Back at the homestead, Raymond was in the living room in front of a large computer, having a lively conversation with someone on the other side of the screen. He sat upright in a large pillow chair, with thin glasses on his face, displaying a distinguished look as he stroked his short beard. He was instructing a young girl named Emillie, who was Raymond's granddaughter and Victorian's first child. At this time, she was off world on Lintu, the neighboring desert planet, studying at a private school.
"Yes, correct," Raymond continued in the middle of a thought. "Now, who is the largest military force in the galaxy?"
"The Twin Empire!" Emillie answered proudly. She had straight, yet messy blonde hair and was wearing brand bright purple pajamas, inset with sparkling stars and planets.
"That's right. But what is their given name?"
"Oh, oh..." she staggered. "And-da-deck-on?" she slumped with embarrassment. "I know this!"
"It's alright!" he laughed. "Andacon. An-Da-Con. Simple, just three beats."
"Right, I know!" she proclaimed, quickly jotting down a few new notes.
Raymond adjusted his glasses and turned to the next page in his book. "Okay. Now here's an easy one,"
"No more easy ones!" she jabbed her pen toward the screen. "This test is tomorrow, Bamp!"
Raymond laughed again, appreciating the affectionate title, given to him long ago during her early years. "Well, I'm going to ask it anyway," he declared. "Who is the 'crown' of the solar system?"
"Oh! Lord Arasi!" Her finger shot up into the air as she beamed with delight.
"Wrong!"
"What?!"
"It is the Monto'Ac Royal Families, of course. Not a person!"
She crossed her arms bitterly. "Well, why did you phrase it that way!"
"What ever do you mean?" Raymond wondered.
"You said 'who' like it was a person."
"That didn't confuse you before."
"Ugh!" She grunted and rolled onto her back, notebook flying in the air.
"Don't be upset!" Raymond demanded, sitting forward. "You'll be asked questions like that. What if you had answered that way on the test?"
Emillie returned to her normal position and glared at him. "I wouldn't have answered that way on the test!" she protested.
Raymond chuckled. "You'll do just fine tomorrow!" he assured her, snapping his notebook shut.
"How do you know?"
"Because," his expression settled into a prideful gaze. "You are as clever as an artamock bird, that's why. You're even smarter then me I think." She smiled. "And your Mother, too." He added from the side of his mouth. A comedic moment much appreciated by his mischievous granddaughter.
"I'm telling her you said that!" She teased.
"You would never."
She pondered the notion for a moment, then gave him a sudden unexpected yelp of excitement. "One more question before bed!" she exclaimed.
"Okay then," he rubbed his beard. "Name all the systems as fast as you can. Go!"
She gasped with anxiety and quickly sat up straight, her fingers now being utilized for rapid counting. "...Albion, Corinna, Massa-massa..." she staggered again.
"Masardis!"
"Don't interrupt me!" she barked. "Masardis, Caratunk, Andacon, Monto'Ac, and of course our capitol, Augusta!"
"And it's three planets would be?"
"Lintu, Oonossa and Eniam, of course!" She jumped with excitement.
"Of course!" he echoed. "And where do we live?"
She said nothing this time, insulted by the question. Instead she simply offered him a blank expression, which said everything. "Goodnight, Bamps!" she reached to turn off the screen.
"Goodnight, my shine! All my love." He covered his heart.
"All of mine!" She returned with an overly cheerful tone.
As the screen blinked to black, Raymond pushed a few buttons and folded the screen down. But just then, as he was sinking back into his chair, he suddenly noticed something out of the corner of his eyes. Green lights were flashing just outside the door. Green lights were rarely a good sign, only one division had them: Safety. While Capitol Security handled arresting, jailing and killing, Safety provided protection; assuring the well being of the community. But their presence often brought bad tidings, as they were involved with unfortunate events, which were many times tragic.
Raymond immediately leapt from his chair and dashed to the door, running outside into the chilled night. He did not travel far before he saw their vehicle, landed on the platform just outside their deck. There, in the back of a medical cab, was Victorian.
