“What are you doing?” Asch asks, worried. I feel silly for wanting to leave, but I can’t bear to be around here after disappointing Asch and myself. I knew he doesn’t want to end up alone, but I can’t bring myself to stay here when I know I’m not the right choice for him. I put on my shirt and Asch grabs my arm.
“Please, don’t leave,” he begs. “Not like this.” My heart sinks, as I look into his sad pleading eyes.
“Do you love me?” I ask. I have to, just so I know, just to hope that maybe there’s just a misunderstanding.
“Of course I do. I love you,” Asch says, he holds me closer, and I look even deeper into his eyes. His expression is blank, and I can’t tell if he’s insincere or just concerned.
“You didn’t glow,” I tell him sadly.
“Forget the glow!” He says. “Maybe it’s just a made up thing. I love you, truly, and so what if I’m not glowing. It doesn’t mean it changes anything between us.”
He’s saying the right words, and I want to accept them, but it all just feels so wrong. I look down at his arms anyway, searching for any hint of a color different from his skin, trying to find any glimmer of what they taught us to look for during orientation. I want to believe that he’s in love with me, but all the physical signs are telling me he’s not.
“I think I’ll have to go,” I tell him, pulling away.
“Please, Lora! Please don’t!” He demands, but I feel so crushed that I can’t stay here any longer.
Before he can say anything else to try to convince me I tear away from his arms and run out into the dewy night. I’ve given every piece of myself to him, and I will never really know if he did the same. I take this as a lesson and make a vow that I won’t ever make the same mistake again. This is what happens when I finally choose to open up, and I’m met with nothing but heartbreak.
I look back, tears streaming down my face as the shadow of Asch watches me from the window. I want to desperately go back and change my mind, and try to make this work anyway. We really tried, only to find out that we’re not really meant for each other. I can only wish him the best and wish that one day he will find the perfect mate. I had just hoped, in that blissful moment we shared, that it could have been me.
CHAPTER 8: NO GOODBYE
ASCH
The sun rises on Lora’s last day, and I wish she could have been here, next to me, to see it. My mind keeps playing out the perfect moment that would have been if I’d only shown the True Love Effect. We’d have woken up and headed straight for the facility, where we’d have shown everyone that our match was a success. We’d be swept towards a shaman, who would marry us right there on the spot if we wanted them to, and then we’d step out into the village as one.
But it’s only a fantasy now. There’s no way I could prove to Lora that I really love her. I really did believe that it was just a defect. I waited up all night, hoping to see some kind of glow, thinking that maybe it was just delayed, and I can run back to Lora and tell her the good news.
I figure that maybe I can try to go back and convince her one last time. Hopefully she’s had some time to think about what I said last night, that maybe we could still try to make it work. But what will the program directors say? If there’s no glow, then there is no connection, which means Lora can’t stay here, even if she wanted to.
Still, I was willing to try for it. There has to be something that I can do to convince her of my feelings for her. The thought of not having her next to me is killing me inside, especially after the one incredible night together that we shared.
As I sprint towards the mate’s sleeping quarters, I try to think of everything I felt last night. All I can remember is thinking of her body, how I was so relieved to finally be inside of her, and able to clutch those beautiful breasts of hers, taste her silky skin, and feel the warmth of those lips on mine. I feel a deep pain in my chest. If I can never have that again with Lora, I wouldn’t want to feel that with anyone, even if they could make me glow.
I bound up the steps and run through the hall to her room. The door is unlocked, and I swing it open, hoping to catch her just waking up, or coming out of the bathroom.
But it’s empty.
All of her things are gone. The bed has been neatly made, ready for the next mate to come along and use it. All the pamphlets are arranged nicely on the nightstand. I look over them, trying to find any hint of Lora that I can keep. I notice a note folded up on the bed, and I feel a faint pinprick of hope as I open it.
I’m incredibly disappointed to notice the logo from the mating facility at the top, followed by a generic letter that tells me only that Lora has made the decision to terminate the trial, and that she’ll be taking the transport ship back to her planet. I drop the letter to the floor. This can’t be the last time I ever hear about Lora. The last image of her can’t be of the back of her beautiful ember-like hair disappearing into the darkness.
I realize, that maybe it’s too late. Who knows when this letter was placed on the bed, waiting for me to try to find Lora? She didn’t even say goodbye…that hurts me the most, like a spear in my side. We’ll be light years apart, and I’ll never find another like her.
