Rae van Daleon – The Roots of the Storm
by Lea von Löwenstein
Chapter 44: The Farewell
The morning of their departure arrived with a muted sky, the light filtered through a thin veil of clouds. The van Daleon estate was quiet, the usual hum of machinery and forge fires subdued in deference to the occasion. Rae and her team stood in the grand hall, their gear packed, their newly forged weapons secured at their sides.
The weight of the past few days lingered heavily in the air—a mix of pride, gratitude, and the bittersweet knowledge that their time here was coming to an end.
Master Irik van Daleon entered the hall, his footsteps steady as he approached the group. His presence, as always, commanded respect, but there was a warmth in his expression that hadn’t been there when they first arrived.
Behind him, Lady Astra van Daleon followed with quiet grace, her piercing gaze sweeping over Rae and her team. She carried a small, polished wooden box, its purpose unknown but undoubtedly significant.
Words of Gratitude
Irik stopped before the team, his arms crossed over his chest. For a moment, he said nothing, his sharp eyes studying each of them in turn. Then, his deep voice broke the silence.
“You’ve worked hard,” he said, his tone firm but not unkind. “You came here raw, wounded, and uncertain. Now, you leave forged—sharper, stronger, and with purpose.”
He turned to Rae, his gaze softening slightly. “You’ve led them well, Rae. Your mother and I couldn’t be prouder.”
Rae swallowed the lump in her throat, her voice steady but low. “We couldn’t have done it without you.”
Astra stepped forward, the box in her hands catching the light. “This is for all of you,” she said, her voice calm but carrying the weight of her words. “A gift to remind you of what you’ve gained here—and of who you are.”
She opened the box to reveal five golden Aquila medallions, each engraved with the van Daleon crest. The craftsmanship was flawless, the medallions polished to a brilliant shine.
“These are not just symbols,” Astra continued. “They represent unity, strength, and resilience. Wear them with pride—and with the understanding that you carry the weight of what you’ve learned here.”
One by one, she placed a medallion around each of their necks. Rae’s fingers brushed over hers as Astra fastened it, the cool metal a reminder of the responsibility they now bore.
The Final Lesson
Irik stepped forward again, his tone taking on the cadence of a lesson. “The galaxy is dark, cruel, and unforgiving. Chaos doesn’t rest. Heresy doesn’t stop. And neither can you.”
He gestured to the weapons at their sides. “What you carry now is more than steel and circuitry. These weapons are extensions of who you are—and of the strength you’ve built here.”
He paused, his gaze locking onto Rae’s. “But strength alone won’t carry you. Trust each other. Protect each other. That’s what makes a team. That’s what makes you unstoppable.”
Marcus nodded, his massive frame radiating quiet determination. “We’ll make it count.”
“And we won’t forget what we’ve learned,” Celestine added, twirling one of her knives.
“Or who we learned it from,” Tyren said, glancing up from his cogitator.
A Private Goodbye
As the others began loading their gear onto the waiting transport, Irik pulled Rae aside. For a moment, they stood in silence, father and daughter, the weight of the moment pressing down on them.
“I’ve always known you were strong,” Irik said finally, his voice low. “But seeing you now… you’ve become more than I could have imagined.”
Rae looked up at him, her expression softening. “It’s because of you. Everything you taught me—everything you showed me—it’s why I’m still standing.”
Irik placed a hand on her shoulder, his grip firm but comforting. “You’re ready, Rae. Whatever comes next, you’ll face it. And you’ll win.”
She nodded, her voice steady despite the lump in her throat. “I won’t let you down.”
Departure
The team gathered at the gates of the estate, their medallions gleaming against their uniforms. Astra stood beside Irik, her hands folded in front of her as she addressed the group one last time.
“You leave here as more than students,” she said. “You leave as warriors. Remember what you’ve gained, and never lose sight of why you fight.”
Irik stepped forward, his expression as stoic as ever. “For the Emperor. For each other. And for those who can’t fight for themselves.”
“For Talia,” Rae added, her voice quiet but firm.
The others echoed her sentiment, their voices resonating with shared purpose. “For Talia.”
The transport’s engines roared to life, the sound cutting through the stillness. As the team boarded, Rae turned to look back at her parents one last time. Irik raised a hand in a rare gesture of farewell, and Astra inclined her head, her gaze steady.
The gates of the van Daleon estate closed behind them as the transport rose into the sky, carrying them back toward the uncertain future that awaited.
A New Chapter
As the transport soared above the sprawling Makropole, Rae sat quietly, her hand resting on the hilt of her newly forged blade. The golden Aquila around her neck felt heavier than it should, but it also gave her strength.
“We’re ready,” she said softly, more to herself than anyone else.
Celestine, seated beside her, grinned. “Damn right, we are.”
Tyren leaned back, his cogitator humming faintly. “Whatever’s next, they won’t know what hit them.”
Marcus crossed his arms, his hammer resting at his feet. “Together.”
Soren, sitting near the window, turned to look at Rae. “For Talia.”
Rae nodded, her resolve hardening. “For Talia. For the Emperor. For all of us.”
The team sat in shared silence as the transport carried them into the unknown, their resolve forged in fire and tempered by the bonds they had built. The galaxy was dark and unforgiving, but they were ready to face it—together.
