Epilogue
Venus
That day, an even deeper change occurred within the Promethean society. By all accounts, the Prism rarely addressed the citizens once he emerged, aside from his Prima or Primus. After blessing me then Atlas—for a second time—Xarin took a moment to publicly thank Kyrene, Acamon, the Black Guards and many of the Monochromatics standing inside the Hall.
Historically, the Prism was heavily apolitical. While he did not make any speeches, his blatant embrace and gentle respect towards those deemed lesser sent a powerful message that none could ignore.
I watched him fly away with conflicting emotions. It was odd as for the three months spent among them, I somewhat thought of Xarin as a child in my care, almost a son. Seeing and speaking to the ancient god he turned out to be flipped all of that on its head. And yet, I couldn’t deny the sense of loss that I felt knowing what fate awaited him.
To my great chagrin, we were not allowed to follow him or even bear witness to what he did in Keryth Valley. Apparently, the use of his powers not only destroyed any technology in range, but it could also prove hazardous to the health of any person in his vicinity. He spent a week in the valley with the remains of the Queen before heading back to Orist Valley to pursue his cleansing of the most devastated area of their world. According to Kyrene, it would likely take him at least two more rebirths before Xarin completed that task as the size of the territory affected during that cataclysm had been extensive.
Atlas and I remained on Sylvar for four more weeks after Xarin came out of his chrysalis. I’d been ready to get out of there almost the same day, but as the Razus of the Black Guard, Atlas had a lot to manage in order to do a smooth transition of power. Thankfully, aside from a few of the warriors getting seriously banged up when facing the Queen, we suffered no casualties. Therefore, no major reshuffling was been necessary among the Black Guard or the Civic Protectors.
Unsurprisingly, Pythus was elevated as the new Razus. To my delight, he openly began courting a beautiful Gray Monochromatic of the Civic Protectors who had fought during Thaudras. It stirred some mumbling, but not the outcry and indignation that such a behavior would have triggered in the past.
The greatest surprise was that after Kyrene publicly claimed Acamon as her son—although that secret had been outed when she embraced him moments before he went into battle—more parents started trying to establish a line of communication with their estranged Achromatic and Monochromatic offspring.
Atlas’s family did not.
As they lived in a different city, the sweeping changes occurring in Japhyr were occurring at a much slower pace in other areas, the difference more significant the farther they were located.
To my relief, Atlas was not crushed by this indifference. They were strangers to him. As he was planning on leaving this planet forever, he failed to see the point in attempting to establish a relationship with them now. It still boggled my mind that they wouldn’t eagerly seek to be associated by blood to one of the main heroes of this entire saga.
Another great surprise was finding out that Senator Cassius presented a motion to open two new seats in the Senate, one reserved exclusively for an Achromatic and the other for a Monochromatic. Obviously, Ajustus attempted to challenge it. The motion barely passed, with a single vote majority. But all that mattered was that it did. Acamon was chosen by unanimous vote for the Achromatics. A few people tried to challenge that appointment as he wasn’t an official resident of Japhyr.
As he remained the leader of his Pharom, and the people living in his village had no desire—at least in the short-term—to move to the main city, the challenge to his role as a Senator had merit. That said, as Whites still weren’t allowed to live within the city walls, the locals had no choice but to grant this derogation to allow fair representation.
A long and arduous path lay before them, but it was also an exciting one full of promises and possibilities. I just hoped they would tread carefully and not go to the other extreme. After being deprived of rights for so long, the sudden realization of how much more powerful they in fact were could lead to retaliation or some people even seeking to reverse their roles. Instead of leading them to a brighter future, it risked throwing them into an endless vicious cycle that would ultimately benefit no one.
But that was their journey to embark on. All I could do was drop a handful of hints about potential pitfalls to avoid.
The departure from Sylvar was bittersweet. Many of the Achromatics and Monochromatics perceived Atlas’s departure as a form of abandonment in a time where one of the leading figures of their ‘revolution’ would be needed to help further their cause. Others saw this as further proof of the endless possibilities that this life had to offer. So long as you kept fighting and pushing forward, good things however improbable would eventually come to you.
It especially saddened me to part with Kyrene. After so many weeks working alongside her, she had become a friend. Because of the Prime Directive, communications with her and the rest of her people would be extremely limited if not completely nil.
