THE pounding on the door gradually seeped through into his semi-conscious brain. Daniel Ravika pulled himself from his sleep and sat up. He stared at his desk in front of him. He mused have fallen asleep at it while working on his assignments the previous night. Not good. He should have gone to bed earlier. Studying at the Academy and remotely at Danger University was always going to be hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sound of the banging on the door continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah?\u201d he called out as he rubbed his eyes and massaged his temples to try and wake himself up. \u201cWho is it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s me,\u201d came the voice of Emma Jarayka through the room intercom, his girlfriend and one of his fellow classmates. \u201cIt\u2019s time to go for breakfast.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHang on,\u201d he called back to her, as he stood up, still groggy from the deep sleep he\u2019d been woken from so suddenly. He stretched and glanced at himself in the mirror. He had a mark on the side of his head where the desk had left an impression on him. He rubbed the mark to make it go away, but it didn\u2019t work. He shook his head slightly and then turned and walked to the door, quickly splashing some water on his face and glancing at the clock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was 6:30 in the morning. A little early for Emma. He opened the door, drying off his hands with a towel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is early for you,\u201d he commented as he gave her a welcoming kiss. \u201cWhat brings you here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was looking at the program for today\u2019s classes and noticed something amazing,\u201d she began, but a little too loudly for the corridor at that time of day, even with all the soundproofing Kallan buildings had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s good, but let\u2019s head up to the lounge down the corridor,\u201d Daniel replied, gesturing her in the direction of the lounge. \u201cWe can grab a coffee. Michael isn\u2019t here this week.\u201d Michael was his roommate who\u2019d had to visit his family suddenly at the weekend and wasn\u2019t back yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They walked up the corridor, only a few rooms away, to the open space that was one of the students lounge. Emma sat down excitedly, while Daniel grabbed two coffees from the bimol. Passing one to her he sat down at her side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo, what did you want to tell me about the program for the day?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou know we\u2019ve got the Astrolinguistics class today,\u201d she began, speaking quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah,\u201d Daniels said nodding. He took a sip of his coffee. His head was still groggy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI checked the program this morning\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo you said earlier.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI noticed that it now has a guest speaker listed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll never guess who it is!\u201d She squeezed his arm tight with both her hands. The sudden pain woke him up completely, more than the coffee had up to that point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve no idea,\u201d he said, deciding to not even try and guess and just let her carry on with her story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSurely you must know!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNope,\u201d he replied again, \u201cit was a late night and it\u2019s now too early for me to think properly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s Professor Andrew Chavika!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He recognised the name, but languages were more Emma\u2019s thing that his. Anything to do with that she would know and he probably wouldn\u2019t. \u201cOk,\u201d he finally said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou know Professor Chavika works for KIL?\u201d Emma said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
KIL stood for the Kallan Institute for Linguistics, the main linguistic and astrolinguistic centre for study in the Kallan Empire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know now because you mentioned it,\u201d he joked with her. \u201cI recognised his name, but didn\u2019t know why.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe\u2019s their main researcher,\u201d she said, trying to emphasise the importance of this event. He smiled inwardly at her enthusiasm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt will make the lesson more interesting,\u201d Daniel observed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAbsolutely. He\u2019s been doing a lot of research into some of the older Kallan languages, especially from when they first arrived in Kalla.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s great for you!\u201d Daniel said, pushing the enthusiasm up slightly for Emma\u2019s sake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s amazing. I\u2019ve done so much research into the older languages when I was at school and want to pursue this more for the MCI. This is a perfect opportunity to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen make sure you talk to him outside of class time while he\u2019s here,\u201d Daniel replied, trying to encourage her more. This was her thing and would really be a bonus to her passion for language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI will, I will,\u201d she said decidedly. \u201cLet me tell you about his latest theories.\u201d
\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
THE class was more interesting than perhaps he would have first thought. It was very positive, very enthusiastic, and very cleverly taught. Professor Chavika was clearly an expert and was very dedicated to his field of study. His way of teaching kept the full attention of just about every student in the classroom. Though Daniel had learned a few languages as part of his schooling before, he wasn\u2019t a dedicated linguaphile like Emma was, but what Chavika was teaching made the whole topic more intriguing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He looked around for Emma after the class had finished, noticing her leave the classroom with the professor. He had expected her to try and get a one-on-one conversation with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He started to head out of the classroom to see if he could join in on the conversation, but Vitogra intercepted him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cQuite the class,\u201d the Mitioan said to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was indeed,\u201d Daniel replied, slowing down and stopping. He didn\u2019t want to look like he wasn\u2019t interested in talking to Christophe, but he really wanted to find out what specifically Emma was interested in talking with Chavika about. He had a gut feeling, and it wasn\u2019t a good one, but he was just going to have to let her talk to the professor and catch up with her later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat did you make of his comments about the increasing importance of studying the historical Kallan languages more?