[Imperiatum, Deep Within Consortium Space, Two Millennia after Consortium Emergence]
Anya snapped her fingers togethor, fiddling with her own joints as she waited impatiently for her journey to begin. Her gilded seat, positioned at the center of a large amphitheater, overlooked much of her father's drifting palace. From there, she could stare off into the distance, using her sharp eyesight to observe her brother.
He was watching her leave again.
The Imperaitum was something of a sculpted statue, resembling a chiseled bowl as it drifted through space. Impossible in size and scale, it retained its role as home to the royals of the Consortium for millennia. Only after the reign of Anya's father had it begun to chip at its farthest fringes.
"He's so impatient." Anya sighed, squinting at her brother who stood at the precipice of the royal baths, glaring with his usual contempt. "I'll be back in a blink."
The prince was always clingy in that way, relying on his sister for more than just company. She was his beating heart, guiding him through his father's overshadowing nihilism. And to that end, she understood her role.
Love was a strange thing for her kind.
"Any particular reason this is taking so long?" Anya groaned, staring at her polished fingernails as the jewelry around them clinked togethor.
A polite Canere spoke from beneath the girl's chair, working hard at its terminal as it spoke.
"Charting a course, highness. Preferably around the Infestare."
The princess huffed loudly, fixing her seat as she attempted to find a comfortable position. "Oh, please. They will keep me safe."
Anya pointed towards the two Harrow that surrounded her rather oversized chair. Neither they nor the furnishing of the ship were designed for someone as frail and tiny as the princess. Yet still, she made do.
"Hulking beasts and towering chairs." Anya yawned. "Am I really the first princess to be reasonably sized around here?"
The floor beneath her shifted, as her view of the Imperiatum grew more distant. The ship she sat in was essentially a peice of her father's palace that had simply detached from the whole, flying through space using an old peice of tech that could have been easily confused for magic even during present times. It made for a smooth ride, fortunately.
"How long will the trip be in total?"
"Two hours, highness." The Canere responded in a gentle tone. "Would you like a snack?"
Anya stared at the gilded walls around her, encrusted with strange patterns and lavish jewels all across their obsidian surface. Some corners appeared more lavishly gold, showcasing both the statues of previous royals and the opulence of their legacy as a whole. Yet none of them seemed to fit her loose attire or soft skin.
It was alien.
Yet the feeling of isolation meant nothing compared to her hatred of being predictable. She did want a snack, even if it provided no real nutrition compared to the royal baths. And she despised that fact.
"I...want tasty treat." Anya crossed her arms, fuming at the thought of asking for anything else.
An entire crew lay somewhere beneath her, either standing guard or toiling away to keep the ship operational. Yet all Anya needed in the way of service was the single Canere beneath her, whose tendrils reached out to grab the dishes prepared for her from a narrow shaft. She liked it that way, being able to avoid the hustle and bustle of visible servants.
She liked Canere's in general.
Their melodic voices.
And their capacity for silent kindness.
"Highness." The Canere spoke softly, reaching up towards the princess with an array of plates and utensils grasped firmly by its reaching appendages.
Anya only bothered to grab one marble bowl, its spotless surface filled with a mound of circular fruits. She plopped one into her mouth rather carelessly, allowing its juices to spill onto the corners of her mouth as she chewed. The Canere was quick to wipe it all off with a handkerchief, however, proving its usefulness once more.
"Call Yrix." Anya pointed at the open gate in front of her, its window-like expanse overlooking the stars. "I want to speak with her."
Just as soon as the royal vessel underwent lightspeed transition, and the void before Anya became a swirl of light, a holographic screen appeared in front of her. It remained blank for a few brief moments before refreshing itself to reveal Yrix, who stood in front of the princess as if she were really levitating at the center of the room. Anya seemed pleased to see her, cupping her snack with a tighter grip.
"Auntie." Anya beamed. "I'm on my way."
"So I felt," Yrix replied with a warm, motherly voice. "It will be good to see you again."
"How are you? And your students?"
Yrix almost sighed, speaking plainly out of respect for the princess. "I am, as always... preoccupied with my work. As for my students...-"
The princess nodded excitedly, "Yes?"
"Well, they are enjoying their time off. Making love to each other."
Anya blushed. "O-oh. But...I beleive you said they were all female, no?"
She enjoyed the drama that came with gossip.
"They are." Yrix groaned. "All girls. Humanoid, like you."
"Interesting." Anya smiled, leaning forward in her seat before popping another orb into her mouth. "I never considered the possibility of two women taking an interest in each other. Are you certain it has nothing to do with an absence of males?"
The Arch-Flayer placed a palm in front of her eye. "Positive."
"How weird. I'm suprised you allowed such...strangeness."
"Dear, you kiss your brother." Yrix teased. "Strange things happen."
Anya giggled, kicking her feet up. "Well, you know me. I can't resist."
"Yet you make him work so hard for it. If he saw you like this...being anything but sassy and frigid..."
"I'd have no control over him. And that's no fun. I love to see him squirm." Anya grinned.
"Of course." Yrix sighed once again. "I beleive you two have much in common with my students."
"That's high praise coming from you." Anya beamed with pride. "I can't wait to meet them."
"And you will princess. Safe travels."