An empty room, its cold-colored walls lit dimly by backlight. One wall, a massive sheet of transparent metal resembling glass, revealed the vast, boundless starry sky outside. Not far beyond, a silver-white planet rotated slowly, its immense size dominating the view—stark, unforgettable.
This was the “Dual Axis Crystal U-3” space station, an orbital residential station located in the orbit of the third planet in the Sinaefa α star system, home to approximately 500,000 residents.
The lonely sound of a guitar strummed through the room. The player, a girl with silvery-blue hair, sat on a U-shaped single-seater sofa, her legs crossed, the guitar resting on her lap. Her fingers lazily plucked the strings, producing a relaxed, unhurried tune.
In the solitary environment, the singular yet vivid sound of the guitar, against the backdrop of the cosmos, carried a unique charm—like a small heart freely drifting through the corridors of time and memory in the quiet of the night.
The simple melody repeated itself, its rhythm looping over and over until it finally faded into silence.
Her fingers left the guitar strings, lightly tapping a personal terminal beside her. After a few inputs, a voice began to play in the room.
“Skip this. Next message.”
“Understood. The second message is an invitation from your classmate to attend the graduation party, scheduled for four days from now at the C12 district’s observation restaurant within the station.”
“Decline it. Next.”
“Understood. The third message is a notification from ‘Edess Academy’ regarding enrollment procedures, detailing the items to prepare and the check-in process.”
“Read it to me.”
“Understood. The notification contains twelve points. First: New students must arrive at Edess Academy by September 2. The following week will be allocated for arranging accommodations and purchasing daily necessities… Fourth: The opening ceremony will be held on September 10. All students are required to wear their school uniforms… Seventh: Students may keep pets on campus, provided they weigh no more than 8 kilograms and remain within the dormitory area. Pets are not allowed in the academic zones…”
As the terminal read out the points, the girl placed her guitar aside, crossed the silver-white metallic floor, and stood by the window, gazing at the slowly spinning silver planet outside. Raising her hand, she gently stroked the transparent surface of the window.
“I’m leaving, Silver Spoon.”
“Silver Spoon,” the third planet of the Xinaefa α system, was renowned for its rich deposits of the rare “white crystalline thulium.” This extraordinary metal, derived from thulium and transformed by Aijeka particles, had unique applications in space-related equations and was a vital component for faster-than-light engines, making it highly coveted.
To better mine this rare material while preserving the untouched portions of the planet from contamination, the Federation established the “Dual Axis Crystal U-3” space station centuries ago. Most of its residents served the crystal mining corporations, earning incomes significantly above the average levels in the Four-Leaf Crystal Star Region, comparable to those in prosperous constellations.
…
Verdant Veil, Northern 7th District, outside Arpeggio City.
A green-and-white tourist vehicle rolled across the yellow expanse of the desert. The double-decker bus wasn’t crowded, with a few scattered passengers enjoying the breeze by the windows and gazing at the vast, barren landscape outside.
Though desolate, the emptiness strangely soothed the soul—a likely side effect of living underground for too long.
“Thilan, would you like one of these?” Irene opened a box in front of her, revealing six neatly arranged egg tarts, still warm and faintly fragrant with a creamy aroma.
Hestia, leaning against the window, appeared lost in thought as she watched the scenery outside. Hearing Irene’s question, she turned and softly replied, “Mm.” Accepting the tart Irene handed over, she nibbled on it delicately. Though seemingly absentminded, she left no crumbs behind, biting just enough to avoid breaking the edges.
Irene watched as Hestia ate, the wind occasionally lifting strands of their hair, weaving a moment of quiet serenity.
Half an hour later, the two stepped off the bus at their destination.
Stepping onto the soft, sandy ground, they were greeted by a tall, semi-circular glass building. The botanical garden, nestled amidst the desert wilderness, stood out strikingly, drawing visitors from surrounding cities.
“Let’s go in.” Irene took Hestia’s hand, and the two walked side by side into the building.
In terms of height, they were nearly identical. Irene wore a black skirt and a fitted white blouse with slightly flared cuffs adorned with lace, paired with a black ribbon at the collar—subtle yet elegant.
Hestia wore a light blue dress and a sun hat, her fine hair cascading over her shoulders, exuding a delicate, youthful charm.
After having their tickets checked at the entrance, they entered the cool, echoing hall.
The walls were adorned with vibrant, poetic oil paintings, where flowers and leaves, rendered in bright colors, appeared especially vivid.
Passing through the hall, they entered a side door leading to the botanical garden proper.
Unlike the arid, barren world outside, the air here was noticeably more humid. White-planked pathways lined with grass provided a refreshing touch as their sandal-clad feet brushed against the soft blades.
White picket fences bordered the path, enclosing a variety of plants. Towering trees stretched to the garden’s ceiling, casting cool shade over the shrubs below.
Clusters of yellow flowers, trumpet-shaped yet fuller and cuter in design, adorned branches hanging symmetrically from the trees above.
“What kind of tree is this?” Irene asked as they stood under the branches, admiring the blossoms.
“It’s a yellow bell tree, from the Bignoniaceae family. It used to be common along the roadsides or in gardens of Verdant Veil,” Hestia recalled from memory.
“Wow, it’s beautiful.”
Irene gently brushed her fingertips over a flower, feeling its soft, fuzzy texture.
They continued along the path, encountering more blooms among the shrubs—delicate white flowers hanging in vertical rows with natural symmetry.
“And this one?” Irene inquired again.
“These are white bellflowers, from the Campanulaceae family. Though similar in name to the yellow bell tree, they belong to entirely different families,” Hestia explained, suspecting the garden staff had deliberately placed the two similarly named plants together.
“Hestia, you’re amazing!”
“No, look—there’s a sign over there.” Hestia pointed to a small white placard, half-hidden among the flowers and grass.
“Ah, you have sharp eyes.”
Hand in hand, they strolled through the garden, stopping now and then to admire the rare natural flowers. Irene chatted about the plants’ novelty, the flowers’ charm, and even Hestia’s childhood memories.
Though their conversation seemed trivial, it carried a gentle sweetness.
Unknowingly, they traversed most of the garden, eventually arriving at a circular pavilion offering tea and biscuits for visitors to rest and recharge.
Seated on a bench, shoulders leaning against one another, they closed their eyes for a brief respite, letting time slip by peacefully.
By 4 PM, they finished their tour and boarded the return bus.
“Today went by so quickly,” Irene remarked, watching the sun lower in the sky, the heat of the day fading with the breeze.
“Let’s go out again next time,” she said, looking at Hestia.
“Mm.”
Hestia’s voice, once tense, now carried a trace of languid ease—perhaps a sign she had begun to savor these rare moments of leisure with her friend.
“Hehe, you’re still the same, Hestia,” Irene suddenly laughed.
“Huh?” Hestia looked puzzled.
“When you’re in a good mood, you’re like someone quietly humming to themselves in a corner,” Irene said, recalling past moments together.
“Though you might not actually hum, that faintly content expression is unmistakable.”
“Let’s always spend time together, okay? Don’t hide in a corner by yourself anymore. We all care about you.”
“Mm, I understand.” Hestia nodded with gentle resolve.
Under the bright blue sky, the green-and-white bus rolled through the desolate desert, summer winds blowing as the distant sun slowly met the shadow of a towering structure.