They sat in silence, at a table, plates of food as the two girls glared at each other, no lack of menace in their gaze.

  They’ve got to be sisters, Caleb thought before quietly returning to his food.

  He took a few bites of the last of his chicken and looked around the hall. More people had taken to tables now, some form of silent agreement having passed through the crowd. They sat down in groups – most sticking to their colours – and began to eat in earnest.

  The atmosphere seemed to have shifted too. With a slight change in the music’s pace and volume it suddenly felt less welcoming. Closer to general ambience than before. And with the change, the room seemed to take on a whole new life, almost as if his perception of it had changed completely through no action of his own.

  He didn’t understand how a simple change in music suddenly made the room appear so different when he couldn’t sense anything.

  Probably some strange sort of magic, he thought. Guess that’s another thing to add to the list of questions.

  Caleb watched as new tables that rose from the ground within the centre of the hall, layered with foods. The last of guests, the ones Caleb whose presence still nearly overwhelmed Caleb, took seats at them Daen’s grandfather was among them. Their small smiles and pleasantries fell as they took to the tables in their groups, their faces suddenly growing serious.

  Then A large snapping sound came from his table. Caleb turned quickly, pulled from his curiosity and found Osilla chuckling to herself as she continued obnoxiously chewing on a chicken bone right beside the reddening Iricea’s ear.

  [Will you stop it?] the younger girl whispered harshly. Another loud crunch caused her face to redden more, conversation at the tables around them quieting as Osilla continued.

  [S-stop it you idiot. People are looking!]

  Another crunch came from the bone, and Daen muttered to himself, half covering his face with a hand. As the next crunch started, Daen spoke.

  [Stop] he said suddenly. [Enough of your child’s play Ossila.]

  Ossila glanced to him then sat back in her chair, grinning to herself with a content. Iricea shot her a glare.

  [Don’t. Don’t start your stupidity again] Daen muttered

  [I’m not doing anything!] Iricea protested.

  [Not doing anything? Your shouting’s making a scene dear cousin] Osilla said, grinning.

  [Stop it now. Both of you. I’m serious.] Daen said, glancing to them. The girls fell silent, both sparing each a glare, as Daen muttered to himself, returning to swirling his finger around in a transparent bowl cup of orange juice dejectedly.

  Caleb looked between the three of them, trying to limit his frown.

  The atmosphere felt so strange. Not just in the actions and reactions of the others, but their general rhythm of conversation and exchange. It’s been less pronounced before, but now, surrounded by the unfamiliar he could feel it clearly.

  With Daen’s sudden mood shift from excitement to disappointment, the girl’s constant bickering between themselves, and Sillan, who seemed incredibly miserable he felt for the first time that he was being properly exposed to something profoundly alien, and yet completely human. It felt like a first day at school in some ways, though a lot more serious in others.

  He glanced around him at the other tables as people spoke and ate, noticing a few glances from others in his direction. There was that too. He was still confused exactly how important he was.

  He shook his head slowly returned to eating his food.

  [Ah] dsaeyuoh” Sillan muttered under his breath, grabbing a wad of milk fires from his plate and dropping them onto the napkin square thing that sat between them. Caleb glanced to it then to him.

  [Don’t be picky Sillan. Eat it] Daen said.

  [Is that an order?]

  Daen gave him a look, and the boy grumbled, taking the milk fries off the napkin and putting them back onto his plate. Caleb frowned, watching Sillan. He really did seem strangely miserable about being at this whole festival thing.

  He frowned, looking to him closer. He couldn’t feel any mana from whatever was embedded under his eyes. A flexible chrome steel it looked like, just sitting there, though Caleb couldn’t understand why.

  Daen had said he was from Etimos. Maybe it was simply one of their customs. A strange one, but definitely. Just different in a manner he was unfamiliar with. Like something out of a cyberpunk video game.

  Sillan glanced to him, and he quickly looked away, eyes boring into his eggs. But he could feel Sillan watching him, before he set the cutlery down and spoke.

  [What gives? Why’re you staring at me?]

  Caleb looked to him before chuckling awkwardly.

  “Sorry. Just your eye things… only seen them on TV and stuff” he mumbled. “They’re cool. Interesting”

  Sillan considered his words for a moment before shaking his head.

  [Nope. I don’t like that reason. Give me a better one]

  Caleb frowned, looking to the others as the girls continued glaring at each other, some kind of staring contest going on whilst Daen sat idle, head resting in a hand as he looked off towards his grandfather’s table.

  [Hey] Sillan said bluntly. [Answer.]

  [Don’t be so rude] Daen said, before glancing to Caleb. [Sorry. He’s usually more considerate of newbies.]

