Chapter 74

　　Kal sunk into the warm waters of the hot spring, the buildings around him shrouded in steam as the pool`s heat clashed with the cold air of the outdoors. There was a calming and relaxing quality to the way the stream of hot water trickled into the pool, filling the area with its sound.

　　He sighed, sinking deeper into the water until it was up to his chin. Leaning his head back against the lip of the pool, he stared at the night sky of Terra. His eyes unconsciously traced the constellations, trying to track their path to the part of the galaxy where Caledon lay.

　　He couldn`t see it, not from here. But he still longed to view it again. In the water, his left hand formed a fist, the nails dug into his skin, and the muscles trembled. The spasms were growing worse, not better, and he was concerned it would never improve.

　　Ignoring it, Kal thought back to the day`s events. The revelations regarding A.I. and their involvement with the Empire could be shoved aside for now. The consequences were too massive and far-reaching for him to begin dissecting. He focused on something more tangible, smaller and easier to digest for his tired mind.

　　The Ouroboros had been a surprise. Kal expected to have a more significant reaction to seeing it, but the memory of the green-eyed beast remained dormant inside him. Even more astonishing had been the knowledge that his vision inside Atlas had been inside him all along.

　　"Genetic memory," Kal whispered, his voice barely heard over the sounds of the water.

　　Generational knowledge and experiences carried through his family line, encoded into his very DNA. Amelia had made it clear that stressful situations like combat or Piloting the Atlas impacted a person`s body more, thereby being more likely to be at the forefront of any vision he unlocked.

　　It explained why he only saw memories associated with Atlas. It had probably been the most stressful moment of his ancestors` lives, thereby carrying it down to him.

　　Kal let out another deep breath, stilling the conflicting emotions within him. He had been alone for so many years, lacking guidance and direction. Even with the interest of the Emperor and Empress had shown him, he needed help. Was it possible to unlock these memories, to gain something from his ancestor`s experiences?

　　Could these genetic memories be the solution he had been looking for?

　　His thoughts were in turmoil. Kal sat in the pool for hours as the moon climbed high into the winter sky.

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　　Empress Amelia busied herself around the Solarium, watering some of her plants that had been neglected over the past few weeks. She endeavoured to spend as much time with Kalen as possible, but he sometimes needed space from her.

　　With a spray bottle in hand, Amelia was just about to begin when the door to the solarium opened, and a young woman walked into the greenhouse.

　　Mare had a smile on her face to see her Grandmother. It had been over a year since she had left with her parents on holiday to one of the vacation destinations on the far side of the galaxy. New Eden had gardens, beaches and resorts that catered to the Empire`s wealthy elite and Nobility.

　　Mare hadn`t wanted to go initially, but it had been at Amelia`s insistence that she join her parents. In the end, she was glad she had.If you come across this story on Amazon, it`s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

　　Wearing a long, white dress that accentuated her black hair and fair skin, Mare greeted her Grandmother with a hug, gripping the older woman tightly before stepping back.

　　"Well, isn`t this a wonderful surprise! I didn`t expect you back for another few weeks!" Amelia exclaimed, gripping her granddaughter gently by the arms to get a better look at her. The young woman was slightly tanned. When she had last seen her, the ever-present look of boredom on her face had been prominent. But now, it utterly vanished.

　　"I came back early, Mother and Father are extending their stay, and if I didn`t leave New Eden soon, I was going to lose my mind! Vacations are wonderful, but an entire year there is much too long. I don`t understand how they can tolerate it!" Mare explained.

　　"They were under quite a bit of stress over the last few years. I can appreciate their reluctance to return just yet." Amelia clarified.

　　Mare`s Father was the second son of one of the Ducal Houses, while her Mother was Amelia`s youngest daughter. The burden on them to meet the Empire`s expectations was high, and they were often sent to functions and commitments.

　　"Are you not happy to see me, Grandmother?" Mare asked, playfully pouting at the older woman.

　　"Of course I am, darling girl. Don`t be silly. I would have been quite upset if you had stayed with your parents on New Eden. It would have ruined everything I have planned for your birthday celebrations." Amelia said, patting her granddaughter on the hand and leading her to the nearby table where tea and snacks had been prepared earlier.

　　"Celebrations?" Mare asked, confused. Her birthday was usually observed in relative obscurity, with only close friends and family. This was the first time she had ever heard of celebrations` being planned for her.

　　"Of course, you only turn 23 once," Amelia replied, smiling at the uncomfortable look on the young woman`s face.

　　"It`s not a very big milestone to celebrate. Just a few close friends and family?" Mare asked hopefully. The thought of a crowd gathering just for her birthday was embarrassing and more of a hassle than she was willing to entertain.

　　"Oh, heaven`s no! There will be tens of thousands of people attending. I`ve already begun building the venue! White sand beaches, azure blue waters, a fairground and resorts. I`m planning on hosting them for the entire month of June." Amelia said, going into detail on the activities Mare could expect. Amelia even planned nightly concerts by the galaxy`s most popular bands and idols.

　　With each word, Mare`s face turned paler until she snapped.

　　"Tens of thousands?! An entire month! Are you insane!? Grandmother, please don`t do this to me. What`s wrong with how we usually celebrate my birthday? Can you please cancel everything?" Mare begged, her pale face flushing red.

　　"Of course I can`t, my darling girl. The invitations have already been sent out." Amelia replied, hiding her smile as her granddaughter nearly had a fit.

　　"This is a disaster," Mare muttered.

　　"Don`t worry. I made sure to invite all of your friends as well." Amelia added.

　　"Friends? Wouldn`t their status already include them in the invitations?" Mare asked, confused. Her official friends were the youth amongst the nobility, all around her age, heirs and scions of ancient noble houses. One of her best friends was the daughter of a Duke. They all would have been invited based on their status alone.

　　"Why would you need to take special notice to invite them?" Mare inquired.

　　"They would never have been invited without their connection to you. I made sure to seek them out from your friend`s list in that silly little game you play." Amelia replied, and this time she could barely hide her amusement at her own antics.

　　"You mean you invited the people I play VR with!?" Mare screeched out, her voice raising an octave.

　　They had no idea who she was. How would she explain to them that they were suddenly invited to Terra to attend the birthday celebration of the Empress` granddaughter? She would never be able to play VR again, one of the few activities that she truly enjoyed.

　　"Of course, it would be rude to ignore the people close to you on your special day," Amelia responded flippantly.

　　Mare began to pace the room, muttering to herself angrily. Amelia watched her with delight, secure in the knowledge that her granddaughter would be too concerned over these events to worry about Kalen`s attendance.

　　"If you`re that worried about it, I`m sure you`ll come up with some reason for them being invited. Besides, it isn`t as if you have to greet everyone personally. They are here to enjoy the celebrations. Only the Nobility will attend the formal ceremony. Unless you want to invite one of them especially? Maybe you have a boy you are interested in?" Amelia taunted.

　　Throwing her hands up into the air, Mare stalked out of the room, intent on doing damage control. Her Grandmother`s smile followed her out.