The night sky above the northern cliffs looked different from any sky Kael had ever seen.
The stars here were brighter.Sharper.Almost watchful.
They flickered like tiny eyes keeping secrets.
Aethren stood on a flat stone platform with Lira in front of him. Kael watched from a short distance, arms crossed, every muscle ready to protect her if something went wrong.
The cold wind circled the three of them. Snowflakes drifted gently, glowing faintly in the star-light. It felt more like they were floating in a dream rather than standing on a cliff.
Aethren spoke calmly.
"Lira, tonight you will learn the first rule of holding the Heart Fragment."
She looked up at him nervously."What rule?"
Aethren raised a hand.
"Do not run from the light inside you."
Lira swallowed."I'm… trying not to."
"You are trying to fight it," Aethren corrected gently. "But fighting something that is part of you will only exhaust you."
Kael stepped forward."So you want her to give in to it?"
"No," Aethren replied without turning. "I want her to accept it."
Lira wrapped her arms around herself, unsure.
Opening the Inner Door
Aethren continued.
"Close your eyes."
Lira obeyed.
"Now… listen. Not with your ears. Listen with the place inside you that feels."
Lira took a slow breath.The cold air stung her lungs, but she didn't complain.
"Tell me what you sense," Aethren said.
Lira frowned slightly."At first… I hear the wind."
Aethren nodded. "Good. What else?"
Lira's brow tightened."Under the wind… there's a soft humming. Like a song without words."
Kael took a step closer.
Lira continued, her voice barely above a whisper.
"And under that… something warm. Like a tiny sun."
Aethren's eyes softened."That is the Heart Fragment."
Lira trembled."It's… scared."
Kael's heart twisted. "Scared? Of what?"
Lira swallowed."Of me."
Aethren finally turned toward her."It is not scared of you. It is scared of being awakened too quickly. It has waited a long time to be whole. It knows the danger."
Lira's voice shook."I don't want to hurt anyone."
Aethren nodded. "Then we must teach it trust."
The Starfall Begins
Aethren raised both hands toward the sky.
The wind stopped.
For a moment, everything became completely silent.
Then—
shhhhhhhhhhh—
Stars began to fall.
Not fast, not crashing.They drifted down like glowing feathers.Tiny lights that left soft trails across the air.
Kael stared in awe.Lira opened her eyes, and her breath caught.
"It's beautiful," she whispered.
Aethren's voice echoed softly.
"This is a Starfall. A gift of the northern sky. And tonight, it will teach you."
One of the falling lights drifted slowly toward Lira.She stepped back instinctively.
Aethren said gently, "Do not fear it."
Kael felt his heart pounding."Is it dangerous?"
Aethren shook his head."Only to those who lie. But Lira carries no lies."
Lira reached a trembling hand toward the glowing light.
It touched her palm.
And her world changed.
Inside the Memory-Light
The moment the star touched her skin, warmth spread up her arm and into her chest.Not burning warmth—comforting warmth.Like remembering something she thought she had forgotten.
Her eyes closed without her meaning to.
She saw a field of endless night.She floated above it, surrounded by thousands of shimmering fragments.
They whispered not in words, but in feelings:
You are ours.We remember you.Do you remember us?
Lira felt tears fill her eyes.
She whispered inside the dream-light:"I don't know who I was."
The voices answered like soft bells:
Then begin with who you are.
Reality Returns
Lira gasped as she opened her eyes again.
The star-light faded from her hand, drifting away as another glowing flake took its place in the air.
Aethren watched her carefully."What did you see?"
Lira wiped her eyes."Something… like a sky made of memories."
Kael stepped close. "Did anything hurt you?"
She shook her head."No. It felt… kind."
Aethren nodded."Good. Then we can begin the second step."
Kael tensed. "What second step?"
Aethren turned to him.
"The Fragment must learn to trust him too."
Kael blinked."Me?"
Lira looked uncertain."Is that possible?"
Aethren gestured for Kael to stand beside her.
"The heart inside you is ancient. It fears power and greed. But it listens to truth. And the bond between you two is honest."
Lira blushed faintly but didn't look away from Kael.
Kael stepped forward."I'll do anything to keep her safe."
Aethren smiled sadly."Then speak to the light."
Kael hesitated."How? I can't see it."
"You don't need to," Aethren said softly. "Just place your hand over her heart."
Lira froze.Her breath hitched for a second.
Kael placed his hand gently over her chest—right where the Fragment rested.
The warmth pulsed against his palm.He gasped softly."It's… alive."
Lira shook slightly."Kael… talk to it."
He looked into her eyes.
And spoke softly:
"I'm not here to take you.I'm here to protect her.Both of you."
The warmth pulsed again.Stronger.Softer.
Lira let out a shaky breath she didn't know she was holding.
Aethren nodded in approval.
"The Fragment trusts your words. That is rare."
Kael stepped back, but Lira caught his hand before he moved too far.
She whispered, voice trembling:
"It trusts you because I trust you."
Kael squeezed her hand gently.
The Warning Signs
Aethren's face, however, grew troubled.
"That is enough for tonight. We must stop."
Kael frowned. "Why?"
Aethren pointed toward the eastern sky.
A thin black crack had formed across the horizon.
A crack in the sky.
Lira stepped closer. "What is that?"
Aethren's voice was grim.
"A sign that one of the corrupted fragments has awakened."
Kael's hand reached for his sword.
Lira's heartbeat quickened.
Aethren looked at both of them, voice low:
"Your training must become faster.Because something out there has smelled the heart inside you…and it is coming."