78 As Far Apart as the Universe Is Wide (1/2)

Two people idly sat beside a small lake and quietly enjoyed the gentle caress of the wind on their faces. It was a peaceful, isolated place that had been left untouched by the ravages of war and the taint of civilization.

Aside from the cottage house, nothing else had been built upon the pure, virgin land. It all looked the same as the day that Velvund and Emma had discovered it.

Reed slowly swung his feet in the lake's clear waters and enjoyed the simple pleasure it brought with Velvund. They watched the roaming clouds and passed the time describing what they looked like to them.

It's like the Evergreen Estate in nature — isolated from the world — but even purer than that.

When he looked back and the modest cottage, a small smile formed on his face.

No big, gaudy mansion. No servants or butlers. No titles or ranks.

This a home for two people; that was it. Nothing more.

The whole world could fuck the hell off, as much as they were concerned.

There was nothing that could top this in Reed's eyes; this was heaven.

”…This is a really nice place, gramps. I can see why you guys decided to settle down out here — it's like a little slice of heaven out here,” said Reed.

”We made it our little slice of heaven, my boy. After Emma and I found it, we put a barrier around this place and made it invisible to the eye. Then I made some… corrections to the empire's geographic records and erased this place from existence, so to speak…”

Niceeee… An excellent application of your authority as king, gramps.

Reed whistled in admiration and said, ”I hope I can find a place like this one day, too. Hopefully somewhere beside an empty beach, so I can spend the rest of my days on a hammock with a cool drink…”

Velvund smiled and said, ”That's a wonderful dream, son. If you want something like that, head down to the South and search the Golden Coast. There's plenty of untouched land down there in the far edge of the South.”

Oh? He didn't make fun of my dream? ...That's a first.

”Everyone needs a place that they can truly call home. A place that you can feel at peace,” said Velvund.

He put his gently patted Reed's head and said, ”I know that you felt something was wrong when you spoke to Emma back there. I saw the color of your soul turn a shade of black I've never seen before from you. What is troubling you, son?”

”I know that you feel alone. That you feel fear. …I can see your soul and have observed the hearts of thousands of people, my boy, so don't even think about denying what I have seen.”

Reed looked down at his floating feet and quietly said, ”I don't know how you — how everyone can do it. You trust and allow each other to into each other's hearts so easily, so… effortlessly. …I-I don't know how to do that.”

Velvund's expression softened when he heard Reed's fears and said, ”I'm afraid, too. We all are, Reed. None of us want to be hurt by someone we've allowed into our lives, but that pain is an intrinsic part of life, my son. There is no avoiding it. We all have to pay the price in order to experience life's greatest joy.”

”And what's that supposed to be? Please don't tell me it's…” said Reed.

”It's love, my boy. That unconditional, sincere love that makes you feel complete. The happiness, the comfort of having someone who will always be there for you, forever. The indescribable joy of being with someone who can make every single day feel like a breeze…”

”…You sure know how to sell an idea, gramps,” said Reed and chuckled a bit. ”That way you describe it makes it sound like the pain is well worth the final reward…”