Feared Love

CW: Language, mentions of war/violence/death, and a virus.

*Note, this story could be considered "Historical Fiction" however due to some bits of the plot, I've listed it as "Urban Fantasy". I hope this makes sense.

I stood there giddily, looking around the large room. The room was circular with large trees acting as the beams and structure. I looked at the carved stone and clay that made the majority of the walls before that manmade structure let the canopies of the trees take ahold. I smiled, as always, seeing the leaves and branches, vines and planks of wood making up the roof. 

Wandering the room I saw the light of the sky shining through. I stayed there for a few moments. The sky was like a water color painting, containing so many pinks purples and blues blending together and yet staying apart. It was so memorizing. If this is after the Early 2000's Conflict… What did the sky look like before? I found myself thinking, sighing dreamily. 

The noises of footsteps and chatter awoke me from my miniature trance, bringing my attention to the main entrance. I grinned. Story time! I thought with wide eyes. Quickly I made my way to comforts of the group of small grassy mounds. I pulled my knees towards me, making me slide down one of the mounds. I laugh hearing a few chuckles behind me. "Viza, be careful!" A blonde says peeking through the crowd. I give her a toothy grin.

"I apologize Masa, I couldn't help it." I whisper with excitement. "We're finally going to learn about the world before the Acel Strain!" She smiles awkwardly.

"You're so fascinated with the world of before." Masa says. I look at her surprised, and motion to the sky.

"Can you blame me? I mean, picture our skies, our waters, our animals-" I look at her. "Don't you wonder what it was all like before?" She blinks before nodding. 

"I guess I do wonder a bit here and there…" She replies softly.

"See?-" 

"Attention my wonderful students!" A cheerful voice booms. Everyone's head immediately turns towards the voice. The one who spoke stood on the central mound, arms open wide. I looked at her in awe. She looked amazing, wearing a tight white dress with loose flowy sleeves. The bottom of her dress was bunched up a little, suggesting it was a little big for her, but even with that, she was gorgeous. 

I gulp feeling my cheeks heat up. She's so gorgeous. I thought to myself. "Today Mr. Vira, as I'm sure as you all know," She says lowering her arms, politely resting her hands against her dress. "Is here to tell us of the world of before." She says smiling. A few cheers came from the young crowd. Instinctively I looked around. A majority of those here were apart of Masa's and I's class, but there were a few who were in the younger classes. I looked back at Lady Kwin. She looked serious, and I automatically copy her expression.

"I understand all of your young curiosity, however I wish for you all to know and understand the devastation that happened during the Early 2000's Conflict." She says. "Mr. Vira will not censor anything so please, if you feel uncomfortable at any time-" 

"Oh Kwin." A calm old voice says from within the tree branches. I, and several others I noticed(even Masa!), sat up straight, looking for the voice. An old man with grayish brown hair, and Viking style beard, appeared. I felt my jaw drop at his kind eyes. Is it possible to find eyes so attracti- I bit my tongue immediately once I realized what I was thinking. I felt Masa stare at me accusingly. I returned the glare and she huffed, embarrassed. "Don't scare them." He says making his way to Lady Kwin. I blink, forgetting my glimmer of attraction to the old man. He's being casual with her. I realized. 

I watched as Lady Kwin let out a heavy sigh. "Vira-" My eyes widen. And she with him! "You, yourself have lived through the Early 2000's Conflict." She gives him a look. "I want my students to understand the gravity of the situation." He nods. 

"Understood Kwin." He comments, silently telling Lady Kwin to leave the central mound. The old man sat down onto the mound with a soft sigh closing his eyes. When he seemed to be down collecting his thoughts, he opened his eyes and looked at us all. I kept a serious yet intrigued expression. It felt like he was looking at all of us individually and I wanted him to know while I was young and excitedly curious of the world of before, I knew the "gravity", as Lady Kwin put it, of the situation. 

After he was satisfied with his assessment, he spoke. "I know Lady Kwin has mentioned a few pieces about the world of before to you all previously.. And I will get into that, but," He says smiling a little. "Let's start our little-" A few laughs erupted from the crowd. This would not be little, no matter how you worded it, and while Lady Kwin showed her disapproval, Mr. Vira chuckled too. "Our, interesting, history lesson, a bit soft, yes?" He continues. We all nod in agreement, a few voicing such. He nods.

"This particular event would take place in 2039, the last major event taking place during the Early 2000's Conflict." We all were already hanging onto his every word. He smiled. "And I, was apart of this." A few of us gasped. "We were on the island Kalawao, a small island then that was once apart of what we called Hawaii. There were almost three hundred people there on this island, some upset, but the majority overjoyed-" He paused hearing a chorus of questions coming from the crowd.

"Why you ask?" He shifts his weight, smiling a little. "Well, because there was a wedding of course!" There were several comments, loud ones, that were made. We all laughed, even strange Masa. "I was attending this wedding," He continues. "As the photographer. The wedding was between two beautiful women, Heli Sela and Thia Quince. The Sun and Moon incarnates." The room went quiet hearing this. We all knew the stories of this event, the hatred people had then of the incarnates of the stars. Mr. Vira nods sadly, however continued the tale in a calmly happy tone.

"I was a young lad then, twenty eight years old and quite ambitious. And if I'm to be honest," He says leaning forward a little. Almost as if telling us a secret. "I thought myself to be very good-" He's saying, politely, that he was egotistical. I reminded myself. "At my craft: photography." He reminded us. "However I guess, looking back on it now, this was a bit reasonable. I took daring photos of cliffs and mountains, various birds eye views without the usual drone or abilities most who took those photos had. 

