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Myracle stared in a daze as the look in her mother's eyes underwent subtle changes, her demeanor reverting back to housewife mode. Myracle sighed, feeling devastatingly defeated. She didn't know what else to do.
"Okay, babies, time for bed. I'll see you both tomorrow!" said Kiya as she suddenly laid Ryatt in the bed and backed away.
"No!" Ryatt was distraught. "It's okay, Mommy! You can tell it fast, Lucky won't care! Don't go yet!"
There was an instant of struggle in Kiya's eyes, but it quickly disappeared. Instead, she smiled plastically and said, "Sorry, baby. Mommy has to go back downstairs. We'll play tomorrow."
And with that, she turned and waltzed out of the room. The children were left behind in silence and confusion. They didn't speak for several minutes.
"Phu..." little Ryatt whispers in a mosquito-like voice.
"Yeah?" Myracle responds absentmindedly.
"Does mommy not like us anymore?" Ryatt asked dejectedly.
"Lucky!" shrieked Myracle as she finally snapped out of her daze and looked at her baby brother in shock. He was teary-eyed and miserable, nearly shattering her little heart. Her voice softened completely as she slid beside him on the bed and said, "It's not that, little Luck. Mommy just has to do adult stuff."
"Mn," Ryatt just nodded as he threw his head into his sister's warm embrace.
"Tell you what," Myracle cuffed his little face and smiled brightly. "How about I tell you the story of the Goddess and her Lucky Star in mommy's place?"
"Okay!" Ryatt's mood did a complete 180-degree flip at his sister's words. His eyes shined as he asked with anticipation, "Can you...tell it slow?"
Little Ryatt put his head down like he was ashamed of his question. Myracle smiled wryly and ruffled his curly hair.
"I'll tell it nice and slow..." Myracle said gently while rubbing her nose on Ryatt's own, making the latter giggle.
She then began to recite the story in a soothing singing voice, just like her mother used to do for her. As her words spread, a strange chant seemed to fill the air.
"There once was a goddess who fell from the sky.
She fled to the moon since it wasn't too high.
Her wings had been broken, her attitude dreary.
For all who approached, only death would come near thee…"
"But Phu..." Ryatt suddenly interrupted his sister, causing the ethereal chanting to fade away. "Why did the goddess fall from the sky?"
Myracle was mildly annoyed that this brat interrupted her, as she was lost in the memory of their mother singing this song to her. But after considering his question, she instead felt impressed that a three-year-old brat was able to ask a question that only occurred to her at a later age.
"Mother once told me that the goddess was born with a disease," Myracle explained patiently. "She was dying just by living. The more she breathed, the sooner she would die. But one day, she saw a falling star crash to the earth. When she ran over to the site, she found a treasured egg made of metal."
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
"A metal egg?" Ryatt asked, baffled.
"That's right, an egg like the ones little people hatch from," Myracle pinched Ryatt's little nose.
"Hehe," Ryatt giggled before his brow furrowed. "So what happened with the egg?"
"Well..." his sister paused for dramatic effect, "When the goddess touched the egg, she felt herself becoming healthier. When she held the egg, she felt even better! The goddess decided then and there that she would never part with the egg, even under the threat of death! She treated the egg like her lucky star. But too many bad people wanted the egg, so they hunted the goddess!"
"Oh no!" Ryatt exclaimed, clearly worried for the goddess in the story.
"Oh no, indeed," Myracle wore a solemn expression. "They captured the goddess! They stole her lucky star and threw her in a cell!"
"They're evil!" yelled Ryatt in a whisper.
"They sure are, bud," Myracle nodded. "But the goddess escaped her cell and stole the egg! Then she had to flee from heaven to avoid pursuit."
"Woah..." Ryatt felt amazed as he never expected such a thrilling answer to his question.
Wasn't this goddess too cool?
"Now, shut up, brat," Myacle chided. "You won't interrupt this big sister of yours again, right or wrong?"
