Coeus?

“

The first established long term colony flourished on the dark side of the moon, though it became clear that a permanent settlement there needed more protection. So the entire colony had been moved under ground long before Neil Armstrong first stepped onto the moon's surface.

”

-The true history of space flight

***Sol, Aether***

***Gideon***

I yawn as I walk down the street to my family's mansion. Exo and I took our time with testing my abilities and my knowledge. I even had to take a psychological test. Exo insisted that it's necessary to be sure to get me the right job. He wanted to avoid at all costs that I get bored and come back right away. The sprite informed me that it will take some time to judge the test and that I'll be informed at once as soon as a psychologist manages to take a look at the answers.

Unfortunately psychology isn't an exact science. So simply going with a yes or no Q&A-test would be pretty much pointless. Taking tests for pure knowledge appeals much more to me. You go in and as soon as you are done you get the results.

Having to wait feels ominous. I don't like it even if I am very sure that I did well on the part regarding sciences.

I scratch my cheek where the beginnings of a beard are starting to form and turn around the corner. What I find in front of my mansion is Cyla with two guys and one of them is just giving her a kiss on the cheek.

A strange knot forms in my chest and I have the sudden urge to skewer him with something pointy, then rain lightning down on him and his friend until they are both well done and just sizzling remains which can hardly be identified as corpses.

The street lantern to their left seems just right for the job and I already think about an appropriate spell to cut it to size when Cyla sees me.

She waves her hand and calls out to me. “Gideon, my brothers came to visit!”

Her brothers? I eye both men in a new light and smile, hugging Cyla to greet her once I am close enough. “You should have informed us that we are getting visitors.”

“It was just a visit of opportunity. We aren't intending to stay. I am Brenton Estene.” The older one of the two brothers replies. He looks like he is in his thirties and strongly reminds me of Gregor, Cyla's father. Brenton's hair is short and of a lighter colour than Cyla's while his whole physique screams that he must be doing daily strength training.

He offers me a hand and I take it. “Gideon Alvar.”

The younger brother at his side looks more like Cyla's relative. He seems to be in his twenties, but he is definitely older than me. His black hair is slightly too long to be called manly. There are some strange fashions in mage society and men with shoulder long hair are something I'll never get used to. His eyes look like he got them directly from Cyla's mother.

“My name is Martin Estene. I was hoping to find out which type of guy my younger sister fell for. Now that I've met you I am not too impressed.” He introduces himself.

Cyla's leg shoots out and hits his shin, leaving him jumping on one foot. “Didn't I tell you to be nice?”

I find my eyes wandering back to the street light, but better judgement tells me that turning my lover's brother into a skewer is socially wrong and would get me into trouble with her.

“Hahahaha. Let him, little Sis. A time will come when he is rude to the wrong person.” Brenton pats my back. “I think you found the right one for you. I had to listen twice to the story about his introduction to our parents. Man, I wished I would've been there. You certainly managed to make Dad look like a fool.”

“Why don't you come in?” I ask, trying to be nice.

Brenton waves his hand. “No, it was really just a short visit of opportunity since we didn't get to see little Sis since a few months. But she seems to be doing well. We have a tight schedule, maybe next week?”

“Sure, just see to it to tell us in time.” Cyla hugs her brothers once more and the two of them leave after saying goodbye to me.

I put my hand around Cyla's hips while we watch them making their exit. “Too bad that I didn't get to know them better. We've to invite them properly the next time.”

“Yes. They were really taking their time after having stopped by.” She takes a look at her wristwatch. “Half an hour ago they already stated that they had to go and they kept finding reasons to delay their departure. But after seeing your face they had no problem with leaving fast.”

“My face?” I ask. Did my expression betray me again? “How did I look?”

“When you came up the alleyway you looked like you just caught me with another man. It was as clear as daylight that you were intending to use the street light to do something to them, so I called out to you to clear up the misunderstanding.” Cyla pats my chest and leans against me.

“I see.” I wipe over my own face and pull on my cheek. “I really have to work on this.”

Cyla nods. “Yes. And when Martin was rude it looked like you were reconsidering whatever you were planning to do to him. But don't worry. I am not mad about you being that jealous.”

“Jealous?” Maybe I am a very jealous person. “But why should you be mad about it.”

