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The Isle of Dawn

Summary:

The memories of Pointing Candlemaker and Ushering Stargazer

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The Pointing Candlemaker led the two other Stars through the cavern, indicating the glowing murals covering the walls. The closest one was a depiction of Stars cheering in front of three large candles--the inscribed stars overhead glowed bright, and the child chattered excitedly to their parent.  

After a moment, the Candlemaker gestured to a table off to the side, proudly displaying their wares. The pair looked over the candles, one delighted, one gently pleased. 

The second, larger mural was of a procession of Stars, each holding a lit candle, kneeling and offering the dancing flames to the Elder above. The solid, glowing temple in the sky beckoned the onlookers to come, to dock their cloud-boats and journey into the clouds. The child looked awe-struck, the parent fond and indulgent.

They exited the cavern to find a cloud-boat waiting, and the Candlemaker led the two Stars out to board it. Pointing to the temple high in the clouds, they watched the cloud-boat unmoor and set off. 

 

The Moth watches the Pointing Candlemaker, and experimentally copies the motion. Look, they say. Or, that way.

The Spirit wavers slightly, and rises in the form of a luminescent blue orb. It shoots off towards the temple in the clouds, leaving a trail of blue light in its wake, and the Moth hops off the rock pier. They will follow, soon. They had seen a glow under the jutting spire in the sky. Another Spirit? 

They slide down the dunes to free the new Spirit, and watch in awed fascination as the memories play out.

 

The Beckoning Trailblazer was walking with another Star when they noticed it. A streak of light, like a falling star, lit the desert with a soft blue glow. 

They took off running towards the light, leaving the other Star to walk more sedately behind. They crested a dune and looked down, beckoning for their companion to hurry. There is a small figure lying curled up in the sand, glowing bright. 

The Trailblazer beckoned again, more urgently, and the other Star jogged over to stand next to them.

They looked at each other. What should they do?

 

The Moth mimics the Spirit, ushering. Come, they say. Follow me!  

This Spirit rises as well, streaking off towards the temple. The moth hesitates, glancing around, and decides exploring can come later.

They hop up the slab of rock that juts up to point at the temple. Their way is blocked by a shimmering gate, too high to leap over. It is labeled with a symbol like a shepherd's crook, and reads 1/1.

Acting again on instinct, they pull out their candle once more, pressing the flame to the shimmering barrier. It wavers, and ripples open in a circle around them. They reabsorb their candle, and carefully step through. Nothing happens, so they continue on to the next obstacle. This is a rock ledge, once more too tall to jump over.

There are glowing golden butterflies fluttering around it, and the Moth considers for a moment before calling out. The butterflies chirp back and swirl around them, lifting them easily over the ledge and onto the tip of the rocky point. There is another Winged Light waiting for them, and they take its hand with gratitude. 

That makes three, now, and they feel suddenly so overwhelming to the Moth that they double over, the Light pouring out of them in rings, and they float up, feeling the Light coat their cape until it releases with a flash, and they drop onto one knee. 

They crane their neck and peer at their back, noticing two glowing stars in the top middle of their cape. More energy, they realize. If the cape was wings, they would manage another flap.

Elated, the Moth leaps off the ledge and is seized immediately by the wind, sweeping them up towards the temple.