving the islands was facing a war and who knows what else that would come with it.

  Nowla didn’t seem to notice Saytera’s disbelief and added, “You see? We’re both important, that’s why we’re here. Why do you think Yansin herself took care of raising you, and taking me? No other children were raised in Ken Island, except for Cayo and Kilmara, but their parents are here.”

  Saytera sighed. “But then, if Yansin took us, maybe we should trust—”

  “Yansin is too scared to be trusted. Why do you think her people hide in these islands, live without comfort, electricity?”

  Saytera opened her mouth to answer, but felt at a loss for words.

  Nowla got up. “For all her good intentions—and I’m giving her the benefit of the doubt by assuming she has good intentions—Yansin is paralyzed with fear. You can’t be guided by someone else’s fear. You won’t fulfill your destiny if you stay here.”

  That word again… Saytera looked at her feet in the sand. They both looked grey in the night light. She didn’t believe in destiny, but then, that was what Yansin had taught her. What if Yansin had taught her not to believe in destiny on purpose? And still, there was one more possibility. “What if Vivian is wrong?”

  Nowla raised an eyebrow. “Then both Vivian and Yansin are wrong. Remember that in the little we heard from the conversation in the meeting house, Yansin never contradicted Vivian. They seemed to have the same opinion, only different takes on how to go about it. So what Vivian said cannot be wrong, unless they are both wrong. ”