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LUNARA
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Chapter Forty-Five: Musings of Duty - Part One
Galactic Quadrant: Darna Quadrant
Ruling Government: Republic of Hekate
Solar System: D-2,946
Planet: Ravena Minor
Location: Ara Continent, Ravena’s Temple, Noble quarters
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***
Six months ago
***
My eyes grasp delicately at the wonder they behold, looking out at a majestic scene of autumn leaves falling from the trees, the breeze catching them softly in its embrace. In the distance, over a beautiful lake, two birds are flying in unison as the sun begins its march, setting across the horizon. The two birds nuzzle each other as they free fall, as though shouting to the void—together we can face anything.
I hear movement behind me, but I do not turn, still trying to appreciate the view with my hands crossed behind my back. There is no telling when I will see it again.
“Is it time?” I ask, still watching outside.
My heart stirs as the two birds dive into the water together. Pressing deep beneath its surface, when they return from the depths, they carry between them a large fish, one they could never carry alone. There is beauty in this, and longing too.
“It is, Lady Lunara,” Yekka says.
I have told her a hundred times to call me Luna. She is a kind woman. Perhaps the kindest I know. At the same time, she is a strict woman, in a loving way. Turning from nature's beauty, I see her hair tied neatly in a bun, usually, she wears it in loose braids. Only when we travel does she tie it up.
“Are you traveling with us?” I ask her.
“I… am, my lady.”
I can hear the faintest tone of sadness in her voice, like she is trying hard to hide it. There is some selfish happiness that she will accompany us, I would miss her dearly otherwise. She knows as well as I, that I may not return from this journey. It is my duty though, so she says nothing against it. She has been my caretaker for as long as I can remember, the closest person to me besides Kotina.
In the time she has raised me, she taught me deep compassion for those around me, forcing my heart to look past station. She was the first to tell me not to use my neural implants as I ought, against the wishes of the Imperium’s divine directive. It is expected that Nobles have emotional control. We deal in the fates of many. Even if we don’t deserve to. She and my grandfather used to have long discussions by the fireside. Speaking of the old days. Sadness crawls up to greet me, I have not seen him in many years now. After my mother passed the veil, he left to find himself again. Seeking purpose to hide the pain of losing his only child.
Turning around now after letting out a sigh, I walk forward and put my arms around Yekka, giving her a warm smile as we push away. Yekka grabs my hand, her eyes look bloodshot like she’s been crying, there is something more that troubles her. I pause for a moment, about to ask her why when I hear someone knocking on the large wooden doors. The deep recesses are laden with black and purple paint, etched in the style of our House Ravena with silver flourishes around the edges.
Waving my wrist, my holopad sends the command for the door to unbolt and open. Outside two Knights wearing the crest of our House Ravena upon their black and purple armor stand in the open doorway. On each of their hips hangs a plasma pistol, a dull red light illuminated on the side, showing the safety is on.
“The shuttle is waiting my Lady, your father has requested you to make haste and join him.” One of them says with a bow and a hand crossing his chest, over his heart, a sign of respect. Respect that I have done nothing to earn, save being born. This is the way of things though, despite how I feel it should be.
Nodding to them, they turn and depart the doorway. My hand reaches for my Ionic sword’s hilt, checking it is still attached to my hip. More than half of the twenty-two years since my birth have been spent training with it. I wonder if Mother would be proud of me. Seeing how much I have grown. It has been ten years since then. Pressing the sad memories back, I move through the double doors. The Knights waiting just outside patiently to escort me.
They lead me towards the shuttle bay with Yekka walking briskly behind us, she stands nearly a head shorter than me. A small woman with a large personality—Kotina always says. Their banter is often the highlight of my day.
Along the walls, I see depictions of triumphs for the House of Ravena, battleships in the skies above planets that have been conquered in various solar systems. A Knight holding a banner of House Ravena upon a mountain of slain enemies. These continue all the way to the shuttle, where an escort of Knights stands in two columns on either side of the shuttle loading ramp. They are dressed in heavy crusader armor, thick metal encasing their mortal coils. I hear the dull hum of the ship's shields powering on after we all board.
On the bridge of the shuttle, I see my father, Lord Arkon, Primus of our House. He is a giant of a man, with a thick black beard and dark hair with purple streaks, spindles of grey shooting through it. His eyes are deep brown, with juts of color mixing in them. They are cold, even to me. He used to be different when I was a girl, before mother… I press the thoughts away again. I must focus on my duty, soon I will be tested by the Theocratic Imperium, and they will determine my worth.
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“You’re late.” He says to me, there is no annoyance in his tone though. I almost wish that there were. Something. Anything from him.
I bow my head in apology, he turns to an aide and nods to them.
The aide begins to bark orders to the crew who ready the shuttle for departure.
The shuttle’s reactor fires on fully now, and a brief uneasiness flows through everyone, as we feel gravity being distorted. The moment is fleeting and familiar, the ship’s gravity actuator dials on to compensate for it, so we don’t float around the bridge.
“Arrival to Flagship Hyperion set at three hours, Lord.” The aide from before says to my father, who nods and looks over to me, beckoning me with a single finger.
I follow his summons and walk to his side. He does not meet my eyes. The lines around his eyes are more than what they ought to be. However, like others who have passed the upper boundaries, he is much older than he appears. The years of war seem to weigh heavily on him, yet his demeanor is a contradiction, always stoic and placid. Never showing me anything of affection, not since then. Not since… his words bring me back from the bad memory.
“Are you ready for the trials?” Father asks.
“I will not shame you, nor the Noble House of Ravena, my Lord,” I say.
He does not reply right away, there seems to be a look of concern for a fraction of a second on his face, like he is not telling me something important. It is strange though; I rarely see any inflection from him.
