Two days later.

Shiria woke up in her bed, stretching wide as she yawned, checking the time on her communication device. It was pretty late in the morning. She immediately wondered if the robots served breakfast so late. That thought made her stomach growl.

She quickly got up, had a fresh shower, and grabbed her clothes. She had been sleeping only in her underwear...and she also had been using a single pair of clothes for the past three days. They’re starting to smell.

“Chronos...where is my luggage anyway?” She asked.

The device immediately lit up and AI responded, “I apologize, you do not seem to have boarded the Elysium with any luggage.”

“Can I get any clothes…?”

“Yes. You can buy exclusive products in the souvenir section.”

“But I have no money…”

The waistband turned off. Shiria sighed and headed out, ready to start her new day.

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Breakfast was still available, after all. Lan’en, Youma, and Shiria sat together and ate as she complained about her clothes.

“Ahh! Don’t worry! We’re basically the same size. You can wear my clothes!” Lan’en exclaimed, patting Shiria’s back.

“Though it’s weird you didn’t bring anything besides those clothes.” Youma sighed, mixing the sugar inside her cup of coffee. Despite her very fit and slim look, pastries surrounded her cup, everything on a different plate.

The food there was absolutely top-notch. The robots were perfect cooks, and the quality and taste of everything was mouth-watering.

There were those who took advantage of that...such as Youma and Lan’en...and then there were people like Kaeron. Shiria, during the past two days, had only seen her munching on an apple and a glass of water. At lunch and dinner, her plates were very healthy and way less generous than all the other passengers’, including Shiria herself.

Shiria was eating an extremely sweet pastry filled with custard, a glass of biological, pure juice with it.

After breakfast was over, Kaeron left to head to her room, while Shiria was dragged away by the overly energetic Lan'en.

Lan’en seemed to have taken quite a liking to her, and so did Shiria. They started spending their time together.

“So! What do you want to do?! Have you tried the arcade yet?” Lan’en asked as they headed towards the elevator.

“No, actually I was going to ask you if we could try it!” Shiria replied happily.

“Can I come with you two?”

Suddenly, Youma reached them right before the elevator could close.

Lan’en chuckled awkwardly, “Don’t you have to...meditate? Or whatever?”

“I just find your vibe...fun,” she admitted, shrugging, “I can meditate whenever I want.”

Lan’en widened her eyes, “Oh wow! Okay! Haha! Two comrades are better than only one, am I right? We can crack open a cold one too as we play too. We just gotta pass by the pub and grab some cans from the fridge.”

Youma chuckled, Shiria nodded awkwardly...afraid of what Lan’en’s reaction would be when she found out Shiria wasn’t very good with alcohol.

She was glad she was making friends, though. No matter what kind of vacation, it is always better with friends.

“I think we should also invite Servalia. She looks very cool with her guitar and everything,” Lan’en then said, brushing her chin with her fingers.

“She told me she wanted to put up a concert for the passengers,” Youma mentioned, “I would personally go.”

“Oh, that’s right, she told me as well two days ago,” Shiria chimed in.

“Oh really? I’d really like to hear her songs, I bet she-”

Everyone fell silent as the elevator stopped, and its doors opened. On the other side, there was a weird sight. Kaeron and Azrael were standing in front of each other in silence, basically blocking the elevator’s passageway.

One had her same stoic, expressionless face...while the other wore a smile of mockery as if she was about to break into a snicker at any point.

Youma passed through, not even looking at them. Lan’en did the same a bit more awkwardly as she stared at the two curiously.

Shiria didn’t ignore the scene and stepped forward.

“What’s up?” She asked innocently.

“Nothing!” Azrael finally snickered as expected, heading inside the elevator, “I was just wishing a beautiful morning to our hunter Kaeron. Hahahah~”

The doors closed, Youma and Lan’en were awaiting Shiria, but her eyes were focused on Kaeron. She hung her head, her eyes closed.

“Is everything okay?”

Kaeron turned towards her, opening her deep, red eyes back, “Everything’s fine, Shiria. Don’t worry.”

“Why was Azrael being like that?”

“She just likes to play little games. She’s just being annoying,” Kaeron sighed, heading in the opposite direction Shiria and her two friends were supposed to go, “have a good rest of the morning.”

Shiria joined Youma and Lan’en again, puzzled.

“Ugh, I hate Azrael. She reeks of malicious intent,” Youma groaned, “but whatever. She was invited on the cruise. I suppose she won’t do any harm.”

