The landing pad was stark against the backdrop of the sunrise, the horizon blazed with crimson and gold streaks that spilled across the sky like ink. The Galactic Council shuttle, sleek and silver, gleamed under the pale morning light, its polished hull reflecting the colors of the dawn. Its engines emitted a steady, low hum, the sound reverberating faintly through the etched stone platform. The landing pad itself was a masterpiece of ancient craftsmanship, its polished surface inlaid with intricate Umbralumaran glyphs, faintly glowing with traces of magic that resonated with the world’s core.
The crisp bite of morning air carried the faint tang of ozone from the shuttle’s thrusters. Elkianara stood at the edge of the platform, her posture as poised and elegant as any royal court portrait. She wore a deep blue travel dress—tailored but understated—with subtle silver embroidery tracing its cuffs and hem, catching the light with each of her measured movements. Isolde had swept her hair into an elaborate braid early that morning, a delicate cascade pinned into a neat crown. Yet, even her maid’s steady hands couldn’t stop the inevitable escape of wisps of hair, which now danced freely in the cool breeze.
Despite her outward composure, Elkianara’s hazel eyes betrayed her. They darted nervously from the towering palace doors behind her to the shuttle in front of her, tracing the glowing glyphs, the polished metal, and the open hatch leading into the vessel. Her fingers fidgeted with the edges of her sleeves—a subtle motion, but one that anyone close to her would recognize as nerves.
The moments stretched long and fragile as attendants bustled quietly around her, loading trunks of personal belongings into the shuttle’s cargo bay. The palace guards stood at attention along the edges of the landing pad, their polished ceremonial armor catching the dawn light as they held their formation with military precision.
Beside her, Isolde fussed over Elkianara’s itinerary, her hands paused the scrolling momentarily to tap out a quick correction to the loading manifest.
“You’d think I’d never packed before,” Elkianara quipped softly, though her voice lacked its usual sharp humor.
“You’d think someone who represents an entire planet might remember to pack an extra pair of boots,” Isolde replied, not looking up but smiling faintly. “You’re lucky I’m here to catch your oversights.”
Elkianara exhaled a soft laugh, grateful for the distraction.
The doors of the palace finally opened, their weighty groan cutting through the quiet. Elkianara turned at the sound, her eyes widening as Empress Serkai stepped through, flanked by Marcus. Her mother’s crimson coat trailed behind her like a living flame, and her sharp blue eyes cut through the morning haze like a blade. Even in this moment, Serkai radiated command. She moved with a purpose that left no room for hesitation, each step carrying the weight of her authority and her love for her daughter.
Behind them, a small assembly of courtiers, advisors, and minor nobles followed, their faces set with a mix of formality and curiosity. This was not an official state farewell—it was too personal for that—but the royal family of Umbralumara departing for the most prestigious academy in the galaxy was no small event.
***
Her mother’s hands worked gently through her hair, the comb moving with practiced ease. Elkianara sat on a low stool, her back resting against her mother’s knees as Serkai sat behind her. The room was quiet, lit only by the soft golden glow of a single crystalline lamp on the vanity.
“Breathe, my love,” Serkai murmured, her voice soft and melodic. She leaned slightly forward, her chin nearly resting atop Elkianara’s head. “You’ve been holding your breath for nearly a minute now.”
Elkianara let out a shuddering sigh, her fingers twisting in her lap. “I’m not ready, Mother.”
“You are,” Serkai replied, the comb pausing for a moment before resuming its soothing rhythm. “You’re ready, Elkianara. You’ve been ready since the day you walked into the council chamber at age eight and corrected Minister Rallian on tax policy.”
Elkianara let out a nervous laugh, though her chest still felt tight. “That’s different. That was here, with you and Marcus and the others. Starlight is—” She stopped, unable to find the words.
“New,” Serkai finished for her. “And far. And strange. Yes, it is all of those things.” She set the comb down and gently rested her hands on her daughter’s shoulders, leaning closer so that their heads touched. “But, my little star, you’ve faced far greater challenges already. I’m sending you to Starlight not because I want you to leave me, but because you are meant for greater things. You know this.”
“I’m scared,” Elkianara admitted, her voice barely a whisper. Her hands unclenched, falling limp in her lap. “What if I fail?”
“You won’t,” Serkai said simply, brushing a stray lock of Elkianara’s hair behind her ear. “And even if you stumble, I’ll be here. I always will be.” She tilted her daughter’s chin up so their eyes met in the dim light. “Do you trust me?”
Elkianara hesitated for only a moment before nodding. “Always.”
“Then trust yourself,” Serkai said, her voice softening. She pressed a kiss to Elkianara’s temple, then stood, her movements fluid and deliberate. “And remember, when you look up at the stars, you’ll see the same ones I see. We’ll never be too far apart.”
***
“Is everything ready?” Serkai asked, her voice low but steady. She glanced toward Marcus, who gave a brief nod.
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“Yes, Your Majesty. All her personal effects have been loaded onto the shuttle. The escort to the starliner is waiting to depart as soon as the shuttle leaves orbit.”
Serkai’s gaze flicked briefly toward Elkianara. Her expression softened, just enough for those who knew her well to notice. She turned back to Marcus. “Have the Council’s transmission array prepped. I’ll need a secure line to Starlight Station within the day.”
Marcus bowed slightly, his weathered face betraying just the faintest note of approval. “Of course, Your Majesty.”
As the rest of the assembly lingered near the edge of the landing pad, Elkianara stepped forward to meet her mother, her voice soft but clear. “Is it time?”
Serkai’s lips pressed into a thin line, her jaw tightening briefly before she spoke. “It’s time, El.” Her voice was gentle, though the firmness of her tone did not waver.
