Before the Eova landed on Earth

  Thriexa Aizih POV

  The sky above Xelara burned in hues of deep violet and gold as our final departure loomed. I stood at the edge of the city, the soft hum of the spaceport behind me, staring out at the endless, towering forests that had been my home for so long. The wind carried the scent of rain and blooming flora, a scent I had grown accustomed to, a scent that would soon become nothing more than a memory.

  The sorrow was a familiar weight, pressing against my chest like an old wound that had never fully healed. We had done this before—left behind a world that had sustained us, that had offered us shelter and a chance to rebuild. And yet, it had not been ours. It had never truly belonged to us, just as we had never truly belonged to it.

  A few meters away, the gathered representatives stood in quiet discussion, their voices hushed but heavy with purpose. The future of our people was at stake, as it always was when we chose to leave one world in search of another.

  I turned to join them, my steps measured, my heart burdened with the weight of farewell.

  “Xelara has given us much,” Vorak Algoks said, his deep voice carrying across the chamber, filled with both gratitude and grief. “We have thrived here, but we all knew from the beginning that it was never meant to last.”

  “It is time,” Vorak Sculki agreed, her tone solemn but resolute. “We must look forward. The question now is where we go next.”

  Tophae, ever the analyst, gestured to the display in front of us, where several planetary systems flickered in soft light. “We have studied possible locations—worlds with atmospheres we can adapt to, resources we can sustain ourselves with. There are three primary candidates.”

  He brought up the first—a world covered in vast oceans, its landmasses small and scattered. “Serakos. It is abundant in aquatic resources, though its land is limited. Our people would need to adapt to a primarily water-based existence.”

  Cholti analyzes the information in front of her, “We could survive there, but would we live there? Our settlements would be confined, our ability to grow and expand limited.”

  Tophae nodded, switching the display. “Then there is Velmari—a world with dense jungles, rich in biodiversity, but a volatile ecosystem. It is unpredictable. The climate shifts drastically, making long-term stability difficult.”

  Astrea crossed her arms. “Another Xelara, then. A place that offers us shelter but not permanence. We would only be delaying this same discussion for another cycle.”

  Before anyone could suggest another option, a sudden, palpable shift filled the room. Trenal, who had been standing at the far end of the chamber, suddenly froze. His usually relaxed posture stiffened, and his expression darkened as if an unseen force had struck him.

  Silence fell as all eyes turned toward him.

  “Trenal?” I called cautiously.

  His gaze remained distant, his hands tightening at his sides. Something was wrong. Something had happened.

  The weight of the moment deepened, and a sick feeling coiled in my stomach as I braced myself for whatever news he had just received.

  Trenal’s voice broke through the tense silence, his words measured but laced with an urgency none of us could ignore. “The Dephorians have been spotted in the Ria asteroid belt. They’re close. Too close. If they are already this far into our sector, we cannot risk staying anywhere nearby.”

  A heavy stillness fell over the chamber. We all knew what this meant. Every time we found stability, every time we started to believe a world could be ours, they would find us. And they would take it from us.

  Vorak Algoks folded his arms, his expression hardening. “We need to choose a planet that is far beyond their reach, one that will give us time—a place where we can live for many lifespans before they catch up to us again.”

  I turned to Tophae, who had already begun searching the display for new options, his fingers gliding over the glowing interface with precision. The planetary systems before us shifted, possibilities unfolding in front of my eyes.

  “We need distance, but we also need sustainability,” Tophae said, scanning rapidly. “There are a few options within reach, planets that could sustain our people.”

  Several planets flickered before us, but my gaze settled on one. A familiar blue-green world, its surface teeming with life.

  Earth.

  I barely realized I had spoken the name aloud until the others turned to me. The moment I saw it, I knew. “This is the one,” I said, my voice firm, certain. “Earth will be our next home.”

  The representatives had made their decision. The meeting was over, and one by one, they left to prepare for departure. The air in the spaceport was filled with the quiet hum of activity, a stark contrast to the storm of emotions raging inside me.

  We were leaving Xelara.