“Kaeron looked bothered, though…” Shiria retorted, crossing her arms.

“It’s just Kaeron’s face. Don’t worry!” Lan’en chuckled lightheartedly, “It’s all good!”

“Well, I sure hope so…”

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The arcade was massive, probably bigger than the casino. Countless cabinets spun all around the big and colorful room.

“Ah! There she is! Servalia!” Lan’en exclaimed. “That’s why we couldn’t find you!”

The three rushed to Servalia, who was surprisingly already inside the arcade. Her eyes shone as the light of her game reflected upon them. It was a rhythm game played with four keys.

“Hm?” Youma read the song’s title on the top corner, “it’s one of your songs.”

“Yes, it is!” Servalia quickly replied, her tone clearly begging them not to distract her.

Shiria listened to the song. Servalia’s voice, coming through the retro-like speaker, wasn’t the best. But it still was a good song.

After a minute or two, Servalia got off the game and stretched. “Ah! I love this place! There are many rhythm games to try…”

“Yeah, I want to try some fighting stuff though,” Lan’en looked around, “want a beer, by the way?”

“Ah, sure thing,” Servalia nodded and grabbed a can, opening it. Shiria widened her eyes as she witnessed Servalia’s feminine, delicate throat gulping down half a liter in ten seconds.

“Here, Shiria!” Lan’en then tossed one at Shiria, who yelped as she barely caught it in her hands.

“Uhm…”

Youma smiled at her, shaking her head. She figured it out.

Shiria looked back at the can, hesitating. After a deep breath, she took a long sip. Her face immediately contorted with disgust. The taste was awfully bitter, to the point she even coughed.

“No way, don’t tell me!” Lan’en started laughing out loud, “Shiria! You little girl!”

“How do you all enjoy this stuff?!” Shiria groaned, giving the can to Lan’en who, without waiting for another second, gulped it down just like Servalia.

“You sure you’re above your twenties?” Youma chuckled, going towards one of the cabins.

“I want to try that one!” Lan’en exclaimed, pointing at a cooperative game, “Shiria!”

“Sure thing…”

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“What do we do now?! “

The quartet became a trio. Youma headed to her room to meditate after lunch. Lan’en, Servalia and Shiria were walking down a hallway, pondering how to spend the afternoon.

“I wanted to try the spa, honestly,” Servalia suggested, “I have sore shoulders, my guitar is heavy…”

“Do you trust a robot’s massage?” Shiria asked her, feeling slightly unsure.

She shrugged, “why wouldn’t I? I work with robots all the time. Their fingers are precise for a guitar and controlled for drums, they will definitely be precise and controlled for a pair of shoulders.”

“Fair enough. I want to try the hot tub,” Shiria replied, looking at Lan’en, “want to keep me company?”

“Why not? Let’s go!"

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Shiria and Lan’en took a deep breath, enjoying the warm water as it seeped into their bodies, easing their muscles.

“Hey, Shiria.”

“Yes?”

“Do you think you have someone back home? A boyfriend or girlfriend...or even family, whatever. I know you don't remember where 'home' is, but still, do you have anyone in your heart? Like a feeling?"

Her odd question made Shiria think. She pondered in silence for a couple of seconds, then, she felt ready to reply.

“I don’t really remember anything. Not mentally, not emotionally. I probably have people I love, and right now, they’re probably thinking I’m being...who they know I am and enjoying a famous cruise as my former self. Instead, I’m enjoying all this as a new person with a blank canvas in my head.”

“Hm...interesting,” Lan’en nodded, sliding closer to Shiria.

“Why do you ask?”

Lan’en shrugged and cleared her throat, “no particular reason. Just wondering about you. You’re so mysterious, after all.”

“Ah, okay. Well...do you have anyone like that?”

“No. I don’t.” Lan’en dryly replied, clearing her throat and sinking into the water a little more.

“Oh, alright.”

The girls both fell silent. Shiria started thinking about who she was before losing her memories.

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The rest of the afternoon passed rapidly as the hot tub was so relaxing that Shiria’s mind somewhat melted in there. She told Lan’en she was going to be on her own after getting out of the hot tub and started wandering around the cruise all by herself. It was almost time for dinner, and she was wearing a new pair of clothes that were Lan’en’s. Black jeans shorts and a long white T-shirt with a black skull printed on its back.

She stood at the lobby, staring at the fountain as she started to feel a chill running over her body. The hot tub rose her body temperature too much.

“Shiria. You’re shivering.”

