21:00 AT, Day Twenty Eight | Fort Nile / Bedroom

  I wake up with a scream.

  Ray, who was asleep next to me, bolts upright, looking for danger. She quickly looks at me and a look of concern appears on her face.

  My eyes fill with tears and throw myself at Ray, and hold her in a tight embrace.

  She wraps her arms around me, gently cradling my head in her hand. The warmth of her helps to calm my nerves, bringing me back to reality a bit.

  We stay like that for a while, then Ray breaks the silence gently. “Ko?”

  “Ray.”

  “Ko.”

  “Ray.”

  Ray relaxes her grip a bit and leans back, looking at my tear-stricken face and eyes that no doubt have bags under them.

  “Nightmare?” she asks gently.

  “Memory.”

  She gently brushes some of the tears from my eyes and rests her hand on my face. Making sure I am still here.

  I lean into her, resting my forehead on her shoulder, which is very warm and far more comfortable than I remember.

  “About what?” She asks, hesitantly.

  “My grand vanishing act.” I say, trying to add some humor into my statement.

  “Was it my fault?”

  I lean back and look into her eyes, which are starting to well up with tears. “Definitely not.” I say, bringing my hand up to rest on her cheek.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Why are you apologizing?” I say, confused.

  She grips me tiger, “I should've supported you.”

  “You should have.” I say, unable to deny it.

  She pulls me down and lays down. I nuzzle myself firmly against her chest and refuse to let her go. After a few moments, she starts to gently stroke my head. A very gentle version of headrubs, though still very nice of course.

  We stay like that for quite a while. Occasionally, she asks me a question about what happened, and I answer.

  I tell her how I broke.

  The relentless bullying every time she stepped out of hearing range. The inferiority created by being near her overwhelming talent. The expectations placed upon me as the sole heir to the man that singlehandedly changed humanity forever.

  I tell her how everything within me shattered. I closed myself off to everything, even her.

  I destroyed everything I was, removing the person I used to be.

  I told her of my reconstruction. How I very slowly rebuilt myself. I learned skills, put my brain to use.

  I absorbed information, gained knowledge, and even some things that might be regarded as skills. I played videogames, a lot. I trolled the net. I saw some things, met some people.

  Just as I was thinking of trying to make a return to the world, everything changed.

  Aliens showed up. Humanity itself changed.

  They had the gall to say I was something special. Basically abducting me – well they did ask permission. But like, who would refuse that? They gave me a spaceship, friends, a dream.

  They also forced me to reunite with Ray.

  Ray, who then basically proceeded to slap me and declare me her boyfriend. A totally worthless NEET. Not at all worthy of the all knowing, all seeing genius that took the net by force.

  I look at that very same genius, lying next to me. Holding me tightly in her arms, as though worried I will vanish into the void at any point.

  I gently kiss her jaw, which only makes her hold me all the tighter.

  Oh, and don't forget the whole inae klackery. Apparently I'm some space wizard with abilities that shape reality itself to my whims.

  Oh also im not just a human, rather a hybrid Human-Vikean. Some long dead race. So long dead that it makes humanity look like we never existed. They had such power, such prosperity that it makes everything in this universe look like a bunch of non-sentient beings.

  So it turns out that my mentor is actually my aunt, and my so-called father was actually not my father. Rather he was just some scientist that was charged with creating me from my technically biological father.

  My aunt and father were, of course, Vikean royalty. As if being a reality shaping space wizard human hybrid with insane talents wasn't crazy enough. I'm also like, technically a prince of an extinct civilization.

  The craziest part though, is that I have a super duper ultra cute girlfriend. She really loves me. I didn't even know I could love, but it seems I have completely and utterly fallen for her as well.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Like really, me, Kovon Ducker, with a girlfriend?

  That's just abso-klacking-lutely absurd.

  Several Hours Later

  I listen to the steady rhythm of Ray’s heartbeat and breaths. It's soothing.

  I reluctantly move a bit away from Ray, to which she issues a great complaint. I would definitely like to snuggle up in her arms for the rest of infinity, but we are in the middle of a war, supposedly.

  “Darling, how long was I out?”

  “Around two days after the respawn process, that last blast really hit you hard, you jerk.” She says, trying to pull me back into her clutches. “We managed to capture the three forts in this zone while you were taking your nap. Congratulations, you're the best leader ever, able to win wars in your sleep.”

  “Hmm, well it wouldn't be possible without lots of headrubs from my super cute and talented girlfriend. After all, I am just a worthless NEET.” I say, leaning into her trap.

  She flicks me hard on the forehead, “Jerk, did you forget what we just decided?”

  “Wait, we decided on something? I thought we just cuddled for the last eight hours.”

  “Jerk. You're super duper talented, so stop calling yourself a worthless NEET. at the very least you have a job now, being my super cute boyfriend and spoiling me with lots of headrubs.”

  “And explosions, don't forget the explosions.” I say with a smile on my face, leaning up to give Ray a kiss.

