Chapter 1 = Parnitha

Sadness is a firm grip on the hourglass of life

Time stops

And the vivid images before your eyes

Shatter in drops.

Year 2115

The sun was shining high in the sky. It was the day of Parnitha, the summer solstice.

Liara went out to her balcony and leaned against the cold stony railing. She was wearing the typical ceremonial dress, which had green patterns juxtaposed to purple ones. It symbolized prosperity and the hope for an abundant yield. Despite the fact that the fabric was of a light-weight material, obtained from the processing of exotic flowers, the undergarment was not visible.

She observed her mother from above, who was busy greeting the guests and engaging in wise conversations. Matriarch Benezia loved to show her vast garden to whoever entered the palace's gate, since it was carefully taken care of by her trustworthy gardeners. The most important stop of House T'Soni tour was the parcel of soil used for the cultivation of aromatic plants, whose leaves could be cut, dried and then drank in a cup of tea.

Although Liara could hear contagious laughs coming from below, she was not happy.

She sighed and went inside her bedroom, which was dominated by a queen size bed surrounded by luxurious carpets. Aside from that, in her private room there were no other decorations. It was painfully plain not because she lacked in creativity but because she had never really felt at home. She raised the corners of her mouth in a radiant smile and crossed the long corridor that led to the main hall. She was not psychologically prepared to deal with all the people that were wandering inside her house. After she descended the U-shaped stairs, she arrived on the ground-floor. She felt relieved when she noticed that almost everybody was outdoor with her mother. She was heading to the kitchen when she overheard an ongoing conversation.

"For Athame's sake, you know that I'm doing this for you! Stop complaining, you're not a child anymore!"

"I have no intention of talking with these aristocrats and I surely don't want to be pitied!"

"You should swallow your pride and listen to me! One day you'll thank me."

There was no answer.

Liara decided to enter the kitchen, hiding the fact that she had heard everything. She saw a young Maiden on a wheelchair, her head was bowed towards the floor; beside her there was a matron who was pouring taki – a thick and sweet beverage – in two cups.

"May the sun remember us." Liara greeted her guests in the way that is usual during the day of Parnitha.

"May the sun remember us." Repeated the Matron, blinking as she saw Benezia's daughter.

The Maiden raised her lush and mesmerizing green eyes towards Liara, who could not remain indifferent to the absolute and pure beauty of that girl. Although her skin was purple, indicating that she had roots in the tribe of the Mauvellow Sea, she was rather pale. Liara was so enthralled by her appearance that she noticed that she was staring at her only after a whole embarrassing minute.

"Forgive my manners, I should have introduced myself as soon as I saw you. My name is Xinevra T'Deus and she's my daughter, Yutvi." Said the Matron.

"it's a real pleasure to meet you both."

"As you have understood by the shade of our skin we belong to the tribe of the Mauvellow Sea, which it's known to refuse any kind of advanced technology. However, I'm an unfortunate mother" she briefly glanced at her daughter "and I'm totally willing to break the tradition of my land to give Yutvi everything she needs to live a good life."

"I'm deeply sorry for…" Liara addressed the Maiden. "…your condition."

Despite Liara's words sounded sincere, Yutvi commented: "No, you are not. That's just a polite thing to say."

"Forgive my daughter's insolent behavior, her disability hardened her spirit."

Liara nodded. She had never met a girl that cheeky.

Xinevra added: "We've travelled a long way to talk to Matriarch Benezia, looking for any kind of help she could offer us, may it be an insight or a more concrete support."

"Yes of course. Come with me. My mother will gladly have a private conversation with you two."

The Matron's eyes sparkled with happiness. "Thank you very much, Liara." She was about to push the wheelchair, when she remembered something. "Oh wait, Yutvi cannot be exposed to the summer sun for a long time."

"Yeah, I'll definitely pass on this one." Spluttered the Maiden.

"Oh I see… well, let me accompany you to my mother, then I'll return here and stay with Yutvi for the time necessary."

Liara and Xinevra left the room and went outside the palace.

