The next morning, Takuma woke up with a strange heaviness in his body. His arms ached a little, but the sword from last night was still by his side. He sat up and realized he had fell asleep in the woods. "I hope mom doesn't get too worried." He said to himself. His sword had also stop glowing, but it was still the same. The black handle was wrapped in cloth, just like before.
He picked it up and swung it lightly. The sword felt strong, steady, and familiar. Even without the star's light around him, the sword seemed connected to his strength.
Takuma knew he couldn't stay hidden forever. He had to understand his power—and maybe even find others like him.
He walked through the forest, thinking about the fallen star. "Why did it come to me? Was it an accident?" he wondered. He didn't have any answers.
As he passed a small open area, he heard a noise—a soft rustle from a bush. He froze. His hand went to the sword.
"Who's there?" he called out.
A girl stepped into the clearing. She looked about his age and had long brown hair in a ponytail. Her eyes widened when she saw the sword.
"That's… huge," she said quietly.
Takuma lowered the sword a little, trying not to scare her. "I didn't mean to—uh—scare you. I'm Takuma."
"I'm Emi," she said. "Are you… one of them?"
Takuma frowned. "One of… what?"
"Starborne," Emi said. "People who get power when the stars fall." She looked nervous, but also excited. "I saw a star fall too and I touched it, then light started surrounding me and everything! But, for some reason it's like I don't have any power because I don't know how to use it yet I guess."
Takuma stared. Starborne? He didn't know what to think. "You mean you, and others, had the same thing happen to them?"
Emi nodded. "Yes. Some are using their power for good. Some… not so much."
Takuma thought about the sword in his hands. The power he felt—it wasn't just strong. It was special. He had a feeling Emi was telling the truth.
"Do you… want to train together?" he asked. "I think we both need to learn how to control this power."
Emi's eyes lit up. "Yes! I want to get stronger too. Maybe we can find others, and… maybe help people."
Takuma nodded. He gripped the sword tightly. The wide blade felt heavier in his hands, but he felt confident. He could feel the star's energy inside him, waiting to be used.
They spent the rest of the day running through the woods, testing their powers and learning to move with control. Every time Takuma swung the sword, it cut through branches easily, and he felt his strength grow. Emi practiced jumping and dodging, and Takuma realized she had a natural skill with agility.
By the time the sun set, both of them were tired but smiling. "This is only the beginning," he said. "I can feel it. Something is coming."
Above them, the stars shined. Takuma didn't know it yet, but soon he would meet more people like Emi—and face others who use their star power for evil.
For now, though, he just held the sword, feeling its weight, and the quiet strength it gave him. He was ready to learn, ready to fight, and ready to protect the people who couldn't protect themselves.