  “Ko, you're a jerk. A big, cute, jerk. The king of jerks in fact.” Ray says, right before kissing me back greedily.

  When I finally get a chance to breathe I ask, “Am I at least cool?”

  She leans in and whispers in my ear, “Of course you're cool. After all, you're my super duper cute boyfriend. Just being in my presence makes you cool. Not to mention you're like, a genius.” Her tone suddenly shifts lower, “also, you’re very good at headrubs.”

  The rest of the morning passes by, filled with headrubs.

  12:00 AT, Day Twenty Nine | Fort Nile / Mess Hall

  “To us!” Ray cheers, clinking her wine glass with mine. Then she proceeds to grab the wine bottle in front of us and down it in a record 5 seconds.

  My girlfriend is so cute and awesome, it defies reality itself.

  I take a few sips of my own wine, only for Ray to grab a full bottle and shove it into my hands. She grabs another fresh bottle before giving me a devilish grin and downing it.

  “Ah, to Kek with it.” I say, popping the cork and downing the bottle. Not quite as fast as Ray though. It takes me a disappointing 30 seconds.

  Our friends around us laugh. Then Rigar proceeds to take a bottle in each hand and down them both in just 3 seconds.

  “Woah, big fella. Is that the hidden secret skill gained from being a warrior?” Ray asks.

  “Indeed it is, general. After all, you can't be a good soldier if you can't down a ridiculous amount of liquor.” Rigar says, in a friendly tone I don't think I've ever heard them use.

  “Milords, you two should leave this whole thing to us. Just go on a vacation, we will defeat those fellas over in the snow for ya.” Linda says.

  Emil light smacks her on the head, “Lin, don't say things like that. They will actually do it.”

  “Aww, Em, I don't think you should speak so harshly of our lords. They are right there.”

  Ray and I laugh, that totally sounds like something we would do.

  “So, when is the marriage?” Ray asks, looking at Emil and Linda.

  I take a closer look, it does seem like they are awfully close to each other. Now that I look, Linda is practically wrapped up inside Emil’s wing. I wonder when that happened.

  Linda and Emil’s faces practically catch fire. I wasn't even aware they could blush, but apparently they can, and quite well at that.

  “Wahat, marriage? Huh, who. What?” Linda says, stammering over her words and unable to form a coherent sentence.

  Emil is no better, looking like he wants to be anywhere but at the table.

  “Oh come on, you just called each other by nicknames, and Linda, you're practically wrapped up in Emil’s wings. Could you be any less obvious?” Ray says.

  Rigar chimes in, “Oh leave the two lovebirds alone, you and General Kovon were that way once, you know. You wouldn't believe the betting rings that sprang up around you two.”

  “Wait, what are you talking about? How were we that way? Also wait, betting rings?” I ask, confused.

  “Ko, you are really a jerk, y’know.” Ray says, leaning against me.

  Everyone laughs, even Emil and Linda, who somehow seem to have gotten even closer to each other.

  “Seriously, what did I miss?” I ask, only to get no answer.

  To this day, I still have no clue what they were talking about.

  A bit later

  I walk back to our bedroom, Ray on my back, blackout drunk.

  With each step I take, I feel a sense of deja vu. Almost as though this is a regular occurrence. Perhaps I shall have to acquire a few bonus headrubs once Ray wakes up, to compensate for my services.

  I arrive back at the room and gently lay Ray down, tucking her in nice and cozy. I give her a kiss on the forehead and then I head out onto our room’s balcony.

  I don't know why a bedroom inside of a highly fortified military installation has a balcony, and I'm not sure it's very safe. But, I'm not going to complain.

  I lean against the railing and take in the sights before me.

  We are currently at Fort Nile, the fort in the middleish of the wetlands biome. All around us stretches vast networks of rivers and a faint mist hangs in the evening air.

  I take a deep breath of the fresh air. The air is slightly cold and I can feel it settle into my lungs and quickly be warmed by my body heat.

  I exhale slowly, watching as the water vapor in my breath condenses into a nice fog.

  For being so far away from Earth – from everything I could have ever known or imagined – it feels oddly normal.

  I've got Ray at my side, we are causing trouble. Baffling people at what we can do when we are together.

  We are in some form of videogame made into reality, which is just klacking cool. The tech surrounding it is far more advanced than anything humanity could’ve dreamed of. These folk just use it to play fancy war games.

  Though, I guess it is supposed to be a test for us contestants. Something about finding the best to lead humanity into the future of being an intergalactic race.

  There really isn't any need for these trials though. Ray and I are the best. But, we shall simply have to prove that to everyone.

  After all, a victory is meaningless unless it's done in style.

  There is nothing I love more than a good chance to rack up some style points. Getting lots of headrubs from my super cute girlfriend is still better though.

  I am sure that there is a lot in store for Ray and I. But, no matter what it is, we will overcome it, together. After all, have you seen how cute she is? There is no way we will lose. So, bring it on.

  End of Chapter 119

  Next: Chapter 120 | Cinder Keep

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