Kai found himself releasing a soft exhale from the confines of his airway, pondering upon his inner state-of-being, subconsciously meandering through the garden pathway that had been hewn long before he was born. There was serenity here, despite all that the planet had seen over the years, and though it had been invaded on at least two occasions, the beauty remained, always a reminder that sometimes one couldn’t be brought to destroy such peace. The man had walked through this area more times than he could muster forth a thought, unable to deny his spirit of the village that had once been a part of him, even for as brief a residence as he had existed in during his childhood. Years long since past, a mere six to seven by galactic standard, now all but blurred to history. Oberon was much the same as he remembered, a shining gem of natural beauty hidden within the furthest recesses of Wild Space — a region thought too alien and dangerous to appear on many star charts. That was half the attraction to him, as an explorer, though the underlying principles it held for him were…uncanny at best.
He didn’t know much about his parents, and what little he did know was nigh impossible to recollect at best. Glo’ra had done her absolute finest at blocking those memories, urging him to forget the past and simply honor his origins by looking towards the future and carving his own destiny. It was one of the few direct moments she ever held a foremost ethereal outlook in front of him. The woman was, by comparison, far more into mysticism and spirituality than he’d ever been, never having delved too much into the subject. There were traditions he’d inherited from the society that trained him, and a mere two belongings that survived the second occupation. Kai’s mother and father had been at the epicenter of where the action took place, being among the first to have their lives terminated. As a child, he was too young at the point to understand the gravity of what had taken place, lost to a surreal experience that nearly claimed himself. The clan line had nearly ended there — a long one that he didn’t know the origins of, or if he even had relatives. It was probable. Likely, even. Though the chances of finding them out here were slim to none.
Now, years later, as his footing danced along the finely carved hedges there was a sense of sorrow that he hadn’t been able to do more. Discover where he came from — not his homeworld, but where he actually came from. The root of it all. His master had done more than he would ever be able to thank her for those many days ago when she had spared his life, though it could have just as easily cost her own. It was why he made the pilgrimage ‘home’ every so often, doing his best to honor that memory despite her warnings not to linger on it. It was a practice that she had long since urged him to bypass and let go, though Kai had been powerless to bring himself on the effort of doing so. Each time he returned, the man knew that there was the increasing chance he would be forced to stay, whether by his will or another’s. The world wasn’t known for its kindness, nor rights afforded to the males in society. Off-worlders had it harsh enough, few as they were. Misandristic and matriarchal in background, he’d all but escaped being sold on his seventh birthday.
It was hard to think such a caste existed any longer, anywhere, and while it wasn’t outright slavery, Kai couldn’t help but ponder on why anyone would bother treating any person less than someone else. Everyone brought some value to the cusp of the table, when their time came. And yet, here on Oberon, men were lucky to get by as workhorses. That was a big if. Most weren’t that fortunate. Still, at least they were afforded some courtesy, and not talked down to on a regular basis. There were some principles that couldn’t be denied to them as natural born rights, where other worlds simply treated them as property. Overall on the thought it was…complex. Something he didn’t deem worthy dwelling upon.
As the evening heat faded upon the brow of his neck, a gentle reminder hesitated as the light slipped beyond the horizon. Summers were always beautifully mild in this part, and the stars were no less captivating. Cities, while they existed, were by comparison small and unpolluted to the worlds in the core of the galaxy. Lights were mild, and afforded stargazing — a luxury that Kai had never needed to worry about, given his birth village had been far away from the capital. Agriculture and living among the wild was very much the norm here, with beautiful gardens seamlessly incorporated into the surroundings. Cobblestone paths, and the serenity of a stream trickling nearby as a gentle breeze often flew through the community. Reasons like tonight, were ones he was glad Oberon was off the beaten path.
Overhead he could hear the roar of a ship’s engines as it descended through the clouds, making headway before the spaceport closed for the evening. A common sight, as one of the few remote docks for off-world vessels beyond the main city. He’d landed not too far away himself, nestling his vessel along a meadow in the forest. A smile came to his face as a gaggle of children fluttered past, laughing to themselves as their mother scurried after them into the garden of where he contemplated peacefully. “And what does a fine beauty such as you find yourself, here, alone at night?” he found directed at himself. “Not married off to a lovely woman?” The words should have ushered calmness and intrigue towards anyone, though the tone in the voice and his familiarity with the culture led him to know otherwise. It was the stranger’s way of inquiring as to who his ‘lucky’ owner was. Marriage contracts.
“I hate to be the burden of ill news, but I’m not for sale, madam,” he shot back, his own tone neutral but the sting of his words read loud and clear of his status. He wasn’t a commodity for the market.
“You’ve got some spirit, I’ll give you that. That alone should let you fetch a fine price…” Smoothly spoken words in the sweetest of tones. The woman had a silver tongue. Quite probably a merchant, or a noble woman. Maybe a village elder. With all honesty, he hadn’t bothered to look up the current governmental status upon returning, or to see whom the current leaders were.
