"Did you seriously think I wouldn't see you off?" Annette seemed pissed, but her emotions were heightened by the stress and exhaustion.
She tossed and turned for many hours while caring for Lena, and Theo's face was the one thing that constantly came to her mind. The boy was a year younger than her and had a bit of juvenile charm, but what captivated her despite all of this was his brilliant mind. His presence made her comfortable and excited, which she hadn't felt for a long time.
Annette decided to leave it up to the fate; if Lena woke up and was able to come here she'd confess, and if her friend stayed bedridden she would let Theo go without kicking a fuss. When Lena miraculously awakened it was like a weight lifted off her chest, a sign from God giving her the green light.
At first, Henrietta was elated, she wanted to see a face Theo would make when she confessed, but then a different emotion bloomed inside her body. Wrath. She was angry at the world, the Legion, and everyone who made their lives this way. For throwing a perfect man right upon her feet, just to take him away before she could even make a proper move. None of those things felt fair to her.
"Wait, are you angry at me? I hoped you'd come, but I thought you might be too busy with everyth-" Theoto was cut off before finishing his sentence, which only further fueled his confusion. She shushed him like a misbehaving child, who jumped to conclusions before she had a chance to explain.
"Idiot. I sat on it all night, we can't part like this. Waiting is for fools, and I for sure aren't one." She grabbed him by the collar and pulled him into a kiss. Theo was completely caught off guard, stunned by her bold approach, but when her lips parted with his, their absence made him feel strangely empty.
"I- We- This- What does it mean?" He stuttered, frozen like a deer in the headlights. It was his first kiss, and if things didn't go their way it could easily end up being his last. Theo thought they put this conversation off because it was a reasonable thing to do, but Annette seemed to throw the reason out of the window.
"It means I like you, dumbass. Screw the odds, we're both better than that. Crush it, kill the Legion, and hurry back to me. And while you're at it, bring Shin back in one piece. I haven't given up on those tests yet. It's just two tasks, nothing for the likes of you." She said it like it was a piece of cake, but her fierce certainty made it all sound possible.
"You're nuts, you know that? I don't think there is anyone who shares your irrational optimism." Nothing she was saying made any sense, yet his mind couldn't help but follow. Annette was like his bright star in this darkened reality, a beacon of hope lighting the road he had to follow. Theoto Rikka had to admit defeat, his heart was already conquered by this quick-witted woman. "But that's what I like about you, smartass."
He placed his forehead against hers and slowly leaned in. The second kiss was completely different, they took their time like there was no rush, placing soft caresses on each others' faces. He noticed a small mole under her eye he had never managed to spot before, a minor scar hidden under her bang, and many other details that made Annette's face even more lovely. When their lips finally touched a fuzzy, warm feeling spread across his chest, prompting him to smile in the middle of making out.
"Are you that happy to kiss me?" She teased him playfully, closing his mouth before he could answer. In this moment all the negative emotions faded, taken over by what people called the miracle of love.
"You don't even know." He murmured in between the kisses, magically convinced that everything would be all right. He had to give it to her, Annette could be really persuasive when she put her mind to it.
"Then remember this feeling and hold onto it. I prefer carrots over the sticks, but if you need both, I'll destroy one thing in your workshop for each day you are late." She pushed him away firmly, letting him know she wasn't joking. The playtime was over, it was time to head to war.
"I'm like a rabbit, carrots are the only thing I need! Besides, I wouldn't destroy them if I were you, after all, your future paid research assistant might have a few things you'd want to get."
Ernst entered the truck in a hurry, like a cupid on his most important mission. He squeezed between loaded seats and secured cargo, hoping the driver wouldn't depart with the President on board. It took him a while to find the man he was looking for, with Shinei Nouzen absentmindedly staring through his small window.
"I think someone is waiting for you." He pointed to the corner of the plaza where a silver-haired woman was looking at the crowd, trying to find something in the surrounding turmoil.
Shin immediately dropped everything and ran in her direction, recklessly bumping into soldiers who stood in his way. Lena looked pale, almost unnaturally so, but the past few hours must have been a torture to her. Their time together was painfully short, yet it could fuel his emotions for eternity. Shinei wanted to hug her and tell her everything would be okay, but he couldn't bear himself to hurt Lena even more.
"I'm glad you came." Four words, conveying only a fraction of what he wanted to say. A sentence so short and lacking it was almost laughable, yet those were enough for her to know his feelings.
