Pathway to Japanese Literature

Twin Stars – Part 1

On the western bank of the Milky Way, two small stars—each no larger than a horsetail spore—could be seen.
That was the small sprite's palace where Chunse Child and Pouse Child—the twin dear stars—resided.

These two transparent palaces stood facing each other directly.
At night, both would surely return to their palaces, sit properly, and play silver flutes all night in harmony with the sky's Star Cycle Song.
This was the duty of these Twin Stars.

One morning, when the Sun clack-clack-clack solemnly shook its body and graciously rose from the east, Chunse Child set down his silver flute and addressed Pouse Child.

“Brother Pouse.
“That should be enough.
“The Sun has graciously risen, and the clouds are shining pure white.
“Shall we go to the spring in the western field today?”

Since Pouse Child was still absorbed in playing his silver flute with eyes half-closed, Chunse Child descended from his palace, put on his shoes, climbed the steps of Pouse Child’s palace, and spoke once more.

“Brother Pouse.
“That should be enough.”
“The eastern sky seems to be burning white, and down below, small birds appear to have already awakened.”
“Shall we go to the spring in the western field today?”
“And then, let’s make mist with a windmill, send little rainbows flying, and play, shall we?”

Pouse Child finally noticed and, startled, set down his flute and said.

“Ah, Brother Chunse.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s already completely bright out now, isn’t it?”
“I’ll put on my shoes right away.”

And Pouse Child put on his white shell shoes, and the two went together, singing in harmony as they walked through the silver meadow of the sky.

“O Sun,

Sweep clean the path of passage,

Scatter your light, heavenly white clouds.

O Sun,

Bury deep the rocks of the path of passage,

Bury deep, heavenly blue clouds.”

And before they knew it, they had arrived at the Celestial Spring.

This spring could be clearly seen from below on cloudless evenings.
At a considerable distance from the western bank of the Milky Way, it was encircled by small blue stars in a ring.
The bottom lay evenly filled with small blue pebbles, and from between the stones, clear water bubbled and gurgled forth, forming a small stream that ran from one edge of the spring into the Milky Way.
During droughts in our world, have you not sometimes seen emaciated nightjars and cuckoos gazing up at it in silence, bobbing their throats with regret?
No bird could ever reach that place.
However, celestial beings like the Giant Crow Star, Scorpion Star, and Rabbit Star could of course go there immediately.

“Brother Pouse, shall we first build a waterfall here?”

“Yes, let’s build it.”
“I’ll carry the stones.”

Chunse Child removed his shoes and stepped into the small stream, and Pouse Child began gathering suitable stones from the bank.

Now, the sky was filled with the sweet scent of apples.
It had been exhaled by the silver moon that lingered in the western sky.

Suddenly, from beyond the field, the sound of someone singing loudly could be heard.

“On the western bank of the Milky Way,
A little ways away—the Celestial Well.
Water gurgles and flows, its bed glistens bright,
Surrounding it, blue stars.
Nightjar, owl, plover, jay,
Though called to come, they cannot do so.”

“Ah, Giant Crow Star!”
The twins said together.

Already parting the silver pampas grass of the sky with a rustling sound, Giant Crow came stomping heavily with large strides from the opposite direction, swinging his shoulders.
He wore a jet-black velvet mantle and was clad in jet-black velvet leggings.

Giant Crow saw the two, stopped, and bowed politely.

“Well, good day.
“Chunse Child and Pouse Child.”
“It’s beautifully clear today—splendid indeed.”
“But I must say, clear weather really dries out my throat.”
“And last night I sang a bit too high.”
“Excuse me,” Giant Crow said as he plunged his head into the spring.

“Please don’t hold back and drink as much as you’d like, Mr. Giant Crow,” said Pouse Child.

Giant Crow Star drank noisily for about three minutes without pausing to breathe, then finally raised his face, blinked his eyes rapidly for a moment, and shook his head vigorously to fling off the water.

At that moment, a raucous song reached them again from beyond.
Giant Crow Star’s complexion changed rapidly as he shook his body fiercely.

“In the southern sky, the red-eyed scorpion,
With venomous hook and mighty pincers—
Those who don’t know it are fools of birds!”

At this, Giant Crow roared:
“That’s Scorpion Star! Damn you! How dare he call me a fool of a bird! Just wait—if you come here, I’ll pluck out those red eyes!”

