Junis found herself lost in the deep dark blue sea of stars above. A bright haze crossed the cosmos as a shiny streak, horizon to horizon, the cool breeze seemed to follow it into her body, infusing the sight with a mystical energy. The sound of cutlery betrayed Kranizi’s presence. She looked briefly at him as he finished his tiny meal with his tiny spoon, his gaze also lost on the celestial sight.
“What are you thinking about?” her voice seemed almost reluctant of interrupting the moment.
“Home,” was his melancholic answer.
“Can you see it from here?” she said.
“No, not really. I have a vague idea of which direction it is, but I couldn’t tell you what star is my home system.” He replied, matter of factly.
She came up with a question, she knew she couldn’t deliver it in an agreeable way, so she thought, then asked anyways.
“Why did you come here?”
“I got shipwrecked.” He said.
“I know, you told me this, but why did you come here?” She insisted.
“I told you as well, we fought a battle.” He said.
“No, I want to know how you ended up here. You obviously like your home, you’ve told me its a nice, comfortable place. Why were you needed here.” Her words caught up to her mind.
Kranizi thought for a moment. He knew the answer to this question and how to deliver it, but it hadn’t dawned to him that he was, in fact, the architect of his current fate.
“When you come of age in the Republic, you have a choice. You can either find a job or occupation and keep living your life minding your own business, or you can try and become a citizen.” He said.
“Ci-ti-zen?” Junis asked, the auto-translator having failed to convey any meaning.
“A full member of society. A grown-up. Not just an adult with responsibilities and rights, but an involved person, capable of voting for decisions.” He explained.
“Voting? You can’t have your voice heard just by being a grown-up?” Junis asked, the transator having found a familiar concept.
“No,” Kranizi continued, “you have to show a commitment to society, demonstrate that you care by giving your time and energy for a few years.”
“By doing what?” She said.
“Well it depends! I joined the Navy but others join as messengers or construction laborers, there’s a few options.” He said, his tone more educational than patronizing.
“So could you have stayed home if you chose another option?” She asked.
“Possibly!” He asked, “I could’ve certainly asked.” His voice betrayed a hint of remorse.
“Then why did you pick the navy?” She asked.
“Fewer years, I wanted to get done with it quickly,” he said, “but then the war came.”
Junis stared back at the sky, her amazement had turned into determination, her thoughts shone through her slight frown.
“I want to go to war.” She declared.
“Hoh, no, listen you really don’t want to, wa-,” Kranizi said but was interrupted.
“My grandmother died in battle. My mother fought many times. They were both very skilled warriors. It is said my grandmother killed a hundred warriors, took a thousand slaves, she was one of the last King’s favourites, and I want to be like them. But there is no war now, so I can’t prove myself. There aren’t even any prey animals prowling around to go hunt anymore.” She said.
Kranizi suddenly understood her plight. What he did because of a moral commitment to his society, this girl felt as a driving existential justification. Junis couldn’t just stay content as a civilian like he could’ve done. Her worth as a person hinged on her capacity to kill and survive, and this peace that others would cherish and value was holding her back instead.
My template might be too small, we'll see idk.