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**3/Chapter 30.  Playoff Game.**

The next day in Yumlaiance passed quickly until the time of the meeting. Omega's girl was catching up on her new duties, and had a few minutes to chat with the ambassador,a middle-aged man with brown hair and a beard.

"Soyou have stayed with Colonel  Rant?" he asked when he was entrusted to him  by Gina.

-It is an outing of cultural interest, he says he wants to show me some of the customs of his people, and that we will go to a sporting event. - She replied with expression mixture of expectation and interest. –

His interlocutor could not help but smile, he assumed that event would be that, in fact, it had been reported through some of the officials and yumlaincer who interacted with the embassy of Omega in Dumlans.

-Usted was one of those who established the first contact. I'm glad to have her here. It will be able to help us a lot to integrate into this planet.

Gina smiled at her turn,even blushing a little to answer modestly.

-I have hardly treated some members of the yumlaincer and nataclier legation, I am not an expert,  but I will do everything in my power to collaborate.

"I know he will, I had the honor of meeting his mother when she was added on Earth."     – It looks a lot like her. The same enthusiasm for building bridges of communication and getting to know other cultures.

"I thank you very much, but I can't compare myself to my mother. – Declared an even embarrassed Gina. –

Of course, she was light years away from her mother's experience and achievements. However, the ambassador must have guessed those thoughts and immediately added.

-Everything will come, but I remember her at her same age and they were equal in that enthusiasm. -  he sentenced  to add. -I hope sheenjoys that event, she will tell me. - The diplomat wanted her. –

-Yes, sir. - The girl agreed. -

And he devoted himself to other matters until the time came. At last, athis word,  Yener went to find Gina at his embassy. They had to hurry because the meeting would begin in unos twosexdanes  and he wished that the girl could attend the details.

- Hello - he greeted her when he arrived to pick herup. - Are you ready?

-Sí  - She agreed wearing a casual sports outfit and asking not without some insecurity. - Am I doing well like this?

-It doesn't matter!, they are not maniacs with the dressing room in the matches  - he smiled nonchalantly who nevertheless affirmed with gentleness and sincerity. –  And,  by the way,  you, whatever you wear, you are always beautiful.

Gina welcomed that with satisfaction and smiled, of course  this boy did not cut himself when it came to making  compliments. And  he seemed to really say it, ignoring any second intention. Perhaps it is that at that time Yener's mind was only dominated by.

-Come on, we have to leave now or we will miss the beginning! - he urged with visible trepidation.  -

Holding her hand she squeezed the step towards the slider, this time they did not take the  common, the boy brought one of a particular type. A kind of  levitating vehicle that both boarded and that Yener quickly drove towards the pavilion.

-With the other we would not have arrived, at this time many people go and it takes one more sexdan.  - explained the boy. -

Gina could see the streets of the city, flanked by towering buildings that looked like glass and then moving to landscaped and very green areas, with trees. They seemed to have suddenly entered a large forest, albeit one of orderly layout.

-Uldaren Park. It is dedicated to a mythical forest that existed beyond the borders of the ancient kingdom of Yum. Or so it was narrated in the stories. - Yener told her companion. –

Gina had been reading a bit about it during her trip to Yumlaiance. He even went so far as to ask Lieutenant Renar. She smiled then commenting funny.

-She told me that ese lugarera almost like a dream forest,  that formerly elves lived in it. As a child I sometimes  imagined that I was onthe go, playing with them.

Although he also remembered that the officer yumlaincer then became serious and added.

- He also told methathe  alwaysimagined there  andfelt safe.

-According to the ancient legends  that it was a place where evil couldnot enter. The goddess Maray herself walked through those forests. – Yener explained. –

"Well, Jilia loved to talk about it. She didn't seem to be that sober when she referenced those things.

"So you've noticed too, huh?" - Inquired Yener. –

As the girl observed him without understanding, he clarified it.

Lieutenant Renar is not as tough as she would have you believe.

-No, of course not, I think she is a very nice woman. And I loved all the things he told me about magical places and legends of this world. In the case of that forest, it even seemed to have been there from so many details he gave me. -  The girl affirmed. -

Yener nodded, to answer.

"Yes, Lieutenant Renar was right. It is said that this forest was magical.  And that many wonderful creatures dwelt there.

-I wish I could visit it sometime. – Gina declared. –

- Haha! For that I'm afraid they  are just that, legends, so  you'll have to dream of it. Itis a place that only exists in the imagination. –  Yener sentenced  visibly funny. –

That seemed a pity to his interlocutor. The fact is thatthey roasted that park and headed down another large avenue towards the stadium. It could already be seen even from a distance. It was a huge building with an elliptical shape and a lot of height.

-Here you can see other legends. These of the sport and that are real. The best in the galaxy. - Yener assured him. -

He left it parked in a square of this one that he had reserved and guided  Gina to the stands. Once they entered the sports venue itself, the girl observed with surprise that almost the entire public already occupied their seats.

-This is huge and full of people! - She said now authentically intimidated by the ambient noise that could be heard around her.- It even seems greater to me now with the whole  audience, than when I saw it empty.

