With each step, the shadows grew lighter until the young turtle left the last of the trees behind and saw a green meadow stretching out in front of her. For a moment, she was overwhelmed by the vastness and boundless expanse before her, so different from the enclosed pond or the dense forest where she had been before. The wind played with the meadow, carrying the scent of wild flowers to her.

  As Artemis walked through the tall grass, she noticed a shimmering light in the distance, moving in the midday sun. Drawn to this unusual sight, she headed toward it.

  A silent, silver object floated elegantly through the air and came to rest, hovering just above the ground. “The snail never told me about anything like this,” Artemis thought, amazed. But she felt no fear.

  All of a sudden, the silver material at the bottom of the sphere vanished, revealing a round opening that emitted a radiant light. Moments later, a being floated down from within, so light that it seemed as though the wind could carry it away. It had large, orange eyes, smooth, light blue skin, and wore a yellow suit that glowed in the sunlight.

  Enchanted, Artemis stood still, marveling as the blue creature landed effortlessly on the meadow and began exploring its surroundings with obvious interest. After watching for a while, Artemis gathered all her courage and cautiously drew closer.

  The being in the yellow suit soon noticed her careful steps and greeted her warmly: “Hello! It’s nice to meet you. I’m Helios, a Linea. And who are you?”

  Speechless, Artemis looked up at the Linea before finally replying, “I... I’m Artemis, a turtle. And what are you doing here, Helios?”

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  His voice was full of excitement as he pointed to the shimmering object. “That’s the Gordan, my spaceship. I travel through space and time with it to find distant places and other life forms. I want to learn more about the diversity of the universe, and with each encounter, I discover something new.”

  Artemis nodded eagerly. “What have you found out so far?”

  Helios let his gaze sweep across the landscape. “Life is like a colorful meadow. Each plant has its own story to tell and its unique place in the garden of life. We are all part of something far greater, each of us contributing to the universe’s full, ever-expanding beauty.”

  Artemis gazed at the flowers, reflecting on Helios’s words. “I, too, want to learn from others and discover distant wonders. I want to understand the world better and find my place within it.”

  A broad smile appeared on Helios’s face. “How wonderful! We share the same curiosity for exploration.” He looked away shyly, pressing his thin lips together, but after a deep breath, he asked, “Would you like to join me? Together, we could uncover the secrets of the universe.” He added, a bit bashfully, “I would enjoy the company.”

  Artemis’s gaze drifted back to the forest. Memories of the familiar pond filled her thoughts, while at the same time, she considered the endless possibilities now before her.

  As she looked at Helios in the stillness of the moment, she suddenly felt a deep connection to the Linea, as if they had known each other for a long, long time.

  The chance to explore the universe and find answers to all the questions that had long occupied her mind felt like destiny.

  “I’ve always dreamed of adventures among the stars,” she said softly, as if speaking the words out loud for the first time. “And now, standing here, that dream feels within reach.” She looked up at the sky, thinking of the stars, even though they couldn’t be seen at that moment.

  Saying goodbye to her parents had been hard, but deciding to journey so far from home was an even greater challenge.

  Helios noticed her hesitation and nodded understandingly. “Take as much time as you need,” he said with a smile, settling down in the grass next to Artemis.

  Deep in thought, the turtle let the warm sunlight envelop her as she pondered.