Caelan
17 Month 11,
3027 ESD [Earth-Standard Date], Caelan
Stupid Germans, Cole thought, Why'd they have to go and colonize this dumb planet, anyway? Twelve-year-old Cole Renn struggled with his German homework--sufficiently bitter about it to surprise and probably worry any of his adult caretakers. He was supposed to be writing an essay in German for the prompt, "What Caelan's History Means to Me." The language, although not in active, daily use anywhere in the galaxy, is required for Cole's upcoming Level Seven graduation, to "uphold tradition."
Cole's planet is officially known to galactic cartographers as TNX-423, the innermost planet in the Mrinal system, but it is known to its inhabitants as Caelan. Founded in 2322 by a select group of German pioneers and a significant supply of frozen embryos, the planet had seen its fair share of trouble. Its founders set up a strong centralized government, but that was overthrown in 2430 by militant anarchists. The planet bounced from strong socialist governments to militant anarchy and back, often with bloody and prolonged wars accompanying each successive government.
Cole gets out his Encyclopedia Caelanica as one of his four required sources. "Following a coup in 2870, a strong central bureaucratic government headed by James Jordan took control of Caelan. By 2876, he had torn it apart with a civil war that eventually crippled all factions completely--anarchists, bureaucrats, and dictators alike. Caelan's citizens were so wary of political systems by this point that they all retreated to separate villages and cut off communication to all others." Yeah, yeah. I can't wait to get off of this stupid rock.
Later that evening, Cole
wrote in his journal: Mom and Dad keep avoiding all of my questions. If
they don’t let me leave after Level Thirteen to
go to school off-world, I'm gonna go crazy! I've talked to Aidan about it a little bit, but he doesn't
seem too excited about the idea. Hopefully I can talk him around, 'cause he'd be really
helpful convincing them. Actually, I'm pretty sure that if I can get him to agree, it'll
be a go for sure.
03 Month 4,
3045 ESD, Terra One
"Hey Liam! Come look at this!" Cole called his boyfriend into the room and shows him the tattered diary. "I can't believe I kept this."
"Heh, I can. You're the most ridiculous packrat in the galaxy." Liam was tall, light-haired and -skinned, and one could tell just from looking at him that he'd been an awkward adolescent--the perfect contrast to Cole's unthinking grace, dark curls, and piercing green eyes. "Can I look at it?"
" 'Course. I'm gonna finish packing up the kitchen."
Liam randomly flipped through the pages and began to read. I'm getting kynaed! Aidan came around and told
everyone tonight! I'm
sooo excited! Oh, and I got all ones on my report
card! Gods, my day could not get better.
"Well that's confusing." He picked a different entry. They finally said yes--I can go off-world! Now I just have to decide where. Of course, today couldn't be all good, not with my luck. Ruitha dumped me today. She didn't even say why, just that she didn't want to be with me anymore. I can't wait to get out of here. I'll never come back!
Liam smiled to himself, tickled to hear the enthusiasm and adolescent angst of a sixteen-year-old Cole. "A little rash there, weren't you? 'I'll never come back?' "
Cole came and read over Liam's shoulder. "Yeah, yeah. Isn't a guy allowed to change his mind in, what, nine years?"
"When's the last time you had math, Mr. I'm-So-Great-At-Galactic-Anthropology Renn? 3045 minus 3031 is fourteen."
"Shuddup!"
"It really has been a long time. Ready to go back?"
Cole replied simply, "Yes."
21 Month 4,
3045 ESD, 828A
Cole sat in an aisle seat, right next to Liam. "Alright. I'm gonna prepare you for our visit, ok?"
Liam groaned. I can't believe
we haven't talked about this stuff before. He knows
I'm agnostic, right? We
can't have dated for three years and not know that.
Cole misinterpreted the groan. "It's important! Life at home is lots different than at University on Terra One. Have I told you about our religion? It's…well, it's different than what you've known. Our main deity lives in Heaven, and it is sacrilegious to say Its name aloud. We're each whispered Its name when we come of age, at our kyna ceremony. Each village has at least one minor god or goddess. Our village's god is called Aidan. He plays an integral role in each family; we consult him and the Unnamed about major decisions, but they pretty much let us do what we want. It's Aidan who convinced my parents to let me come to Terra One for school. You should be grateful!"
"Okay, okay, I am! What else should I know?"
"Well, our society functions different than most. After the Last Civil War in 2876, everyone kinda flipped out about centralized government, so each village retreated to its own world. We have very few visitors, and outsiders aren't welcomed--you'll be totally fine, though, since you're with me."
"Alright."
"Looks like we'll be landing soon...so I guess you'll just figure the rest out later. Don't look so worried! You'll be fine."
21 Month 4,
3045 ESD, Renn Home
Liam and Cole sat down for dinner with the Renns. Cole's mother, Ankha, asked Liam, "Would you like to pray over our meal, dear?"
"Um...sure." Oh crap. I was totally not paying enough attention to Cole's little lecture. "Dear Lord, thank you for this food and the company. Your blessings be upon us and our neighbors. Let us thrive in your light and forever give our praise unto you and you alone. Amen." He got a few odd glances, but the family continued on with dinner as if everything were normal.
