It was time for Koit and the healers to depart. And along with them, Rywa and his companions.
"So, what are you going to do now?" Karl asked Rywa, who was doing pre-flight check on his fighter.
"Did I ever tell you how we came to Earth? There is an unmapped warp zone that connects your galaxy to ours that shortens the travel time exponentially. Even with the use of our planet's fastest fighters and most advanced cruisers, it would still take light years. But as you saw with Lord Koit's case, they made it here in just months.
That was only made possible by this super highway, which was the same warp zone my companions and I took when we first came to Earth. However…" Rywa took out Vlint's journal from the compartment by the dashboard. "For some reason, Lord Vlint made no mention of this superhighway. In his journey through the universe leading to his arrival on Earth, the route he took was via a series of micro warp points that made smaller jumps.
The purpose of Lord Vlint's journey was to research the mysterious portals. I want to retrace his steps and visit the places he went to. You, Karl, are the one who inspired me to do this."
"Me?" Karl raised his eyebrows, pointing to his nose.
"Mm-hm. Like you said, it has been over thirty years since he last visited these places. Now, they might offer clues or even answers, which were not known or even possible back then. This journal right here will be my map. And you," Rywa closed the gap between them and caressed Karl's cheek. "You are my compass. The compass that has pointed me to my life's direction and gave me a whole new purpose to keep going. The hand that reached out to me when I stumbled and pulled me up from the ground. The light in my darkest moment, when I felt all hope was lost."
Karl leaned into his touch.
"Rywa, you are far more resilient than you give yourself credit for. Just like your element, there's fire in your heart that burns strongly for those you care for, and I know you'll stop at nothing to find a way to save your world."
Viernn cleared her throat and waved at them from the hangar's entrance. Sahd was right behind her as well.
"I hate to interrupt you two, but it's almost time for Lord Koit's fleet to depart. So we should say our goodbyes to everyone as well before we fly out."
Since it was close to their departure, Rywa's crimson fighter as well as Sahd and Viernn's identical black fighters had already taxied to the runway's threshold.
While Sahd and Viernn said their goodbyes to the rest of Team Alpha, Rywa took Karl's hand and pulled him towards the base of the lighthouse. The setting sun splashed the sky with hues of yellow, orange, and purple, and along with the sea and the lighthouse, the pair looked like they were standing inside a painting.
"There's something Gobaith and I would like to give you."
At Rywa's mention of his name, the majestic eagle came down and perched on Rywa's shoulder.
Rywa pulled Karl's hand closer, and on his upturned palm, gently placed a feather.
"If you ever need us, use this feather to call us. No matter where we are in the universe, Gobaith and I will come."
"Wow…" Karl shifted his gaze from Gobaith's feather on his hand to Gobaith. "Thank you!" Then he asked Rywa "So how do I use this?"
"Burn it," Rywa said matter-of-factly.
"O… kay," Karl sounded unsure, inwardly yelling 'That's such a waste!!!'
As if reading his thoughts, Rywa sighed. "I mean it, Karl. Burn it when you need us. I can always pluck another feather off of him."
Gobaith pecked Rywa's head. Twice.
"Ow! Yes, I know your feathers are precious. But it's for Karl and we love him."
Karl giggled at their exchange. With a rueful smile, he said "I'll miss you two."
Rywa felt a little pang at his heart seeing the shadow of loneliness that veiled Karl's eyes. He cupped Karl's face, caressing his cheeks with his thumbs. "Don't make that face. It dulls the colour of your eyes. I told you before, didn't I? It possesses the colour of the sea and the sky, and through them I remember the happy memory we shared at the beach.
Karl, won't you smile for me? I want to etch every detail of your face into my memory in these last few minutes that we have together, so that whenever I close my eyes, I can remember your face."
"I have a better idea," Karl wrapped an arm around Rywa's shoulder then aimed his watch's face towards them. "Rywa, look at my communicator and smile. Ready?"
"All right," Rywa beamed.
"Ava, take a picture."
The watch made a shutter sound, then Karl sent their picture to Rywa. Rywa's communicator beeped, showing a message from Karl. He opened it and grinned upon seeing their first picture together.
"Thank you, Karl."
Silence fell between them, and for a moment the only thing that could be heard was the sound of the waves crashing against the shore before pulling back.
'Rywa, is it okay if I hug you?'
Karl ran the words in his head a couple of times, but for some reason he had difficulty saying it out loud. Throwing caution to the wind, he made a step towards Rywa, but before he could even start to fling his arms around him, Rywa spoke, obstructing his plan.
"Shall we head back?" Rywa turned towards the runway.
"Huh? Oh… Okay." Shoulder slumped, Karl trudged behind him.
Rywa had barely taken three steps when he suddenly spun around. He pulled Karl towards him, wrapping his arm around his waist as his free hand tilted Karl's chin up before he captured his lips.
Karl's eyes widened, and when he let out a gasp, Rywa took that opportunity to deepen their kiss. Rywa slid his hand towards Karl's nape to support his neck as his tongue glided through Karl's teeth, then the roof of his mouth, before probing and finally intertwining their tongues in a hungry, passionate dance.
"Mmngh…" Karl felt weak from the fluttering sensation in his stomach. He could only clutch on Rywa's clothes over his chest.
Rywa softly nipped Karl's lower lip then pulled back. There was a thread of saliva that bridged their lips, which dispersed like a bubble.
He tapped his forehead against Karl. "Forgive me. Next time, it won't be stolen."
Karl hit Rywa's chest with his closed fist. But with how weak the kiss made him, it had about the same force as a cat's punch. He pushed himself off Rywa and made his way towards the runway.
"Then you better come see me again, i- if you want another kiss…" Karl didn't look back when he said that, but Rywa saw that the earlobes peeking from his dark, fluffy hair were bright red.
His knees feeling weak, Karl wobbled a little, so Rywa rushed to his side and reached for his hand to steady him, interlacing their fingers. A bright smile lit up his face when Karl closed his fingers around his hand as well, and they walked hand in hand back to the runway.
"Karl."
"Hm?"
"There's someone I'd like you to meet. But I… would like that person to be worthy of you, before I introduce you to each other."
Karl gave Rywa's hand a quick squeeze. "We've got time. I'll wait."
And so Rywa's mission on Earth came to an end. After everyone said their goodbyes, Koit's fleet took off from the cruiser docks. Rywa and his companions departed as well.
As the Galaxy Defense Force island base, Japan, and finally the Earth became smaller and smaller, Rywa already found himself looking forward to the day he would meet Karl once again.
In this ocean of stars
Galaxies away from each other
What were the odds I'd wander to your world
And you would find me.
In this vast universe
We are nothing but two specks of stardust
And yet the winds of fate
Blew us towards each other.
In a heart where flame my wounds had doused
And I never again felt warmth
You found embers
And ignited a fire that nothing could ever extinguish.