On the fifth largest continent, on the coast of this white desolate expanse, a few dozen meters from the water of the ocean, two lonely shadows were trudging forward, together but at the same time seemingly isolated by a veil. The tallest one had wide shoulders with what could be called a tiger waist above strong legs.
The shorter shadow had a slim figure with the curves, not exaggerated but obvious enough, signaling a feminine nature.
The silence between the two people was in between comfortable and heavy. Maybe if their fate was to stay intertwined for long enough, they would bond with each other beyond that veil.
The young man, steps heavy but muffled, was advancing while keeping an indifferent expression. You could see however frowns marring his face from time to time. He was more concentrated on his thoughts than where he was putting his foot.
With his bronze skin and uniquely snow white short hair, Lucas was working on the advice he gave his companion. He was comparing his body to the one after the first baptism and feeling the new changes, processing how they compounded with the previous ones and thinking about how to adapt and maximize the benefits.
Unfortunately, amidst all the advantages and disadvantages he was finding, apart for the echo of a certain unease, he was feeling a discomfort within.
'Like the friction between sand and metal, a machine lacking oil.' He thought with a frown.
And here he was, thinking about resting for a while. Ever since he came back to life in the desert more than one month ago, he had been running either to not make this chance at life an ephemeral one or to show filial piety before going for the gambles. He had wanted to rest a little, look at life in the face and enjoy some of its colors.
But now, even if he had not been kind of a perfectionist, he didn't think that he could take his time to enjoy the life of a rusty robot or android. What's more, he didn't know if this condition would worsen into something else with time. He almost wanted to sigh.
'Let's just consider that I will enjoy the benefits of a newfound balance sooner. Now I understand the second hint a bit more. I had my suspicions before but indeed two opposites, confined and in contact either produce a change at the contact point to coexist or needed a third element for the job. The bones for the first change, then the flesh and skin for the second. "Cushion the extremes". I already have some ideas. I don't think I'm wicked so I hope I can rest a bit after the next one.'
He turned to his companion and found her expressionless, thinking about things unknown. He was not surprised however since given her current situation and previous ordeal, it was already good that she was expressing a neutral behavior, whether she remembered or not. Just that, he didn't know what to make of her present state.
While he didn't regret saving her and would just feel a bit lonely if she was to leave, she was not like him. Even if by a suspicious old man, he got a path pointed for him after clinging to his life. However, her situation was different.
First, she didn't make direct contact with the world essence like him. It was a gamble and the chances were better with him as the medium. He had somewhat of an experience and was more attuned to what they were seeking from the world. Secondly, she didn't have the baptism of the opposite of the ice. He didn't know if only her flesh and skin saw some changes and how her bones were faring if they stayed the same, if she was imbalanced internally and if it would cause danger to her life and so on.
Questions, uncertainties, unclear path...
'Sigh...'
Getting one of those speaking gazes as he sighed while looking at her, he turned and saw their objective from afar.
"Do you know what penguins do at this time of the year?"
"What period are we in?"
"I forgot that. We are in the beginning of February."
"No, I don't."
"Actually, no matter the period, you don't know right?"
"No."
"Can't you make your sentences longer?"
"So you know what they do all the time?"
"No, I don't."
Not able to separate her from her calm face, he continued:
"But I know about this period at least."
With Estrella attention on him:
"February is Antarctica's most active wildlife month as all wildlife maximizes the Austral summer's brief window. Penguin chicks start fledging and learning to swim, skuas and leopard seals are predating, and whale sightings become common."
"Didn't you just memorize the answer of a search engine?"
Responding to her disdain with a small smile, he replied:
"At least you lost that expression of nothing to live for. I'm not the best to tell you this but make a new life and try to enjoy it."
As they stopped in silence to look at the wild life, he let her think before he asked curiously:
"Did you really lose your memory? How can you know of search engines?"
Estrella ignored him and approached the birds. He stayed there as he looked at her with a small smile. She was more relaxed with her guard lowered as she enjoyed the company of simpler beings.
********
Coming back, they already saw a boat that Lucas recognized as Matteo's from afar. Without hastening their steps, they came to the coast where they saw Matteo with quite an unhappy face waiting for them.
Uncaring and with a smile, he greeted their taxi driver:
"Hey, mate. You are late. I thought you wouldn't be coming or that you would bring some friends."
Unimpressed, Matteo replied:
"I don't want to bet my life and if I don't come, I fear that you will pay me a visit later."
Appalled, Lucas exclaimed:
"How can you think that about me, I thought we hit it off. I would never think of doing that."
If only he didn't have that smile on his face as he said that.
Matteo sullenly turned around to go to his boat while Lucas muttered to Helen:
"I think I made my best friend sad."
He turned to the car and opened the door to the passenger seat like a gentleman done brooding.
"The next time I leave my car, I will write on it "There is a bomb inside, steal it at your own risk". It will be fun, don't you think?"
While inside he was thinking as his eyes wandered:
'Even if she is not big behind, she reminds me a bit of the scenery back home.'
With a smile, he violently started the Arctic Truck and made it bound forward.
'Yolo.'