She sighs. “Gideon, some girls don't like it when you are really possessive about them. But I like that side of yours. It feels like you are really caring about me.” Her voice returns to a more serious tone. “Though please don't try to kill people because they gave me a little more attention than normal.”

“I... I will try.” Though I can't promise anything. That feeling back then felt out of my control. Better to avoid the issue. “Let's go inside.”

I lead Cyla into the house and to the living room where we find an almost complete gathering of my family.

Melan, Rhiannon, Arend and Galia are all sitting on the couch and watching a news report. Hedeon is sitting a little further away on his chair and reading a book. Only Saden isn't present, but that's nothing to be worried about. By now she is practically living with Paul, so I don't get to see her that often any more.

“What's so interesting about the news?” I ask, approaching them from the side so that I don't block the view at the projection on the wall. “More information about Earth?”

“No!” Grandmother calls out. “It's the five year redistribution of the seat for Aether's governor! What did I do wrong for you being so disinterested in politics.”

I furrow my forehead. The really high jobs in government are reissued every five years to ensure that the current public servants don't become lazy. If they bomb their test or someone with far higher qualifications applies for the job they simply get dismissed without further ado.

That's nothing to be worried about. Not many officials manage to stay in their office for their entire life and if they actually get booted out, they are still highly sought after.

Someone who manages to get into a government office just once is assured to be noted down as highly capable for the rest of his life. The redistribution simply ensures that the officials don't get bored or compliant, which is bound to happen to everyone after a few years. It also stops favouritism to a certain degree.

Another point is that being a mage means having to deal with a long lifetime. Which smart person with that much time on his hands wants to do the same job forever?

I turn back to eye my family. Somehow it's interesting to watch them next to each other. If a normal would see them he wouldn't believe that there are three generations sitting right next to each other.

The only family member who allows himself to look a little older than thirty is Grandpa. His hair is actually turning a little grey at his temples. Grandmother though looks not a day older than thirty.

Will I ever sit next to my grandchildren who look like they are almost my age? The thought is freaking me out for some reason.

Hedeon scratches his ear. “Don't worry, Dear. I am sure that I'll be once again the governor, like the fifty-five years before. We'll simply make sixty out of it and then probably seventy. And maybe a hundred.”

Grandma glares at Grandfather. “I swear to you, if you ever bomb that test...” She doesn't finish her sentence because the news reporter starts announcing the changes in the smaller government offices of Aether.

Grandmother is always proud to be the right hand of Grandfather. So if he loses his job as the governor she'll probably quit hers too. The two of them are like a pair of good, old shoes. Once you lose one the other is worthless.

She may be a little power hungry too, but to me she is still the greatest person in the world. There is nothing wrong with being proud of having responsibility. And reputation. A high government office is also a job of prestige.

I wonder what they'll do if they really have to give Aether's government to someone else? Will Grandpa fly ships again?

Finally the news reporter gets to the important part. “... and after fifty-five years we finally have a new governor!”

Hedeon drops his book with an open mouth, shock apparent on his face. Grandmother jumps up, runs over to Hedeon and starts strangling him.

“... But strangely enough the job stays in the family!” The reporter continues and Grandmother stops trying to kill her sweetheart.

“The new governor of Aether is Gideon Alvar. Age twenty three and soon to be twenty four. That makes him one of the youngest people who have ever reached such a high position. It also happens so that he is our good old governor's grandson. So he can be sure to have someone with experience close to him.” The reporter finishes.

All eyes in the room turn to me. I turn my eyes to the ground, thinking hard about my conversation with Exo. “I think I said to him that he should put me up for whatever job seems to fit me? But I didn't mean that I want to get into the government.” How did this happen? I am not even good at doing speeches!

“Gideon, I am so proud of you!” Grandma drops Grandpa like something filthy and runs over to hug me.

I feel the blood draining from my face. Grandma is happy about this! There is no way I can give this job back! Exo! I'll fry that bastard the next time I see him!

“Gideon! That means we'll stay here for a few years at least! That's so cool.” Cyla hugs me from the other side, stars gleaming in her eyes. I wonder what's going through her head?

Being sandwiched between the two of them I decide to retreat into my own world to calm down. I'll simply switch on my own VR and spend a few subjective weeks with playing games.

Who needs the real world?

.