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“Trust me, I understand that completely.”
“Yeah, it has to be harder for you though. With what everyone says.”
“That definitely doesn’t make it easier.”
“Well, for what it’s worth, I’ve never thought like they do. Eadi are just as important as shaytan. My dad is—was—the most extraordinary person. I’m pretty sure my mom will never move on.” They had been in love? Definitely strange. “I’m sorry I never talked to you before. I was scared.”
“Of me?”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. I opened the door for her, my gaze focused on her face. Which was why I saw the fear enter her forest eyes. With a whisper, she admitted, “It was them I feared.”
Looking over my shoulder, I saw Zura’s monsters. Otarn, Elders, and Altair stood in a small circle, a hushed conversation happening that prevented them from spotting us.
But of course, I was never that lucky. Altair’s back straightened, his head cocking to the side. Then, with lethal precision, he rotated and faced me.
“Yeah, I find myself a bit scared of them too.”
III
Act III
People will always find a way to justify the atrocities they commit in the name of their own betterment—even if that means throwing out their humanity in the process.
Interlude
What we have arrived at now, dear reader, is a crossroad. For there has been a great shift in the cosmic heavens. Soon, a reckoning will come, and those who forget their prayers or look forward rather than up will find themselves taking the brunt of such force.
I encourage you all to remember that you are offered no true allegiance, no honest affection, from anyone or anything other than the stars themselves. For, when push comes to shove, we will all choosethemovereach other.
What does that mean for you, might you ask? Well, I highly recommend you step carefully. There is no might like that of the stars who burn above. And, oh, how bright you shine when you burn below.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Nova
“Today I read about a planet that had women in leadership positions. One of them had worked hard to create a system where no one in their entire country went hungry. It’s sad that the stars wanted us to eradicate them. I feel like we could’ve learned a lot from people like that.”
-From the journal of Nova Tershetta, 9252 AS
“From what we have learned from the intels that are currently on planet nine-three-four, our mission should be fairly simple. They don’t seem to be a hostile or even magical people, so the goal is to exterminate and then offer the planet, which should lead to the stars blessing your graduation.” The educator turned, their face hidden beneath their mask and their voice flat. Unlike them, I had a very distinct opinion about what we were about to do.
From every piece of knowledge we’d gleaned, it became more apparent that we were simply slaughtering just to do so. While I saw the merit of offering the planet to the stars in order to keep them entertained and pleased, I didn’t understand why we needed to pick such a world.
Nine-three-four was void of magic. Their advancements were far behind ours. None of them lived longer than an eadi, nor didthey possess anything to deem them extraordinary. They held absolutely nothing we needed.
Yet we plotted their demise.
While I felt the need to voice this opinion, I was too scared to do so. Clearly they were aiming to test our devotion to the stars, just as they had with our final illusions. Our job was not only to take the planet, but to prove our worth and fealty.
“Trainee Tershetta,” the educator boomed.
Of course.
“Yes, Educator?”
“What do we know of planet nine-three-four’s military defenses?”
“They are a people divided. Their many continents and the countries within them keep tensions high. Therefore, while their individual military forces are mostly well thought out, they are unable to work together and will not be difficult to out maneuver.”
