"-and that one right there is Sagittarius."

Percy squinted his eyes. "Sagi-whatnow? I don't see anything."

She shifted closer towards him and extended her finger. "Do you see where I'm pointing? That particular arrangement of stars?"

Rhajat watched curiously as Percy stared into the night sky, visibly concentrating deeply before widening his eyes with astonishment and pointing excitedly.

"Oh, that? Oh…oh I see it, I see it – the one that kinda looks like a…?" He paused and marveled before whistling dismissively. "Wow, all this time and I never knew there were secret pictures hidden in the sky. Golly, I feel stupid."

"They're not pictures, they're constellations", she corrected, "special patterns and arrangements of stars symbolising the various signs of the zodiac."

Percy stared incredulously at her, visibly confused. "I have no idea what you're talking about but it sounds really important."

Rhajat smirked. "I didn't expect you to comprehend all this."

Percy wriggled himself closer towards her. "You're really good at this, you know? I mean, I've always thought you could, you know, see things in the stars like animals and objects, but I never thought there were actually special pictures to find."

Rhajat sighed dismissively. "It isn't difficult at all. All you need to do is focus your attention on the right area at the right time of night. It's basic astrology."

Percy chuckled. "It can't be that basic, I've never thought to try this before. How did you find out about these?"

Averting her eyes, Rhajat brought her knees close to her torso and wrapped her arms around them tightly. "Books and encyclopaedias, mostly" she sighed deeply, "but I…I have the very, very faintest memories of accompanying my mother at night. She'd help me identify all the stars, arrangements and patterns. She was the one who introduced me to astrology."

Percy listened attentively. "Really? That sounds nice. Was this in the Deeprealm?"

Rhajat furrowed her eyebrows. "It's hard to say. I only have the weakest memories of such an occasion."

"Well, do you and your Mum still stargaze now?"

Sighing sorrowfully, Rhajat shook her head. "No, not anymore."

Witnessing her disheartened expression, Percy smiled weakly. "Sorry, I didn't mean to, y'know, make you feel worse."

"I'm fine. It's just…the Deeprealm was a very lonely period for me, and I've had difficulty readjusting to life outside it."

Shocked and disheartened to hear such a confession, Percy sheepishly wriggled closer to her to try and provide support, her words making him reflect upon his own experience within the place.

"I'm really sorry for what happened", he whispered softly.

"It's not your fault. You've done nothing wrong."

"No, it's not just that" he answered desperately, prompting Rhajat to return her attention to him. He hesitated before continuing. "I…I know you said you don't like talking about your time in the Deeprealm so I'm really sorry for bringing it up."

The young man began to fiddle with his hands anxiously. "I'm…I'm not looking for sympathy…but I just want you to know that I was really lonely in the Deeprealm as well."

"You were?"

Percy nodded.

"But didn't you have your wyvern for company?"

"Well, yeah, I guess. Ace was…he really was my only friend during my time in there. He was loyal and dependable, and somebody I could talk to whenever I felt lonely. But even then it…it wasn't the same as having another person to talk with."

The wyvern rider's poignant confession was something Rhajat never expected. Because of his perpetual optimism and charisma, loneliness and abandonment weren't things she ever thought he could experience.

Percy sighed deeply with a frown. "I feel really bad now. I…I should…I should have said something to you while we we're both in the Deeprealm. If I'd known that you were feeling lonely as well, I would have spoken with you." He hung his head with a sorrowful expression. "I'm sorry."

Rhajat smiled hopefully. "It's alright-"

"No, it's not alright" he answered, stirring uncomfortably. "A true hero never abandons someone during their time of need…even if that person just wants someone to talk to."

Rhajat was about to object but hesitated, startled by the genuine expression of anguish and remorse on the young man's face. Inching herself closer towards him, she spoke softly. "You're not at fault, Percy. You cannot blame yourself for something like that. I…I isolated myself from the other inhabitants. There's no way you could have known."

"…That's still no excuse for me." After whispering, Percy averted his attention.

For once, the young woman was at a loss for words as she stared breathlessly at the young man, totally unprepared and inexperienced to handle such a situation. Still, as Percy remained silent, Rhajat began to reflect on all the times the young man had been there for her to provide support and encouragement. Rhajat elected to try and do the same.

Stirring uncomfortably, Rhajat began hesitantly. "Whether or not we interacted during the Deeprealm is irrelevant, because what's really important now is that we have the oppor-"

To try and prevent humiliating herself, she stopped abruptly, prompting Percy to turn back.

"What's important?" He asked curiously.

Rhajat, flustered, shook her head. "Never mind, it's…just forget what I was going to say…"

"No, what were you going to say?"

"Nothing, it's childish."

Percy wriggled closer towards her. "C'mon, please? I wanna hear what you were gonna say."

The young man's hopeful smile provided some relief. Exhaling deeply, Rhajat folded her arms.

"I was going to say…now that you and I are…together…we have the opportunity to make up for lost times. and perhaps share experiences we mightn't have had during the Deeprealm."

At the conclusion of her confession, Rhajat stared at him expectantly, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. Rather than a teasingresponse, she observed as a bashful smile developed on Percy's lips.

"Do you really mean that?"

Nervously, Rhajat nodded weakly.

Almost immediately, the young wyvern rider began to bit his lip excitedly, fidgeting with his hands anxiously. "Sorry, my face just got really hot all of a sudden." Percy laughed nervously. "I seriously feel like the luckiest boy in the world to be with somebody you."

The young man's sincere words made a passionate sensation erupt within her heart. Although she'd yet to admit it, she reciprocated his sentiments entirely.

I'll see you again when the stars fall from the sky / And the moon has turned red over One Tree Hill

We run like a river runs to the sea / We run like a river to the sea