The Second Memory (4)

The convoy cut through the desolate landscape, its armored vehicles rumbling over cracked highways and through ruined cities.

Veneri sat in the back of a heavily fortified transport, his eyes scanning the barren scenery through a reinforced window. The world outside was unrecognizable.

It was wasteland of crumbled buildings and skeletal remains of what once were bustling metropolises. Skyscrapers stood half-sunken, their frames groaning against the wind, while fields of ash stretched to the horizon.

He leaned back, exhaling quietly.

Though his body was seventeen years old, his mind carried the burden of sixty more. He was a man out of time, too young physically to hold the wisdom of decades but too scarred emotionally to fully be the person he once was. Among the soldiers in the convoy, he was undoubtedly the youngest and yet he carried the hollow weight of someone who had seen far too much.

The convoy passed through what was once a vibrant hub of life. Signs of scavenging were everywhere. Makeshift homes in the shells of old vehicles, smoke from campfires rising in the distance.

People peered out from behind shattered walls, their eyes sunken and hollow, their bodies wrapped in tattered rags. For them, time had stopped sixty years ago, their physical forms frozen in their prime, but the toll of survival had clearly etched itself into their spirits.

Vastarael's gaze lingered on a group of children—at least, they appeared to be children. But he knew better.

In this world, appearances were deceiving. These "children" might have been adults, caught in a suspended state of growth when the world froze. Their laughter and play seemed hauntingly innocent against the backdrop of destruction.

The captain, seated across from him, noticed his expression.

"It's not the world you remember, is it?"

"No," He replied. "It's not the world anyone remembers."

The vehicle jerked as it hit a bump, pulling him from his thoughts. He looked ahead to see their destination coming into view.

A massive, fortified city surrounded by a shimmering energy dome. The city was unlike anything he had ever seen before, its architecture a blend of futuristic innovation and desperate resourcefulness.

_____

The convoy stopped in front of the towering gates of the palace. Soldiers poured out of the vehicles, their weapons drawn and their stances rigid as they scanned the area. Vastarael was led through the gates, his escorts forming a protective barrier around him.

The palace loomed above them, its design both beautiful and imposing. Sleek metallic walls glinted under artificial lights and patterns carved into the surface glowed faintly with energy.

They walked through grand halls, the opulence of the interior clashing with the harsh reality outside. The air was cooler here, perfumed with scents that reminded him of a world long lost. Murals depicting Greshina's rise to power adorned the walls, each one more dramatic than the last.

At last, they stopped in front of an ornate set of double doors. The guards standing at attention saluted the captain, who knocked once before stepping back.

A soft, commanding voice responded from the other side.

"Let him in. Alone."

The captain turned to Vastarael and gestured toward the doors.

"Her Grace is waiting. Good luck."

The soldiers dispersed, leaving him standing alone. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the encounter. Then, with a push, he opened the doors and stepped inside.

The chamber was dimly lit, illuminated by soft, golden lights that reflected off the polished floors and silk-draped walls. At its center stood Greshina Emberforge, the Empress of the World, her presence as commanding as it was alluring.

She wore a sheer, black nightgown that clung to her form, accentuating every curve. Her amethyst eyes caught the light, glowing faintly as they locked onto him. Her pale skin appeared almost ethereal, as if carved from marble, and her purple hair cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall of silk.

Before Vastarael could say a word, Greshina moved faster than he expected. She crossed the room in a blur, her arms wrapping around him as she pulled him into a deep, fervent kiss. The sheer intensity of it caught him completely off guard, his body freezing for a moment before instinctively responding.

Her hands gripped the back of his neck,and he felt the desperation, relief, and passion pouring from her in that embrace. When she finally pulled back, her cheeks were flushed, her breathing uneven.

"Veneri," she whispered, her voice trembling, "you have no idea how long I've waited for this."

He blinked, his mind still processing.

"Greshina… what—"

She silenced him with a finger pressed against his lips.

"Shh. Just let me have this moment. I should have saved you back then.... what was I thinking..."

Despite himself, a small smile crept onto his face.

"You've certainly made an impression. Who knew the famous Empress of the World would fall for a lab rat like me. Huh..."

A genuine, melodic laugh that filled the room.

"I missed this. I missed you. And... I'm sorry for leaving you behind."

"I... missed you too."

For a moment, the two of them simply stood there, locked in an embrace that bridged the gap of sixty painful years.

