Asha takes Earendel’s hand leading him somewhere. Curiosity made the star impatient on where she was taking him too. Asha did say she had something to show him but never said what it was. He hoped she forgot about the incident awhile ago where he collapsed on the ground near her especially when they were confessing their feelings for one another. But that wasn’t the only thing that fueled his worry, Magnifico was also stealing the stars from the sky, capturing them in a tiny bottle to do who knows what. Help with his wishing system? That was a likely possibility. After what felt like minutes to him they finally reached a large tree hanging over the edge of a cliff.
He tilted his head, knitting his brows at the sight. Asha climbs onto a stable branch hanging over the edge of the waters below. Earendel admired the big plant hanging above them with whimsy as he also followed her to the branch, helping Valentino up to the branch where he sat next to her. He looked down at his own reflection on the waves below them. The starboy stole a glance at Asha who also took the time to stare at her own reflection below,
she brushed a strand of her braids that was blocking her face behind her ear. Earendel reached out his hand to pluck a strand of grass from her braids that must've been stuck on her hair during their stargazing. Asha touched her hair where he plucked out the grass.
She mouthed a thank you to him, resting her hand next to his on the branch they were sitting on. The starboy inched his hand closer to hers and rested his hand on top of hers. Asha glanced at him then at his hand on top of hers as she entwined his fingers with hers. The warmness of his light brings peace in her mind. Her eyes lifted to his as he plastered a half smile at her.
“So, what’s with this tree?” He said, finally breaking the silence between their romantic tension.
“This tree is special to me, it’s where my Sabino took me before he passed. He said it connected people of my village and the stars together.” She gazed at the twinkling lights in the far distance.
“How so?” Asked the starboy, Asha gave a reluctant smile to his question as she raised her hand up and felt a soft silky ribbon brush against her palm and without much effort plucked it from the thin branch it hugged around. Asha straightened the curled up ribbon that had been sitting there since the dawn of time, surprisingly the writing on it could still be read. Please help me start a family. Earendel took a moment to stare at the writing, a puzzled look washed over his face.
“There wishes we write (or they) to the stars above to grant” god she started to sound like Sabino. Earendel’s eyes lit up for a second as hope filled him inside. Another thought crossed his mind which Asha seemed to notice instantly. “What is it?”
“It’s nothing…” The star bit his lip, before changing to subject a bit. “So this tree is special to you?”
“Yes, this was the last thing my grandpa showed me and I don’t even know if it will last that is if Magnifico finds out, the tree and Hamlet will be danger if the King finds out”
“I’m sorry…” was all Earendel could say, he wasn’t good at comforting people.
“It’s not your fault.” Asha tapped the branch a couple of times to think of another question to change the subject before things got too gloomy. “My turn to ask, what’s special to you?”
“The stars above, and the people down here..”
Earendel took a breath before answering her, “Asha, I think this is why we’re not dying out, it’s this tree and your people, they’re keeping us alive!”
“Remember how you said the people in your village write wishes and believe in the stars, without it we grow weak and eventually die out but thanks to them we’re still alive, but not as strong as before…” Earendel’s head began to throb as he flickered for a split second, his glow shrinking in the process. Asha tried to console him but he put a hand out to stop her. “We're now vulnerable to other magic forces…most likely why the stars are disappearing too…” He muttered at the last sentence.
Asha took the time to gather her scrambled thoughts before piecing them together. Before she could say anything, suddenly a hand touched both of their shoulders, jolting the two with surprise as they turned their heads to the side to see Tomás towering over them.
“Papa!” Asha wore a plastered grin on her face. “What are you doing here?” how long has he been there all this time without their knowledge.Thankfully he didn’t see her about to kiss a star earlier.
“Nothing, just out for a late night stroll,” He chuckled to himself. Asha gulped the saliva stuck on the back of her mouth, hoping he didn’t hear their conversation.
“I didn’t expect to find you two here,” He sat down next to Earendel, overlooking the waves below him. “You know just us together in this view, it reminds me of how Sabino would bring me here and tell tales about this ol’ tree and Hamlet.” The scent of flowers from the tree they were sitting under puts his mind at ease, putting all of the worries of Hamlet aside. “It's a tradition in our village to hang these up, without the whole magic thing of course” Tomás added, as Earendel let out a chuckle. "Here's mine,” he held up a red ribbon with his writing. Lead Hamlet as Sabino’s successor.
Asha stared at the ribbons then the stars. Their light shined on the colorful strings as if it listened to their written dreams. Her eyes widened in wonder as if stepping into a whole new realm, her mind now drifting to Magnifico’s wishing system, thinking about it now this was more magical than anything that the king had set up.
“You wanna know what Saba’s wish was…” Tomas asked his daughter who was to en-tranced in her own thoughts. unfolded a yellow ribbon that had its color almost washed out from his pocket, probably worn out over the years. Holding it up for the two to read. I wish people would believe in the stars again. Asha touched the dried ink of writing. It made sense for him to write that, after all, he did tell her the story about how the belief of the stars slowly began to fade after Magnifico and Amaya came to make their lies of their wishing system. Tomas let go of the ribbon, clasping his daughter's hand over it. “Keep it, I think he’d want you to have it instead” Asha gave her father a warm smile before she embraced him,
Tomas stroked her braids. Earendel watched the father and daughter have their moment as Valentino rested his head to his hip, the star took a back for a second, picked up the kid and placed him on his lap in a sitting position. Asha and Tomas finally let go from what felt like an hour.
“You two are a thing now aren't you?” Tomás raised an eyebrow playfully at his daughter who could only respond with a couple of fast blinking.
