Aloy wakes up in Meridian alongside the Sun-King Avad, not knowing how her got there. Together, they will experience adventures and emotions that will form strong bonds between these characters.
🧭 This story takes place after Horizon Forbidden West...
The couple didn't meet again until dusk. Aloy slung her hunting bow over her back and entered the monarch's room, where he was already with dinner set on the table. When he saw the huntress, a broad smile automatically appeared on his face.
"Aloy!" he exclaimed happily. "How was your day?"
"Fine." she replied not very eloquently. She had spent most of the day outdoors, hunting and riding a strider. Many times, hunting served as a way to clear her mind. "And... you?" she finally asked.
"It's been a day of intense work, but today it didn't feel heavy." he replied, noticing how serious she was. Taking a few steps towards her, he asked, "There's something bothering you... isn't there?" she lowered her gaze to her feet.
"Yes..." she answered, searching for the right words. "I'm almost healed... Soon my ribs won't hurt anymore, and... you know... my mission is not over." she explained, looking pityingly into the king's eyes. "I won't be staying much longer."
He sighed deeply as he sat on the bed.
"I didn't want this moment to come." he admitted. "But your mission is vital... so, whatever we might prefer... it's best that you leave when you see fit and finish it." she sat beside him and placed a hand on top of his.
"I didn't want to leave without clarifying things with you... It was something I needed."
"I... admit that it was something I really needed too." he admitted. "I'm glad that even though you're leaving, we both understand our situation."
"Thank you, Avad, for understanding..."
"I just want to ask you one thing..." he added, turning to look into the eyes of the Savior of Meridian. "I just want to know when you're going to leave... I'd like to say goodbye to you... just that. No ceremonies or other people, nothing flashy or out of the ordinary, just... I just want us to say goodbye until we meet again." Aloy gave him a warm smile.
"Well... I was thinking of leaving tomorrow... or the day after tomorrow, maybe." she said, noticing how he tightened his hand, tense. 'Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow!' Avad exclaimed inwardly. 'I hoped "soon" meant next week!'
"Okay, thanks for letting me know... When you know for sure, I'd love to find out. —she looked at him and nodded."
"Sure." she said, nodding again. They had dinner in silence, each immersed in their thoughts. Aloy kept her gaze fixed on the food, and Avad seemed like he was going to pierce the plate with his gaze. Suddenly, he raised his eyes and opened them wide, with a sparkling look.
"Be right back." he explained, getting up from the chair. "I won't be long, I just came up with something..." and as quickly as he had gotten up, he left. Aloy turned on her focus, wondering what was so urgent that he had thought of it, being able to see him go quickly down the hall. After a few minutes, the door opened, and the Sun-King entered.
"Aloy! I've got an idea... It's a bit crazy, but... Marad says it might work." he explained, catching his breath. She got up from her chair and approached him.
"What's going on?" she asked, truly intrigued.
"Maybe you won't like it... And if that's the case, I'll understand because you have really important tasks... But..." he began, rubbing his neck with his right hand. "Can... Can I accompany you to the Sacred Lands? Then I would return to Meridian. It would only be a few days, in case... you approve, of course." she looked at him perplexed.
"Do you want to come east... with me?" she asked, formulating the words slowly, processing what he had just said.
"Yes... I've never left the city, nor have I ever missed anything in my village... If I'm away for a few days, they'll understand, besides, Marad would take care of everything in my absence, and it could be very favorable to strengthen ties with your tribe after all the previous years of hostility between our peoples. Of course... I understand if you're in a hurry and prefer to go alone... in that case, we can leave it for later." he finished, looking her in the eyes, waiting for a response. She looked away and furrowed her brow, thoughtful.
"Really... if you're not okay with it, it's fine." the huntress approached Avad and took his hand.
"Avad..." she said, looking into his eyes seriously. "We leave tomorrow at dawn." she replied with a smile.
"R-really?" he asked. "Really?! Are you sure that... I'm not a burden?"
"You would never be a burden. But... we'll make the whole trip on striders or whatever machine we have on hand... Going on foot would be a completely unnecessary delay."
"Sure, great." he replied with a huge smile on his face, still unable to believe it, grabbing Aloy's hands and moving them from side to side, excited.
"Good night." said the Intrepid entering the room. He looked at the couple and smiled. "From what I see, she said yes, didn't she?" he asked, observing how happy his friend was, who nodded, unable to stop smiling, holding the hands of the huntress.
"We will leave tomorrow at dawn. Above all, discretion is key." replied the Nora.
"Certainly. We cannot deny that she will be in the best hands, but it is optimal that no one knows of your departure until you are far from here. And Avad, don't worry, I will take care of everything until your return." he explained, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder. "After these years of non-stop work, it is true that you deserve a break. Besides, it will favor the relationship with the Nora."
"Thank you very much, Marad." the king replied.
"Well, I'll leave you to the preparations; see you tomorrow at dawn." he said goodbye, bowing his head slightly.
"So... tomorrow heading to the Sacred Lands." commented the huntress, looking at the Sun-King.
"Yes!" he replied, still not quite believing it.
Quietly, they finished dinner with a mood completely different from the initial one, packed some luggage, and went to bed. Aloy tapped him on the shoulder.
"Avad... there's something you need to keep in mind, just in case it happens." she broke the silence.
"What's wrong?" he asked, turning towards her.
"The Nora are... how to put it... They haven't forgotten the conflicts with your tribe... Although you have restored trade ties, many of them still harbor resentment... They don't know you, and there's a chance that some might treat you as if you were the one who planned all those atrocities. In fact, when I was in Sunfall, I had an incident with one of the guards, Zaid, who was still killing Nora. Fortunately, I think there are none left, at least there. The Nora he had captured almost didn't make it, and he... well, he didn't make it."
"Wow... I checked everything thoroughly, but they always cover for each other, and it's very difficult to find them all. I hope that if we happen to run into someone he captured, I can apologize..."
"The fact that you are accompanied by 'their Anointed' will make it easier for them to listen to you, because when I had the first contact with a Carja, it was when you sent a Sun Priest accompanied by Erend... At first, they didn't want to listen, it was thanks to Erend that they let him read your message. I remember the poor guy was terrified."
"With luck and your company, I hope everything goes well..." he said somewhat worried.
"I hope so." she confirmed, caressing his face gently.
"Thank you for letting me accompany you for a few days on your journey..." she smiled.
"I can't wait for you to see the embrace." the monarch smiled.
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