\u201d he posed to Vitogra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cInteresting,\u201d replied Vitogra, \u201cI hadn\u2019t realised that they were so poorly studied.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s harsh,\u201d interjected Vitogra\u2019s girlfriend Sara Niryka as she arrived at his side, threading her arm through his.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s harsh?\u201d Vitogra replied to her, turning slightly to look at her with a puzzled expression on his face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo say they\u2019re poorly studied!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ravika laughed. \u201cShe has a point,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vitogra smiled, the big smile he often had on his face. He was a person who smiled a lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou know what I mean,\u201d he replied. \u201cThey\u2019ve not studied them extensively, which is\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSurprising,\u201d Daniel finished for him, interrupting what he was saying. \u201cI thought so too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s surprising?\u201d asked Theo Miazah as he joined the growing group of friends. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat they haven\u2019t studied the older languages more,\u201d explained Daniel. Emma still hadn\u2019t returned and, he couldn\u2019t see her through the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Theo nodded at his statement. \u201cThey\u2019ve always been obsessed,\u201d he said referring to the Royal family and its well know interest in history, \u201cbut since the last two Kordagsars took the throne the interest has increased. It\u2019s no surprise that Chavika seems to be more successful in pushing further research and study.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group of friends nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhere\u2019s Emma?\u201d asked Sara looking around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe\u2019s with the professor,\u201d Daniel commented. \u201cI know she wanted to chat with him about a few things.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI bet!\u201d Sara said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut I don\u2019t think we\u2019ll see her for a bit,\u201d Daniel added, turning his attention back to the group. \u201cDo you all want to come back to my room for dinner. Michael\u2019s away still so I\u2019ve got the room to myself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everyone nodded. \u201cSounds great!\u201d said Vitogra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ll send a message to Emma to meet us back at my place,\u201d Daniel said, turning to make his way out of the door. He walked into the corridor. Emma was nowhere to be seen.
\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
THE group had been back at his room for more than an hour before Emma arrived. She entered the room with an excited smile on her face. Ravika knew from her face that the meeting with Chavika had gone very well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Surprisingly, Emma didn\u2019t talk about the chat with Chavika to anyone in the group. She got involved in the discussions about the classes, but not as involved as he would have expected her to be. When the topic drifted onto other topics she became even less involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daniel was sat next to her on the cream coloured sofa. He studied her face for a few moments before he finally asked her: \u201cSo, how did it go?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It took her a moment for her mind to register what Daniel had said. \u201cGreat,\u201d she said when she finally spoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGreat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAmazing really.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow, did he offer you a job?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She looked at him. \u201cEr, yeah. How did you know?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI can see you\u2019re thinking about something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh. Yes, he offered me a job at the Institute.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m thinking about his offer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With that statement she stopped talking about the subject. She got up from her seat, went across to Sara Niryka and began chatting with her. Daniel watched her from his seat. She was being cagey. Why?
\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
THE next day nothing had changed. The classes passed one by one during the day, and in contrast to the previous day, Emma kept a distance from him. She greeted him, but quickly moved on to other friends and to other topics. He saw less of her than on a typical day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By the evening, Daniel was really worried. Emma had shrugged him off again before spending some time chatting with Sara Niryka. After they had finished talking, Daniel went up to Sara.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSara, has Emma said anything to you about her conversation with Professor Chavika yesterday?\u201d he asked her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo,\u201d she said, pulling a slightly puzzled expression on her face, \u201cshe\u2019s kinda dodged discussing it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daniel nodded in acknowledgment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe just said it had gone really well,\u201d Sara continued, \u201cand that she was gonna have to think a bit about what he said.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe seems to be doing that for sure,\u201d Daniel replied, more open that he would normally be. Sara picked up on it immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe\u2019s not talked to you about it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, she\u2019s \u2018dodged\u2019 answering questions about it to me as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A little out of character Sara paused, before she replied. \u201cGive her some time. Maybe she needs time to process before she talks to you about it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was thinking the same,\u201d Daniel replied, his voice betraying a little more emotion than he normally did, \u201cand I\u2019ve given her space. But we\u2019d been talking about getting married sometime after we finish at the Academy. That being the case, why hide things like this from me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe\u2019ll come around,\u201d Sara said, resting her hand on his forearm reassuringly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daniel nodded, before thanking her and heading off to try and find Emma.