She quietly gasped and turned around. Kaeron walked towards her, taking off a white coat she was wearing, and wrapping it around Shiria’s body.

“Have you been at the hot tub?” She asked, raising her eyebrow “For how long?” She then asked, almost as if she answered her question by herself.

“All afternoon...I’m quite chilly now…” Shiria chuckled, “Thank you Kaeron...you’re so sweet.”

“It’s nothing.”

Then, Shiria wrapped her arms around Kaeron, making a happy sound while hugging her.

Kaeron froze, standing there as if the hug she was receiving was some sort of attack.

“What...what are you doing?” Kaeron asked her.

“What do you think? I’m hugging you!” Shiria innocently replied.

“I know but...why?”

“Because you’re nice! I like nice people.”

“I’m…”

Kaeron gently placed her hands on Shiria’s back, hugging her back in the most awkward way possible.

“We have an hour before dinner time is open. Do you want to do something? We still haven’t done anything together yet.”

“Uh, well, I usually just relax reading books in my room,” Kaeron replied, “but sure. Do you have anything in mind?”

“Hm, why don’t we have a chat while exploring the library? Maybe you can find more reads for tonight.”

Kaeron shrugged, “Sure. Let’s go.”

Shiria felt a warmth in her chest as Kaeron agreed to join her. It was rare for Kaeron to be around, so having her company felt like a special moment. With Kaeron's coat still wrapped around her, Shiria led the way to the library.

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

The library was quiet. The warm, soothing lighting made Shiria’s mind sleepy as they both walked around the first bookshelves.

Kaeron broke the silence first, “So, Shiria...what do you like to read? Do you still recall your literary tastes? If you have any, that is.”

Shiria ponders, “uhm...I think I’d like something fantastic and epic. With magic, weird creatures, and a lot of...colorful stuff!”

“Interesting. We could all use a bit of magic and wonder in our lives once in a while.”

Shiria thought that sentence sounded pretty sad. She immediately attempted to lighten Kaeron’s mood, “And you? If I asked you to pick up a book in this library, what would you search for?”

Kaeron sighed through her nose, stopping and leaning against a column of the library, “I am into books that make your mind work. Murder mysteries...philosophy authors...anything that’s slightly psychological.”

“Ah! That suits you,” Shiria giggled, smiling at her, “I could see you solving some murder mystery under the rain with this coat you gave me. Like a true detective!”

Kaeron chuckled softly, cracking a brief but genuine little smile.

Shiria felt...surprised. She was happy to see such a rare thing, and she was even happier that she was the one who caused it.

After that remark, there was a pause, however.

Shiria could sense that Kaeron was holding something behind her back. The peaceful silence between them almost seemed like a seal between the two. Finally, Shiria gathered her courage and asked the question that had been on her mind since she saw Kaeron’s expression for the first time.

“Kaeron, are you okay? I haven’t seen you smile or be...energetic in general since we’ve met.”

The woman looked surprised. She subconsciously shook her head slightly, trying to escape the question, “I’m just like this naturally. I’m not a happy person. Born like that.”

“What do you think of this cruise then?” Shiria asked curiously, “It’s a nice place, right?”

Kaeron shrugged. “Yes. I can see that everyone here has their own reason to board the Elysium. Some to relax, some to have fun, some to unwind certain needs, some to just eat and drink for free. In a society where there really isn’t a place to call home anymore, since we all travel among the stars...such a place feels nice, even if it’s just for two weeks.”

“Why are you here?”

Kaeron shook her head and sighed, “I’m sorry, can we change the subject?”

Shiria frowned, feeling a jolt of anxiety pierce her heart, “I-I’m sorry, I-”

“No.” Kaeron raised her hand, stopping Shiria’s incoming rain of apologies. “It’s fine, Shiria. You’re okay. I don’t like talking about myself. I never did. That’s all.”

“Okay...uhm…” Shiria tried her best to find some reassuring words, “Just know that...I really like you for some reason, okay? I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I want to spend time with you! I want to be your friend!”

Kaeron raised her gaze, meeting Shiria’s innocent, almost child-like eyes with her dark, stoic ones. “Okay,” she muttered, nodding slightly, “we will. We will be friends.”

“Good! Now then...tell me about some of your favorite books! Maybe we’ll find them here…”

Shiria and Kaeron spent the rest of their time talking about Kaeron’s tastes in books and her favorites.

Shiria thought about Kaeron’s words and, she wondered.

What was Shiria’s reason, then? Why was she invited? Why did she accept?