“Remember your training and keep your wits about you.” He says, then finally turning to look at me “You are a Raven, do not forget your duty.”
“I will not, my Lord,” I reply, bowing my head and placing my hand over my chest, as the Knights did.
They have told me little about the trials, only that it will test my mettle and it will be the hardest thing I have ever done. Making the countless mornings that I spent with arms trainers over the last ten years seem like child’s play. I am not the best with an Ionic blade, having lost many duels against my trainers over the years. However, my weapons masters tell me that I am a prodigy in adaptability.
I have spent many sleepless nights wondering what the trials will be like, it is forbidden to speak of them if you have been through them. Thus no one ever tells me what they are about. All I know is that I must pass. Or else I will never be granted an Edict. The shame it would bring my House is immeasurable. It would be more than a shame even. It could mean infighting, others seeking to take the title of Heir Apparent. Kotina has told me of some of the other Lords and Ladies in House Ravena, and how they act outside of civilized settings. I would not wish that on the people of our House. They will not suffer because I failed them. I must succeed. I will succeed.
***
We arrive at the massive warship Hyperion, the Flagship of House Ravena, which orbits above one of the moons of Ravena Prime, the homeworld of the House of Ravena. Where the elite of our army trains. Where my Father and I live, when not seeing to duties upon Ravena Minor.
Not all citizens of the Republic can even walk upon the surface of Ravena Prime. Their bodies would cease to function as they were crushed by its gravity, which is many times greater than the Galactic Standard. Even those who have passed the third and fourth boundaries, or have artificially enhanced their bodies are not immune to its effects. For all these reasons, it is why we train there, why we spend most of our time beneath the firmness of its embrace.
The warriors of Ravena are known in more than just the Republic of Hekate. We are feared by many other Houses, the Knights we produce are able to crush stone in hand, even without passing the second boundary. We are a people who train while others grow complacent. It is our way, we know no other.
“Lord, welcome back,” Knight Commander Kotina says to my father, giving him a salute, which he returns as he steps off the shuttle.
“Ready the crew for the jump.” My father says to Kotina who nods, he moves swiftly with an even tempo, not turning back to me he adds “Keep up girl.”
“Yes, Lord,” I reply quickening my pace, we walk towards the gravlift which will take us to the bridge.
The escort of Knights follows, surrounding their Lord like a pack of dire wolves never leaving his side. One of the Knights scans their credentials, from the holopad on their wrist. The lift hums to life, rocketing in the air quickly as we pass through the ship. As we move past each level of the ship, all the workers, soldiers, and Knights of the ship bow their heads, placing a hand on their chest to their Primus, Lord Arkon; my father’s face is stoic and impassive as they do.
This is the power of the Primus for House Ravena, thousands of obedient souls paying deference to them. Though my father, according to those I have asked, has earned it. Being one of the few Nobles to ever become a Knight Commander before becoming Primus of a House. The majority crawl their way up from Senatorial seats and backroom deals. Not my father, he is a man cut from a different cloth, the cloth of the House of Ravena, a long line of Warlords and Conquerors.
After twenty minutes we reach the bridge of the ship, a massive room expands before us, and holographic displays show the system around us and readouts of the ship's systems.
“Attention on deck!” A Knight Commander yells to the officers and senior enlisted on the bridge.
Over a hundred officers and senior enlisted line the bridge deck, everyone stands and gives the same salute of a head bow, arm across chest, and fist over their heart to him.
“At ease.” My Father says as he makes his way to his command post.
He sits down in a levitating chair with a House Ravena Crest on the back of it and embroidered onto the fabric of it. Obsidian in color, it hums quietly as it raises up once he is seated and presents his credentials to it, assuming complete command of the vessel.
Pulling up a holographic display he begins to broadcast to the entire ship.
“We will be departing to the Adrius system in the Theocratic Imperium’s cluster. If all goes well, you’ll be back before month’s end to see your families before our next tour in the Calenthy beltway.” He says, giving a salute before ending the communication.
He looks over to me now, pausing for a moment before speaking.
“Come, sit with us, you’ll be commanding your own ship someday.” He says waving me over.
I nod to him, trying to hide my excitement. Taking a seat to his left, to his right is his second in Command, Knight Commander Kotina, she gives me a sly wink. Father has never let me sit in a command chair before. He has barely spoken to me in the last few years. Often pulled away, having to deal with the growing threats on the borders of Republic space.
“Thank you, Lord,” I say as I punch in my credentials, and he grants access from his console. The chair is comfortable and even in temperature. It hums as it rises upwards towards theirs. We hover a few meters off the deck, in between the floors surrounding a massive circular display in the middle of the bridge.
“I remember the first time my father let me sit upon the Hyperion’s command chairs, it was before my trials.” He says looking over at me, there was almost an inkling of emotion on his face again. One that soon fades.
The flash of emotion makes me wonder what the future will hold.
We make for the Gateway of our solar system now, left behind by the Ancients who colonized the stars under the tutelage of the Old Gods. They have long since faded from existence, these remnants of advanced technology, which seem more akin to magic to us, are the only traces left of them.
I know little of them except what I have seen on holos, information on them is limited under the oppressive hand of the Theocratic Imperium. Kotina once told me after a night of drinking, that they keep knowledge from the people to protect their power. She has always seemed disenfranchised with them in private, provided she is plied with enough drink. In public, she is always their staunchest supporter, as is Father.
The Hyperion approaches a colossal circular object that makes it look like a small child’s toy. The object is about half the size that a moon is wide. I have seen it many times, yet still, I stare in awe of it, seeing it through the viewports in the front of the bridge. It is the Gateway between stars for this solar system. The ionic thrusters shift the ship to a slow movement as it moves closer to the Gate.
“Entering the Gateway now, Lord.” A man says over a holo display in front of us.
“Proceed.”