"Take this. I don't want more scars on you when you get back." Lena resolutely handed him a small object, which turned out to be a half-empty golden box.
He recognized it immediately. It was the same one he had bought with his hard-earned money when she got injured, the highest quality ointment preventing scars from forming. Shin remembered how much time he had spent on the search, driven by guilt and concern after he had failed to protect her in the Republic. Fortunately, its reputation had proven accurate, since Lena's neck had no trace of what was previously a large wound. His fingers traced the sculpted lid, thinking about how many times hers touched it in the same spot.
"...Thank you." It was barely a whisper, yet it held the weight of his love and grievance.
Their story had come full circle, but the second farewell wasn't any easier. If the circumstances had been different, would they have been able to live happily into old age? To discover adulthood together, to build their home, to find their first wrinkles. Could they have finally experienced the joy of a normal life? The answers would forever remain a mystery. A part of Shinei wanted to scream, furious because of what had been taken from him.
Lena also looked like she had a lot to say, but the words just wouldn't come out. Even in her sorrowful state, she was unbelievably breathtaking. He was barely holding back from dropping everything that had chained him, and rushing towards her warm embrace. When the delicate jasmine scent reached his nostrils, the restraints he had put on himself disappeared as if they were never there.
"Sorry, but please let me be selfish this one last time." Shin uttered in a hurry, not waiting for a response.
He leaned in for a kiss, and the woman didn't have the heart to push him back. They both desperately wanted it, even if it would later lead to a greater hurt. Shin was kissing her hungrily as if her lips were the only thing that was keeping him alive, while the girl savored the pleasure of his touch. Lena tried her best to match his tempo, pouring all her strength and emotions into this single gesture. They didn't care about the people around them, they were the only people on Earth now.
His hands slid to her waist, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, begging for this moment to never end. Lena tasted like salvation, acting like a drug that wouldn't let him stop. If it weren't for the announcement that the trucks were about to leave, the man was sure he would never have left by himself.
"I love you. You're my everything." Shin knew those words were forbidden, yet he couldn't keep them inside. Every cell in his body wanted this woman to know it, and euphoria clouded his judgment for a split second.
"Can you promise me you'll keep going no matter what? Take care of yourself, put your safety first, and try everything to stay alive, okay?" Lena was in tears, agony crushing her spirit and guilt telling her to stay silent, but his sincerity was breaking her walls one by one. She loved him, that was undeniable, but if he were to survive this declaration could be the end of him.
"I will, but only if you promise to wait for me here." He was gently kissing her wet cheeks, showering her with the double-edged love. Shin knew it was wrong of him to do that, but once he began it was impossible to stop.
"I promise. Falling in love with you was the best thing that had happened to me. Nothing would make me happier than you still living in this world. No matter what, you have to keep living, Shin." The sincerest truth was mixed in with the basest lies, creating the sweetest poison one could hear. It was a shameless deception wrapped in a heartfelt confession, but she would do anything to keep him alive throughout the mission.
"Thank you, Lena. I'll do anything to come back to you."
August 30th Republic Year 357 (Stellar Year 2138)
2 days until the Start of the Legion War
Life-changing events tend to happen unannounced. There was nothing unusual about the air that day. The sky was clear without a cloud in sight, it was quite warm but not enough to feel unpleasant, and the atmosphere at the fest was nothing short of joyful. The large field it was organized on had been charitably shared by the local community, allowing anyone no matter the income to enjoy the festivities.
Elizabeth Birkenbaum had arrived there less than an hour ago, but she already managed to look around most of the stalls. The United Kingdom of Roe Garcia had a much harsher climate than the Giadian Empire, so the calendar end of the harvest season had never been a thing people paid attention to.
Most participants seemed to be commoners, probably coming from nearby villages to celebrate the occasion together. Liz found this place charming, definitely more fitting for her birthday party than a stuffy noble ball. She was sad Zelene and Will weren't there, but from the note her aunt had passed, William had safely arrived in her laboratory. Waiting wasn't her forte, but the perspective of seeing him in the future gave Elizabeth almost an iron patience.
Mrs Zimmerman was running late, which worried Liz a little, but her growling stomach quickly turned her thoughts to other matters. Deciding on food while surrounded by the local delicacies was no easy feat, but she ultimately settled on a piece of vegetable quiche. She was about to sit on a bench and devour her meal when a familiar voice shouted her name.