- Here there will be about one hundred and twenty-five thousand people, when  the capacity is reduced. - Yener informed him  that he added. - And one hundred and fifty thousand to its maximum extent. If you look you will see that the lower stands are for player-like creatures. They fit about ten  thousand. But  depending on their size they have almost covered thirty percent of the surface of the localities.

Sure enough Gina and her interlocutor sat on one of the bottoms at a respectable height, perhaps  twenty meters above the field. Below the localities were huge and quite beings,  similar to those she saw the day before,  occupied those seats. Although these were mere  spectators. She  tried to think about the approximate size of such a large  enclosure,  but the ambient music continually distracted her. Yener also told him that there were two huge markers simultaneous to the funds. Although she was at one end of  the  stadium only saw the one facing  them. The young woman calculated that it should  be  about two hundred meters away. With all his vision it was clearso,  therefore, it must have been  tremendous!

-How high do you think this field is up to the  ceiling? - Gina wanted to know, because the pavilion was covered. -

- I'm not sure, but at least I estimate about 30 icroms. – He replied trying to weigh it in his calculations -...

- I don't know the equivalence. - She  told him visibly disoriented.  -

-Ah forgive! - He smiled silly  - I always forget about it. Let's see  - he consulted with his chrono- portable calculator, where he had memorized the data and after a simple rule of three operation announced. - About 82.5 of your meters.

At that moment the players of the visiting team came out,  beings equally large and strange to the girl who were greeted with thunderous whistles. Yener was the first to issue them adding between proud and confident.

-These don't last us even three  games! Well  at least two  yes, because there is no choice but to play them, of course. - Corrected funny  -

-So who is the one who wins? - The young woman wanted to know. - Wasn't she goingtoplay  today?

-Well, - He detailed his contertulio. - Really the tie is the best of three matches. You have to win two.  Aswe have court factor in favor we start here. Then my team will go to  Bidijar. It is a city that is in the south of Anlad. The second match will be played there. And when we win it's over.

-Very sure you are of that. - The perplexed girl commented to him. -

Yener simply smiled amusingly as a thunderous beep was heard against the visitors.

-This is hell! -  Ssentence Gina who was stunned by that when she asked - Do you fall so badly?

-What's up! -  Rio  Yener rejoicing at the girl's expression. -  This is pure spectacle. We have nothing against these guys. Deep down we get along  well. You will see if one day you come to see a game against the  Campirians  or the  Histar!And if it were the Natclis I won't  even tell you! Then it  will be hell, for them of course.

Gina nodded,  but begged not to have to witness that. Meanwhile, the music continued to play and the players of the visiting team exercised with all kinds of stretches and tickets to the basket. The most spectacular hubbub erupted in the countryside when the members of the  Prehistar  made their act of appearance. The public address of the field howled the name dragging it gutturally saying to the uncontainable excitement of the spectators.

- ¡Priiissstaaaar  Di  Daaaamlaaans!.

Congregating in the center of the field, the players waved  their arms or whatever,  raised to their enthusiastic crowd and set out to take off a kind of  tracksuit  they were wearing to begin the warm-up.

"Wow, these  are yours," mused Gina who saw her partner get up from his seat waving his arms as he screamed like the rest of those fans.  -

-Go for them! Crush them!

The players continued to evolve on the court with their pre-conditioning tasks  and the public seemed to have lost all interest in them. Although Gina watched perplexed by the display of strength that these colossal creatures demonstrated. After some kills they made against the basket, she asked her host.

- Will he endure that? – He indicated by referring to the hoop. –

-Yes, quiet. It is made of ultra-reinforced alloy of armoranium,a material we use even for our warships. It would withstand a carrying force of several hundred of your tons. - He commented without giving it any importance. -

The truth was that the rest of the spectators were as if nothing, rather devoting their attention to other things. For example,in the scoreboards could be enjoyed  music videos, in the center of the court three-dimensional images of singers performing some other theme. Gina liked that and listened attentively as did the  others. The music was quite lively and images of the team's best moments were also offered. That was part of the addendum to raise the morale of the public, Yener explained to the stunned girl, although, the yumlaincer reiterated that, for that occasion, it was not necessary. However,    it was always fun and everyone liked it. At least, that helped Gina to have an entertaining time and catch up on the tastes of yumlaincer. He saw that these people were quite far from the image of military stretches of space with which he initially labeled them and he was glad that it was so. The songs continued for a while longer and she tried to listen to them carefully, occasionally interrupted by the indications of an enthusiastic Yener who, pointing to the  video scoreboard,  pointed some of those plays  commenting.

-Look at  that one! And that other one,  what!

Gina just smiled without much conviction and nodded, amused yes, by the euphoria of the boy.

-Hey. - She said, wishing to know. - Are these huge creatures also inhabitants of your planet or do they come from other worlds?

-The truth, I'm not too sure. I've known some of the players since I was a kid, the team from teams quite a few years ago, I mean. And I've been told that they're descendants of creatures that came to Yumlaiance some of your centuries ago. Although others maintain that their ancestors are natives of this same planet. I never gave too much importance. - He admitted adding funny. - They can be wherever they want as long as they win.

The girl nodded. It wouldn't be so strange. After all, his brother and Gordon had told him about the adventure they had against a kind of intelligent saurianswho practiced a similar sport. Or so he thought he remembered.

