Origins of Hope

by Anastasia Drapievsky

  “Selyn can ‘take root’. It means we can feel each other through the earth on a different level, remember?” Lyati explained.

  “Hm.” Aloi nodded in thoughtfulness. “Think that was what it was about, connecting and watching us?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Did you scry it?” Aloi asked, turning to Celes. “And what was that about a conduit?”

  “I have never heard of a conduit, so no idea,” Celes shook her head while Lyati also grunted that she didn’t know. “I didn’t scry either; I would have to know what someone looked like first with their aura before I did, and I have no idea what we saw is,” Celes said. “I just saw it in the room, as if we caught it scrying us.”

  That stumped all of them, making them pause for a minute. “This is killing me.” Aloi kicked the couch with the back of her heel. “Are you guys seriously going to wait four more years to find this out?”

  “Do we have a choice?” Lyati kept pacing, her arms crossed. “The adults aren’t saying anything.”

  “We got that much information out of them in a few hours,” Celes pointed out. “Maybe all we gotta do is wait.”

  Lyati and Aloi exchanged a glance. “And if it takes longer?”

  Celes shrugged. “Not the worst thing to happen in the galaxy.” Though Ayzize’s hint made her shiver. “I hope.”

  As Aloi and Lyati discussed possibilities of what the adults hid, Celes pondered on what Ayzize had said. ‘Survival of the galaxy’? If true, then shouldn’t she and her teammates know as soon as possible? Either Ayzize lied, or the truth was so bad that recruits had to wait until they finished basic to learn what Raxdrýn was hiding.

  This is going to be a long four years, Celes thought, watching her two teammates bicker. She wished she had clairvoyance, but in this case, what secrets would she find out and have to keep? Too many, she thought, thinking of her mother.

  She tapped her chest, feeling the necklace that Ayzize had given her, and wondered if Zander still wore the locket she had given him. Would he get any of their mom’s abilities? Any of her clairvoyance, scrying, and astral projection? Would Zander be able to make any sense of what was going on here better than she would?

  Celes sighed, her friends now throwing holo screens of conspiracy theories at each other to study. Despite nearly all of her old questions from Endeavor being answered, now she faced many more. She had a feeling this would be bigger than wondering why her mother muttered random names like ‘Nea’arch and Telos’, ‘Dormant’, and ‘Annihilation’ all the time. The galaxy became near infinite in the last month, and she was nowhere closer to understanding more than she had before.

  Epilogue

  Four Years Later

  I

  “So, what is that weird thing that humans do?” Nentok asked, holding a glass sphere of nectar, wearing his red and white insignia over his medical jerkin. He had to raise his voice over the noise, with newly minted teachers and their well-wishing friends celebrating in the atrium. The ‘under the sea’ theme decorated the atrium, holding land plants that waved like seaweed. “A ‘toast’? Though I’m not holding a piece of bread. Am I supposed to get one and wave it around?”

  “You realize how stupid you’d look doing that, right?” Xenith smirked, adjusting his new blue and white sash with insignia over his formal three-piece suit.

  “Not as much as you fiddling with your sash constantly, I can tell you that much.”

  “Now, now, children, be nice,” Qianii chided them, also wearing her new blue and white sash over a sparkly dress that changed color every time she moved. “We’re here to celebrate, not for me to babysit the two of you.”

  “Qi, if we haven’t strangled each other out of your sight, we won’t within it either,” Xenith said, though Nentok privately added, >>Not that it would do much since I don’t think your meaty hands can cut off my airways anyway.<< “We’re not your Melyn.”

  “When you two stop bickering like them, then maybe I won’t have to treat either of you like it. Besides, you need a full glass for a toast, and I seem to be out.” Qianii peered at her empty one with obvious disappointment. “Let me grab a refill somewhere and I’ll be right back.” She turned and headed for the beverage table, her backless dress gently melting from a metallic gold into a sapphire blue.

  “Is it me, or is that dress really eye-catching?” Nentok asked as they both glared at anyone who stared too openly at her.

  “It is, and it is kinda weird seeing her out of the teacher robes she wears,” Xenith said, taking a sip from his glass of his champagne and nearly choking at Nentok chuffing. “Don’t be weird about it; you know what I mean. She’s like our sister.”

