Interstellar

Words by Segundo

Blissful is the face of the hunter and triumph is painted in his being, coupled with the unsteady rise and fall of the heaving chest, the trickling sweat down his temple, his teeth unveiled to the world. Relentless waves of wonder engulfed him with every careful blink, every twitch of his calloused fingers, and every spasm of his heavy muscles. By his quicksilver bow and arrow, the boar laid dead at the foot of the mountains, its carcass oozing fresh blood.

Appeased by his accomplishment, he decided to retire for the night.

Altair wandered past the mossy forest and arrived at the plateau of the hill. The eerie silence and austere air at the hilltop made him gaze upon the skies to read the stars and find his way back home.

The stars were like spilled salt against a dark overlay. The night sky was clear of any clouds that might hinder the chance to thoroughly admire the beauty of it. There was no moon, but the stars were enough to brighten up the vast sky. It would be sinful not to offer anything at the sight, so he took his flute out and played a melodious tune. The melodies were fragments of his soul where the desires of tomorrow blend into tonight as now may never happen again.

A flash momentarily blinded him, and his pupils adjusted to the sudden intrusion of light. A beautiful young maiden came out of nowhere, her bow-shaped lips curved up into a smile.

“Who are you?” asked Altair, stunned.

“I am Princess Vega, the celestial deity of the stars. I have heard your song from the kingdom in the heavens and I knew I had to find it,” replied Vega.

He bowed to the goddess. “Your highness, I am Altair, a lowly cow herder by day and hunter by night. Pleased to be at your majestic presence.”

She encouraged him to play more while she gracefully sat on the grass.

Uneasiness overwhelmed his whole body but as he played again, everything else fell away, trivial and insignificant in this singular moment of sublimity. Just him, Vega, and his wooden flute. They sang, talked, and laughed, and a little part of Altair fell in love with the goddess. Time passed by so quickly that they didn’t even notice the skylight during the peak of twilight. Vega had to say goodbye and ascend back but swore she’d come back at the very place they met.

Multiple nights had passed since then, and not a minute were they late to their little rendezvous. His tedious and mundane job wasn’t so tedious anymore as he had something to look forward to in the evening.

They were just specks of dust in the galaxy, but whenever they’re in each other’s presence, they’re boundless. Titles meant nothing. Vega had promised Altair she’d bring him to the stars, to her home.

But her father, the king, had a servant follow her and report her whereabouts.

Enraged by the information, the king knew he had to stop this.

He used his powers to place the two with the stars, separated by the Celestial River. The magpies tried to build a bridge, but Altair didn’t make it. The tears of Vega torrentially poured down the lands of Earth followed by the lightning strikes made by the wretched sound of Altair’s flute.