“Keep your eyes open and the torches lit.” Vel called out to Wren and Chavi. “Be careful. Senna gave us some firepower this time.”

  The two boys gathered their shovels and a pick axe from the back of the cart.

  “No sign of wolves, yet. Want me to get a fire going,” Wren asked.

  “Good idea. I just hope we can find the spot before it gets dark.”is

  “Before it gets dark? It’s morning. We have plenty of time,” Wren replied.

  Vel surveyed the treelines, his hand blocking the sun above his eyes. “As long as we don’t have visitors.”

  The wind was gentle but steady across the plain, combing dry grass into long, rippling waves.

  Vel stood with a shovel in hand, scanning the ridgeline. “This was it,” he said.

  Wren scanned the ground around him. “You sure?”

  “Sure as memory allows.” Vel stepped forward and drove the shovel into the dirt. “Give or take a few feet.”

  They dug.

  Chavi circled wider, boots crunching through brittle grass and shallow stone. “You said it was marked.”

  Vel grunted. “By a flat-topped rock. Slight groove along the center. I buried it deep enough not to be disturbed.”

  They fanned out.

  Vel’s pulse drummed in his ears, not from the climb, but the edge of unease crawling up his spine. This land felt… thinner. Not empty, exactly. Just peeled back.

  He spotted something.

  Not stone. Not quite plant.

  A bloom, small and colorless, pushed up between fractured slabs of earth. Its petals shimmered faintly, like oil on water. It looked as though light passed through it—but also, somehow, didn’t.

  “Hold up,” Vel said.

  The others turned.

  Vel crouched low. The flower pulsed with a subtle rhythm, as if breathing. He reached out.

  The moment his fingertips brushed a petal, the world slipped.

  Everything went white.

  Then black.

  Then—nothing.

  Not dark, not light. Just space. Endless, weightless space. No wind. No sound. No body.

  Vel tried to speak. No voice came. Only the hum of something vast, ancient, and familiar. Then an image flickered—gemstones rising into a sky that pulsed like breath. His heart and breath slowed, his whole body tingled, like cool raindrops on a hot day.

  Vel blinked.

  The plains returned. His hand hovering over the bloom. In its place lay a curl of ash—iridescent, weightless, almost glowing.

  Footsteps thudded behind him.

  “Vel?” Wren’s voice. Worried.

  Vel stood slowly, blinking against the light.

  Chavi jogged up. “What the hell happened to your face?”

  Vel frowned. “What?”

  “Your eyes,” Wren said, quieter now. “They’re… different.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Wren walked in for a closer look. “They’re waving, rippling,” he said, now only inches from Vel’s face.

  “You’re practically breathing in my mouth Wren,” Vel said with laugh.

  “Chavi come here! You gotta see this! He’s—”

  “Will you stop yelling in my face,’ Vel snapped.

  “Sorry.”

  Chavi leaned in close to Vel. “Oh wow!”

  Vel knelt again, brushing ash from the dirt, revealing the edge of something beneath. Not flower. Not soil.

  Stone.

  Vel tapped it once with his shovel.

  “Here,” he said. Voice steady now. “This is where we dig.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Vel, Wren, and Chavi wedged their shovels under the Cloudstone, prying it from the last bit of stubborn earth. The circle of castlewood torches flickered stubbornly against the creeping shadows of the plains. Eyes fixed on the distant, shadowy movement of wolves, Vel steadied his breath. His eyes narrowed.

  "We’ll wait them out."

  “They’re not moving, just sitting at the treeline,” Wren said, prying at the stone. “I think they’re all looking up at the sky.”

  Suddenly, the world shifted. The air shivered, electric, as though reality itself were drawing breath. Vel’s gaze snapped skyward, watching as the Hollow Star brightened, radiating iridescent pulses from behind the sinking sun. The wolves froze, wary, ears pinned and tails tucked.

  From beneath the cracked earth rose gemstones—vibrating gently in their ascent, then confident as they floated effortlessly skyward. Suspended high above the plains, the stones began their performance. Shifting spectrums rippled outwards, bathing the stony earth in fluid waves of color—violet blending into amber, teal dissolving into a deep crimson. Vel held up a hand, watching the shifting hues play across his fingers.

  A haunting melody threaded through the air, a harmonized resonance emitted by the gemstones. The notes hummed gently, weaving together in an eerie yet mesmerizing song that pulsed in tandem with the iridescent waves.

