blueteamnovel 311. Hello, World! (6th Arc Epilogue)
311. Hello, World! (6th Arc Epilogue)
311. Hello, World! (6th Arc Epilogue)
Bzzzt.
Brrrr.
Zzzzt~!
=
Snap carefully observed the group it had come to know and love, taking wide and panning shots of them traversing the plains on foot. For once, the group decided against riding its back, leaving only Carpalis, Magus, the Archivist, the Alter Frosts, and the Star Child aboard.
Frost said something about wanting to enjoy the moment.
But everyone knew she just wanted to be carried by Jury. A lot of heartfelt words were shared. Most were the same, but it was usually what wasn’t said that resonated the loudest between them.
The look of relief on everyone’s face when they saw Frost was a sight for sore eyes, and for the first time in what felt like forever, they were finally able to embrace Frost without fear of being hurt.
Jury and Frost moved ahead of the group, enjoying their time together as the others lagged, allowing them all the time in the world as they followed the trails in the skies where their promised robotic friend waited.
Suddenly, a certain wolfwoman appeared in Snap’s frame of view.
“There she goes getting swept away by Jury. Lost my opportunity to get devoured. Tch. But what. Can. You. Do~? Guess I’m just glad Frost is Frost, and not some flaming lunatic... yeah. Looking at her really does remind us of mom, huh?”
An eccentric Cer poked her head into Snap’s lens, grinning as mischievously as it always remembered.
But Cer wasn’t always like this.
Beneath that smile hid a hundred more frowns.
Nowadays, Cer was able to smile like everyone else.
Suddenly, the present Cer removed her suit, grinning at Snap.
“Pheeew! Maybe I’ll be more appetizing like this. By the way. How are you Snap!?”
“Bzzzt!”
“You too huh.”
“Brrrrrr~!?” Snap was surprised that Cer managed to understand its words.
However.
“Oh, did I translate something right!?” Cer teased. “Now c’mere and let me get a handful of that fluff!”
“BRRRRRRRRRRR!”
* * *
“Bzzzzzzt~!”
Res walked nearby Ber, enjoying the scenery as she took a deep breath, turning to Snap with a surprised, but pleasant look.
“It’s peaceful now. You wouldn’t think that our group just came back from saving the Nex Megalopolis. Maybe even the better part of the world. Crazy when you think about it. I’m happy we can make more memories.” Res whispered to herself, her voice picked up by Snap who nodded, purring at her.
Snap came back to the present Res, whose face blossomed into a vibrant smile as she asked:
“Right?”
* * *
Afterwards, Ber unintentionally walked into Snap’s field of view, fondly devouring her surroundings with glistening eyes.
“You really can’t see any further into the distance. I guess height isn’t really all that. Whew~! I can finally stretch my wings, get the knots out of my tail, go for a bath, and get pampered by Frost~ Well, after we meet up with that voice in our heads~!” She hummed, thrusting a fist into the air.
Ber set her sights forward, then onto Snap again.
“What do you think she looks like? Wait, hold on. She? I’m getting ahead of myself already, aren’t I?” Ber smiled at herself.
“Also, good thing Jury has a lot spare clothing. Makes you wonder what else might be stowed away besides food. Didn’t a few of those lust nanas disappear?”
“Brrrrrr?” Snap tilted its head innocently.
“Anyway, what they do with it isn’t any of my business.” Ber shrugged but remained intrigued by the thought.
* * *
Ignis wore her usual stoic face as she became Snap’s next subject. These moments were fleeting, and Snap wished to capture their memories not only in photographs, but as a recording.
How Snap was able to see the past of the others was simple. In order to find one’s happiest moments, it must also know of their saddest. Snap could never show a person’s most despairing moments, and neither could it ever share them. They were not for it to uncover, for they were the sanctity of a person. Where happiest moments were something to be cherished and shared, these most vulnerable moments needed careful consideration.
Snap was the kind of friend who’d keep all one’s secrets safe.