  Again, we were uprooting our lives, stepping onto our transports with the knowledge that we would never return. I had experienced this before, and yet, it never grew easier. I felt the weight of the planet we were leaving behind—the forests, the life that had grown around us, the memories that had taken root here. And like every planet before, we would leave it all behind.

  I made my way toward the transport that would take me to the station, stepping through the crowd of Eova preparing for the journey. Inside, the air felt sterile, detached from the world we were abandoning. It was a necessary distance, one that helped ease the pain of farewell.

  As I entered the space station, I immediately spotted Tocci. She was waiting for me near the docking bay, her presence a small comfort in the midst of so much loss.

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  Her expression was bright as she greeted me. “Finally, you’re here! Do you know where we’re going next? I’ve been waiting all day to hear.”

  I hesitated. She was excited, hopeful—something I wished I could share. But the moment my emotions shifted, I saw her expression falter. Her Bedzut abilities allowed her to sense the emotions of those around her, and right now, mine were anything but joyful.

  Her excitement faded into concern. “Thriexa? What is it? What happened?”

  Before I could answer, Trenal entered the room, his usual confident stride carrying a weight that hadn’t been there before. His gaze met mine, and without needing to speak, I knew what he was going to say.

  “The Dephorians have been spotted in the Ria asteroid belt.”

  Tocci’s breath hitched, and I felt the air around us grow heavier. I exhaled slowly, steadying myself.

  “If they’re that close, we need to put as much distance between us and them as possible,” I said, my voice firm. “We made the right choice with Earth. We’ll have time there—time to build, to prepare.”

  I wanted to go find my mother and speak with her about this. Xilta needed to know just how close our old enemy had gotten. But before I could move, Tocci placed a hand on my arm.

  “You’ll have time to talk to her during the journey,” she said, reading my intentions before I could act on them. “Right now, we should go to the remembrance party.”

  I frowned. “A party? Tocci, now is hardly—”

  “A party hosted by Bedzut Talgis is different from any other kind,” Trenal cut in. “You know that. He can manipulate the emotions of an entire room. Right now, everyone is feeling the weight of another departure. We need this. You need this.”

  I wanted to argue, but I knew they were right. The Eova had always honored our past before stepping into our future, and if there was one person who could ensure we left Xelara with light hearts instead of heavy ones, it was Talgis.

  I exhaled slowly, relenting. “Fine. But only for a short while.”

  Tocci grinned, looping her arm through mine as she led me through the winding corridors of the station toward the gathering hall. The moment we stepped inside, I could feel the shift in the atmosphere.

  The room pulsed with warmth, laughter, and the subtle undercurrent of Talgis’ influence. He stood near the center, his expression calm yet intent, his ability working like a delicate thread, weaving emotions together in perfect harmony. He didn’t force joy upon anyone—rather, he amplified the moments of happiness that already existed, easing the sorrow and tension in a way only a Bedzut could.

  The space itself had been transformed. Soft, glowing orbs of light floated overhead, casting a warm golden hue across the room. Low tables filled with food and drink were scattered throughout, their arrangements inviting without being overwhelming. Music played—not loud or overbearing, but something smooth and rhythmic, matching the rise and fall of conversation.

  Familiar faces surrounded me—Eova from every nation, gathered together in a rare moment of celebration amidst yet another farewell. Some stood in quiet discussion, their voices hushed but lighthearted. Others danced in slow, fluid movements, the sound of laughter threading through the air like music itself.

  Trenal appeared at my side, handing me a drink infused with calming herbs. “See? Already worth it.”

  I took the glass, my fingers curling around the cool surface. “I suppose I should enjoy it while I can.”

  He smirked. “That’s the spirit.”

  I turned my gaze to Talgis, watching as he moved through the room, speaking to individuals, adjusting the emotional balance of the space with nothing more than presence and intent. He had always been a master of his craft, ensuring that no departure ever felt like an ending—only a transition.

  “He really is remarkable at what he does,” Tocci murmured beside me, her own emotions finally relaxing under the party’s influence. “I almost don’t feel the weight of everything anymore.”

