Tales From Cassiopeia/The Keepsakes

## The Keepsakes

"**The Keepsakes**" is the fourth chapter and short story of Book One of the *Tales From Cassiopeia* anthology series, serving as the final chapter of Book One. This fourth chapter was released privately on August 20, 2021 and publicly published to the site on May 23, 2022.

The story follows war veteran Hestia Quenn in her old age, as she narrates and details events from her past that are tied to the keepsakes she owns.

## Plot

Everything I keep in my bedroom serves a purpose, no matter how big or small. No matter how practical or symbolic. They act as gateways to the different parts of my life. Gifts and rewards, both from loved ones and from strangers, and beyond. All of these pieces are a reflection of me, and so I've kept them neat and tidy over the years.

My many, many long years.

The large quilt laid over my bed was made using special cotton from Makhai. My sister weaved it herself. The material choice was intentional, my sister told me. She saids he wanted something that reflected my fighting spirit. I laughed when she told me that. But the quilt itself was beautifully made, I had to admit. It kept me through a good number of cold winters here at home.

When I drape the quilt over myself, I'm reminded of my sister. The warmth that covers me is that same warmth from her passion. Her love for the things that inspired her. Now she lives thousands of light years away, off chasing her dream. Even as an old woman like me, she still manages to stay a dreamer.

When I hold onto her quilt, it reminds me to keep on dreaming.

The long scarf draped over my vanity stool belonged to my husband. I remember the very night he gave it to me. I had a depressive episode that winter. I always seem to fall into that same pit during that time of year. Sometimes it isn't so bad. Sometimes I can barely muster the strength to get out of bed. But that night, all I could do was cry.

I was distraught, leaning against the side of my bed as I wept on the floor. The memories I'd like to forget haunting me at the perfect moment. My husband came in, and sat down next to me. There were no words at first; only his arms wrapped around me. It was then that he took off the scarf wrapped around his neck. Deep blue, like the moon of my homeworld. He wrapped his scarf around me and spoke. His voice was always soft whenever I was like this. It comforted me.

“Whenever you have this scarf on you,” he said to me, “it'll be like I'm there with you, even when I'm not.”

He knew I easily fell into this mood whenever I was left alone to my thoughts. A single bad memory could ruin my day and fill me with despair. But knowing that a part of him would be with me regardless of anything gave me strength. I was never truly alone.

His scarf with me, and with it, his spirit. Forever.

Pinned against the dark-painted walls of my room was a medal of honor I received from the Republic. I assumed it was their way of thanking me for my service during the Faceless Wars.

Seven long years.

A few other soldiers received this medal too, so I'm not so special. Regardless, it was nice getting recognized for my efforts, no matter how small. The medal even had my name inscripted onto its silver surface—"Hestia Quenn of Starlight Platoon".

A good number of my fellow soldiers in Starlight Platoon didn't make it to the end of the war. There were less than a dozen of us by the time we finally achieved victory. So many allies lost, and yet… We still won. And we saved the galaxy.

I still struggle with wrapping my head around the bittersweetness of it.

Under my bed, that I'm sure no one besides my husband was aware about, is a small box. And in that box, a pink crystal cut into the shape of a butterfly. And the thing is? It was never my item to keep, but it had nowhere else to go.

I fought in the Battle of Pastatha. A horrific battle took place beneath the waves that engulfed the planet. Giant pieces of scrap metal torn from ships in the atmosphere descended slowly into the depths of the ocean.

The Faceless invaded our submarine vessel. Took two of my own allies from Starlight Platoon. Vailla Klanos and Shess Zhyrandin.

Good people.

We managed to take down all of the masked monsters that raided our vessel, but one still clung onto his dear life, at least for just a tiny moment. His mask broke off, revealing the man that was underneath.

He was human. Pink eyes, hair in short locs. He was going to die.

“I've made a mistake,” he told me, in his final breaths. “Please… Find Kumi. Give her this. And tell her papa and mama are sorry.”

In that moment, I saw the only shred of humanity he had left, before there was nothing left. He handed me the crystal butterfly, and that was the last thing he ever did.

I never understood why I decided to keep it for so long. It wasn't like I'd be able to find the girl he gifted this crystal too. Without an address or a full name… It would've been impossible to find this ‘Kumi'. The galaxy was just too big.

Despite everything, the crystal butterfly still stays kept in a small box underneath my bed. Given to me by a terrorist. Again… It's a complicated feeling. Confusing.

I feel like keeping it reminds me that… Well, I'm still trying to figure it out myself.

This next item that I keep on my shelves has a much lighter story. It was given to me by my granddaughter.

Dasha. She gave me a paper crown she made in school one day.

She's still only a child, and was a child when she crafted it for me. The paper was a baby blue, like the blankets I saw her mother wrap her in when she was still just an infant. It was held together with elementary glue, and had persistent crayon drawn onto it to mimic fancy jewels.

I laughed, asking her why she made it for me. She told me what she learned in class that day. The story of an ancient queen that ruled over our homeworld of Yilleycit hundreds of years ago. She said this storybook her teacher showed the class made the queen look like me. Dasha thought of me as a queen, so all I did was laugh and smile.

A child's spirit is something that I always hold dear. Optimistic and hopeful. Feelings I need to find for myself.

The spirit faded away as my own two children grew older, and I have yet to see it in Dasha. But I know it'll come someday, whether I like it or not.

It's something I've come to accept. It's part of growing up. She'll stop making paper crowns someday, but maybe she'll make bigger and greater things in the years to come. Something to honor all of us by.

Everything I keep in my bedroom serves a purpose, no matter how big or small. No matter how happy or sad the memories that they bring. All of these pieces are a reflection of me, in some way or another.

So I always keep them around. Neat and tidy.

And I'll keep doing so as long as I live.

For my many, many long years.

## Appearances

### Dramatis Personae

* **Hestia Quenn** - Human. Our aged narrator.
* **Hovua Quenn** - Human. Sister of Hestia. (Mentioned only)
* **Gendol Quenn** - Human. Late husband of Hestia. (Flashback)
* **Gekido Tataru** - Human. Dying and regretful Faceless follower. (Flashback)
* **Dasha Quenn** - Human. Granddaughter of Hestia. (Flashback)

### Other Characters

* Vailla Klanos (Mentioned only)
* Shess Zhyrandin (Mentioned only)
* Kumi Tataru (Mentioned only)
* Ancient Queen of Yilleycit (Mentioned only)

### Locations

* Cassiopeia Galaxy
	+ Outer Core
		- Sokhong Sector
			* Yilleycit
			* Yilmonsa (Mentioned only)
	+ Central Expanse (Flashback)
		- Xiros Sector (Mentioned only)
			* Makhai (Mentioned only)
		- Pastatha (Flashback)

### Events

* Faceless Wars (Flashback)
	+ Battle of Pastatha (Flashback)

### Organizations and Titles

* United Cassiopeian Republic (Flashback)
	+ Cassiopeian Military (Flashback)
		- Starlight Platoon (Flashback)