Skipping Ahead

The next few weeks consisted mainly of teachings from Lina's new Educator, Jace. Jace taught her what it was like in the real world, that you can't really trust anyone, do everything, and go where ever you please. He taught her what each role in society really meant, how to identify right from wrong, etc.

Eventually, Lina got to travel to each district in the Starian Empire on her own after a few years of schooling.

Almost a decade and a half later, Lina had become one of the most intelligent Starians in the Empire. She followed her training, and listened carefully to her new teachers, known as Instructors, which got her far in society.

Unfortunately for Lina, her wittiness and livelihood wasn't accepted by the elders, nor by those she trained with or those she was to work with in the years to come. She would question things that one did not question, say things that were never to be said, do things that a perfect Starian citizen simply didn't do.

She was punished for each and every one of her indiscretions; she was assigned several hours of solitary confinement in her star without her books or Chase.

"Wake up, Lina." Chase's soft, artificial voice gently eased Lina into consciousness.

"Hmmm. Morning Chase." She mumbled as she rolled around in her bed, attempting to escape her sheets.

Once she did so, she got out of bed, pulled on her undergarments, and began doing her hair in front of her mirror.

She parted it on the left side, and moved most of her jet black hair to her right. She had dutch braided the hair to the left of the part, and added several small braids down the right section of hair.

"What do ya think?" Lina asked as she swung herself around so that she was facing a camera located in the corner of her room.

"You look dashing, miss."

"Aw, Chase. Always such a flirt." She said sarcastically with a grin.

She slipped a white gown over top of the Starian standard of a bra. It was a long sleeved shirt with a deep v-neck, and extremely wide arm cuffs. Her "underwear" were tight shorts, always meant to be paired with a contrasting color of her shirt, even though it was forbidden for them to be seen in public. Her dress had a top similar to that of a tank top, and ended just below her knees. There were also bands that had to match the color of her gown that went over her shirt on her forearms.

As she patted her dress down, she slid her hands down her calves, feeling all of the little hairs tickle her skin as her hand passed them. All Starians were required to shave their legs out of respect for others in the community. Lina however, hated the idea of cutting her hair, any of it. This made the Council furious, naturally, and society was disgusted by her "lack of self respect", but Lina liked feeling unique in a society where so many people conformed, believing that there was no other option.

In all fairness, there wasn't.

Lina was simply determined to find one.

"See you later Chase. Have a great day in there." She smiled and winked at the camera before exiting her star.

Like most days, Lina reported to the Chapel of Elders for training. Training for what? She had no idea.

Immediately after entering the Chapel, she stopped and bowed. She was much older and taller now than she was before, so she was able to see the Elders, though sometimes she wishes she wasn't.

All of the Council members were elderly men and women. Some of which, over her time in the city, have died of old age during a council meeting. Occasionally, the old pricks falling over in a puddle of their own drool would cause Lina to snicker, using faked illnesses to leave the room and hide her amusement.

There was no excitement today, no council members dropped dead, not even an interesting case.

All that Lina had to do was sit in a small chair at the end of the elders' line of tall desks an take note of each case presented to the council.

After hours of repetitive work, Lina was approached by an elder from the furthest desk to the right (the opposite side of the desks from where she sat).

"Come Lina." Her gentle voice instructed. "It's time."