Talia listens to every word, nodding slowly as Nova speaks. The elder's furrowed brows and quiet hums of understanding with every detail don't go unnoticed by the frazzled markazian.

"What does this all mean?" Nova glances up at the elder, asking for her guidance. "You have that look. You only get that look if it's something important. Really important."

"The Zoni do not give glimpses into the future without reason, Nova. It is very seldom that They contact mortals at all, but when They do speak to us, Their words are always important."

Nova grows pale at the answer, the anxiety that was once quelled by the warm drink now returning full force. As her hand is raised to her mouth, her entire body shakes as her mind recalls the scene. She could still see the horrible imagery, still feel those claws at her throat. Those crimson eyes…

"The future? So that means..It was real? Oh stars...Everyone's gonna die.. Mom, Dad, my friends, the elders..Everyone." Nova begins to hyperventilate, hot tears streaming down her face as she loses sight of the present. Her stomach twists into a knot as she struggles to focus her mind.

"Don't forget your tea. Would you like to see your parents?"

A sniffle, then a sip. Nova's mind turns for a moment to simpler times. Her father singing to her. The fongoids teaching her how to make candy with the local fruit. When she batted away those zyphoids with a stick twice her size, only to throw it away screaming at the sight of the spider clinging to it. Her mother and father telling her stories of the worlds beyond the stars.

She always wished she could see them someday, those worlds. There's so much that she's never seen before. Ships, holo films, hologames, even people made of metal! But her family made a good life here without technology, and her first encounter with metal life forms is probably going to be her last...Nova puts her focus back on the present with a nervous gulp of tea.

"Aren't they mad at me though?"

"No, child. They're just worried, we all were."

"Yeah, I'd like to see them, please. I want to apologize to them too."

Talia reaches a hand towards a walking stick, tapping its wood against the doorway twice. "Nova is ready to speak with you now. Come in."

Her parents walk in slowly. First her mother, then her father. They approach her with a warm embrace. Nova grips them fiercely, as if it's the last time they'll hold each other.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have worried you guys like that."

"It's in the past now. Your father and I are just glad you're okay."

"Mama's right, Novie. Don't worry. We're not gonna let anything happen to you."

The three separate, and the parents each place a kiss on Nova's forehead, squeezing her hands gently.

"Now you get some rest, birthday girl. Your dad and I wake you up when it's all ready."

"I will Mama."

James tousles Nova's hair a bit. He flips her curls to the opposite side of her face, covering her right eye. "I can't believe our baby girl is already 18! You were so tiny when you were born, and now you're all grown up."

With a giggle, Nova fixes her hair to its usual position at the left. "Yeah, I stopped growing a year ago and I'm still shorter than most!"

Her mom laughs at the comment, and sports a mischievous look her face. "That may be true, but size really doesn't matter in most cases, Novie."

James's face turns red as a tomato at Corinne's words, but the joke doesn't quite reach Nova. Instead of being flustered, she simply tilts her head confused. In what case does it matter? Before she can put any more brain power to the question, her parents stand up to leave. A yawn leaves her, the calming effects of the tea working their magic.

"A-anyway, we'll let you rest. Call us if you need anything."

"I will, Dad. See you guys later."

She sleeps soundly and dreamlessly, aided by the charms surrounding the bed.

…

Hours later, the soft glow of sunlight reaches Nova's eyes. Gathering her senses, she notices that her clothes and gear have been washed for her and folded on a nearby chair. After a quick change of outfits, Nova emerges from the hut to see the whole village together to celebrate.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY NOVA!"

Amidst cheers, Nova blushes at the attention. Everyone pitched together for the display before her. There's fongoid delicacies of all sorts lining a table, including a few foreign desserts. Nova gasps at the sight of the cake and chocolates, her mother's old recipes brought to life.

"Thank you so much everyone!"

A crowd of children gathers around Nova, circling around her hips. A little boy speaks up, no older than 8, tugging at Nova's shirt end. "You're awake now, Miss Nova! Can we eat cake now?" His little sister joins in. "Yeah! Cake!"

The other children join in the chant, and Nova laughs at the sight. "Cake! Cake! Cake!"

"Alright, Alright. I'm excited too!"

Nova walks toward the table to get a closer look at the cake. There's a simple white frosting coating it, and small piping details at the bottom rim. The little bumps are dyed blue, her favorite color. With a smile, she allows her gaze to turn towards the sheathed knife on the table. Nova picks it up, removes the leather cover, and freezes at the metal reflecting in the sunlight.

She can see the whole village in the blade. Her parents, the children, the elders. Their screams fill her mind, and a distant look spreads across her face. How long do we have left? Jumbled noise reaches her ears.

"..ova? Hey..Are.. alright? Nova!" A young girl's voice breaks her self induced trance, and Nova looks down at its source.

"Ah! What?"

The girl looks up at Nova, her head tilted with concern. "Are you gonna cut the cake, Miss Nova?"

"Uh, yeah. Sorry. I was just..distracted."

Centering the blade, Nova cuts the first slice.

…

With the food and drink gone, the village is gathered in front of the temple at noon. As Nova kneels at the center of the area, she can't help but be a bit nervous. She's waited for this day for a long time, she's literally trained herself for it. She's seen coming of age ceremonies before, but to be in one is so incredibly different. The entire village is seated at the stone steps in front of her, waiting for the ceremony to begin.

In the chief's hands is a combat staff, but this is no ordinary weapon. The gemstone is polished into a teardrop shape, the pointed end meant to improve accuracy. Just under the crystal's base is a carved groove just wide enough to hold a stripe of cobalt ribbon, and the wooden shaft is sanded and polished to perfection. A strip of leather serves as a perfect grip. It's simple in design, not meant to put on a show, but to get the job done. Her own staff. The sight of it warms her heart, turning her nervousness into excitement.

"Nova -eh- Albedo. Your family came to us in their greatest hour of -mep- need. Your mother defied the odds, and gave you to us with -eep- the Zoni's guidance. However, our past does not define us -nyeh-. You have grown into a remarkable woman. Strong. Compassionate. Brave. And so, -nye-"

The Chief holds out the treasured weapon towards Nova, who slowly stands to accept it. "We give you this staff. May you -eyah- use it well to shape your future."

As Nova holds her staff, she studies every detail of it. It's just as she remembers. In the previous weeks, she's been working on it as many fongoid teens do to their own coming-of-age trinkets. As much as she wishes she could have had hers sooner, the finished gifts are always heavily guarded before the ceremony, and she wouldn't dare risk having hers revoked before she has the chance to charge it. Most kids craft jewelry like earrings, necklaces, or sashes, leaving the weapon crafting to the village warriors. Nova, however, has always been fascinated with those staves. They're multipurpose, their uses varying from combat to unlocking doors. Why wouldn't she make one of her own, even if she's not technically a soldier?

And here comes the best part! Nova slowly raises her gift towards the sky, closing her eyes in concentration. With a deep breath, she puts all her focus into the crystal.

The village watches with bated breath, all eyes on Nova. Tense, thick silence fills the air. A soft glow envelops her staff's tip, and electricity licks the stone. With a hum, a cerulean light emanates from the weapon, giving the area a soft glow. A column of light bursts forth from the weapon, reaching into the sky like a beacon. As the energy settles back into the fully charged crystal, the crowd cheers.