Around that same window of time, in which the entrance to their shared quarters had been carefully closed behind them, there was another event occurring. Between two mutual who harbored the same feelings for one another, you'd expect them to share a chamber to make the exchange more intimate, but it was the opposite. August had waved goodbye to his dad as he ventured out with the King into the jig of this known kingdom, with Kristina giving a silent wave, her body lent over his chest. Breasts brushing against him, he covered his cheeks for a second and pushed up his sunglasses, unable to peer the sight of her reeling back to her previous seating.
Just as she whipped her hair back in its braid, August couldn't help but be dazzled by the beautiful aura she gave off; and just by existing, too. It felt like time had slowed to such a degree it'd halted forever, admiring every part of her face and body so he could inch closer. Widening her heterochromatic pupils, coincidentally the same discoloration as his own, a very very very VERY small blush, that blended in with her very pale skin, popped into manifestation over her cheeks. But she had to maintain her composure, after all, she was the one who was supposed to be 'turning him', right? Clearing her throat, she looked away, acting as if she hadn't even noticed his extremely obvious staring, and went about with asking a general question,
"So tell me-" This gave him time to calm down as well, spotting her snap her head to the other side, he steadied his breaths and felt the tranquility begin to surge through his veins. It was although an invisible battle had been predetermined- and in their split seconds without eye contact, both of them had come up with a plan to steer this night in ONE direction, "How did you unlock your 'Requiem Powers,'?"
It was something simple like that, and if it were anyone else like his father or maybe Alex, they'd answer casually and give a condensed version. But he differed from them in that regard, he'd spent years in his grandfather's Temple, learning and researching every minute detail he could about the history of Requiem warriors and their abilities. Training and harnessing his powers was something he did often whenever he wouldn't have been working as Azazel's partner of a stand-in as CEO for his father's former company.
She was trying to get him to get all passionate and ramble on, so she would likely touch him in the middle of his speaking, get him flustered, and then be able to take control of the conversation... she was good. Luckily for him, even with the enhanced perception and deduction skills of the Four Eyes being covered with these all-black shades, he saw her through her little trap. All he needed to do was think up an easy counter, knuckles against his chin, he chuckled casually as if her asking if this was nothing but child's play...
"It happened randomly when I was fighting my brother one time when I was a teenager, nothing too special about it..." Finishing his answer, he turned his head away for a moment to avoid eye contact with her, but because he was an idiot, he realized how suspicious that looked. Then spinning back so he could face her, he attempted to fake the usual smugness he donned during battle, and it worked, yet Kristie saw right through it. It was a feeble attempt, and thanks to her extra enhanced female deduction, it was as though it'd been a transparent shade that barely even covered the outside from the inner darkness of a room. It was easy, all she had to do next was the following;
"Interesting... so, tell me more about your eyes," It was a friendly gesture, brimming with romantic intentions as her skin brushed against the tightness of his tank top. Hand sliding against his muscular arm, the ginger couldn't help but squeeze against the thickness of his limb, flicking her hair back once again as she sweetly giggled. Nothing seemed to work on her, it was like she was an impenetrable vault just waiting to be broken- yet, just then, he had an idea form.
The Four Eyes had analyzed everything from the way she dreamily flicked back her hair, her hand brushing up his arm, and her chest about to press against his own. Everything just listed as a way to determine her dominance over him in this position he'd been unfortunately thrown into, and so, he exhaled... before realizing something. Facing away to come up with a counter, her hand grabbed onto his chin; turning his head so their eyes could meet. Carefully, she moved the sunglasses off of his discolored orbs, to see the vulnerability in them both, tears ready to spill out the ends as he gazed in astonishment at the marvelous sight of her freckled face.
Breathing out carefully in a relieved way of exhalation, August gazed at her in amazement, he could feel it in the depths of his very own heart. This wasn't a competition, the way he was thinking about it that way, making it seem like a challenge; she wasn't even thinking it like that. That was something that... something SHE would've done if they were still together, even if they'd been dating for years, she'd always challenge and make fun of him. And there was nothing wrong with that, he enjoyed the teasing she always did with him, but the way her hands began to slide up his arms and glide to his cheeks. Usually, when someone blushes, that's a physical sign of them showing embarrassment, but this wasn't it, he didn't blush or anything... he just stared.
She wasn't anyone else, she was Kristina, Celine was truly gone and there was no way to change that. And even if he died, he wasn't going to the Temple where he was sure she resided. He needed to move on, stop second-guessing everything he did, and just focus on the future. Truthfully, despite this truth being more apparent to him than ever before, there was a wave of shame that began to wash over his brain. Thoughts like such as,
~Why are you thinking about this right now? What if she doesn't like you? What if she's thinking about how stupid you look right now? This is so stupid. If I make any stupid move right now, if I say anything about Ce-you-know-who, she'd probably just yell at me. Maybe this is the way everything ends. Maybe I'm not cut out for you yet, Kristie...