That reality finally hit Atlas on the second day of our journey back to Earth. On a few occasions, he expressed concerns about how he would fit in my world, in my life, and what his purpose would be. He felt particularly distraught about the fact that the comfortable wealth he acquired on his homeworld was useless on the galactic scene. He didn’t want to be a burden to me or to have no way of contributing to the household.
Granted, he knew that my family was rich and that I owned considerable personal wealth as well. Although credits were not an issue, I understood very well where he was coming from. In his shoes, I also wouldn’t be comfortable at the prospect of relying entirely on my partner for my financial security and independence.
Initially, I hinted at him potentially joining the Enforcers. As the Razus of his people, he more than qualified to become an agent. Obviously, he would need to undergo some training regarding intergalactic laws and rules of engagement, but that would benefit him either way. While that piqued his curiosity, he surprised me by wanting a role that also included more intellectual involvement.
Over the course of the months leading to us defeating Thaudras, Atlas developed a great passion for studying the ancient lore of his people and deciphering the hidden messages within. In truth, his analytical skills played a huge role in turning the tide for us.
A contribution that didn’t go unnoticed by both the UPO and the Enforcers.
As the Prometheans remained a major mystery to us, Atlas became an invaluable asset and a bridge between the intergalactic alliance and his people. Unbeknownst to us, the UPO—through Linsea—had opened diplomatic discussions with the Promethean Senate.
As I guessed during my first conversation with the Temern Ambassador, the UPO was highly interested in the unusual power source that fueled the cities of their home world. But they also wanted to learn more about their species as a whole.
When the Enforcers first approached Atlas about helping them build a library or database about the Prometheans, I instinctively went into overprotective mama bear mode. But Atlas quickly had me take a backseat. My man didn’t need me to babysit him on that front. As the head of security of the capital city of his planet, he knew better than to blindly divulge sensitive information that could jeopardize national security.
That said, considering how primitive Prometheans were in comparison, there weren’t too many secrets Atlas could keep that would have any significant impact should the UPO and the Enforcers go rogue and try to invade them.
Still, with the approval of the Promethean Senate, Atlas began to collaborate with the Enforcers, not only to help them build their archives on his species, but also to fix many of the inaccuracies gathered over the years. All that data was naturally fully shared with the Prometheans. The generous compensation my mate received for this work was just the icing on the cake.
On top of this, Atlas discovered a new passion for combat simulations in the holodeck. Such a technology blew his mind. The first thing he did was work alongside a technician to recreate the Zuras Queen as realistically as possible, and then run through countless scenarios on how to more efficiently defeat her. This expanded into him developing extensive combat and training tutorials for his people. Thanks to the second blessing Xarin gave him, Atlas effortlessly cast every possible spell, like a White, just without the full extent of their power.
Speaking of blessings, it turned out the Prism’s hug hadn’t been all that innocent. In the week that followed the unusual embrace Xarin gave me, my eyes itched, pricked, and watered to the point I thought I was developing some kind of seasonal allergy. On the seventh day, it stopped. One look in the mirror revealed my irises now possessed an extra white ring at the outer edge.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I could now cast magic.
It was super weak. Nothing that would represent a real threat to anyone. But it was enough to perform basic healing, like fully mending a small cut, reheating the tea in my cup, or closing a door left ajar with a kinetic blast.
And above all, it was a major bragging right.
Even my sister Serena—with her pretty scales and enhanced strengths following her marriage to Szaro—was drooling with envy over my new abilities.
I never expected that visiting her would turn my world around the way it did, but I couldn’t have been more grateful. I was happy and madly in love.
Three months and four days after emerging from his chrysalis, Xarin died.
That morning, the familiar tingling at the back of my nape took me aback. How could he reach me halfway across the galaxy and all the way to Earth? The tingling gave way to a wondrous sense of well-being, pure joy, and endless love that surged through me, wrapping around me like a warm blanket. It faded away after a few seconds. I sat there frozen, unsure how to react. I instinctively knew it had been Xarin saying goodbye. My mind shouted to me I should cry, but my heart felt at peace.
A discreet knock resounded on my office door moments before Atlas walked in. The look on his face told me everything I needed to know.
