Sadness

Hal watched the man carefully for a while, but it quickly became clear that this wasn't going anywhere. The man's speech was a jumble of incoherent words, and nothing he said made any sense. It seemed as if he could only respond with a few scattered phrases, none of which offered any useful information. His eyes were vacant, and he was entirely lost in his own world. 

Hal tried speaking to him again, even resorting to physical gestures, but the man didn't react at all. He remained oblivious to everything around him, even when Hal gently patted his shoulder or shook him lightly. It was as if the man had no consciousness at all, just a living shell with no awareness inside. Clearly, getting answers from him was impossible in this state.

Hal shifted his attention to the boy standing nearby. The child was holding tightly to Hal's hand, his small fingers trembling with fear. His wide eyes darted nervously between Hal and the strange, unresponsive man. Hal crouched slightly to the boy's level and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. He didn't speak, but his gesture was enough to convey, Don't be afraid. I'm here. 

The boy looked up at Hal, his face still tense, but he let out a small, shaky breath and nodded. Hal gave him a faint smile before standing upright again. He decided it was time to move on. There was no point in staying here any longer if the man wasn't going to provide any answers.

As they walked away, Hal thought about what he had seen so far. The boy followed closely, clutching Hal's hand as though letting go would mean being swallowed by the strange and eerie world around them. Hal considered questioning a few more of the locals about the "Land of Stardust," but deep down, he already had a bad feeling about how that would go. The odds of getting any useful information seemed slim at best.

When Hal approached others in the village, his suspicions were confirmed. Each alien he encountered acted similarly to the first. Some giggled aimlessly, their laughter hollow and unsettling. Others muttered nonsense, their words forming sentences that no one could understand. Most of them didn't even seem to notice Hal or the boy standing in front of them. It was as if their minds were lost somewhere far away, leaving their bodies behind.

The entire scene was disturbing. Hal began to wonder if the entire planet was like this. Could the people here all be afflicted by some kind of madness?

After encountering the same behavior in person after person, Hal gave up on questioning anyone else in the village. There was no point in continuing when all the responses were the same. He decided it was time to search elsewhere. Perhaps there were other parts of the planet where people weren't affected by whatever this was.

Hal activated the lantern ring, which enveloped him and the boy in a protective green bubble. They lifted off the ground and soared into the air. The boy sat quietly inside the bubble, his legs pulled up to his chest as he tried to make himself feel smaller and safer. Hal glanced at him briefly, his heart aching for the child. The boy had been through so much already, and this desolate, strange planet wasn't helping.

As they flew higher, the planet stretched out beneath them. From above, it looked like a paradise—a vibrant, beautiful world with endless blue oceans and lush green forests. But the more Hal explored, the more this beauty seemed to hide something sinister. The people here might be alive, but their empty gazes and nonsensical behavior made them seem more like ghosts than living beings. The whole planet radiated an unsettling feeling, as if it were holding its breath, waiting to strike.

Hal flew them across the skies for what felt like hours, though it was likely much shorter. The boy stared out from the bubble, his small face pressed to the green barrier as he watched the landscape pass by below. The silence between them was heavy, broken only by the soft hum of the ring's energy.

"I don't like this place," the boy whispered finally, his voice barely audible. "Can we leave?"

Hal glanced at him and offered a reassuring nod. "We'll check a few more places. If we still don't find anything, then we'll go. I promise."

The boy's shoulders sagged, and he nodded reluctantly. He didn't speak again but continued watching the world below. Hal adjusted their course, scanning the horizon for signs of another settlement.

Eventually, they came across a second village nestled among the trees. Hal landed the bubble carefully, lowering them to the ground. At first glance, the village seemed no different from the first. The huts were simple and rough, constructed from what looked like natural materials found nearby. The entire area was eerily quiet.

Hal approached a few of the villagers, but the results were the same. The aliens either ignored him completely or babbled incoherently. None of them could hold a conversation or provide any useful information. Hal's frustration grew, though he kept it hidden from the boy.

As they walked back to the bubble, Hal's thoughts turned dark. Could the planet's environment be responsible for this? Perhaps something in the air or water was causing the inhabitants to lose their minds. Or maybe this was intentional—someone or something could have done this to these people for a reason.

He activated the bubble again, lifting them into the air. The boy remained silent, though his body language showed his unease. Hal couldn't blame him. The longer they stayed on this planet, the more unsettling it became.

As they flew over a dense forest, the boy suddenly gasped, his small hand gripping Hal's arm. "Huh!?"

Hal immediately stopped their flight, hovering in mid-air. "What is it?"

The boy pointed down at the trees below, his voice trembling with confusion. "There… down there! That looks like… like where I used to live with my grandpa!"

Hal blinked in surprise. "You're sure?"

The boy nodded quickly, his eyes wide. "It looks the same. I think it is!"

Hal didn't hesitate. He adjusted their course and began descending toward the area the boy had indicated. As they drew closer, the forest grew thicker, the trees towering high above them. The boy leaned forward eagerly, his face pressed to the green bubble. Hal could see the excitement and nervousness in his expression.

When they landed, the boy immediately took the lead. He moved with growing confidence, weaving through the trees as though he had done it a thousand times before. Hal followed close behind, scanning their surroundings carefully. The forest was quiet—too quiet. It only added to the uneasy feeling that had been growing in his chest since they arrived on this planet.

After a few minutes, a small hut came into view. It was simple and weathered, made from rough materials that had clearly endured years of wear. The boy froze for a moment, staring at the hut, before breaking into a run.

"Grandpa!" he shouted, his voice filled with both hope and fear.

Hal stayed back, watching as the boy pushed open the door and rushed inside. A moment later, the boy's excited calls faded, replaced by a heavy silence. Hal followed cautiously, stepping into the hut.

The interior was sparse and old. A thick layer of dust coated every surface, and the air was heavy with the smell of age and neglect. The furniture was crude, made from what appeared to be the same materials as the hut itself. Everything about the place suggested it had been abandoned for years.

The boy stood in the center of the room, his shoulders slumped as he took in the sight. His excitement had vanished, replaced by a deep sadness. Hal felt a pang of sympathy as he watched the boy move to one wall. He ran his fingers over several parallel scratches carved into the wood. For a moment, Hal didn't understand what they were, but then the boy leaned against the wall, straightening his posture, and Hal realized they were height marks.

This was a growth chart. The boy had stood here as he grew, marking his height over the years. Hal imagined the boy and his grandfather sharing this small ritual, each scratch a quiet celebration of another year together.

The boy's fingers lingered on the marks, his expression distant. Hal stepped back, giving him a moment to process his memories. Outside, Hal activated the ring, scanning the area. The hut itself offered no new clues, but the ring detected something unusual nearby.

"Intelligent life detected," the ring announced.

Hal frowned. The detection wasn't coming from the village they had visited earlier. It was in the opposite direction, deeper into the forest. From above, Hal had seen nothing in that area but cliffs and dense trees.

He adjusted his focus, preparing to investigate. Perhaps this was the lead they had been searching for all along.