“Everyone’s back. We tried really hard, and we made it all the way to the end. It still doesn’t feel real. Growing up, all I had was papa and the people of my city. Now, I think I’m getting the hang of standing up with these two legs. All thanks to them. And you too.” Ignis spoke with a sweet voice.
Before Snap knew it, Ignis placed a warm hand atop its head and began stroking his fur affectionately.
A rare smile appeared on her face as she recalled her moments spent with every person precious to her.
“Nav is going to be with us soon. I can’t wait. Can you?”
“Bzzzzt~!”
“I thought so. Good Snap.”
* * *
“Hmm? Oh. Snap! Sneaky!” Jury exclaimed, surprised as Snap suddenly nudged her from behind.
She turned on her heels, hands on hips as she gave Snap a tender smile.
“Why am I not with Frost? Because she’s with the others. I’ve had my fill. For now~” She winked cheekily, bringing a finger to her lips before she fell into a soft, silent chuckle.
As a machine, these emotions should have been impossible. They were small, but they were all Nav knew. She was a seed. A small sprout with loose roots and in foreign soil.
Frost promised to plant those roots into the best soil she could find with each pleasant word that left her lips.
“Nav? I guess it’s shocking for you to hear my voice. I’m a bit scared as well. Because I don’t know if you really do recognize my voice. And I’m dreading if you also don’t remember my name at all.”
“... that’s...” Nav suddenly spoke out, her voice unwillingly parting with her. “Not true... My parameters are off. Sensations are off as well. My calculations and knowledge don’t match with what I’m experiencing right now.”
Nav admitted, unable to properly convey how she felt.
But in truth, the reason why she didn’t want to turn was simply because she wanted to hear more of Frost’s voice. That one voice she had known since the start. Her memories of the distant past did not trouble her like the others. As a machine, there was only so much that could get to her.
This? This... was enough to melt through her cold, iron heart and beat mortality into it.
“Sensations feel different to expectations. The water that should be just a mere liquid is ‘cold’. Your voice sounds like its all around me. I don’t know how to describe this feeling in my chest. It wants to burst. Am I infected with Aspirating Aspirations...?”
Frost stopped in her tracks, her gaze becoming so tender that it could disarm the most violent. Suddenly, the triplets inadvertently began snickering, holding back their laughter. It wasn’t in a mocking or ridiculing manner.
Rather, it was warm. They were taken aback by Nav’s questions. Her innocence was jarring when one remembered how she’d sometimes take jabs at them. But more than anything, their laughter caused her hands to limply rest by her side as she realized that Frost wasn’t here alone to greet her.
“What you’re feeling is nervousness. We’re not going to disappear on you.” Frost took another step forward, a ripple passing by Nav’s feet.
This served as proof that they were truly here.
“... can you introduce yourself... just so I can confirm it auditorily?” Nav politely asked, and Frost complied.
“My name is Frost. It’s weird name, and you’ve given me flack for how bad my naming sense is. We’ve been through hell together. From the Black Forest, Divas Pass, the Derma Layer, and now this. But I’m certain we’ve also gone through all kind of things in the old world.”
Nav’s body began to move slowly as she prepared to turn.
“But this world is the only world that matters. So please turn around so we can see you... Nav. We’ve been waiting for you to stand with us for a long time now.” Frost’s voice shuddered as Nav finally turned around for the world to see.
Frost smiled through her tears.
“I’m so happy that you’re here. Nav. It’s crazy that this is the first time we’re meeting face to face... after everything we’ve been through together. You’re not alone with that pain in your chest. Because I also can’t believe it...”
Suddenly, Frost threw herself forward, embracing Nav with open arms as she cried into her shoulder.
“We can finally see all the sights together. Like we promised with Jury.” Frost was moved beyond words. Soon, her words were lost in translation as Nav allowed her warmth to permeate through her body.
Nav’s eyes twinkled.
An unknown moisture coated her eyes.
They stung for no apparent reason to her.
She felt the dampness of Frost apparel.
The vibrations of Frost’s body.