Because of this, I assume, Mrs. Heli Sela found me on my website-" There were a few murmurs of confusion, however those who knew quietly answered those questions. "And suggested that I should take photos of her wedding with her then bride to be: Thia Quince. Of course, with me being a reincarnate, I accepted." There were a few cheers from the older classes. "It was gorgeous watching the two of them tell me how they wished their wedding photos to be. It was quite interesting, with me having to use unique camera lenses as to not blind those who looked at the photos, but it was a wonderful experience." 

Mr. Vira pulled a strange scroll from his jacket, setting it on the mound. All of us were confused as to what he was doing especially when he muttered a few words to the scroll. Soon enough he opened the scroll and in it's place appeared something I remember Lady Kwin referencing to be a "photo album". We all shouted with excitement making even calm and collected Lady Kwin laugh at our childishness. He looked up at us with a smile, waving his hand over the photo album. We all grinned seeing the photos within appear all around us, as if we were looking at the album itself. 

I gasped seeing a woman with a strong and yet average with bright clean skin and bright fire like hair that was in a high ponytail. She had bright all white eyes that were outlined in thin black eyeliner. She wore a light pink dress- she was breath taking. "Viza-" Masa whispered, pointing to a specific picture. I look at her a little startled, but then look to where she was pointing. I gasp. And there was her bride: Thai Quince. She had very light hair that contained various blues and purples, the same shiny bright skin that Sela had, and jet black eyes. 

I bit my lip seeing her wear a Japanese inspired wedding dress. How are they both so wonderful?- Mr. Vira's laugh interrupted my queer thoughts, making me, and a lot of others, I noticed, look at him. "They're both beautiful ladies, aren't they?" He says with a sigh. There were a few laughs from within the crowd, but soon, a hand rose and we were all reminded of this meeting's purpose. Masa's shoulders slump. 

I let out a deep sigh as Mr. Vira nodded for the person who rose their hand to speak. "How did such a wonderful wedding go wrong?" They asked. I froze, recognizing the voice. Kytine. I slouch, preparing myself for Mr. Vira's response. I smiled a little feeling Masa's comforting hand on my back. I lean into her before watching Mr. Vira. His expression was the one Lady Kwin often wore. Plain. Serious. Blank.

"Because of the Acel Strain." He answers simply. A majority of us asked what that was, including Masa. I noticed quite a few people leaving, and while my jaw clenched for I was suddenly wishing for the sweet sweet tale of Sela and Quince's marriage- I did not leave. I stayed still, watching, listening, and waiting for Mr. Vira to answer our questions. He shifted uncomfortably making a small bit of bile climb up my throat. He waved his hand and the images of the wedding disappeared. "The Acel Strain is well- a strain, of the COVID-19 virus." We all froze. 

That virus destroyed over half of the world of before's population. Their money system went crazy and so much crimes were committed- Masa and I looked at each other nervously. "The Acel Strain," Mr. Vira continued calmly. "Was not like the previous mutations of the virus. This one, well." He says with an unsure shrug, he wasn't sure how to say something. He let out a long sigh. "This strain of the virus changed the human species- and with the nuclear weapons used in World War Three-" I frowned, remembering Lady Kwin telling us how Russia's invasion on Ukraine turned into World War Three. "Changed us." He says.

"We went underground for quite a long time, making us develop intense strength to move the rocks underneath. We began to be able to see in the dark, to survive off of the minerals within the dirt.." He sighs heavily, remembering it all vividly. "Eventually the Acel Strain brought the idea of reincarnation and incarnations to the forefront of everyone's minds. It became fact, a for sure scientific fact." He stood up, stretching his old body. "This caused World War Three to last even longer, and by the year 2032, pretty much everything was destroyed, by humanity, the wild life fighting back… Or the Acel Strain killing off us humans." 

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. What the fuck?  "Our world started healing between the years 2032 and 2039. By 2037, it was safe for us to live up on the surface once more, and slowly, we started rebuilding our society-"

"So… What happened after Thia's and Heli's marriage?" The same kid from before asked, loudly. Lady Kwin scolded them quickly, however Mr. Vira waved his hand telling her it was okay.

"A few people disapproved of the two incarnates marrying, as they both represented the Sun and Moon, there was the possibility of them naturally having a child." He sighs, and we all tense. I gulp glancing at Masa. She looked heavily uncomfortable. And I understood why. I look back at Mr. Vira. "So a group of people attacked them." He says with a sigh. "And as I'm sure you all know, the Sun's incarnate has… Er… Quite the temper.." I felt my throat tighten.

"So Heli attacked the group?" That one kid asked plainly. Masa hugged her knees. I wrap a protective arm around her, hugging her tight. Mr. Vira looked unsure how to proceed. 

"They were acting in self defense, Kytine." I say loudly. They looked at me sharply, and I returned the gaze. "The groups that attack incarnates, of any sort, know the power they potentially have. They know how to attack. They were prepared." Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mr. Vira nod. 

"Indeed they were, young Viza." Mr. Vira says. He waved his hand, and instinctively, many of us, even Masa and I, shielded our eyes. They were images of World War Three. The effects of the Acel Strain, the "calmer" bits of the Early 2000's Conflict.

Mr. Vira inhaled deeply, and when I figured he exhaled, I unshielded my eyes. I winced seeing the photos. I froze as it hit me. He took these- during the attack.. I gulp, and I look at Mr. Vira. The old man who told us stories of our past. The one who tied us together. The wedding photographer.