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.

Part 2

Recently completed Sẽnerenan vibertan Aberkãj-Kordus Alioxẽ and Vikonflavan Limatruvus-Kokanyekãj Mirkolan walked down the center path of the village toward Alioxẽ’s home as they caught up on each other’s recent history.

“I should add, Vikonflava, that there is no confirmation that I will be a true Sẽnerenan, keeping watch on some distant solar system,” Alioxẽ said.

“Don’t fear," Mirkolan replied. "We all know you have what it takes. Besides, a recent Sẽnerenan vibertan for the Epsilon Thea Sẽnerenan, that alone carries honor,“ Mirkolan continued.

“One of two vibertans I should add, Dvoravis-Velravẽx is also quite capable,” Alioxẽ stated.

“Of course, of course. How could I forget? He is welcome to join us in this town for a konsẽla!” replied Mirkolan.

“Listen, while I would also give him that offer, he is still busy on the Epsilon Thea system station,” Alioxẽ explained.

“Ah! He is still busy because he is not as qualified as you are!” Mirkolan said with a cheerful laugh as Alioxẽ sighed.

“On that note, I am done on Epsilon Thea because the Sẽnerenaia think I have reached what I needed to know to take on new tasks elsewhere as a Sẽnerenan or Anye-Sẽnerenan. It’s possible I am reassigned to work here in the Ethea system. Would be nice to be closer to home,” Alioxẽ stated.

“Working as not just a vibertan but as an Anye for the Ethea Sẽnerenan? Now that would be astounding!” Mirkolan exclaimed.

“That would be astounding... but we will find out what happens,” Alioxẽ said assuredly.

“MIRKOLAN!” a woman suddenly called out.

“Uh oh, it's my wife. Take care Aberkãj-Kordus!” Mirkolan mutters as he gestured goodbye. Without another word, he turned abruptly and rushed back to his house.

Alioxẽ peacefully strode forward up the road toward his home at the end of the village. He slowly became lost in thought until he quickly had to recorrect his movement as children quickly dashed out in front of him; yelling, laughing, and playing some form of game.

“Hey, watch it kids!” Alioxẽ spoke gleefully as a mother on the side of the road chuckled at the scene.

The density of the village continued to decrease as Alioxẽ reached a quiet dwelling. He fumbled his keys until he found the right one and opened the door to his home. He went inside and closed the door behind him, pausing for a moment to take in the scene. What he found inside was a condition quite similar to how he left it since he left for work at Epilson Thea. He went to the bedroom and took off his hat, coat, and Sẽnerenan equipment, laying them on a table. As he walked over to his bed, he laid down. His eyes soon closed as the evening sun streamed through the windows onto him and the bed.

'Finally, I can rest,' Alioxẽ thought to himself. In the distance, the faint noise of Ladkasans speaking, and animals chattering, and plants whistling in the wind harmonized into a sound, like that of a soothing musical.

Soon after, as his eyes were closed in rest, a clattering sound from the lock on his front door could be heard. His eyes widened. The sound continued agressively with excitement, until finally the door opened...

“You thought you could get through the day without telling me you’re here?” A man slightly younger than Alioxẽ shouted, jokingly. He walked through the front door and went towards the bedroom where Alioxẽ was laying.

“I literally just got back Aravis. Can I rest for like, even a minute?” Alioxẽ asked with a tone of annoyance.

“Come on! Is this how you treat your younger brother who has been keeping an eye on your home from time to time? Now let’s go! Father and mother want to see you,” Aravis said.

“But then you’ll be there,” Alioxẽ sarcastically said.

“Just shut up and go,” Aravis jested amusingly in response as he turned to head out of the bedroom entrance. He stopped just before he went out of the front door. “And, by the way, don’t forget to tell us if you found a date in your adventures at Epilson Thea... unless you haven’t...” Aravis cut himself off as he chuckled.

“Hush. When are you going to become Viselian of this province again? Oh right - still working on that aren’t you?” Alioxẽ mockingly returned.

“I’m so sorry, Viselan Sẽnerenan. How wrong I am to challenge you,” Aravis uttered back with sarcasm, as he walked out of the dwelling and closed the door behind him.

'What a comedian,' Alioxẽ thought to himself as he continued to lay on his bed. After a short while, he finally got up to head out to his childhood home, just outside the village. He made sure to lock the door to his dwelling behind him before setting out down the path.

Part 3

Small stones cracked and hopped along a shaded gravel path under Alioxẽ’s boots as he went up a steep incline towards his parent’s home. The trees along the path dragged Alioxẽ into memories of his childhood, when he would run through the forest or down the path while his brother chased him, or when he created structures out of stone and wood. He stopped when he noticed in the forest an old fortification up against a tree, one of the aforementioned forts he made long ago when he and his brother played games in the forest.