“Then please let me re-iterate. I’m not for purchase, I —” Kai retorted, doing his best to maintain a calm. His phrase, however, had been cut short by the arrival of footsteps resonating off the moist stone on the path. Hopefully, with any luck, the street lanterns would flicker on soon and he would have a better view of whom his counterpart was, and the newcomer.
_____
[member="Grace Vhalorious"]
He didn’t know much about his parents, and what little he did know was nigh impossible to recollect at best. Glo’ra had done her absolute finest at blocking those memories, urging him to forget the past and simply honor his origins by looking towards the future and carving his own destiny. It was one of the few direct moments she ever held a foremost ethereal outlook in front of him. The woman was, by comparison, far more into mysticism and spirituality than he’d ever been, never having delved too much into the subject. There were traditions he’d inherited from the society that trained him, and a mere two belongings that survived the second occupation. Kai’s mother and father had been at the epicenter of where the action took place, being among the first to have their lives terminated. As a child, he was too young at the point to understand the gravity of what had taken place, lost to a surreal experience that nearly claimed himself. The clan line had nearly ended there — a long one that he didn’t know the origins of, or if he even had relatives. It was probable. Likely, even. Though the chances of finding them out here were slim to none.
Now, years later, as his footing danced along the finely carved hedges there was a sense of sorrow that he hadn’t been able to do more. Discover where he came from — not his homeworld, but where he actually came from. The root of it all. His master had done more than he would ever be able to thank her for those many days ago when she had spared his life, though it could have just as easily cost her own. It was why he made the pilgrimage ‘home’ every so often, doing his best to honor that memory despite her warnings not to linger on it. It was a practice that she had long since urged him to bypass and let go, though Kai had been powerless to bring himself on the effort of doing so. Each time he returned, the man knew that there was the increasing chance he would be forced to stay, whether by his will or another’s. The world wasn’t known for its kindness, nor rights afforded to the males in society. Off-worlders had it harsh enough, few as they were. Misandristic and matriarchal in background, he’d all but escaped being sold on his seventh birthday.
It was hard to think such a caste existed any longer, anywhere, and while it wasn’t outright slavery, Kai couldn’t help but ponder on why anyone would bother treating any person less than someone else. Everyone brought some value to the cusp of the table, when their time came. And yet, here on Oberon, men were lucky to get by as workhorses. That was a big if. Most weren’t that fortunate. Still, at least they were afforded some courtesy, and not talked down to on a regular basis. There were some principles that couldn’t be denied to them as natural born rights, where other worlds simply treated them as property. Overall on the thought it was…complex. Something he didn’t deem worthy dwelling upon.
As the evening heat faded upon the brow of his neck, a gentle reminder hesitated as the light slipped beyond the horizon. Summers were always beautifully mild in this part, and the stars were no less captivating. Cities, while they existed, were by comparison small and unpolluted to the worlds in the core of the galaxy. Lights were mild, and afforded stargazing — a luxury that Kai had never needed to worry about, given his birth village had been far away from the capital. Agriculture and living among the wild was very much the norm here, with beautiful gardens seamlessly incorporated into the surroundings. Cobblestone paths, and the serenity of a stream trickling nearby as a gentle breeze often flew through the community. Reasons like tonight, were ones he was glad Oberon was off the beaten path.
Overhead he could hear the roar of a ship’s engines as it descended through the clouds, making headway before the spaceport closed for the evening. A common sight, as one of the few remote docks for off-world vessels beyond the main city. He’d landed not too far away himself, nestling his vessel along a meadow in the forest. A smile came to his face as a gaggle of children fluttered past, laughing to themselves as their mother scurried after them into the garden of where he contemplated peacefully. “And what does a fine beauty such as you find yourself, here, alone at night?” he found directed at himself. “Not married off to a lovely woman?” The words should have ushered calmness and intrigue towards anyone, though the tone in the voice and his familiarity with the culture led him to know otherwise. It was the stranger’s way of inquiring as to who his ‘lucky’ owner was. Marriage contracts.
“I hate to be the burden of ill news, but I’m not for sale, madam,” he shot back, his own tone neutral but the sting of his words read loud and clear of his status. He wasn’t a commodity for the market.
“You’ve got some spirit, I’ll give you that. That alone should let you fetch a fine price…” Smoothly spoken words in the sweetest of tones. The woman had a silver tongue. Quite probably a merchant, or a noble woman. Maybe a village elder. With all honesty, he hadn’t bothered to look up the current governmental status upon returning, or to see whom the current leaders were.
“Then please let me re-iterate. I’m not for purchase, I —” Kai retorted, doing his best to maintain a calm. His phrase, however, had been cut short by the arrival of footsteps resonating off the moist stone on the path. Hopefully, with any luck, the street lanterns would flicker on soon and he would have a better view of whom his counterpart was, and the newcomer.
_____
[member="Grace Vhalorious"]
