"So, if it isn't too much of me to ask, Ms. Sybil, will you come searching for the fallen stars with me?"

----------------------------------------

That night, Sae hardly got a wink of sleep.

She really couldn't believe it. Of all the things that could've kept her up, it had to be some darn legend a weirdo happened to tell her just as she was finishing up her work yesterday evening. She'd desperately try to shake off the thought by counting sheep, but that was no good at all. If anything, it caused her to start counting the stars in the night sky—and then what that person said resurfaced in her mind.

As much as she did not want to do so, Sae got out of bed and prepared for the day she would have ahead. She was unsure of whether or not it'd be busy once more, though regardless of how many people ended up visiting—if any visited at all—she would have to go to the cottage.

This was merely her life as the town's beloved Ms. Sybil, and as much as she hated it, she could never bring herself to leave the role behind.

When she stepped out of her bedroom, Sae was immediately greeted by the faces of her family. Unlike her own, their expressions were full of excitement, as though something brilliant were going to occur today. However, she thought very little of it, as they were nearly always the same at the start of everyday.

As awful as she was feeling at the moment, she couldn't help but smile upon seeing them. She returned all of their remarks and greetings with a simple, "Good morning", and made her way towards the house's entrance across from where she'd been standing in the hallway. Though her mother had prepared breakfast, she figured it would be best to quickly be on her way. She ignored the grumbling of her own stomach, thinking to herself that she would stop by the bakery on her way to work.

She said her hellos and farewells to all she passed, maintaining a refined image in spite of the heavy bags under her eyes. If she walked fast enough, no one would notice, she told herself.

The scent of freshly made bread became more vivid as her pace quickened, as did her own hunger. By then, however, she'd begun to regret her decision of choosing to not eat at home. Though, she could not turn back no matter how much she wished to do so. Begrudgingly, she continued on her way, her steps light yet full of meaning.

Her stomach grumbled once more as she placed her hand onto the bakery door's handle, and with an embarrassed expression, she pulled it open with about as much strength she could muster in her body. Immediately she was welcomed by all sorts of sweet smells, the combination of all of them at once only just a bit more sickening than the sea itself. Although, unlike the latter, she hardly found this comforting at all. In fact, she almost felt sticky inhaling it alone.

Sae did not dislike sweet things, however, too much at once was unbearable.

"Oh? If it isn't the wonderous Ms. Sybil herself!"

At those words, she swiftly turned her head in the direction from which they came from—skimming past the figure with long purple hair in front of her—and thus came into view a face she had not seen since her late childhood.

"How many years has it been since we've last been able to see each other like this? Come, hurry, hurry! We must catch up!"

She stood still for a second or two, before immediately rushing over to the counter-side where an older woman had awaited for. In that moment, she seemed to have forgotten all about her duties.

"Mrs. Callias! It's been a while, hasn't it?"

Sae met the other's gaze, an unintentional action yet one she could not take back as the images came flooding into her mind just about as quickly as they would soon halt. Afterward she took a few steps back, holding her head in her hand and wincing in pain as her mind became overloaded. She tried not to make it obvious and quickly covered it with a smile, but the woman had seen it all already.

"Are you alright? Do you need to take a seat?"

Mrs. Callias asked, leaning forward and squinting to get a better look at the girl. Sae, in response to this, pulled away and answered:

"Ah, no—its okay."

She tried to assure her as best as she could, but no matter what it seemed she would not buy it.

After an awkward stare off which lasted for a few minutes between the two, with Sae desperately trying to avoid making the same mistake as she had just done earlier, the lady let out a soft sigh and walked over.

"My apologies, dear. I'd forgotten, please forgive this old mind of mine."

"Please don't apolo—"

Before she could finish, she'd already begun to guide her to take a seat at one of the tables inside. Unable to bring herself to turn down Mrs. Callias's kindness and excuse herself as she had more important things to attend to, she allowed herself to be taken away.

As Sae sat down, the older lady did so as well.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

"You've grown so much since we've last chatted like this", the other started off, "How old are you now? Nineteen?"

Sae nodded, later letting out a light chuckle as the other went on about memories she could hardly recall. Though she responded as if she knew what the woman was talking about, the truth is, she didn't. At when it came down to the times mentioned when she was below the age of eight.

"I remember, I would always try to brush out your hair and you'd cry—then your mother would come running over to stop me because—"

...

She continued to smile and nod.

----------------------------------------

"It's such a shame you've gotten so popular. I would love to be able to catch up with you more often."

"The feeling is mutual, Mrs. Callias."

As the woman opened her mouth to speak once again, Sae interrupted her—having just then come to realization of how much time has passed.

She supposed she would have to sneak a snack in during work.

“I’m sorry, but I must go now. I promise to come back again whenever I have the opportunity to do so.”

Which she doubted would be soon.

“Wait, but we still have so much to—”

She cut her off before she could finish.

“I promise.”