And the sincerity in her voice.
Then, she looked upon the others who beams smiles brighter than the light that granted her wish, and she formed a smile of her own.
“You’re finally here~!” Jury cried, also shedding tears as she rushed towards Nav. Her larger size allowed her to embrace them both, never mind her tail which wrapped them tightly like a giant cocoon. “Finally. Finally! We’re all here! We can experience all the things together!”
“Jury...” Nav recognized her by voice alone.
After all, she was the second person she heard the most while stuck in her void.
“Mr. Nav is really Miss Nav... Wow...”
“Ignis...” Nav whispered, her eyes moving to the red-haired, cat-eared girl whose eyes glistened at Nav’s recognition.
“Heh. So that’s what you look like! 10 out 10 in books!”
“Cer...”
“So much smaller than I thought! You look just like a human! What’s up – er, wait, I shouldn’t say that, should I – ouch!?”
“Ber...”
“Don’t say something so stupid on your first meeting. Geez... Nav. It’s an honor and a privilege to meet you in person. Thank you. For everything you’ve done. Even for people who couldn’t hear your voice.”
“Res...”
The Alter Frosts threw heart emojis up, and the Hired Arm showed a rare smile. Nav had never felt so... loved before. If this was love? She didn’t know, but this feeling welling in her chest extinguished every fear and ever worry in her heart as she fondly absorbed their appearances with vibrant eyes.
“I’ve finally managed to join you all...” A tear fell from Nav’s eye, but her expression remained the same despite the tears that fell. “None of my parameters can calculate the happiness I must be feeling right now. I may not have awoken to a sight of mountains, but I believe that I’ve been gifted something a thousand times better.”
“Mhm!” Jury agreed as Snap suddenly came into the fray, offering its fur to Nav who curiously touch it.
“So soft... Snap...” She complimented, adoring its sensation.
“Brrrrr~!”
At the end, they all set their sights to the skies. The horizon couldn’t be any clearer. Nav inhaled the world like a newborn child, unable to properly express how much she adored these people she had only known by voice.
Then, she set her sights on the Archivist, who happily waved, surprised that she somehow managed to recognize her by sight alone.
Finally, all eyes fell upon the Nexus.
A new chapter in their lives awaited.
Things will never get easier.
But so long as they had each other, then that’s all that mattered to them.
With one last cheer, everyone threw their hands into the air in celebration for Nav as Snap took a photo of everyone’s happiest moment.
* * *
“... Damage report?”
“70,000 injured. 130,000 dead. Another 20,000 missing. A third of all healers are either missing or dead.”
“And the state of the Nexus?”
“... Genesis Stones were scattered around the world after the encounter with the Apocalypse Corrupted. Minimal damage to the Nexus as far as the reports show. Moons are going to have difficulty navigating the world as a result.”
“... Caldera needs to clean this up thoroughly. But the city has become a new priority. We’re expecting major internal reform.”
“The Archetype of Amalgamation...”
“Indeed. The cleanup will be immense. It does not help that we have shown our weaker side to the world. No doubt that people will take the opportunity to stick their noses where they don’t belong.”
“Trouble’s calling.”
“There are rampant Corrupted in the city. Many of which seem sane. Scarlet Logic remnants have been captured, as well as other offenders. It will be dangerous for Stars and Moons to move through the city with the Genesis Stones. These people will be put to good use. We first need approval from the Amalgam.”
“A forbidden Site is being reinstated as well.”
“Against everyone’s will. That non-existent Site will also be a focus for us to find and destroy. A shipment was sent recently into Emvita. Investigation will immediately commence.”
“Beings will take form from the Genesis Stone as well. Another focus for Caldera Industries...”
“It seems that one Atlier cannot do all the work. This reform will decide the direction we will take moving forward. However.”
“However?”
“If there is one thing this event has solidified, it is who we can and cannot trust. I pity those impurities. They’ve only rekindled the bonds of the Ateliers when it was so close to being broken.”
“They shall know hell.”