Elkianara’s shoulders tensed as she turned to glance back at the shuttle. The sight of its open hatch, the illuminated interior leading to a new chapter of her life, made her stomach churn. When she looked back at her mother, the composed facade she had so carefully crafted began to crack.
“I don’t feel ready,” Elkianara admitted, her voice trembling despite her best efforts. Her hands tightened into fists at her sides. “Everything is changing so quickly, and I don’t know what’s waiting for me out there.”
***
The room smelled faintly of parchment and ink, the air tinged with the subtle tang of ozone from the crystalline lamps scattered across the shelves. Serkai sat at her desk, her coat draped over the back of the chair, her sleeves rolled to her elbows as she pored over a tablet displaying swirling holographic graphs and figures. Papers and notes cluttered the surface, and the faint hum of the echo transmitter punctuated the otherwise quiet room.
Elkianara stood near the center of the room, her hands clenched at her sides. “He’s barely conscious,” she said, her voice tight with frustration. “He just nods and does whatever anyone tells him to. What if someone takes advantage of him?”
Serkai didn’t look up. “That’s one of the reasons you’re taking him to Starlight with you.”
“That’s not enough,” Elkianara snapped, taking a step closer. “He needs help, Mother, not more people whispering things into his ear. He’s not even going to understand what’s happening—he’s just… broken.”
Serkai’s fingers paused on the screen. Slowly, she looked up, her blue eyes sharp and unyielding. “Do you think I don’t know that?” she said, her tone low but cutting. “Do you think I don’t see how vulnerable he is right now?”
Elkianara flinched but held her ground. “Then why—”
“Because this is what has to be done,” Serkai interrupted, her voice rising slightly. “The Fairwood title is already under threat. There are nobles calling for the estate to be dissolved, its holdings distributed to the court. The incident at the manor has destabilized everything, and Ambassador Thorne has been meeting with the disgruntled houses, raising questions about my ability to maintain control. This is no longer just about Alden, Elkianara. This is about the stability of our entire world.”
Elkianara swallowed hard, her frustration faltering under the weight of her mother’s words.
“And you,” Serkai continued, her tone softening but remaining firm, “are about to step into a world where all of this will follow you. The students at Starlight will know who you are the moment you arrive. They’ll know about Fairwood, about the explosion, about Alden. You won’t be able to escape it. So you’d better start preparing now.”
***
Serkai reached out, resting her hands on her daughter’s shoulders. The warmth of the touch steadied Elkianara slightly, though her chest still felt heavy. “No one ever feels ready for a journey like this,” Serkai said softly, her voice like a lullaby wrapped in steel. “But you are ready. You’ve been ready. I have watched you grow into someone far stronger, far wiser, than I could have imagined. You’ll make me proud, Elkianara. You’ll make yourself proud.”
Elkianara bit her lip, fighting the tears that threatened to spill over. “I’ll try.”
“You won’t have to try,” Serkai said, leaning closer, her voice dropping to a near whisper. “Because you already are everything you need to be.”
The moment hung heavy in the air between them.
Then Marcus cleared his throat, stepping forward. “Your Highness, it’s time to begin the ceremony. The shuttle cannot delay departure.”
Elkianara drew a trembling breath, straightening herself as she turned back to face the platform.
A small dais had been set at the edge of the landing pad, and Serkai led her daughter to it, where a ceremonial orb glowed faintly atop its pedestal. The courtiers and guards gathered in a loose semi-circle around the dais, forming a respectful audience as Serkai stepped forward to address them.
“Elkianara Seraphel Valorian,” Serkai began, her voice carrying over the open air with the weight of her station. “My daughter. My blood. You depart from Umbralumara today not just as a child of this house, but as an envoy of our world. You take with you the pride of our people, the strength of our name, and the hope of the generations who have come before you.”
Elkianara stood still, her hands trembling faintly at her sides as Serkai continued.
“May your path be illuminated by the wisdom of your ancestors, and may the stars guide you to the heights we know you are capable of reaching.”
There was no applause—only silence, as the Empress stepped back and gestured for Elkianara to approach the orb. She placed her hand atop it, and the faint glow of the orb brightened briefly as the glyphs across the landing pad flared with light.
It was done. Elkianara stepped back from the dais, her steps measured, though her heart raced in her chest.
As the ceremony ended, attendants moved to signal the shuttle crew. Elkianara turned to her mother one last time, her voice soft. “I’ll send word when I arrive.”
Serkai nodded, her sharp blue eyes locking onto her daughter’s. “I will be waiting. No matter how far you go, Elkianara, remember that you are never alone.”
Elkianara hesitated, her gaze faltering for just a moment as the weight of the moment settled fully on her. Her fingers fidgeted again with the hem of her sleeve, a habit she had never quite grown out of. “What if I can’t... what if I fail, Mother?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Serkai stepped closer, resting her hands firmly on her daughter’s shoulders. “Listen to me, El. You will not fail. They will think whatever they want. You are stronger than you think, wiser than they will expect, and more capable than you will ever admit to yourself.”
For a moment, Elkianara said nothing. Then, without warning, she threw her arms around her mother. Serkai stiffened briefly at the uncharacteristic public display, but then her arms encircled her daughter, holding her tightly.
When they finally pulled apart, Elkianara turned and walked toward the shuttle.
She didn’t look back.
The hatch sealed behind her, and the shuttle’s engines rose in pitch. The vessel lifted from the landing pad, ascending smoothly into the brightening sky.
Serkai stood unmoving, her gaze fixed on the shrinking speck of silver until it disappeared into the clouds.
“She’ll be fine, Your Majesty,” Marcus said quietly, stepping to her side.
Serkai didn’t respond immediately. When she finally turned, her expression was as unreadable as ever. Without a word, she strode back toward the palace, her footsteps echoing softly against the polished stone.