OLYMPIA

A Girl Named Venus

Louis gagged as the waves gently rocked the plastic ship as it sailed through the pacific. He has never been a fan of such a primitive way of traveling, but what can he do? Even if a plane would’ve been more efficient, it will also be less dramatic, and a nice presentation is something the Gracian Empire is known for.

    “Maybe walking will help,” he thought to himself, exiting his room. He hasn’t gone outside for most of the cruise, surviving only by trying out various methods to better his condition before giving up and downing a pill to put himself to sleep. He took the last one yesterday.

    The ship is definitely unlike the ones he saw in museums and displays, but it does not change the fact that ships, even cruisers, are completely outdated. Cruise planes and commercial spaceflight made sure that uncomfortable ships sailing through unpredictable waves will mostly be out of business.

Not for the Gracians, though. For being the most progressive and most advanced of the 6 Superpowers, the Gracian Empire is greatly attached to their antiquated ways. Only their ships still sail the sea and only their roads are still filled with cars. The other superpowers rely on the more efficient airplanes and conveyor roads for travel and cargo, allowing them to function like a well-oiled machine. That’s not to say that they didn’t have those - theirs is the most advanced on the planet, setting a standard no other country has surpassed for nearly a century. They’re just really attached to the 21st century.

The sun blinded his eyes as he walked out into the deck. He realized that this is the first time he saw natural light since he boarded more than a week ago. ‘This must be how people felt in 2020,’ he thought to himself.

    He looked around, taking note of the various people who also made their way into the deck. People from different countries - some even coming from outside the 6 Superpowers. They gathered around in gaggles, gravitating towards those with similar feathers. ‘Those must be the ones who came with a tightly-knit flock.’ Others have intermingled, forming a bevy of doves and pigeons. ‘Those must be the ones who went out of their way to build up a new flock.’

    Louis is in a dilemma. There is a group which would be hard to open, as it is already filled with those who spent their lives having known each other. On the other hand is a group of people who went out of their way to talk to others, something that intimidates Louis. However, a single person caught Louis’ attention. A majestic swan standing in solitude in the middle of a huge cluster of flocks. He couldn’t see her face, yet he is already certain that it will be beautiful.

    Though he does not realize it, Louis slowly gravitated towards her, like a bird making their way to the south with nothing but their instinct. His feet moved in autopilot as his thoughts were filled with the image of the person he slowly approached. Like a moth to the flame.

    “Hello there.”

    He fell to the ground, startled and brought down to earth by her sudden turnaround. He looked up. Her eyes, glistening like rubies, momentarily locked with his.

    The girl chuckled lightly before extending a hand to help him with. “Are you okay?”

    He blushed a little as he took her hand. “Sorry…”

    “So, what can I do for you?”

        “I-I was just wondering… Who are you here?” Louis wanted to die at that moment. In his mind, he knew that death is preferable to whatever life he will live moving forward.

        The girl smiled, causing him to blush.

        She turned around, which worried Louis that she decided to ignore him. Not that he can blame her. He’s just a hummingbird who flew up to an eagle, after all.

Which is why he is surprised to see her turn and walk around, passing him as she spoke. “I heard that Olympia is a beautiful place. I always dreamed of going there and I couldn’t contain my excitement, so I waited here to get the first view when it peeks from the horizon.”

“I see…”

The girl turned around, facing Louis. “What’s your name?” she asked.

“Louis… Monet.”

The wind blew gently, causing her hair to flutter. “Venus.” She smiled, extending her hand, which Louis shook. “Venus Marigold. Remember it.”

For a moment, Venus looked as if she had a glow around her. It really was the sun being reflected on the ship’s window that happened to be right behind her, but the image had been burned on Louis’ mind by the time he realized it.

And while he still has his doubts about her interest in him - no swan would take interest in a common duck - he can still appreciate the fact that despite the awkwardness of the situation and the fact that he looked real creepy suddenly approaching her, she still took the time to talk to him.