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Nearby, wildflowers trembled, petals unfurling unnaturally as they bloomed in swift, luminous bursts. Their newfound blossoms shimmered faintly beneath the surreal illumination, casting a delicate glow across the rugged terrain.

  The plains themselves began to transform. Golden grasses rippled in the wind, each blade with shimmering hues. As the breeze passed over them, the field became a light show—a sweeping dance of vibrant golds, pinks, and blues. The color glided like liquid silk across the hills, translucent and dazzling, akin to butterfly wings or the feathered flare of a bird catching sunlight. The effect was visually intoxicating, as though the world had been brushed with something holy.

  And then, rising from the distant plains, a single towering obelisk emerged—its surface smooth and impossibly flawless. It climbed into the sky with deliberate grace, smooth and unyielding, facets glimmering with iridescent colors that mirrored the gemstones still suspended above. Its surface seemed alive with light, each panel reflecting the shimmering hues of the Hollow Star.

  Vel’s breath caught. A ripple of energy passed through him—a tingle that crawled across his skin and settled deep in his bones. He saw Chavi glance at his hands and shake them out, brow furrowed. Wren flexed his fingers, rubbing his palms together. “You feel that?”

  Vel nodded. “I feel it.”

  It stood like a spear of the gods, towering over the plains, its silhouette cutting through the light-soaked sky. Wisps of cloud coiled around its spire, and where its base touched the ground, the grass burned with light, not fire—pure, shimmering light that seeped from the soil.

  Wren stared, jaw slack. “It wasn’t there before.”

  “It is now,” Vel replied, voice distant. His hand found the hilt of his shovel instinctively.

  The gemstones darkened abruptly. Darkness consumed the plains in a rapid sweep, extinguishing even the castlewood torches. For a heartbeat, silence and blindness enveloped them. Then, without warning, the stones blazed with fierce light, blinding in intensity. Above them, the obelisk flared like a lighthouse, casting ribbons of light that snaked across the sky, tracing the invisible web the floating gems left behind.

  In the brilliant afterglow, Vel surveyed the surroundings. The wolves had vanished, driven off by the strange spectacle. Overhead, the gemstones seemed tethered to one another, swaying and leaving faint trails of light behind them, like an invisible web stretched across the sky. Their movements mirrored the wind-swept grasses below, light echoing light, rhythm mirroring rhythm. And at the center of it all, the obelisk stood defiant, humming with latent power.

  Vel nodded carefully, his eyes lingering on the suspended stones. “Safe enough—for now. But let’s hurry.”

  They moved swiftly, torches held aloft, beneath the shifting colors and ethereal song, hearts quickened by awe and purpose alike.

  Time passed as they dug, dirt piling around the cleared trench. The ground yielded slowly, reluctantly. Then, with a final heave, the Cloudstone came free—heavy, luminous, streaked with glints of inner color that reflected the sky above.

  Wren stared at it, speechless. His hands rested on the stone, but his eyes were locked skyward. “We should stay,” he said, voice hushed. “Just a little longer.”

  Vel shook his head, already loading the stone onto the cart with Chavi. “We’ve stayed long enough.” The two struggled before slinging the edge onto the cart.

  Chavi glanced at Wren. “You alright?”

  “I just...” Wren’s gaze moved from the sky to the shimmering web above. “It feels wrong to leave this.”

  Vel gripped his shoulder. “I know. But we have to. Now.”

  Wren hesitated, lingering at the edge of the trench until Vel took his arm and gently pulled him away. He climbed onto the cart last, still looking back, eyes wide.

  The Hollow Star pulsed once more as they rolled away, the stone secured and the sky alive behind them. The obelisk lingered in the distance, a reminder that something had awakened—and it had seen them.

  ~ ~ ~

  The cart creaked beneath the weight of the Cloudstone, its edges glinting beneath the heavy blanket as they made their way back to town. The night had settled in, thick and impenetrable, broken only by the distant shimmer of gemstones still floating above the plains, their lights like frozen fireworks hanging in the dark.

  Vel held the reins steady, his eyes fixed on the path ahead. Wren and Chavi sat in the back, flanking the Cloudstone, their expressions still touched with disbelief. Dirt streaked their hands and clothes, and Wren’s eyes wandered constantly to the rear, back toward the field where the Hollow Star had pulsed and the stones had risen.

  Chavi kept his hand on the fabric, smoothing it over the stone’s surface each time the cart hit a bump. “Do you think it’s covered enough?”

  “Not even close,” Wren muttered, glancing around nervously as the lights of the village grew closer. “They’re all outside.”

  Vel’s voice was low and firm. “Just keep it steady. No reason to draw attention.”