The family spent a few hours after dinner introducing everyone. Cole's parents, Ankha and Alain, are craftspeople. Ankha has a booming business in handmade ceramics, and Alain weaves intricate tapestries. "Caelan used to be a major galactic political player," Alain explained proudly, "but now our society is largely agrarian. Everyone distrusts the ekfa, our old currency, so we use the barter system instead, usually in the market."
Ankha chimed in, "We sell our wares in permanent stalls in the market, and--well, I'll take you with us next Market Day. The poorer merchants spread theirs on blankets or bare pavement. They sell everything from fresh produce to clothing to blankets to services."
Cole's
fifteen-year-old sister Seama said, "We hang out at the market, spread the
latest gossip, and find--" she giggled, "boyfriends." They
all talked together for quite a while, quite the happy family. Liam felt properly included. Maybe I really can make it here.
Cole's brother, ten-year-old Baeddan, abruptly cried, "It's
Aidan left after a half-hour talking with the family, and Liam called Cole into the next room. "Who was that?"
"Weren't you paying attention, silly? That was Aidan, our village's god. It was so great to see him! I've been praying to him these fourteen years, of course, but that's not the same. Let's go back in and talk with my family, 'k?"
"Ok..." Liam shortly excused himself, saying he was quite tired. "Oh of course!" said Ankha, "I should have known! Baeddan can show you your room."
The
young Caelinian practically chattered Liam's ear off on the short trip to
his new bedroom. "Are you from Terra One? Have you always lived there? Do
you really live in buildings that are millions of stories high? Is it true that you only have to go to school for twelve
years? How did you meet Cole? Are
you going to get married? Do you have any brothers? I always wanted another brother. What
kind of work do you do? Did you like Aidan?" And on and on and on. Liam tried
to answer his questions as best he could, but there were just too many. Good thing he's
talking so quickly--I'm so tired that I don't know what I would say given
the chance.
12 Month 6,
3045 ESD, Renn Home
Liam woke up, and was surprised to find no one around. He decided to take advantage
of the quiet, and drank his tea and wrote a letter home.
Dear Mum and
Dad,
How are things at home? It's been awhile-- I thought I'd just let you know how
things were going here, since you seemed interested.
I've recently become
attached to Cole's youngest brother, Baeddan--he's been a great help! Cole works from early in the day to late at night in the
fields--being a guest, I am not allowed to help, and I am very impatient with
my societal ineptitude, so I decided to try and take the time to get better. When I expressed interest in learning more about their
village and society, Cole's whole family informally volunteered to "show
me around", so to speak, but Baeddan is the one who teaches me most often.
Baeddan originally made me uncomfortable, because he was so openly curious
and blunt, unlike what I'm used to at home. I've come to appreciate it,
though, because it is exactly that which makes him a great teacher. He answers
my endless questions creatively and with enthusiasm, and tolerates my frequent
blunders without pause.
There's just so much
to learn! This task is very difficult indeed. It's made harder by the fact
that Cole's village is so small that everyone knows I'm an outsider. With Baeddan's help, though, I think I am slowly becoming
better at blending in. I think that when it comes time
to write my Thesis, I may write about some of the customs on Caelan.
The most interesting thing that I've learned about so far is the "coming of age ceremony"
that Cole had mentioned on our first trip here. Baeddan
thinks he might be chosen to participate this year, and he is very excited--so
excited, in fact, that he has difficulties explaining it all the way through
in one sitting. My understanding of it, therefore,
is somewhat disjointed, but I shall try to relate it to you, as I find it
fascinating!
Children are chosen
to participate around age thirteen--I do not know the exact criteria for being
old enough, but I assume it has something to do with physical and emotional
maturity. Families are notified
that their child will be "kynaed" by the village's god, Aidan, during a daily
visit.
The children who have been
chosen are now called "bena"--some sort of honorary term that identifies
them as preparing to be kynaed. The benas all attend
classes once a week; although I am not allowed to know exactly what they are
taught, Cole says it's mostly about what their places will be in the village
afterwards. The actual ceremony will take place
in a few months--the date is different each year, but is dictated by Aidan. For a
week ahead of time, the benas fast and do special "cleansing" rituals in preparation. On the day of the Kyna, the benas wear the clothing that
has been specially prepared and will never be worn
again. They are called
up one by one onto a stage. They recite the village's
creed, swear allegiance to Aidan and the elders, and make an individual speech
they have prepared for the occasion. On completion,
Aidan whispers the name of the Unnamed god to
each of the benas.
The village apparently feasts for days...it should
be quite a treat! I'm very
excited to see the real ceremony.
Well, my writing hand is cramped--what old-fashioned
methods of communication we must use here on the outskirts of the galaxy!--so
I will end here. Keep in touch!
Love always,
Liam
He gave the letter a final look-over, folded it, and put it in what the Caelinians call an Umschlag--one of the few remainders from the planet's German beginning, this letter-cover is made of some type of polymer, able to withstand the intergalactic mailing process.
