Amid the vast sea of clouds, a lone bird flew high.
White-crested river waves washed over the embankment again and again. When the foam receded, it revealed mud and sand smooth as a mirror. Water bugs blew bubbles, while a pair of little bare feet trod the soft sand, catching crabs everywhere. With rough cloth trouser legs rolled up, the child expertly grabbed tiny river crabs and dropped them into a grass basket. The seven- or eight-year-old was sallow and thin, with large eyes.
Long-term malnutrition had left the child's hair dry and withered, even the pupils not quite black enough.
"Kid~ don't go too far~ Watch out for the Water Monster in the river eating people~"
"Got it~"
Not far away, groups of farmers were digging irrigation channels and working. They trod waterwheels to send water over the embankment and irrigate the fields.
There was much land and few people, and the skin-flaying landlords and tax collectors were gone as well. The rich lived in grand courtyards or cities. Devils rampaging through the land preferred cities and wealthy households. The poor were gaunt, with no fat on them and little appeal as food, while the rich were tender-skinned and succulent. After more than ten years, most of those who had endured until the devils perished were impoverished commoners.
A small hand deftly caught another little river crab. It was not large and had little meat, only enough to satisfy a child's craving.
There were large fish in the river's deep waters, but no one dared enter the river.
The child narrowed their eyes at the sky overhead. Something seemed to be there. The farmers at work all stopped what they were doing, raised their hands to shade their eyes, and looked skyward. Countless stars were falling...
"Look~ the constellations