“You felt him, too,” I said in a factual manner.
He nodded and smiled in a way that said everything would be okay.
I rose to my feet and went to him. He pulled me into his embrace, and I rested my head on the soft fur of his chest.
“Prisms cannot feel physical pain. Xarin didn’t suffer. He was happy, at peace, and full of love,” Atlas whispered in my hair in an appeasing tone.
I nodded against his chest before lifting my head to look at him. “He was. You know, we’re both young enough that we might still be around the next time he returns. Maybe we’ll get to see him again,” I said, only half-teasing.
He snorted. “Now that my entire generation has survived Thaudras, I no longer doubt anything is possible. So let’s add that to our list of long-term goals.”
I chuckled. “Deal!”
“Deal,” he echoed before kissing my lips.
ATLAS
Ifought the urge to squirm while all but standing at attention as my father-in-law critically examined me. He didn’t quite approve of the fact that my people never wore shirts or upper body clothes. But he seemed satisfied by the ornate white leather loincloth I was wearing for my traditional human wedding to his daughter. It had been designed by an up-and-coming human fashion designer called Farah Toussaint. Apparently, she was a close friend to Belle, the artist who would paint a portrait of Venus and me.
My mate’s parents were both the rather intimidating sort. They constantly looked grumpy, like they always found some fault with you or were bracing for your flaws to suddenly jump at them when they least expected it. And yet, whenever they spoke to others about their daughters or sons-in-law, their pride shone brightly. More than once, I caught myself smiling as he boasted about the heroic deeds of both of his daughters saving countless innocents’ lives.
“This will do,” Mr. Bello said with begrudging approval as he finished examining my attire, down to the matching white leather sandals on my feet. “I trust you remember what to do?”
“Yes, Sir,” I replied in a subdued tone.
“Good. Do not be late,” he grumbled.
He cast a warning glance at Szaro, who was ‘sitting’ on top of his folded tail a little to our left, then exited the dressing room with determined steps. I turned towards my brother-in-law with a slightly traumatized expression. He chuckled, then his lips parted in a grin, showing the tips of his fangs, as he straightened into a ‘standing’ position.
Even a month after leaving Sylvar, I still struggled with the insane diversity of sentient species in the galaxy. Venus had shown me images of Szaro before. And yet, meeting him in person a few days ago still blew my mind. The male truly was impressive. His broad shoulders and muscular torso could have belonged to a Promethean, except for the fins on the side of his arms and the different type and pattern of his scales. But his lower body shaped like a long snake’s tail fascinated me. The things he could do with the rattle at the tip, from appeasing or paralyzing, to enhancing the potency of the venom he injected into his prey left me reeling.
His face was also a source of wonder. Like my people, he had scales on his forehead and the bridge of his nose. But the vertical slits of his golden eyes disconcerted me. More than once, I found myself itching to touch the strange bumps that lined the inner side of the wide cobra hood on his head.
Szaro flicked his forked tongue at me. I immediately flicked my antennae, tasting the air as he was for any information it might reveal about his current state of mind.
His smile broadened.
“Do not be distraught by his demeanor,” Szaro said in an amused tone. “Father Daniel totally approves of you.”
“He sure has an odd way of showing it,” I mumbled.
Szaro snorted. “He does. Considering the circumstances of my marriage to his younger daughter, believe me, he was far less charming with me than he currently is with you.”
He burst out laughing at the horrified look I gave him.
“Do not fret, brother. He will soften in time, once he stops feeling the need to have his guard up,” Szaro said reassuringly. “Daniel Bello merely needs to project the image of a strong patriarch worthy of his daughters. If he didn’t deem you worthy of Venus, he would never walk her down the aisle and give her away to you. It takes a very special male to win the heart of Venus Bello. She waited a long time to find her soulmate. There’s a reason you are the Blessed of Sylvar.”
It was my turn to snort, although his words deeply touched me. I still struggled with accepting my own worth after a lifetime of being told I was less than.
“Thank you, Szaro,” I said with sincere gratitude.
“Do not mention it,” he said with a nonchalant wave of his hand. “Now, come on. Let’s go get you married. I will try not to make a mess of this whole best man thing.”
“By all means, do,” I said teasingly. “Your blunders will hide my own.”