  “Oh, I know about your lack of interest in anyone. I don’t understand the familial bond attachment aspect, but Qi’s like our Empress, got it.” Nentok sucked the nectar out of his glass. “She’s bossy enough to be one, though she’d be a much better one than ours right now.”

  “Trouble on the Jareshi front?” Xenith raised his eyebrows, moving aside slightly so Krian Hekla and several others could pass him to talk to Lelich Syvwkh by the food table, uttering congratulations.

  “I dunno,” Nentok’s mandibles shivered. “The Empress had been uninvolved in galactic politics and just left everything to the ambassador for the past century, but now she’s been showing up and actually making decisions.”

  “That’s… bad?”

  “It is when she wants to encroach on the Prism’s territory and suddenly is taking an interest in the monitored primitive societies,” Nentok muttered. “She’s going against some of our laws and the GA’s. Analysts say that she is getting older and since she hasn’t done even philanthropic work, she is trying to make up for lost time, which is true I guess…” he cast a not-so-subtle glance towards Lelich Syvwkh. “When we get older, remind me not to do anything stupid because I ‘wasted my youth’.”

  “You sure I’m not going to be there with you doing stupid things?” Xenith grinned, and Nentok chuffed again.

  “You need to set a good example for the kids.” Nentok raised his sphere of nectar to Xenith. “Failing that, I gotta patch up your kids if you incite a riot about ‘Aorírdal complacency’.”

  “I was kidding when I said that.” Xenith rolled his eyes as he watched Qianii head back, her dress swishing back and forth. “And don’t tell Qi; she’ll think I’m being serious.”

  “Tell me what?” Qianii asked as she rejoined their side, a full glass of purple liquid in her hands.

  “That Xenith’s going to take over Aorírdal with his legion of loyal students to vacation around the galaxy,” Nentok chittered.

  Qianii puffed up, her red skin changing into violet. “Xenith, if you think—”

  “He’s joking.” Xenith glared at Nentok, who chuffed loudly. “See? I told you she would take it seriously.”

  Qianii’s thick lips pursed as she rubbed her forehead. “A joke? Good. After what he’s doing,” she glanced at Lelich Syvwkh, “campaigning for Prior when Mato isn’t even sick yet is disgusting. I know you wouldn’t do the same.”

  Xenith paused as Nentok stood up on Xenith’s behalf, casting his gaze around the crowd. Mato made the rounds around the atrium, congratulating new teachers with a warm smile and a sincere praise of hard work. A few months ago, a rumor about Mato foretelling his death to the Leliches spread like wildfire. Mato looked healthy and denied the rumors, but he neared the end of the Kath’laka lifespan of two hundred and fifty years. Xenith always thought Mato eternal, not someone who could die within Xenith’s own lifetime.

  As if Mato could hear Xenith’s thoughts, he made his way over to the three of them, wearing a hearty smile. “Mind if I squeeze in?”

  “Of course!” The three Krians shifted closer while Mato joined their circle, shaking Xenith’s hand and placing an extra paw over his hand.

  “I am very proud of the two of you,” Mato told them with obvious pride in his eyes, and Qianii and Xenith stood up a little straighter. “You both took
your training very seriously and have remained passionate for the past four years. Never lose that passion, and your students will resonate with that.” He made a gesture to Qianii, a movement Chilao made when proud of their daughters.

  Qianii’s eyes widened at the display of her culture’s version of gratitude and honor, while Xenith nodded and cleared his throat of overcome emotion. “Yes, Mato. We’ll work hard.”

  “Good,” Mato beamed at their group. “So, how have you all been? I know I just saw you, Tok, last week, but I wanted to hear more regarding your thesis; the Leliches are still talking about it.”

  Nentok puffed up to learn that Mato was interested in his dissertation—something about cellular mutation he had been working on for months—while Xenith peered at Mato. Mato’s grey hair around his eyes and dark nose had turned white, and his brown hair peppered with grey strands along his face, scalp, and back of his hands. Frowning, Xenith shook himself. Mato was fine, and Xenith had heard nothing from Mato or any of the Leliches of him dying. It’s just a stupid rumor that spread because Mato's older, that’s all, he thought.

