Perla, the Emperor’s daughter, was his shadow and his whisperer. She could have been a politician, a senator, or even the empress after her father. But her devotion to history and philosophy was so unwavering that she refused to let politics distract her from her studies. Why should Perla bother with endless meetings and long letters when her father and little brother could handle those tasks? She understood that true power wasn’t found in titles, but in knowledge.

  As the years passed, Perla’s wisdom deepened. Her father, the Emperor, found great reassurance in her counsel, and she became a quiet yet invaluable source of strength for the throne. Her curly white hair trailed behind her like a soft cloud, following her father wherever he went. Her white eyelashes framed her piercing violet eyes, adding an ethereal quality to her calm, patient demeanor. Perla knew that power wasn’t something you seized by force, it was something you nurtured and bided your time for. Perhaps tomorrow, perhaps never, but she would act only when the moment was right, when the need was undeniable.

  After the uncomfortable meeting with his ex-wife Dr. Aurelia, Emperor Sephianos held his daughter’s comforting arm and together they walked towards the Senator’s chambers, their steps echoing softly in the stillness of the marble palace. They turned through a narrow corridor at the back of the main hall, away from the hustle of the daily senate business.

  Ahead of them, five senators, trusted members of the Emperor’s immediate advisory council, were waiting in quiet anticipation. Perla pushed open a door with no handles, hidden from the casual eye, and led the way inside. The Emperor followed her, rising his head tall and his shoulders wide, and the senators filed in behind them.

  They entered a large room, its stark emptiness striking. Unlike any other decorated room on Ars Pheria, there were no windows, no furniture, no artwork, just an overwhelming plainness that seemed to drain any hint of human expression. The dim light cast long shadows on the sterile white walls, creating a sense of quiet detachment from the world outside.

  In the center of the room, seven white chairs were arranged in a circle, facing a white table. At the center of the table, a metal sphere slightly bigger than the size of a tennis ball, spun slowly on its axis. The soft whir of the sphere was the only sound that filled the silence.

  Each person who entered was familiar with this room. Without a word, they each took their seats, their faces tense with the stress of keeping an expressionless composure.

  After a few moments, when Perla lightly touched the north pole of the metal sphere with her index finger, it gained momentum, its velocity increasing until it hovered midair. On the opposite side of the room, three holographic figures began to materialize. As the blurry images sharpened into focus, the sphere gradually slowed and finally came to a stop. The figures were cloaked in light-colored long dresses and capes, their forms sleek and graceful. Their faces were hidden behind copper-scaled masks, molded so perfectly to their features that it was almost possible to trace of their facial futures. Their background was nearly as empty as the stark white room Ars Pherians had chosen for the meeting, furnished only with a roughly carved stone wall behind them and wooden chairs draped in abundant brownish-red linen.

  Sephianos and the senators greeted the figures with a respectful nod, and the figures responded with a subtle hand gesture, acknowledging their presence. The figure in the center stepped forward, her posture open, arms extending in a welcoming gesture. Her movements were fluid and deliberate, exuding both authority and calm. Then, a deep and clear female voice resonated from beneath the mask, filling the room with her elegant authority.

  “Esteemed Emperor of Ars Pheria,

  It is our pleasure to finally meet you. Thank you for sharing your language and your culture with us. We have taken the time to learn your language, so we may communicate clearly with you. Please, interpret any words from our side with the understanding of our good intentions.

  We shall introduce ourselves. I am Queen Nammu, ruler of Sumeria, with my daughter ‘An’ at my right and my son ‘Ka’ at my left. Our history, we believe, stretches far beyond yours. According to our records, we are descendants of humans who were brought from Earth, from the ancient Sumerian civilization in Mesopotamia. For centuries, we searched for Earth, and for others like us who were taken from Earth. Though we have yet to locate Earth, we are deeply grateful to have found you. We have much to share. Are you willing to share and cooperate with us?”

  Sephianos had anticipated this direct contact from the Sumer. When they first contacted Ars Pheria nearly two years ago, the Sumerians had introduced themselves through visual communication devices, displaying recordings from their world, Sumeria.

  These transmissions had shown glimpses of their ancient civilization, their advanced technology, and their relentless search for Earth. However, nothing could have prepared Sephianos for the reality of facing them in person, standing before him in the sterile, white room with their faces hidden behind the copper-scaled masks.

  It was two years ago, one morning, Sephianos woke to find a metal sphere hovering just inches from his nose, spinning slowly in the air. It was slightly bigger than a tennis ball, its surface smooth and glimmering in the morning light. He sat up in bed, watching the object intently. If it was some kind of assassin, calling for help would be futile, he was alone in his chambers, and no one could reach him in time. He chose to remain calm, focusing on the sphere’s movements.

  The sphere began to accelerate, its speed increasing as it hovered in place. Suddenly, a three dimensional projection flickered from its surface, showing images of a world that, at first glance, seemed eerily familiar. The landscapes looked like Earth: forests, oceans, mountains. But as the images continued, they grew more intricate, showing vast cities and structures, some too advanced to belong to Earth. Soon, Sephianos realized this was no place he had ever seen. This world was neither Earth nor Ars Pheria. It was something else, an unknown realm.