I'll just ruin it, the way I did with Celi, Azazel by leaving him when I did, everything. I don't want to hurt you too, and I know you can't hear me but... I like you too much to do this right now~
Every considerable probability had rushed into his brain, thinking and calculating everything at such an intense rate; it had been almost a minute for him. And yet for Kristie, only maybe 20 seconds had passed, despite him making his decision, she did not know. Deciding to get up and leave before he could 'hurt' her further, the delusions of his mind began to drive him to the door so he could have some fresh air.
Nevertheless, the smile she had over her lips didn't fade, and she stood with him, tightly gripping onto his wrist... and he stopped right in his place. There was something more, that allowed for him to stay in this exact place without easily utilizing his strength to dominate her and throw her out of the tightness she held around his arm. He didn't say anything, back still to her front, eyes still right ahead, she could mark out the distinct detail of a tear easily squeezing out the corner of his eyes. And like a river in the heat of the summer along with the beautiful leaves of a forest as you sit against a drink admiring the sunset, it was carefully guided against the steepness of his skin before curving to reach his chin.
As the rain would squish out from the clouds that shielded the golden lights of Heaven from the mortal eyes of humanity, the speck of liquid that'd slid down his chin had begun to drop into a tiny puddle invisible to their eyes. It was like a pin hitting the floor, inaudible to them, yet they knew it'd happened... Ping! And just then, that was the signal, just her holding his wrist right then and there, the world began to evaporate around him, crumbling to nothing but an invisible space that held the stars of the vast nothingness belonging to space's signature void. He couldn't turn around, and that was okay, so she asked anyway, without even needing to see his face, just hear the words,
"Do you want to move on from your ex? Do you want to be with me, eventually; when you do get over her?" The way Kristina spoke was so elegant and kind, it reminded him of the way his mother or older sister would usually speak to him. She was different from that girl with white hair and red eyes, she was so much better, sweeter and kinder, able to help him through anything. Celine was good, but there are different options in this world... so many different fish in the sea.
~Among all the people in this world, the hundreds of people I've seen, their fates played right before my eyes... over tens of thousands of friends and foes, you're the only one who seems to be the most genuine. The only one who made me forget her name...~
It felt like everything began to vanish, the memories she'd made with him and begun to vanish. Just as the threads of fate had willed it so, as he spun around to meet her face, drenched with the tears of sorrow and shame, she immediately went to cup his face in her small hands so she could feel the warmth of someone else. He wasn't alone anymore, he truly had someone with him, someone not powerless and someone with the capacity to fight for herself, she wasn't going to leave him, not like Celine. Gently moving forward so he could bury his face in her neck, she couldn't help but wrap her hands around his nape and begin to rub his back with continual strokes. He didn't even have to say anything, for she was there for him, and that was all... that was all he'd ever needed. Forever and always, she would be his path, to the world of freedom, the light at the end of the tunnel was just in reach, and though he had a long way to go to get there, it never mattered.
He was with her, and that was all that ever mattered... to him.
In the bustling streets of the Hawk's Kingdom, there the two Rulers walked side by side, together, Ben with his hands hidden in the pouches of his suit's leggings. Eyes closed as he carefully strutted, psychically following Griffith as he led him to the spot they were intending to head toward. The silence shared among the rivals was something that the Emperor cherished, seeing as how he'd blocked out the idle chatter of the chaos at night. Yet, the Hawk admired it all, his sake blue eyes darting to the side as they watched in amazement. People tearing for apples, riding in carriages with horses leading them( their hooves clicking against the concrete ground repeatedly yet gently. The way teenagers walked among the sidewalk with book bags, out at night just talking and laughing together. It was truly beautiful, the sight did everyone happy together without a care in the world,
"Have you ever wondered why you made your Empire, Emperor Rivera?" The Hawk's question had led Ben to simply pole out only one of his eyes, the right one, the pupil directed at the King he was walking alongside. He didn't say anything in response, all he did was stare as if awaiting the next part of the question so he could elaborate further. And Sir Hanniel did just that, head-turning back to the front as they walked together, their feet driving them closer and close to their destination with each passing step that crunched against the ground,
"I remember seeing the construction site for your Requiem Empire when I was but a youngling. The people praised and loved you because you gave humanity the very thing they'd been trying to gain this whole time; power. They declared you a fair judge in this world and rightful ruler, and so, I stared up at that symbol of justice no matter what, I would have my kingdom, and I would have people love me the way they did you. I wouldn't be a freak anymore, just because I was different from everyone else... among everything else in this world, there was but one thing I desired," He ended it there, leaving Ben starving for more and curious for what remained at the end of his statement. Affixing his tie attached to the front part of his throat, he began to rustle it right out of place as they reached the outer gates and what laid beyond.