Chunse Child
“Mr. Giant Crow.
“That won’t do.
“The King is aware of this.” But before he could finish speaking, Scorpion Star with crimson eyes came swaying his two large pincers and dragging his long tail with a clatter from the opposite direction.
The sound reverberated through the quiet celestial field.

Giant Crow was now trembling violently with rage and seemed about to pounce at any moment.
The Twin Stars desperately gestured to restrain him.

Scorpion, disregarding Giant Crow with a sidelong glance, crawled up to the edge of the spring and said.

“Ah, my throat’s gone completely dry.”
“Well now, Twin-sans.”
“Good day.”
“Pardon my intrusion.”
“Suppose I’ll take a little drink then.”
“Hmm—this water reeks oddly of earth.”
“Seems some pitch-black fool dunked his head in here.”
“Tch!”
“No helping it.”
“I’ll just have to bear with this.”

And then Scorpion drank water for about ten minutes with loud gulps.
All the while, as if thoroughly mocking Giant Crow, he kept flapping his poison-tipped tail in that direction.
Finally, Giant Crow could endure no longer. With a snap, he spread his wings and shouted.

“Hey, Scorpion. You’ve been calling me a foolish bird and spouting insults since earlier. Why don’t you hurry up and apologize?”

Scorpion finally lifted his head from the water and moved his crimson eyes as if fire blazed within them.

“Hmph. Someone’s saying something, I tell ya. Is it the red gentleman, I wonder? Or perhaps the gray gentleman? Maybe I should deliver a little sting as a greeting.”

Giant Crow flared up in anger and involuntarily jumped up with a shout.

“What did you say? How insolent! I’ll send you headfirst to the other side of the sky!”

Scorpion also flared up angrily, swiftly twisting his large body to thrust the poisonous hook on his tail skyward. Giant Crow leaped up to evade it, then shaped his beak like a spear and plummeted straight down toward Scorpion’s head. Neither Chunse Child nor Pouse Child had any chance to stop them. Scorpion sustained a deep head wound, and Giant Crow was stabbed in the chest by the poisonous hook; both groaned deeply and collapsed in a heap, unconscious. Scorpion's blood gushed into the sky and formed a nasty red cloud.

Chunse Child hurriedly put on his shoes and said.

“Oh no, this is bad! The poison has entered Giant Crow! I have to suck it out right away. Brother Pouse. Could you please hold down Giant Crow firmly?”

Pouse Child also finished putting on his shoes, hurried around behind Giant Crow, and securely restrained him.
Chunse Child placed his mouth against the wound on Giant Crow’s chest.
Pouse Child said:

“Brother Chunse.
You mustn’t swallow the poison.
You need to spit it out immediately.”

Chunse Child silently sucked and spat out the poisonous blood from the wound about six times.
Then Giant Crow finally regained consciousness, opened his eyes slightly, and said.

“Ah, I’m terribly sorry. What happened to me? I’m certain I stopped that bastard though.”

Chunse Child said.

“Quickly wash that wound in the stream.”
“Can you walk?”

Giant Crow staggered to his feet, looked at Scorpion, trembled all over, and said:

“Damn you! You poisonous sky vermin! You should be grateful you died in the sky.”

The twins hurriedly took Giant Crow to the stream. After thoroughly cleaning the wound for him, they blew their fragrant breath onto it two or three times and said:

“Now then, walk leisurely but hurry home while it’s still bright.”
“You must never do such things again.”
“The King knows everything.”

Giant Crow, completely dejected, weakly drooped his wings and bowed repeatedly.

“Thank you. Thank you. I’ll be careful from now on,” he said, dragging his leg as he made his way across the silver pampas field.

The twins examined Scorpion.
The head wound was quite deep, but the bleeding had already stopped.
The twins scooped water from the spring and poured it over the wound, washing it clean.
And taking turns, they softly blew their breath into it.

When the sun had reached the midpoint of the sky, Scorpion faintly opened his eyes.

Pouse Child wiped the sweat from his brow and spoke.

“How are you feeling?”

Scorpion murmured weakly.

“Has that Giant Crow died?”

Chunse Child said a little angrily, “Are you still saying such things? You’re the one who nearly died. Now, gather your strength so you can get home quickly. If you don’t get back while it’s still light out, it will be terrible.”

Scorpion made his eyes gleam strangely and said, “Twin-sans. Could you please escort me? This is but the beginning of your assistance.”

Pouse Child said.

“We’ll escort you. Come on, please hold on tight.”

Chunse Child also said.

