Shooting Stars: Chapter 7
Like a dream, Xavier, who had disappeared arbitrarily of his own volition for such a long time, returns to my side just like that.
Moreover, it was even as a knight of the Lightseekers…
After rescuing me from the dark cosmic vortex, Xavier brings me to where his team is stationed—
On the other edge of Starfall Forest.
As it turns out, anytime I find myself deep in danger, he isn’t far away from me.
The team that Xavier belongs to is, strictly speaking, not considered an official knight team.
Every one of them wears a different badge, each likely once belonging to different teams of the Lightseekers.
I don’t know what sort of experiences or beliefs they’ve had for them to all currently gather by Xavier’s side.
Jeremiah: You for so long, and it turns out you were actually hiding here and doing something big!
Jeremiah continues to speak casually as always, similar to how he was back at school.
Xavier: I was also only reminded of this Forest in the recent few years.
Xavier: All along, Starfall Forest has been the hardest-hit by Wanderers, so I figured there had to be some secret here.
Xavier: In the past, Lightseekers would chase down Wanderers all over the place, but whenever one was eliminated, another would just show up elsewhere, and all that effort would be in vain.
Xavier: So I thought, why not find the root cause, go straight to its weakness, and stamp out the problem completely.
All sorts of equipment has been used to build a simple command center. Xavier stands before a virtual screen displaying a map, carefully explaining to Jeremiah and me in great detail what he has found these past few years.
His voice remains calm as always, but rings with steadfastness and an indisputable strength.
I watch the way Xavier walks about in front of the virtual screen. It's as if he's still the same person he was before, but somewhere… Something is a little different.
Xavier: Still lost in thought? Everyone's already left to rest, what about you?
Xavier walks up to me, and only then do I notice the people surrounding him have all dispersed.
MC: Oh, I… Perhaps since I just left that mirage not long ago, I’m still adjusting…
Xavier: Really?
Xavier hands me a jug of water.
Xavier: But someone told me a while back, it's only when you have someone you like, that’s when you get lost in thought often.
Behind that sentence are memories that are far too distant. I think back for a moment, and only then do I find the familiarity I once shared with Xavier again.
I accept the water and smile, leaning against the command center with him.
MC: Yeah… We haven't seen each other in so long, perhaps I really do have someone I like now.
Xavier: That's good.
MC: Not asking who it is?
Xavier: No matter who it is, it’s still good.
Xavier: After living for too long, by having someone in your heart, you'll always have some hope.
Since he says it that way, I inadvertently take a glance at the hilt of his sword.
The star tassel is still hanging there, but it is so faded its original color can’t be made out. Only the string looks like it was newly made.
MC: This tassel, you really do cherish it.
Xavier: I'm used to it.
MC: Then do you still remember, that year…
Xavier: Oh right, you haven't seen our newly modified patrol spaceship, right.
MC: …
Xavier: It’s parked not far away, follow me.
During the few days that I temporarily stayed in the camp, Xavier was always very busy.
If he wasn't leading his companions into the depths of the forest to scout, he was going into the spaceship alone, and once he entered he'd be in there the whole day.
What happened after we separated and he returned to the palace that year? Why wasn't the Titulus Ceremony held? How did he join the Lightseekers afterwards? What exactly has he been doing all these years? I tried multiple times to find an opportunity to ask about all these questions for clarification, but…
He always seamlessly changes the conversation topic.
Not only does he avoid questions, it seems as if he is also avoiding being alone with me, whether intentional or not.
I can’t help becoming more suspicious. He must have something even more important that he isn’t telling me…
Jeremiah: Are you sure you want to act this way?
MC: I'm sure. Whether or not we can trick the truth out of Xavier depends on you this time, but don't go overboard with your acting, okay.
Jeremiah: Understood! It’s been over two hundred years, I can finally be of help to you this one time.
Xavier coincidentally had just come back from the dense Forest. I rush to sprawl down beside the command center.
Jeremiah: (MC)! (MC), what's the matter with you? Is it happening again?
It’s such an exaggerated performance, yet it somehow really manages to draw Xavier’s attention.
Xavier: What happened to her?
Jeremiah: I don't know, ever since you rescued her from that mirage, her body actually hasn't been too well, but there was no opportunity to tell you.
As expected, Xavier turns serious.
Xavier: It’s her ?
MC: Yes… right! It often throbs in pain, it hurts…
MC: Maybe there was some strange energy in the mirage that stimulated it… if only I knew the reason…
Jeremiah: I swear, she was even crying in pain just now!
As I’m mentally criticizing Jeremiah’s , Xavier presses his headset microphone, then picks me up in one sweep.
Xavier: Still on the spaceship? Postpone Operation Backtrack, I need to borrow the spaceship for a bit.
Xavier: Mm, immediately.
MC: Ah? Hold it!
Since the matter is being blown out of proportion, I rush to stop him.
MC: It’s not that serious, Xavier, there’s no need to borrow the spaceship!
Xavier looks at me suspiciously, so I hurriedly break free and leap to the ground, hopping twice on the spot.
MC: You see, I'm fine…
Xavier: You lied to me?
MC: …Um, that's because I've been here for so long, and you won't even tell me what you're doing, that’s why I resorted to .
Xavier isn’t angry like I had anticipated. After he makes sure I am indeed healthy, he pats my head with a bit of lingering fear.
Xavier: As long as nothing's wrong.
But from his reaction, I still discovered .
MC: So, why were you so anxious earlier?
MC: Is it really because certain situations here could possibly cause a person’s heart to develop problems?
Xavier: I hid it from you before, because everything is just our speculation…
Xavier seems to finally relax a little, and turns his head to face the direction where that mirage had appeared.
Xavier: It's not entirely a person’s heart. More accurately, it's the entire planet’s heart that has developed problems.
Xavier: Here, we discovered the truth about Philos.
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