While Nero was continuing his recovery, and spending his time contemplating about his past as well as his future, Vanessa stood at the bow of her airship, looking out in the distance.
The vessel was shaped similar to the head of an arrow, with a sleek, aerodynamic design to allow for it to easily pierce through strong windcurrents and, more importantly, escape any storms.
The vessel was not exactly designed to be stealthy, as its four engines hidden within its wings made more than sufficient noise to announce its location. Fortunately, isolating the noise was not a difficult task, which meant that as Vanesssa looked out in the distance, her thoughts remained uninterrupted. At least, they were for a while.
"Excited to be heading home?" asked James, the old scientist who had been working in Fordham with Vanessa, as he entered the viewing room at the ship’s bow.
Vanessa turned and looked at the old man, and found no signs of age or weakness in his eyes. Instead, only anticipation and excitement filled them.
He was among the few researchers and scientists who would be accompanying Vanessa upon her return to Nova to participate in cutting edge projects, and enhance their skills. To teach their foremost scientists was one of the terms Nova had agreed to in exchange for getting help in raising another Sage from Kolar.
Over the past three days, the reason Vanessa had not already reached Nova was because they were traveling all across Kolar, picking up these key people.
"Not as much excited as thoughtful about our upcoming challenges," Vanessa said. "You’ll know once you reach the New Dawn research facility. The issues we face in crossing the Fog Clearings are not few, and yet the actual problems occur only after we pass through the clearing. Getting everything ready for full deployment across the fog in just a few short years is no short goal."
"Ah, this is where human power comes in. Not everything needs to be fully resolved with technology. As long as we can give our soldiers a firm base of operations through our support, they will naturally find their own ways to resolve all issues," James responded.
But then, after a few moments, he shook his head.
"Look at me, still thinking like a Kolari. Not all issues need to be resolved with muscle and mindless brutality. Anyway, the higher ups will worry about that stuff. We just need to do our job. I came here to let you know that we have received our final clearances to exit Kolari airspace, so the final leg of our journey will begin soon."
"Thank you for letting me know," Vanessa said politely. "I will join the others soon. You may go ahead first."
James politely smiled in return, and left, not saying anything unnecessary. It was apparent at a glance that Vanessa was in deep thought.
Once the scientist had left, Vanessa’s gaze returned to the horizon, and she couldn’t help but mutter out a question.
"Does falling in love really cause so much needless suffering, and bring so much doubt?"
Only silence answered her, along with the gentle hum of the ship’s engines - the only noise that managed to pierce the insulation.
"Not really. It’s probably more like whoever said that is still a child, and has a lot of growing up to do," a voice answered her, though the room seemed empty. After a few moments, a soldier appeared standing behind her in army uniform, his face surprisingly gentle.
"Huh? What do you mean, Garrick?" Vanessa asked, turning to the man. He was a bodyguard provided to her by Kolar, since she was supposed to travel all over the last few days. Ever since the last kidnapping attempt on her, they had taken her security very seriously.
When she had entered the ship three days ago, he seemed to be already on it, and had introduced himself then, as well as his designation. Then, he disappeared. Other than her, no one on the whole ship knew he was there.
"Well, I cannot say for certain who said these words to you, but I’ll take the liberty of assuming they were Kolari," Garrick said, lying through his teeth. "The Kolari way of life is to face and welcome death, welcome the fight for survival, and the glory that comes with conquering it. How can such a people fear love? They cherish it - glorify it, even.
"If someone told you that falling in love causes needless suffering... Well, considering the nature of this world, they are not wrong. Sooner or later, your loved one will be taken from you, it is only a matter of time. The chances are high that the one who said this has already tasted the bitterness of that separation.
"Yet that is also why I can say with certainty that whoever said this is a child, and needs to grow up a little. These things come with age. After all, what kind of warrior fears pain? What kind of man lets the fear of suffering dictate his actions? Not a man, but a boy!
"In Kolar, we not only love, but we love fiercely . We will fight against death itself, against reality, against reason, against all that stands in our way, all for that moment of embrace when we return by our lover’s side. Regardless of man or woman, in truth, we are a passionate people. Many think we are mindless brutes,
"No soldier will fight harder on the battlefield than the one who has a lover, waiting for their return. No force will light the will to survive like that of knowing that someone is waiting for you to return. If there is a Kolari who yet fails to understand this, it is because they are still a child, afraid of the pain of separation. We do not shame them, or rush them. With time, they will mature."
Vanessa stood in a daze, taken aback by the passion with which Garrick spoke. In fact, in the middle of his speech, she almost imagined she saw a golden flame roaring in her eyes - but that would have been ridiculous.
But once she recovered from her surprise, she couldn’t help but smirk. In her mind, the image flashed back to Nero, to every time he was wounded, broken, on the verge of death. She thought back to when he had a hole torn through his chest in the basement in Lumina, or to when he fought the Exarch with a broken body.
There had been no hesitation, no doubt, no fear in his eyes then. Who could have guessed that Nero Grant, the toughest, most ridiculously single-minded soldier her own age she had ever met, was actually afraid of the pain of separation?
Suddenly, from the hardened, resolute soldier of him she had in her mind, Nero became a soft, cute little boy. The image, for whatever reason, made her chuckle.
"That’s a perspective on Kolari’s I haven’t heard before," Vanessa said, a certain chipperness entering her voice. "You sound like a man in love himself."
"Oh yes, of that there is no doubt," answered Garrick. "I have a fierce wife, and I mean one that is absolutely ruthless. She would kill a mountain for looking at her wrong. But you should see the way she pouts when she loses a fight - absolutely enough to melt a man’s heart."
Vanessa smiled, and saw Garrick in a new light. She didn’t know how strong this new bodyguard of hers was supposed to be, but she could not help liking him. Of all the bodyguards she’d had before, he was at least the nicest.
"Any kids?" Vanessa asked as her gaze turned back towards the horizon, to the shades of pink and purple dancing in the sky between the gaps in the clouds.
"Yeah, a couple of annoying little brats who bring me nothing but trouble. Honestly, I think they’re a little worthless. I’ve been trying to convince my wife we should have another kid - I want a cute little daughter I can play with."
Vanessa smiled warmly as she heard the man talk harmoniously about his family. They must be nice people, despite what he said.
The two of them continued to talk amongst themselves as the ship began to pick up speed, finally heading towards Nova.
What Vanessa did not notice, however, was the single, golden flame that danced in Garrick’s hand. Or, to be more precise, the golden flame that danced in Edward Grant’s hand as he looked down at his future daughter-in-law.
He made a mental note to beat up that worthless son of his when he got back to Kolar. For now, though, he had to continue his mission of trying to discover who was attempting to undermine the alliance between Kolar and Nova. While others searched for the faction within Kolar who were causing issues, his goal was to find the faction within Nova, and to deal with them.
Speaking of which, the smile on his face faded as he thought back to Kolar. When he heard of what happened to Nero, and had been assigned the cover of a bodyguard for Vanessa, he had personally searched through the base, looking for any signs of traitors, yet found not a thing. Either the base was clean, or the culprits were far more well concealed than any of them had imagined.
A dangerous gleam flashed through Edwrad’s eyes. Lately, more and more unstable elements had begun revealing themselves across Kolar, and that just wasn’t normal. In a country run by the army, it was not so easy for such elements to sprout. He could smell trouble brewing.