Heaven Saga 1: The Lost Hero (22 page)

The commander stepped forward. “You may return to the
Heimus. The Princess is now under our jurisdiction,” the commander of the
palace guards said.

The three saluted and went back onto the shuttle.
Seles watched as it flew into the air.

“It’s been a long time Seles,” the commander said as
they escorted her.

“You look like you’re doing well Jabril,” Seles said
as they walked towards the palace entrance.

“Only two years ago I was a lowly palace guard,”
Jabril pointed to her circlet, “Now I lead them.”

“You always were ambitious. How’s my mother doing
these days?” Seles asked as they passed the palace doors, leading into an
elaborate front hall. The walls were lined with statues of Kalaidian mythology
while the ceiling was open to the sky.

“Queen Celestia is doing well. She’s worried about you
much these last few months. If things weren’t the way they are now she would
have probably gone to see you herself,” Jabril said as they passed from the
front hall into a smaller passageway. The walls were lined with paintings, new
and ancient of the greatest Kalaidian artists. Numerous halls led to an endless
number of rooms, but they continued towards the throne room. Jabril stopped the
guards and Seles to knock on a golden door adorned with the image of the Kali.
As the door opened, Seles saw courtiers leaving the room in a flurry. Her
mother sat alone on a golden, gem encrusted throne at the far end of the room.
Queen Celestia looked much like Seles, with long silver hair, purple eyes, and
perfect figure. On her head was a simple circlet with four leaves. She wore a
flowing silver dress and matching shoes. Despite her age, Queen Celestia looked
more like Seles’s sister than her mother. She gazed at her daughter and smiled.
Jabril pushed Seles into the room and closed the door behind her. Celestia
stood and went to Seles.

“It feels like you’ve been gone forever,” Celestia
said with a voice similar to Seles’s. She put her hands on Seles’s face.
“You’ve grown since I saw you last.”

Seles backed away, annoyed. “Don’t tease me mother,
I’m in no mood for that.”

Celestia laughed. “I’m glad you’re back, even if
you’re petulant about it.”

“Of course I’m not happy mother. I ran away to get
away from this place.”

“I don’t doubt Valis has filled your mind with
meaningless ideas,” Celestia shook her head. “One day you’ll see it’s the duty
of every Kalaidian to replace the previous generation. That’s the law of Kali.”

Seles growled. “That’s exactly the sentiment I
disagree with. I left because I wanted to live my own life. I wanted to be a
pilot, something you disapproved of. I’ve fulfilled that dream and so much more
mother.”

Celestia sighed. “A Queen has no need for such things.
It’s your duty to take my place when I die Seles. Our people need a strong
leader who can lead in the future, not a person who believes in foolish
things.”

“Foolish?” Seles scoffed. “I believe you’re the fool.
Blindly following the Laws of Kali and those ancient texts is idiotic.”

Celestia shook her head. “That’s exactly the problem
Seles. One day you’ll see things my way and you’ll be much better for it.”

Seles frown as she turned away. “I can tell you this
mother; I’ll never believe the dogma thrown at me. I believe in the ideals of
the Kein family. I’ll live the life they speak of until the day I die.”

“I can see this discussion is going nowhere.” Celestia
turned back to the throne. “Take some time and consider what’s important.”

The front doors opened again. Jabril and her four
guards surrounded Seles. With a little prodding Seles was escorted out of the
throne room and towards the living chambers.

“Your room is the same as you left them Seles,” Jabril
said as they came to a set of double doors. “I’m sorry, but under the Queen’s
orders I‘ll have to keep you locked in your chambers.” As the doors opened,
Jabril undid the restraints on Seles’s hands. “If you need anything just ask
the guards outside your door.” Jabril stepped outside the room. “It’s good to
see you again.”

Seles nodded. “Thanks Jabril.”

Brian stood in his bathroom, a room little bigger than
a closet, and trimmed his facial hair. He tied his long hair back into a ponytail.
Turning to aside, he grabbed his freshly washed T-shirt and jeans and put them
on. He looked in the mirror and noticed his clothes fit differently. He left
the bathroom and into the main room. There, he donned his exoskeleton armor, an
upgraded version Daes delivered earlier in the day. He placed his
rakna
blade on the belt and flipped out the shield on his left arm to check its
systems. Satisfied, he withdrew the shield and threw the cape over his back. He
looked at the circlet on the table.
Don’t think I’ll need that.
He
thought, taking the circlet into his hand.
But just in case, I should keep
it on the Mjolnir.
He placed it on his forehead. He closed his eyes and
took a battle stance. He drew the
rakna
blade and went through a number
of weapon drills. After a flurry, he sheathed the sword and looked at the
monitor. He surveyed the room once more and left for the cargo bay. On the way,
each crew member stopped and saluted their
Maigar
. Brian nodded and
smiled, knowing he may never return. He came to the doors of the cargo bay.
With a resounding sigh he opened the door. As he walked in, he saw all of the
senior officers waiting for him. Celi, Zae, Daes, and Kivi saluted as Valis
stepped forward.

“Please, take this with you,” Valis said. She hand him
an old tome. Looking at it, he could tell it was the Book of Kali containing
all of the notes about the Teacher.

“I’m honored,” he said, looking to Valis and the
others. “I’ll be returning this when I come back.”

Valis took an amulet off of her neck and placed it
around his. Looking down, he noticed it was an amulet of Kali. “The Teacher
left our world with an amulet like this. This has been passed down for nearly
as long, so it should pass as the real thing.” Valis smiled. “I’ll ask you
again, are you the one sent by the Teacher?”

He laughed. “No, I’m just a desperate fool trying to
save someone he really cares about.” He looked around. “By the way, where’s
Mira? She is a senior officer, right?”

