Recorded by Finnegan Lionhartt,
Of the events which took place on the 19th day of Radia, long past midnight, yet Fin remained sleepless; year of Pinnikle: 1,229.

Better things are only choices away. 

— My sister, Sophie, said that.

To love a person - whether as a friend, a sibling, or a lover - is a great privilege. Toward Sophie, I feel the endearment of a father, and it had always been an honor to live out my days at her side. Some feel honor as though it were a feeling of luck. For instance: that I might feel lucky to live such great a life, knowing bravery, riding atop stars, and being a promised heir to the only king of Pinnikle. I didn't even care about the throne, no; but there was a nobility I felt in holding Sophie up, making sure she felt empowered, and coming through whenever she was anything less. I was her sibling, but felt a proclivity to act as both her father, and her brother.

We had been taken up to the sky portal in the house of Lofi Phellix, and the wizard gave us great rest. The stars took us up, as when we were young, and I'm unsure I had ever seen Sophie so elated. She was not so, particularly from being in a magical house, nor from flying with stars, and not even from sleeping on a cloud.

It is true that humans become easily burdened when they feel too many things, and often the burden is one of misunderstanding the world around. My sister was happy, because her burdens had been alleviated by understanding. Before that day: she did not perceive she had an ability to think deeply, and reflect. To add to this: She had learned many wonderful things about her nature as both nix and human, and relished in them. It was a newly-unlocked understanding of things she had not known before, which set her free from burdens she had not perceived. And in that freedom, she was able to let out her goofy, silly self: the part of her that was nix was unable to control the feeling of joy.

While Sophie had surely been lost in thoughts that night, discovering she was human, I had known all along. It was never my privilege to unveil that to her, though - and I do not mistake privileges with rights. We are both human, and we are also nix. Each part of our nature holds particular misgivings. I had known these things for quite a long time, though they had never been articulated to me. I had not been bothered by the character flaws, because most days I was only concerned with bringing out the best in one person: Sophie. And I have never done this through explanation, but by cultivating her curiosity. It is how father raised me until he was gone, and so it is how I raised Sophie. Curiosity leads to answers, after all.

The night we fell asleep with the stars, I was the last to sleep. Sophie and I talked about our story so far, and about wondrous things. I knew she would give some thought to the darkness creeping about in Pinnikle, but I felt it would not be a long thought. I remember hearing the snap of ol' Jack, but I had heard it before, and I knew I could stave off the dreams for a little while. That night, as with any, I only needed to know that Sophie was safe and happy. Once my needs were met, I took my own moment, to cultivate wonder in myself. One must lead by example, even when no one is watching.

I sat up, and whispered to Lumin, "What do ya say we go for another ride?"

He smiled, wrapped my torso in his massive arm, and we flew off until Lumin could speak without concern of waking Sophie.

"Where would you like to go?" His voice sounded over the sky.

"Would you take me to my home?" I replied.

We soared past Starfall Fix, and it looked wonderful from above. Lofi had even added a personal touch: on the roof, where Tryn had crashed through, there was a painting of a bright star in rainbow colors. We flew up End's drop, and Lumin spun me up, through the mist.

He took me high above the top of the falls, and I saw Luca in the winding curves of the river. The river continued a long ways beyond my little village, and its mouth was the vast End's Lake. I could not see the end of its shores, though I noted the outline of snow capped mountains, which rose up over the curve of the land.

I asked Lumin, "Is this the lake Leon was thrown across?"

He slowed to a stop, and replied, "Yes, it is the very lake."

"Where is the kingdom-city?"

"Far, for End's Lake is vast, and the city is past it," he replied.

We were so far above Pinnikle that the huts of Luca only appeared to dot along the glimmering river below. I was surprised I could not see the kingdom, from where Leon had been thrown.

"Fear must be very strong, to throw a nix that far..." I said.

"He only grows in might," Lumin added.

"Did you see the events that night?" I prodded my friend, the star.

"As surely as I saw them, I would not tell you of them,". Lumin did not budge.

"Does the kingdom remain?" I asked, hoping Fear had not already torn that down.

