Chapter 1187: Time |
The figure seemed to be flying, but Khan knew the difference and eventually became able to spot it. However, by then, his mind and gaze had wandered to other details.
Khan finally understood the reason behind that familiar, cozy cold. It belonged to the first woman he had ever loved, the person who had taught him his way of experiencing feelings, the girl whose memory still afflicted his loneliest and most desperate moments.
The woman kept walking on the air, ice shards forming under her feet whenever she stepped forward. Her technique was similar to Khan's previous iteration of flight, albeit more suited for her element.
Khan remained in his position, waiting for that inevitable meeting, his mind blank while his glowing eyes captured every possible detail. Eventually, the woman reached the balcony's edge, stopping above it to imitate his behavior.
Liiza stared at Khan, and he stared at her, both silently studying each other. The blue light met the white one, merging into a joint, piercing glow. The inspection initially was superficial, focusing on more evident differences, but Khan and Liiza tried to push it deeper, seemingly searching for something.
Khan recognized the girl he hadn't seen in ten years, albeit in a more mature iteration. Liiza didn't seem to have aged a single day, but her face, aura, and eyes reeked of experience and wisdom. No one could mistake her for a kid. She was a proper woman, and the changes didn't stop there.
Liiza's expression showed an empty fake smile, which Khan instinctively connected to the aloof face he recalled. The gesture served the same purpose, but its new iteration was more politically acceptable, which suited what Khan had guessed her new status was.
Khan also noticed an odd detail with Liiza's white robe. It almost entirely covered her, only exposing her hands, shoes, and head. Moreover, it looked strangely thick, which reminded Khan of blankets for some reason.
Liiza's eyes were even brighter than Khan recalled, being no different than his own. Her gaze was chilling, piercing, and intense, and her long hair tried to justify that increased power. Multiple red strands had joined the white ones, becoming a part of her.
Khan had been the king of fake smiles and pretenses, but his face was completely emotionless now. His blue strands had also taken over his black hair, giving him an azure head that mimicked the mana's color. It was also far longer than Liiza recalled, deepening the gap between the boy from the past.
Those glowing blue eyes were strange, too. Liiza couldn't help but compare them to her own and her memories. Somehow, Khan had gained a similar gaze that conveyed the bottomless extent of his unreasonable nature.
Liiza even noticed Khan's scarred hands. His uniform tried to hide the extent of those injuries, but nothing could escape Liiza's eyes. The same went for Khan's overall presence. The gentle, kind boy had transformed into a destructive entity, but she felt no danger for some reason.
Of course, those inspections had a deeper purpose, which Khan and Liiza shared. They were both looking for the intense feelings they had experienced in the past. They were both searching for that toxic, beautiful love to check whether it was still alive. After all, their attraction had come from the mana itself, and time shouldn't have been able to suppress it.
Nevertheless, time seemed to have won. Khan couldn't find the woman from ten years ago in that mature iteration, and Liiza couldn't spot the man she had loved so much in that caped figure. It seemed they had both clung to a memory that didn't exist anymore, which was probably for the best due to the current situation.
"Hey," Liiza eventually said, her voice exactly as Khan recalled but also sharper and colder.
"Hey," Khan replied, his voice exactly as Liiza recalled but also fuller and reeking of overbearing authority.
The two couldn't help but fall silent again to resume their inspection. They had truly changed for the better or worse, and their transformations seemed to have gone too far for their past feelings to exist anymore.
"Did you think I would have waited until tomorrow to see you?" Liiza asked.
"It was I who was trying to avoid you," Khan admitted, and Liiza's fake smile grew more genuine at that honest statement.
"That didn't go so well," Liiza responded.
Khan smirked, finally breaking his emotionless expression. He had heard similar words in the past, but that past was gone now.
"I thought this block was for humans only," Khan joked.
"I'm the bride," Liiza pointed out. "I can go wherever I want."
Khan's smirk gained some wistful vibes. That was exactly how he recalled Liiza to be. It seemed some things would never change, no matter how much time passed.
"And," Liiza continued, her glowing gaze focusing on Khan's blue hair. "You have never been a human, now more than ever."
It had been a while since someone could read Khan so deeply, but Liiza was Liiza. Khan had also struggled with that truth in the past, but times were different now.
"It seems we both accepted what we had to be," Khan commented.
"It does seem so," Liiza agreed, and the scene again fell silent.
"Did you stop using cups?" Liiza soon broke the silence, glancing at the bottle in Khan's hand. Her question was more of an invitation, which Khan understood and acted upon.
Khan pointed at the balcony's floor before entering his flat. He quickly seized two cups and returned outside, finding Liiza in a similar position to the one he had been in before. Still, she didn't lean her back on the wall. Somehow, her sitting position reeked of decorum.
Khan didn't comment on that and sat on the floor, making sure to leave a full meter between Liiza and him. He also placed the cups down, pouring the booze before sliding one toward her.
Liiza seized the cup and threw a knowing glance at Khan when she found him waiting for her with his drink lifted. It seemed he didn't forget how to perform the Niqols' traditional toasts, and their glasses soon met while the two stared at each other.
"I read much about you once Nitis started to prepare for the reopening," Liiza revealed, taking a short sip from her drink while bringing her gaze to the universe above. "You have been busy."
"Says the bride in an arranged marriage with a secluded species," Khan joked. "You have been busy, too."
"You didn't ask what you wanted to ask," Liiza commented, glancing to her left.
"You didn't, either," Khan said, glancing to his right to meet that white light.
The two stared at each other for a few seconds, both knowing their real intentions, and Liiza eventually talked.
"Who should start?" Liiza asked.
"You are about to get married," Khan pointed out. "Your story is more relevant."
"That won't save you from telling your story," Liiza teased, slightly surprised she was using a tone she hadn't spoken in years.
"You know I'm not trying to trick you," Khan promised.
"Yeah," Liiza muttered, bringing her gaze back to the universe above. "I know."