-It would be worthy of a thesis of historiography or anthropology. Well, rather about anthropomorphic creatures. - Corrected funny. -

And finally, between these and other disquisitions, after about ten minutes, the music and the warm-up were over and both teams retreated falling on the pavilion a kind of expectant silence.

"And  now?"  she inquired in surprise.

- No more and no less than they prepare to jump on the court properly. -  he explained calmly.  -

And indeed it was, after a few seconds the template of the opposing team was presented between boos and some other timid applause, these  won the battle finally when the shelling of names was concluded and the opponents greeted from the center.

- I have already told you that everything is a show to liven up theatmosphere. - Yener smiled and applauded as well. -  Politeness does not take away from bravery. Look!, - pointed again to the scoreboard in which some Prehistar plays set to music appeared again, some were highly acclaimed, they were the best of the current season, which had led them to that tie. Good thing that now the boy did not insist that she see them  all!

And finally, after  a couple of minutes, the local players were announced. Each of them chanted by the full field. Once  introduced, everyone was very  quiet. Both  players and audience.

-What happens now?Why is there so much silence suddenly? - Gina wanted to know that she did not stop being puzzled at every moment.  -

- Our planetary anthem. -  Yener informed him, in a very respectful way now, standing up like the rest of the people.  -

The girl imitated him, she was not going to clash with the whole audience. The national anthem sounded and everyone sang it in unison. Gina was impressed by the unity that existed in that world, even though they might be sporting rivals. As  he had understood from what Yener told him, some provinces or regions could not even see each other because of this, but when they played their national anthem they were all equally passionate and at the same time recited almost more than singing, full of fervor. I could almost understand  all  the lyrics and the truth is that it was beautiful because it said.

"Over the hills and beyond, under the mantle of the stars and the solar wind.

There is our beloved ancestral home. The land that gives us life and freedom.

Flanked by the great mountains, in our green valleys, our homeland flourishes.

The union of the kingdoms is their strength and we will defend it with our lives.

Beyond the great chasms we will stand firm resisting the enemy.

Our king at the front with his best soldiers and above all, the gods protect us.

From the countryside to the sea, from the sands of the desert,  to the ice of the north.

The eternal Covenant of Kingdoms will never be destroyed.

It will extend over the hills and far beyond, from where the view reaches.

And our children's children will perpetuate it forever. Day after day.

The legacy of our fathers and the hopes of all our peoples go together.

With them and for them we will endure the ardor of battle and the harsh trials.

To which, since  the dawn of time, we are confronted.

In continuous struggle against the terrible powers of the shadows.

For the blood of the heroes and the fervor of the patriots!

Long live our Empire!  Long live Yumlaiance!

May Maray,Alex,  Ishir and  Kail preserve the Eternal Covenant between the kingdoms!

So that we may rise up where our longings dwell.

Over the hills and beyond."

   When the hymn was over, the girl still hadn't been able to fully translate it. She asked Yener to help her, and he did it full of pride.

- You will see -. He told her taking advantage of the moments before the start. - This hymn was composed precisely on a high hill by the troops of a combined army of the then newly created Alliance of Yumlaiance, which, in time, would become an Empire. At that time the troops were about to fight a major battle against the enemy's forces and things were not going too well for them. Internal dissensions had arisen. After many struggles between the various candidates, the king of Yum had prevailed who became the first emperor of the House that still reigns today. But some soldiers did not want to follow another king other than their own. However, the presence of the enemy, which far outnumbered them, managed to eliminate misgivings. So, it is not known exactly how it started or who did it, but some of the most amenimosous men began to sing.

The girl listened to him interestedly and third believed to guess.

-And then they composed the  song!

"In that there is a lot of difference of opinions," hereplied. - No one  is too sure. Some say that originally that was an ancient tune of Yum that was adapted for  the time. That the lyrics had nothing to do with it and that later, on the music, a new one was composed. Others it was previously composed of some Tibinco soldiers  who were mercenaries in Yum's troops. And there are also those who prefer to think of an inspiration that came from the gods. There is almost one opinion for every  Yumlaincer! – Riveted with a wide smile.  -

-And  what do you think? - She wanted to know by giving him a watchful eye and a smile of complicity.  -

Yener thought for a few seconds and replied with a tint of colloquial analysis.

- I'm not sure, it could be that several things were mixed. But I like to believe that it came from people's hearts when they needed it. And of course they did not do badly, because, as the song says, they were on high hills and could see beyond the enemy, that served to draw an enveloping maneuver that blocked the opposing troops. They could not take advantage of their numerical advantage and were largely defeated. Since then and I would almost say that by a tacit agreement between all the soldiers and their generals and kings, that song was used as a battle anthem and later established as a national anthem.

           Gina was amazed by the feeling and beauty of the song, although of course, she could not understand it to its full extent. I wish I had time to do it! And there were more things that missed him, he did not hesitate to comment to his interlocutor, in line with that.

"What I don't understand is that. The history of your world that I have studied says that Yumlaiance as it is today was not born until about a thousand years ago. But that song seems earlier.

