Heartfelt Reunion

> “Brymeia created it for us, a vessel to traverse the entire world. And so, we improve upon it.” ~Garm Militia, Admiral of Atlas Sid

Frein stirred to consciousness upon inhaling a familiar scent. Sweet and creamy, one he had feasted upon for countless nights. The soft feel of flesh cradled his neck and head over their heavenly firmness. He squeezed just to make sure he knew from whom they belonged.

“Why am I sleeping on your lap?” he asked Katherine. He opened his eyes to see a familiar tank top, mended by the helpfulness of Meiyal Arts. He lifted it to find her midriff, the scar from where the Forest Jaws crushed her still present but healing.

“Good morning,” the Lady of the Void replied. Her hand ran through his head as he pressed upon her stomach. “Kristel said you didn’t tour around Atlas Sid. I brought you back to the Vanguard so we can see it to the fullest later.”

Katherine’s scar was beautiful. A reminder that she was at the brink of death, and that he was able to pull her out of it. He took upon every crease of that blemished skin, imperfection accentuating the beauty of the entire whole. With Norazzel’s teachings, he could easily turn this memory into one he could keep forever.

And so, it should be.

“You’re awfully quiet,” Katherine commented. “You like my tummy that much?”

Frein simply hummed his agreement. And Katherine simply giggled.

“Well, it’s not like I don’t mind. But we’re in public.”

“I thought Samesia would get rid of this,” he said, lowering the Lady’s shirt. He turned to find her face leaning down towards him. Her breasts dangled overhead, tempting his base desires. But, indeed, they were in public. The white rays of the morning sun made it quite clear.

“Well, as far as Samesia is concerned, it’s all healed. But if I keep treating it, it should disappear after a month.” Her hand found its way over his chest, teasing him further with subtle movements. “You want me to keep it?”

“Whatever you choose, you’re still beautiful either way.” Frein sat up and quickly found himself atop the third wall of the Vanguard. Wooden benches were now placed on top of it, and the two of them sat on one, enjoying whatever view the parapets allowed.

Then again, he didn’t have to look down to find something amazing.

“Is that…” his words got caught in his throat.

“Yep,” Katherine said, leaning closer to his shoulder. “Atlas Sid, the Floating City.”

Frein looked upon what seemed to be a cluster of inverted mountains floating above the entirety of the Flat Lands. Gigantic prismatic crystals hovered around in sets, separated through various regions. They were brimming with meiyal, dense and pure, he could practically see them swimming with feisty vigor inside each building-sized gem.

Atop this levitating landmass was a metropolis unlike anything he had seen before. Carriages, pulled by yumas, vorks, or other flying creatures—with variations that flew automatically on their own—went in and out of the Floating City. The activity was so packed, it made actual air traffic.

He desperately fought the urge to go and explore. The angle they watched from made it difficult to see the rest of Atlas Sid. Only the tower at the center of it was tall enough to be in view.

“It’s enormous,” he muttered out of amazement. “That’s what she—”

Katherine nudged her head into his jaw. He almost bit his tongue. “Don’t ruin it.”

While the two of them took in the scenery, Enza melded into view. She rested her large head on their laps, begging for pets. Of course, both of them just smiled and proceeded to snuggle up with the yuma.

“I wish…” Katherine began. Frein caught her hesitation. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her head closer to his.

“Me, too,” he said.

Enza whined, licking Katherine.

The Lady smiled and played with the yuma’s face. “I’m okay, girl. Don’t worry.”

A soft chime echoed from their M.O.B.I.L.E.s. Katherine answered first. Princess Kristel’s image feed appeared on a screen from Sam’s interface.

“Is Frein awake?” she asked.

“Good morning,” he replied.

“Good morning. I need you guys down here, so we can officially receive the Admiral together.”

“We’ll be there in a few.”

Kristel nodded and hung up the call. Frein motioned for Enza to give way and stretched himself awake as he stood. Katherine stayed where she was.

“Your father kept visiting us when we’re both asleep,” he said, trying to stir his girlfriend into action. “Weird, but I’m pretty sure he’s a cool dude.” He extended a hand to help her up.

“We haven’t seen each other in a long time,” Katherine replied while taking his hand. “And I’m not exactly sure if he approves of our relationship.”

“If he doesn’t?” Frein stepped on the initiative, passing the ball to her before she could even ask.

“We’ll fight for it!” she said immediately. “I won’t like it, but we’ll make him understand.”

Frein smiled. “Your father’s an honorable man, Kat. I think he understands that you’re old enough to let you make your decisions. Heck, he even let you go to a different world.”

