On board the Empress‘ Flagship, the Leviathan, in a secret room adjacent to the Empress’ chambers…

Marconite Stands alone in his secret office. The only light coming from the giant screen in front of him, casting harsh shadows over his stern face. It shows a myriad of photos, three larger than the rest and prominently plastered across the middle.

The first one shows a female Menkar with black eyes. It’s the former Queen Mother, Saraphon Raun, who died so her daughter, Aldebaraun, could live. Marconite still loves Saraphon and, even until now, after almost two thousand Circles, he can’t let go. The photo next to her is Aldebaraun herself, showing her on land as she was about to become an adult. Her expression unbothered and innocent despite the role bestowed upon her by the Void.

„You look so much like her, my precious,“ Marconite says to the picture. „I’ll rather die than allow anyone as much as to touch you. Especially if it means that I’ve to keep killing those damn Queen Mothers, no matter how often they crawl out of the mud. I’m just glad you’re a Dreamwalker, my precious. It makes keeping you safe less cruel than otherwise…“

The last photo shows two young male aquatic Drones barely out of their Morphling hood. Their most prominent feature, the likeliness in their looks. One the mirror of the other. The Drone on the left is Marconite Avarion himself, the one on the left is Talliomere Avarion.

„How long, Tallio?“ Marconite asks the screen as his feverish gaze crawls over this picture. „And how far will you take it… I know you keep another one of those monsters, who’ll kill my precious, hidden. I won’t stand by this madness. I won’t. Too bad you do not seem to learn. Too bad, you force me to hurt you over and over.“

Before he had met Saraphon, Talliomere had been the only Menkar he was close to. The only Menkar he felt he could trust blindly.

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„Why, Tallio? Why?“ he asks, tears running down his face. „We could’ve amounted to something big. You and I. Second and First Steward. We could’ve conquered the whole universe, together. We could’ve protected my precious, together. But you… you seem to want to destroy me. Why? Why do you hate me so much?“

Before his heart can grow too heavy for his liking, he takes a deep breath and wipes away his tears. He can’t allow himself to drown in his own sentimentality. If Talliomere wants to continue with this twisted game, so will Marconite. With a last look towards Talliomere, he sighs, turns off the screen and leaves his secret abode.

The moment the flickering light of the Empress‘ tank illuminates his face, he feels at ease. A moment later, Aldebaraun approaches the glass and places her hands on it with a look of concern on her face. A wave of conflicting emotions emits from her, which causes Marconite‘s smile to disappear from his face.

„Is something wrong, my precious?“ he asks stiffly.

It’s almost time again, she signs against the glass, while her emotions even out.

„I understand“, he replies, although he doesn’t like the thought of letting her go to the Birthing Waters. „I’ll immediately arrange the necessary steps. Do you have any wishes considering your guard?“

I have none, she replies, while a wave of her melancholic indifference washes over Marconite.

„Is there something else, my precious?“ he asks her concerned.

No, Marconite.

„Raun, I… Remember, my precious, you can tell me everything.“

I know.

„So does something sadden you? I can feel you being unwell.“

It’s nothing, Marconite. I’m just sad that I soon need to leave for some time.

„Oh, my precious, you needn’t be sad. I’ll make sure no harm will befall you.“

Thank you, she signs with a soft smile and floats back down the tank.

Marconite watches her dark frame vanish in the deep blue waters. For a moment, he senses that she lied to him. The gentle happiness that emitted from her a moment ago has left a sour taste in his mouth. No, my precious would never lie to me, he tells himself and takes a deep breath.

Suddenly, the rhythmic hum of music radiated from the tank. Smiling, Marconite walks over to his chair and the table with his laptop. Let’s get to work and make sure my precious remains safe.