From the large windows of his bedroom chambers, Alessandro gazed out over the blue bay waters of Terra Nova, the sun rising gently on the horizon. In the distance, the ruins of the old city lay waiting for its soon re-birth. When Alessandro had envisioned the new city, one he named Tramonto, he had designed it with an aerial view in mind. From above, the city was meant to resemble a rose, its petals unfurling across the land. Positioned on the hillside, Tramonto could also be seen as a rose from the opposite side of the bay, framed by the natural contours of the landscape. The streets of the city were laid out in a flowing, circular pattern, not geometrically precise, but organic, like the curves of a blooming flower. The buildings rose in varying heights, each designed with sweeping, crescent-like shapes that echoed the gentle curve of a petal.
Alessandro and his team had worked tirelessly, day and night, to prepare the designs. The engineers and workers were now ready to begin construction, but Tramonto might never come to realization for the Ars Pherians. The Sumer danger was imminent, and yet entirely unexpected. For Alessandro, it was unexpected in the moment, but as he looked back now, he realized he had always known that this day would come.
"I don’t think we’re alone in the universe," young Prince Alessandro said to his teacher. "People on Earth can’t find them yet. But there must be others. People on Earth haven’t found us yet, either."
The teacher paused, as if weighing the truth in Alessandro’s words. "Yes," she replied, "there’s a possibility we can’t deny."
“Then why don’t we take precautions?” young Alessandro asked.
“Because it doesn’t make sense to allocate resources to something with such a low probability,” the teacher answered. “We choose to focus on the welfare of our people here, on Ars Pheria. Besides, what kind of readiness could we even prepare for, when we don’t even know who, or what, else is out there in the universe?”
It had sounded logical at sixteen when his teacher had said so. But now he wished Ars Pheria could think irrationally, just like the rest of the universe. How could a civilization of rational thought defend itself against chaos? How would Ars Pheria survive unless its people thought like the Sumers, or whatever preposterous alien civilization might come next? Maybe they were supposed to do what didn’t make sense to them.
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What Alessandro really wanted was to talk to his father about Ava and the Ghull, about his sickness, and how much they still didn’t understand about the universe and the secrets beyond the limits of their small world. But despite his urge, he knew his thoughts were scattered and incomplete. Instead, he asked,
“Does Carla know I’m back?”
He didn’t have to think twice to decide that he needed to put an end to his proposed marriage once and for all, it would be best for everyone.
“Probably she does but please avoid her before the Senate meeting. She’ll only understand when she learns, along with everyone else,” said the Emperor. He eyed Alessandro for a moment, then lowered his gaze to his fingers, playing with a letter opener and tracing its handcrafted silver engravings.
“Alessandro, tell me, what is it that bothers you about Carla? I sense your mind shifting about marriage, and this is not directly related to the perils ahead of us.”
How Alessandro longed to confess to his old father that he didn’t love Carla, that he loved another woman. He wanted to confess how he both loved and hated, how he cried like an Earthian child. How he struggled to control the new intensities burning in his veins. He wanted to hug his old father and cry on his shoulder. But instead, he acted like himself, and like an Ars Pherian.
“Father, I have difficulty connecting with Carla. Our thought processes and learning styles are completely different. I believe we’re not the best match. I will do my best to dissolve our union in the most agreeable and gentle manner,” Alessandro explained, offering a rationale he hoped would be acceptable to his Emperor father.
“Very well, then,” said Sephianos. “Talk to her as soon as possible after the Senate meeting. Suggest that she announce the cancellation as a decision made on her part, in light of the dire situation facing Ars Pheria. She should understand.”
“Yes, of course,” said Alessandro. He felt relieved, though somewhat surprised, that the Emperor did not insist on the marriage. His mind was solely focused on the Sumerians for the time being. Alessandro couldn’t shake the guilt in his heart for being thankful to the Sumerians, who had saved him from a marriage he despised.
