SHOW ME YOUR ADAPTER

Beyond the window, you could see the stars and a dwarf planet in the distance. Maybe it was the distance that made it seem so small, or maybe it was inhabited by only a few beings. Who knows? Light existed in the universe. It was not an infinite void, but a place full of possibilities. The workshop in which Lua had woken up, was placed on a large space station where there was no atmosphere, but due to the nature of the workers, there was no need for one.

Lua was absorbing all the beauty of the place in her gaze. The grandeur of the Universe was truly impressive. Each star seemed positioned in its place, although you couldn't tell who had positioned them that way. They are like lanterns placed in the garden or like fireflies flying at night and shining asynchronously. Stars emit, but who is the receiver?

Abraham turned his eyes and looked directly into the eyes of this girl that was too fascinated for her own good. "Lua, you have no other option. You have to join the military."

"WHAT?" Lua raised his voice. "Why? I don't want to leave you! I can help you in the studio! I can learn to tattoo or I can clean! Mr. Fort brought us cookies the other day! I think he's finally gotten used to me. Mrs. Mara gave me that scarf yesterday when I told her I was cold. I don't want to leave! No way!!"

"Please do not make it harder. It is the best decision for you" he insisted.

"How can it be the best decision for me if I haven`t decided anything! Is it about money? I can work for you, I can learn to do what you do and clean in the meantime... "

"It's not about the money, Lua. This studio is too small for you. You have a whole world to explore. You need to go and learn to use stardust to remember who you are and where you come from." Mr. Abraham stood firm, his stance betraying his refuse to accept other opinions.

"I DON`T WANT TO REMEMBER! I want to stay here, with you! Pleaaase! Can't you see it in my adapter? Doesn't it say there where I am from? We just need to figure out a bit more about it."

"Your adapter is far too complex to say exactly. There are so many planets you could come from." Mr. Abraham turned his gaze back to the window. A tear trickled down the cheek that Lua couldn't see, but he wiped it away without her noticing.

"I'm sorry. That's all I could do, but we will always be together, even from a distance." he said as he gritted his teeth.

Lua ​​had taken him in her arms and held him tightly, hoping he would change his mind.

“It's too late. You have to do this for both of us. The son of a very important person is coming today to take care of you. We've talked about this since the first day you got here. I didn't want to get attached to you, Lua. Your purpose is not here.”

A brief pause passed between them. She looked at him as if the last week had been part of amnesia, not her reality.

“Honoré Livé is a very influential figure who will help you…”

"I don't want to talk anymore! Please…Let me remember it beautiful." Tears had started to flow down her cheeks, but she didn't try to hide them. Lua let go of him and looked out the window.

He didn't make a sound and silence fell between the two of them, a silence that didn't demand anything. She continued to look out the window at each star. She wanted to remember her past, but not if the price was leaving the place she had called home for a very short time. Not so soon at least and definitely - not today! But Mr. Abraham’s words were laws throughout the workshop. It was probably the same now. She had no choice but to do as she was told.

“Go and get ready. Mr. Livé will be here soon and I want you to be in top shape.” and thus he ends the conversation between them.

"Okay," Lua said in a low tone, as he walked away from the first person she trusted.

As he walked through the closed-door corridors again and in front of the workshop area, Lua thought out loud:

"You want to see me in the best condition?! FINE!! You'll see that I'm also determined not to leave here no matter what nonsense you talk about! The future? Damn if I care about my future when we were just getting to know each other better. DON’T YOU THINK I HAVE BETTER THINGS TO DO THAN WORRY ABOUT MY FUTURE BEFORE LUNCH?" Lua realized she had started talking louder than she should have. She looked around, but wasn't sure if anyone heard her and she didn't want to know the answer to that question either, so she put her hands to her temples and ran away towards the center of the workshop.

Lua entered Mr. Abraham's office and locked the door from the inside. "Okay! Let's see what a future soldier should NOT look like."