_______

Veneri stirred as the sunlight filtered through the silk curtains of the luxurious room, its warm glow brushing against his skin. For a moment, he lay there, his body feeling unusually at ease.

Then reality struck him like a tidal wave.

He wasn't in the facility anymore.

No cold restraints, no blinding lights, no agonizing experiments. Instead, he was wrapped in soft sheets that carried a faint, floral scent, his muscles aching in a way that was…different.

His blue eyes drifted to the figure beside him, curled up and sleeping peacefully. Her purple hair spilled across the pillow like a cascade of violet silk and her pale, flawless skin seemed almost otherworldly in the morning light.

The events of the previous night came rushing back, and a flush crept up his neck as he remembered just how intense she had been.

Dominant wasn't even the word for it.

Greshina was overwhelming, her strength both physical and emotional. She had taken control in ways that left him gasping and speechless. It had been a night of raw passion, one he wasn't sure he'd ever recover from.

He ran a hand over his face, groaning softly.

'I've been tortured, burned, and cut apart, but nothing prepared me for her.'

A soft chuckle pulled him from his thoughts. He turned his head to see Greshina, now awake, propped up on one elbow and looking at him with a playful smirk.

"Good morning, Veneri."

It was hard to believe a tyrant like her was this... passionate.

"Good morning," he replied, his tone cautious. Her gaze had a way of making him feel exposed, even in the most mundane moments.

"You look…pensive," she observed, tracing a finger down his arm. "Thinking about last night?"

He gave her a pointed look.

"How could I not? You nearly broke me."

"You survived. That's what you're best at, isn't it?"

Her words, though playful, had a weight to them that he couldn't ignore. He shifted, propping himself up on his elbows.

"Greshina," he began, his voice more serious now. "You didn't save the world, did you?"

Her expression faltered for the briefest moment, her amethyst eyes widening in surprise. Then, she sighed, sitting up fully and pulling the sheet around her.

"I should've known I couldn't hide anything from you."

"That's not an answer."

She met his gaze, her earlier playfulness replaced with a quiet sad look.

No. I didn't save the world."

"..."

"I tried," Greshina continued, her voice tinged with both frustration and sorrow. "I fought for sixty years, doing everything in my power to hold it together. But some things are beyond even me."

"Why? What's causing it?"

Her gaze darkened.

"A Nexus with power that rivals the gods. She's destroying everything in her path, fueled by grief over losing her loved one. And nothing, no negotiation, no force, has been able to stop her."

Vastarael frowned. "How long do we have?"

"Six months. That's all."

The weight of her words settled over him like a crushing tide. Six months. After everything he had endured, the world was still doomed.

"Why didn't you tell me this last night?"

Greshina smiled faintly, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

"Because I didn't want our first night together in sixty years to be tainted by the end of the world. I just…wanted to be with you. To feel alive, even if just for a moment. I wanted a break after... everything.'

Her vulnerability struck him deeply. He reached out, taking her hand in his.

"So, what now?"

"I want to spend these six months with you," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "No battles, no wars, no more responsibilities. Just…you and me. Well, I can't kill her so..."

He studied her face, seeing the cracks beneath her strong exterior. She had fought for so long, carried so much and now all she wanted was a semblance of peace.

For once, she wanted to rest.

"Alright," he said softly, his grip on her hand tightening. "If that's what you want, then I'll give it to you."

Her eyes widened, her lips parting slightly in surprise.

"You mean that?"

"I mean it. I owe you that much, Greshina. If I can give you even a shred of happiness before the end, then I will."

Tears finally slipped down her cheeks, but she smiled through them.

"Thank you, Veneri," she whispered, leaning in to rest her forehead against his. "Thank you."

Though the world was on the brink of collapse, for this moment, the two of them found solace in each other. And for the first time in decades, Vastarael felt a flicker of peace in his scarred heart.

"Now, about this... Nexus, how do you know her?"

Greshina sighed as she looked down. "I... met her by accident. She said that she lost her lover who she deeply loved. What was his name.... Vastarael Richinaria?"

He gasped.

"But let's not talk about that. Sorry about this..."

She touched his forehead, a purple glow appearing on his mind. His mind went blank for a few seconds before be blinked and looked into Greshina's eyes.

"Sorry, where were we?"

"Spending six months with me. And um... please don't ask about the Nexus. It's... something I don't want to remember."

"Oh. Okay then. So, how should we spend out time together, Empress of The World?"

She giggled as she gave him a light kiss on the lips.

"Leave it to me."