The crowd had begun moving away from the pulpit and back to the feasting tables. Whispers were passed around from person to person until they circulated back around to the one who had begun the conversation. Some were of concern, others were of sympathy, and a few were cries of joy and boasts of how wise the holy order was. Yet still, their faith wasn’t shaken. The same unchanging faith that had carried them through last year and the year before remained firm.

The tense tone that previously hung over the crowd began to dissipate and the music started once again. Hirow looked out into the dark fields, trying to find an answer in the shadows, but none came. He repositioned himself on the bench, watching the lively festivities unfold. Couples had begun to go out on the dirt floor, swinging and swaying with the music. The women spun around, their clothing flapping in and out as they changed speed. Like most of the garments, their dresses were decorated with designs meant to mirror the sky above. The dance floor had become a painting of the starry sky, each movement becoming a small stroke in a much larger picture. Children had begun to climb up onto the wooden platform the priests had preached from. They each spun and jumped along with the couples below. Everyone was laughing and smiling despite the life-changing announcement made only a few minutes ago.

Hirow continued to look longingly at the crowd. They were good people, he thought. The only reason each of them followed the priests was that they thought salvation lay ahead, and that was a noble pursuit. Now, how they went about it wasn’t always so noble, but that wasn’t entirely their fault. They were following the leaders they believed in so earnestly. The priests had preached many times before how Lumen loved his children, but if he loved them as much as the priests had claimed why wouldn’t he want to help them? The one major flaw of their religion was that it was predicated upon taking from those who wanted to achieve salvation but it gave nothing back. The priests demanded to live life with intent, but they had rigidly defined intent as the commandments they issued. That had always bothered him, yet he still did not have an answer for he had never found direction or an intent for his life. Lumen, the god he was supposed to look up to, was viewed as distant, one who gave only the promise of salvation. There was either no balance in the whole ordeal or the priests were lying about Lumen’s affection.

The music carried on, drifting through the windless night, relinquishing its tunes to the dancer’s hearts. The dirt covering the dance floor had shifted, piling up here and there. The number of those out dancing had thinned and the ones still out in the clearing had slowed down to a leisurely sway. The moon hung high in the sky, gracing the dancers with her light. Off to the side, people were beginning to prepare their lanterns for the Ethereal Gathering. Hirow got up and began making his way toward the tables to prepare his own. As he neared the tables the others started to back away, but no one stopped him. They all knew who he was sending his lantern off to. He sat down and all at the table continued their work in silence.

Hirow took pieces of wax paper and folded one in half. Then carefully with one fluid motion, he tore it into two pieces. With the full piece of paper, he began to shape it into the base of the lantern. After forming the base Hirow took a metal wire and dipped it in an adhesive. Then he bent the wire and pressed it against the inside of the base to help the lantern retain its shape. He then dipped it in wax along with the two halves to fireproof the entire thing. Then with the two halves, he covered the top and bottom of the base. He left a hole in the top to light it and to slip his message in. Hirow then picked up his lantern and swiftly grabbed another piece of wax paper, continuing back to the table in the dark.

He laid out the paper then bent down and began searching for a sharp stone underneath the table, as writing utensils rarely made their way to the village. After feeling around his hand was poked by a sharp edge of a stone and he took it carefully making sure not to stab himself again. With a point at the end of the stone, Hirow inscribed a message into the center of the paper without getting too close to the edges, to not tear the paper. After he was finished he gently rolled it up and grasped it in his hand. He stood up slowly holding his lantern in both hands as he swiveled his head to see the progress of the others. He saw Clement at a distant table helping a girl with long black hair prepare her lantern. Hirow was about to call out but then remembered the priests' words.

He would disobey their words in a heartbeat, but this time it wouldn’t only be him who would suffer the consequences. If he talked to Clement, his friend couldn't resist responding before it was too late. For the time being, he must stay hidden. Now that he thought about it, his previous conversation with Clement might have been his last and neither of them had realized it. There were no goodbyes, only happy banter between the two of them.