I look at the time and come to a decision. The tournament is today. I had gotten so wrapped up in everything with Lora that I had forgotten about it. I run out into the streets, making my way towards the arena. If Lora has left, then she’ll be long gone by now, and there’s nothing I can do to stop her. I guess there is still something good in my life. I’ll always have fighting. That will never disappoint me.
I hear the chanting from the crowds, through the walls of the holding room. I wrap my knuckles in my favorite bandages, waiting for my turn to go out and take my place as champion. But, why is my mind still swimming with thoughts of Lora? To hell with it, I realize. Lora didn’t want to be with me, and if she really had, then maybe she would have tried to stay. I think about my previous fears, of being alone, and of never finding love. I guess I’ve learned that love isn’t for everyone, especially not for someone like me, and I’ll try to make peace with this thought.
My sparring partner approaches me, wiping the sweat of a previous round from his brow.
“Your mate out there in the crowd?” He asks me. I shake my head.
“She’s gone,” I explain. “No glow or anything.”
“That’s rough,” he says quietly. He reaches over to pat me on the back. “But hey,” he adds. “You avoided the worst heartbreak of all I imagine. At least you can fight your heart out, right? That arena, she’s as comforting as any other woman, and she’s not going anywhere.”
He walks away, whistling a traditional tune. I hear boos, followed by the loud scream of an Avroxee. Someone must have been taken out. I hear the gong ring, signaling that it’s finally my turn to go out. I try to clear my head the best that I can. I’ve never had this much trouble before a fight, but I was living under different circumstances, then. I didn’t have to worry about having my heart broken, before, because I didn’t have anyone to give it to. I realize that I’m back where I started, and the only way to get over this is to keep doing what I love. My partner was right. The arena accepts everyone, even rejected mates like me. There’s no judgment here unless you can’t fight. But I’m ready and willing to prove myself.
I step out into the pit and the light is blinding as I find myself in front of the biggest crowd I’ve ever seen. It’s almost as if half the planet was here. I recognize the different colors worn by the Avroxee tribes from both near and far. This tournament will be unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. So why does it feel like I’m not really here? I walk to the center of the arena, where a large circle is painted.
Tournaments are much more formal than your average fight. In a typical fight, anything goes. But in a tournament, you’re bound to the circle, and if you even step an inch out of it, you’ll be walking home empty handed. I take my fighting stance, waiting for my opponent.
“Give it up for Asch of the Urik Tri
be!” the announcer hollers from his podium. The crowd roars with delight. I pose for them, flexing my arms and forcefully punching the air. They love this kind of stuff the most, but even their screams and cheers seem to pass right over my head.
“And his opponent, straight from the Yawkin River Tribe…Brachus the Mighty!” The audiences reaction seems to double in volume as the door across the arena opens up, and an enormous Avroxee steps out, his body covered in tattoos from head to toe. He looks like a menace, but I’ve seen enough opponents to know who’s really a threat and who’s just for show, and he seems like the showy type. Only one way to find out as he bounds his way over to the circle, his muscles almost exploding off of his body, the ground practically shaking with every step he takes.
The assistants come to us, to smother the oil on. I stare blankly at Brachus as he bares his teeth at me. He’s one of the traditional Avroxee, the war-minded men that have probably been training since birth. He might be a little antsy with the lack of wars to fight in lately, which makes me nervous. He’s probably itching for a fight like this. The warm oil seeps over my skin as it’s massaged into my back and down my legs. Each touch from them brings back flashes of Lora, and how she touched every part of me last night.
I can’t think of her now. Here I am, just moments away from my dream of getting out of here, fame just right at my fingertips. I’m not throwing that away for someone that gave up on me. The gong rings, this time the sound fills the entire arena silencing the crowd and my thoughts.
Brachus lunges at me before I can even plan my first move. I step to the side, but he catches me by the shoulder, locking his arms around me. I slide out from his grasp, thanks to the oil, and tumble away from him. I can feel the sand clinging to me, which isn’t good. If my skin is covered up too much, I won’t be able to escape from my opponent. I make a move towards him, clutching him around the waist, the hardest place to slip away from. Brachus has the strength of a Wanchan and he’s almost impossible to move.
I wrestle with him, until we’re both covered in sand in a heap of flesh and muscle on the ground. The crowd screams at us, bloodthirsty, as they take sides and chant our names. I feel Brachus pulling on my arms and legs, almost tearing the ligaments from my bones. I’m able to push myself up and get on top of him, where I clasp him a fierce chokehold. His eyes flutter as he gasps for air, and I can feel victory just seconds away.
