Interlude: Our Fears and Hopes - The Kiss under the Moonlight

Maker's Forge

Chris, Alito, Death, and the Makers spent the next few hours putting fires out and cleaning the mess that the Corrupted Guardian made hours ago.

"I could have never believed this day would have come...Elder Eidard passed on...He's our father figure and all..." Alya shook her head, tears brimming out from her eyes as she embraced Chris and Alito tightly.

"At least Elder Eidard sacrificed his life to take out the Corruption in your realm." Chris consoled.

Minutes of calming down later, Alya gave a sad smile.

"You're right...at least he passed on while sacrificing for the greater good. But what are you going to do next?" Alya wondered.

"Seeking solace...If we have to do anything, Alito and I have to seek solitude first before we are in a better state of mind to find things. It's thanks to Elder Eidard that we have some sort of goal to work on, for now. What will happen after that - whether it's my fault for my loved ones' death and the meaning of humanity - is unknown. However we can either do two things, either mope around, or at least get up and do something useful." Chris replied.

"Aren't you wondering about what happens after you achieve it?

"Not yet...But hey, even if we die while doing so, at least we die while doing something instead of moping around and being a half-witted dumbass like most non-adventurers back in our world, right?" Chris chuckled sheepishly, with Alito blushing wistfully.

"We hope the Stonefather be with you, Chris and Alito!" Alya simpered.

"May our triumph over Corruption be of comfort to you Makers!" Chris and Alito nodded.

Meanwhile, Death and Thane were having a conversation too.

"So...you have helped us with our problems. Well, you have our gratitude, Pale Rider. Mayhaps I am too old for fighting." warrior Maker grunted.

"Age isn't everything, Maker. Didn't Chris tell you a couple of days earlier?" Death replied.

"Yeah, but I still feel that you need to prove yerself to earn your name. Chris and Alito did by being more powerful and mentally stronger than any kind of humans we may have encounter through our lifetime, so I'm sure you can do that too? Achidna and Argul, those are the ones we call death. Kill 'em all, and perhaps I can see you as a true reaper!" Thane offered.

"Sounds like a challenge, but if I am to be your executioner I would hear more of those that I am to kill." Death replied calmly.

"Sure, I will tell you what I know." Thane nodded.

"Still...even I know the name Achidna, the Spider Queen from the Realm of Shadows - Ysilik. Why do you seek her death?" Death asked.

"An old debt, forged before your time." Thane replied.

"All know the shadow realm of Achidna - why do you not travel there and kill her?" the Pale Rider wondered.

"I have tried - only to find her realm in chaos. The Spider Lords had bathed her throne in blood - and Achidna was nowhere in sight. I spent years after years following her trail to the realm of the dead - then all this happened. I returned home to my people, and left old debts unpaid." Thane sighed.

"Tell me about Argul." Death asked.

"Ah. He is mad man, a beast in need of killing. I had sight on the deed myself, when the current Lord of Bones rose up and defeated the mad King of the undead." Thane spoke.

"Then...Argul is no more?"

"My bones have always told me otherwise. The Old King lives, I am sure of it. He is not really a bad king, per se. He just needs to be freed from all the suffering and madness that he suffered through the eons, yer know. All the talking and mumbling about the arrival of the Four caused him to fear for his life and eventually went to the path of insanity." Thane sighed.

"If he's strong, then someone might have conspired against him to go mad." Death frowned.

Death soon met up with Chris and Alito.

"Well...we are going to set off first thing tomorrow. We had better get some rest now; things are definitely going to be hectic the next day." Death said.

"Yeah...Wonder where the tree will take us." Chris exhaled deeply.

Not another was said that day between the three, that is, until night fell, when Chris and Alito were looking at the Tree of Life from the Forge's rooftop. The remains of the Guardian scattered throughout the plains, and the Tree stood tall and proud. The Tree's warm, yet mystical purple aura radiated from branches warned the two women about the unknown dangers ahead.

"My Lady..."

"Yes, Alito?"

"Are you...scared?"

"About?"

"Tomorrow...no one knows where this Tree will take us. It might take us back to Earth, it might even let us face the Corruption face to face, or it might just kill us...One thing's for sure, my Lady, things will be way harder from then onwards."

Chris brought her hands towards Alito and clenched it softly.

"To be honest, Alito..." Chris sighed. "Yes...Yes, I'm scared. But not because of the monsters we will face, rather, it's about the challenges we will face when we are trying to find solace."

"Really?"

"Even with Eidard's words, I wonder what will happen to us on our way. Will we ever find solace? Will we ever get to that point where we can start wondering about what the fuck Humanity was and the meaning of human emotions? Will we ever find the answer we so desire, or are we going to die trying? All of these 'will we' questions kept popping into my heads, it's rather scary. I mean...for someone whom people revered to as 'A Maiden of Ice', 'The Blizzard', and 'The Fearless Maiden'...I ain't all of these now, right?"

Alito looked on.

"For someone who can help out people, eliminate heartless morons that S.W.A.T can;t solve, and eliminate heartless monsters that the Adventurers Guild commissioned, I sure have loads of personal problems up my sleeves..." Chris admitted and gave a wry smile.

Alito wrapped her arms around Chris's waist and held her close, drawing a soft gasp from the Icy Maiden.

"My Lady...I thank you for talking to me about what's been bothering you, because I know you placed your trust in me and vice-versa. Thank you." Chris's confidante smiled softly.

Both women could feel a warm blush spreading across their cheeks. "Alito..." Chris softly replied.

"We might not find the answers now, but your problems are my problems. We might not show it to others, but allow me to worry your problems for you as we journey to find our needed solace." Alito simpered.

Chris returned Alito's heartfelt embrace...

"Thanks again...Alito."

"As always, my Lady, as always..."

The two women smiled shyly and closed their eyes as their lips slowly met in a sweet, warm, and soft kiss...

Their first kiss...

The warm, gentle wind caressed Chris and Alito's clothes. Their hair flowed with the gentle breeze as the two women's heartbeat raced as one.

We remind ourselves, constantly, that we will be with each other. Be it in heart, or in spirit, we will be there for each other.

Alito...I have fallen for you, and I do not regret it.

I promise, if we get to the answer to humanity...I will confess to you once more as our new 'us'...