"LIZ! Lizzie! We're here! Sorry for being late! There were some traffic jams in the city, and getting here took extra time." Mathilda was persistently pushing the stroller in an attempt to speed up, but her frail body couldn't go faster than one of a granny.
"Mrs Zimmerman! Wait, I'll push it for you. It's my fault you had to get out of bed, let me do at least that." A rush of shame made her cheeks burn, Liz was embarrassed she didn't consider Mathilda's state while proposing this outing. A summer festival was a nice place for a teenager, but a lady during postpartum might have a different perspective.
"Honey, I told you to call me Mathilda. I won't refuse a little help with this bulky thing, but I don't want to use you too much on your birthday." She smiled sweetly, immediately brightening the mood.
The long pink dress made Mathilda look younger, and Elizabeth was mesmerized by how pretty the woman looked. She was the type of beauty that couldn't be hidden away, even with the pregnancy changing her body, Mrs Zimmerman was gorgeous beyond words. Her golden curls fell freely, and despite her obvious tiredness, Mathilda could easily fit into a picturesque fairy tale.
"Don't worry about it, it's me who should be thankful. If not for your call, I would completely forget today is my birthday." Liz admitted shyly since her focus was on William all of the time. She was spending her days reminiscing on her stay here, and while trapped in the past, she lost track of the presence.
"Oh dear, haven't Zelene called you yet? I ought to smack her when she gets back, despite that great mind of hers she is an awfully forgetful person." Mathilda furrowed her brows, already preparing a scolding in the back of her head.
"It's not like that, she promised to send me a note. Calling her right now is… temporarily impossible. Security stuff, I totally understand. Aside from that, how is the little one? May I take a peek inside?" The stroller was shielded from the sun, making it impossible to see the child napping inside.
"Of course, I'm sure Hildegard won't mind. Our Princess is lovely, at least when you aren't looking after her during the night. I swear, there must be a little demon taking over her body, there is no way that is the same lovely Angel we meet during the day." She shook her head pretending to be serious, but burst out laughing seeing Liz's confused face.
The baby was still soundly asleep, unbothered by the incoming sunlight. Elizabeth was mesmerized by her tiny body. A nose no bigger than a cherry, plump cheeks tempting to be touched, and small hands, clenched as if they were holding an invisible rope. Hildegard was only beginning her journey in this world, but the girl had everything in her path to become someone great.
"She's so… microscopic. It's hard to believe we all had been this small once. Look at her tiny fists, is it true her heart is the same size?" Liz was fascinated by the newborn, but a part of her felt like she was looking at an alien. How was it possible for someone this size to one day be a fully fledged adult? Nature was nothing short of a wonder.
"I've heard so too! Apparently, Hilda is a strong one, the nurses were gushing about her during the check-up. She is a definition of health, and a born beauty at that. No wonder everyone who meets her immediately falls in love!" Mathilda covered her body with a flowery blanket, hoping the girl wouldn't get sick on her first long walk. Despite the doctor ensuring her that everything was perfectly fine with her child, Mathilda was walking on eggshells when it came to Hildegard's health.
"Count me in, she had me charmed." Elizabeth declared with a wide smile, delicately playing with the sleeping child's hand.
The rest of the evening was peaceful. They explored everything the place had to offer, tried many local specialties, and eventually headed towards the main gate. The folk concert was about to start soon, but Mathilda decided it wasn't a good idea to bring a newborn into a place filled with loud noises. The women took their time admiring the stands for the final time when a rude man pushed Elizabeth while running from the direction of the center.
"ASSHOLE! Sorry! I forgot I shouldn't swear near the baby. What a… donkey. He didn't even stop to apologize! I hope he'll trip and break both of his legs…" Liz muttered the last part while shaking off the straws and dirt. The man was no longer visible on the horizon, but Elizabeth couldn't shake the uneasy feeling growing in her since he appeared.
"Damn jerk. Don't worry, Hilda won't understand any words for a while. Don't tell Ernst I did that though, he thinks it's never too early to avoid cursing." Mathilda giggled, and the tension quickly faded away.
"Then what a fucking idiot. Look, I think he dropped his bag while running away."
There was nothing unusual about the air that day. The sky was clear without a cloud in sight, it was quite warm but not enough to feel unpleasant, and the atmosphere at the fest was nothing short of joyful. That was until the small bag toppled, and the following explosion filled it with fire and smoke.