“It’s not like he had a choice in the matter,” Katherine pointed out. “It was Schrodie who made the choice. Whatever the Gatekeeper says, it’s final. If Pa could fight him, then that’s a different story.”

“If someone can actually fight Schrodie, they wouldn’t be from this world,” he said. Katherine threw a questioning look. “I’ll tell you about it back in the manor. It’s better if we have everyone, so I only have to say it once.”

“Huh?” Sam stirred into consciousness. “What! Where am I? What is this? Who are you? What did you do… Oh, hello, Katherine. How long was I out?”

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

“The entire time she was out,” Frein answered for her. “Just a bit longer it seems.”

The sentient M.O.B.I.L.E. mumbled a lengthy inner monologue, but the Visitor ignored most of the device’s musings. He took a step on the ledge and turned to Katherine. “See you at the bottom.”

With that, Frein hopped off the Vanguard, jumping just enough to clear through all three of its layers. He emphasized his Siffera, empowered by four-meiyal, and spun mid-air. He could feel the wind rush through him as he plummeted down the entire two-thousand meter drop.

Katherine and Enza dove right next to him.

“Can you handle the landing?” Katherine asked with an echo Meiyal Art.

Frein just gave her an ‘okay’ sign.

The ground rushed towards them. Frein flipped and wrapped Siffera around himself just like the way Rindea taught him. He landed heavily on the ground. The impact caused the land beneath to crack, but the opposing force met his sturdy strength. The layer of Siffera even protected his shoes from shattering upon impact.

“Wooooh!” Frein Nivan felt alive. He straightened up with a triumph as he proved himself superior against solid earth. Exhilarating, to say the least. “I won’t need a parachute ever again!”

His other two companions landed with softer steps. Enza was quick to bump heads with him.

“It’s like you don’t need me!” she said through their bond. The yuma was large enough to carry him around now. It only took her a week—five days—to grow so much.

“Fly me around later,” he said, giddy with excitement.

“You shouldn’t go jumping like that, Frein.” Kristel’s voice nagged at them from afar as the short Princess stomped her way over to them. “You almost caused a panic!”

A hearty laugh followed right behind her. “He’d be a fine addition to The Jump during our return trip, Princess. I guarantee you that.”

“Don’t encourage him.”

“Ah, but such a decision should be encouraged, lest we allow such opportunities be foregone by the man of the hour.”

Frein felt Katherine’s hand grip his as the large, helmed man stood beside the Princess. His armor was made purely out of meiyal. A battle gear tantamount to the vestiges the Lord Knights of Vyndival wore with their Meiyal Armaments. It made him question if there was truly a difference between the two if both wildly contrasting disciplines managed to come up with the same result.

Still, this man’s armor was not to be trifled with. With his Mesiffera observations, Frein concluded that it manifested the same level of meiyal protection his four-meiyal Siffera provided him. Not to mention just the posture of this towering soldier alone, relaxed but aware, ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice, reflected years of experience consolidated into a single human being.

This armored man was unlike any of the adventurers or soldiers Frein had sparred with in the past. Confidence clad around him like natural clothing.

And Frein was absolutely sure who this man was.

“Pa,” Katherine said. Her hand squeezed Frein’s as hard as she could, mustering up her courage.

“Indeed, my brave, little girl. Welcome back.” Katherine’s father erased his helm from reality, revealing an aged yet stern face framed by the wizened white of his well-shaved beard and trimmed hair.

Katherine released her hold and rushed to her father, almost flying to him. Garm Militia—Frein remembered from his girlfriend’s stories—wisely erased his armor from reality, and caught his brave, little girl with both arms. The Lady of the Void wailed like a child and dug her face into his leather tunic, unaware of the gathering observers around them.

“Now, now, Katherine. You’re embarrassing your father,” Garm said, who was crying his eyes out himself.

“Papa…” Katherine continued to cry and squeeze her father. A full gallery had gathered around them, crying and whispering, appreciating this heartwarming reunion. Frein felt his heartstrings tug at him, and even Elizzel reciprocated through their Tether.

It made him miss his parents.

After a while, Katherine gathered herself and awkwardly wiped her eyes. She turned to Frein, ran like a kid, and grabbed his hand like he was some sort of trophy.

“You have to meet him properly,” she said with all the excitement in her voice. Frein had no choice but to oblige. He was going to do it anyway.

“It is my utmost honor to finally see you face-to-face, Frein Nivan, the Visitor.” Dark red eyes scanned through him like an x-ray, studying him from head to toe. Signs of age and weariness were held back by his stern and determined will. Experience had made him a natural rock and pillar of strength, as though the responsibilities he bore on his shoulders couldn’t possibly push him down.