  [I’m not being rude] Sillan said.

  [Just eat your food] Daen sighed. [That’s an order.]

  Sillan grumbled to himself returning to his plate of milk fries and grey jelly, the electrical light of his eyes dimming slightly.

  Caleb looked around the table again, slightly confused.

  There is definitely some kind of culture thing I’m not getting.

  Well, if he was going to make it a little less awkward, he had to at least make an attempt to socialise.

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  “So, uh, where are you all from back on your planets?” Caleb asked. Iricea looked to him, before smiling brightly.

  [My and Ossila’s palace is in the North, in the Dor Sun Sea] she said.

  “Your palace is in the sea?”

  [No] Iricea said chuckling. [It’s just a big grass field. A plain really. Daen mentioned you were at his palace for a short while. Did you see the hills surrounding it? It’s like that but a lot more flat.]

  [They have plains on Earth you idiot] Ossila muttered. [You don’t have to explain like he’s a child.]

  [I was just explaining]

  “It’s fine” Caleb said quickly, before looking to Sillan. The boy continued eating his food.

  [Sill] Iricea whispered.

  [What?]

  [Caleb awaits an answer]

  [But he didn’t give me a proper reason for staring]

  [Just answer]

  [New Newshore] Sillan said, before continuing to eat. Caleb nodded silently, knowing no follow up would come. They probably wouldn’t be on speaking terms any time soon.

  [Where are you from?] Ossila said suddenly.

  “Ah, I’m from the US. It’s a country in North America.”

  [Ah!] Iricea said, eyes suddenly sparkling. [The home of the nuclear missile!]

  [Don’t shout] Daen muttered, hand still resitnf.

  [Sorry] Iricea muttered before looking to Caleb. [But it must be a wonderful place. To have created the nuclear bomb. It’s truly a wonderful weapon. And no magic. Incredible.]

  [We’ve made better] Sillan muttered.

  [Yes Sillan, we know.] Ossila said rolling her eyes.

  [Well, Iricea didn’t gush about our weapons when you first met me. What was that about.]

  [None of them were new]

  [We’ve made new ones. I haven’t heard a thing about them.]

  [Well, they’re not exactly that impressive. There’s a reason the planet has been granted a renewal]

  Caleb looked between the three of them, as they quickly descended into a hushed argument. He glanced to Daen, as the man sighed, head till resting in hand, his expression bored.

  “Daen?”

  [Hm?]

  “Uh- where exactly is your palace?”

  [The centre of the Engrass mounds. It’s not that far from the Dor Sun Sea. I’ll show you sometime from one of the orbit stations. We can go to one of the Etimos ones too. See Sillan’s home.]

  Sillan made a face, the argument stopping in it’s tracks.

  [We don’t have to if you don’t want us to Sillan. Though I guess it’s a good idea.] Daen muttered, [We could make a point visit a few other important places too. Though you’ll see a lot of places even when we’re working. People too. It would be nice to- no nevermind.]

  Caleb frowned.

  “Is there someone you want me to meet?” he asked.

  Daen glanced to him, then shook his head.

  [I did. But it doesn’t matter today. With these children’s current behaviour-]

  [Stop calling us children] Sillan said. [It’s aggravating.]

  [I’ll call you as you act. At least act excited to be here.] Daen said, frustration leaking into his voice.

  [I’m not] Sillan said.

  [You shouldn’t say that Sill] Iricea added glancing to him. [It’s bad favour.]

  [My favour’s unaffected] he replied bluntly.

  [For now] Daen muttered. [At least smile. People are looking.]

  [Why? I don’t care for this farcical masturbation ritual.]

  Daen sat up, drawn from his boredom, as a few at the other tables turned their heads at Sillan’s words.

  [What did I say about your swearing?] he said, leaning towards the now visibly nervous Sillan.

  [Sorry]

  [Now come on. I understand, but you could at least act joyous for Caleb’s presence.]

  [Why?]

  Daen gave him a look and Sillan sighed, before looking to Caleb.

  [Wow. You are so incredible. It is a wonder to be in your presence.]

  [Why do I try?] Daen muttered sighing.

  [Don’t worry] Osilla laughed, [You’ll get promoted soon.]

  [If I do, I’m only taking Caleb with me.]

  [W-what?] Iricea said, suddenly wide eyed.

  [It was a joke Iri] Daen said.

  [Not a funny one] Sillan grumbled, as Osilla laughed to herself. Caleb glanced between the four, even more confused than he had been before. Then slowly the mana in the air warped, shifting as it changed. Caleb frowned, looking to the disturbance as the music began to adjust too.

