Tales From The Kronos

The group went back on the ship after their trip. They expected to see Emely in her lab, but she was nowhere to be seen. Not only that, but the ship itself seemed empty. Most lights were off, and it seemed like a fight broke out here. The hallways had a bunch of scraps on the floor, and the walls appeared to be scratched by something.

While wandering in the hallways, they saw Emely trying to fix something. They were relieved to finally see one of their friends after a few minutes of searching.

Hearing their footsteps, the young engineer quickly turned toward them. She was frightened at first but quickly felt relief once she saw her friends.

"You're alive! I was so worried, I couldn't communicate with you! What happened?"

"It's a long story, but we got what you needed." Sepide took the crystal out of her pocket and handed it to Emely. The latter looked at it for a moment, probably to make sure it was what she needed.

"We'll talk about it later. Something weird happened here. It's Neige, he came back."

"Really? Where is he?" Said Shiro, visibly happy to hear about the news.

"He left. I'm not even sure what happened, he said that he was the anomaly or something. We tried to fight back, but there was nothing we could have done. No one is hurt, but he took Silv back and told us he will be waiting for us."

The group thought for a moment, it seemed like it was the same Neige they saw in that other world. But why was he acting like that? And was there a chance to save him somehow?

"You should go to the leader now." Said Emely "I explained about the crystal, you just need to tell her you found it. It should be ready soon."

"We'll do." Sepide and her friends were about to leave for the leader's office, but Emely's voice stopped them.

"Wait, Silva. Can we talk for a minute?"

Silva was surprised by Emely's sudden request. She nodded her head at her friend, to indicate to them that it was all right. After Shiro and Sepide left, Emely suddenly slapped Silva with tears flowing down her face.

"You dumb bat! You worried me!"

"And why are you annoying me?" Answered Silva in shock "You weren't worried for the others?"

"It's different, it's not the same..."

"Because?"

"It's just not the same. You're a dumbass that can't paint... It's your fault somehow!"

"At least I'm not an engineer that can't make watches function properly!"

"It's the problem of the world, not me!"

The two stayed silent for a moment in the dark hallway of the ship to calm themselves. It took a few minutes before they both calmed down, prompting Emely to break the silence.

"When Neige, or rather the anomaly, came, it was dark. Even darker than now. Communications were cut, even my battery-powered tools weren't working. I was in my laboratory, I didn't know what happened."

"Why didn't you tell it when the others were here? You know that I find it funny to imagine you lost and scared, right?" Silva smiled a bit, but when she felt Emely's serious tone, she quickly stopped.

"All alone, not being able to see anything, not having anyone around. Is that how you feel?"

Silva stayed silent for a moment, hesitating on the things she wanted to share. The girl saw how bad Emely felt, and decided to instead avoid talking about herself.

"Not really, unlike you, I'm not a crybaby."

"Silva, we don't have to always act like that, we always insult each other but never take the time to take care of the other. Are you okay? Are you scared?"

Emely's sudden empathy took Silva by surprise. She never showed her feelings like that to her.

"Well, I manage. It was a bit scary when my parents were around, but it's better now... But sometimes, I still think about it and what they said."

"I see." Emely said with a silent voice.

"Are you okay? You're not like that usually, you would have called me a bitch or something."

"I am, it's just that lately, you've been flirting with death a bit too much. A month ago, you, Neige, and Kairo would go into a world with plants everywhere, and you'd come back wet because you fell in a river. Now Kairo's gone, Neige is too, and you were close to being lost in time! I miss the old days, where when I woke up, I could say you're a failed artist, and you would call me a pretentious engineer. But now, I'm scared it's the last thing we say to each other."

"Come on, pretentious engineer? I could find a better insult for a glorified lightbulb changer like you."

Feeling that Emely felt distressed, Silva took her in her arms. At first, Emely tried to resist, but she quickly gave up and gave her embrace back.

"It's no use reminiscing on the past, just live the present like the past never existed."

"Is that what you say to yourself, Silva? That the past doesn't exist? You can't just ignore it forever."

"You're so annoying to comfort." Said Silva with a chuckle "Was there any moment we didn't roast each other? I feel like it was like that ever since we met."

"I don't know." Emely squeezed the fabric of Silva's uniform, bringing her closer "You don't take good care of your clothes, there's a hole. You know I worked hard on them."

"It's not my fault, I can't see the holes."

Emely caressed Silva's back above her clothes, trying to feel her body.

"You don't take care of yourself either, I can feel scars on your body."

"It's not my fault, I can't see the danger. Can you do something else than complain?"

"I'm just worried for you. You need to eat more, you're so skinny."

"You're one to talk, you should eat more too! You're pressed against me, and I can't feel anything on your chest. Even Neige has more breasts than you.

"That's not how it works..."

"Can you stop feeling sad? I'm trying my best for that you know?"

"Haha, I know."

Emely took a step back and a deep breath. She wiped some tears off her eyes, hoping that Silva didn't notice.

"I think your friends are waiting for their stupid bat."

"I knew it, you can't be nice for more than 5 minutes!"

"You can't either, Silva. I don't think you were programmed with good social skills."

"Yeah, well when everything's over, you'll be stuck doing nothing, and I'll paint all day long. Anyway, I need to go. I'll see you later, Emely. Have fun being bored fixing lights."

Even despite what they said, both had a dumb but sincere smile on their faces. Silva left in a hurry, leaving Emely alone in the dark corridor.

"I love you, Silva..."

Silva hurried into the leader's room. Sepide and Shiro were there, with the leader on the screen. It was hard to know what she was feeling, even if she didn't have her mask on, she still kept a very neutral expression.

"What did I miss?" Asked Silva.

"Silva, you're here." Answered the leader "They explained everything to me. I've been thinking of sending you and Sepide to retrieve Neige."

"That's unfair." Replied Shiro "I did part of the work too."

"Indeed, but going in groups of three is the best way to act, and I decided that I would come with you." The three of them were surprised by her words, it was the first time in a while since she ever went into another world. The last time it happened, it was when it was only her and Neige on the ship.

"It's my friend, and I decided if I don't act now, I'll forever regret it. I would rather die than live without him."

The group wasn't expecting that from their leader. But before they could answer, the door opened, revealing Emely out of breath.

"We found Neige!"

"Really?" Exclaimed the leader "Let's head to your lab then!"

The screen suddenly turned off, leaving the group alone in the room.

"Is it true?" Asked Sepide "You already found him?"

Emely nodded her head with energy before answering.

"Yeah, come on, quick!"

"Go ahead, I just need to go to my room first."

The group agreed and left the room. Once alone, Sepide took a shard of the crystal out of her pocket. She took a moment to look at it, like hypnotized.

"I took it because it was a good memento, but it feels so weird. It's like it echoes with my soul."

Silva, Emely, and Shiro went to the lab, where the leader was waiting for them, visibly ready. She was wearing the uniform of the ship, but instead of the firearm they used, a sword was attached to her belt. When she noticed them, she immediately turned toward Emely.

"Where is Neige? We need to go now!"

"Leader, please calm down." Emely took a paper from her pocket and started to read it out loud "21122002, a world empty, only inhabited by snow. Be careful, we don't know what the anomaly will do to you."

"It's okay!" Answered the leader full of confidence "Silva and Sepide are here. And I know how to defend myself."

"I hope so... I'll stay in contact with you. I hope this time, there won't be any problems."

Silva, Sepide, and the leader all stood next to each other. After making sure they were ready, they prepared themselves to jump into this unknown world, ready to save their friend.