Hirow smiled briefly at the thought then muttered to himself, “That might have been good enough after all.”

With his spirits lifted Hirow waited until the crowd around the bonfire dissipated. He took the opportunity to light his lamp and started following the curving line of people making their way east, each one of their lanterns penetrating the darkness. Together they looked like a snake formed of light weaving its way through the tall grass of obscurity. Everyone there was traveling to the lakes in the east to release their lanterns over the still water. People now and again glanced at Hirow with nervous looks, but everyone remained silent and continued. The silence, the darkness, and the long journey gave each person time to ponder their loved ones who had passed. Hirow drifted off in thought and began thinking of his father and mother.

The Ethereal Gathering had been practiced long before the priests took power. It was a tradition respected by everyone including those who didn’t believe in the words of the priests. Hirow remembered that before the awful famine took his parents away, they too had gone each year and released their lanterns. He didn’t remember exactly who they released them for, but that wasn’t important to him right now, it was the feeling that he had had those nights. A feeling of pure joy and peace. A feeling he dearly missed. He still felt joy and peace at times but it wasn’t the same as it had been back then. This year he would say his final goodbyes to his parents.

At last, they had reached the lakes. The air was warm and still, disturbing nothing. Everything stood fixed waiting and watching. The water remained untouched like a mirror reflecting the starry sky and the bright moon above. As people neared the shore they stopped and waited in silence. Even as the crowds continued to grow bigger no one spoke. An understanding of silent sorrows flowed through the crowd as they all stood along the shoreline. Then one by one like fireflies in the night the lanterns were lit. The tremendous light along the shore pushed the darkness back with a warmth that seemed to overcome all sorrow. As the last lantern arrived, each person, whether elderly or young, raised it above their head and let it go, hoping their messages would reach the stars above.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Tears began to fill Hirow’s eyes but he held them back. He had always hated letting go of the lantern. It felt as if he was letting go of his parents all over again, but his message had to reach them. So with one last goodbye, he let the lantern go as it sped up into the sky trying to catch up with the others. He looked up and saw that it had joined the others making their way to the horizon. The first ashes from each person’s message had begun landing on the lake. They poured down like a brilliant fiery rain coming to cleanse the anguish of a suffering people. Each glowing ember was extinguished and shriveled up as it hit the clear water. Many more embers followed, each completing its cycle having reached those above. At least that's what Hirow liked to think. Then he remembered his message, it had been one of gratitude and a plea for guidance. Now more than ever he felt lost. After Haddrung’s story and the priest’s speech, he felt as if the village had no place for him, but at the same time, he didn’t know where else he could go. His father always seemed to have things figured out. He always had a direction and a goal Hirow could follow. Now he had to find his direction, but it was all so confusing and complicated. The shooting stars above seemed to know where to go. They were always moving quickly so they must have a place to go. He envied them, never stopping to get their bearings or to change direction.

The crowd settled on the shore watching the lanterns rise higher and further into the distance until they were just specks of light. Then, one by one they sunk back into the darkness, each person following the last back onto the long trail home. Tonight was the night they left their sorrows and burdens, of the ones who had gone behind. Hirow paused for one last look at the lanterns then turned and followed the person in front of him. His cloak swayed back and forth with each step he took deeper into the black night. They felt united now but once they returned to the village things would go back to normal. At least the trail he was on now gave him direction, but that would be over soon. It was a silly idea but maybe he could follow the stars as the sailors did. They would lead him somewhere, he didn’t know where, and he didn’t care where as long as it gave him direction.