  The village was alive with voices—hushed, reverent, and scattered with awe. Lanterns bobbed along the main street, flickering flames casting shadows across cobblestones. People gathered in clusters, heads tilted back to watch the sky. High above, the Hollow Star pulsed, brighter than Wren had ever seen it. Colors rippled through the atmosphere, shimmering hues that danced along the clouds like northern lights.

  But only they knew what lay beyond the treetops. Only they had seen the stones rise and float, tethered like marionettes in invisible hands.

  Wren leaned back against the Cloudstone, feeling its warmth seep through the fabric. “We should’ve covered it better.”

  “We didn’t have time.” Vel’s eyes scanned the road, watching as villagers passed them by, too enchanted by the sky to notice the lumpy tarp in their cart. They slowly rolled forward, wheels creaking, the heavy stone shifting slightly with each turn. Wren’s heart hammered every time they passed a cluster of villagers, but none seemed to pay them any mind, eyes fixed upward, mouths murmuring soft, reverent phrases.

  Wren caught sight of one man who did look—just for a moment. His gaze dropped from the sky, narrowing slightly as the cart rolled by. Wren held his breath, fingers digging into the wood. But the man only blinked, rubbed his eyes, and turned back to the shimmering glow above.

  They were nearly past the last stretch of the main road when a familiar voice called out.

  Aijo.

  “Vel! You see that sky tonight?”

  Vel tensed, but slowed the cart, the wheels groaning to a stop. Aijo stood at the edge of his forge, wiping his hands on a rag, his eyes still fixed on the shimmering sky. “It’s like the old tales,” Aijo continued, hobbling closer, his gaze bright with wonder. “Never seen the stars dance like that.”

  Vel forced a smile. “It’s something, alright.”

  Aijo’s eyes dropped to the tarp-covered shape in the back of the cart. He raised an eyebrow. “You drag something heavy out there? That stone?”

  Vel hesitated only for a breath. “Nothing special. Just some ore I found. Figure I might test it out, see what it’s worth.”

  Aijo’s eyes lingered on the covered mass, curiosity flickering. “Doesn’t look like just ore to me. What kind is it?”

  “Rainstone,” Vel replied smoothly. “Hard as iron. Thought I’d see if it cuts.”

  Aijo nodded, satisfied enough. “Bring it by sometime. I’ll help you crack it open.”

  Vel managed a chuckle. “I might just do that.”

  Aijo’s eyes drifted back up to the sky, his expression softening. “You know, my granddaughter’s coming to stay for the season. Haven’t seen her in over a year.

  Vel smiled. “That’ll be nice. I bet you’ve missed her.”

  “More than I can say,” Aijo replied, voice cracking just slightly before he cleared his throat. “Can’t wait to show her the forge. Maybe put her to work.” He laughed, the sound full and warm, echoing off the stone walls. “You take care of yourselves. And watch that sky…it’s got the old stories whispering again.”

  Vel chuckled, leaning forward slightly. “How’s Pickle treating you? Still terrorizing the neighborhood?”

  Aijo barked a laugh, slapping his knee. “That beast? He’s meaner than ever. Got his horns stuck in the fence last week trying to chase off poor Daclin. Took three of us to pry him loose. Thought he’d tear the whole damn fence down.”

  Chavi smirked, nudging Wren. “He’s still got a grudge against you, you know.”

  Wren’s lips pressed tight. “That thing’s possessed.”

  Aijo wagged a finger, grinning wide. “It’s ‘cause he remembers, boy. Goats never forget. Especially not ones like Pickle.”

  Vel chuckled, shaking his head. “You say it like he’s got a personal vendetta.”

  Aijo leaned in conspiratorially. “Maybe he does. Maybe you wronged him in another life.”

  Wren rolled his eyes, but the smile crept back.

  Aijo clapped Vel on the shoulder. “You boys take care of that stone now.”

  Vel only nodded.

  They moved on, the cart wheels rumbling back to life. When Aijo was well out of earshot, Wren leaned forward. “Why’d you lie to him? He’d have helped.”

  Vel’s eyes stayed fixed on the road. “I trust Aijo. But if he lets it slip I’ve got a Cloudstone of that size…well, that’s the kind of secret that doesn’t stay quiet for long.”

  Wren thought about that in silence, his eyes trailing back to the tarp. “I get it.”

  Chavi raised an eyebrow. “So we just keep it hidden? For how long?”

  Vel’s hands tightened on the reins. “Long enough to understand what it means.”