My life in Gliese didn’t change much. I started again my usual routine just the day after I arrived back home. In the past, Rasgh used to motivate me by reminding me of the debutant fight, this time my main drive is the military academy.
Now that I have passed the fight by committing a travek, I was accepted by one of the most important academies in the galaxy. Every high ranking soldier and noble studied at the academy, including my father. However, entering the academy has became more and more difficult. The main requirements are winning the fight on the first try, knowing multiple ancient languages and being an expert in xenology.
Needless to say, Zukrya screamed in pride when I received the letter, while my father nodded in silent consent.
I was particularly nervous to join the academy, not for its difficulty, but for VTR’s unbearable heat. I could not avoid to wonder how my father, a full Gliesek, managed to survive in such environment.
As I was packing my bags, Zukrya knocked on my door and welcomed herself.
“You are doing amazing, Andy. I’m proud of you.”
“I thought I made it clear not to call me Andy anymore.” I replied.
“Even if this is our last time seeing each other?”
Her claims shocked me. I looked at her in distress and she must’ve read my mind like a book.
“Agh, the duke must’ve forgotten to tell you. I was hired for the sole purpose of taking care of you, young master. But now as you enter the academy, there’ll be no need for my service anymore.”
“Bullshit. I won’t stay in the academy forever.”
“But when you’ll come out, you’ll be a proper duke.” she replied.
I didn’t know what to say in that occasion. Should I lower my worth to beg a slave to stay? Why do I even feel like this? Are these my human emotions?
“Do you want to leave?”
“I won’t deny that I’m craving the life of a free woman. I have successfully completed my required slavery years.”
“Alright then, goodbye.”
She stayed silent for a couple of minutes, then proceeded to hug me.
“I know that you don’t like hugs, so consider this my first action as a woman with free will.” she said before letting go.
In today’s society, slavery isn’t uncommon. There are various ways you can end up as a slave: committing a crime, endangering lives or as Zukrya did, denying the sovereignty of the Emperor. Not everyone was willing to give such power to a singular person, moreover, not everyone was willing to let noble titles be used again. But as the galaxy was falling into destruction, we recognized ourselves as our own enemies. The only person who took matter into his hand, was the Emperor, who saved multiple species from their inevitable extinction in exchange for power. If a planet was suffering from climate crisis, he had the solution. Did we need to terraform another planet? He knew how to. But not everyone agreed to give him such power. Zukrya and her friends ended up rebelling to his power, forcing all of them into slavery. As I celebrated my 16th birthday, her slavery requirement expired, leaving no reason for me to hold her back.
But I would lie if I said that it wasn’t like losing another mother.
I couldn’t sleep much that night. Not for the academy nor for my worries’ about VTR’ heat, but because of Zukrya. Or I’d rather say, the lack of her.
I have no memory of my biological mother. She died as she was birthing me, crushed by the environment of this harsh planet. So I didn’t have many feelings towards her, she was only the reminder of my blood. The reminder of how important it was for me to be here, alive. But with Zukrya it’s different. She has always been taking care of me. Granted, she was annoying at times, giving me boring nicknames or forcing me to hug her. But she was like a mother to me and I couldn’t bear with her loss. These emotions, these feelings, aren’t something a Gliesek should be bothered about. So why am I like this? Worrying about a slave? As I was thinking I ended up falling asleep.
In my dreams, a female human with long blonde hair approached me. She slowly opened her eyes to expose a deep blue color, identical to mine. She used her soft palm to stroke my cheek. I squeezed my eyes and tilted my head in the direction of her hand. She came closer and lowered herself to me. Her long hair were floating around and her feet weren’t touching the ground. I slowly moved my hand towards hers and felt it between my fingers. She was deeply smiling and looking at me.
“Andrew,” she said “I’m proud of who you have become.” As I tried to approach her, her face started to quickly glitch and fade into a different face. It was Zukrya. “Andrew?” she asked “Do you hear me?”. I nodded right before noticing something weird around me. The light-colored background was fading into a black horror room. Zukrya kept glitching and fading in and out. In the corner of the room I noticed a figure crying. I quickly approached it to notice that it was the young Sabar. He looked at me with hopeless eyes and begged me “Please, save me.” Before I could answer everything turned black and I quickly got up. I looked around the room to make sure I was actually awake. From a corner, my father was looking at the screen when he asked “Did you have a nightmare?”.
“Father, is everything alright? What brings you to my chambers?” I replied.
“Sabar is under attack.” I did not answer, I was aware after all. My father took a long pause before looking over his shoulder and towards me. His grey eyes and hair were the only visible thing in the darkness of the room. He slowly came closer, exposing features that earlier were just a shadow.
“Do you know why it’s under attack?”
“Someone is trying to steal their wealth.” My dad grinned and came closer to me, lowering himself to my level. “Since when were you so informed about Sabar?” he asked but I didn’t reply, I didn’t want to. He then pierced his fingers in the blue led of the screen and threw it towards mine, making a gossip news article appear. “Invite him over for dinner.“ he said before leaving the room. I looked at the article, written in full Kedran, “Are Gliese and Sabar in a secret alliance?” with a picture of the young Sabar and I the night we spoke. I wasn’t angry nor happy about the article, I was only confused by my father’s request. Wouldn’t an alliance be a threat to the Empire? Before I could contemplate his choice, he made me aware that soon the family will seek refuge in our own palace.
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