Ahead, the buzz of excitement broke the stillness. Small groups of students were setting up picnics and enchanted lanterns along the meadow, their chatter filling the air. Blankets were laid out, and a few were already pointing telescopes skyward.

“Wow,” Richmond murmured to himself, watching the scene. “Didn’t think this many people would show up for the comet.”

The sight made him smile briefly before fatigue tugged at him again. As he approached the grand butterfly-wing gate leading to the dorm towers, he spotted a familiar figure leaning against the frame. Deadleaf, his wings folded neatly against his back, appeared to be dozing, his head dipping slightly with every breath.

Richmond tapped Deadleaf's shoulder gently. “Hey, wake up. You don’t mind if my friend waits here with you, do you?”

Deadleaf’s eyes fluttered open halfway, his groggy expression quickly shifting to one of alarm as he noticed the towering figure standing behind Richmond. “Uh- sure... hi…?”

The tall figure gave a short nod. “Hello.”

Deadleaf blinked at Richmond, clearly expecting an introduction. Richmond grinned. “Don’t worry, he just wants to tag along.” He turned to Atlas. “Give me a sec, I’m gonna get changed. Be right back.” With a thumbs-up, he disappeared into the dorm.

That left Deadleaf and Atlas standing awkwardly under the glow of the coral street lamps.

A long silence followed. Deadleaf cleared his throat. Atlas shifted slightly. They both avoided eye contact, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.

Finally, Deadleaf muttered, “Name?”

“Atlas.”

“Where you from?”

“The North Spring.”

Deadleaf raised a brow. “That’s far.”

Atlas nodded. “It is.”

Deadleaf hesitated, feeling the weight of the silence once more. “...What brings you here?”

Atlas was quiet for a moment before simply replying, “The comet.”

Deadleaf pursed his lips. “Of course.”

Another pause. Atlas glanced at him. “Your name?”

“Deadleaf.”

Atlas nodded again. “Okay.”

And that was their entire conversation.

Richmond soon emerged, now dressed in his night cloak, tying the sash neatly around his waist. He glanced between the two, sensing the awkwardness lingering in the air. “Uh... you guys good?”

Deadleaf crossed his arms. “Peachy.”

Atlas just gave a small nod.

Richmond sighed. “Alright, let’s go find Luna before she thinks we bailed on her.”

   The three of them took to the sky, their wings catching the cool night breeze as they ascended above the dorm towers. The air was crisp, carrying the distant hum of laughter and chatter from the bustling bazaar below. They made their way toward the neighboring tower, where female students were bustling about, carrying mats, lanterns, and blankets in preparation for the comet viewing. Among the crowd, they spotted Luna, bundled tightly in a thick blanket with only her antennae poking out.

Deadleaf raised an eyebrow, ready to comment, but Richmond quickly nudged him. “Don’t even start,” Richmond muttered.

“It’s cold, alright? Freezing!” Luna exclaimed, shivering dramatically. “At least I had the sense to bring a warm blanket. What about you guys? Did you even think to prepare?”

Richmond held up an extra cloak. “I brought this, in case someone decides to turn into an ice cube.”

Luna chuckled, though her teeth chattered slightly. “At least one of us plans ahead.”

   As she rubbed her hands together for warmth, her eyes landed on Atlas, standing silently behind Richmond. The towering moth man, now with his hood down, revealed sharp but striking features- his piercing gaze, the chiseled lines of his face, and his toned physique making him stand out even more under the moonlight. Luna's breath hitched slightly, her antennae perking up as a rosy tint dusted her cheeks.

"Uh... Richmond?" she whispered, nudging him. "Who's your... friend?"

Richmond glanced at Atlas, then back at Luna. “Oh! Right. Luna, meet Atlas. He’s... uh, new around here and wanted to see the comet too.”

Atlas gave a small nod, his deep voice cutting through the cool night air. “A pleasure.”

Luna blinked rapidly, clearly caught off guard by his politeness and deep, velvety voice. “Pleasure’s all mine,” she stammered, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re- uh, I mean, welcome to join us.”

Deadleaf nudged Richmond with a smirk, whispering under his breath, “I think she just fell in love.”

Richmond rolled his eyes. “Focus, Deadleaf.”

As they made their way toward the spiral staircase at the bazaar, Luna subtly adjusted her blanket and fluttered closer to Atlas. “So, Atlas,” she began, a bit too enthusiastically, “do you... travel often?”

Atlas glanced down at her, his gaze unreadable but not unkind. “I move around when I need to,” he replied simply.

Luna nodded eagerly, ignoring the teasing look Deadleaf was giving her. “That’s... that’s cool. Traveling sounds amazing. I’d love to do that someday.”

Deadleaf leaned over to Richmond, muttering, “If he says he’s single, she’s gonna faint.”

Richmond sighed, pulling Luna away before she could ask any more questions. “Come on, we’ll never get a spot if we don’t hurry.”

The area around the spiral staircase buzzed with activity. Vendors were selling comet-themed snacks, glowing lanterns swayed in the breeze, and performers entertained small groups of excited onlookers. The coral lamps lining the streets bathed everything in a soft, warm glow.

