Page 50 of Stars in Nova

For now, the Sorans bore the burden of the fight, their drive as unyielding as the currents that shaped them. The Quarians and Sorans were two halves of the same whole—forged by water and tied to its rhythms, fighting to survive in a world that had turned against them.

Shouts of laughter broke through her thoughts as she strode through Thalassa’s central cavern, her aqua-glimmer boots crunching along the damp rock floor.

Its underground lake stretched before her, its surface shimmering with blue light from the bioluminescent algae that clung to the subterranean walls.

The scent of sweet moss carried the air, and the earthy aroma of roots and fish wafted toward her from the communal kitchens.

Despite the strains of war, the lake’s serene beauty had not faded, and neither had her people’s resilience.

A group of children played at the water’s edge, their laughter genuine as they splashed each other with glowing droplets.

Samira paused, eyes on them, her heart twisting. Their innocence was a fragile ember in the encroaching darkness, and she would do anything to protect it.

‘Careful, Jinna, don’t go too far!’ she called out, her voice warm but firm.

One of the older lads, a boy with a mop of dark curls, turned and grinned at her. ‘We won’t, Samira! Just teaching them how to make fish jump.’

She smiled, a weary lift of her lips. ‘Good. Keep it to the shallows.’

She continued, spotting the elders gathered near a fire pit.

They greeted her with nods and murmurs.

‘Samira,’ said Elder Khalan, his voice a gravelly rasp. ‘More victories today, yet more loss.’

She crouched beside him, resting a hand on his thin shoulder. His frailty belied the strength of his spirit.

‘Naam. ‘Twas Thren and Kaly,’ she muttered. ‘Good fighters. Brave souls. They held the line at the eastern tunnel long enough for the rest to escape.’

Samira bowed her head, swallowing the lump that rose in her throat. ‘Their sacrifice won’t be forgotten. We’ll honor them.’

Khalan placed a trembling hand over hers. ‘How much more, child? How many more sacrifices must we make before this ends?’

Her jaw tightened. ‘As little as we can help,’ she murmured. ‘However, we won’t stop fighting. Not until we’re free.’

The older man nodded, his eyes glinting with both sorrow and pride. ‘You’re strong, Samira. Stronger than I ever was.’

She gave his hand a gentle squeeze and rose, her gaze sweeping across the cavern, searching for a lighter reprieve.

She found it on the far side of the lake, where a collection of dancers moved.

Their fluid motions caused ripples in the water, their silhouettes lit by the glow of the algae below.

Strains of music, mellow and melodic, accompanied their moves in perfect harmony.

In Eden II, she’d imitated their choreography but had not come close to the best Soran dancers in Orilia.

Using their fluid kinetic abilities, they hovered just over the glowing ripples.

Some dipped their feet into the lagoon, lifting liquid streams into the air. Others spun the aqua into delicate spirals around their bodies.

The droplets captured the light and scattered it.

The group’s lead dancer, Laira, glided over the surface.

Her hands wove patterns in the air that the water mirrored as if enchanted. When she tagged Samira, she broke from the formation and floated to her on a ribbon of lifted water.

‘Samira,’ Laira said, her voice lilting and warm. ‘You should join us.’

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