Chapter 3

'Hello Mother', Eva Wei is being greeted by her daughter Lizzy. 'We were afraid that you wouldn't show after all.' Eva smiles and takes both hands of Lizzy into hers. 'Of course I would come, you know me better than that. Now where is that son of mine? I have to congratulate him with his victory.' With those Mrs. Wei walks ahead to the broad stairs leading from the entrance hall into the large, luxury living room, which is crowded by shouting people. When she reaches the top of the stairs the room falls silence and it takes a few minutes for Eva to even notice the sudden change. When she eventually does notice she stretches her already painful back proudly and looks over the crowd.

'Why are you all silent? My son won the Golden Race today and you should all be celebrating…', her voice rings clearly through the room and immediately the crowd resumes their conversations and laughter. '… instead of all staring at an old woman, who can't climb the stairs anymore without help', Mrs. Wei whispers to nobody in particular.

The rest of the evening is filled with well-wishes, small talk, jokes and music and it seems to Eva that the mass is just too big and talkative towards her. She doesn't want to have endless discussions about which engines and which parts are best for the newest racers and the upcoming Intergalactic Championships. She realizes that she doesn't want to be a part of any of it anymore and it hurts her heart when she sees all those young racers together. Yes, she is even jealous of her most successful son who wins race after race, just like she did in her racing period. The Intergalactic Championships are a series of challenging races which are being combined with marksmanship and cunningness. It's the Race of Oban, but than in a smaller, less dangerous variety. She and her dad came up with the idea to hold these races in order to forge, maintain or strengthen the relations between the different worlds in the federation. It was a way of making new friends and seeing the old ones once again. In her heart, her secret, this was the way to see her prince again and have fun just like during the Race of Oban…. But he never showed, not once. Nourasia did compete, don't let it be a mistake, but it was never the prince (and now the king). They always send representatives for their planets, impressive racers, but never him. It had hurt Eva more than she would ever acknowledge to anyone, she felt betrayed and lost.

'Mrs. Wei?', Eva is brought back to reality by a gentle voice behind her. It sounds Nourasian and for a moment her heart stops. She feels excitement, anger, relieve, pain, tears and joy all at the same moment and for a second she forgets the man behind her. When she finally brings up the courage to turn around she feels even more disappointed to discover a young boy behind her. He has big blue eyes and a gentle manner of moving and appearing. She reads Aikka all over it's face and she feels like the last bit of life in her body is just squeezed out. 'He got married and got children. Of course he did! What did I ever meant to him? I can't even think of the boy as a 'him' I have to call him an 'it'! Did he ever thought me? Is she pretty? Is she her as well? What does he want from me?', all these questions are tumbling over each other in Mrs. Wei's head in order to be asked first.

'Who are you?', are the only words to reach her lips and be spilled. The boy looks at Eva and smiles friendly. 'My name is Jo'dan', he says. 'My father named me after the man he admired the most in his younger days.'

'What are you doing here Jo'dan? You're not on the guest list', Eva says and she hears the pain in her own words.

'My father wants to give you a message Mrs. Wei', the boy stretches out his hand and between is fingers is an letter. Slowly, Eva extend her own arm and fingers and she firmly grasps te letter. When Jo'dan doesn't move and keeps staring at her fascinated, Eva opens the letter and with an deep breath her eyes wander over the letters…

First she can't make out any of the words, but when her eyes finally focus she reads:

My Dearest Earth Princess,

How did my heart longed for this joyful day, when I'd be finally able to visit Earth and look upon your bright and lively face again. How did my heart….

A fury awakens in the deepest parts of her soul at these words. 'My Dearest Earth Princess? My heart longed? Bright and lively?', she mutters angrily and she crushes the letter between her fingers and hands. Suddenly 'bright and lively' and full of energy Mrs. Wei walks back into the mansion with large angry steps. Everybody who stands between her and the gigantic fireplace at the other side of the room, jumps to the side when they see the fury and hate on the face of the elder, former champion among champions. Eva hears he son ask something, but she can only feel a stinging pain in her heart and she rushes towards the fire. Without hesitation she throws the unread letter in the fire and watches it burn.

'Why did you burn the letter?', a small hand takes her own and she finds herself staring into blue eyes. His blue eyes. His gentle nature. His…. Like being hit by an electric bolt Mrs. Wei draws her hand back and she looks at the boy with the only possible emotion she can rely on, to keep her from falling apart right now, and that's anger.

'Go back to your father boy', she says with a voice as cold as ice and eyes emotionless as steel. 'Go Back to your father.' Eva turns around and starts to walk to the front door. 'It was a nice party Matthew, but I'm tired so I'll you'll excuse your old and cranky mother', she smiles at her boy.

'But Mrs. Wei?', the voice of Jo'dan follows her all the way to the front door. 'What do I tell my father?'

Without looking back Mrs. Wei answers. 'Tell him he is 60 years too late.'