-Actually, that song commemorates an alliance, hence the name Yumlaiance, as you yourself have translated into your language, the eternal covenant of the kingdoms. But for several more centuries the various kingdoms, republics and territories that made up our planet continued to be, in practice, independent. Even having conflicts between them again. The title of emperor was nothing more than something honorific that was awarded to the monarch of Yum, it was not until decades after Mann's flight when another intelligent life was discovered in the universe,and,  seeing that we were not alone, it was when our world was unified. Even so, even today, each kingdom has its representative bodies and some laws of its own. Despite the fact that foreign policy and defense is coordinated from Dumlans. Arguably, we are more of a Confederation of kingdoms than a united kingdom. - Yener explained. -

-You then resemble the Confederation of Omega. - She pointed. -

-Well, in many things yes. We also have some Tirelius. - He smiled. - Separatist groups in Anlad and especially in Tibinco. They want to be totally independent across the board. Fortunately, they are in the minority. Although very irritating. - Sentenced the boy. -

But he could not deal much more with that issue because the party was going to start. On the court the players greeted each other. There were only five left per side, who, stripped of their tracksuits, remained on the track. Despite everything, the girl wanted to make one last question related to that issue. He was curious because he found that behavior somewhat paradoxical. Remembering Yener's stories about the strong rivalries that existed between some of those teams.

"And  when you play against those  Campirians  do you all sing the anthem  too?" she asked quite candidly.  -

Yener looked at her as if she was crazy and replied even surprised.

- Of course we are all from Yumlaiance. What a question! No fan of our world, no matter how fanless he is and no matter how much he plays against a team of ours, would think of stopping singing the anthem. That's far above any sporting rivalry. Well, except if you are a disgusting separatist, tibinqués or anlades. Those are worse than natacliers. At least our allies are not from this planet and look after the interests of theirs.- Declared the young man who after a few moments of pause smiled attracting the attention of the girl. - Look! The  referee is in the middle with the ball...

That's just the way the referee was, another bug of similar characteristics and size to those who played was in the center, with a player from each team on the side,  readyto jump. The times of the markers were arranged and after a sound of a high whistle and a horn the referee threw the ball into the air and both players jumped for it, touching  Buruq  of the  Prehistar  and sending it to his base,  Cocou, for general revelry.

- Normal-. Yener said  with the satisfaction of confirming a routine forecast.  -

And the match began, the players were moving at a dizzying speed. So fast they were that Gina could hardly even follow them with her eyes. The  first basket of the  Prehistar  did not take long to arrive, assistance of  Cocou  for  Naranjiver to score under hoop,as described byYener, telling him the names of those players. That  raised a standing ovation.

"Theyare very fast!,- she said to her  contertulio,  I can hardly tell.  -

- Yes, it's true, but you have to get used to it. Anyway, when they broadcast them there is a camera mode slowed down by three quarters to appreciate their movements at our speed. Of course, the match also lasts a fourth more. – His interlocutor clarified that he seemed self-absorbed trying not to lose detail. -

The girl nodded stunned she did not understand it very well, the truth is thatassoon asshe saw the ball pass.

- And you can see them? - He wanted to know with a stunned gesture. –

-It costs me a little, but after years attending the games and with my Kail skills I am able to follow their movements, yes, I have to concentrate. - Yener smiled and riveted. - It is a good training.

Although it was clear that the players and many spectators would have to perceive it too,as  Cocou  cut a pass from the opponent and ran towards the rival basket, he crushed it hanging himself to the revelry of the entire public.

-Takenow! - exclaimed Yener jumping from the seat as if he were akid. - So,  so!

The girl was hallucinated, with such force that bug could destroy whatever they put in the middle. Of course, Yener had explained to him that the baskets were designed to withstand that andmore. Well, other  even stronger and bigger players hung themselves as well.

- A question - she timidly exposed as if it were blasphemy (and  surely it was) disturbing the concentration that the boy had in theencounter. - Whathappens if the ball escapes them and they send it against the public? They could kill someone.

-What's up! - rior he who explained rightaway. -  You see, the entire playing field is separated from the stands by a magnetic shield that repels the ball, since it carries components highly sensitive to the frequency of magnetism. It has a principle similar to the meteorite protection fields of  spacecraft. It is virtually impossible for it to go through the shield. In  basketball this is less  important, but in football, when you kick Diment  don't    see! -  He waved a snorting hand to add with admiration. - He has ever sent the ball out and do not see how it sounds when  colliding with the protection. His shot reaches three hundred  radits  per  dane!

Gina pulled out her own calculator. According to this, a  radit  was equivalent to 1.5 kilometers and a  dane,it was curious, but it was exactly an hour. Another  surprising coincidence, although  she was now busy with her calculations.

"Fourhundred and fifty kilometers per  hour?" she  exclaimed inshock.  -

- A lot, right? - heagreed,  adding with obvious  amazement. - Well, the goalkeepers sometimes stop it! One day you have to come and watch a game and you will check it out.

Gina squeezed out a faint smile, although she did not respond to that invitation. Afterwards,both she and her host devoted their attention to the  meeting. The  Prehistar  was gaining the advantage and had no problem dominating the first half by twelve points. At the break  of that period Yener invited  her friend to take something that was sold in the shops of the countryside.

