"I want to test whether I have the qualities to become a âKnightâ... I mean a more precise test. You know, thatâs my dream."
Samerâs voice was low, as if he was thinking of something. After hearing his words, Nike fell silent as well.
Dreams... everyone has them. But for the vast majority, thatâs all they ever are: fanciful thoughts confined to sleep.
"Looks like weâre almost there, just up ahead."
Walking for an indeterminate amount of time, Nike, who carried the torch, suddenly stopped.
In the flickering light of the fire, they both could vaguely see the deep, bottomless crater ahead.
The light from the torch wasnât much help, making it impossible for them to discern the depth or the expanse of the hole. But if someone more knowledgeable were in their place, they would never dare to approach this pit.
A meteor crater this close to Turingen City that had blasted such a large pit should have made a noise loud enough for the whole city to hear. But the reality was that, aside from Nike, who happened to see the fleeting streak of light, hardly anyone noticed the fallen fire meteor.
"Hissâ Hey, Nike, you might really have found something incredible."
With a look of surprise, Samer lowered his voice instinctively, "There are actually Fallen Stars... Iâve heard that there could be something called a Star Core inside them. Even if there isnât one, the shell could sell for a lot of money."
"Stop gawking, letâs go down and take a look."
Sticking their pitchfork into the ground, they began to carefully climb down the massive crater wall.
The soil around them was somewhat loose, not at all like the compact ground one would expect from the impact of a meteorite, and on several occasions nearly made them tumble down.
However, after several hours of effort, they luckily reached close to the bottom of the pit without incident.
"Be careful... Damn, the torch is dying out."
Cursing as the light from the torch grew dimmer, Nike threw it aside and continued on.
Fortunately, the weather was clear. By the Moon Light, they could barely make out each otherâs whereabouts...
"â Damn it, moveâ!"
"Ahâ"
With a misstep, Samer brought Nike down with him, and they both tumbled further downwards.
Thudâ!
Along with a muffled sound, the two of them collided at the bottom of the pit.
"Hiss... I told you to be careful!"
"Of course I was careful; do you think I wanted to fall down? If youâd brought an extra torch, this wouldnât have happened."
With stubborn retort, Samer struggled to stand. In the hazy Moon Light, he began to survey their surroundings.
It wasnât as he expected; there was no giant meteorite, nor any sense of heat. They were simply at the top of a purely earthy pit, as if it had been sliced down to form a conical hole.
There was nothing around them, except a bit further away there was a faint reflection...
"A gemstone?"
Nike excitedly exclaimed, "Is that a gemstone from a star, fallen out? My God, so the stars really are made of gemstones, I thought that was just fanciful imagination from bedtime stories!"
"Stop talking nonsense; those arenât gemstones. Look carefully, theyâre transparent!"
Samer walked closer. His vision was slightly better, so he could see a bit clearer.
It wasnât some massive gemstone, but a thin layer of an oval crystalline substance. It appeared gemstone-like, but was actually slowly âmeltingâ.
Although he didnât know what it was, Samer had an ominous premonition. A fire meteor fallen from the sky, an illogical crater, fantasy-like and magnificent crystalânone of it seemed normal.
Moreover, according to some ancient legends from the North... a starâs fall was no good omen.
"Wait, thereâs someone inside, do you see that?" Experience new stories on empire
Samerâs face suddenly changed as he shouted.
As they came closer, illuminated by Moon Light, he could barely make out something beneath the crystalline layer, a humanoid figure.
It appeared to be a young manâperhaps a teenager, definitely not very old. He was handsome, with skin unmarked by labor, draped in a silver-white robe. Gold patterns adorned the garment, resplendent with nobility and refinement.
"A living person, great Goddess of Wisdom... Could what you saw not be a meteor but a gravely injured... Nike, what are you doing?!"
"Clankâ!"
The pitchfork struck the transparent crystal wall, and in the reflection of the Moon Light, Nikeâs smile seemed somewhat ferocious: "What else would I be doing, of course Iâm opening it up!"
"I donât care who he is, but now heâs my Spoils of War. Do you see these clothes? Iâve never seen such exquisitely made garments, just a sleeve of it could be worth fiveâno, fifty Gold Coins (note 1)!"
"Butâ"
"No buts. Donât you want to be a Knight? If this really is a powerful being whoâs badly injured, your chance has come!"
Clankâ
Another hit, and the crystalline layer began to crack. Nike seemed encouraged, but Samer feared the crack wasnât entirely his doing.
Regardless, they had come together, and if todayâs deed were to be discovered, neither could escape... Gritting his teeth, Samer joined in the pounding, just like before, what if?
Clankâ
Clankâ
Clankâ
...
With each strike, time slowly passed, the sky began to brighten with Twilight, the crystal shell grew thinner, and cracks multiplied.