Genesis Reality II

Chapter XXVII - Fluency in Action

"Speaking of speculation, Rin, and Ashton... what about your baby?" Key asked.

Ashton and Rin looked at each other with concern-filled eyes.

"It's apparently... healthy. I don't look pregnant in the slightest. To be quite honest, I'm afraid we might lose it because there is just no physical way I am healthy," Rin confessed.

"Have faith, dear... This is something we wanted..." Ashton explained.

"Ashton... in the moment. Don't you remember that night?" Rin stood up and slowly turned away from the group.

"We were afraid that my stasis was going to kill me. So we tried to start a family before my eventual death... but now... I'm alive and still just a girl..." Rin explained as tears rolled down her face.

"I... can say that being this young and pregnant is a scary feeling. But ultimately I grew attached to the soon-to-be child growing inside of me. I romanticized the idea of having a family with the one I loved... despite..." Mai sighed and began to tear up, "Our lives..."

"I have an idea what might help you... Let's visit my parents," Ashton suggested.

"What the fuck does that have to do with me," Rin thought to herself.

"I... don't know how that's supposed to help me, Ashton. But if you think introducing me to them is a good idea..."

"Wait... what about Lucifer? The mission?" Mai asked.

"She's right. time is crucial right now. I think this can wait." Key intervened.

"We won't stay for too long, It's just something personal I think we should do," Ashton explained.

"I understand..." Mai replied as she reminisced about the detour on her other journey with Vincent, to visit her parents.

"We'll be off then Key... Thank you for everything." Rin said as she shook Key's hand.

"Please... stop by any time you need some help," Key said with a smile.

The three entered Rin's car and immediately headed towards Lucerna Village, or at least, what was left of it.

As they drove on the highway, Ashton grew concerned at how empty it was, "Where are all of the cars?"

"You know what... you're right," Mai added.

"Should we be concerned?" Rin asked, noticing ashes falling from the sky onto the windshield.

"Are these... ashes?" Mai asked.

Up ahead, Lucerna was in flames. This caused Ashton to panic.

"Rin please pull over, we have to see what's happening!" Ashton yelled.

Rin sped through and immediately parked the car in front of the village in flames.

Ashton ran out of the car without taking his weapon.

"Ashton wait! It's not safe!" Rin called out to Ashton as an explosion erupted not too far from him.

People everywhere were dead or severely injured, lying helpless on the ground.

"Ashton... Your parents... They are safe... Go to Ishimaru..." A villager grunted, trying to hold onto Ashton.

He turned back to Mai with concern-filled eyes.

"We are sibling tribes anyway..." Mai sighed.

"Your highness? Is that truly you?" A wall blonde woman said running towards Rin.

"Oh, my Gods Valkyrie!" Rin yelled.

"When I heard you left I had to come for you. I took care of you for so long in your stasis that I just couldn't bear you leaving!" Rin's retainer, Valkyrie yelled in joy.