Ersties — Nina Talia Best

When she withdrew her hand, the star’s light intensified, breaking free from its celestial cocoon. A brilliant beam shot upward, piercing the observatory’s glass ceiling and spilling across the sky. The Dawn Chorus swelled into a triumphant symphony, echoing through every alley and rooftop of the city.

Nina turned the page of her notebook to reveal a hand‑drawn map of the sky—dots and lines representing constellations that had long been forgotten. At the center, a dark void pulsed faintly, an empty space she’d labeled ersties nina talia