Silver waves sparkled under low-hanging constellations that seemed close enough to grasp. The surface of the water reflected infinity in perfect waves that rolled past drifting galaxies. The air was light and soft, every sound drawn along with the hum of distant stars.
Monse: She leaned her head against Wiliaquo's chest, her eyes reflecting the constellations above. "It's beautiful… mortals never get to experience looking at the stars this close. It feels almost like they're alive."
Wiliaquo: One arm circled her waist as they floated on the astral current. "That's because they are. The stars breathe like we do, better yet, they're quieter." He smiled and looked down at her, "You shine brighter than the stars tonight."
Monse: She laughed and shook her head, "You're terrible when you're flirting, but it is absolutely adorable."
Wiliaquo: "I am just being honest, my love." He tapped the pendant at her neck, wind and water rotating together in a smooth loop. "That suits you. Balance made true."
Monse: Her fingers danced at the pendant, "Balance… sometimes I wish it could stay forever."
Wiliaquo: He placed his hand on her cheek, gently stroking it with his thumb, "It can if we work together, maybe if we try, we can put an end to Valkun's corrupted mind, help him see the better side of creation."
Monse: His smile fell a bit, looking a little more uncomfortable, "I don't know Wiliaquo...Something has been seriously wrong with him lately. How do we even know he would listen to us?"
Wiliaquo: He shrugged, "We won't know until we try, but I believe it's better to address the issue peacefully rather than resorting to violence."
Monse: "I guess that makes sense..." She dozed off into the abyss of stars, leaning into the watery platform they lay on. "I just want us to be happy together. Our lives are so difficult, so complicated, that we have to worry about everyone constantly. I want to be able to settle down, stress-free, have a family, love you for eternity, without the threat of my own death hanging over my head."
"My poor daughter is horrified by the thought of me dying." She stopped herself, calming down and breathing slowly. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to freak out so bad, I just worry about everything." She kissed him on the chin, tugging herself into his embrace.
Wiliaquo: He kissed her as well, rubbing her hair to comfort her. "It will be okay, I am here to support and care for you, for us, for our future. It will be okay, I promise you."
Before they could settle down fully, a strange power surged around them, rippling the platform. "What was that?" He shot upward, looking around, his expression shifting immediately. "This doesn't feel natural...It feels almost-"
Eartakiel: "Full of life?" He stood on a rocky platform behind theirs, the two couples immediately jumping up and turning towards him. "I absolutely can not believe what I am seeing right now...I came here to see what was going on because I knew I felt two powerful presences in the middle of space. I can not believe you two!"
Monse: She waved her hands frantically, "Eartakiel, please, it is not what you think!"
Eartakiel: His head shot over to her direction, "Oh really?! Because it looks like you two are on a date, IN LOVE WITH EACH OTHER!" His hands balled up into fists, metal and rock grinding together across his body as he grew angrier, "I can not believe the irresponsibility, the selfishness, the betrayal I am witnessing!"
Wiliaquo: He stood up abruptly, pulling Monse behind him a bit, "HOW IS THIS BETRAYAL?! HOW COULD THIS BE SELFISH?! BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO FOLLOW VALKUN'S STRICT RULES ANYMORE?! Because we are tired and sick of being limited in every act of creation?! INFORM ME EARTAKIEL!"
Eartakiel: His orange eyes widened, burning with rage, "How dare you scream at me! I am one of your LORDS! You are not once thinking about the lives of your kingdom, your friends, your planet! You two are only concerned with yourselves!" He summoned his hammer, gripping the metal staff part of it while staring them down with violent intent.
Wiliaquo: Wind spiraled around them, gusts of power seemingly shifting and shaking the abyss of space, "WE ARE REPRESENTING WHAT RESTRICTS OUR ENTIRE TIMELINE! WHY DOES EVERYBODY ELSE ACROSS INFINITY GET TO EXPERIENCE THE FULL EXTENT OF CREATION, BUT WE CAN'T?!"
He slammed his fist against his own chest, right where his heart would be, "I love Monse with my entire being, with all that I am! You nor Valkun can take her away from me, and I will defend our love, EVERYONE'S LOVE TO MY LAST BREATH!"
He stepped forward, staring straight into Eartakiel's eyes, "So... 'Lord', if you want to kill us, or do anything to shatter our love, then I would like to see you try." There was a long moment of silence between them before Monse finally spoke up again.
Monse: "You are the beginning...look within your heart and see that what Valkun says is not true, that it is not right. We can work together and convince him to change his ways. Creation is not a straight path; he can not make it into one."
Eartakiel: His angry expression softened ever so slightly, the grip on his warhammer slowly weakening. He looked down at the rocky floor he stood upon, "..." He opened his mouth numerous times, but nothing came out.
After what felt like eons, he finally spoke, "I have to tell him..."
Wiliaquo: "No, you don't, you are just wrapped around his finger. You are no better than his dragonoid minions."
Eartakiel: His facial expression grew more sad rather than mad, "Go back to your homes...gather your people and family...Go to The Primordial Forge, speak to Zilari...he can get you out of our timeline and to somewhere where you can be happier. I have to tell him...But I can not let him kill you. Please be gone, before he comes to find you."
Monse: "Thank you, Eartakiel."
Eartakiel: "Do not thank me, this does not bring me happiness. Just...be free." He placed an Earth Elemental Orb in Monse's hand so they could create a new home. He turned away from them, disappearing into the abyss of space, seemingly going to tell Valkun of his discovery.
Wiliaquo: He gently placed his hands over Monse's, "Come on, Monse, we need to go back home and gather everyone up. We can create a new world for our family and our people, then we can come back to save everyone else...I will inform Alces of what is going on, but first, we need to get home."
Monse: She nodded slowly, still caught up on what Eartakiel said, but she was grateful for his mercy, "R-right, yeah of course..." The two of them traveled on a platform of wind and water, quickly traversing back home.