Lunara
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Chapter Fifty-Six: Musings of the Heart - Part 3
Galactic Location: Theocratic Imperium’s cluster
Ruling Government: Theocratic Imperium
Solar System: Adrius
Location: In orbit above Adrius Prime
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Six months before the destruction of Agora City
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My head still aches from passing through the Gateway, the voices of the Ancients on my mind. Soon it passes, as my eyes take in the majesty of the Adrius system. We are not far from Adrius Prime, a marvel of engineering, one of the crown jewels of the Theocratic Imperium’s cluster. It is where the preliminary trials are held. Buildings rise from its atmosphere into space, seemingly in defiance of logic, creating massive networks of flowing lines across the surface, allowing for large ships like ours to dock in space.
Hundreds of Dreadnaught-sized spaceships line the shipwrights’ areas around Adrius Prime. Whether they are in for repairs or being built, I cannot tell which from here. There are thousands of large spherical command stations that orbit the planet and the moons, providing a defense for its surface. The entire surface of the planet is awash in artificial light, home to more than a trillion of the Theocratic Imperium’s elite citizens. It is one of the largest centers for trade in our galaxy, one of three, all belonging to the Imperium. Their tight fist squeezes every Deca it can, or so Kotina tells me in her drunken ramblings.
Shuttles stream from the webs of interconnected metal towards the three moons that orbit Adrius Prime. The moons are the place those deemed non-elites are allowed to dwell, also serving as storage grounds for the raw materials and goods that are traded. The moons glitter with bright lights across their surfaces, masking the dark truth of the Imperium's prejudice.
A man now appears upon the holographic display, pulling my focus to it. He is wearing the white and gold uniform of the Imperium, not a single hair out of place as he says “Please identify your commander, vessel, and access codes.”
“I am Knight Commander Arkon, Primus of House Raven. Vessel moniker Hyperion, Dreadnaught class battleship, hailing from the Republic of Hekat. Access codes AZ9447FI-5669-RA.” he replies with a straight face, no inflection in his tone.
It is the second time he has had to give identification since arriving. When we first exited the Gateway, the system defense armada was waiting, as they always do. The wreckage of ships surrounding the Gateway serves as a warning to those who enter. This is the Theocratic Imperium’s domain.
“Access codes and manifest all clear. Welcome to the Theocratic Imperium Primus Raven.” The man then continues with “Docking instructions are being sent now, Hail the Gods.”
“Hail the Gods.” My Father says returning the customary greeting of the Theocratic Imperium, now cutting the link.
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Galactic Quadrant: Darna Quadrant
Ruling Government: Republic of Hekat
Solar System: D-447
Planet: Ora
Location: Agora City, upon the sand of the Colosseum.
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Six months later - Present Time
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
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The man in the center of the Colosseum looks towards us, his gaze is unnerving as I squint through the dust at him. As the dust begins to unshroud their face, my head tilts ever so slightly, something is familiar about them.
“Stay back.” Nekam warns the others as the dust clears even more, quietly he whispers “Be ready to flee.”
“It is just one man,” Arrum says, his face looks confused as he looks at Nekam, then back to the man. There is a change in him as he looks closer, as though he begins to feel something. It is something we are all feeling.
“He may as well be an army.” Nekam says “It is folly to fight him, better to flee.”
My eyes take the person in, I know them. Though I have not seen them since I was a girl, since before my mother… pushing the memories away, I try to remember more about him. Kotina and Father have spoken of him before, not in public, but in private. They say he is the greatest swordsman to have ever lived. Kotina once told me in a drunken stupor one night after he came to visit me, that some of the Gods even fear the edge of his blade.
“We must protect the Alakin.” The one they call Daki says. I recognize the word from the holos I watched. He is the one who stabbed Kale before. How does Kale inspire such fierce loyalty from someone who once sought his life?
“We will draw him away, take Alakin.” The one they call Maki says, his grip is shaking on the hilt of his weapon, but his resolve is clear.
