The Older Sister and the Natural Stones of "Lumière Drops" ~Part 1~

The cobblestones of Hotaru Town slowly change color as they quietly sway between day and night.
Turning the corner, the natural stone shop "Lumière Drops" comes into view.
Built as if to nestle against an old stone wall, the shop holds a warm light even when viewed from the outside,
and emits a pale radiance that invites one deep within.
The piles of natural stones lined up in the storefront seem as if they are breathing quietly.
Purples that look like collected star fragments, blues that call to mind the deep sea,
even stones small enough to fit in the palm of one's hand hold their own distinct light.
Standing before that sight, the feet of visitors naturally come to a stop,
and they are enveloped in a sensation as if something deep within their hearts is slowly unraveling.

As I passed through the door, the sound of a small bell chimed faintly.
The light inside the shop is warmer than outside, and the sparkling stones
dye the very layers of the air in a pale glow.
The older sister walked slowly forward,
and turned her gaze toward the shelves of natural stones.
On the shelves, stones of different colors and shapes
nestled together as if creating a small world, telling stories just by being there.
The older sister blended into that atmosphere,
and stopped her feet softly, as if listening to the voices of the stones.

Standing before the shelf, the older sister tilted her head slightly,
comparing the light of the stones lined up there.
A pale golden light illuminated the stones, and that light reflected on her cheeks.
One is not drawn to natural stones simply because they are beautiful.
Deep within each one, time that has accumulated over decades and centuries lies dormant.
That presence is invisible to people, but it certainly exists there.
The older sister was good at connecting with that "presence."
The stillness, depth, coldness, and temperature held by the stones.
While touching the transparent world before her eyes,
she wore a faint smile.

When she picked up a piece of raw amethyst,
its purple hue, while holding a deep night, was somehow gentle.
When held up to the light, the depths of the crystal twinkled like stars,
soaking into the heart while remaining quiet.
Amethyst has long been called a symbol of "healing" and "harmony,"
and when placed in the palm of one's hand, the stillness of the stone
seems to slowly seep into the depths of the body.
The older sister's eyes followed the pale light dwelling inside the stone,
and she smiled as if to draw close to that radiance.
Even without words,
it was as if a small dialogue was being born in that moment.

In the palm of her hand, the amethyst existed quietly.
The corners of the crystal seemed sharp, yet they took on a roundness when hit by light.
The shades of purple created layers, and the transparent parts
seemed as if they had sealed away time itself.
The presence lurking deep within that stone
gently stroked the older sister's heart.
It is not that the stone speaks,
but there is something that reaches the depths of the heart just by looking at it.
When she returned the amethyst to the shelf,
a quiet satisfaction spread across the older sister's expression.
Imagining the stones she would meet next,
she walked on to the next shelf.