The Tale of the Void Emperor

Athan became silent for a moment before asking, " So...you don't remember me? I...was with you. "

"I-i can only remember a faint shadow-"

" That's me! " Athan spoke with excitement, " That shadow is me. We...spent days, months, years together. Do you remember now? I am...Athan. "

Tiana's eyes turned wide in surprise, " You? But how? Why can't I remember all of it then? What's going on?"

Athan stretched his hand forward before saying with a grin, " Can you grab my hand? "

Tiana was doubtful, but...she didn't reject. She didn't want to reject. Ever since she met Athan now and started talking, She had unkown butterflies in her stomach.

She felt an unknown familiarity with Athan. Her soul, her being, felt happy, ' What is going on? Could this be love? But This is just second-time im meeting him, or...is he really that shadow? '

She looked at Athan with a complicated expression before putting her hand on top of Athan's hand.

Right at that moment, electricity passed through Athan's body. Tiana was the same as she didn't even realize, but her soul was jumping in joy.

Suddenly, Some scenes appeared in her mind and seeing that her entire face turned beet red as she took back her hand from Athan.

" Y-y-you...." She pointed her trembling finger at Athan as she spoke with a beet-red face that also displayed anger, " What are you showing me? You...That's fake."

Athan weakly smiled as he looked at Tiana and stretched his hand towards her eyes, " If you are angry...then why are you crying? "

" Huh?...I.." Tiana realized that tears started to fall from her eyes, and she didn't even know why. She looked Athan as her lips trembled, " Who...are you? "

Athan's hand...that was going to wipe away her tears paused as the void mask instantly appeared on his face.

He took his hand back and turned around before speaking in a hoarse voice, " I am...I am your Athan. " 

" And everything you saw is true, and that shadow you saw is also me. I am your Athan...It's just...everyone forgot about me because something happened. "

" Tiana...My life is incomplete without you, and if you feel the same way, then...I am waiting outside, waiting for you. " 

After saying that, Athan took out one of his blank contact cards and gave it to her.

The contact flew into Tiana's hand while Athan flew outside of the White Feathered Palace.

" Hey, Wait, Athan. Do you still want to go to Great Bridgade Palace? " Ferinia spoke before running after Athan.

After all, it was also her duty to look after these four people.

Seeing Athan leaving, Tiana's heart squeezed, and her tears were not stopping.

She didn't know what was going on with her today. When Athan came here and talked to her, She was increasingly feeling good. These feelings came from her soul.

And now...Hearing Athan's hoarse voice that contained sadness and seeing him leave, she felt as if a big piece of her soul left her body.

This sudden change in her feelings threw her off because she didn't even know the reason for them.

She wiped off the tears and calmed herself down.

Lina and Hera looked at each other with surprise before both of them walked towards Tiana.

" What happened, Tiana? What did he show you? "

Hearing them, Tiana remembered those scenes, and her face turned beet-red in embarrassment again, but...suddenly, it came again.

The unknown feeling of happiness.

Looking at Lina and Hera, she shook her head weakly, " I can't tell. But...sigh. "

Lina smiled and grabbed Tiana's hands, " Hehe...One thing for sure is that this is a love problem and...we will help with that. " She looked at Hera, who also smiled and nodded.

" First, did he annoy you? Do you hate him? "

Tiana hurriedly shook her head, " No, I don't hate him. More like...I feel very happy when talking to him. But I don't know why or how. This feeling just appears out of nowhere...hmmm...more like from the deepest part of my soul. "

Hera grinned and asked, " This is so simple. It just means that you love him. "

Tiana blushed slightly and involuntarily remembered the scenes that Athan showed her in her mind and blushed even more.

She shook her head and took deep breaths before smiling at Lina and Hera, " It's ok. I am fine. I...think I just need some time alone. "

Lina and Hera chuckled before they went back to focus on the white stone marble.

Tiana then walked towards the nearby couch and sat down as she entered into a daze.

' If he is the shadow...then why I can't remember him despite seeing him with my own eyes right now? '

' If those scenes are true...then why...'

Tiana remained dazed for half an hour before she reached the end and remembered the words spoken by Athan just before he left.

[ Tiana...My life is incomplete without you, and if you feel the same way, then you can contact me. ]

' His life is incomplete without me, and If I feel the same way... ' Tiana closed her eyes and imagined a scenario where she saw him leaving one last time...never to meet him again.

Instantly, Tears filled her closed eyes before they started to fall.

But she continued; she imagined another scenario where she saw Athan leaving far away while watching his back...and saw him getting attacked and dying.

*crack....*

Just the thought of that caused her heart to rapture as tears started to fall like a dam bursting.

She opened her tear-filled eyes and muttered, " I don't remember you, Athan. I don't know if that shadow is you or not. But what I know is that...My life is indeed incomplete with you. "

A smile blossomed on her face at the thought of meeting him and talking to him again, like a cloud of joy bursting and showering her with happiness.

' He is outside...waiting for me. ' When she finally accepted this thought, this unknown happiness, and gave it the shape of love; She couldn't wait as her entire being filled with the excitement of meeting her loved one. 

Without wasting a second more, She flew outside of the palace.