"Forgive me for intruding, but… does your daughter have biotics?"

"Yes. However, when she uses them she feels an excruciating pain in her head." Answered the Matron, while they were walking along one of the dirt tracks that led to a large fountain, located in the middle of the garden. "I know what is the question that lingers in your head. Yes, she was born like this. Her legs simply don't work."

"Is she the only one?"

"No, of course not. But it is a very rare affliction."

They reached Benezia, who was sitting on the fountain and showing her guests how to feed the Jeneno, a ferocious but very elegant thessian fish. The Matriarch was holding a white crab in her right hand. "Here's what you have to do: grab the crab with your hand and let it hang just above the water surface. The Jeneno will smell its scent and serpentinely jump towards it. It does three jumps before devouring it. Its behavior teaches us a very important lesson: do not be fooled by those who intentionally fail several times, since their moves are carefully planned in advance in order to succeed in the end."

The guests clapped their hands in amazement.

Liara took advantage of the moment to sneak beside Benezia. "Mother, there's a person who really needs your counseling."

The Matriarch theatrically greeted her daughter. "Liara, my heart!" Then, she addressed the group of people gathered around them. "This is my lovely daughter, who one day will take my place as your spiritual guide!"

Another round of applause followed.

Subsequently, Benezia delicately touched Xinevria's hands. "Let me you show you my aromatic garden."

Liara returned to the kitchen to find Yutvi rummaging in one of the drawers. "Do you need something?" She asked, politely.

Yutvi grabbed a little gold spoon and scrutinized it. "I really don't need anything… from anyone, especially from rich people who drown themselves in luxuries to suffocate their boredom."

Liara frowned. She didn't like her rude attitude and prejudice. She sat down on a chair beside the maiden, grabbed one of the glasses on the table in front of her and poured herself some water. She realized that it was the first time that one of her mother's guest had criticized their way of living. She smiled. Maybe she's just found the only person who dared to tell her the truth.

"Why are you smiling?" Yutvi was taken aback.

Liara drank a sip of water. "You are very impolite, but you're also right… well, except for the boredom aspect… my mother is always very busy. However, I have to point out one thing: the palace and all the objects you see here are not mine. They are all my mother's achievements … even myself."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm not free. I cannot choose what to eat, when to talk and who to become."

"Why don't you rebel?" Yutvi was suddenly very interested in the ongoing conversation.

"I can ask you the same question."

The maiden rubbed her crest. "Because I don't want to break her heart. She has sacrificed so much for my own sake…"

Liara nodded. "That's it." She paused. "Are you contrary to the use of technology?"

"No, I'm not like my people… why?"

"I have to show you something…"

"What?"

"Wait and see." Liara went behind the maiden and pushed her wheelchair towards the main hall. After that, she summoned her biotics and lifted her all the way up the stairs. Once they arrived in her bedroom, she kneeled beside her bed and grabbed a helmet and some sensors from beneath it. "Now I'll put the helmet on your head and apply these sensors on your legs and arms."

"I really don't know what to expect from it…"

Liara giggled. "This might surprise you!" She pressed a button on the helmet and Yutvi was thrown into virtual reality.

"This is an elcor videogame. It's really easy. You choose the class: you can be an elcor warrior, an asari huntress or a batarian slaver and then you customize your character."

"Wow… Oh, wow! I can see them in front of me! I can almost touch them!" Yutvi moved her right hand and selected the batarian. "Ok… let's be the opposite of who I am. Oh I can choose the shape of the lips… mmmm… well, she's ugly no matter what."

Liara chuckled. "You can skip the customization if you want."

"Glad you said it." Yutvi was suddenly surrounded by forest trees. She raised her head and admired the artificial blue sky. "Wow…"

"Stand up, now!"

Although Yutvi didn't really move, her batarian alter ego stood up and began to walk. She watched from above her big feet striding back and forth. "Is this how it feels to walk? Fucking thessian hell!"

She ran

and ran and ran.

With a smile on her lips.

Liara's heart pounded so heavily in her chest, that she felt the urge to kiss her.