Chapter 444: Love

“Evans.”

“I wanted to be alone.”

“You’ve been traveling alone for many years, I thought a company was in order. We haven’t really had a long talk in quite a while, even when you returned.”

Van’s eyes only glanced at Athena as she floated close to him, before turning back to look at the massive Portal in front of him. Van had become completely accustomed to idling in the expanse of space. Ever since he was able to move completely unhindered through it when he absorbed the last of Evangeline’s powers, it was almost as if this is where he truly belonged— away from the others.

“…” As for Athena, she wasn’t even looking at the Portal; her eyes were just stuck at Van’s somewhat melancholic and sober silhouette,

“The Ark will be passing through the Portal in a few hours, the inhabitants of the nearby planet have already been evacuated inside the Vessel.”

“…Evacuated,” Van could really only shake his head at Athena’s statement, “Didn’t think I’d ever hear that.”

“…”

“…”

“Why are you leaving again, Evans?” Athena let the silence continue for a few minutes before floating closer to Evans, letting her arm touch his, “You already did that just recently, remember? Why don’t you just… rest? You have a family here now. Vanya…

…me.”

“Do you know what I think now whenever I remember meeting my mother?” Van still did not take his eyes away from the Portal.

“Evangeline?”

“I wish I never met her,” Van sighed, “She has been physically absent my entire life, it should have remained that way forever. I hated her, and she shouldn’t have had a say in my life, but I let her. I let her drag me around…

…because I wanted a family, I realize that now.”

“…”

“It was the same with my father,” Van shook his head, “I let him abuse me because I was afraid of losing the only family I have. And now, look at what happened— what happened to me, and what happened to the people around me. War after war, tragedy after tragedy.”

“It’s not the same, Evans,” Athena also let out a sigh, “You know very well it’s not the same. Your destiny was woven by Evangeline; an entity that was driven by revenge against an unfathomable enemy. Your family, Vanya— she was simply born out of love.”

“…That’s not what I meant, Athena,” Van finally turned his eyes to look at Athena, “The thing is, looking back at it now… I could have avoided everything. I was fast, I could have just kept running without dragging anyone along with me. Gerald was right about me…

…I am the one chasing chaos, the very same thing my mother was doing.”

“…” Athena could really only furrow her eyebrows from Van’s words; thinking of the right words to utter right now.

“I am going to give Vanya something that I didn’t have,” Van then let out a small chuckle as he held Athena’s hand, “Freedom from a troublesome parent. Besides… she is literally older than me.”

“…”

“…”

And then, once again, there was a silence between the two that only they could understand. They just looked at each other’s eyes, almost as if it was the last time they would be doing so. But finally, after a few more seconds, they shared their thoughts with the universe as Van let out a long and very deep sigh.

“I really thought this was it, Athena,” Van then said as his eyes returned to the massive Portal, “I thought this was my destiny. I thought I was meant to defeat the World Eaters and save everyone. A messenger that would take people to safety…

…What a joke,” Van could really only let out a wry smile.

“Well…” Athena also looked at the portal as a small chuckle escaped her lips, “You were doing quite well, even Hermes couldn’t have done a better job.”

“…”

“…”

“You won’t be coming back this time, would you?” Athena then closed her eyes, almost afraid to hear the next words that would be coming out of Van’s mouth.

“…Nah,” Van let out a long and deep breath as he shook his head, “I will be very far away.”

“You could at least meet my other family. Zeus, Demeter, even Aphrodite.”

“…Nah, I’m good. I think I had enough of seeing them in my visions.”

“How far?” Athena’s voice started to lower, “How far will you go?”

“Far,” Van then removed his eyes from the Portal as he looked to nowhere in particular, “We’re probably never going to see each other again.”

“I live a very long life, my King,” Athena took in a small breath, “You will never know.”

“…”

“…”

“Do you regret everything that has happened to you, Evans?”

“I regret a lot of things,” Van whispered as he once again turned to look at Athena, “But I also learned to cherish a lot of it. Meeting Artemis… meeting you.”

“What if I tell you I am pregnant?” Athena then said as she returned Van’s gaze, “Will you still leave?”

“Are you?”

“…No,” Athena let out a small chuckle as she turned her eyes to the side.

“You’re really not going to say goodbye to the others?” Athena said.

“I already did. You’re the last one.”

“…How did they take it?”

“Could have been worse. Miss Sarah was the one who had the most reaction.”

“I suppose she still feels responsible for you in a way.”

“I don’t even know her,” Van breathed out, “This world has moved on without me, and it will continue to do so. You know…

…you’ve never asked me to let you come with me. Because if you want to, I probably would let you.”

“…I won’t be able to follow, Evans.”

“…Hm.”

“…Do you really have to leave?” Athena once again asked.

“No, but I want to,” Van said as he let out a very long and deep breath.

“You could finally be happy here.”

“I am, and I will,” Van nodded, “I am just… tired of being the one being left behind.”

“…So that’s why you’re leaving?”

“This time it will be my choice,” Van then said; his eyes, almost glistening and unwavering. And as Athena saw this, the only thing she could really do was completely look away. This time, she knew that no matter what she says, no matter what happens after…

…Van was going to leave.

“…”

“…”

“…”

“Thank you, Evans.”

“Hm?”

“For teaching me love.”

“…What’s with that?”

“As someone that was born for another purpose, I thought I was never meant for something else— but you gave me that.”

“You could just say you love me, you know.”

“I do. I do love you, and I forever will until the day my life withers with the universe.”

“I feel the same, Athena. Thank you for teaching me love.”

“You could just say you love me, you know?”

“I love you, Athena.”

“…Hm.”

A smile. A smile that would perhaps forever be painted throughout the history of the universe appeared on Athena’s face as she stared at the vast expanse of space; unlimited, unhindered.

She stayed like this for a couple of minutes, before letting out a deep and very long sigh… as she soon floated away, not even looking back. She did not need to…

…she knew that Van was no longer there.

And perhaps…

…he never will be again.

“Safe travels, my king.”

***My Hermes System — END***

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***Speedster in a Fantasy World — START***

A thousand years later.

“Well, that took longer than expected…

…considering you’re supposed to be the fastest creature in this universe.”