“Pax, but do you know of their crystals?”
Evelyn frowned and shook her head slightly.
“At one point in the early moments of space travel, Luxirian crystals were the only sources of energy capable of powering vessels. The larger the crystal, the greater the distance traveled. But the resource quickly became depleted or too expensive. During that time…”
“Are you referring to the Dark Age?” she asked.
He nodded, familiar with the human term for that time in history. He reached up to brush a lock of her dark hair away from her cheek, his fingertips lingering on the soft skin there. “What do you know about it?”
She murmured, “It was when space travel completely…ceased. Economies collapsed, since they were so reliant on exports from other planets and Quadrants.”
“Pax,” he said. “Simply because of an over-reliance on Luxiria’s resources. It was doomed from the beginning. Until the Keriv’i.”
She gave him a soft smile. “The end of the Dark Age was because of the Keriv’i?”
“Pax. Kutruu of Kriv created the first firestone, with a specialized technique he had practiced forjurvi. For decades,” he amended.
Realization lit her face. “Now I know why they sounded familiar. My father used to use them for his fleet. He was a merchant. He traveled to different Quadrants often and he would speak of firestones. There was other fuel, of course, that other races developed recently, but he would always choose firestones. He said that they were lasting, dependable fuel, that so many used them, even during the Great War.”
“We exported them far,” he said. Searching for the equivalent word in English, he said next, “Kutruu of Kriv was my direct ancestor, myVirku, through my mother’s line.”
Her lips parted in surprise. “He was?”
Khiva nodded. At one point, he’d been proud of it, to know he’d descended from a great mind that had brought an end to a dark time in history where so many suffered, that had catapulted not only his family, but the Keriv’i race into status and wealth and prosperity. He’d been proud to continue the work of his ancestor, for the greater good and advancement of all the Quadrants, not just his own.
Now, he knew better. What had once been an emblem of pride for his race became its downfall.
“Khiva?” she whispered softly, her brows furrowing.
“Our planet was destroyed during the Great War,” he told her, meeting her gaze, “because of the firestones.”
Evelyn sucked in a soft breath of air.
“I often wonder if my ancestor hadn’t created them, if Kerivu would still exist. If we would still live there in peace. I wonder if he and the continued work by myself and my line had caused the destruction that killed so many.”
“You cannot think like that,” she murmured softly after a moment. Concern touched her eyes. “It will drive you mad, Khiva.”
“It is difficult not to.”
Evelyn went quiet, studying him carefully. Finally, she blew out a small breath and said, “I’m sorry about your planet, Khiva. I can’t imagine the sheer magnitude of that loss or what you and your people must’ve felt.”
It was easy, he realized, talking with her like this. He hadn’t spoken of firestones or Kerivu for a long time, not even with the Krave that resided at Madame Allegria’s, though they had become like brothers to him.
It felt…healing. He’d kept his past and the fate of his people beneath the surface for years, but it felt freeing to speak of it.
Evelyn continued softly, “I can say that greatness comes at a price. Everything does. And I’m sorry you and your people were the ones that had to pay, like so many during that time, but without pioneers like your ancestor who helped advance the universe instead of taking away from it, where would we be? Fuel is more precious than any other resource, especially now, especiallythen.”
Khiva held his breath, feeling her words sink into his bones.
“You blame the firestones for your planet’s destruction, but I can say with confidence that it was that very fuel, and others, that helped end the Great War, that saved so many lives in the process,” she finished. “You should be proud of that.”
Khiva thought over her words, trying to see it from her perspective. But the guilt he felt was too deeply imbedded. Instead, he said, “You are wise for one so young.”
She dragged her eyes across his features and for the first time, he wondered if she thought him attractive or if he was too…alien for her to think so.
“I’m notthatmuch younger than you, Khiva,” she noted, her tone teasing. “Besides, I’m practically ancient on Everton now. That has to count for something.”
Despite the heaviness of what they’d just spoken of, Khiva felt amusement spark in his chest once more.