  “Most excellent,” Mato grinned at Tok. “If you want to come by my office to discuss it, I would welcome it, Tok. Qi and Xen, again, I’m very proud of you. I don’t need clairvoyance to know each of you will do well.”

  Everyone nodded happily. Mato exchanged one last glance with Xenith, his eyes crinkling in pride, before he excused himself to make several more rounds with the other new teachers.

  They watched him leave, and Qianii whispered, “He still looks good.”

  “Of course he does,” Nentok said, sipping his nectar. “I can’t say that I did or did not see his medical chart, but…” Nentok closed one eyelid repeatedly, looking like he had a nervous tick rather than winking to assure Xenith. “Mark my words, Lelich Syvwkh started that rumor so he can start campaigning early.”

  “Yeah, maybe,” Xenith said, rolling the wine in his glass absentmindedly. “Dunno why, since the Sacrist takes over, anyway.”

  “Hm.” Nentok didn’t look convinced, but he motioned behind Xenith. “Well, here comes your protégé. Maybe he can cheer you up.”

  *

  Zander squeezed past a group of people conversing, stumbling as he made it through. His cheeks reddening, though no one seemed to notice, he cursed his feet. At ten years of age, he had grown two inches in the past year and bumbled around without meaning to. Behind him, Vafri and Quath followed. While Vafri could easily squeeze past people despite being taller than Zander, Quath had more trouble with his growing body than Zander did, bumping into people with his two-meter stature and apologizing profusely every time he did so. Zander spotted Xenith, Nentok, and Qianii ahead of him, and felt glad Quath convinced him to wear something other than a nice shirt and vintage jeans.

  “Too bad Ximn and Benca couldn’t make it,” Quath said, waving back when Xenith turned around at Nentok pointing towards them. Vafri’s eyes drifted around the crowd, not saying much, though her eyes lingered on many of the dresses and robes.

  “Think we can sneak back some food for them?” Zander asked, his eyes landing on the food table. His stomach growled, even though he had eaten a full meal an hour ago.

  “Not unless we want to scrub the kitchen floors, too,” Vafri said, naming the punishments their friends endured for punching Efrik when he provoked them again. “Oh... Qianii looks so...”

  Zander and Quath exchanged a knowing glance as Vafri stopped dead in her tracks, gaping at Qianii. Qianii looked pretty in the dress that went well with her pearlescent skin, but it was kind of like seeing his mom in a dress. Vafri, on the other hand, gawked openly at Qianii. Rolling his eyes, Zander hooked a hand underneath Vafri’s arm and dragged her over while she stammered, Quath following with a smile.

  “Hey!” Xenith brightened when his eyes landed on Zander, who grinned at him as he shook Xenith’s hand before hugging him. “Glad the three of you could make it!”

  “Thank you for coming,” Qianii said brightly as she hugged all of them, Vafri stammering shaky congratulations and melting when Qianii hugged her.

  “Yeah, congratulations!” Quath said, towering over most of them and grinning a smile full of teeth before covering them. “Oh, oops, sorry, Fri.”

  “You guys worked really hard for it,” Zander said as Vafri waved aside Quath’s apology, still staring at Qianii’s color-changing dress. “And I know you’re still studying Tok, but wow, you guys deserve it. You can give me good grades for all of my classes now, right?”

  Qianii and Xenith laughed, Nentok chuffing along with them. “I would have to grade you harder than anyone if you were to wind up in my class, you know,” Xenith chuckled. “And I don’t know if Mato would allow you three to be in my class in the next few years, anyway.”

  The party went along, everyone conversing and laughing together. After eating and drinking, Xenith motioned for Zander to follow him, and they excused themselves from the group to head towards the edge of the atrium.

  “Wow, seriously. Congratulations! How do you feel?” Zander brightly enquired once they edged along a large planter of a light blue plant that shimmered with bioluminescence. No one stood near them, and the plants gave some semblance of privacy.

  “Pretty good,” Xenith said, though he still had a huge grin on his face. “I know school’s out for a while, but I’m ready to start teaching immediately. If I get a little sanctimonious on you, or uncool, let me know.”

  “Uh, I am definitely not the best person to talk about being cool.” Zander rubbed the back of his head.