“There, please hold on to me too.
“If we don’t hurry, we won’t reach home before dark.
“If that happens, we won’t be able to perform tonight’s star cycle.”

Scorpion started walking unsteadily while holding onto the two.
The twins’ shoulder bones were on the verge of bending.
Truly, Scorpion’s body was heavy.
In terms of size alone, it was about ten times larger than the children.

Yet the twins, their faces bright red from exertion, endured and walked one step at a time.

Scorpion dragged his tail grating over the stones, panting out foul breath as he staggered unsteadily along.
They didn't progress even a kilometer in an hour.

By now, the twins were so weighed down and in such pain from Scorpion’s hands digging into them that their shoulders and chests no longer felt like their own.

The celestial plain sparkled white.
They passed seven small streams and ten grassy fields.

The twins’ heads were spinning so much that they no longer knew whether they were walking or standing.
Even so, the twins remained silent and continued advancing one step at a time.

Six hours had already passed since they began.
It would still take an hour and a half to reach Scorpion’s house.
The sun was already about to set behind the western mountains.

“Could you go a little faster?
“We also have to get back home within an hour and a half.”
“But is it painful?”
“Is it terribly painful?” inquired Pouse Child.

“Yes. Just a little more. Please have mercy,” Scorpion pleaded through tears.

“Yes. Just a little more. Does the wound hurt?” Chunse Child asked, enduring the strain as his shoulder bones threatened to shatter.

The Sun had already solemnly swayed three times with swift motions and sank into the western mountains.

“We must return now. This is trouble. Isn’t there anyone nearby?” Pouse Child shouted.
The celestial plain remained silent, giving no answer.

The western clouds blazed crimson, and Scorpion’s eyes glowed red with sorrow.
The bright stars now appeared in the distant sky, singing while clad in silver armor.

“Spotted one star!”
“Grow rich now!”
Below, a child gazed upward and shouted.

Chunse Child

“Mr. Scorpion. Just a little more.
“Can’t you go any faster?
“Are you tired?” he said.

Scorpion said in a pitiful voice,

“I’m completely exhausted.
“I beg you, please forgive me even just a little,” he said.

“Star, oh Star, a single star never appears alone.

“Thousands upon thousands emerge as one.”

Below, another child was shouting.
The western mountains were now pitch-black.
Stars began to twinkle here and there.

Chunse Child said, his back bent as if on the verge of collapsing.

“Mr. Scorpion. We’re already late tonight. The King will surely scold us. Depending on how things go, we might even be banished. But if you weren’t in your usual place, that would be truly disastrous.”

Pouse Child

"I'm so exhausted I could die."
"Mr．Scorpion."
"Please muster your strength and hurry back home."

With these words，he finally collapsed with a thud．
Scorpion said tearfully．

"Please forgive me．"
"I am a fool．"
"I cannot even compare to a single strand of your hair．"
"I will surely mend my ways and make amends．"
"I surely will．"

At that moment, Lightning—clad in an azure cloak of intense light—flashed brilliantly and came flying from afar.
He then bowed to the children and said.

“I have come by His Majesty’s command to escort you,” said Lightning. “Now, please take hold of my cloak together. I will soon bring you to the palace. For some reason, His Majesty has been exceedingly pleased since earlier.” Then turning to Scorpion: “You’ve been a hated wretch until now. Here—this medicine has been bestowed by His Majesty. Drink it.”

The twins cried out: “Well then, Mr. Scorpion—goodbye! Please drink the medicine quickly! And remember our earlier promise! We’ll keep it for sure—goodbye!”

And the two together grabbed onto Lightning’s cloak.
Scorpion pressed his many hands to the ground, prostrated himself, drank the medicine, and then bowed courteously.

The moment Lightning flared brilliantly, they found themselves already standing by the spring again. And he said:

“Now, please wash your bodies thoroughly. His Majesty has given you new robes and sandals. There are still fifteen minutes left.”

The Twin Star Children joyfully bathed in the cold crystal-like stream, put on fragrant pale blue robes, and stepped into new gleaming white sandals. Then all their bodily pain and fatigue vanished at once, leaving them feeling completely refreshed.

“Now, let us proceed,” Lightning said.
And when the two grabbed hold of the cloak once more, a purple light flashed brilliantly once, and the children were already before their own shrine.
Lightning was no longer visible.

“Chunse Child, let us prepare.”

“Pouse Child，let us prepare.”

The two ascended to the shrine, sat facing each other properly, and took up their silver flutes.

Just then, here and there, the Star Cycle Song began.