“I am Garm Militia, Admiral of Atlas Sid. Father of Katherine Militia.”

A gigantic yuma, a weight class larger than the adults Frein had seen, sat behind Garm. “And this is Kish,” he introduced. “My ever loyal companion.”

Frein smiled. He knew what Katherine’s father was doing, and he wasn’t one to shy away from a friendly contest. Enza sat beside him, realizing his intentions and mimicking Kish.

“The pleasure is all mine, Admiral Garm,” Frein began, employing the salute Irista Nation knights used when greeting someone. A firm right hand on his left collarbone, while the left remained behind his back. “I am, indeed, Frein Nivan, the Visitor, and the owner of Lady Katherine’s heart.”

The air was filled with gasps, shrieks, and frantic whispers from the onlookers. Garm’s eyes widened and his brows curled, but his mature self reigned in his composure.

The most interesting reaction of all, however, was Katherine’s flushed, beet red face. Her eyes turned from him to her father in the most comical and slowest of fashion. Her hands trembled as she frantically stumbled between trying to find an explanation and hiding behind Frein.

The Visitor almost regretted the way the situation turned out. But he couldn’t help but enjoy the frozen panicked state she was in.

Still, he reached for her hand to both prove his statement to Garm and to calm down Katherine’s racing heart. She clung to it desperately.

Garm pressed the bridge between his brows, eyes closed defiantly in utter disbelief. “I had an inkling when I saw how close you two were in the recovery room. Jo’war did warn me about this.”

He turned to his daughter. “But allow this old man to clarify. Is this true, Katherine?”

Katherine paused to gather herself and meet her father eye to eye. “Yes, Pa,” she replied, her voice clear and true. She held Frein’s hand tighter and breathed. “I intend to give my vows to him.”

More giggles and cheers erupted from the distance. Frein could swear he heard some people groan. He confirmed these people were unfamiliar to him, presumably those who alighted from the Atlas Sid.

Garm Militia turned to Frein once more, and he stared back at those red, piercing eyes. Finally, the Admiral smiled and laughed. “I’m simply pulling your leg, lad, it’s good to know you don’t easily break.”

“So, you agree to give your blessing?” Katherine asked hopefully.

Garm’s face was instantly rid of his smirking laughter, replaced with understanding and compassion. “I do not say I approve, my dear girl. Your heart will never be ready for the future. You may think you are, but knowing and living are two separate beasts you must conquer. And while myself and your friends are here to support you, these are beasts you’ll need to conquer on your own.”

Frein realized he had never given anyone else the epitome of his respect other than to Katherine. But it made sense to him that the other person to have earned it was the father of the person he loved most.

The Admiral of the Atlas Sid dropped a wizened hand over Frein’s shoulder. “And you, brave man…”

“Yes, sir?”

“That was bold of you, declaring your feelings for her in front of everyone. Know that your words will forever be burned in my mind and in my heart.” He leaned closer to the both of them and whispered, “And to the rest of her suitors.”

“Pa!”

“Don’t worry, sir. They don’t stand a chance.” Frein smiled with full confidence.

“Call me Pa, Frein. After all, you’re family now.” Captain Garm returned the smile with the same enthusiasm.

“And this should be the perfect time for me to interfere!” Kristel popped out in the middle of them and tapped a bro-fist with Frein. “Good job.”

She then turned to Garm. “You mentioned a message about the High Palace?”

“Ah, yes.” The Admiral summoned his M.O.B.I.L.E. and navigated to an official-looking article. “By the order of the future Monarch, Royal Guard Tryvinal Bree, the Atlas Sid is to provide able men to defend the Vanguard in the expected absence of its protector, Princess Kristel Irista. As endorsed, governance of Minaveil Province is hereby bestowed to Midan Goldes. May his supervision bring more prosperity over this land of abundance.”

Kristel planted her hands on either side of her waist. “You can’t possibly be considering him as your Monarch, right?”

“Believe me, Princess. I would much rather raise a coup now under your banner or your little sister’s than let this gloat wear the crown even for a minute.” He winked. “I’m sure everyone in the Atlas Sid will support you, but this is a topic better discussed in private, I believe.”

“To the Manor, then?”

“Indeed. I expect to avail of my daughter’s promise three years ago as well. Cuisine from…what was this world called again?”

“Earth,” Frein replied.

“Yes, Earth.” Garm looked at him with a thought. “Which reminds me; it would be of my best interest to utilize this chance to fully interrogate the Visitor.”

----------------------------------------