  “You’re almost a teenager and in touch with cool things. I wanna get down with the wave, you feel?”

  Zander stared at Xenith. Wow, he sounds so old. “Never use slang again.”

  “I knew it! I’m too old!” Xenith shook his fist up in the air while Zander bit the corners of his mouth from laughing. “Curse you, aging and inability to get down with the wave!”

  “That’s not how you say it, and no offense, but it sounds kinda cringey.”

  “I tell you what’s cringey,” Xenith said in a dead whisper. “Not getting down with the wave.”

  Zander snorted before he burst out laughing. “Oh, ow, my sides hurt....”

  “There you go.” Xenith patted Zander’s back in sympathy. “None of that edgy crap. That’s what gets old fast.”

  “Yeah, yeah, whatever.” Zander reigned his laughter back into a chortle so he wouldn’t call more attention to himself. “Sorry. It’s just...” he kept his eyes on the ground, the aura around Xenith and the plants growing brighter.

  Xenith glanced to the crowd, watching them carefully, before he said privately, >>It getting worse?<<

  Zander nodded. >>Sort of... I started seeing nothing, as if I blacked out, and then glowing auras would pop up before my vision comes back. It keeps happening.<<

  >>What’d Mato say?<<

  >>He’s been working with the Medpsys on it. They’re just glad I can’t manipulate energy or anything. If I could, then I could accidentally hurt or kill someone. I heard about that one Selyn runal who transmuted their colony and I don’t want that to happen to me. And then I keep seeing a woman and hearing that girl...<<

  Xenith frowned. Even after four years, Zander knew Xenith had not been thrilled about Zander telling Vafri about his scrying, but now that other people whispered aloud about the same girl Zander and Vafri had heard—it all seemed connected. >>You heard the girl recently?<<

  >>Yeah. Weird thing is that this time she sounded like she was my age and...<< he frowned. Man, this is going to sound so stupid. >>And not sure if this is connected, but that woman you and I keep seeing at the corner of our eyes? She looks familiar, but since I can’t get a good look at her, I dunno.<<

  Xenith raised an eyebrow. >>What do you mean?<<

  >>Like I said, I don’t know. She doesn’t have an aura either,<< Zander added. >>I think she’s… astral projecting.<<

  Xenith nodded grimly. >> I think so too. It’s st
range enough that someone can breach Aorírdal, and I actually don’t think the girl and the woman are separate people.<<

  >>You think it’s the same person?<< Zander frowned. >>That can’t be right, since the voice is a kid.<<

  >>Chronopathy,<< Xenith stated. The haunted look in his eyes scared Zander. >>If it is the same person, then they can project into the future and the past, in addition to the present.<<

  Zander gaped at Xenith, and his legs felt jittery. >>Is that even possible?<<

  >>Aorírdal’s had a few members in the past who could do it, but I don’t even know when the last one was,<< Xenith scratched his thumb, his usual nervous tick. >>This could be worse than clairvoyance, since it is the most rare and deadliest psionic ability.<<

  Zander didn’t need empathy to know Xenith felt just as worried about this as he. >>But humans never had it before, right? If Mato knows about this, he would warn us or at least go get her, right?<<

  Xenith fell silent. Zander stared at him, feeling apprehensive. >>Right?<< Zander prompted.

  >>I told him about the girl and the woman—leaving out your scrying—a few months ago and all he said was, others had seen her too. He wouldn’t talk about this if it affected the future.<< Xenith glanced behind Zander towards Mato. >>You know I love him, but he hides things. Things I don’t think he should, and he has been getting more secretive as of late. It’s starting to scare me. But this stuff with this girl; why is she not in Aorírdal? She would be—<<

  >>A runal.<<

  The two of them stared at each other for a few seconds. The air felt charged, no longer of the excited energy of the crowd, but stumbling over something forbidden.

  >>Whatever the case is, let’s discuss this later,<< Zander finally said. >>We’re supposed to celebrate you becoming a teacher, not getting paranoid over the very small chance that there’s a runal out there.<<

  Xenith gave him a half smile. >>We shouldn’t be worried. If it was bad, Mato would take care of it. Quietly, but he would take care of it. C’mon, let’s head back.<<