His beloved daughter, framed in sickly green light, silent in the presence of the safety officers. Dreadful thoughts filled his mind as he marched toward them. "Victorian!" He yelled, stopping in front of her.
"She's okay!" One of the medics placed a hand on his shoulder. Victorian said nothing. She seemed to be looking at the ground, lost in time.
"What happened? Is she alright? Vic, are you alright?" he reached for her, yet she was unresponsive, covered in a blue blanket as if fearful of the air.
"I think she'll tell you when the time is right," the medic said looking between them. "She's displaced at the moment. She's fine, but we just gave her some medication to keep her calm."
"Take me inside." She spoke. Her voice was deep and chilled. Raymond glanced down at her, then stepped forward to help her to his feet, placing his strong arms around her frame to support the weight. She leaned on him as they began to walk back inside.
When they entered the living room, her blanket slipped off and Raymond could see she was soaking wet from head to toe. He walked toward her cautiously, careful not to agitate her emotions. "What in the name of the gods happened?" He reached out and grabbed her wet hair.
She turned to him for a moment, her eyes trembling with fear, then abruptly faced in the other direction toward her son's room. Although Dove was sleeping at the time, she swiftly swooped into his room and scooped him out of his crib. He was tired, but aware and awake, making soft sounds as she held him close to her heart, soaking his face with seawater.
Raymond slowly approached from behind and observed her, as if he were hunting a rare animal. She touched Dove to her face, holding him and rocking him slowly. "Vic..." Raymond said finally, keeping his distance.
She spun to face him. Then, still holding Dove close, she walked away from the room again, past her father and onto the couch in the living room. Raymond followed her once more, then stood in front of her patiently, allowing silence to usher her next words. "Is Emillie safe?" she said after a long moment, gazing at the computer.
Raymond nodded once. "Of course, we just had our lesson. She's in bed. Vic, what-"
"Father," she locked his eyes. "Something extraordinary has happened to me." Raymond cocked his head in wonder, making his way over to the couch. She gathered her words and held Dove tight. "I was taken by a Skywhale," she began. Raymond's eyes shot open. "Taken to the depths with it. It breached..." tears streamed down her face, her words struggled to form through the shock of reality. "I couldn't get out of the way. It took me," her words trailed into a whisper as she remembered the sensation of death's touch.
"It took you?" He repeated in horror. She nodded.
"I was trapped," she continued. "There was no way out, I was...dying," her eyes darted around the room. "Why didn't I?" Raymond moved closer to comfort her, but she held up a wall. "What is happening to me?" She said quietly to herself.
Raymond thought for a moment as he contemplated the situation. His daughter was before him, disillusioned and confused, pleading for help which he knew he may not be able to provide. For once he was lost for the right words. She was the product of a new miracle. An enigma he could not comprehend. But just then, a new thought entered his mind. A memory of his own near death experience, which lead to the most important and impactful moment of his life: unlocking his Eunoia. The universal energy which birthed is power. "This was no act of the gods," he spoke calmly.
She turned to him in wonder. "What do you mean?"
"It was no miracle." He stated, sure of his speculation. He grasped her arm and looked into her eyes. "You are strong. That's why you survived. Far stronger then you think." He chose his next words very carefully. "This is the Eunoia."
"No." She immediately replied defiantly.
"Yes," Raymond assured. "That is exactly what this is."
She sat up straight, confusion clouding her mind. "I can't. Not me."
"Vic, Eunoia is an energy that lives in all of us, you know that. And it is only unlocked by the plant." He grabbed a few dried leaves from the table and held them in front of her. "Using this has awakened something inside you. Just as I knew it would. This proves it."
"No," she rose to her feet, still cradling her son.
"Yes, just like me!" He rose to meet her.
"Father! Stop with all of this!" She turned away. He stopped and listened. "You know I love you, you know I believe in you. But what happened to me today..." she searched for the words. "I can't explain it. And neither can you." The words cut him. She returned to Dove's room with heavy feet and closed the door.
