Reborn From the Cosmos

“You wouldn’t fare well in a harem drama.”

Alana didn’t bother looking up; with her head bowed and her limbs stretched as far as they could reach, she was too relaxed to ruin the moment by giving Rolly the attention she thrived on. “Want are you talking about?” she asked, tone bored.

“Too sweet. Too trusting. A supporting role at best, the fair and stalwart wife to contrast the villainous lead that poisons the harem beauty.”

“That so?”

“But maybe I’m wrong? Can your light scorch those who dare get too close? Mm, a little depth would make you more compelling.”

It was easy to ignore the senseless rant about Alana’s supposed role in the world. Much harder to ignore was the approaching footfalls of unknown cadence, the even steps accompanied by the sound of something digging into dry earth.

Alana raised her head, first taking in the clawed feet behind the strange sound she registered, then following a pair of long legs up to the familiar face of Little Water. For the first time, the estrazi wasn’t hiding, her strange appearance in full view.

A race designed by dragons. It was a statement that conjured images of towering physicality and effortless majesty. In many ways, Little Water didn’t live up to her sires. She was thin, her supple limbs obscuring her strength. Her blue-tinted skin and small, shimmering scales were beautiful, especially when they caught the light, but didn’t suggest they would be any harder to penetrate than her softer parts. Her curves were understated but the sway of her tail and the slit pupils in her pale blue eyes had an exotic beauty, drawing the eye and holding attention.

Though if Alana ignored her stranger features, Little Water was rather unremarkable, with a pert nose, thin lips, and a forgettable face. An average girl made cold and exacting in pursuit of crazy ambition. If they weren’t from different races, she could see Khan with a woman like her. Someone drawn more to his name than him but who wouldn’t treat him badly. Someone who wouldn’t flinch at the James’ family legacy if it meant advancing her aims.

But she was from another race. The species behind the war with the north and responsible for countless deaths.

If she were to be honest, Alana wasn’t entirely comfortable around Little Water; it was difficult to separate the woman from what she represented. If she weren’t so harmless, or rather if everyone in the clan wasn’t so powerful, the James daughter might not be able to tolerate her presence. As it was, she was waiting to see how it all ended. Like Lou, she’d never contemplated that Geneva could fail; whatever anyone in this world could do to the mind, the succubus could do better. In a way, that was true. She could “fix” Khan and find the truth behind the interference. But the price would be Khan. It wouldn’t be her brother that came back and it would mean crossing one of Lou’s boundaries that Alana had nothing but respect for.

Suddenly, the future was untenable. Alana thought that she could separate the estrazi from the dragon problem; their relationship with humanity was a diplomatic issue, while Ezossoa was, technically, Lou’s half-sister, something under their purview. With Khan truly exiled from the north, on pain of death, the estrazi needed to be handled. She could leave it to her father, but experience showed that to be a terrible idea. Contrary to what Khan thought, she cared about the north’s future. She wanted change as much as him and Yulia. The difference was, she wouldn’t bet on a waste of time to make herself look good or feel better. If she took up that banner, it would be because she saw a road to victory.

Any chance she had at making a difference would need the help of Little Water. Yet, Alana didn’t trust her. Hadn’t from the beginning. Unfortunately, she didn’t know if it was because she felt something off about the estrazi or if her preconceptions were throwing off her instincts.

Hence, the spar. It wasn’t entirely to reassure Lou; she wanted to reassure herself. If there was one time someone showed their true self, it was in battle. No one could hold a mask while a blade was swinging toward their neck. A pounding heart had a way of pushing out the truth.

Alana’s analysis started before the fighting; a person revealed a lot about themselves from the way they approached a battle. Little Water came to the spar dressed for exercise. A long brown skirt covered her legs, but there were deep cuts in the fabric, up to her thighs. The piece moved with every step, fluttering around her. Alana thought the different pieces moving about would be uncomfortable, but she saw the appeal; Little Water’s tail moved without constriction, the tip bouncing with every step.

She didn’t wear a top, her chest covered by a white wrapping, held in place by straps and buckles. Too complicated for underwear. It had to be a style, which suggested the estrazi as a whole didn’t wear much. Surprisingly for a people that lived deep in the snowy wastes beyond Victory, but perhaps being underground kept things warmer.

The combination was simple and open. Unguarded. Alana could draw a few conclusions from it. The one she liked the least was that Little Water wasn’t taking their spar seriously. A close second in distaste was the idea that the other woman wasn’t taking her seriously. The best interpretation was that it was a sign of trust, that Little Water trusted her to moderate her blows and wouldn’t seek a death strike.

All of which were better than the estrazi coming armored and armed, a statement of distrust or bad intentions.

“Good morning, Alana.”

“Morning.” Alana pushed to her feet. Her body was warm and limber, ready for more serious exercise. She couldn’t say the same for Little Water. As she studied the estrazi, she noticed the other woman’s eyes were slightly lidded. It could be signs of a lax mood but given her slumped shoulders and general mood, it might be something else. “Need a moment to wake up?”

“That would be appreciated.” Little Water forced her eyes open. “The early hour is…unusual.”

Alana watched the other woman stretch, extending her body from head to tail. “Used to sleeping in?”

“I suppose. In the brood, there is no sun and no time. There is simply what must be done. Some things are done with more urgency than others but there’s no need to wake when one is still tired.”

“That’d get annoying for the servants fast. Er, do you all have servants?”

“The egg layers, of course. They have no need to concern themselves with minor things. But it is no trouble for our lesser cousins. They exist to serve and stand ready to do so at any hour.”

It was hard to imagine a more privileged statement. “You’re one of those egg layers, aren’t you?”

Little Water winced as she released her ankles, straightening up from the deep bow. “Yes, I am capable of expanding the brood.”

A strange way of putting it. “Then why are you doing this? Hate the idea of being a mother?”

It wasn’t something Alana would blame her for.

“Certainly not. No, this is all for my children.”

“Hah?”

Little Water’s tail lashed. She didn’t want to draw base comparisons, but it reminded Alana strongly of an irritated animal. “An estrazi’s strength comes primarily from the mother, but the father’s strength cannot be ignored. There are a small number of worthy males who will not diminish the worth of a mother, and they are only fertile for a short breeding season every year. Their seed should not…cannot be wasted on untalented females.”

Alana stared at her, trying to hide her judgment. She knew she was failing. “You risked your life and would have married my brother…to have stronger children?”

The estrazi jogged in place, looking noticeably more alert. “If I cannot prove myself intellectually or magically, I can only do so through achievements. Daring can be inherited too. It would give me a chance to mate with a worthy male and my children may be born with the talent I lack.”

It was…almost admirable. “Why does that matter? Do the estrazi care that much about talent?”

The look she got suggested that Alana was particularly slow. The blonde smothered the offense it conjured. Something made easier when Little Water’s expression softened.

“I remember my human asking the same thing. He did not understand. I will explain it as I did to him. Would you like to be strong?”

“Yeah.” Why else would she be training every morning?

“To be wealthy?”

“Who wouldn’t?”

“To live in a warm house?”

“Everyone does.”

“Yes. These are natural desires for you. I don’t have to ask you why you want them; any human would want them. When you see them, you desire them, no matter your current life or ability to achieve them. It is what you are, beyond who you are. Yes?”

“I suppose.”

“A distinguished life. A powerful legacy. The desire to prove oneself is what the estrazi are. I cannot tell you why, because it is not something that needs explaining. It is what we desire, even if some must accept they will never have it. I refuse to accept that I cannot and have risked my life to prove otherwise.”

Little Water settled. “Now, we will prove ourselves to each other.”