- Don't you have popcorn? - She asked out of inertia. -

- The what? - The boy wanted to know without understanding. -

- Nothing! -  Be rior she was happy to be the one who surprised  him  in, (wasit said in offside?, if that was it) this time and sentenced funny. - We're not going to be the same in  everything!

Yener assumed that it was some meal from Omega and instead he offered her some white balls of a slight salty taste, which were very good. Asking.

- Have you tried sacour?

"This is almost thesame!,- Gina thought without leaving her amazement. - As if our planets were twins in most respects!

After the break the second half resumed and things remained the same, the  home team accumulating advantage with authority,  seemed to have desarbolado to their opposite. Yener was calm  now and only got up from time to time with phrases like.

- Referee, are you blind? that has been lacking!

Behind them were heard some exclamations that Gina did not know, she asked Yener  and he only replied with a half wry smile to add.

- Let's say that it is not convenient for you to say that in a diplomatic legation, your relations would be very bad. They  are remembering the referee and his whole family. And also the  Campirians  and other teams.

In the match Polok  took a rebound away from his way to an opponent with a sovereign push and the referee admonished him.

- Come now! - Yener squealed by getting up and adding in his mother tongue repertoires such insults as. - "Netriop tahwer utyerm" He has barely touched him. If you don't know how to referee, stay home.

Polok only displayed his jaws as a wry smile bringing his arms to his hips or at least that would be the equivalent of a human.

- Yes, of course, you haven't done anything, and natacliers are not interested in the affairs of others! - The boy exclaimed with his arms outstretched and rising from his locality with a manifest sarcastic tone, full of irony, when an opposing player protested an obvious foul. -

Soon Polok was replaced by Genral who, to Gina's amazement, was like a human, but of colossal dimensions. And despite everything Yener surprised her by commenting.

-Too bad that General is so short, because of his height he should play forward, but he lacks an outside shot, and he is forced to get very close to the hoop, but he lacks stature. Despite everything, he is a good signing to get off the bench. He moves quickly and has vision of the game.

The girl gave him a puzzled look, imagining what Yener would understand by short. That huge individual should be around four meters high if he did not exceed them. Although it was true that some rival players were appreciably taller than him.

- I guess. - He was able to mutter. -

Escourt was also changed after bombarding the enemy hoop with long-distance baskets.   The same as the point guards who until then had taken turns leading the team and scoring. The rival team did the same and Yener  sighed declaring  without getting upset.

- Minutes for substitutes. It's all decided.

That's the way it was, there were  a couple of  nanodanes  left and the  Prehistar  dominated by twenty  points. The  match passed without further history and ended. On the simultaneous marker appeared something written that Gina laboriously tried to translate.

- Prehistar  one "Biditar"  zero.

- Bidijar. - Yener corrected him  by dragging the a in his pronunciation,  although he immediately added with approval. - Very  well, it is not easy to translate so quickly. Well, we don't do anything here anymore, we can  leave,"  he said, pointing around him.  -

Gina saw how everyone was leaving the pavilion. So  he got up and did the same. Between some things and others two and a half hours had passed.

- Come on, I'm  very happy for the victory, I invite you to  dinner! - he proposed with animation.  -

-Didn't you say you had them won  beforehand? - Gina reminded him incisively. - Sohow come you are so  happy?

- Because it is always convenient to start well, crushing the adversary! - He replenished with a triumphalist  smile making the uve with his fingers to add instead more seriously - I also want to say goodbye to you. Tomorrow I will have to go to the monastery.

- Tomorrow? - She was surprised, - I thought you had told me that it would still take another day.

- I know, but I prefer to come back as soon as possible. First I have to stop by to see my family. - The boy explained. -

She nodded, she understood him very well, it would be a long time before he didn't visit his loved ones. Even if she saw them when she had the audience, the truth is that with the life that Yener led, she could hardly spend time with her family and friends. Something very similar happened to herself.

-I understand that our lives are very busy. - He declared. -

-So, it is, on the one hand, I like it, but on the other sometimes I would like to have some time to simply contemplate what surrounds me. - He affirmed. -

             And as the girl watched him with a puzzled gesture, he just smiled, adding.

-That was taught to me by my teacher Azor Ligero. He always says that we are in too much of a hurry. That people try so frantically to prepare for life that they forget to live it.

-It is very deep, and it is not without reason. - Gina valued. -

So she gladly accepted the invitation, so why not take a little time to enjoy a quiet evening? and in the course of this, after arriving at the restaurant and ordering, Gina was very thoughtful.

- I wonder how  it is possible that we have so many things in  common. Normally  I don't stop to think about it,  but when I do. It'samazing!Even the food! -  Dclarified as they brought him his plate.  -

- Wethink about it too - Agreed Yener. -  And  precisely because they were so similar what worried our doctors most was the possible transmission of unknown diseases.  I myself, as soon as I was transported to your ship the first time, it was disinfected directly  by the tele carrier machine.

- Yes, ours have something similar. But once on board you can always catch strange germs. Or some who, despite everything, are resistant or circumvent sanitary measures. - The young woman objected. -

- I do not know much about this, but I understand that our medical authorities are preparing with yours a program of mutual transfer of knowledge about the diseases documented in our respective alliances of planets. -  He commented, inquiring with someprevention. -By the way. How are you?   You don't notice anything weird, do you?