"Right!"
"Okay, good!" Myracle glared at her brother for a while before falling into a contented smile. "I'll start over...here we go."
"There once was a goddess who fell from the sky.
She fled to the moon since it wasn't too high.
Her wings had been broken, her attitude dreary.
For all who approached, only death would come near thee.
One day was a monster to land on her moon.
Becoming a man that could make stars swoon.
He travels the cosmos and comes from afar.
His voice whispered honey, the sweetest of flaws.
The goddess grew bored of this land with no weather.
To not be alone was her selfish endeavor.
To travel the stars, she became a bird.
Whose icy hot feathers gave birth to unknown.
The star that she carried grew smooth under pressure.
It fused with her soul, and her life grew unmeasured.
But flee as she may, she was trapped like a dove.
Not by the gods, but this time, in love…"
Myracle's eyes slowly closed as she recited these words. Her baby brother was cuddled into her embrace, his breathing uniform. She kissed his forehead and let her mind drift.
She couldn't help but remember the look in her mother's eyes earlier.
It was a mix of misery, guilt, determination, and a touch of longing. Myracle couldn't help but wonder what her mother was really up to, what "adult stuff" she had to do that made her leave them behind with only a story to comfort them.
The room felt heavy with unanswered questions as Myracle gazed down at her peacefully sleeping brother. She wished she could shield him from their mother's life's complexities and protect him from the uncertainty that now clouded their family. But she knew deep down that she couldn't shield him forever.
As the night grew darker and the moonlight spilled through the window, Myracle made a silent promise to herself. She would be there for Ryatt no matter what, just like the Goddess in the story. She would be his lucky star, guiding him through the challenges they were about to face.
Myracle realized something wasn't right at home. But to do anything about it, she would have to get stronger. Much, much, much stronger. What could she do without strength? It was with these thoughts that the girl slowly fell asleep. The mysterious chant in the air remained seemingly unnoticed by either youth as they faded into dreamland. No one saw the tiny dots of starlight that fell into their bodies while they slept, as if summoned by the rhythm in the air.
Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. Their mother's absence became more frequent, her explanations growing more vague each time. Myracle did her best to shield Ryatt from the truth, keeping up the charade of their fantasy stories and whispered promises of a better tomorrow.
But as time passed, it became harder for Myracle to maintain that facade. The weight of responsibility pressed down on her young shoulders, and she began to feel a darkness creeping into their lives. Doubts filled her mind - doubts about their mother's love, their future, and herself. The world's weight seemed to rest on their mother's shoulders, and Myracle couldn't shake the feeling that there was something her mother wasn't telling them.
Myracle and Ryatt remained as each other's systems of support night after night. As the story of the goddess and her lucky star continued to flow from Myracle's lips, she found herself lost in the tale. It was as if she was weaving a magic spell around them, transporting them to a world far beyond their own.
In this enchanted realm, the goddess faced countless trials and tribulations. She encountered mythical creatures and battled formidable foes, all in an effort to protect her precious lucky star. With each passing moment, Myracle's voice grew more passionate, her words seeping into the very fabric of reality.
But as the story climaxed, a sudden noise jolted Myracle back to reality. The sound of footsteps approaching their bedroom door sent shivers down her spine. She quickly silenced herself and held her breath, clutching onto Ryatt tightly.
The door creaked open slowly, revealing their mother standing on the threshold. Her eyes were red-rimmed and weary, evidence of tears shed in solitude. She glanced at Myracle and Ryatt huddled together on the bed, a mix of sadness and relief crossing her face.
"Mommy!" Myracle exclaimed, relief flooding her voice as she let go of Ryatt and rushed toward their mother. "We missed you!"
"Is that Phubear and my Lucky star?" Their mother knelt down, enveloping both children in an embrace that carried both warmth and sorrow. "I missed you too, my darlings. Come here. Let Mommy tell you both a story."
"YAY!!"
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