[ Creators ]

Chapter 68

On the outside, Straus and Red are huddled together in the epitome of sweet warmness and comfort. But it seems internally, their minds have linked for the night. Perhaps due to Blazi helping in the final fight, or due to the bond Red and Straus have made together. Either way, they're enjoying this shared dreamscape they've come across. The sky is an ethereal dark blue, and they're surrounded by crimson roses. They lie among the roses and just...talk.

"So, it's all done.", Red starts.

"Mm?"

"I mean- all of our problems. They're resolved."

"I guess you could say that."

"...We came a long way. From Gaia to Synthis, Venus and Crescent, Jupiter...Feros...then Vyz. It's crazy back then how many people wanted to kill us, but now some of them agree with us..."

"I have a way with words, I suppose."

"You don't say~... I don't know if I ever properly thanked you for your help on the day we met."

"I might have forgotten if you did."

"D'oh-", she pouts, "Hm- well, we are dreaming. I wonder if we can look it up somewhere."

Sure enough, a screen appears and begins to play exactly that: a memory of their first meeting. Straus helped Red when she was injured, they chatted about life, escaped from the sisters, and he offered her a home with him.

"Wow, I really got to the point.", says Straus, slightly embarrassed.

"(Someone clearly wanted a girlfriend...) Even then, I never said thank you... You know what.", she rolls over and looks him in the eyes, "I'm gonna give you a reward that's long overdue."

"Eh?", he blushes.

"You remember that little moment we shared before we fought Jupiter?"

"Yeeeeah?"

She doesn't say another word, just nuzzles into his face and gives him the best kiss he's ever gotten. He gives in and just about goes limp inside and out, but returns the affection accordingly.

Red breaks the kiss after a few moments, "Y'know...believe it or not, I started liking you after we defeated Synthis."

Straus shakes his head to refocus, "Oh..."

"I just couldn't say it at first because there was so much happening... you gave me everything when I had nothing left...you saved me."

"It's the least I could do, I just wanted to help."

She hugs him, "Well, thank you... I love you for doing that."

He hugs back and says, "I love you too."

Well, that's that. The end of Straus' story. You have seen his highs and lows, his passions and regrets. I ask you then, if what you've witnessed in this text doesn't define what a Creator is capable of, what does? Their skills, their talents? Perhaps, but if you want to know my opinion, what truly makes a Creator is their unwillingness to back down in the face of adversity. The determination to see something through to the end. To Create without fear, and to love every moment of it.

That is what makes a Creator