Beyond our world

The High Council of Varexis had summoned the three royal brothers once again.

Zyrelle stood beside his brothers, already knowing what this meeting would be about. It always was.

Across the circular chamber, the council elders watched them from their elevated seats while a holographic image of their galaxy slowly rotated above the center of the room.

One of the oldest councilors rose from his seat, resting both hands on an illuminated staff.

He spoke in the ancient royal language.

“Va’shar kai’zen nor Va’rexis. Sha’ren tal kor va’neth.”

“The bloodline of Varexis must continue. The future cannot wait.”

Several council members nodded in agreement.

Another elder stepped forward.

“Kai’thor ven shal. Tora’shin var etha.”

“You are the future kings of Varexis. It is your duty to produce heirs.”

Eryndor let out a slow breath.

His golden tail struck the floor once.

“Ka’resh va nor.”

“Enough.”

His crimson eyes swept over the council.

“We’ve heard this speech every cycle.”

“And our answer hasn’t changed.”

The chamber fell silent.

An elderly female councilor folded her hands together.

“Then perhaps your answer is the problem.”

Lorvik crossed his arms over his broad chest, his black scaled tail curling behind him.

“And what exactly is that supposed to mean?”

“It means,” she replied calmly, “the women of Varexis have failed to interest you.”

No one argued.

She wasn’t wrong.

The brothers had met countless noblewomen over the years. Beautiful. Intelligent. Powerful.

None of them felt right.

The councilor waved her hand through the hologram.

The image shifted.

Instead of their homeworld…

A small blue planet appeared.

Earth.

Zyrelle tilted his head.

“The primitive world?”

“The archives describe humans as genetically compatible with our species,” the councilor explained. “The report is ancient, but it remains in our database.”

Lorvik raised an eyebrow.

“You expect us to search another planet for mates?”

“If necessary.”

Eryndor looked at the glowing planet floating above the table.

For the first time during the meeting…

The council had suggested something interesting.

Without another word, he turned toward the exit.

His brothers followed.

The doors closed behind them.

The tension disappeared almost instantly.

Eryndor rubbed the back of his neck before letting out a frustrated sigh.

“If I have to sit through one more council meeting about heirs…”

“I’m going to lose my mind.”

Zyrelle laughed.

“I thought you were actually going to throw one of them out the window.”

“I considered it.”

Lorvik smirked.

“I noticed.”

The three brothers entered their private strategy room.

A massive holographic star map lit up as soon as they walked inside, displaying thousands of planets connected by glowing hyperspace routes.

Zyrelle wandered closer to the projection, his long silver tail swaying lazily behind him.

Unlike his older brothers, his tail rarely stayed still. It always betrayed his emotions.

Excitement.

Curiosity.

Impatience.

Right now…

It was definitely curiosity.

“So…” he said.

“What if we actually do it?”

Lorvik looked up.

“Do what?”

“Leave.”

He pointed toward the tiny blue planet floating among the stars.

“Go to Earth.”

Silence settled over the room.

Eryndor stared at the hologram.

Then a slow smile spread across his face.

“You know…”

“I don’t hate that idea.”

Lorvik walked over to the navigation console.

“If we’re serious…”

His fingers danced across glowing controls.

“…our flagship can reach Earth through the outer hyperspace corridor.”

Several new routes appeared across the hologram.

“It’ll take about three weeks.”

“We’ll need cloaking technology.”

“Translation AIs.”

“Recon drones.”

“But…”

He looked back at his brothers.

“It’s possible.”

Zyrelle’s silver tail flicked happily.

“We’d finally get away from the council.”

“We’d see another civilization.”

“Another culture.”

“Another world.”

Eryndor folded his arms.

“And if fate truly has someone waiting for us…”

His eyes remained fixed on the glowing blue planet.

“…perhaps she isn’t on Varexis.”

The brothers exchanged determined smiles.

Their decision had been made.

Tomorrow, they would leave everything they had ever known behind.