"So long as there is a royal, Lucidia will remain," he answered, in a roundabout way.

I shuddered, and he felt it. I did not know if Lumin referred to Leon, or to Sophie and I. For that moment: I did not want to know, nor did I want to ask any more questions.

"Let's go down to Luca, old friend," I said.

And we did. Lumin knew exactly what I needed, to get my mind off the curiosities I should not have sparked on a night of resting.

"Would you care for a free-fall?" His voice joyfully teased.

"I'll race you!" I said, smiling.

I knew I could not win, because if I were to do so, I would die of impact. But I challenged the star for the fun of it! We began to fall, and Lumin let me loose. I spread my arms and legs, as he just descended alongside me. I had fire in my eyes, and I was about to throw a surprise his way.

"Race me in a free-fall, without your powers!" I yelled, and the wind nearly took the sound from my words.

I realized that stars have the ability to speak very loud, because they must speak over billowing winds. Fascinating!

"Haha, you truly are a daring one. You're on!" he said.

Lumin dove, head first toward the ground below, and I followed. There was no way he was going to win! I was much smaller, and I would be able to whip through the wind much faster! What Lumin did not know, was that I had seen him and Tryn race through the sky. She always led, and it was because of Lumin's broad shoulders. The wind was against him.

Before long, I caught up, and then I passed him! I plummeted with perfect form toward Luca! The land grew as I fell toward it, and I began to hope Lumin would catch me before I hit the ground. Luca became very clear, and I saw the three bridges spanning the town. I saw the home I lived in, just above the rest of the village.

Suddenly, I realized: in the time it would take me to draw two breaths, I would hit the ground. I was not over water (which may have offered some safety), but sharply topped trees and hard ground, between the first and second bridges. I closed my eyes, and winced. The motion must have caused me to slow, because Lumin wrapped me in his arms, and pulled me to his chest as he redirected our fall into an agile spin under one of the bridges. He won, though he was very large, and had not even cheated.

Lumin brought me up the pathway to my little hut, and we laughed as quietly as we could. We didn't want to wake the crude villagers, because we'd become very unpopular by doing so in the past. Lumin was capable of a whisper, and of silence; though he was not meant for silence, and was clumsy about it. I remembered the way he whispered to Tiko so many years ago, and how his whisper was almost just as audible as regular speech. When Lumin laughed, he glowed brightly.

"Hah!" I chuckled nervously. "Lumin, I thought I was a goner!"

"I knew your panic would cause you to lose form in your dive," He said, quietly as he could.

"Thank you for catching me, old friend," I said, in a normal tone.

From inside of my hut, our voices were surely out of ear-shot. Just then, our fun was cut short. Inside of my little home, we heard a russell, and peeked through the opening to see something moving inside. Lumin quickly turned to guard beside me, and we waited to see what would come out. We heard the sound of wood scrape the floor, and my guardian star put a hand on my shoulder.

"Perhaps, Fear, the dark man himself, has found his way into your home," said Lumin. "Brace yourself. For if he shows himself, I will take us away with the crack of light."

"No!" I said. "The villagers!"

"Finnegan Lionhartt, we are not ready to face the darkness. He is stronger, even than myself."

I brushed my hand down toward my hip, and clutchy my dagger. I thought maybe I could give it one good slash, if it didn't overcome me with terror first. Then, we heard it shriek, oddly.

"Aaaaghhhhh!" A terrible yell came from inside my hut, and I heard the thud of wood, against wood. "Aaaahhhhh!" another yell came out, and then we were rushed!

My heart pounded as it ran from inside the hut, unveiling itself under starlight to show something we did not expect! My heart fluttered, as none other than Tiko charged out from the darkness of my little hut, wielding one my bedside tables. She had her eyes closed, because she believed us to be darkness as well. Her blond hair was amazing under starlight, and I was more surprised by her beauty, than I was relieved to know she was not the dark man... She charged us, with the legs of my own table, with its top tucked tightly to her chest, and shoved us right off the stone my home was built on. The table broke as she did. Before we could hit the ground, Lumin floated us into an upright position.

"Tiko?" I grunted.