She found one of Mr. Abraham's overalls and put it on. It was 3 sizes too big, but that was exactly what made it perfect. She turned the hem of her pants higher for her left leg and took one of Mr. Abraham's shoes. The other shoe was hers. She found a marker and drew 3 stars on her hand. She put Mrs. Mara's scarf around her waist, as a belt, and hung two handkerchiefs of different colors from it.

"Let's see if he wants me in the army now!"

Lua ​​looked around and then added

"Of course! I forgot the most important part!"

She tied her hair into 4 randomly positioned buns and let the strands hang out as they wanted.

Then she heard Abraham's voice speaking to someone in a very respectful tone. "This way, Mr. Livé, Lua will be waiting in my office."

Suddenly Lua panicked and thought “Oh no! I'm going to embarrass him! What do I do now?”

She started to fidget and because the shoe on her left foot was too big, she tripped, fell over the table, and spilled the entire cup of hot tea all over her head. The two gentlemen were climbing the stairs leading to the office door when a scream was heard from inside the room they were about to enter. Lua ran out of there screaming "Hot!! Hot!!", bumping right into the distinguished guest himself.

It immediately felt like she had hit a rock. This man was much taller than Abraham and didn’t even flinch when she bumped him with all her strength! Looking up, she saw the most imposing individual in the entire workshop. He was dressed in a light gray suit, perfectly ironed, but which she had soiled with the tea that had fallen on her hand. The man was looking down at her, not smiling, almost like he wasn’t breathing. He had short, light brown hair and cold, blue eyes.

“Lua, what's going on with you?” asked Abraham as he was trying to understand the situation.

"Is this the girl you were telling me about?" this tall individual asked, in a dismissive tone.

“M-Mr. Livé, I can explain... she can probably explain. I'm sorry about ...” Panic was clearly visible on Abraham's face as he said those words.

The man raised his hand to signal to be quiet and continued, "No, there's no need. I've seen enough. It's a waste of time if this girl thinks she can control stardust when she has an attitude like that. She'll accomplish nothing in life."

Lua looked from one man to the other. The last words didn't affect her because she didn't care much about what this Honoré Livé thought. She was actually happy that she had managed to get rid of him so quickly, but then she looked at Abraham who seemed so disappointed and scared. She knew that she didn't want to let him down, so she retaliated: "Mr. Livé, isn't it one of the traits of a good soldier to analyze before judging?"

Both men remained silent and attentive to Lua. She ​​had taken a straight position, stood dignified, her head held high and added: "My name is Lua. I don't remember who or where I came from, but according to the data collected by Mr. Abraham, I come from another world or a different planet or both. My adapter is far superior to others, but I lack military training." Lua bowed before him. Her voice didn't tremble at all and she added, "Please teach me to become a soldier so I can be of use to you!"

Abraham was stunned, but Honoré replied, "How can you be of any use to me?"

"I am at your disposal. If you grant me military training, I will be able to use this adapter completely. I will use it in the interest of the Livé family and only your family. This is my honor and vow as a soldier."

Both men were intrigued by the girl's appropriate words. Although she had never been in the military, she did not lack the talent for it.

"Show me your adapter!" Honoré demanded.

"Of course!" Lua replied. The girl turned her back. Honoré did not say a word, but the look on his eyes - he was as amazed by those drawings. Three concentric circles, very old runes and symbols of an important planet, which no longer exists.

"Who is she?" Honoré said, looking at Abraham.

"Unfortunately the girl doesn't remember much. She could be a descendant from that planet... or maybe she's a thief or an experiment." Abraham lowered his eyes. "We can't know for sure without stardust."

"I see." Honoré looked at the meticulous details of this adapter and said in an almost friendly tone, "Welcome to military school!"

Lua turned to him and said "What?"

"I accept your oath. You will be able to enter military school, but considering your physical condition, you will have to start at the first level. You will train alongside the novices, and at the end, when you are able to use stardust, you will enter the service of the Livé family."

"Yes-Yes, sir!!" Lua said in a clear voice. Then she looked at Abraham and saw how happy he was. She smiled at him, but her heart was breaking in pieces.