\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HE found her in the open courtyard in the middle of the Academy\u2019s main building. The building was square like, but with three main wings that formed three of the sides of the square, before opening out to the mountainside above where the fourth side would be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Emma was sat on one of the benches, surrounded by her bag and a variety of electronic pads she\u2019d been using. It looked like she was studying something complex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCan I join you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She nodded, and he sat down on the bench, though she didn\u2019t make any room for him to sit next to her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat you studying?\u201d he asked her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSome old documents professor Chavika suggested I look at,\u201d she responded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey look like they\u2019ve caught your interest.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUh huh,\u201d she responded, still focusing on one of the electronic pads, before cross referencing something with another one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He waited a little longer but didn\u2019t get any more of a reaction from Emma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo you want to take a break and go for a walk?\u201d he asked her eventually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He waited a moment for Emma to register what he had said. She lifted her head to look at him. She clearly wasn\u2019t focused on the conversation he was trying to start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat? A walk?\u201d she finally said. \u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAcademy Point?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She looked at him again, still not fully focused on their conversation. \u201cYeah, ok.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He stood up from the bench and held out his hand to her. She collected her things into a pile, before grabbing his hand and standing up. As they made their way out of the far side of the courtyard towards the mountain on which the Academy was built, Emma put her books and pads into a locker that was situated at the edge of the grounds. Once done, the two of them walked through the gates and on to the trail up to Academy Point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daniel didn\u2019t immediately push a conversation about the Professor, nor did he jump to talk about the job offer she\u2019d mentioned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo you enjoyed the class yesterday?\u201d Daniel asked her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She paused a moment before answering. \u201cImmensely.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI thought so, you were so keen to talk to the Professor after the class.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt brought together so much for me,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor a long time I didn\u2019t know how I would fit into the MCI, whether I had anything of value to offer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daniel looked at her, a little surprised by her comment. \u201cI don\u2019t understand, I thought you wanted travel through space.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI do, but I didn\u2019t know how I would fit in the \u2018system\u2019 that would give me access to travelling through space.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd now you do?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMore than I did before. I think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daniel squeezed her hand slightly to acknowledge her feelings. \u201cHow come you never told me before?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t know what I felt,\u201d she began to reply, \u201cabout the MCI and how it would relate to me. I knew I had some skills that might be useful, but from the time I did my first spacejump, I knew that I wasn\u2019t really an ideal MCI recruit. You knew that, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was unsure where this conversation was heading, but it didn\u2019t feel right in his mind and that unsettled him a lot. Knowing she\u2019d been offered a job and the way this was going didn\u2019t bode well. He didn\u2019t want to interrupt her conversational flow, even though he was eager to ask questions about what exactly she was trying to tell him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nodding to her question, he replied: \u201cI knew you weren\u2019t the most comfortable with the system.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cExactly, and though I tried to convince myself I would fit into it, and although I kept on working to push myself more to fit into the way the MCI is, I knew I wasn\u2019t completely settled.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She stopped speaking for a minute or two, and they quietly walked on up the path towards the peak of the mountain. Ravika chose to keep quiet until she wanted to say something more. Eventually she carried on with what she was saying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know this isn\u2019t making complete sense at the moment, and it\u2019s probably surprising you a little that I am thinking this way. But I\u2019ve finally realised what I want, partly a result of talking with the Professor yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She paused again, Daniel still restraining himself from saying something or asking anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe highlighted that I have a great deal of skill with languages. \u2018One of the best linguists I\u2019ve seem to come from the Academy\u2019 were his words. He drew my attention to my inquisitive nature when it comes to languages, especially deciphering older ones. I realised then that I love the thrill of investigating…, researching…, delving into every aspect of language.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Emma turned to Daniel to see what his reaction was. He smiled at her and nodded. \u201cYou are breathtakingly brilliant with learning and deciphering languages.