Aeon Legion: Labyrinth by J.P. Beaubien Page A

lighter shade of brown and reached below her shoulders.
Terra couldn't help but feel jealous of the woman's slender body,
long legs, and flawless skin. The glow of youth made Terra guess
their girl's age a few years older than her, though Terra didn't want
to make assumptions about age here.
    “As I am a cartographer of
the crepuscle sky, this has made me seek vantages such as this to
give me a vista,” she said, continuing in her ethereal tone. In her
ears were the same device Alya had given Terra when she had arrived
at the timeport, though Terra wondered if it was working right. Over
one shoulder the woman wore a white shawl with silver edging and
embroidered in intricate sinuous designs. A silver broach with a
sapphire center held the shawl in place near her neck. The shawl
dipped down below her waist to the top of a knee length white dress.
    Terra's brow furrowed. “What
are you talking about?”
    “In shadows, the stars can–”
    “Get to the point!” Terra
said, scowling.
    The woman cringed at Terra's
outburst. “I just wanted you to move,” she said, her eyes watery.
    Terra's expression softened.
Perhaps her mother was right and she needed to be less blunt. “Sorry.
I didn't mean to snap at you. I'm just lost right now.”
    The woman relaxed her pose.
“Do you need directions? Minerva can provide those.”
    Terra sighed. “I feel so out
of place here. I don't even know what Minerva is. This is the first
time I have time traveled.”
    “What is your home time?”
    “Twenty first century United
States.”
    “Oh. You must be here to
join the Aeon Legion.”
    “How did you guess?”
    “If I remember correctly,
the Americans were a warrior culture. They loved war so much that
they declared it against concepts like poverty, drugs, and terror
when there was no one else to fight.”
    “Why do you want to go to
that overlook so bad?”
    “I came to observe the
movements of the astral bodies in the evening skies,” she said as
her airy tone returned.
    “I think you just said that
you were stargazing, but I'm not sure. Why are you so indirect?”
    The woman maintained an aloof
air while looking at Terra. “That is a direct untactful question.
In answer to your query, my statements are indirect by necessity.
Others here take apart my words so I must spend them carefully. Why
are you so direct?”
    “I don't mean to be blunt.
People never seem to take me seriously so I'm direct. I'm frustrated
right now since I just got to the city today and I'm tired, hungry,
and without a place to stay,” Terra said, sighing. “My name is
Terra. What's your name?”
    She looked at Terra again
while her expression remained unreadable. “I am Delphia, a native
to the city.”
    “Oh,” Terra said, looking
at Delphia's hair. “Then why isn't your hair sil–”
    “Silver is the color of
condescension!” Delphia said as she crossed her arms and looked
away.
    Terra's brow furrowed.
    Delphia turned to Terra and
moved closer. “Well I hope you have not judged our city based on a
few cruel citizens. They delight in criticizing those younger than
them, but I assure you we are not all like that. To prove it, allow
me to help you.”
    “You don't have to.”
    A slight smiled curled
Delphia's lips. She moved closer, standing right next to Terra. “To
use my knowledge to aid others is something I seldom experience. Are
you hungry?”
    Terra nodded while taking a
step back. She hadn't eaten since she arrived. “Actually do you
know a cheap place to rent a room for the night?”
    Delphia tilted her head.
“Cheap?”
    “You know. A place that
won't cost a lot of money?”
    Delphia raised an eyebrow.
“Money? What's that?”
    Terra sighed. “Never mind.
Is there a place where I can spend the night?”
    “You could ask my mother if
you can stay at my home. She loves to have guests over and she would
probably allow you to stay in the guest room until the Academy
training starts.”
    “Really?”
    “Oh yes. Saturnians