Cencaria: Tales of the First Age (Part 1)

These thoughts were suddenly severed as Brodeus' mother turned to her two sons and asked:

"Now tell me, sons, what shall you two call your planet?" Brodeus glanced at his brother. Preleon glanced back at him, but remained silent.

"I myself have a liking for 'Cencaria'," Brodeus said. His mother smiled at this, and his twin seemed to echo this with a grin of wry humor.

"The Jewel in the Void," said Daeda, shaking her head in approval. "This seems a most excellent choice to me. But now, let us hear what your brother thinks about this?" She and Brodeus turned their heads to Preleon.

"This name is fine with me," Preleon replied with nonchalance thick in his voice.

"Very well then," rejoined the queen. "The two planets on which you three shall inseminate life are to be called Earth and Cencaria! With this matter resolved, we must discuss the location of these two planets. As I myself mentioned earlier, I would propose that they be situated at far ends of the universe, so that contact is minimal and only restricted to a necessary technological advance needed to achieve it."

"Indeed, your Majesty, I think you are in the right," said Bylarin, quickly affirming the queen's judgment.

"And you, my sons?" Daeda said, turning to the twins. For himself, Brodeus thought the idea suitable and said:

"This idea is agreeable with me...Preleon?"

"Yes," said his brother in his apathetic tone, "I approve of this idea." Brodeus had to restrain himself from shaking his head in disgust at his brother's mood. Acting as if this were the most trivial of matters! Brodeus almost spat, his thoughts just barely kept within his mind.

"We have now reached the end of this discussion," proclaimed the queen, rising from her seat. "You shall receive further information as to the exact location of your planets in the morning. On the morrow you shall depart for your destinations. Good luck." The queen promptly left the chamber, her gown sweeping the floor in her wake. Bylarin turned to Brodeus. "May the powers of Olympia accompany you and your journey," he said. Turning to Preleon:

"And you as well." Bylarin bowed to the two boys, and then departed the chamber. Brodeus and Preleon were left alone in the silent building. Brodeus looked up at the great dome capping the huge cylindrical walls of Sejal, and through the panes of glass he could see that night was falling quickly.

"Let us leave, Preleon," Brodeus said to his brother as he lowered his eyes to meet his twin's.

"You may leave, brother," replied Preleon in mock authority. "But I believe I shall remain in this place of a while more." Brodeus nodded, not even questioning the eccentricities of his brother. And so Brodeus left the Senate Chamber, while behind him the figure of Preleon still remained in his chair, deep in thought.