“Scorpion with crimson eyes,

Spread eagle’s wings

Blue-eyed small pup,

Coil of the shining serpent.

Orion sings on high

And drops dew and frost,

Andromeda’s cloud

Shape of a fish’s mouth.

To the north of the Great Bear’s legs

Where five stars stretch out.

On the Little Bear’s forehead

The destination of the celestial cycle.”

The Twin Star Children began to play their flutes.

Twin Stars II

(On the western bank of the Milky Way, two tiny blue stars can be seen.
That is Chunse Child and Pouse Child, the Twin Star Children, each living in a small palace made of crystal.

The two palaces are directly facing each other.
At night, both of them would without fail return to their palaces, sit properly facing each other, and play silver flutes all night in time with the Star Cycle Song.
(That was the duty of these Twin Star Children.))

One evening, the lower part of the sky was completely filled with black clouds, and beneath the clouds, rain was pouring down in torrents.
Even so, the two were sitting properly facing each other in their respective palaces as usual, playing their flutes, when suddenly a large rogue comet came along, puffing a pale bluish mist over their palaces, and said:

“Hey, Twin Blue Stars.
Why not go on a little trip?
You don’t need to work so hard tonight of all nights.
No matter how much shipwrecked sailors try to navigate by the stars, they can’t see through these clouds.
The star attendants at the observatory have the day off and are just yawning.
That cheeky elementary schooler who’s always stargazing is completely worn out by the rain and drawing pictures indoors.
Even if you don’t play those flutes of yours, the stars will keep spinning anyway.
How about it?
Let’s take a quick trip.
I’ll have you back here by tomorrow evening.”

Chunse Child briefly stopped playing the flute and said.

“Indeed, His Majesty has granted permission that on cloudy days we may cease playing our flutes. We were just playing because it was enjoyable.”

Pouse Child also briefly stopped playing the flute and said.

“However, there should be no permission granted for something like going on a journey. Because we don’t know when the clouds will clear.”

The Comet said.

“Don’t worry. His Majesty told me that himself the other day, I tell ya. ‘Someday on a cloudy night, let those twins go on a little trip,’ he said, y’know. Let’s go. Let’s go. I’m fun, I tell ya. My nickname’s Whale of the Sky. Ya know? I gobble up all the spindly stars like anchovies and black meteors like killifish, I tell ya. And the most exhilarating thing is when I go straight ahead and make such a sharp curve that I almost come straight back around, I tell ya. It feels like my body’s about to break apart, creaking and groaning. Even my luminous bones clatter and rattle, I tell ya.”

Pouse Child said.

"Brother Chunse."
"Shall we go?"
"His Majesty said it was acceptable."

Chunse Child said.

"But is it really true that the King granted permission?"

The Comet said.

“Hmph.
“If it’s a lie, then let my head split open and be done with it.
“I’d get torn apart into head, torso, and tail, fall into the sea, and end up as sea cucumbers or something.
“Would I ever tell a lie?”

Pouse Child said.

“Then can you swear to the King?”

The Comet said for no reason.

“Yes, I swear.”
“Behold! Your Majesty bears witness.”
“Yes, today, by the King’s royal command, the Twin Blue Stars are setting out on a journey. Right?”
“That’s fine, right?”

The two said together.

“Yeah. Okay.”
“Then let’s go.”

There, the Comet said with an oddly serious air.

“Then hurry up and grab my tail.”
“Hold on tight. There!”
“Got it?”

The two firmly grasped the Comet’s tail.
The Comet exhaled a single bluish-white light with a whoosh and said:
“Off we go!
Creak creak creak whoosh.
Creak creak whoosh.”

Truly, the Comet was indeed the whale of the sky.
The frail stars scattered every which way.
They had journeyed a great distance already.
The twins' shrines too had grown impossibly distant, now mere pinpricks of bluish-white light.

Chunse Child said.

“We’ve come quite a way.
Is the entrance to the Milky Way still far ahead?”

Then the Comet’s attitude changed abruptly.

“Hmph.
Look at your own plummeting spot beyond the Milky Way’s entrance!
One… two… three!”

The Comet swung its tail forcefully several times, then turned around and violently sprayed a bluish-white mist, blowing the two off into the void.

The two plummeted headlong through the bluish-black void.

The Comet,

“Ahahaha, ahahaha! Every last bit of that earlier oath is revoked! Creak creak creak, whoosh. Creak creak whoosh,” he said as he raced off into the distance. The two firmly grasped each other’s arms as they fell. The Twin Stars tried to fall together as far as they could.