- At themoment,  no! - she smiled  stating  nonchalantly. - I'm not a hypochondriac,  so I hope this conversation won't suggest to me.

"Surely he won't," he admitted, laughing in turn.  -

They continued to chat quite lively and finally Yener accompanied her to the legation of her embassy.

- Well, we'll see you, goodbye. - The boy said goodbye. -

- Goodbye and thank you for your help. - She smiled kindly at him. -

Unable to control himself, he drew closer and closer to the girl and their gazes converged as did his lips. Gina  quickly separated,   though careful not to give a feeling of abruptness. Yener was left groped almost unable to react he could apologize.

- Sorry! I didn't want to. Well this wasn't what...

She put a finger to his lips making him shut up and replenished with a sympathetic tone that tried to hide his stranding.

- Well, on Earth a kiss also means friendship. We're friends.

- That's the way it is. - He hurriedly agreed. -

-See you soon and train well. - The young woman wanted him. -

He nodded with a faint smile and left. Gina watched him walk away until he took the slider and got lost in those tree-lined avenues that surrounded his embassy. He sighed and finally entered, the next morning a tight day of work awaited him. He went straight to bed and thought there. That kiss he had given her, was actually a matter for both of them. They both came over and both wanted it. Poor Yener!, he took full responsibility. That way she wouldn't have to reproach herself for anything. But he really had nothing to throw in hisface. It had been an affectionate gesture between two friends. Or so he insisted on telling himself. Why give it more thought? She wanted to go to bed to be ready and face the new day, but she could not stop reliving that moment.

"It wasn't right, it's like betraying Gordon. Well, it's only been a kiss, it hasn't even become one, just a kiss. - He said he was trying to silence his conscience. -

Yener also thought about this while driving back. The girl didn't be angry, she also kissed him. I assumed that to Gina that meant nothing. But he hadn't kissed her solely out of friendship. He was so disturbed by that apparent trifle that he didn't even bother to find out with his perceptions of the Kail what she might think. Or was it that he hadn't needed it? She made it clear by not giving it the slightest importance.

Maybe he tried to minimize it, or not. I don't know if it will have bothered him. I'm a mess! I should employ my perceptions. Although I know that in these cases it is not right. - It was said almost as if he was arguing with himself. -

       He was in a mess and he didn't like that at all. Apparently, he himself had to follow the advice he gave to Ensign Renar in Tibinco. Feelings weren't bad if they didn't interfere with your obligation. And now, as Gina wanted him, he had to train well. The Song to Maray was the most important thing.

-I must focus everything on it. Nothing else matters now. - He harangued. -

            He immediately arrived at his accommodation and picked up his things, from there he went to the terminal of the long sliders, he would return home to see his family. Suddenly he felt the need to be with his family once again before starting his training. The transport left and he sat by one of the windows. In a few minutes the surroundings built of solid steel, glass and light were giving way to the lowest buildings and single-family houses and these to the green countryside that limited the province and then the kingdom of Yum.

"Mom has always preferred the house of Somer, the oneshe inherited from her grandparents."

            Her grandparents were actually still alive, but they had divided their dwellings between Yener's mother and his aunt, Olbra.

-They never did badly, and if we add to that my paternal grandparents, we must recognize that the family fortune is not negligible. - Admitted the boy. -

          His parents met precisely when they were studying at a select school. That at least they had told Erel and him. And sometimes, their mothers had told them, in a jocular tone, that their older sister would have been much more of her father's style.

-Aunt Olbra was always much more practical, although she was older, anyway, she preferred to join my Aunt Salinia. He always liked women more. - He remembered. - And my cousin Edalia, her daughter, is the same. They live in Iprah, a few radits from Dumlans, and have never been too interested in going to Somer. That's why Olbra preferred the house that my grandparents had in that small town.

And they hadn't seen each other too much either. Anyway, his family congratulated him effusively when he was chosen for the singing. That made them feel very proud and they assured not to miss it. That was appreciated. In line with these reflections Yener was again sighting urbanizations of houses and finally his among them. The arrival took less than three sexdanes of travel to reach Somer.

-In ancient times they could take whole days as described in the chronicles. - He remembered. -

          He always liked the subject of history. I had read quite a bit too while studying at the monastery. At least it was one of the few subjects in which they did not have to squeeze him.

"Owl Avizor was very pleased with me. - I remembered now with a half smile. - He taught history classes to puppies when I started. And I always asked him to tell me more things.

             He remembered those stories of Skarn Dailin, the second founder of his order, and even some stories of Karn Alan or Eagle of the Sun, his remote predecessor and original creator of the Kail. That mythical monk-warrior received his knowledge from the god himself. That's what they believed at least.

-Many today say that they are mere legends, but I do believe it. - I thought proud of it. -

             He loved the great battles against the dark powers, or those stories of the famous knight of Saga, Yaribrand D'Overt, who, out of love and loyalty to his ungrateful queen, was able to travel through Magmund to find a remedy for his sterility. And she succeeded, since that sovereign could conceive an heir.