More time passed on as they walked beside one another, silence amongst the rival rulers? Griffith on the right admiring the sights of the grass field they were standing on beneath their very feet. With Ben's eyes closed, every so often just taking a glance to spot the same sight of the Hawk's expression over his features. That of pure and righteous desire, willing to sacrifice anything and everything for the sake of his dream, that was the type of person the Hawk King was. That gleam in his eyes was the very thing he'd based this on, and despite that, despite it being only an assumption, he felt that was the truth. More true than anything else in the world, the Emperor wouldn't tell anyone, but the look he'd shared to his rival to the right was that of... envy and jealousy.
But just then, that sensation would begin to wash away at the following scenery he'd lay his eyes upon next... to the back of the Hawk Mage Kingdom. Where that large castle scraped the skies, piercing through the clouds, a shooting star began to pass by the tip. Pupils beginning to gradually widen in shock at this, Ben was taken aback by the astonishment of it all, and simply couldn't help but chuckle. It was a sea, over the horizon, never-ending as the darkness of the night sparkled against the liquid created by the Ancient who gifted them all with absolute life.
The stars that night, were so bright and amazing, so far and distant in the darkness of the night, shining every brightly to remind this race how insolent and tiny they were. Balls of light and gas that'd already been fated out of this world, the end of their natural lifespan having already been reached, it took eons for that procession to even reach the mortal eyes of us ants. What more could we do but watch in amazement at such a sight, our eyes glistening in the light that was brought to us by such divine creatures that likely existed beyond our control?
We were but little fissures in a universe that laid the groundwork for monsters, for angels, for demons, everything... what did we truly matter in this world? We were nothing but irrelevant beings when compared to such astral thoughts that had brought these sights int fruition. What more could humans do when faced with these unimaginable sights, paralyzed by the realization we are nothing but ants and stare in astonishment at what lay beyond... the walls of space,
"Ben..." Calling out to the company he'd brought with him, the man he called for had turned his toward the man who'd asked for him, just as he'd wanted. The Emperor decided to quirk a brow in anticipation for what would come next, staring at the Hawk King seated against a wooden log that served as a type of bench. Gazing out as the stars rapidly twinkled in the center of his dark orbs, his lips parted once more as he explained further and continued onward, "There will come a time where a Fissure shall occur, and the state of this world will begin to crumble. I'm sure you know of this, but, when that happens; I won't be around anymore. Sorrow, pain, panic, despair, depression, hatred, all of those will be erased in time as the ending of this long journey draws near. For the survivors of the coming War, build a paradise, ensure the future generation is built upon trust and love. Promise me that, and even if my kingdom comes turning to ashes, I shall be content from then on,"
The flash of his younger self when he was given a glimpse into his very own future had reappeared, Ben's hands hidden in the pouches of his suit pants, it was clear that he'd seen something more than his future self's memories had let on. Something at the true end of this long journey where everything culminated into an ending, and yet, maybe it was horrific, maybe it was filled with so much torture and agonizing pain that he'd break and so would everyone else in the world. Nevertheless, the paradise would be built, and just as the ashes of the Hawk's Kingdom would remain stained on the ground, those remnants would be built for something anew in the distant time ahead. So the Emperor of
Time felt it right to declare confidently as an answer,
"I will ensure your paradise is made... Sir King Griffith," Ben began to circle, previously having been standing to the right of the seated King; he bent the knee in a show of respect. The moment this happened, knee touching against the grass, it all came flooding back in like a sea of memories and different emotions coursing through every and fiber of his very being.
Over the tens of thousands of foes and friends throughout his 60-year-long lifespan, this was the only man to truly ever gain an ounce of his respect. He wished the best for his people, the way he smiled when it was something simple like teenagers walking along the street, no sign of poverty or anything, the subjects believed in their ruler, and he them. That was the ideal world he wished he could've created, and maybe it truly was gone, but for someone as high of stature as this man he was kneeling in front of; it wasn't. Maybe he could truly have hope again, not just for the people that lived within the walls of his Empire, but for himself too...
For the first time in a while, Ben had realized the error of his ways, that his life had meaning if he just put effort into it, and maybe then, people would grow to appreciate and love him for who he was on the inside. Or maybe not, fate was tricky that way, and yet one thing was certain. There was no God or Devil that manipulated the threads of causality, he chose his fate... and he wasn't any sort- of soldier.
To Be Continued.