Raymond placed his hands on his hips and sighed, disappointed in himself. He had always tried to find a gentler way to make her believe in the arcane powers of his special plant, but her young mind was still unable to fully comprehend the reality of the situation, especially not at this time.
He wondered over to the large arm chair beside the couch and sat down, slouching his body into the soft fabric. He reached across to the table and picked up a long, curved pipe. Sparking it to life, he fell deep into thought, until soon his own fog filled the air.
To the south, across the miles directly behind the floating cities, were the rolling hills and thick forests of the gigantic mesa. It was crawling with all kinds of life: animals, insects, flora, strange creatures and many still unidentified species. These woodlands were practically untouched. The only race allowed here were the Ascopo's, as their long life span, delicate features and strong connection with nature made them ideal candidates for forest keepers. Some botanists also built homes here for research, but it was rare. It was even unusual to see a Safety officer or members of the Capitol forces traveling though these parts, as this was the one place officials had no jurisdiction over, except for employing the caretakers.
Charles loved to abuse these rules, and had for many years tried to change them. He believed as long as people were truly in touch with nature, they should be allowed inside this beautiful sanctuary to learn, grow and appreciate it. Of course there were guided tours, but it was not enough. He longed to open the world to this place. However, with city planning and population in continuous bloom, it simply was not a good idea to invite so many footprints. Nature must be very carefully maintained, and above all else this was his one true belief.
For now, he enjoyed the forest alone. Soft, plain long sleeved shirts and silk pants were usually the preferred attire. No blood stained swords, no supplies, no evil energy. Only he and his thoughts. But what Charles adored most about this special place was the spiritual sustenance it provided. He loved the huge trees and limbs for physical and martial arts training. He gained wisdom from the hills, mountains and running water. He ran with wild animals, and often wept in the presence of their majesty. He learned from the many plants and other organic materiel that he found. This is where he and Raymond, together as brothers, discovered the Eunoia plant. In fact it grew wild here, in a variety of different colors and distinct shapes. The natives of the forest had used it medicinally for thousands of years, by chewing, smoking, or using it as incense, but it had never gained any public attention until their experimentation began. It was quite secret. Both he and Raymond liked it that way.
As Charles made his way up an overgrown path, lush with green trees, bright flowers and sparkling pollen, he came upon an old broken house in the middle of a small clearing. It had been grown over for many years, with bulbous trees running through the middle, and roots and vines seeming to tie it together as if it were patchwork. Moss covered the roof, birds danced on the perch, rainwater trickled over the windows. One single passage way could still be used, though the wooden door that once hung there was long gone.
Charles stopped in front of the structure and examined it longingly. This was his old house; the family house. Charles and Raymond's parents had lived here long before they were born, preferring the solitary, humble life which the forest gifted. Both were botanists and rare flower collectors, who spent most of their time hiking through the wilderness in search of new species. They had even fallen in love while observing the same flowers, lost on some distant island long ago. True romance found only once a life time, and from that stem grew good family.
Charles had always imagined his own life would be something of a mystery to his parents. Both of their children now servants of the Capitol. An opposite intended direction. However, the want for serving the Capitol came not from lust over battle, but from the promise of the Solar Warden. They were to be explorers; adventurers of the regions outside of the known solar system. Much like their parents, discovering new worlds every day. This was the pull that drew the brothers into service. They desired to discover their galaxy. To fight for it. To inspire. Yet now, only a string of lies and broken promises lay before them.
These thoughts flowed through Charles like the breeze, as he stood motionless by the decrepit structure. Just then, he heard a sound from above him and glanced up. A small woman with pure white skin was climbing out of the tree and down onto the roof. She wore a simple tunic dress of earth-tone colors, with vines and flower petals hanging from her arms. Decorative body paint covered her neck and chest, featuring the same designs Charles wore on his face, which were now faded and smudged.