Once their bodies entered the atmosphere, they roared like thunder and red sparks crackled up so intensely that even watching would make one dizzy. And the two passed through pitch-black clouds and plunged like an arrow into the sea where dark waves roared.

The two sank deeper and deeper.
However, strangely enough, they were able to breathe freely even in the water.
The seafloor was soft mud, with large black shapes lying about and blurry clumps of seaweed swaying.

Chunse Child said.

"Brother Pouse."
"This must be the seafloor."
"We can no longer return to the sky."
"What ordeals await us now?"

Pouse Child said.

“We were deceived by the Comet.”
“The Comet even lied to the King.”
“Isn’t he truly a hateful creature?”

Then immediately, at their feet, a small starfish-shaped figure with red light said respectfully.

“Where are you people of the sea from?”
“You folks are bearing blue starfish marks, aren’t you?”

Pouse Child said.

“We are not starfish.
“We are stars.”

Then the starfish said angrily.

“What’s that?
“Stars?!
“All starfish started as stars.
“So you’ve only just crawled down here now?
“Don’t make me laugh.
“Then you’re greenhorn starfish!
“Wet-behind-the-ears troublemakers!
“Strutting about being stars after getting banished for misdeeds—that act won’t wash here on the seabed.
“I’ll have you know I was a top-rank soldier when I dwelled in the sky!”

Pouse Child looked up sorrowfully.

The rain had stopped, the clouds had completely cleared away, the seawater had calmed smooth as glass, and through it all stretched a perfectly visible sky.
The Milky Way stood clear—the Celestial Well too—Eagle Star and Lyre Player Star shone distinct.
And there their palace appeared through depths of air: tiny now beyond imagining.

“Brother Chunse. We can see the sky clearly now. Our palace is visible too. Yet we’ve ended up becoming starfish after all.”

“Brother Pouse. There’s nothing we can do now. Let us bid farewell from here to everyone in the sky. Though Your form remains unseen, let us offer our apologies to Your Majesty.”

“Goodbye, Your Majesty.”
“From this day forth, we are to become starfish.”

“Goodbye, Your Majesty.”
“We fools were deceived by the Comet.”
“From this day forth, we shall crawl through the dark mud of the seafloor.”

“Goodbye, Your Majesty.”
“And to all the dear ones of the heavens.”
“We pray for your continued prosperity.”

“Goodbye, everyone.”
“And to You, Most Noble King above all—please remain as You are forever.”

A great number of red starfish gathered and surrounded the two, clamoring noisily.

“Hey, hand over your clothes!”
“Hey!”
“Hand over your sword.”
“Pay your taxes.”
“Become even smaller.”
“Wipe my shoes.”

At that moment, an enormous pitch-black thing roared thunderously as it passed overhead above everyone.
The starfish all hurriedly bowed.
The black entity, about to pass them by, suddenly halted and scrutinized the two carefully before speaking.

“Hah! New recruits, eh? You haven’t even learned how to bow properly yet. Don’t you know this Lord Whale? My nickname is the Comet of the Sea. You know? I gulp down all the scrawny sardine-like fish and blind minnow-like fish in one go. And then the most exhilarating thing is when I go straight ahead, draw a full circle, and make such a leisurely curve that I almost return straight back. It’s like my whole body’s oil turns thick and sticky! Now then, you must have brought the expulsion order from heaven. Hand it over quickly.”

The two exchanged looks.
Chunse Child

“We do not possess such a thing,” he replied.

Then the Whale angrily spat out a gush of water from its mouth.
All the starfish turned pale and staggered, but the two endured and stood straight.

The Whale said with a fearsome expression:

“Don’t you have the document?”
“You scoundrel!”
“Every last one here—no matter what vile deeds they committed in heaven—has an expulsion order.”
“You are utterly outrageous!”
“Now.”
“You’d better believe it—or I’ll swallow you whole!”
“Got it?”
The Whale opened its mouth wide and braced itself.
The starfish and nearby fish, fearing they might get caught in the crossfire, burrowed into the mud or fled in a panic.

At that moment，a silver light flashed from the distance，and a small sea serpent approached.
The Whale appeared extremely startled and hurriedly closed its mouth.

The sea serpent looked intently at the tops of the two’s heads with a puzzled expression and said.

“What has happened to you? You do not appear to be those who have done wrong and were cast down from heaven.”

The Whale interjected from the side.