Just as he finished, a sleepy-eyed Baeddan walked into the room. "Mmmpf. Hi."
"Hey there, buddy. What are we doing today?"
"It's market day. Wanna go?"
12 Month 6,
3045 ESD, Market
Baeddan bounded ahead to play with his friends, leaving Liam to look around at all of the shops and stalls. It's quite surprising, really. With so few people here, you wouldn't think they'd produce so many beautiful things. He browsed stall after stall, until he finally came to Ankha and Alain's. Picking up a piece of exquisite pottery, he ran his hands along its intricately decorated sides. He set it down carefully and walked over to one of Alain's tapestries. A young man in the center of the tapestry and the taller figure to his right were blazingly detailed and illuminated in a stark beam of light from the sky. Everything else was more obscured; softer. A row of people dressed up in beautifully elaborate clothing graced the area behind the young man. Liam mused, So beautiful. Is that Aidan? Must be. And the light...the Unnamed? I bet. Now if only-- "My kynaing." Liam jumped, and saw Alain looking over his shoulder. "A magical day, that was. I was so excited--Baeddan's…enthusiasm is nothing.
"It's lovely," Liam replied. "I wish I could've been here to see Cole's."
"It was beautiful. We'll show you photos."
12 Month 6, 3045 ESD, Renn Home
Dinner was somewhat subdued, as Baeddan's hyperactivity had abruptly switched to nervous silence. "Tonight's the night," whispered Cole. "If Aidan doesn't invite him to be kynaed, he'll have to wait at least another year."
At
Aidan turned around. "I, Aidan, do declare in the Spirit of the Unnamed, that you, Liam Cerrick, are ready for the Kyna. Do you accept?"
17 Month 8,
3045 ESD, Renn Home
"How're the classes going, bena'Liam?" Cole had just gotten home.
"Mm...they're kinda boring, to tell you the truth." And they were. It's just like being in grade school again, Liam thought. Some of the history's interesting, sure, but man, snore.
"Haha, yeah. Only a week to go, though. Are you getting excited?"
"Yep...getting kinda nervous, too."
"I wouldn't worry about too much. You'll know what to do when you get there."
"I hope so. Can we talk about something else?"
24 Month 8,
3045 ESD,
Man, the whole village must be here. Think it'd be sacrilegious if I threw up? Liam was standing in his place in line. All of the benas were in some sort of order, but he couldn't figure it out, for all he'd been trying these past two and a half months. Baeddan's turn. Baeddan stepped forward, recited his creed and a short speech about how he was grateful to the village for his upbringing, and received the name of the Unnamed. He went to go sit with the other former-benas to applause. Oh no, I'm next! Liam completely blanked. Okay, step forward. Now what?? I don't remember! Aidan nodded. Start reciting! "I, bena'Liam Cerrick, swear my allegiance to my god Aidan and the Spirit of the Unnamed. I swear by them that I shall obey my leaders and always act for the good of all. I further proclaim that, as an adult citizen of Caelan, I will do my best to, um..." I will do my best to...I will do my best to...Curses! He glanced up; people were starting to shift in their seats. He caught Cole's eye. He's mouthing something...'I will do my best to uphold'-- "I will do my best to uphold our moral code for the glory of the Unnamed!" Liam could've run over and knocked Cole to the ground with a hug, that's how thankful he was. He didn't, though. He stepped forward to give his speech.
"Good morning. My name is Liam Cerrick, and I am proud to be a new Caelinian citizen! Thank you all so much for inviting me to be a part of your society. I have learned so much in my short time here, and I'd love to stay for many years. Thank you to Aidan and the Unnamed for taking me away from who I was, and shaping me into who I am now. May the Spirit of the Unnamed be with all of you." Liam stepped forward, received the Name of the Unnamed, sent a silent prayer, and walked with dignity and grace to go sit with the others amidst great applause.
24 Month 8,
3045 ESD, Renn Home
"I was so proud of you today, Liam." Cole gave him a hug. "I wasn't sure if it had been a mistake to bring you here, but now I know you were meant to be here."
"I do feel like I belong here, now." They sit in silence for a few moments.
"I have something to tell you."
"Oh?" Liam was a bit worried.
"I haven't been working in the fields for the past week."
"No?"
"I've been working elsewhere. The silversmith's." He reached into his pocket and got on one knee. "Care to see what I was doing?" He opened the box to reveal two matching silver bands.
ALTERNATE ENDING:
"Good morning. My name is Liam Cerrick, and I am proud to be a new Caelinian citizen! Thank you all so much for inviting me to be a part of your society. I have learned so much in my short time here, and I'd love to stay for many years. Thank you to Aidan and the Unnamed for taking me away from who I was, and shaping me into who I am now. May the Spirit of the Unnamed be with all of you." Liam stepped forward to received the Name of the Unnamed. Aidan leaned over and whispered in Liam's ear. Liam burst out laughing. "Mickey Mouse?! That's the stupidest name for a god I've ever hea--", at which point a brilliant light blinded the villagers. When their vision finally cleared, the only thing left of Liam was a pile of ash.