Charles smiled as she came fully into view. "Caithya!" he called out.
She looked down at him. "Charles?"
"Who else?" he shrugged.
"A soldier, that's who." She gave him a cold look.
He waved at her dismissively. "Not today. I see the sun panthers are finally out," he gestured to several black cats, with large, puffy tails and enlarged ears laying in the sunny grass.
"Yes! Isn't it beautiful?" she beamed. "They're only here for a few weeks though."
Charles nodded thoughtfully. "We'll have to take some photos."
"What are you doing over there," she asked, "just staring at the house?" Caithya made her way across the roof nimbly and stood in front of him. "We need to find you something more interesting to do out here."
"I have something."
"What's that?" she snapped.
"You." He replied wittily. She huffed and jumped down into the house through a hole in the roof. Charles walked slowly through the doorway and inside the dark domicile, careful not to break any of the moldy floorboards. Caithya wondered to the center of the house and placed a few of her freshly picked flowers on a raised moss bed. The patch was illuminated by sunlight for several hours a day, so she utilized this feature to collect many rare flowers and place them around the bed, regrowing new species.
Although she appeared to match Charles' age, Caithya was in reality 111 years old. She was an Ascopo from a nearby territory, raised here on the mesa since birth, and now she was the new caretaker of his old house. She had originally met Charles nearly five years ago while he was on patrol. At the time, she had already taken up residence in the house and was quite surprised to find him there one day, snooping around. Yet neither of them ever minded each others company, and soon they quickly became friends, bonding over a mutual love and connection to nature. Of course this was his family's house, but she always treated it with respect and love. She had even redecorated it with the forest itself, and now it was something brand new. Charles truly appreciated this, and he was grateful for her.
As she placed the flowers in specific patterns, she studied his clothes. "You've been in battle," she remarked. "You look like walking death."
"Because I am, some would say," he sat down on an old stump. "That's all I do now, don't you know?"
"Would you say that?" she wondered. Charles decided not to answer. "So have you finally come to run away?" She smiled.
Charles returned a smirk and sat forward. "What if I'm here because I have to ask you to leave. In the name of the Capitol." His tone was just serious enough to send a jolt of panic through her. But before she could open her mouth, Charles let out a hardy laugh.
"I hate you, why do you act like that!" She protested and jumped to her feet.
"I'm sorry, your reactions are truly entertaining." He stifled his giggling.
"Well, how do I know if you're truthful! You are always playing tricks on me!" She walked gracefully to a small stream flowing through the floor, filling a clay jug with fresh mesa water.
Charles held his hands in the air defensively. "It's the last one."
"This I have heard many times." She retorted. They smiled at each other as she returned to the flower bed, feeding the cool liquid to her flowers.
"Find anything good today?" he asked, examining the bright pedals.
"I always do," she answered. "In fact I cannot remember the last time I had a bad day. It's strange," she rose to her feet again. "There is so much chaos outside, but the forest seems to be full of life. New life. There are more birds, more insects, more growth. Flowers off all kinds bloom everywhere."
"I saw it," Charles agreed. "As I came up the path, the pollen was glistening in the sun. I'm sure I heard a chiming sound coming from it."
She turned to him with a wonderous expression. "So you see it too? You feel it?" She asked eagerly.
Charles thought for moment. "I suppose I did. But what is it?"
She smiled warmly. "Life. Life of all kinds, shapes and forms. Constantly evolving around us. It's happening all the time. But..." she gazed out the window. "Something is changing."
Charles leaned closer to her, as if her intrigue was magnetic. "What do you mean?"
"Everything..." her voice grew sorrowful.
Charles was confused by this. "But it's just the natural process of the forest, isn't it?"
"This is what worries me," she turned to him again. "It is like a tree in the winter. It grows beautiful before the leaves disappear."
The words hit Charles like a light in the dark. "True. But why wouldn't it be natural?" He inquired, concern rising within him.
She considered the notion. "Well, I've been around much longer then you have."
"That's right, 111 last spring!" he remarked with pride.
