Chapter 69: Her Past (3)
Watching the memories of her family's death had brought her to tears. While it wasn't like reliving those moments directly, she felt an undeniable familiarity with the characters on the screen. Knowing it was her story made it even more emotional.
As the memory sequence concluded, the surrounding darkness began to crack, and she felt a warm embrace envelop her. A gentle hand tenderly stroked her hair. She immediately recognized Mikael and nestled her head against his chest, keeping her face hidden from his view as fresh tears began to fall.
Now that she felt "safe," she allowed herself to let go, something she hadn't been able to do in the void-like space. For her, it was a painful reminder of the seemingly endless time she had spent trapped in the void, doing nothing but enduring the torment of isolation.
Elsewhere, a few moments earlier, Mikael had been silently holding Kiara, a mix of concern and curiosity stirring within him. She had fallen unconscious during the process of him acquiring her, something that wasn't supposed to happen. His worry only deepened after his strange interaction with the Records, which had left him with many unanswered questions.
When she stirred, he noticed immediately and was about to speak. However, she buried her head in his chest—a reaction that wasn't unusual for her, as she seized every opportunity to be as close to him as possible. But when he felt her body trembling silently, his expression darkened, and a deep sense of unease took root in his heart.
He placed a hand on her shoulder and gently pushed her back to see her face. When he finally saw it, it felt as though someone had stabbed his heart. Her cheeks were stained with tears, and she looked... fragile.
"Don't look! I'm ugly!" she cried amidst her tears, covering her face with her hands. She didn't want anyone to see her like this—especially not Mikael.
Her reaction broke his heart a little more. Wanting to comfort her, he leaned in and placed a chaste kiss on her lips. The gesture seemed to soothe her, and she responded in kind.
The kiss ended quickly, and Mikael pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly while gently stroking her back. "I don't know what's happening, but I'm here," he said softly.
"Hmm," she murmured, a quiet sound of acknowledgment, as she rested her head against his chest. Her body occasionally trembled, but Mikael didn't know what else to do. He simply continued to hold her, whispering comforting words. His earlier curiosity had completely taken a back seat to his concern for her well-being.
Time passed, and gradually the tremors subsided. Soon, she was simply lying against his chest, her breathing steadier.