Deadleaf sighed, folding his arms. “It’s packed,” he muttered. “Typical. Everyone’s suddenly an astronomy enthusiast.”

Luna barely heard him, still sneaking glances at Atlas. “Can you blame them?” she said dreamily. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event.”

Richmond scanned the crowd, taking in the vibrant atmosphere. “It’s not just the comet. Look at the stalls—it’s like a festival down there.”

As they descended toward the spiral staircase, they found themselves caught in the bustling energy of the bazaar. Students fluttered past in groups, excitedly chattering about the comet. Lanterns swayed gently in the breeze, their glow illuminating the eager faces below.

“Stay close,” Richmond said. “We’ll never find each other again if we get separated in this crowd.”

Luna adjusted her blanket, peering curiously at a vendor selling comet-themed pastries. “I wouldn’t mind getting lost for some snacks, though.”

Deadleaf rolled his eyes but smirked faintly. “Of course you wouldn’t.”

The four of them finally reached the base of the spiral staircase, its enchanted lights shimmering faintly as it stretched skyward, disappearing into the clouds. Students and locals alike queued up to ascend, the excitement in the air palpable. Richmond looked up, the stars twinkling brightly above them, and felt a flicker of anticipation.

When they finally reached the top of the spiral staircase, they were met with a sight that left them all momentarily stunned. The landing was absolutely packed with butterflies and moths of all shapes and sizes, their wings creating a colorful sea of chaos. The air was thick with chatter, laughter, and the faint hum of magical energy from the glowing coral lamps.

“Is this... even legal?” Deadleaf muttered, his face twisted in mild disgust. “I can’t breathe just looking at this crowd.”

Amid the chaos, they spotted Glasswing waving frantically, his shimmering crystal wings reflecting the light. “I CAN’T BREATHE!” Glasswing yelled dramatically, his voice somehow cutting through the noise.

The trio burst into laughter as they made their way toward him, squeezing through the throng of excited students and locals. Richmond fanned Glasswing’s face with his hand as they reached him. “Phew! Are you alright, drama king?”

Glasswing nodded, a grin breaking across his face. “Barely. I almost drowned in a sea of wings.”

Deadleaf looked around, grimacing at the overcrowded landing. “We need to find another spot to see the comet. If we stay here, we’ll be lucky to catch a glimpse of the sky, let alone the comet.”

Luna nodded in agreement, her antennae twitching as a student accidentally bumped into her. “He’s right. Everyone’s blocking the view with their wings.”

Richmond glanced at Glasswing. “Do you know another place we can go?”

Glasswing tapped his chin thoughtfully. “There’s a clearing near the forest edge. It’s quiet and open, and I’m pretty sure no one else will think to go there. The gem comet won’t pass until 2 a.m., so we have plenty of time to make our way there.”

“That sounds perfect,” Luna said, already adjusting her blanket. “Let’s go before this crowd gets even worse.”

Before they could take off, Atlas stepped forward, his dark eyes scanning the sky briefly before turning back to the group. “Thank you for bringing me here,” he said, his deep voice carrying over the noise of the crowd. 

He then faced Richmond directly, his expression softening slightly. “And… thank you for your kindness and thoughtfulness. I won’t forget it.”

Richmond blinked, caught off guard by the sudden sincerity. “Oh—” He paused before offering a small smile. “It was nice meeting you. Take care, alright?”

Atlas returned the smile, a rare warmth flickering in his eyes. “You too.” With a final nod, he turned away, disappearing into the bustling crowd.

Glasswing, watching him leave, crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. “Okay... who was that?”

Luna, still watching Atlas with a dreamy expression, sighed. “Atlas. And mark my words—he’ll be mine.”

Deadleaf groaned loudly, clutching his stomach. “Ugh, you’ve known him for 20 minutes.”

Richmond laughed, and with a final glance in the direction Atlas had gone, he motioned to the group. “Come on, let’s go before Luna starts writing love letters in the sky.”

   The group carefully navigated their way back down the spiral staircase, dodging students and locals still pouring in. The buzz of excitement around them was infectious, but Richmond couldn’t help but feel relieved as they left the suffocating crowd behind.

As they flew toward the forest edge, the air grew cooler and quieter, the noise of the bazaar fading into the distance. The stars above them twinkled brightly, and Richmond felt a sense of peace wash over him.

“You sure this spot is good?” Deadleaf asked, his tone skeptical as they approached the clearing Glasswing had suggested.

Glasswing hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. “Uh... well, I didn’t exactly stay here for long. I just... passed by it once. Looked decent enough for stargazing.”

Deadleaf shot him a dubious glance. “So, you dragged us all the way here on a hunch?”

Glasswing raised his hands defensively. “Hey, it’s better than being crammed in with half the school! And look-” he gestured toward the open space, “-it worked out, didn’t it?”

The clearing was wide, open, and untouched, with the faint glow of the coral lamps from the campus barely visible in the distance. Above them, the stars stretched across the sky like scattered jewels.

“This... is perfect,” Richmond said, his voice tinged with awe.

Luna spread her blanket on the grass, settling in comfortably. “Finally! A place where I can actually enjoy the sky without being elbowed.”