"You keep reminding me!"
"Be proud of your age, it's who you are."
"Yet modern society thinks different."
Charles sighed. "Be thankful you're not part of it then," he lifted himself to his feet. "This place is far more beautiful. Let's enjoy it." He walked around the room slowly, observing the many objects and trinkets left behind from years past. Caithya began to calm her mind, allowing the weight on her soul to vanish for now. "I really do love what you have done," he continued, "my parents would have loved this house. In fact, I'm sure they would have moved if they could see the piece of art is has become." He looked over to an old shelf with broken pictures. Some were photos of him, others of the family. "They were never here much anyway." His gaze turned to stone.
Caithya remained silent for moment. "They are in the Creator's kingdom now." She said softly.
Charles faced her with a reflective expression. "I used to think that."
"What do you think now?" she asked.
Charles pondered the notion. "I think of nothing. Nothing but the present." He smiled gently. Caithya returned a bashful, but wise bearing.
The forest outside was luminous and alive. The sun beating on the fertile land, the flowers swaying, the insects dancing in the shine. All was at peace. As the sun set over the forest mesa, Charles dashed through the trees, the orange and purple sky gleaming through the branches. He swung from limb to limb, stopping at times to balance on branches. Kicking, striking, jumping, using whatever was around him to train his body for hours.
He leapt from huge rocks, landing in stone valleys, then bounded back up the sides, grabbing onto roots and trees until he finally reached the top again. He cycled through the motions of his martial arts training underneath waterfalls, becoming one with the flow stream, building his muscle beneath the pounding torrent. He slashed at falling leaves with his hands while winding gracefully down small paths. He studied the scent of flowers and pine for strength. He caught sparrows in mid air, pinning their wings back, then letting them go again.
At long last, when his body ached, he would find a peaceful rock ledge and remain for the night, under the whisper of the night sky. From a small pouch, he removed dried Eunoia leaves and glass orb with an extended mouthpiece. Lighting the leaves with a small coal placed inside the orb, he slowly drew in his breath, inviting the wisps of smoke into his body. And when his mind let go, here he could harvest his thoughts for what seemed like centuries. Often, even the trees overhead would bow their branches toward him, as if hands reaching toward a warm fire. His energy was strong.
This was his way to the gods. To the universe.
To harness the power of Eunoia is to use the force and wisdom of the galaxy itself. Long ago, ancient elders and shamans discovered a path to the stars through the mind. It was this very plant which unlocked that threshold. In some cases, depending on the plant, the compounds within would allow you to travel great distances by only moving the soul. And through this, one could eventually learn to manifest the energies of planets, such as gravity, and bend it to their will. However, it's most common effect was placing the mind and body in a meditative state, allowing the person to gather universal information. Wisdom and physical power connected. This was the infinite secret yet to be discovered.
If warriors could learn to utilize this plant and live in harmony with it, they could become unstoppable. Not only due to arcane strength, but because of the wisdom attained by opening their minds to the universe. Eunoia was the perfect tool for soldiers exploring the galaxy, for to fully understand it, one must become in touch with it; in touch with universal energies.
This was a passion originally sparked by Raymond, and now continued with his brother Charles. And it was a powerful passion indeed. After reaching the rank of Commander, it was Raymond's idea to implement the plant into the martial arts training of Solar Warden. He desired to create new styles of combat that involved meditation, focus and what some would call 'magic.' Yet this was not the way of their world, and so they continued on alone, shunned and punished by their masters.
After his meditation, Caithya would often climb to the peak of a tree where she could observe him from a safe distance. He sat always before of a patch of dead forest with no life or living trees, just a wasteland of dead, mangled wood. And it amazed her every time to witness him rise to his feet, out stretch his hands, and bend the baron forest toward the horizon, as if the force of a hurricane had suddenly manifested. Yet nothing was ever destroyed, only uprooted and misplaced, creating space for new life to grow.
This was Charles. This was his way. Peace through noble strength.