I didn't mean to grunt, but I had just taken a table to the stomach... I immediately regretted not telling her how lovely she looked, though I'm not sure I'd have the courage. It took a different kind of courage than the one I had to say things like that.

"Fin..?" She looked up at me, as I was held floating, by my guardian star.

I was lost in thoughts of: "What should I say? No... What should I have said already? Pull it together Fin, pull it together!"

"Fin!" She shouted, seeing I was a bit shocked, "I'm... Sorry I hit you with your table..."

As she said it, one of the legs fell off, making a loud clack on the stone. Our eyes just watched it roll, and then we tried to avoid glances with each other. Lumin floated me toward her until I could walk on the stone my home was built on. He twinkled, before loosening his grip on me, and I felt a very strong urge come from him. It was as if we were connected... He knew I was bashful, and urged me to move past it.

He touched down beside us, and said, "Little Tiko, it has been a very long time,". He was smiling brightly, and there was softness in his starry eyes. "Looking lovely tonight, isn't she Fin?"

"Y-yes," I said. This was my moment. "You look very wonderful indeed, Tiko; and you've looked that way ever since I could remember!"

My heart pounded, and my thoughts rushed. "What was that!?" I thought. "'You've looked like that...' Couldn't I have found better words!?"

I looked to the ground, then we made eyes again. She was smiling at my compliment! My heart fluttered.

"Thank you, Fin" She said, and put the table down. "I noticed you left yesterday, and I thought I'd watch your place until you came back,".

Tiko really did look amazing that night. She was the most beautiful nix I had ever seen. Her blonde shining hair draped around her neck, and it lay across one shoulder. Her face was round, and her eyes were bright blue, and big. She was round, in a healthy way, with a cute nose and blushy cheeks. She wore a red shirt and the cut of it revealed her collarbones. Her legs were clothed with light mid-length pants. The curves of her beautiful body shown wonderfully under starlight. She did not wear shoes, as most nix, and her feet were dianty, though I knew they had trodden many a step. I was very fond of her, but it was not only because of her beauty; it was because of her brilliance and sweetness, ever since I could remember.

I was lost in thought, and I felt a ping from Lumin in my head: "You need to speak with her," I heard.

I was amazed that we could communicate this way, and it would have meant more to me, if only Tiko did not stand before me. He was right. I don't know long I let Tiko wait in silence, but I did need to say something. I looked down into the village, and saw the lamps all aglow throughout the place.

"You... Haven't blown out the lamps? You always do - why not tonight?"

"I thought I'd leave them lit for you, in case you and Sophie came in. Besides, they make me feel a little safer when you're gone," said Tiko.

I smiled, and thought to myself, "'When I'm gone,' She says... not, 'When Sophie and I are gone,'. She's thinking about me!"

Then, I said something I did not mean, because I was nervous: "Well... unfortunately I will have to be leaving."

Quickly, Lumin spoke in my mind again: "But you will offer to bring her, won't you?"

"Yes!" I said out loud, and quickly recovered. "I mean, I have to be getting back to this quest I'm on... But we've got room for another, if you'd come."

I waited. One. Two. Three. Four. Fi—

"I'd come along! Yes I'd love to come along!" She said, and pulled her hands up in fists, against her chest. She was excited.

I tried sending a thought to Lumin, "Thank you," and he gave me a sly smile.

"Will we set out tomorrow, then?" Tiko asked, and her eyes glimmered with excitement.

I didn't know. I looked at Lumin with searching eyes, and he pinged a thought to me again: "Tell her she is more wonderful than stars, and that we'll leave tonight; and travel by star."

I thought there was nothing to lose, so I made eyes with Tiko. I could not see my own expression, but I believe it was the kind of look I think dad would give mom.

"Tiko," I said, "You look more wonderful than every star in the sky..." I let the words hang for a moment, and I saw her light up. "We can leave tonight, and travel by star. The journey has already begun, and I promise you will rest very well, where we are going tonight."

"Fin!" She said. "Oh, I've dreamt of riding on a star with you! Ever since we were young!"

She wriggled in excitement, and my heart fluttered to see her so happy.