Stars don't make loops

Filn picked up the stake and stuck it where Dai pointed. He picked up the hammer and began to hammer the pin deeper. When he was deep enough, he put down the hammer, grabbed the pin with both hands, and began making circular motions to widen the hole. Filn had to push hard because it wasn't easy; that's why Dai said to use force.

Meanwhile, he looked at Dai, sitting back on her heels, wiping her hands. "Did something happen today?" he asked while he circled. Dai looked at him and shrugged. "Nothing special." She replied, but once she was no longer focused on the task at hand, of course, the Horn problem returned to her mind. But Filn knew her well. "Horn came to bully you again, didn't he?" he asked because Horn was the biggest problem in the nearby market. Being younger, he would have thought he had a soft spot for Dai, but he was already a man in his thirties. Who pulls girls by the hair to get their attention at this age?

"Hah, why do you ask if you know? Horn is old news. He just manages to piss me off." Dai didn't want to discuss the new annoying method Horn had come up with. It's not like Filn can do anything about it. And Dai didn't need others to fight her battles for her. If Filn messed up too much, Horn could do something to him. She wasn't going to endanger the few people she cared about. And then Teru would kill him. And maybe her, too. Dai paused at the thought momentarily, finding it very tempting, but then shook it off. Filn stopped widening the hole and put down the pole to pick up a seedling, which he then placed before planting it in the hole.

Dai reached out her hands to touch the plant. She used her ability again.

Name: Bell Pear seedlings

Status: Growing

Maturation time: 1 month, 21 days, 5 hours

Dai was satisfied and pulled away."Give it less than two months when it will mature. Then a little while longer, and you will have fresh fruit." She announced. Filn smiled truly happily; he immediately forgot what they were talking about. "That sounds like just in time." He remarked, and Dai looked at him questioningly. Filn cleared his throat and looked away. "Well, you know… we're hoping that by that time… Teru…" His tongue was fumbling as he tried to explain.

Dai felt like teasing him a little but let it go, chuckling. "Okay. Okay. You don't have to explain it to me. I know what you mean. Hey, I hope it works out for you." She pats him on the shoulder. Relieved that he didn't have to explain further, Filn nodded happily. "What about you…" He began automatically, but Dai cut him off immediately. "And nothing. Filn, you know how things are. Don't say unnecessary things."

"Right. Sorry." He slumped, but Dai patted him on the shoulder again. She didn't want to see her friend's puppy dog eyes.

"I'll go when it's done." She looked up at the sky, which was starting to darken. Although the Purple Rift still glowed the same. "Aren't you staying for dinner?" Filn immediately revived."Not today. I'd rather go while it's light." They both returned to the house. Dai took her backpack and said goodbye to both of them. Even though her gaze momentarily fell on the food pot, she still waved and started on her way home.

Dai basically lived by the outer wall. Not a very popular place to live. Finally, if a beast ever comes through, the houses and people closest to the outer wall are their first targets. It's happened before; some monster got in and ate some people. Some even in their sleep. It was a scary thought to go to sleep and never wake up because something ate you in your sleep. It's not that Dai doesn't want to live far from the outer wall. But she needed every crystal she could get, and living there was almost free of cost. Moreover, it was said that luck is also a skill. And she doubted that she would be so unlucky as to break through the beasts right at her house... Yeah... she's betting a lot on luck.

As Dai walked, she slowly moved her eyes back and forth, paying attention to her surroundings. Darkness was coming fast, so she had to be careful, despite being in the Shelter. After all, some people are more dangerous than any beast. And quite a few weirdos are living on the outskirts of Shelter. Dai shifted her backpack on her back and quickened her steps. Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she saw some white movement. She immediately turned her head in that direction but saw nothing around her. Her step faltered as she caught sight of it again and looked up. She watched the Purple Rift as she had the feeling that the movement wasn't near her after all, but some white flash she caught. She finally stopped completely when she saw it again. It looked like a white line that ran across the Violet Rift. It resembled a shooting star. Dai has never seen a shooting star. This is the first time she's seen one. She remembered the old saying about making a wish.....

Meh. Who would believe these things? Dai was about to turn around when she froze when she saw the shooting star suddenly make a loop and change direction. Dai's jaw dropped. What? Can stars do that? Dai stepped forward, still staring behind her. She observed this phenomenon and only after a while realized that the white light was starting to sting her eyes a little. She blinked, and her pupils dilated. Wait... isn't it heading... here? No, they'll probably just fly over the Shelter. But why was she starting to have a bad feeling?

She quickened her step.

The star was getting closer.

Dai was accelerating.

The star was getting closer and closer.

And Dai no longer looked behind her, staring at the road and running at full speed. She saw her shadow before her as the light illuminated her from behind."Shit, stop chasing me!" she shouted in panic, not daring to look back. She felt it there. Was it chasing her? Since when do stars chase anyone?! Are you looking for revenge or what?!

The bad feeling grew stronger, so Dai threw herself on the ground and covered her head with her hands. A white star whizzed over her head, and a sharp light stung her eyes when she looked up. Dai blinked to regain her sight, and through the blinks of her eyes, Dai saw the white light continue to fly. She took a breath and got up. What the hell was that supposed to be?

She dusted herself off and looked up just in time to see the white star suddenly stop abruptly. And it flew back... "Are you kidding me..." Dai turned on her heel and ran away. She was sure now. The star took revenge on her for not wishing for anything! She abruptly changed direction and ran down another alley. She looked back to see the light fly past the alley and dared to rest for a moment before the white star reversed back to the alley entrance and ran wildly. Dai turned pale. How is she supposed to run away from that thing?!

*****

Zila Demofang stared out the lower floor windows of the skyscraper, watching the strange light moving in the dark corners of the Outer Circle. It moved strangely and chaotically like a fly. She frowned and flipped her hair over her shoulder before tapping the blue crystal on her wrist.

"Come here." She ordered.

*****

Dai was running out of breath. Her side stung painfully. Sweat was running down her face and back. About fifteen minutes passed, and she couldn't shake the thing. Sometimes she passed a few people who, like her, lived by the outer wall, she heard the occasional alarmed screams, but more than that, she heard her own blood humming in her ears. Eventually, the inevitable happened. She stumbled and lost her balance, weak knees giving up, and fell so hard that she scraped the skin off her knees, hands, and face.

"Haaaaaa....." she just let out a long breath. White light rushed at her. The movement resembled a hungry wolf that had finally brought down its prey. Dai closed her eyes. Okay, star. I'm out of breath. I give up. Have your revenge. The star crashed into her, but she felt no impact. Yet her mind immediately went black, like someone turning off a light. An electronic voice rang out in the darkness of her consciousness.

"Assimilation initiated..."