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...
Aloy slipped into bed beside Avad, the blankets covering her up to her waist and her arms crossed. She sighed. An uncomfortable silence filled the room, and both knew what it meant. The next day they would return to the City of the Sun, and then their paths would diverge for an indefinite period, and that was exactly the problem—they didn't know how long it would be. Avad grabbed the blankets and lovingly tucked in the huntress, covering her up to her shoulders. Then, he slid his fingers through Aloy's hair, gently stroking her nape.
"I don't want you to get cold." he whispered sweetly, drawing closer to her as he thought about the wonderful days they had lived. Time had passed too quickly for him, as if it had only been a single day. But a very intense one.
"Thank you, Avad." she responded, turning towards him with a warm smile, grateful for the gesture. She tenderly caressed his face, getting lost in his gaze, unable to say for how long.
"Thank you for all the wonderful moments we've shared together, and for everything you've shared with me... I'm very happy that you opened your home to me, showed me the place where you grew up, and... that you opened your heart to me."
"Ah..." she sighed, "I feel the same. I've enjoyed getting to know you more, both the good parts and the more complicated ones. I've loved discovering that you're an even more wonderful person than I thought." she expressed, locking his gaze with the king's. "I hope... I hope we can enjoy a few more days like these..." Aloy wished, drawing closer to him and hugging him tightly, burying her face in the king's chest. Her voice sounded with a tone marked by sadness.
"Of course we will, Aloy." he said, wrapping her in his arms protectively. "And probably sooner than we think."
"I... I hope so..." she wished, nestling against the monarch's chest as she hugged him tightly. "I'm going to miss you so much," she murmured, embracing him tightly.
"You have no idea how much." he confirmed, holding Aloy tightly in his arms, as if that would erase the distance that would separate them hours later.
* * *
They departed long before dawn, riding on the Strider to reach Meridian as quickly as possible. The idea was to save as much time as they could so they wouldn't have to spend the night anywhere else. Upon arrival, Aloy would gather the few belongings she had left in the king's quarters, and then she would leave to say goodbye to her friends. If all went well, they would arrive minutes before nightfall.
They rode at great speed through the icy lands, initially illuminated only by the machine's eye. The landscape appeared dark and rather sinister, although the machines that roamed nearby, identifiable by their lights, quickly moved away from them as they passed.
The sun rose higher and higher in the sky, before gradually descending towards the west. They passed through Daytower with barely a pause, where Balahn was glad to see them again. Without stopping, they moved towards the gate that marked the beginning of the Carja Sundom, and after bidding farewell to the soldier, they crossed the threshold.
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