Hirow looked up at the sky with hope in his eyes. It was filled with stars. He didn’t know where to start or which one to follow until in the distance, he saw several streaks of light flying across the sky with golden tails. They moved so fast and freely until one began dropping away from the others. It continued its downward course until its tail turned a warm orange then a sparkling red. His eyes followed the fallen one until it dropped so low it was out of sight. Seconds later the whole crowd felt a rumble and the line halted. Everyone was still silent and unmoving. After waiting for what seemed like an eternity the line slowly began moving. Instead of keeping pace with the rest of the group, Hirow stood still. Someone hit his shoulder as they were moving past and he was awoken out of his trance and with one step he moved out of the line.

Now was his chance to see a real shooting star. One that had fallen out of the sky. One that had reached its destination and completed its journey. Without realizing it his legs began moving until he was in a full-on sprint. No one in the crowd paid heed to the lone boy running across the field. Hirow continued running with vigor and a newfound purpose. The tall grass parted and hit his legs with a rhythmic beat as he progressed through the large field. His cloak whipped frantically behind him. He went on and on without stopping once. He was running towards the future towards a purpose. He was running away from his sorrows and his past not because he was afraid but because they were holding him back.

Almost out of breath, Hirow reached the fallen star. He could see several glowing chunks of rock, strewn across an area of smoldering grass. The rocks were rough but had a soft glow around them. Hirow inched forward with caution in every step. The grass on the edges of the impact was still crackling with small flames but the vegetation around the rock had been obliterated. As he got closer he felt a gentle heat emanating from the large stones. Hirow stood still basking in the warmth and studying the rocks. The light coming from them hadn’t yet ceased and was as bright as when he had arrived.

It was amazing, he thought. So are all the stars above just glowing rocks in the sky or are just shooting stars rocks? And where was this glow coming from? Could he touch it without getting burned? Just standing here he could feel the heat. He wondered if it could be valuable.

Just as thoughts began to flood Hirow’s head the warm air around him began heating up. As he felt his skin stinging he stepped back in shock. The warm glow surrounding the rocks became brighter and harsher until it was painful to look at. He stepped back further and then covered his eyes with his forearm. The rocks continued to grow brighter until they were like a midday sun. Golden strings of light shot from each rock, all of them flowing toward the middle of the impact at a tremendous speed. The strings then wrapped and weaved together in an intricate pattern beyond comprehension. Hirow lowered his arm and opened his eyes in awe. The light behaved as if it was water all flowing into one eternal stream. He realized it was just like Haddrung had described. He grew frightened but couldn’t move. The light preceded its godly work until Hirow noticed the figure it was forming. It was a human girl.

The last strings of light flowed into the girl until she lay hovering in midair. She seemed about his age, and her skin was smooth and pale as the moon above. Her silky white hair hung off her head in a perfectly straight fashion barely brushing the dust below her. There was an emotion of peace on her face that transcended the silence of the night, as her body slowly drifted to the ground. Her eyelids remained closed as the earth below welcomed her softly.

Hirow paused, not sure what to do or what he had just witnessed. He took his cloak off and inched forward apprehensively. As he came upon her he covered her naked body with his cloak. Then he stepped back sitting on one of the rocks which were now stone cold and waited. After about ten minutes, he got up and paced around wondering if she would ever get up. Realizing there was no reason to go back to the village he sat back down deciding to wait a little longer. He was beginning to fall asleep when she began to stir. He sat up quickly in nervous anticipation. Her eyelids opened and she began pushing herself up with her slender arms.

“You should stay lying down,” Hirow said, trying to remain calm.

In a weary voice, she responded, “Where am I?”

“You're just a little way east of a village called Celestate.”

“I’ve never heard of that place,” she said, confused with a hint of sadness in her voice.

Hirow got up from his rock to help her up. He offered his hand and she looked up unsure if she should take it. Carefully positioning the cloak, she took the hand and stood up just to fall on the ground.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes,” she said, standing up more slowly this time.

“Is there anything you can tell me about yourself,” Hirow asked.

She paused, then looked towards the ground in disappointment, “No.” Then she lifted her head back up, “Well, I do remember my name but I’m afraid that's all.”

“Then what is it?”

With a smile, she responded, “It's Talia.”