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"There's so few stars here."
Ichi mumbles, more so to himself than to Desscaras. Within the bustle of Natali's main street, crowds of people flooding the market as night sunk certainly into the sky, she almost misses the remark. Lost to the tide of dozens of voices, all overlapping with each other. Fortunately (or not, depending on whether Ichi had ever intended for her to hear it), Desscaras is the greatest witch to ever live, so catching a stray word is child's play.
"No duh," Desscaras remarks, not bothering to turn her head behind her. She tugs along at Ichi's sleeve, only holding onto him to prevent him from getting swept away by the crowd. Or rather, knowing Ichi, distracted by something stupid. They were late enough returning to the Association as it was, and with Moneygold insisting they held a team meeting tomorrow morning at the crack of dawn— Well, if Desscaras didn't get back to her room and get some sleep soon, it would be a nightmare for everyone involved.
Despite having been at the association for a few months now, Ichi still had the tendency to stop and stare like a bumpkin. Desscaras was tempted to leave him be, let him suffer the consequences of getting back late, but she knew full well if he didn't show at tomorrow's meeting Moneygold would chew her out anyway. A complete pain, no matter what she did!
"It's weird."
Ichi's reply is louder, not loud just, enough for Desscaras to hear. Enough to be aimed at her. But when she hears it, Desscaras stops tugging. Stops walking, turns to look over at Ichi.
As expected, he's standing there, a stone in the stream, head tilted all the way up, spine arching backwards. He stares up at the heavens unblinking, searching through the darkness for something he cannot find.
"That's just how it is in the city," Desscaras explains, impatience seeping into her words, "All the lights here drown them out."
Ichi pulls his gaze away from the sky. The lights reflected against his pupils shift; pale chill starlight washed away by flickering orange warmth.
"Come on, you've been here for a while now, it's not like you didn't notice, right?"
Ichi scuffs his shoe on the ground, walking forward despite dragging his heels, pulling along Desscaras as she keeps hold of his wrist.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. I just think it's strange. I'm not used to it."
Desscaras rolls her eyes, picking up the pace as they wade through the sea of strangers.
"What, feeling homesick?"
At that, Ichi pauses. Only for a moment, for just a fraction of a second; enough for Desscaras to notice, but perhaps no one else.
"Maybe," he replies, striding forth with no concern, "Don't you miss them too?"
Desscaras yanks Ichi's arm over, pulling him out of the way of a large tourist, chatting animatedly and not looking where they're going.
"Huh?"
Ichi half stumbles over the cobblestone, leaning into Desscaras's arm for support. He straightens up, looking her dead in the eye. This close, Desscaras can see the clear height advantage she has is really not so much. He's not as small as—
"Like when we went to Thazanwood and stuff! You've been outside of Natali before, right? Surely you must've seen the stars before. If you'd ever seen a clear starry sky compared to this—"
Desscaras clears her throat.
"Obviously. Though, I've been to places with even fewer stars than Natali."
Ichi's face scrunches up as though he'd just eaten something sour, and Desscaras snorts.
"It's weird!" He repeats, pushing forward back towards the Association. "Come on, I'm right, aren't I?"
Desscaras shrugs.
"You've got a point."
Ichi turns for a moment, walking backwards a few paces just to grin at Desscaras, wide and toothy.
"Exactly!"
He turns back around, and doesn't catch the expression Desscaras makes in turn.
"Thazanwood was pretty good, but have you ever been somewhere with really clear skies?" Ichi asks, weaving around a mother and her daughter. He doesn't bother to turn back to Desscaras as he speaks.
"I've seen some clear skies, yeah."
"Back on Druid Mountain, there were so many stars they covered everything you could see past the trees. One time, when I was really little, I climbed all the way to the very top of Druid Mountain. Just to see what was up there, yanno? Rocks mostly, but there was this clearing near the summit, and you could really see everything. Past the trees, past the other mountains, past the whole world. It was like this big net over everything."
"Really~?" Desscaras asks. voice low, but trilling with amusement.
"Uh-huh," Ichi slows for a second, Desscaras's pace matching him in a moment until they're walking next to each other. It's slightly less efficient in the crowd. Neither comments on this.
"Here, you can only see like, a handful. There's like, uh…"
Ichi looks back up above them, following Desscaras' lead without looking. He cranes his neck upward.
"Well, at least you can find the North Star still."
He points it out in the sky, arm stretching way above them to gesture out towards the singular bright speck.
"Polaris," Desscaras replies, keeping her attention focused on the crowd ahead of them, "That's its name."
"I didn't know it was called that."
"Mhm," Her voice doesn't waver, "What, weren't you supposed to be some kinda star expert?"
"I didn't say that. I just think it's strange they're not here when they should be."
Desscaras tightens her grip on Ichi's arm. Anything she would've said stabs her throat instead, and never leaves her lips. How matter-of-fact he speaks, idly remarking on such a thing. Desscaras can feel the heat of every person around them, sweat stinging at her skin in dozens of pinpricks. She swallows heavily, and for once, looks forward to getting back to the Association.
"There should be more, but they're gone. There's lots of cool magic and stuff here, but there's nothing like a proper starry sky. That's how it should be."
"Just can it, would ya?"
She mumbles it, but when Ichi hears he casts a glance over his shoulder. Desscaras's expression—an annoyance held by virtue of superiority— is well worn into her features. He shrugs.
"Fine, fine."
And they keep pushing forward, Desscaras one half step ahead, Ichi one footfall behind, back towards the Association.
When she's sure Ichi's attention is focused back on the streets around them, Desscaras allows herself one glance. Just one little glance above. Past the dim glow of Natali's streets, past the spires of the Witches' Association looming over the city, past the thin streaks of clouds lingering in the atmosphere.
Above them, the stars bright enough to compete with humanity are sharp pinpricks in the ink. Maybe a couple dozen remain, those tiny speckles of white in the eye of the all consuming void. Amongst them, Polaris shines eternal, unendingly bright, off towards the distances. Guidepost she can only use to mark how far she's gone.
"You know," Desscaras remarks, "They're still there even if you can't see them."
"I know. It's just not the same."
Something deep within Desscaras bubbles up, and by the time it's made it up to her lips, she's contorted it into a sharp laugh.
"Ah, kid, you have no idea."