1.
The starship Orpheus sailed through the endless sea of the galaxy.
“Planet Lumieres, the unknown world…”
Leon gazed down through the window at the planet below: its skies swirling in shades of blue and violet, bathed in innumerable starlight. Uncharted and far from Earth, it shone like a jewel in the cosmos.
“All right, prepare for descent!”
The captain’s voice crackled over the comms, and the exploration team began their landing.
2.
The moment they touched down on Lumieres, Leon paused in awe.
The air was crisp, and the ground was covered in plants that glowed like crystals. Meteors streaked overhead, as though the stars themselves were raining down.
“What a breathtaking world…”
But beneath its beauty, something felt off.
—Time flowed differently here.
According to the ship’s data, a single day on Lumieres equated to several years on Earth.
“A strange planet indeed…”
Before Leon could speak, a ripple of presence came from between the luminous trees.
3.
A silver‑haired girl emerged before him.
Her eyes were a translucent shade of blue, and her smile flickered with fragility. She gazed at Leon and whispered softly:
“You… are you from beyond the stars?”
“Uh—yes?”
“Welcome to Lumieres. My name is Eris. I am one who is trapped on this planet.”
Trapped?
Leon searched her face, puzzled, and Eris sighed with quiet sadness.
“This world is beautiful… but it is a prison where time turns in circles forever.”
4.
Eris explained that the unusual flow of time on Lumieres ensnares those who stay long—a fusion with the world that offers no escape.
“I too once traveled space as you do… But when I realized it, I had nowhere to return.”
Leon was speechless.
If they lingered here—
“Leon! Get back to the ship!”
His teammate’s voice crackled through the comm.
Leon looked at Eris. He could not leave her behind.
“Will you come with us?”
But Eris shook her head.
“My fate is to remain… here.”
Her words faded as the starlight wrapped around her form.
5.
“Go… live your future.”
Eris’s gentle farewell carved itself within Leon’s heart.
He longed to reach for her, to hold her hand. But before his finger could touch her, Eris dissolved into particles of light, drifting up into the starry sky.
“Goodbye…”
Leon clenched his fist and turned toward his squad.
6.
The Orpheus cleared Lumieres and resumed its journey through the galaxy’s vast seas.
Leon’s eyes remained fixed on the window as he whispered:
“Someday… will I see you again?”
At that moment, in the void of space, a single shooting star streaked across the sky—like Eris’s gentle smile shining back at him.
