Star Rising: Heartless Read Online Free

already waiting for them when they got there.
    The cooks set the pot atop the table at the end, and poured the sticky mush for each of the kids as they brought up their plate. Despite the frowns, very few of the children complained as they took their plates and headed to the long tables.
    “Oh, this again,” said Lourdes, a young girl with tangled braids of hair. She sniffed her bowl of barley, gagged, and then took a seat.
    “More barley?” whined Narus. The boy was about to go on of his long, now predictable rants, when Agnes stomped into the cafeteria. Narus put his head down and hurried to his seat.
    The day passed as any other day. After they were done serving the children, the two boys headed out to the small farm behind the orphanage. They milked the cows, collected the chicken and lizard eggs, and fed the animals. Once that was done, they headed out to the fields. It would be corn and Larys season soon, and the fields still needed plowing.
    It was not until the suns had crossed each other at the center of the sky that the boys finally took a break under the shade of the single tree. It was these moments that Xalen cherished the most. Here, relaxing with his friend and far away from Agnes, he could be himself. Though he did wish he could bring the young children out to play. That was only possible, however, on the days the headmistress would go into town to one of her “town meetings,” which Xalen knew meant getting drunk with her friends at the pub.
    “What do you think the future holds for us?” asked Rund. He was gazing up at the sky as he laid down on the green pasture, his hands serving as a resting place for his head.
    Xalen studied his friend, curious where the sudden question had come from. He’d never known Rund to think much about the future. Perhaps the fact that they were both seventeen and would be full-fledged adults in one more star cycle had gotten him thinking.
    Rund did not wait for Xalen to answer. “I want to take over the orphanage. I would bring in more toys for the kids, and treat them better. They deserve it.”
    While Xalen sympathized with his friend’s goal, he yearned to become a part of something much grander. “I want to go out and join the human resistance.”
    Rund frowned. “You’re still intent on joining the army? I thought that was a childhood phase you would grow of. Don’t you want to stay here and help the children?”
    “Of course I do.”
    “Then?”
    “I’m going to help by joining the army and putting a stop to the Deargs.”
    “How is that helping the children?”
    “The Deargs have been attacking towns, cities, and colonies all across the universe for the past few cycles. What if they come to Vintra?”
    “You know that’s not going to happen. There’s never been a report of a Dearg attack this far off into the galaxy.”
    “Just because it hasn’t happened yet, doesn’t mean it won’t.”
    “The army isn’t the answer to stopping them. They’ve been trying for many cycles. And what have they accomplished? If anything, the Deargs are only getting stronger.”
    “At least they’re trying something.” Xalen met his friend’s eyes. “I’m tired of being worthless. I need to get out of Vintra and help in any way I can.” His voice lowered to a whisper. “I never had a family, but that doesn’t mean I can’t go out and protect those who do have one.”
    Rund looked up at him with sad eyes.
    “I’m just scared that something is going to happen to you,” he said. “You’re my only friend.”
    “Nothing is going to happen to me,” assured Xalen.
    Despite his bold assurance, the walk back to the orphanage was a quiet one. They both knew that the life-expectancy for army members was pitifully low. Few reached their mid-twenties, even less lived to see thirty star-cycles. Xalen didn’t care though. Humanity was on the brink of extinction, and he was going to do everything that he could to make sure that did not happen.
    They reached the