Tales From The Kronos

Silva and Emely still laughed at their interaction with Neige while eating their ice cream. Once they finished they decided to go for a walk around the park. Silva was the one insisting on doing it, even despite her wound. The two walked on the lonely roads, enjoying the fresh air of nature.

"It's a charming place. Do you often come here?"

"Not really. I go where I need to, I rarely go in another world without a reason. I just happened to remember this place, it's... Relaxing."

"Yeah, it is. By the way, aren't you hot?"

"Do you find me hot?" Silva grinned like usual, even if she seemed a bit more embarrassed this time.

"Eh? No, I don't. I mean I do! Well, I... I was talking about the other kind of hot. You could roll up your sleeve, it covers all your body."

"That's the point. I always wear things that cover my body."

"You don't like the cold?"

Silva looked away in shame. She stayed silent for a bit, visibly hesitating before pointing at at a tree nearby.

"Can we sit there? I want to show something to you."

Emely was curious to see what Silva wanted to show her. It didn't look like it would be a good surprise but she was glad to learn more about her friend. They both sat under the tree and once she made sure no one was around, Silva rolled up her sleeve to reveal multiple scars.

"I don't want anyone to see that. I don't want to make the others uncomfortable so... I wear clothes that can hide it usually."

Emely softly touched Silva's wrist while making sure that it didn't make her friend uncomfortable. She caressed the scars with her thumb, which surprised Silva.

"Don't you think it's disgusting?"

"Disgusting? It's just a part of you. It's like... War scars! I wish they weren't here, but they prove that life wasn't easy, and yet, you still kept going. I never knew for sure you did that but... I always knew it was a possibility."

"I didn't realize how it caused more harm to the others than it did to myself. I remember when Sepide cried... I don't want to hear anyone cry the same way she did."

Emely took Silva in her arms, softly whispering in her ear.

"I know you're strong enough to make sure it doesn't happen again."

Tears started to flow down Silva's face. She buried her face in Emely's chest, holding her tightly.

"Emely... You're so kind... I'm so sorry for what I did."

"You already apologized before silly. I'm just glad I was still able to interact with you, even if it was through harsh words."

"I called you so many bad things... I wish I could be like Neige, he's always so calm and collected. Meanwhile, I get jealous when I don't get enough attention."

"But you worked on it. If I joined the ship today, you probably wouldn't have been as mean to me." Emely approached her face closer to Silva, making both of their foreheads touch as she caressed her friend's hair "And now, I'll give you all the attention you need."

"You're such a great person. You're way better than any strong guy!"

"I'm the opposite of that, there are lots of things I can't do that a man could. Are you sure you won't miss it?"

"I can't miss what I never had. And I have the greatest girl anyway."

Emely backed away from Silva and looked at the leaves of the tree above her. Even if she couldn't see it, Silva could feel the sorrowful expression on her friend's face.

"I'm far from the greatest person... Unlike you, I can't change from who I was."

"Why are you saying that?"

Emely took a deep breath, letting out a sigh from the deepest part of herself.

"My world ended for a few months before you found me. Technology was so advanced, we had AIs that acted more real than Remiel. we didn't even need a phone, we used a chip in our brain and could see everything we needed in front of our eyes. I may be talented, but there were so many people better than me."

"You feel bad because some people were better than you?"

Emely shook her head before continuing.

"Everything was so advanced, we didn't even talk to each other. It was so hard forming genuine bonds, so hard to even find ourselves. In the end, humanity collapsed on itself. It was like, everyone accepted their fate and were bored of life. When the planet stopped giving us what we needed, we just accepted it. I'm no different, I accepted the end of the world. I don't know how I survived, but I continued living like before. Making small robots and useless junk."

"It's not like you could stop the end of the world, especially if it was planned for it to happen."

"I know, it's just that... Technology killed my world. I should have learned my lesson, and yet, I continued. I'm still making useless stuff, even dangerous ones. I created Remiel, I shouldn't have. I'm a young woman, not God. I shouldn't toy with life, and yet, I did."

"Technology isn't what doomed your world, it's just the weakness of humanity. You're far from weak, a weak person wouldn't have continued talking with a girl who called them a 'vibrator maker'."

Emely chuckled softly at Silva's words, feeling a bit relieved.

"Maybe you're right, I can still be strong. I want to be a person that everyone can count on... Especially you."

"I can already count on you, even before we became closer, I knew you were an important person on the ship. Just the fact that we can translate other languages is so practical!"

"I'm just afraid it's going to replace a lot of things, like learning a language for example. It doesn't seem like it will bring much good in the long term."

"I wouldn't learn a language for fun. It just makes it more accessible for me while nerds like Neige can still learn languages. As long as humanity has a soul, it won't crumble under anything."

"I'll keep my heart, I won't make the same mistake as my world."

Emely leaned on Silva but because of the weak state of the latter, they both fell together on the ground. Emely quickly stood up but Silva put her arms around her friend, trying to make her stay. The two girls were breathing heavily, their faces close to each other. Emely closed her eyes slowly, getting even closer to Silva. The lips were about to touch but Emely backed out at the last moment and went away from Silva.

"I-I'm sorry... I don't know what happened to me."

Silva sat back, getting on Emely's level.

"Why did you stop?"

"I didn't want to make you uncomfortable. I knew you said you prefer me to guys but... I should have asked first."

"Come on, I said it was fine. If you won't do it, then I will."

Before Emely could react, Silva kissed her and took her in her arms. Emely tensed up but quickly relaxed while holding Silva back. The young engineer felt heated from the sudden kiss, and even once Silva moved back, her eyes stayed half closed and her mouth slightly opened. Silva's boldness suddenly disappeared as she put her hand in front of her mouth, processing what happened.

"My... First kiss..."

"That was so good, I want to do it again."

Silva moved back a bit at Emely's bold words, her face as red as her hair.

"Wait! I need some time now! It's enough for a lifetime! I didn't even think it would ever happen... It's like a dream."

"It's like a dream for me too... I'm so grateful I get to be so close to you."

The two lovers stayed silent together, enjoying the soft moment. None of them wanted to interrupt the silence, wishing for this moment to keep going forever. After calming herself a bit, Emely took a kind of clothing out of her bag and gave it to Silva.

"I made you something. I wanted to give it later but... I think it's not a bad moment for that."

"Oh, I feel bad now. I didn't bring any gift."

"You're the greatest gift already. I just hope you'll like mine."

Silva touched the soft texture of the clothes, it was a jacket that she hurried to wear. It suited her perfectly and made it easy to feel the environment through the thin layer of the fabric.

"You can't see it, but it's black with red borders. The leader is strict with the uniform, but it doesn't look that different so maybe it's fine."

"Even if she's not fine with it I'm keeping it! I love it already!"

"I'm glad you do, I'm not a tailor but I really tried my best."

Silva continued touching her vest, enjoying the soft sensation it provided.

"Isn't it made with the wool we went to get?"

"Yes, training Remiel was the main goal but it was a great opportunity to get it too."

Silva took Emely in her arms, feeling the soft wind on them. The two lovers stared at the sunset together in the calm of the park.

"It's too bad you can't see it... It's wonderful."

"I can still feel that warmth, and I'm sure you're even more stunning."

"Come on... Why are you so cheesy." Emely blushed softly, amusing Silva. They stayed silent together, hoping for this precious moment to never end.