He laughed and shook his head at me. “Neither of us shall make any blunder. We do not want to face the wrath of Venus’s mother.”
I shuddered, making him chuckle further, then let him lead the way into the garden where the wedding would take place. It was beautiful, set on the Bello estate, with a large body of water in front of an impressive mountain range in the backdrop. On the left, they’d erected a huge tent where the meal would be served, and people would dance. On the right, rows of benches and beautiful floral arrangements led to a small dais in front of the water. A group of musicians sat to the left of the dais.
Szaro gracefully slithered next to me as we proceeded down the makeshift aisle to the front where a female cleric. The throngs of relatives and friends of my mate filled the benches. My stomach fluttered with nerves as we took our positions on the dais. Having no doubt noticed my nervousness, Szaro flicked his tongue at me, then gently started shaking the rattle at the tip of his tail. A sense of peace immediately washed over me. I gave him a grateful sideways glance, and he winked at me.
I just really didn’t want to mess things up.
An eternity later—which meant between five and ten minutes—the musicians started playing a soothing, slow paced instrumental music. My heart leapt in my chest. I straightened my shoulders, and my eyes widened as the bridal party exited the mansion.
Walking in male-female pairs down the aisle, three Black Guard couples opened the march, followed by three Brown Monos, then three Gray Monos, and finally four Whites, forming an almost perfect gradient from darkest to palest.
Tears pricked my eyes, and my throat constricted. As Venus wanted a traditional human wedding, she insisted on me allowing her to plan it according to her fairy tale vision. As I knew nothing of it, I’d been more than happy to yield to her in that. She told me what the general plan was, but never mentioned she would pull some serious strings to get a few of my people—my closest friends—to attend.
Prometheans didn’t have the capacity to travel off-world.
The powerful emotion I felt was reflected on the faces of Pythus and Leodros, as well as Acamon closing the march. I swallowed and blinked rapidly to stem the tears pricking my eyes. Szaro placed a hand on my shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.
When they reached the front of the aisle, the bridal party split in half, the females going left and the males going right. They formed a V on each side of the dais, but standing in a way that wouldn’t block the attendees’ view of the proceedings.
The music shifted to something a bit more playful. Then the most adorable couple walked down the aisle: a Pink Polychromatic flower girl, and a Blue Polychromatic ringbearer. As they reached the front, the music once more changed, this time into the nuptial march.
A wave of emotion surged through me as I stared in awe at my mate. She was wearing a sleeveless, formfitting white dress with golden embroidery embedded with shiny stones. The skirt widened in ruffles below the knees all the way to the ground. Her face wasn’t hidden behind a veil as was sometime the case for human brides. An intricate round headdress sat on top of her head like an oversized tiara. Behind it a long, diaphanous veil cascaded down her back and shoulders, turning into a long train held by two human females: her sister Serena and her friend Belle.
My mate was looking at me, bright-eyed and with a huge smile on her face, while hanging on to her father’s arm as he led her down the aisle.
The world around us ceased to exist as she closed the distance between us. I vaguely heard her father say something as he placed Venus’s hand in mine. I believed I replied something but couldn’t swear to it. My brain couldn’t process anything that wasn’t her.
“My Venus,” I whispered. “You’re so beautiful. I love you so much.”
She blinked away the tears welling in her eyes and gave me a trembling smile. “I love you, too, Atlas. More than life itself.”
Overwhelmed by emotions, I leaned forward to kiss her. But seconds before our lips would touch, I heard Szaro clear his throat, and his right hand landed on my shoulder, pulling me back.
“We’re not at that part yet,” he whispered, his voice filled with amusement.
I stiffened, and my scales darkened while discreet chuckles rose from the attendees. Venus giggled and gave me a guilty look before looking sheepishly at the cleric. Far from offended, the priestess gazed upon us with amused approval.
The entire ceremony flew by in a daze. I barely recalled answering the priestess or even speaking my vows. I only remember her telling me I could kiss the bride. When our lips touched, the air crackled with magic energy as my fellow Prometheans cast dancing lights all around us, emulating the rare day of Radiance on our homeworld, while the guests cheered and applauded.
But all that mattered to me was the beautiful woman in my arms, my impossible dream, my soulmate, my love.
THE END