Prelude to Retribution

Chapter Twelve: Paradise

Star System: Renda Noth

Moon: Paragonis IV

Location: The Waterfalls of Korisa

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Tyaal Veriss watched the water roar over the edge far above him and fall past the observation bridge into the rocky chasm. It was nearing sunset, and soon, the water would take on the sun's glow, which resembled a firefall. At certain times in the year, when one of the other Paragonis moons sat in a particular position in the night sky, a moonbow would appear in the falls.

Paragonis IV was one of the few places in the galaxy where such a phenomenon occurred. But all that paled compared to the beautiful woman he embraced as he watched the fall's majestic display. He ran his fingers through her long, dark hair, enjoying the sensation of its softness against his skin.

"There is a reason I wanted to come here, my love," Taleinia said, looking into his eyes. She caressed his face and kissed him. "This park has an outdoor chapel across the lake where we will be able to marry in a few months underneath the solar eclipses."

"Eclipses? I thought there would be just one." Veriss said with a smile. "There will be more that day?"

"I'm surprised that my eclipse-loving boyfriend and soon-to-be fiancé didn't know that," she replied with a smile as breathtaking as the view of the waterfalls. "Three Paragonis moons will cross over the sun at different times that day. All three events will be total eclipses."

He nodded and pulled her close. "Interesting, but it will be hard for me to enjoy them."

She ran her fingers through his greying dark hair. "I bet I know why."

"If you guessed because of you, then you're right," he said, gently touching her face. "You're the only one who can take my attention off a solar eclipse, my soon-to-be fiancé."

"I'm a soon-to-be fiancé who is proud of her boyfriend for being there for her family during the battle over Paragonis Four," She said, continuing to play with his hair. "I'm so glad my father talked you into accompanying us home. What you did for Miriam was so thoughtful."

Veriss exhaled and looked away. "Yeah, I don't want anyone to think negatively of me for doing that."

Taleinia put her fingers under Veriss's chin and gently turned his face toward hers. "Nobody thinks that way of you, sweetheart. Miriam was frightened during the battle for obvious reasons, and you stepped up like the gentleman you are to comfort her in your arms. It meant the world to her, darling. And my parents were extremely impressed by your kindness to her. It was so sweet of you, Tyaal, to do that for my sister."

He kissed her and smiled. "Well, she is going to be family soon. Just like your parents."

She cupped his head in her hands and looked into his eyes. "You have never told me about your adoptive family on Jennus Three."

"I lost them when I was barely twelve," Veriss said. He closed his eyes momentarily and relaxed in his girlfriend's warm embrace. "To be exact, every child from my area lost their parents and families on the same day."

Tears filled Taleinia's eyes. "Oh, Tyaal. I'm so sorry." She pulled him into a tighter embrace. "It must have been horrible for you all. You don't have to tell me what happened if you don't want to."

"It's okay, baby. You deserve to know," He replied softly. "I was adopted by the leader of a town surrounding the shores of a majestic lake at the base of a long-believed extinct volcano known as Mount Jericho. Geologists nicknamed it 'Darling of the Star System" for its unmatched beauty. By adoption, I became a member of House Veriss, led by a man named Elijah Veriss and his wife, Norna. There were no schools on Jennus Three, so for our primary education, all of the children were shuttled to Jennus Four for our studies."