  The projection ended abruptly, and the sphere emitted a soft whirring sound. It began to scan the room, its laser-like sensors sweeping over the furniture, walls, and even Sephianos himself. After a few seconds, it stopped and, with a soft click, folded into itself, dropping lightly onto the bed.

  Sephianos stayed still, absorbing the implications of what had just occurred. He picked up the sphere, examining it carefully, trying to activate it again. But no matter what he did, tapping it, pressing it, or holding it in different ways, the sphere remained dormant.

  After several attempts, he sighed in frustration. There was no use. He tucked the mysterious device away in his personal safe, locking it securely. The images it had shown him lingered in his mind. He knew this was no ordinary encounter, but for now, all he could do was wait and observe. He spoke to no one, not even Perla knew about it at first.

  Weeks later, Sephianos woke to find a second sphere hovering at the edge of his bed. It was almost identical to the first, but this time, it was slightly larger. He watched as it spun gently, just like the previous one, before projecting a new series of images. This time, the images were far more intricate and unsettling.

  The screen flickered to life, displaying scenes of people wearing gleaming layers of clothing, shiny golden bronze masks that reflected the light with an ethereal glow. These people walked with purpose along wide roads in small, suspended cities. The cities themselves hovered in mid-air, supported by technology beyond anything Sephianos had ever seen. The most striking feature was the way these cities were interconnected, suspended drawbridges made of a material that looked like stone, yet flexible and fluid in its movement, connected each one to the other.

  Beneath the floating cities stretched a vast ocean, its surface calm and serene. Sphere shaped vehicles which looked like ships moved gracefully across the water, not on their hulls, but floating as if defying gravity itself. On an upper level above the ocean surface, sphere shaped airships glided effortlessly between the suspended cities, giving the whole scene an otherworldly sense of civilization.

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  Sephianos’ mind raced as he processed the images. The advanced technology, the floating cities, the gravity-defying vehicles, these were things the people of Ars Pheria could not even begin to comprehend. This world was beyond anything they had ever encountered. Whoever had sent these spheres, whoever these people were, they were far more advanced than Ars Pheria could imagine. A cold chill ran down Sephianos’ spine.

  He knew that what he had seen on the projection was just the beginning. The future held even more uncertainty. What did these people want from Ars Pheria? Were they an ally, or a threat?

  He had no answers. All Sephianos could do was lock the sphere away in the safe once more and prepare himself for whatever was coming next. That same day, Sephianos assembled a group of trusted senators for an urgent advisory session. It was not unusual for the emperor to call upon a select group of senators for immediate counsel, but the advisory committee met in the emperor’s personal meeting room this time, not in the usual Senate chambers.

  Perla was already there, sitting quietly among the senators. Her presence was calm and composed, as always. Her violet eyes watched Sephianos as he entered, her hands folded gently in front of her. She could see the worry in her father’s blue eyes. The Emperor took a deep breath, then looked at each of the senators one by one before beginning his speech.

  "Respectful Senators,

  I have summoned you here today to discuss a matter that deeply troubles me. I trust that everything shared here will remain classified until I make further decisions.

  My friends, what I am about to reveal may be difficult to believe. I had hoped that this was merely a challenge brought on by the decay of my aging mind, and that perhaps my mind was playing tricks on me. I wanted to believe it was nothing more than a figment of my imagination. But I fear the evidence before me, these two metal spheres in my hand, prove that what I experienced was all too real."

  He glanced at the silent, puzzled faces of the senators before continuing.

  “I was contacted by an alien civilization, one I believe to be made up of human descendants, much like ourselves. We are not alone in this universe. And I fear we are not the only civilization that was taken from Earth.”

  The senators' faces were frozen in stunned disbelief, their expressions pale with astonishment. If Ars Pherians could see the colors of their own emotions, they would witness a cold, fearful shade of purple filling the room. For centuries, the people of Ars Pheria had debated the possibility that they were not the only human civilization in the universe. They scoured the shadowy volumes of Earth's ancient libraries, piecing together fragmented clues. They combed through the records of history, searching for any trace of their origins, yet found nothing solid to confirm their suspicions. The search had gone on for years, with no concrete evidence to give them answers.

  Senator Guellermo, a stocky figure with a slight paunch beneath his silk tunic and a cozy sage green cape adorned with yellow gemstones, managed to shake off his initial dismay and spoke: "We must summon a technician to open one of the spheres and examine its contents," he suggested, his voice steady despite the gravity of the situation. "We need to understand what level of technology we are dealing with, and how it might affect us."

  “Does it really matter, Senator?” retorted Senator Bernard, his voice sharp. The youngest of the senators on the advisory committee, he was the nephew of the Terra Nova city governor. His rise to the Senate had been assured by the unanimous appointment of his region. A handsome, charismatic figure, Bernard had become something of a celebrity politician. Still unmarried, he was often the subject of lively debates among Terra Nova's young ladies, who was more handsome, Alessandro or Bernard?

  “It’s already clear that their technology surpasses ours, and Earth’s. At this point, our only option is to hope that they are peaceful.”