"My mother would tell me that story. - It was agreed. - And he connected her with the first ancestors of her family. The D'lal, shallow nobles. Although in that there may be more legend than reality. The same as the ones Jilia has told Gina. In those stories that gentleman crossed the forest of  Uldarén  and there, her life changed. For me, if all that really happened, that woman must have learned some traditional remedy or technique from that area and brought her to Somer. Or possibly it was she who slept with the king. He may have had some bastard son from whom the D'lal family descended  - It was feared. -

           His mother even asked him to raise with the emperor his old family dispute of which they hardly had meager evidence that was more stories than evidence. Although anyone said that to her! Yener would rather meet a thousand times than negotiate with that tirelius or even fight a Nephraler. Of course, he did not comment on that subject in the presence of the sovereign.

"My mother is too fanciful. - The young man thought. - If it depended on it, it would make us descend from the imperial family itself.

          Still amused by those ideas, Yener used another slider, already particular, that he rented to get to the doors of his house.

-Speaking of home. - He thought when he stopped the vehicle and used the unloader robot to take his luggage. -

However, he decided to start doing things in a more traditional way, ordered that robot to leave his belongings and he took them himself. Walking quickly, with her own luggage in her hands, she stood at the door and knocked. The holo phone was activated and in it appeared the radiant three-dimensional face of his mother.

- Yener, son, what a joy, you have finally come! - He exclaimed, opening the door and hugging him with excitement. -

"Hello Mom," he smiled squeezing her in his arms when heanswered, "Oh, I," she had to come before starting with the Monastery.

- As always, your brother and father are traveling, you know, business and more business. - He told him between resigned and funny her. - I'm here alone, good with Lota and Karie. They visit me often and I visit them. We go to the city, we do excursions, we do shopping, you know.

-How is  Kariedoing? - The boy wanted to know with realinterest.  -

- She is very happy, has finished her studies and works as an advisor for the conservation of the natural environment. His mother is  very  proud. And  she also always asks me about you.

- His mother? "He inquired. -

- Lota no! Karie, fool! - Rio Aluria, although it corrected in honor of the truth. - Your mother is also interested in you, but it is the girl who insists on me the most. How is Yener doing? Will he come one day to see us? You'll see how happy she gets when she knows you're here! Like the rest of the neighborhood. AndI can't look forward to greeting you and congratulations. I hope you will stop by the neighborhood to be entertained.

            The boy sighed, that was precisely what he feared! Not that I didn't appreciate it, but precisely what I wanted most was to have a little peace of mind before that momentous event. At least there were not too many neighbors, the group of single-family houses was only a dozen. In any case, he was not attracted to that social commitment at all.

-If there is no other choice. - Musitó. -

-Well, of course there isn't, you don't have to be impolite. - He was affably admonished by his mother to add. - Go, stop by and put your things in order! Then you leave the room a mess, son.

- Sí  mamaaá. - Yener agreed to the one who did not cease to annoy him that, no matter how much he ascended to travel and obtain honors, for his mother he was always a child to whom everything had to be indicated. -

- Come on, don't be angry. - She asked him by giving him an affectionate slap on the butt to ask more  seriously. - When will you go to the  Monastery?

- The truth is that within two days. I stay today and tomorrow, the day after  tomorrow I must leave. My teacher Azor Ligero awaits me.

- He's a good man, I still remember when we took you there being youlittle one. "He nostalgically replenished his mother – this guy is a bug!" he  said. There is no one who makes a career out of  him! But you could tell I loved you very much. And look at you now! You're going to sing the song to  Maray!

- I hope to do well. - He muttered timidly as he remembered that. -

-You will do wonderfully and I will be the happiest mother of the entire Quadruple Alliance and part of the foreigner! - She was jokingly encouraged by  Aluria.  -

His son stroked his cheek and smiled. He  went to his room leaving his things in order entirely. When  he left, his mother asked him solicitously.

- Areyou  hungry?

- No thanks,  Mom, I already had dinner with an aggregate of Omega before Icame. - His son told him -.

-Yes?   And is she  beautiful? - She wanted to know this with the classic maternal complicity.  -

- Well... Yes. - He was able to answer something stranded and confessing to line followed. - I have known her since I came to Omega, what's more, she was one of the people with whom I established contact. - nuanced. -

"That's important, son. - Affirmed a visibly proud Aluria who commented relaxed. - Who knows? If they are like us, you could also be related to it and open a new frontier.

Yener sighed, knowing his reputation with girls, and all the "girlfriends" he had brought home in the past, much to his mother's expectation and his father's discontent. So he immediately indicated with obvious displeasure.

-She already has a boyfriend.

"Wow," replied his mother looking at her son with interest. - What a bummer! - Declared jointly and severally. However, he corrected his pitiful tone for a more jovial one when he remarked. - Anyway, there are a lot of pretty girls in Yumlaiance. And if you were in demand before, with the fame you have achieved and your position, they would all stick for you. Don't worry about that Omega girl.

- No mom, it's just a friend. - He could tell, although he insisted somewhat stung to notice how his mother smiled maliciously. - Really, she's a good friend, nothing more. I get along well with her because her parents are also the main leaders of the Omega Federation and I know them...

Interrupting her son's increasingly outraged argument, Aluria  calmed him down with a protective tone.

