Synthia had set the Vanis on course for a special star in the next galaxy over. It took a lot out of her to move the ship into an intergalactic jump sequence since the ship was already low on power. There was only enough energy after this jump was completed for one more jump, then she would be stuck wherever she ended up.
Though she didn't mind much, helping her newly found friend was inexpensive to her. What neither of them realized was that the strings around Selene were growing taut, as they neared their destination.
***
"Selene, I do not mean for you to abandon anything."
"You want me to abandon my body and the Wolf's Blessing with it," Selene fumed.
Synthia realized that due to her directness when broaching the subject she had upset Selene greatly. Although her intentions were well-meaning she had inadvertently told Selene to abandon her culture and faith. This was something that could not be solved with explanations or justifications, she concluded that only by showing her through actions could she get her meaning across.
"I have set the Vanis on course to somewhere I hope will help you. Perhaps if that place does what I am hoping for then you will think over my words again. For now please trust me."
Selene remained silent gazing at Synthia who only looked at her with determination in her eyes and an apologetic expression on her face. She couldn't stay upset with her. Not because she could forgive her with just a smile and 'I'm sorry, but the isolation would've gotten to her eventually, even if she were used to it.
"Follow me to the atrium I want to show you something before we depart this place for our destination," Synthia said and started down the hall again.
The Vanis itself was a massive ship that if not for its shape could easily pass for a small moon of some planets or an asteroid for other larger planets. The ship had a strange shape like an eggshell cut vertically. The atrium that Synthia brought Selene to was massive and could compare to several city centers. The ship's architects prepared the atrium as a hub and library that would display all of the things the Pantheon had come across. Synthia had continued to update the atrium even long after the ship became derelict.
The atrium had several different biomes that simulated the conditions of the inhabitants, flora, and fauna of the worlds the Pantheon had visited. Synthia brought Selene to a door labeled 'E65B-05'. Inside the room, the gravity had increased a noticeable amount, the air became a bit heavier and there was a noticeable amount of moisture in the air.
While Selene had explored many of these rooms before she hadn't gotten around to all of them. She stepped into the room and her knees buckled leaving her kneeling on the floor. She began to heave rapidly. The air made her feel she was drowning, and the smell of salt and various flowers in the air began to overload her senses.
Synthia stood next to her and watched, waiting for her to get used to it. Usually, a foreign atmosphere would present a much greater danger to any living being. There is no telling what kind of contaminants might lurk in the air. But as the biomes in the atrium were simulations, the most someone would suffer through is the time it takes the brain to recognize it as illusory.
"Wha...What is... What is this place," Selene asked in between gasping for air.
"Wait a bit longer you'll get used to it," Synthia replied ignoring her question.
A few minutes later Selene was able to breathe smoothly and stand again, though her steps were heavy.
"What is this place," she asked again as Synthia led her to a large window.
Synthia pointed to the far left side of the window.
"Look there."
Selene looked and so close to her she could reach out and grab it, was a bright, blue planet with large patches of green and sparse blots of white.
"The sands here are beautiful. I've never seen such a color before and there is so much water. But why is the water green here is it not safe?"
The Stral homeworld Dotera was a desert planet with little water. If viewed from space the planet although twice the size of the planet she was staring at now, only 20% of it would be water, and that only in the lowest valleys. The rest of the planet was an arid desert.
"The green spots are this planet's landmasses, and what you thought was sand is the water here. This entire biome is simulating that planet," Synthia said.
Selene was stunned by the idea of it. A planet with more water than land, and in such a beautiful shade as well. The land and seas were so bright they shone even in the dark of space. She continued to watch as the Vanis orbited the planet.
As the light faded away and they reached the darker side of the planet, Selene was thrown further into a stupor. The side of the planet that should have been dark was just as bright as the side they had just left. Although the other side shone in the dark background of space, Selene understood that was due to the sun. Now staring at what should have been the dark side of the planet, this side truly shone brightly in the dark. All across the landmasses of the planet on this side bright lights shone.
"Those lights are the cities the inhabitants of this planet built. This planet has a long history, even longer than they know. They once had faith in many things even fire like your people, they named and worshiped the stars, and have displayed an outlook on the galaxies not often shared by even more advanced species out there. But there is something they did that might help you."
Synthia gave Selene a brief overview of the planet they orbited before walking away and further into the E65B-05 biome. Selene struggled to force herself away from the window to follow after her.
***
Synthia remained silent as she led Selene deeper into the biome and into a desert area that instantly reminded her of home.
"Although you've told me a lot about Dotera I can not simulate anything the Vanis has not personally experienced or conducted thorough observations of. But I can adjust the already existing biomes as I please, so long as I do not harm the simulation. I tried my best to simulate the environment on Dotera here and I've also created this," A wave of her hand brought a large pyre into existence in the middle of the desert biome.
"But why-"
Selene could not even finish her words. The familiar pyre she stared at was too overwhelming.
"Why would you build that! It should not be here, this is wrong," she shouted dashing at what was supposed to be the naming ceremony pyre, ready to tear it apart.
High above her head, a shutter began to open letting in bright and scorching light. The light immediately fell on Selene, freezing her in place.
Selene bathed in the light and heat of the star that would have burned almost anything else to ashes. What she felt only she would know, but the pyre after bathing in that light ignited. A bright blue flame rose in the pyre.
"The people on the planet we visited called this star Sirius the Wolf Star. I thought it was strange that two civilizations from so far away would have the same name for a star. I thought if I brought you here it might help you."
Synthia's explanation fell on deaf ears. Selene had long since stopped paying attention to anything else around her. She entered her own world as soon as she was showered by the star's light.
Selene quickly and naturally disrobed and under the watchful eyes of Sirius she finally offered her dance.