“N-no!” Asha waved her arms in defense. “What makes you think that!,” she crossed her arms and tented her eyebrows. Tomás let out a chuckle.
“One, it's written all over your face, and two you’re holding hands.”
Red formed in her cheeks, she immediately buried her head in her hands. How much more did her dad discover about them? She swung her hanging legs back and forth trying to distract herself from whatever more her father had in his mind he hadn’t said yet. “Don’t worry, this is between us, your mother won’t find out” He put his index finger close to his lips and gave her a wink, at least could ease her anxiety a little
“Welp, I’ll leave you two love birds at it. Meet you back at the cottage.” Tomás stood up.
“Dad!” Asha called to him at his teasing remarks. But he was already gone from their view. Leaving Asha and Earendel alone in the silence of the wishing tree. Asha took the time to calm down from the sudden embarrassment and humiliation she just faced there from her own father before turning to starboy next to her.
“Earendel, can I change my wish?” She asked.
“Changing a wish?, I suppose so…to what?” He didn’t know how to answer her for a moment, usually the wishers tended to keep their wish the same all the time before it's truly granted. “What about your ability to learn magic?”
“Well, that too…in a way…” she let out a sigh giving out her answer.
“I want to use my magic to save everyone, not just Rosas but your stars!”
“what…” Earendel was taken aback, still processing what she said before answering, “Asha, I can save my own people just focus on yours-”
“No, I can’t!, not when you're suffering too” She squeezed his hands before caressing his cheek.
“Asha im fine I really am-” A piercing headache overwhelmed the star as he clutched his head with one of his hands. His glow was slightly getting smaller.
“Im fine,” he dismissed, blinking a couple of times until his vision cleared. “It's just a slight headache…” Asha recalled the time Sabino dismissed his violent coughing to her on this very branch guilt overtook her when he passed away knowing she couldn’t do anything about his illness, but now Earendel was suffering too she couldn’t let herself stand to the side and watch him in pain she had to do save him somehow.
“Let me help you,” Her voice was now pleading. “How are you supposed to grant my wish when you're in this state?” She hoped she didn’t come across as selfish to him, but it was a way to convince him to agree.
“Okay…but only for your people, not me!” he instructed to which Asha agreed, of course she wasn’t going to listen
A disguised Amaya ties a red-violet clock around her neck that she snagged from one of the clothing lines next to a house nearby. Thankfully the homeowner was out and didn’t get to see her robbery. Now her only goal was to find Asha and the prince of stars and spy on their whereabouts. A tall man walked by her, towering over her through the shadows. She slowed her footsteps down, clutching the fabric of her clock tightly. The light of the moon showered his face letting Amaya see his sharp facial structure, but something about him made her want to approach him.
“You doing okay ma’m?” Tomás questioned the troubled woman. She slightly lifted her eyes to him, her long brunette hair covering her left eye. Amaya straightened herself and tucked the hair that was covering half of her face behind her ear.
“Yes, I'm quite alright,” She let out a cough from her attempt at doing a Castilian accent. She couldn’t remember what those peasants sounded like whenever they rambled on at each other but she could vaguely recall them having a slightly different pronunciation to some words.
“You from here?, I don’t see you around Hamlet much?” He pointed a finger at her. Amaya was now digging through her mind for an excuse.
“I tend to stay inside.” Her eyes scanned the trees around them thinking of more to say. “Have you seen Asha anywhere? I’d like to speak to her,”
“Asha?, my daughter, she’s over by the wishing tree over there” He pointed behind him to a large opening in the far distance. “Although she's busy I recommend talking to her tomorrow.”
Busy, with what, the prince of stars?. She didn’t have time to wait till the next morning the disguise was not gonna last forever. Amaya glared at him with daggers hoping the man would shoo off. Tomás bit his lip wondering how to satisfy this woman.
“Or, you can just wait till she’s done?” He suggested making Amaya’s face relax. “It was nice meeting you ma’m” He gave a bow before heading on his merry way. Amaya scoffed. How could this be Asha’s father? He's too unfit to be the chief of their lousy village, and a wishing tree?. The word curled a smile on Amaya’s lips as she hid behind a large trunk spotting the two about to head down. What were they up to?. She obviously wasn’t going to even talk to the girl nor was she even focused on her. Her eyes fixated on the glowing boy helping her down the tree. Are they in love? Amaya stuck a tongue out to the side, oh would Magnifico be happy to hear the news his apprentice is in love with a star of all things. The two were heading towards Amaya, still oblivious of her presence. She positioned herself around the tree enough for her to see them head the same direction the man she just met was going. The large tree grabbed Amaya’s attention as she ran to the giant plant, making sure to turn back to see if the two were fully gone before scaling the trunk. She stumbled on her way up, managing to grab a branch before she could hit the ground and stabilize herself. Amaya scanned the branches, seeing flowing strings attached. Curiosity filled her mind as she ripped one ribbon tied around a branch and read the writing. I Wish to find Love
“Bleh, so much for love…” She glanced back at the direction Asha and the wishing star left. She turned to grab a few more ribbons, reading some more to herself. “Seriously, what's the point of these ribbons when the stars hardly grant them at all,” She scoffed as she carefully descended the tree, making sure not to miss a step. Amaya shoved the ribbons in her pocket, revealing a large lump on her ragged dress. She sprinted away, making sure to take one more glance at the tree.
Yeah I don't have that much drawings or photos here Im lowk busy in w exams and I don't rlly have much time to upload these chapters. anyway hope u enjoyed their romance