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Aurora's tears, twilight bloom. The Felora capital

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of Lavorian rose like a dream carved from moonlight.

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The three -moon rain towers spiraled upward from

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the edge of the city, their pale stone threaded

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with glowing glass that pulsed softly against

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the endless sky. From their highest balconies,

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one could see all of Luminara, the bioluminescent

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jungles, the golden coastline. and the vast ocean

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where stars shone for eternity. Sheerith stood

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at the base of the towers, eyes staring straight

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up at the imposing structure, and tail flicking

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nervously behind her. She had faced bandits,

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masters of flame, shadows in the jungle that

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hunted back. But this, this felt worse. It's

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just a hangout, she told herself. Not a mission,

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not a threat. Just Zorith. Her glowing stripes

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betrayed her immediately, brightening with every

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anxious, flirtatious thought. Zorith was so...

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different. She is fine around the athletic guys

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who hang around the beaches and jungles who always

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flex and smile at her. But Zorith was... different.

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He was so... mysterious. His very presence was

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a sense of wisdom and a cool demeanor. Sheerith

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snapped out of her train of thought when she

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spotted Zorith. He arrived precisely on time,

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because, well, of course he did. He was taller

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than she was, his fur a deep charcoal with softly

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glowing indigo stripes that shimmered like constellations.

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His eyes lit up the moment he saw her, not flaring

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with intensity like a warrior's, but warming,

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like a lantern left on just for someone. Hello,

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he said, smiling a little too wide, but still

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very cute. Sheerith's brain stalled. Hi. A brilliant

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start. Zorith scratched the back of his neck and

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did a polite bow. Even with his kind gesture,

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Sheerith could sense a little nervousness. I'm

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glad you came. These stars only fall every three

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hundred years. I'm thrilled I can show them to

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you. And of course, with a view like none other.

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She blinked, looking back up at the imposing

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tower. I can't wait. I've never been so close

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to the towers before. They're so... big. His

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ears perked and head tilted. Are you alright?

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Sheerith huffed despite herself. Of course, yeah,

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totally. It's just... just... Sheerith opened

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her mouth to say it, but the words escaped his

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lips first. You're afraid of heights. No! Sheerith

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snapped back. It's just... well... maybe. Sheerith

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blushed. Did she ruin the moment? She felt her

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hand being guided around a comforting arm. Hold

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on to me, Sharith froze. I won't leave your side,

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he promised. They began the ascent together,

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the spiral ramps of the tower winding upward

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in gentle arcs. The city's sounds faded below

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them, replaced by the soft winds up high and

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the silent light of the aurora in its distant

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waves. Sheerith kept her gaze forward, too forward.

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Say something, she scolded herself. So, she said,

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cutting the silence. You're here often? Zorith

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let a soft chuckle escape. Yes, if I'm honest,

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perhaps too much, he said. The upper observation

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floors are perfect for long, quiet hours when

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one needs to think and write. Sheerith giggled

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softly. He stopped with a smile. What? Sheerith

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froze once again. She didn't mean to laugh, it's

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just... You're such a nerd, escaped her lips,

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her eyes crew wide. Sheerith glanced at him, her

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stripes flickering faintly with embarrassment.

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He let out a heartfelt laugh. Well, fair enough,

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but don't judge too harshly. Some of us aren't

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as cool as the scouts out beyond the city, he

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said with a gentle smile. Sheerith blushed and

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smiled a little awkwardly, her stripes glowing

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in a soft emerald and sapphire hues. She kept

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tight hold onto Zorith's arm as they walked.

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She glanced up at him and accidentally made eye

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contact. She refocused on the steps before her,

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but could sense Zorith smiling at her. The silence

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enveloped them, but not a cold silence. Zorith

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felt a genuine peace amongst the nervousness.

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It was nice. As they reached the upper balcony,

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The sun had just kissed the beaches with golden

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light, and the aurora deepened into layers of

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blue, violet, and green, rippling like breath.

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Below them, the ocean stretched endlessly, its

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surface catching fragments of radiant light.

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Sharith took in a breath of wonder. Ah, it's

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beautiful, Zorith finished. Sheerith smiled and

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closed her eyes as warm air from the beaches

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below swept past. They sat side by side on the

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smooth stone ledge, their shoulders not quite

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touching. The air was sweet, carrying sun and

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starlight. Minutes passed in silence. Not awkward

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silence. Just quiet. Then the first shooting

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star streaked across the sky, cutting a bright

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line through the ink -black night. Then another.

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Then two more. Soon, the sky was raining divine

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light. Sheerith's eyes widened. This is perfect,

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she thought out loud. Zorith nodded. Better than

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the view from the beaches, yes? She glanced at

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him and giggled. Fine, you win. This is way better.

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Sharith realized she wasn't thinking of the height

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of the tower anymore. Being this high up with

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the sky raining down eternal light, and with

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her hands around Zorith's arm, everything, for

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a moment, was fine. She laughed softly, then

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froze. Realizing she had been hugging his arm

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very tightly, she loosened her grip. Sorry, she

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said. Don't be, he said. By the way, I like it

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when you laugh. It sounds unguarded. That struck

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something deep in her chest. She stared out at

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the sky again, closed her eyes, and took a breath.

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I'm not very good at this, she blurted out to

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her surprise. Zorith paused for a moment. You

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mean being more beautiful than the stars? I strongly

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disagree. Sharith's stripes glowed very brightly.

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Zorith smiled, gentle and unwavering. You don't

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have to be anything else, Sheerith. Not brave.

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Not sharp. Just here. Her tail curled slowly

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around her ankle. She kept her eyes closed and

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prepared for what was about to come out of her

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mouth. I like you. An eternity passed in a moment.

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After a quiet breath, Sharif surprisingly felt

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something cool in her fingers. She opened her

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eyes and glanced at her hands. A soft blue rose

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-like flower met her gaze. A twilight bloom.

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The kind from the beach. Her favorite. I like

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you too, he said gently. She looked up at his

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eyes and they reflected the beauty of the light

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-filled sky. The beaches are nice, he said softly,

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but still, ever more beautiful whenever you are

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there. Happiness couldn't describe it. This,

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this was peace. She placed her head slowly against

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his chest. I'm, I'm glad I came, she whispered.

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As am I. He said. They sat together as the stars

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continued to fall. Sheerith finally put her weight

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against him, curled her tail around herself,

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and watched the sky. A show three hundred years

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in the making. This has been Aurora's Tears.

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The story continues.