"These guys don't even have an expulsion order!"

The Sea Serpent glared fiercely at the Whale and said.

“Be quiet.”
“Insolent wretch.”
“How dare you refer to these honorable ones as ‘these guys’?”
“You cannot see the halo above the heads of those who have done good deeds.”
“If someone has done wrong, you can tell immediately—a black shadow figure with its mouth gaping open hovers above their head.”
“Honorable Stars.”
“Please come this way.”
“I shall have the honor of guiding you to His Majesty’s abode.”
“Hey, starfish.”
“Light the lamps.”
“Hey, Whale.”
“Don’t rampage around too much.”

The Whale scratched its head and prostrated.

To their astonishment, red-glowing starfish had lined up in two broad rows, exactly like street lamps.

“Now, let us proceed.”
The Sea Serpent King shook his white hair and said reverently.
The two then passed through the path between the starfish.
Before long, within the bluish-black glow of the water, there appeared a large white castle gate whose doors opened by themselves, and from within emerged many magnificent sea serpents.
And the Twin Star Children were guided before the Sea Serpent King.
The King was an old man with a long white beard and said with a beaming smile.

“You are Chunse Child and Pouse Child.”
“I am well aware.”
“The tale of how Your Honors previously risked your lives to mend that Scorpion Star’s wicked heart has reached even here.”
“I had it included in our local elementary school readers.”
“Now, this recent unexpected disaster must have given you quite a shock.”

Chunse Child said.

“Your words leave me deeply humbled.
We can no longer return to heaven, and if it is at all possible, we would like to be of service here in whatever way we can.”

The King said.

“No, no—I am overwhelmed by your modesty.”
“I shall promptly have the Tornado convey you back to heaven.”
“When you return, please tell your King that this lowly sea serpent sends his humble regards.”

Pouse Child said delightedly,
“Then, Your Majesty, are you acquainted with our King?”

The King hurriedly stepped down from his chair and said.

“No, it is not at all as you suppose. His Majesty is my one and only King. He has been this humble one’s teacher since times long past. I am but a foolish servant of that noble one. Ah, but Your Honors cannot yet comprehend this. However, you will come to understand in time. Then, before the night ends, I shall have the Tornado accompany you. Here, here. Are the preparations ready?”

A retainer sea serpent

"Yes, it is waiting at the main gate," he answered.

The two bowed respectfully to the King.

“Farewell, Your Majesty.
We shall duly express our gratitude from the heavens anew.
May this palace flourish eternally.”

The King stood up and said.

“May you both continue to shine ever more splendidly. Farewell, Your Honors.”

The retainers all bowed reverently in unison.

The Children exited through the gate.

The tornado lay coiled in a silver spiral.

A sea serpent placed the two on its head.

The two clung to that horn.

At that moment, red-glowing starfish emerged in great numbers and cried out.

“Farewell! Please give our regards to the Celestial King.”
“We humbly pray that we too may someday be granted forgiveness.”

The two said together:

“We will most certainly convey that.”
“We shall meet again in the sky before long.”

The tornado slowly and steadily rose up.

“Goodbye, goodbye.”

The Tornado had already lifted its head above the pitch-black sea.
No sooner had they registered this than a fierce crackling roar erupted, and with a surge of water, the Tornado arrowed upward—higher and higher—into the sky.

There was still a considerable amount of time before dawn.
The Milky Way was drawing rapidly closer.
The two palaces were now clearly visible.

“Please take a look at that over there,” the Tornado said in the darkness.

When they looked, that large pale-glowing comet had shattered into fragments—its head, tail, and torso each screaming with maddened voices as they shone gratingly and plunged into the pitch-black sea.

“He will become sea cucumbers,” the Tornado said quietly.

The song of the star cycles could already be heard in the sky.

And then the Children arrived at the palaces.

The Tornado set the Children down

“Farewell, and may you fare well,” the Tornado said while returning to the sea like wind.

The Twin Stars ascended to their respective palaces.
And sitting properly, they addressed the unseen Celestial King.

“Due to our carelessness, we temporarily failed in our duties and deeply apologize.
Yet through Your divine grace, we were miraculously saved this very night.
The Sea Serpent King conveyed his deep respects and asked us to relay them.
Furthermore, the starfish at the sea bottom pleaded for mercy.
Additionally, we would like to convey that if at all possible, we humbly request forgiveness for the sea cucumbers as well.”

And the two took up their silver flutes.

The eastern sky turned golden, and dawn was now imminent.