Star Beings: Dawn

Restoration part one

The week passed quickly, and Thursday was here in the blink of an eye.
Elian seems nervous.
"So, y'all ready to go?" DJ asks, offering both of her hands to my uncle and I.
"We're not teleporting, I need to give Anai a history lesson. We'll take a boat onto the mainland and drive from there. It'll be fun."
DJ stares at him for a moment before just shrugging and slinging her bag over her shoulder.
"Can I drive?" "Absolutely fucking not."

The ferry ride goes by quickly.
It's the drive to... Well I don't exactly know... that takes forever. The whole time, alarm bells are ringing loud and clear in my head. We ended up having to stop at a dingy hotel in the middle of nowhere.
I toss my bag next to one of the beds.
DJ and Elian stare at each other.
"There ain't no way in hell I'm takin the couch."
"I'm way older than you."
"I  disrespect my elders, then."
DJ teleports onto the other bed, flashing the finger at my uncle.
"Why do I always forget you guys can teleport...?"
DJ's shoulders shake with laughter.
Elian grumbles something under his breath and then turns his attention to me.
"Alright kid, time for a history lesson." "Oh hell yeah."
"DJ I was talking to Anai." Elian says, annoyance on his face and in his voice.
"Oh I know. Your lectures were just always way more entertaining that Hera's. You told it like it was family history you weren't allowed to talk about.... Oh."
My uncle rolls his eyes and turns his attention back to me.
"So... where do I start..." he mumbles, sitting down on the bed next to me.
"How about at the beginning?" I ask.
"Alrighty then. It all started about 6000 years ago, before the Star Beings ever came about..."

"The world was far different back then. Abilities weren't mixed as they are today. In fact, many abilities were confined to specific groups or kingdoms in certain areas. For example, many with the ability to control, create, and/or manipulate water lived near the coast. Interestingly enough, those with fire abilities lived in cold areas and those with ice abilities lived in the desert. It was really an adaptive trait gifted to humans by the gods. The kingdom of Obumbratio was high in the mountains, and it was a place for those who could manipulate shadow, like you and I. In fact, our ancestors ruled for much of Obumbratio's history. For thousands of years these groups lived separately. Then, around 4000 years ago, groups began to discover each other. Cultures began to mix. All seemed well... except for Obumbratio. Others didn't trust us, and they deemed our abilities as dangerous. People have always feared the dark. Shapeshifters, like your aunt Hera,  still live fairly isolated to this day because of distrust such as this. The people of Obumbratio didn't mind, though. Business in the kingdom went on as normal. Then, about 2000 years ago, Obumbratio finally began to mix with the other kingdoms. Our technology advanced, our economy boomed, all was good. Until 200 years ago, we thrived with other cultures. Then my great-great- great something grandpa got greedy. He wanted more area. And to do that, he couldn't have those with other abilities in his kingdom. So they were... exterminated and the war started. Slowly, the Luminis Obumbratio came to be and the kingdom of Obumbratio faded into the history books. Your father was the last king and now... now it's me."

I stare at Elian. That last sentence shakes him, it's not hard to see.
"Eventually the whole "only shadow" sentiment went out of style as the L. O. Became less of a kingdom and more of an army. But yeah... that's our family history."
A memory seems to scratch at the base of my brain.
"Eligio killed the kingster; queenie was found hanging around two days later."
"What?" Elian hisses.
"Did... did I say that out loud?" "Yes, you did. Where the hell did you hear that?"
I shrug.
"Just... a memory, I guess. What does it mean?"
Elian hesitates.
For a moment, he looked different.
He's taller, older, and his hair is far straighter. The strange scraggly mess that is his goatee becomes well groomed.
Then, he's gone.
Don't you miss your dear father?
"You'll figure that out when we get to the palace."

The next morning we leave without breakfast, stopping at some fast food joint around noon.
I think I ordered the greasiest burger in existence, but it was surprisingly good.
DJ mentioned something about a water burger back where she's from. She said it made the homophobia bearable at times, though not really. Then she sighed and said she'd kill for something called a Doctor Peppermint... whatever that is.
After that we got back on the road. The alarm bells ringing in my brain only get louder.
We arrived at the palace around dusk.
A strange feeling floods through my mind.
Everything is right behind those doors. All you'd have to do is open them and run inside. Every question you've had in these past few months: answered.
The allure of the palace begins to fuel my every movement.
"Now this thing has been abandoned for a couple of months now so I have no idea what the inside looks like."
"Should we come back in the morning? Just in case it's... inhabited?"
"Even if it isn't, I doubt the power still works. There's a hotel about ten miles back. It's probably smarter if we-" "No. We're here, aren't we? We should just go on in." 
Elian gives me a stern look.
"Absolutely not. Especially not if you're insisting. Ani, I know we're close to getting your memories back. But rushing into it... that's dangerous." "Yeah, maybe for you and DJ, but what about me? These are my memories-" "And gaining all of them back at once may cause you to go nuts and hurt yourself. An eight or nine hours wait won't kill ya. Now get in the damn car."
"Asshole!" I huff, slamming the car door shut.
I see my uncle's shocked and hurt face through the window.
He says something to an equally shocked DJ, who shrugs.
They both get back in the car and, as we drive off, the feeling subsides.
"I'm sorry, Elian." I eventually say. "It's fine kiddo."
He sighs.
"It's hard to act normal around that hellhole."

Short chapter because shit is gonna hit the fan in the next one and I wanted this one to set that up. Also, Arcane redraw (the infamous You're Hot, Cupcake scene) with DJ and Lane. Good day to you all!