Shideko

Shideko held the polishing cloth steady as Tsumi squinted, adjusting the alignment of a giant amethyst lens. They worked like this often, mapping the flow of starlight through the great monoliths of The Crystal Highlands of Armaria. The work was delicate, and one miscalculation years ago had cost Shideko an eye when a quartz shard flared with trapped sunlight. Tsumi had been beside themself with guilt, but Shideko simply laughed, insisting it gave them a better sense of perspective. The little frog patch Tsumi stitched for them was a constant, happy reminder. With a final turn, the beam of light locked into place, projecting a perfect star chart onto the cavern floor. "See?" Shideko whispered, tapping their patch. "Only needed one eye for that."