Celi stepped forward. “Mira’s attending to something
right now. You’ll see her again soon.”

“Alright,” he said. “By the way Daes, have you made
all of the adjustments I asked for?”

“Everything is as you requested,” Daes answered.

“What kind of adjustments?” Kivi asked.

He walked over to the Mjolnir. “Just watch Kivi.”

After a salute, he stepped on the elevator cord and
entered the mobile suit. He fired up the engines and checked all systems. As
the Mjolnir left the cargo bay it shifted to the form a light class vessel.
Once he reached a sufficient distance, he turned on the lights to make the ship
glow. Inside the Avoni, the senior officers watched the glowing Mjolnir fly
away.

“Why’s it glowing?” Kivi asked.

Valis stood with her. “Remember, the Teacher came to
us onboard a Ship of Light. His plan is a bold and I’m hoping he’ll succeed in
more than just the mission.”

“What do you mean?” Celi asked.

“You see him as a genetic savior to our people.” Valis
looked at the ship of light as it flew away. “I believe he’s the Herald, even
if he doesn’t know it yet. His impact on our people will change the way we
think of ourselves. Long ago Queen Celestia believed in justice. He can turn
her back to the right path.”

* * *

Seles paced around her chambers for a long time,
occasionally stopping at the outer balcony to look at the courtyard. Restless,
she went back inside and stopped at her old computer area, noticing something
was there. It was a small tablet containing a number of text entries. Curious,
she sat down and started reading:

10
^th
day of Mon, 4551 GST,

As the news of economic crisis grows, my concern
matches. Each day I receive worse news about the trade routes, military
defections, and the unrest among the populace. While the nobles bicker, I’m
left with the unenviable duty of calming the people. But as each day passes,
the citizens grow weary of my speeches. I worry I’m unsuited to lead them, but
I can’t see any viable alternatives.

Eight years ago, Valis uncovered some of the sealed
writings of her great grandfather, Gaelic Kein. In his writings he spoke of how
the days of the nobility were numbered and that one day the people would rule
themselves. Such a system shouldn’t work. At least, that’s what I’ve always
believed.

Lately, I’m reminded it’s the duty of all Kalaidians
to fulfill the roles their parents held. This especially holds true for the
nobles like me. My daughter, Seles, fled the life of the nobility. I wish I
could have gone with her, but I can’t leave my people in chaos. Without me, the
nobles would run this world into the ground with their greed and lust for
power. It’s sad to see the once proud and righteous nobility reduced to this,
but there’s no helping it.

What I would give for the Teacher to appear and save
us from this madness. I hope that day comes soon, or else I worry of the future
of the people of Kali.

This is her journal.
Seles thought as she scrolled through all of the entries.
It looks
like she left this here for me to read. This entry was written shortly after I
left, almost two years ago.
She read for the entire afternoon, only
stopping when the guards delivered her lunch and dinner. Afterwards, she stood
on the balcony and looked at the stars, staring at the constellation of the
Great Dragon.

* * *

A long figure sat in a meditative posture in a flowing
grey cloak. The hood hung well over the face and hands, but a few strands of
straight blonde hair hung through. The figure was alone in the small chamber,
deep underground, under the royal palace of Kalaidia.

I sense an old mind has returned.
The creature thought to itself in a raspy male voice.
Princess
Seles has returned. Something’s different about her though, a feeling deep
inside her mind.

As the strange man moved through Seles’s thoughts and
experiences, something made him stand up. He went to a nearby monitor and
turned it on. After viewing some video to confirm she had returned, the
creature sat back down. After scanning the minds of every Kalaidian in the
palace and surrounding area, the creature moved back to Seles.

Long has it been since I saw one his kind. A Terran
has come! Brian? He’s quite different from the other one I met long ago.
Taller, born from the northern reaches of his world. How strange, he’s learned
the ways of the Maigar. Damn! I can only sense a little from Lady Seles like
this.
      

The creature stood up and looked at the door.
Maybe
it’s time her old imaginary friend paid her a visit later tonight.
The
creature pressed the button and left the room.

* * *

As Brian neared the edge of the Degan System he
checked the cloaking shield. Yawning, he got out of the pilot’s seat and went
to the door behind it. Opening the door, he went into his quarters on the
Mjolnir. The area was tiny. There was a small bed, a bathroom the size of a
closet and a small area to cook food. Turning on the lights, he noticed a
strange lump under the covers of the bed. When he removed the blanket Mira
rolled over and rubbed her eyes.

She smiled. “I’ve finally got you all to myself,” she
said as she sat up.

He blushed before shaking the surprise off his face.
“Mira, what’re you doing here?”

She stood up and stretched. “I asked the captain if I
could accompany you. After all, it’s prudent to send a medical officer when
you’re on a secret mission.” She waved a finger at him. “And the fact is; only
Celi and I know how to treat you effectively.”

He scratched his head, unsure of what to do. “Valis
does know what’s best.”

She hugged him. “That’s not the only reason I came.”
She closed her eyes, pulling him tight. “I want to protect you. I don’t know
why, but the thought of never seeing you again makes me cry.”

He saw something in her eyes, a genuine sense of
sadness. “Mira, I hope you understand why I’m doing this,” he said, breaking
the embrace.

“I know. You care about Seles.” She smiled again.
“But, for some reason that doesn’t matter to me. I just want to be by your
side.”

“Thank you for coming,” he said. “Since you’re here I
should show you how to use the controls.”

She pointed to her wrist computer. “I’ve had a look at
the Mjolnir’s systems. They’re not very different from a Novaguard. Although,
using your native language made it a pain for me to use.”

She ran into the control room and jumped in the
pilot’s seat. He followed fast after her. “This chair’s a bit large for me. Are
you sure I can do this?”