He continued up the path until a grassy opening with a dwelling appeared. It was a modest building, with a barn off to the side giving it more interest. The green and yellow grass ebbed and flowed with the twisting wind, with the smell of food in the air.

“Alioxẽ!” An older woman familiar to Alioxẽ called out from just out front of the house.

“Mother!” Alioxẽ yelled out as he rushes up to her. They hugged for a moment.

“It’s been so long, and you must have so many stories. Come on in, the food is almost ready,” Alioxẽ’s mother said as she led Alioxẽ into the house, with Alioxẽ closing the door behind them.

Inside the home yellow lights glowed off an earthtone interior to create a warm aura. Alioxẽ and his mother walked toward a table where several Ladkasan dishes were prepared. Aravis was already at the table while their father was finishing a few things in the kitchen.

“Ah Alioxẽ, your just in time, Sesilla has been waiting outside a while for you. She was worried you may have forgotten to come,” Alioxẽ’s father mentioned cheerfully as he finished details on what looked like a grand desert.

“If I hadn’t found him in time, he may have gone hungry given what little is in his house,” Aravis commented on as he laughed a little to his own joke.

“I’m sure Mirkolan would have been able to convince the tavern to get me something. Apparently, drinks are on the town there for me,” Alioxẽ proclaimed.

“Oh that’s wonderful, we are all glad to see you home!” Sesilla announced.

“Yes, even if Aravis keeps giving terrible jokes,” Alioxẽ’s father said as he chuckled.

“Hey!” Aravis exclaimed briefly.

“Calm down now, let’s sit down,” Sesilla said as she gestures for everyone to sit down at the table.

The family gathered and sat down at the small table, while Alioxẽ’s father and mother discussed how everything had been doing this season for the family, and how they all wished for the Dvosaia to bless the people of Ladkasa, and all those who are suffering. They eat the various dishes in delight while exchanging stories and tales of their time so far in the village, and where they hoped to go next in their life. Eventually they all finish, and continue to chat while they put the various eating articles away and clean up.

Eventually, Alioxẽ stepped outside of the house to went over to the barn. The sky now had shades of different colors from before as the sun neared the horizon, already being partially blocked by expanse of steep mountains with their luscious forests. He opened the side door to the barn, and walked inside, closing the door behind him. Inside was a large open area, with a narrow second storage level snaking along the walls. Many small but friendly fauna such as Manãlos were mostly off to one side of the barn, while a few roamed in and out of the barn’s main entrance toward a larger fenced off pasture. Two megafauna each with two large wings and covered in feathers laid sleeping together on the other side of the barn. While they look almost identical, a few features on their faces, wings, and body differentiate them as two different sexes. While nothing prevented them from leaving, they saw the barn as their home.

“Penirskãj…oh Penirskãj.” Alioxẽ muttered quietly as he slowly approached one of the two megafauna. That megafauna slowly opened his eyes and moved his head to see Alioxẽ.

“Look who’s back,” Alioxẽ said quietly to Penirskãj.

Penirskãj, excited, moved his body a bit to playfully nudge Alioxẽ with his beak. Penirskãj then gestured over to a large container in the corner.

Alioxẽ shaded his head while chuckling, and then spoke quietly again. “Fine Penirskãj, hold on.”

Alioxẽ went over to a container, opened the lock up, and grabbed two large fruits from inside. He then shut the container and locked it, eventually returning back over to Penirskãj. He then threw one of the large fruits over at Penirskãj who snatched it in his beak and began to eat it. Penirskãj then began to try and whine for the other fruit Alioxẽ was holding, while the other megafauna began to wake up.

“No Penirskãj, the other is for Sẽnrinkãj now,” Alioxẽ stated softly as the other megafauna looked up at Alioxẽ excited. She moved her head over to him for the fruit as Alioxẽ tossed it at her, with Sẽnrinkãj catching it in her beak.

Sẽnrinkãj playfully nudged Alioxẽ with her beak, and then moved her head back to its original sleeping position, putting one of her wings over her head. Penirskãj then playfully nudged Sẽnrinkãj, followed by him looking back at Alioxẽ.

“Penirskãj, we will head to Konsanadia tomorrow, as the shuttle will not be here, so I hope you are still up for that,” Alioxẽ mentioned softly as he pet Penirskãj on the side of his head for a moment, with Penirskãj purring happily.

“Now then, good night, Penirskãj,” Alioxẽ said as he waved at the two megafauna. He then turned and walked toward the main entrance the barn.

Penirskãj then went back to snuggling and sleeping with Sẽnrinkãj, while Alioxẽ looked out at the colorful sunset while standing just outside the barn, with the fading sunlight shining through the valleys between the mountains and forests.

’Oh, I almost forget,’ Alioxẽ thought to himself as he went over to the side of the pasture, and hopped over the fence.