The Sol Artificer

THE FOLLOWING TEXT HAS BEEN TRANSLATED FROM LADKASAN TO ENGLISH. WHILE REASONABLE EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO ENSURE ACCURATE TRANSLATION, THE VITASAKIA INSTITUTE SHALL NOT BE HELD LIABLE FOR ANY LOSS CAUSED BY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR AMBIGUITIES OF THE TRANSLATED TEXT.

Chapter 1

Part 1

Lime green and florescent purple flora sang with the tumbling wind as they swayed back and forth across the landscape. Spear-like mountains scraped the skies, while sparkling blue streams and megafauna weaved their way through the valleys. Nestled in the valleys and hillsides, dotting the landscape, was the rare Tauran village. These villages, crudely constructed out of stone, metal, and wood, were flanked with small fields, wells, and paths. Amongst these Tauran constructions was an occasional white flag with three red stripes that each started apart, but drew closer together as they reached the heavens: the Truvsildelia. This was not the home Lanadkia thought it would have had centuries ago. The present realm of peace and harmony was nothing short of paradise.

Just outside a little village lay a small landing pad surrounded by forest. The roar of engines grew louder and louder, until a sleek medium sized light-gray VTOL shuttle approached the location of the pad. The shuttle gently sank until it touched the pad, the trees nearest the pad rustling from rogue blasts of air. Once it had touched down, one of its doors opened, and a flight of stairs extended out from below. Out from the shuttle stepped a young adult Tauran wearing a gray wide-brimmed hat, darkened boots and pants, and a white and light-gray trench coat with the Truvsildelia imprinted on the back. Underneath his coat, away from the prying eyes of the world, were multitudes of mechanical equipment making an occasional soft clink from his movement. He descended the flight of stairs and waved back at the shuttle, before finally walking off the pad toward the village. The shuttle took off, its roar eventually dissipating into the background noise of the open air.

A robotic voice spoke out from a holographic display terminal. To this particular traveler, the automated female Ladkasan voice was all-too-familiar. “Aberkãj-Kordus Alioxẽ. Welcome to Kãdiokova.” He breathed a sigh of happiness from the sound as he continued his walk into town.

“Hey Aberkãj-Kordus! Enough daydreaming this sunny day? Or are you waiting for manãlos to fly?” a large Tauran man said with a sarcastically serious tone as he walked up to Alioxẽ from the local government building. A small metal nametag could be seen on his clothing: ‘Limatruvus-Kokanyekãj Mirkolan – Vikonflavan of Kãdiokova’.

“Was that a challenge? I’m sure I can craft up a way to make that possible,” Alioxẽ said in response. Before long both started laughing in the middle of the village road.

“It’s great to have you back! Temporary break in Sẽnerenan viberta I assume?” Mirkolan inquired.

“Actually, my viberta for the Epsilon Thea Sẽnerenaia has concluded, just here to let my family know before I head back to the capitol for a new assignment,” Alioxẽ stated.

“Sẽnerenan viberta concluded?! My boy, it’s time for a konsẽla! Free drinks on the village!” Mirkolan pronounced.

“Oh no, no, my generous Vikonflava! I don’t need anything like that...” Alioxẽ said as he titled his hat to cover his blushing face slightly from the sun.

“Hey, everyone! Aberkãj-Kordus Alioxẽ is going to be a Sẽnerenan!” Mirkolan proclaimed loudly for anyone nearby to hear. Several more people came over to see the commotion. In short order, they had attracted a small crowd.

“Good grief, do I need to sing and dance for you as well?” Alioxẽ said sarcastically as he turned from Mirkolan to a few people that had gathered in front of them. “Well don’t say yes, theatre is not my expertise!”

“No no, you don’t dance, you relax. After all this, time for a konsẽla!” an older man said cheerfully.

“Yes!” an older woman exclaimed