The Beauty
As they turned around, their eyes darted in every direction, but there was no one to be seen. Their vigilance grew, and they exchanged puzzled glances.
What kind of strange voice were they hearing, seemingly from nowhere? It certainly didn't match the ambiance of Uranus. Suddenly, a vortex materialized before them, and from its shimmering depths emerged a breathtaking woman who left them utterly speechless. If Reckless had rated Rhea a 95 and Elise a 96, then this woman shattered his scale entirely; she was the very embodiment of perfection.
Clad in a white silk gown, the fabric draped gracefully, revealing her perfectly sculpted legs, which seemed to emit an ethereal glow. Her long cerulean hair flowed down her shoulders, her eyes mirrored the deep azure of the ocean, and her face bore an elegant, oval shape. Her cute nose and pouty red lips were in contrast to the dominance of her arched eyebrows, hinting at an underlying air of arrogance.
The woman, now finished with her visual inspection, met their gazes with an expression as inscrutable as it was commanding. She parted her cherry lips, her tone frigid. "I am Ethereal from the Windfall Clan, one of the appointed maidens for civilian evacuation."
The word 'evacuate' brightened the eyes of everyone present, and they had no doubt about her identity. She exuded power and a commanding presence, dispelling any notion of deception.Rhea introduced herself, her brother Ray, and Reckless followed suit. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Ethereal. I am Reck."
"Very well. Follow me," Ethereal stated, and with that, she began walking with the three of them, accompanied by the big dog.
Rhea's voice broke the silence as she assisted Reckless out of a pothole he had stumbled into. "Careful! What are you looking at?"
Ethereal turned around, and their eyes met. Reckless tried to maintain a façade of composure, but he couldn't help but have been entranced by her, losing himself in the sway of her hips and the graceful contours of her backside –he was still a man after all.
Ethereal averted her gaze, Rhea withdrew her hand, and the journey resumed in silence. The sky darkened, revealing a canopy of bright stars and a glorious full moon that dominated the heavens. They had been walking for almost an hour now.
Just as they began to wonder how much further they needed to walk, a colossal ship appeared in the distance, its hull adorned with glowing bulbs that beckoned like beacons.
"Sister, a ship!" exclaimed the young Ray, pointing at the massive vessel, his eyes brimming with excitement. Rhea blinked and offered a small smile as she held her little brother's hand tighter, leading the way toward the extraordinary vessel.
However, as they approached the ship, they soon realized there was more to it than met the eye. It stood as a colossal edifice, soaring 10 into the sky. Laughter emanated from within, and countless people, each dressed uniquely, adorned its exterior.
Upon their arrival, the crowd fell silent, their movements coming to a halt, and all eyes turned toward them, or more specifically, toward Ethereal, with expressions of adoration and worship, as if she were a divine being.
Two individuals, a man and a woman, emerged from the crowd. The woman followed Ethereal, while the man turned to Reckless and his company, speaking impassively.
"Follow me." Rhea nodded, but Reckless couldn't help but inquire, "Where is she going?"
A fierce frown contorted the man's face, and his sharp canines were briefly revealed. The trio involuntarily took a step back.
"It's none of your concern," he responded in a low, menacing tone.
"Follow me."
They were escorted to a room, where they found people lining up, of varying genders, shapes, and heights, and the only common thing about them was their expressions of relief and excitement.
"Register your information here, and you'll be assigned lodging shortly," the man who had guided them instructed before turning and leaving. Reckless sighed and joined the line, with Ray following behind, and then Rhea.
"Hello, young one. Were you recently evacuated?" inquired the man in front of Reckless, a cheerful smile adorning his face. He seemed to be in his mid-thirties, with black hair and matching black eyes.
So everyone's eyes color truly match their hair.
Reckless contemplated this peculiar world as he nodded.
"Nice to meet you then, I am Farrel," the man introduced himself, slapping his shoulder. "You're lucky to be evacuated by Lady Ethereal herself. She's an exceptional woman. Isn't she?"
Reckless nodded, acknowledging her power.
"Well, there's something you should know about her. She's an exceptional woman," Farrel said again, as if he wanted to lay emphasis on how exceptional she was.
"Excuse me, but you've mentioned that before," Reckless replied candidly.
Farrel chuckled, patting Reckless on the shoulder. "You're quite the outspoken one. Let me get straight to the point – which was told me by the neighbors. Lady Ethereal's spaceship was actually a gift from someone very dear to her, but she's kind-hearted and decided to use it to help the world when the government failed to act on their promises. She's truly a once-in-a-millennium woman."
Reckless gave the man a blank look.
"Ah, you don't seem overly enthusiastic. Perhaps you haven't witnessed her full power yet. If you had, you'd be praying for the gods to bless you with a woman like her. A treasure in a sea of mediocrity, she's a true rarity."
Reckless nodded thoughtfully, taking in the praise, however exaggerated it might seem.
"Did you know that even Lord Altair, the most handsome man alive, was an admirer of hers?" Farrel added with a sly grin.