The Summer Harvest was a time when the veil of magic was the thinnest, and because of it his Helderian eyes could pick up on all the wonder that the world had to offer. That was the birthright and power a Helderian upheld. He remembered how as a child he was taught to use his eyes to be able to see things beyond imagination and notice things hidden to others. It was a gift given to them by the great goddess Hela as it was foretold through generations past.

Aster whispered to no one in particular. Perhaps a statement in passing to a baby that would probably not remember it, “You really have my eyes.”

Up to this moment in time, he was not sure whether his baby would be able to see like a Helderian. It was still too soon to tell, but a part of him somehow knew deep in his heart that his child would receive this Helderian gift from him. 

Aster watched the night sky. It was especially brilliant tonight and felt somewhat odd. He’d never seen a Summer Harvest with a night such as this one. His golden eyes traced the millions of golden threads mixed and intertwining into each other like a magnetic frenzy. He’d never seen this many threads among the stars nor the amount of dancing spirits he saw floating gently around them. The dancing willowy silhouettes of spirits danced over the campfire, grabbed the embers from it, and flew up to the sky to feed the threads in the sky making them brighter.

Meanwhile, the omegas danced and fed the spirits with their hopes and passions. Their emotions were enough to make the dancing spirits drunk, making the world completely ripe for summer. The willowy figures, unknown to other eyes, danced around the world, through trees, on grass, over the festivities, and back again to the sky above, blessing the world and everything they had to offer. 

One of the golden silhouettes noticed him looking and gently flew down and swirled around him. The silhouette floated aimlessly like a wispy trail of fire and approached to look at the child. These figures didn’t speak or make noise, but Aster could tell by the small shaking of the figure’s shoulders that it was amused as it giggled at his son. 

The figure of gold then pointed at the baby. Knowing that it meant no harm, Aster carefully maneuvered his child so the figure could have a better view of the baby’s face. The silhouette hovered over the child’s forehead as if to plant a kiss. Immediately, Aster felt his child’s chord send happy bounces his way, spreading warmth within his own heart and cor. When the figure was done blessing his son, it turned to Aster and kissed him on the cheek too. The kiss was warm and brilliant; it was a true kiss of summer. The spirit swirled around the two of them and finally flew up again to the skies to join its brethren.

Aster smiled and was completely blindsided by Jonah who suddenly appeared in front of him. His brother had a giant grin and due to all his glowing energy it seemed like he had captured the attention of one of the spirits. A wispy spirit followed him around, and swirled around Jonah ever so often tapping on his injured ankle. Aster wondered what it was doing.

Jonah grinned and held out his hand, “Care to dance?”

Aster looked at that bandaged ankle and up at Jonah who seemed like it did not bother him one bit. 

“What about your injury?” Aster asked. 

Jonah cackled and stomped his injured foot, “Feels as good as new!”

The spirit planted a kiss on Jonah’s cheek before continuing what evidently seemed to be healing Jonah’s ankle. Aster let out a small laugh knowing that Jonah was oblivious to it all. Just then, Jaylin and Timothy, who were close behind and attached to the hip joined him on the log. 

Jaylin held up her arms, “Let me. You need a break and I’ve been wanting to carry the baby for a while now.”

Aster knew more than anyone how much this was true. Jaylin had taken the responsibility to take care of the baby if Aster, Fiona, or Jonah were too busy to do so. She loved children and a baby was something she wished and craved for above anything else. Timothy’s brown eyes carefully watched Jaylin as she grabbed the baby into her arms and gently rocked him back and forth. She looked at her lover as if to suggest that he should give her a baby of her own. Timothy’s response was to gently grab her by her hip, give her a sweet kiss on her neck, and pull her closer to him. 

“Up you go!” Jonah grabbed Aster’s empty hands and pulled him up and into the throngs of the dancing. His brother laughed and all Aster could do was give in. He allowed himself to be spun.

“And what shall we be dancing tonight?” Aster asked. 

“Oh?” Jonah replied playfully, “I shall give you the royal treatment.”

Aster laughed, “What does that mean?”

Jonah cleared his throat and dramatically extended his hand to recite a religious passage, “And so mighty Jor extended out his hand for his beloved Hela, and she grabbed it with her delicate hands made of silver…or something like that.”

“Oh gods,” Aster covered his face and let out another laugh as Jonah spun him again. 

Jonah led them, and although Aster wasn’t the greatest dancer, he still kept up with him. 

“Don’t get shy on me now. Hela and Jor had their first dance on summer’s eve. It’s only fair to keep the tradition going,” Jonah smirked. 

Aster shook his head and sighed, “Oh they danced, but you can’t possibly be so ignorant to not know the implications of that.”

Jonah cackled as if that very idea amused him.

Just then the sound of music blasted louder and more powerful. Many began to dance and sing together celebrating the first union of the two revered gods of Crystalline. 

Jor, splendidly Thy Lord

upon Your throne of fire!

Dancing to Your tune

kneeling to the blazing pyre.

For none are lovelier than She

that holds Your hand in warm embrace.

The one that stands and sits

by You, oh powerful Dear Sire!

The embers from Her thoughts

of You, Her heart will never tire!

Lovingly, She looks at Thee

the object of desire!

We chant and sing

for You My Lord

upon the night of summer's fire.

Giving You the courage

to talk to She 

that looks at Thee

to make a great empire!

Wish us luck

like we do You.

Give us all the heart and soul

from mighty sea to earthly soil.

Let the summer chase

bring forth the way

to have a wondrous year.

For all the good to keep 

and all the bad, away!

The omegas laughed in ecstasy and fell away upon the soft and refreshing grass once they were done singing. No more than twenty seconds later another group of omegas began to sing the same song. Jonah held his hand and led with the grace of experience as he forged the way through the crowds and kept the beat of the rhythm. 

Aster closed his eyes as he felt himself being spun again and to no one in particular, or perhaps to any who loved him in his life and blessed him to make it back home he whispered, “Thank you.”

Jonah’s brilliant honey dipped eyes curled up in a lovely smile and did not say anything as the both continued their small moment of freedom. 

However, the spirit that had been following Jonah around for some time heard it. The wild spirit heard its blessing and took his words of magic. It flew up to the skies and shared it to others along the way. Aster’s words traveled in the wind throughout the continent and were heard by all the wondrous silhouettes in all parts of the world. It reached them in the grasslands, swamps, deserts, mountains, rivers, oceans, and heavens. It gave life to magic, for the word of a Helderian was worthy enough to fuel the cosmos into the dawn of a new season.