  That day, even the most unsettling news failed to shake Perla's usual composure. She placed the spheres back into the metal safe and locked it. “They likely already know much about Ars Pheria,” she said, her voice low and measured. “They could be listening to us as we speak. We must act with strategy. They must not perceive our vulnerabilities.”

  Weeks later, Sephianos received the third visual communication sphere. The message it contained was one of peace, but it also requested that he provide material related to life and language in Ars Pheria. Sephianos understood that the alien civilization was preparing to deepen their communication. The senators, however, were hesitant to share any information. Then came the fourth sphere, once again requesting linguistic data.

  After centuries of living in harmony, peace, and secrecy, Ars Pheria found itself exposed to an unknown civilization, one that claimed to come in peace, yet persistently demanded information.

  It was Perla who suggested that Ars Pheria should share selected information with the alien civilization. After careful consideration, the fourth sphere was allowed to scan a set of data that Perla herself had carefully curated.

  Perla shared information about Ars Pherian language, culture, and art, but withheld all scientific data related to the biology of Ars Pherians or the planet’s resources. It was critical that the aliens never learn of the Ars Pherian ability to see human emotions. They must never know that the fold in the Ars Pherian brain, the cingulate gyrus, which regulated emotions and aggressive behavior, was notably larger than that of Earth’s humans. Most importantly, under no circumstances could they discover the existence of the portal on Ars Pheria that opened to Earth.

  Perla’s strategy paid off sooner than expected. During the first in-person meeting with Queen Nammu of Sumer, the Sumerians were unaware that the transmission had been strong enough to reveal their emotions in color. As Queen Nammu sat upon her throne, exuding regal glory, Ars Pherian delegation could clearly that each word she spoke was laced with both excitement and deep fear. “They are scared too,” Perla thought. “But what are they truly afraid of? What does Queen Nammu see that we don’t even recognize about ourselves?”

  Sephianos responded to Queen Nammu with the same measured political kindness that had served him for years, accepting the cooperation with calm assurance. As he spoke, a sense of relief washed over him when he noticed the purple fumes surrounding the Sumerians begin to shift, gradually turning a soft shade of green. It was a subtle sign, but one Sephianos had come to trust, the Sumerians were starting to place their trust in him.

  He appointed Perla as the head of the delegation, responsible for all communication with the Sumerians. Queen Nammu’s daughter, An, would serve as Perla’s counterpart, the liaison between their worlds.

  When the metal sphere finally came to a stop, Perla carefully placed it back in its metal safe box.

  “I don’t believe the Sumer will pose any threat to us,” she said, her voice steady and reassuring. “On the contrary, we may be able to leverage this opportunity to secure some of their advanced technology for Ars Pheria.”

  It wasn’t just the Emperor and Perla who had noticed the Sumer’s purple fumes of unease. “I’m afraid the shade of purple they fumed wasn’t just the typical fear of the unknown,” Senator Guellermo said, his voice laced with hesitation. “I would interpret it as fear of something they already know, something more specific and maybe unconscious. What do they know about us that makes them afraid?”

  Perla would have kept her thoughts to herself if Senator Guellermo hadn’t brought it up. But he was right, there was something the Sumer feared, something they already knew.

  “Is it possible they realize we can see their fumes?” Perla asked.

  “Possible, but why would they fear that? If they knew we could see their fumes, they could simply change their transmitting frequency or use another method of communication,” Sephianos said.

  “I agree,” Senator Guellermo replied. “They wouldn’t want direct communication if that were the case. There must be something else. I’d interpret that shade of purple as tied to cultural or religious consciousness. I recall seeing similar shades among Earthians when I visited the Vatican City.”

  Perla didn’t want to discuss it further.

  “Whatever they’re afraid of, it could be an advantage for us,” Perla said. “I’ll try to uncover their fears when I meet with Princess An at our next meeting. There are many possibilities.”

  She paused, then added, “I have another concern. Have we received any updates from the research team in Khrysos? Our new friends seem to have a particular fondness for shiny fashion.”

  Nearly ten years ago, Sephianos had ordered funds to support a research group investigating sources of liquid gold, despite strong opposition from the Senators, who believed the substance was unreliable and would be of little use. After three years of research, the team discovered the source in the uninhabited region of the planet. Though Ars Pheria was small, the landscape in that area was bizarre and mostly inhospitable due to vast marshlands and dense white mist.

  Silently, the Emperor halted the research and redirected the remaining funds toward exploring possible uses for the liquid gold. The research team eventually developed a method to stabilize the metal using pressure, but only in very small quantities. Any amount larger than an ounce would lose its stability and revert to liquid form within a year.

  Surprisingly, in its solid state, the gold proved to be incredibly durable, and though its practical applications remained limited, it found a place in Ars Pherian biomedical technology as a substitute for other metals. More notably, it became highly sought after in the jewelry industry, providing a new and prestigious material for the creation of exclusive pieces.

  “There is a vast amount of liquid gold beneath the marshlands of Khrysos,” Sephianos replied dryly. “However, we have no intention of mining it just yet. We need to find practical uses for the gold first; otherwise, mining would not be feasible. Perhaps it’s better if it remains hidden for a while longer.”