Before the other could stall for much longer, she was off on her way again. She ignored the grumbling of her stomach as it growled in response to her neglect, the noise humiliatingly louder than the previous time it had.

Then, all of a sudden—

“Wait, Ms. Sybil, before you leave for good—”

One of the workers called out to her, speedily walking over with a nicely put together basket in hand.

“A young ma—”

…

“This is our treat! To… thank you for all you’ve done for the town!”

They placed the basket of bread into her hands, which she had held out to them, rushing off before they could catch her reply.

“Thank you.”

Sae murmured, leaving the bakery promptly afterward.

The rest of the walk to the cottage was completely and utterly uninteresting. Nothing had really occurred with the exception of the occasional rumbling from herself, to which she attempted to silent by consuming the loaves of bread given to her for free by the bakery. For the most part they were bland, yet there were a few with some… flavor. If that is the best way to put it.

She tried her best not to be picky as she tore the buns to shreds, though she could not help but avoid eating the ones with fillings she disliked.

As she traveled up the hillside, she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure.

It was… Mikael.

Sae stared at him for an awfully long time, more so than she originally intended as she tried to figure out what exactly he was doing. From her perspective, it seemed as if he were admiring the sea, but in the eyes of another it may appear as though he was planning something else.

She considered saying hi, but after what happened yesterday, she decided to give it some more time.

Admittedly, this sight was nothing new. He always stood alone by the cliff side staring down into the ocean. Before she’d found it concerning for obvious reasons, but after the visions she’d seen yesterday, she worried less.

She was confident nothing would happen. Her visions always wound up being correct.

Sae walked past without a word, picking up her feet as she remembered the time she wasted.

----------------------------------------

When she arrived at the cottage, there had, unfortunately, already been someone there waiting inside. She placed the basket in her arms on a nearby counter and quickly apologized to the woman, taking a seat not long after. As she had done so, she noticed that the other was covering her face with a bizarre looking mask. It greatly contrasted against the woman’s otherwise elegant appearance.

Hopefully that would not cause too much trouble later on.

“My apologies, I had errands to run.”

She hoped this person would be reasonable and understand. Fortunately, luck was on her side today.

“It is fine.”

The mysterious lady said, shortly after removing the mask from her face. This eliminated one of many worries on Sae’s mind.

“I had to see for myself if Ms. Sybil truly existed. It is a relief to know the rumors were the truth.”

As the formerly masked woman spoke, Sae took note of her appearance. This person was surely an outsider, as the attire she wore was unlike any other townsperson she’d seen here.

It also seemed to be made out of very expensive materials. A noble, perhaps? That would be lovely if this was the case.

“Is there anything you would like to discuss before I look into your eyes?”

Sae asked, sitting properly as she normally would.

“… No.”

“Very well.”

As she lifted her head to make eye contact with the, admittedly, intriguing woman, she’d finally caught a full glimpse of her features.

She did not know how exactly to describe her, besides using the word, ethereal.

Her pale blonde hair was messily cut into a short bob, yet somehow she managed to make that look good. Not to mention, her eyes were the type that one could easily become lost in. Eventually, having realized she was staring for an uncomfortably long amount of time, Sae attempted to brush off the awkwardness with a light laugh and did her duties before she could get carried away any further.

The things she saw at that very moment were ones she could not decipher or make clear.

The woman did not ask anything of what would occur later on in her life, and before Sae knew it, she’d slipped back on her silly mask.

“Thank you, Sae.”

She simply whispered, before disappearing without another word.

Just as easily as she had become mesmerized, Sae had forgotten what the masked lady’s appearance was.

It slipped her mind so quickly, she couldn’t help but be frustrated. However, as she tried to remember, her head ached unbearably—with the pain only stopping once she’d stopped as well.

…

Well, at the very least, if she had to be completely honest with herself—

That was certainly a strange encounter. Though, she’d take that over having her ears be yapped off any day.

Speaking of which, she suddenly recalled what that darn bastard from yesterday had said.

She turned them down, yet for some reason they…

----------------------------------------

“… Huh?”

Did they seriously just ask her that? Maybe it was the lack of sleep getting to her. If she just gave herself a light pinch, then she’d definitely wake up and—

“You heard me correctly. Would you like join me in my search for the fallen stars?”

Sae gave them a blank stare, and then forced a chuckle out of herself. Without a second thought, she blatantly lied through her teeth and answered—

“That sounds lovely, but I must decline. I cannot leave the village no matter what.”

“We’ll see about that.”

“Excuse me?”

“Seeya soon, Ms. Sybil.”

“Wait—what about your—”

They left without even bothering to hear what she had to say, slamming the door behind them.

“—your future…”

----------------------------------------

Hmph.

At least she profited off of it without having to really do anything… but, even so, listening felt like a chore.

Sae sighed to herself, slamming her head face first into the table out of defeat.

She prayed she would not have to see that annoyance again.

BANG!

“Ms. Sybil, I have returned!”

…

Jinxed it.