  [Ha] Osilla muttered, poking Iricea’s cheek. [You should see your face]

  [It’s not funny] Iricea said, her face red again.

  [It totally is]

  [It is not]

  [Quiet now] Daen said, glancing off to the side. [The speaker’s coming.]

  The three looked off to the side, before slowly adjusting their chairs as the lights above began to dim. Then suddenly Caleb felt, a wealth of mana wash forwards like nothing he’d ever seen. It pooled through the room, sweeping over things as it practically drowned out all the other noise.

  Like a declaration that this space was there’s. Maybe that’s exactly what it was. A declaration of someone’s presence.

  As the lights dimmed to almost completely dark, a woman stepped up to the podium, adorned in the same style of dress as Daen’s grandfather, her eyes covered by a black blindfold, her jet black hair intricately braided in a style similar to some of those in the religious dress. She was young, likely no older than twenty, but carried the grace of someone much older. She stood atop the stage, behind the podium surveying the crowd, before smiling.

  [Welcome all] she said, her voice clear, as if she was standing next to him.

  [We thank you for your hospitality] the crowd spoke.

  [Thank you] she said with a quick bow. [And now I address you as current Governor chair of Akyren, and thus speaker of the Federation.]

  Caleb blinked in surprise.

  Speaker of the Federation, he thought. Wow. She’s probably the most important human in the universe. Literally.

  He couldn’t imagine what that felt like.

  [First, I would like to offer an apology from our newest governors. They’re still busy organising operations on their planet and couldn’t attend today. I hope you can extend your forgiveness.]

  A murmur passed through the crowd, and Caleb looked around, spotting a few disgruntled faces.

  [And speaking of new, as you all know, we were joined yesterday by the great planet of Earth. The first planet in over ten thousand years to join the Council upon entering the Federation. And today we are joined by the presence of an Earthborn, who some of you likely recognise.]

  She smiled as another murmur passed through the crowd, his heart thumping loudly in his chest.

  [Now, I know some people disagree with the means through which he was acquired by the Yildar, but though my conversations with Yuniea I’ve confirmed that all transactions were favoured, and thus there will be no challenges allowed today. However, I’ve agreed with our beloved governor Ren and Great Leader Kalana, and the governors of Earth that all other orders and faiths will have the priority over the Yildar in choice of selected from Earth.]

  Caleb frowned glancing briefly to Daen.

  [Now, onto congratulations. First, I would like to congratulate Governor Abrinius Wylad-Orico-Can Cae IV on his three hundred and second year and achievement of level seventy-five. It is a truly a wonder. You continue to bring joy, favour and good fortune to all those within the Federation. Thank you.]

  [Thank you] the crowd said chorus, before applauding. Caleb joined in quickly, looking through the crowd as an old man stood, bowing briefly to those applauding before returning to his seat.

  [Secondly, I would like to congratulate Great Leader Sun Kalana Diasair, and the Yildaric guard for their bravery and quick action in defeating the hidden Hilaric threat on VB32-FF49-C. Your strength, and great co-ordination provided us with another victory that will be recorded in the-]

  Suddenly the speaker paused, her mouth hanging open a moment before she chuckled to herself, her air of professionalism briefly vanishing.

  [Well… that’s certainly… interesting]

  A murmur passed through the crowd, and then Caleb felt it. The shift in mana before a message appeared.

  [Battle of Dominion: Yun Evryd Dys against Moshaoler]

  [Akashic vs Moshaic]

  [Yildaric Guard of the Akashic vs The Unnamed of the Moshaic]

  [Eliminate, capture or defeat all enemies]

  [Battleground: C3-W34-B]

  [Winner gains dominion of wagered location]

  He felt eyes on him suddenly, from all across the room, his heart thudding hard in his chest. Then he looked to the others, their expressions just as surprised as his. This time, he wasn’t missing anything.

  His eyes went to Daen, whom stared at the message wide eyed then looked to Caleb, before bursting into raucous laughter as the hall descended into chaos.

  [It looks like this year’s festival’s ending early] Daen said, grinning as his mana came to life, body flooding with the power of his soul. “Ihm tha epyre rizen.”

  “What? What’s happening?” Caleb muttered. Daen looked to him, grinning as he did.

  [It’s a contest Earthchild. Like the second phase in the fight for your planet. An official fight between us and the Unnamed. A battle of strength. A test of existence.]

  “Us against the Unnamed?” he muttered. “Like Ekuht?”

  [Worse] Daen said, before his smile grew wider. [Prepare yourself Souza. Your legend starts today]

  Caleb’s heart sunk, then he nodded, his trembling left hand clenching into a fist as the right went to the porcelain white knife at his hip.

  It was time to fight.