- Clear Yener. I understand you, as an ambassador you have been, you had to take care of planetary relations. Come on!, it's already late and you're sure to be sleepy. Hala sweetheart, lie down! Tomorrow you have to get up soon, I have stayed with Lota and Karie, precisely to go hiking.

-And what does that have to do with me? -  Inquired the surprised boy -

- Well, you're going to come with us, there would be more to come! My oldest son is here only for a whole day and I'm going to miss him. And so you talk a little bit with all of us and bring us up to date with your adventures.

Besides, with his mother he couldn't do anything else.  When I made plans these were followed yes or yes. Nor did he like too much that allusion to fame that she had made. To tell the truth, Yener didn't want to be famous. At least, in that sense of holo magazines of the heart that his mother and Lota liked so much. He wanted to do something important for his world and for the glory of serving Yumlaiance. However, he was not going to get into an argument about it and nodded.

- Well - he gave in that, yes he wanted to see them, in particular Karie. -

"That's how I like it," she said with a visible pleased face, kissing him on the forehead. - See you tomorrow, my love.

He walked out of the room, and it didn't take long for Yener to lie down. The next day would surely be interesting. There would be a lot to talk about. And then... to the Monastery.

"At least Master Azor won't tell me about fame and stuff. - He wanted to console himself. -

His mentor was not at all interested in these things, he did study ancient prophecies and designs, he was one of the most experienced of the order for these subjects. And in Yener's view, that was a lot to say.

-I have never had too much interest in those things, although for a while now it is as if when I sleep I had something similar to visions, or maybe dreams of things that have happened. But I don't understand them.

That's what he thought of when fatigue overcame him. Precisely that night he had another strange dream. Something that he could not retain in his mind more than in a diffuse way. I could only see a field surrounded by fog and hear the sounds of horse hooves. He even woke up in the middle of the night impressed by something he couldn't remember.

"It must have been my own suggestion. I went to bed thinking about this. - It was said. -

He did not give it much importance and went back to sleep, this time in one fell swoop, until the next morning. For his part, not too far away, in Guadail, Larus had also returned home. It had been a long time since he left, almost reluctantly with his parents, being just a boy, to try his luck with the world of music. After costing him a lot of effort and dedication he achieved fame in Yum, and then that happened. If his family could barely understand him when he went after his dream of succeeding as a singer, even less did he do it after he left everything to enlist in the military academy. The only one who always supported him in everything and who was like his confidant, was his older sister Yavinia. Leinia, the little girl, was limited to being aware of her things as a teenager at that time, and then to boast of having a famous brother. Needless to say, she wanted to introduce her to many of her friends. At least until Larus clearly told him that women didn't interest him.

-He was angry with me, not because he was homosexual or much less, but because of the ugly thing he made his friends by not wanting to date any of them. The bad thing is that afterwards, he insisted on introducing me to some of his friends Loi, loi. - He remembered moving his head. -

            And it is that Larus was not at all interested in those children. Or so he considered them, for they were the age of their younger sister. She, in fact, was angry with him for a while, although it happened to her when one day he came home accompanied by Yener. After meeting the two at the academy they became friends. Larus soon realized that his partner did not share his sexual inclinations, quite the contrary. However, in honor of Yener, when Larus invited him to meet his family he did not want to establish any kind of relationship with his sisters.

-He pretexted not to want to muddy our friendship if things did not go well with any. I think Leinia hung up on him, he kept telling me how handsome he was. Although Yener took it for what it was, a whim as a child. Maybe with Yavinia it was different, he didn't tell me anything, but I think she did get to his attention. Of course, he was more interested in my older sister when chatting and they gave the impression of getting along very well, both  had quite a few things in common, such as being from the Prehistar and having fun trying to annoy me. Truth be told, I wouldn't have minded if they had gone out together. - He smiled meditating more seriously. - But that was some time ago and they haven't seen each other again. Of course, a lot has happened in the meantime.

          And he really was afraid that it hadn't caught on. Yavinia was certainly more judicious than Leinia. Beautiful, tall, light hair and brown eyes, she did not lack admirers. She joined to be a good counselor, since since her gender transition as a teenager, she had shared with Larus confidences about attractive boys and had guided her a lot on how to flirt with some. He had a gift of seduction and a gift of unusual people.

-Although he has always said that I cannot understand many things, being as I am cis. - The boy remembered. - Even that issue of not being able to conceive children, although she can contribute her genetic code, at least the last thing she told me when she told me about her boyfriend, was that they were thinking about it if they joined.

              It was a somewhat complicated subject, that boy that his sister had told them about shortly before Larus left on that trip that would make the first contact with Omega was from a very traditional family.

"It's an understatement, they are one of those who believe that people like my sister offend the gods. But that guy, Kardick, her boyfriend, is different. I hope you can be happy and that your family will accept it in the end. Despite everything, he is a good boy. He seems to love Yavinia and really wants to join her in a stable relationship. If they conceive in a maternity unit, they could mix their genes, it's not such a rare thing today. Despite these retrogrades. In fact, if we go ahead with our own, maybe Nerel and I could do the same.

            He thought now of his own partner who had stayed in Omega. He missed him, despite being told that Holo would send him frequent messages and that, in this way, the reunion would be great. Little did Larus know that her boyfriend would have to face a serious problem.

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