  She shook her head slightly, marveling at the way Talgis worked. “It’s so different from how I use my abilities. I spend my time searching for threats, reading people for deception or danger. But he… he doesn’t use it to protect, he uses it to uplift. He weaves the emotions of a room together so seamlessly, so effortlessly. I can feel how he amplifies the light, the joy that’s already there, pulling it to the surface while gently quieting the sorrow. I could never do that.”

  I glanced at her, sensing the admiration in her voice. “It is an art few can master the way he has. But that does not make what you do any less important. You keep us safe, Tocci. You sense the dangers before they ever reach us.”

  She let out a soft breath, nodding. “I know. But it makes me wonder… what would it be like to use this gift for something other than finding threats?”

  I sighed, allowing myself to lean into the atmosphere. Just for a moment, I let the sorrow ease and the hope settle in its place. Perhaps this farewell didn’t have to be filled with loss. Perhaps, just this once, we could let ourselves feel something else.

  I lifted my glass in silent tribute to Xelara before taking a slow sip. For now, for this moment, we would celebrate.

  A familiar presence moved toward us, and I turned just as Talgis approached, his usual confident grin firmly in place. “Ah, there you are, Aizih,” he said smoothly, his voice warm and teasing. “I was starting to wonder if I needed to come drag you here myself.”

  I rolled my eyes but couldn’t suppress the small smile tugging at my lips. “I wouldn’t put it past you.”

  Talgis chuckled, his sharp violet eyes gleaming with mischief. “Of course not. I always get what I want.” He let his gaze sweep over me with an exaggerated appreciation. “And look at you, our future Aizih of diplomacy, standing here brooding at a party. Completely unacceptable.”

  Tocci groaned beside me. “Talgis, do you ever stop flirting?”

  He turned to her, feigning offense. “Cousin, please. I’m simply giving the Aizih the appreciation she deserves. It’s not my fault you lack the poetic touch.”

  Tocci smacked his arm lightly. “It’s not poetic. It’s shameless.”

  Talgis only laughed before handing both of us drinks. The liquid inside glowed faintly, the unmistakable mark of Kaelthos spirits. “Here, something to loosen the weight on your shoulders. These are not for the faint of heart, so do pace yourselves.”

  I took the glass, inspecting the vibrant contents with curiosity. “This is from Kaelthos?”

  “Only the finest,” Talgis said with a wink. “And trust me, tonight, everyone is going to have a great time. The party is just getting started.”

  Talgis raised his own glass, taking a sip before flashing a knowing smile. “Now, let’s put these to good use, shall we? No more brooding, no more stress—just a night of celebration.”

  Before I could protest, he took my hand and led me toward the center of the gathering, where others were already dancing. The rhythm of the music pulsed around us, vibrant and full of life. For a moment, I hesitated, my responsibilities pulling at the edges of my mind. But then I caught Tocci’s encouraging nod, and Trenal’s knowing smirk as he nudged me forward.

  With a breath, I let myself sink into the moment. Talgis twirled me effortlessly, his laughter mixing with the hum of energy in the air. The Kaelthos spirits coursed through me, warming me from the inside out, loosening the tension I hadn’t realized I was still holding.

  I danced, allowing myself—just for a night—to forget the weight of my role, the looming uncertainty of what lay ahead. Around me, the Eova laughed and moved in harmony, a temporary reprieve from the sorrow of another farewell. For now, for this one evening, we let ourselves feel joy.

  Talgis leaned in slightly, his voice just loud enough for me to hear over the music. “See? You look much better like this, Thriexa. Carefree. You should let yourself enjoy life more often.”

  I rolled my eyes, but a genuine smile tugged at my lips. “And you should stop flattering yourself for being the reason.”

  He chuckled, spinning me once more before pulling Trenal into the mix. “Come now, we need more than just diplomats on the dance floor!”

  The night carried on with laughter and movement, the sorrow of leaving Xelara momentarily drowned in the sheer, intoxicating energy of celebration.