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She smiled, a slight blush appearing on her cheeks at the compliment. She pushed a couple of stray strands of hair behind her ear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd,\u201d Daniel continued, \u201cyou\u2019ve been working hard not only on your studying directly hear at the Academy, but also remotely at Danger University for your linguistic studies with them. That takes a strong passion and determination.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been exhausting,\u201d she commented, nodding at what he had said, \u201cbut it\u2019s been worth the effort. Professor Chavika referred to that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She went quiet again for another minute or two as they continued their work. Daniel was now more convinced that she was about to tell him something he wasn\u2019t going to like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo,\u201d he said after he\u2019d waited a bit longer, \u201cwhat\u2019s made you so evasive this past day. What has the conversation with the Professor led you to do?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was a silence again as they continued their work. Daniel waited patiently for her to get the courage to say whatever was concerning her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe offered me a job at KIL,\u201d she finally said, \u201cafter we finish the Academy in the summer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here she was coming to the point she\u2019d touched on the day before. The job. The future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor the summer?\u201d Daniel said in response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, permanently.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPermanent work at KIL?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah.\u201d She said it quietly and almost inaudibly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daniel felt his heart sink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo you\u2019re not going into space with the MCI?\u201d he asked her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo… Well, I don\u2019t think so.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI thought we were going to try and get a posting on the same starship?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know that was our plan,\u201d she said. Ravika could her that she was getting a little irritated in her tone. \u201cBut plans can change.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo what are you expecting me to do if you stay here in Kalla?\u201d Ravika was trying to remain calm in his tone, but he was beginning to panic inside. He wasn\u2019t used to situations getting away from him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow do I know?\u201d she said snapping at him. She only snapped at him when she was under pressure she didn\u2019t know how to deal with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daniel reassuringly pulled her towards him, his arm around her shoulder. He rested his chin gently on the top of her head, and the two walked on a little further to a small stone outcrop that they could sit on. He sat down and she sat next to him. He looked at her face carefully. She was on the verge of tears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLook,\u201d he said, facing her directly and looking straight into her eyes, \u201cI\u2019m not wanting to hold you back from something that you love and that you feel settled in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She nodded, trying to smile. A tear rolled down her cheek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know I love you, and I love you enough to let you do this without trying to stop you. Maybe this is something we just need to see how it works out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe can try it and see,\u201d she said, \u201cbecause I\u2019m sure you\u2019ll get assigned to a starship at the end of this final year. Maybe we can keep our relationship strong even if we are apart more.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf I get an assignment into space, I\u2019ll come back as often as I can.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She smiled, wiping away the remaining tears she had in her eyes. She hooked her arm through his and leaned on his shoulder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet\u2019s try it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJust promise me that you\u2019ll communicate with me better,\u201d Daniel said after another minute or two. He stared out towards the horizon as he said it, moving his right hand on top of her arm to reassure her. \u201cI would have been happy to listen and help you with how you felt.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI will. I promise,\u201d she said. \u201cThank you for being so understanding.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daniel smiled, but the deep emptiness in the pit of his stomach hadn\u2019t gone away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They sat and looked out at the horizon as the evening light grew dimmer before making their way back down the mountain to the Academy.
\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>THAT evening Daniel laid in his bed, staring at the ceiling. His mind wouldn\u2019t switch off. He couldn\u2019t sleep even though he was so tired. His thoughts constantly went back to the conversation he\u2019d had with Emma earlier that day. He wasn\u2019t convinced she was as attached to their relationship as he was. Yes, she was upset about things. They\u2019d been friends since childhood. She would be upset just to part ways regardless as to whether they were together or not. But crucially, she hadn\u2019t said one thing. She hadn\u2019t said: \u201cI love you.\u201d<\/p>\n THE pounding on the door gradually seeped through into his semi-conscious brain. Daniel Ravika pulled himself from his sleep and sat up. He stared at his desk in front of him. He mused have fallen asleep at it while working on his assignments the previous night. Not good. He should have gone to bed earlier. … <\/p>\nRelated Images:<\/h3>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"