As the carriage rolled down the road, the Priestess awoke to hear the story of how Styx knew Grey and came to fall in love with him.
"In my old life, Grey was still called Grey, but it was a formal title bestowed upon him." Styx smiled and stroked Grey's hair. "Back then, Grey had far too much anger he'd kept locked within himself, and he'd often verbally hurt those who attempted to get close to him. Even with his pain, he was still smiling, almost constantly, just like he was a storybook hero... just nobody told him that he'd have to endure years of hatred, endless pain, and be forced to live a life trying to smile even when he was flat on the ground."
Those in the carriage listen to Styx tell the story of when Grey learned of those who'd hurt him, his past lovers, all mistreated him, wounded him, and left him with scars. "After I finished telling him, I had tears in my eyes, and yet... Grey kissed all of them while holding my hands. He was the first one to make me feel like my scars didn't have to be hidden like a curse. After all, I got to see all of the scars he wore back then and many of them seem to be the same from then..."
Styx went on to tell them about the time they'd spent together before the world collapsed, then told them how Grey went on to lead his friends to take over their broken nation, fight off those who wanted to destroy the world, lead a revolt against the best warriors of their homeland and won, just to be betrayed and Grey held everyone up on his shoulders.
"They called him "The Better Atlas" after an old story of a man tasked with holding the weight of the world on his shoulders." Said Styx with a smile. Lilith nodded and looked at him, "but when did you know he was the one for you?" Styx nodded and let his hand rest on Grey's head. "It was the battle where we were all transported to this world, and I ask you all to never speak of this to anyone else." With a nod from everyone, Styx went on to tell them of the last battle where Grey was up against the Void God.
"It was a small group of us who had survived thanks to Grey's sacrifices, we were all able to witness Grey's last moments of glory. A man, just a mortal against a dark god. However, I was the only one who could read his thoughts. Here, let me share my memory of those moments. The group's consciousness was transported into one of Styx's memories, standing behind Grey as his battered body marched toward the Eldritch God.
Grey planted his right foot before himself and spoke with fury. "...I was a 6th-7th grader who was lucky enough to be given a chance to speak to one of the few remaining Tuskegee Airmen. His words... "You are living proof that everything we went through, that our sacrifices..." The legions of vestiges within Grey had appeared before the Void God, the Grey Ghost stood beside Lemuel Curtis and allowed the former Redtail to finish his sentence. "...were not in vain." "False God, Decerped Being, this young man may die with this action, but he carries us with him, our souls merged into his soul, we are one!"
However, at that same moment, the inner voice of Grey could be heard by the group. "In no lifetime, will there ever be a time where I can sit back and remember the glory days as if I had ever done anything worthy of being remembered in that light... but... in my anger, my self-hatred, the years of punishment I endured..." Grey's eyes went into a full blaze of furious might and show of persevering willpower, "I'LL TAKE THOSE ON MYSELF, AND BE THEIR LIGHT... BURNING HOTTER AND BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN EVER COULD!" As the Super vestige of Uncle Sam appeared and punched the Void God, Grey yelled out his move, but his inner thoughts screamed far louder than anything he'd ever endured. "Grandma... I hope you're watching from the heavens! I'll win this fight... and find them all in the next life... maybe I'll have the courage to tell Onyx... Just how I really felt... HOW I FEEL!" The group watched as for a period of ninety seconds, Grey's body and soul... burned hotter and brighter than the sun's surface could ever hope of reaching... all while smiling as if he knew Styx, otherwise known as Onyx, was watching him.
As the group exited the memory, Styx smiled with tears running down his face. "When he carried me home last night... It was like he was still doing everything to ensure my safety. That's when I knew, the day the Grey Ghost burned brighter than the sun itself." The others nodded and Lilith sniffed. "Grey is lucky to have you, and you are lucky to have him." The carriage rolled to a stop and the Blades' Captain opened the door.
"We'll stop here and set up camp for the night. The area was scouted and is safe, you have my word... How is... Sir Grey?"
Styx smiled and held his head. "Stabilizing for now. His ghosts assured me he'd wake up once his energy reaches full capacity, which should be in another five or ten minutes." The Captain nodded and allowed them outside and began ordering his men around. Everyone left the carriage but Styx and Grey. Once everyone was out of earshot, Styx kissed Grey's forehead softly and whispered to him, "I love you too, as to answer your declaration this morning."
Grey's eyes fluttered open. "Y-you do?" Styx laughed and kissed his head again. "Of course I do." Grey's eyes filled with tears as the group from earlier listened in on the commotion from behind the carriage.
"Why are you crying? Did I say something wrong? Asked Styx worriedly. Grey shook his head and got on his knees, head down. "I couldn't save you... that day... the void god... that world... I'm so sorry."
Styx sighed and placed a hand on his head. "If only you knew just how wrong you were... Now dry those tears. The Blades' Captain is looking for you." Grey smiled and kissed Styx's hand. "I shall return." After Grey had gone, the group peaked in and in unison said, "AWWW", to which Styx covered his blushing face and yelled, "SHUT UP!!!", resulting in the group's laughter.