The man standing in the middle of the Colosseum shifts his gaze from us, turning upwards towards the sky, watching the Railguns rain hellfire on the city. There is a slow tilt happening to the levelness of the city, the Etherium drive must have been damaged, and the city is beginning to slowly fall from the skies. Where is Fennec? Will I be able to recover Kotina? Slagging hells… focus on what is in front of you.
“They ruined my favorite teapot you know.” The man says, moving his hand slowly towards the sheathed sword upon his hip.
“Master Dargo… I do not wish to fight you.” I say, finally remembering his name, grasping the hilt of my Ionic blade, heart pounding. I can’t sense his aura, I have no idea how strong he is. All I know is that Kotina is one of the strongest Knight Commanders in the galaxy, and she lies at his feet.
“Watch closely.” Master Dargo says, placing his hand on the hilt, moving into a pose “For it is rare that I draw The Night Mother’s Blade.”
The Night Mother… he worships her too? My head is reeling, thoughts bubbling to the surface. Why is he here? Why has my Goddess taken such an interest in this conflict? Slagging hells. Did they use me, is this some kind of… what the frack is going on?
The Night Mother, the Goddess my mother taught me to worship comes to my side now, entering my perception again. Placing her hand on my shoulder, the questions quiet as I take her in fully. It is always strange how real it feels, as though she is really here, though I know she is not in this Realm, not truly. I feel her power seeping into me, slowing down time in my perception.
Her mouth is in a full open smile as she watches the energy flowing off Master Dargo rising, reality bending around his spiritual pressure as he begins releasing it. The Night Mother’s eyes sparkle in the glow of the blade as it erupts in light, shining through the cracks in the sheathe.
“A thousand cuts…” Master Dargo begins, there is a flash of movement my eyes cannot follow even with my Goddess slowing my perception of reality, the sword is already back in the sheathe “…in one.”
Nothing happens for a moment—then suddenly—like a solar flare rippling across a planet’s magnetic field, light erupts all over the sky, pushing back all of the Railgun’s onslaught. The sound barrier shatters as the wind rushes away from Master Dargo, blowing back the debris. Vibrations rattle existence itself, sending objects into the air in defiance of natural law. I fall to my knees as the energy cascades around us, my mouth agape, in awe of what is happening.
Reality warps as curved blades of light cut through the air, ripping the belly of the Flagship Thorn asunder. Smoke billowing from it as it begins to lose altitude now. The Railguns… completely, and utterly destroyed in a single move.
The distorted air around Master Dargo falls back as the pressure of his soul is pulled back in. My hands are trembling, my eyes blinking again and again but still, I cannot fully fathom what I just saw. It goes beyond swordsmanship… is it the blade? Is that his power? My mind is spinning. Father and Kotina have told me before of the upper boundaries, but I have never seen it, not with my own eyes.
He walks towards me now, his pace steady as he drags Kotina behind him by her leg, plopping her down next to me. Now he moves towards Kale. Nekam and the others move in front of Kale, blocking the path, and protecting him. Their eyes burn brightly, hands trembling but they do not succumb to the fear, they stand firm, even if it is folly. As I take in their courage and loyalty to each other, even in the face of certain annihilation, I cannot help but be swept by how profoundly beautiful it is.
“I was not wrong to learn your names.” Master Dargo says, looking at each of them in turn.
He steps forward, Arrum leaps in front of him, his weapon extended, and his hands shake, but his resolve does not.
There is a grin on Master Dargo’s face as he asks “What is your name boy?”
Arrum does not reply, his grip tightens on the hilt.
“His name is Arrum, Keeper,” Nekam says, still tense.
Keeper? Master Dargo was their Keeper? That can’t be right, why would he be here of all places? The holo footage Akaria gave me never showed their Keeper, it was always blurred around them. What the fracking hells is going on? Turning to my Goddess now, looking for answers, she gives me a sly smile and a wink. I cannot help but feel angry at this, it is becoming more clear that she used me. I think about what my grandfather once said, as he drew upon his favorite pipe, blowing concentric smoke rings. Words from the memory of it echo in my mind.
We mortals are the playthings of the God’s whims
Doomed to toil under their pleasures and suffer their vices
Lest we rise to meet them
That which could be—will always seek—That which will be