But then, I look up at the crowd, scanning for a face. Who am I even looking for? These people are here to see me, but they would cheer for another warrior just as well. In an empty space in the stands, I see Lora, watching me with a blank stare, as she did the first time she saw me fight. Then, she disappears, like a wisp, a fragment of my imagination.
I look down at Brachus, his face purple as his hands clutch my arms. Slowly, I realize what I have to do. I loosen my grip on him, my body controlling itself, my mind only on Lora. I feel Brachus lifting me around the waist, flipping me onto my back, executing a similar chokehold. But I feel nothing, no urge to fight back.
Instead, I lift up my arm up, over my head, spreading out my fingers until I can see them cross that painted line.
The gong sounds, and Brachus releases me as he’s declared the champion. I have no time to listen to the post-ceremony ramblings.
My body is tired, but I urge it to run as fast as it can.
I have a ship to catch.
CHAPTER 9: HOMEWARD
LORA
“I’m sorry your trial did not go as expected,” Trisha says as she takes the paperwork I’ve just signed and puts it in a folder. I pick up my things, looking around the docking station. I’m not sure what it is I’m looking for, though. I feel like there’s no point in hoping now as I say my goodbyes and walk onto the transport ship. In a few moments I’ll be back on Earth, back in my stacks where I really belong, with my ancient texts and the carts of books waiting to be shelved.
I stare out the window at the other mates that didn’t make it. I keep thinking of last night. Soon, it will be just a memory, one that I’d have to condition myself to let go of. I remember the dream that I had, the one that urged me to come here in the first place. I guess this whole thing was supposed to be nothing more than a dream.
And yet, something is calling out to me. A small voice in the back of my mind says that I should try just one more thing. Without thinking, I get out of my seat, pushing past the other boarding passengers as I step back onto the station. Trisha and her crew have just started to walk back to the facility, but I call out to them. They turn to face me, confused.
“Hear me out,” I say, out of breath. “I think I’m making a mistake. I want to be with Asch, but I couldn’t make him glow. If there is some way that I could maybe stay until we can figure it out, I would really like to try again…if I may.”
Trish looks at her crew, and they have a brief discussion behind my back. Trish turns around, her face somber.
“I’m afraid that we cannot do that for you, Lora,” she tells me. “The True Love Effect is almost one-hundred percent accurate. Without proof of compatibility, I’m afraid you’ll have to go back to Earth.”
Tears well up in my eyes. I know Asch and I are meant to be together, glow or not, and I can’t leave until we’ve found another way. I’m ushered back by the crew towards the ship again. I tried, and I’m trying to think of any other solutions before the ship leaves. Suddenly, I hear someone shouting. A familiar voice screaming,
“Lora!”
It echoes through the station, and I turn to see a sand-covered Asch sprinting towards the ships.
CHAPTER 10: LAST ATTEMPT
ASCH
Lora pushes past the guards and makes her way over to me, tears in her eyes.
“You came back,” she says, full of hope. The rest of the group from the facility comes over to us, clearly annoyed.
“She’s already signed the paperwork, confirming the failure of your trial period,” Trisha says to us. “She’s going to have to leave, but you may say your goodbyes.”
I look over at Lora, her eyes wet from tears.
“Why are you covered in sand?” she asks, almost wanting to laugh.
“I was in the arena,” I explain. “The big tournament was today.”
“Well, did you win?” She asks. I shake my head, smiling at her.
“I forfeited,” I tell her plainly. “Fame means nothing if I don’t have someone really cheering for me.”
“What do you mean you forfeited? I thought you have been training for this for a long time—“, she says.
I can’t say goodbye to her, I just can’t bring myself to lose her again. I grab her arms, looking right into her eyes.
“Lora, I don’t care what we have to do,” I say. “Just because these people don’t think we’re compatible, doesn’t mean we can’t still be happy together. You can’t force these kinds of things, but I’m willing to do anything. I’d go back to Earth with you if I could, or we’ll stop at whatever station. Pick a new planet. Start a new life. Whatever you want, I don’t care as long as it means I get to wake up next to you every morning.”
Without another thought I pull her forward and kiss her, right in front of the facility members and everyone in the docking station. “Okay,” she says. “I’m ready, Asch.” Suddenly, her eyes widen, and I can hear the officials gasping and murmuring around us. Lora looks worried, almost about to scream, but not in horror. She looks incredibly happy.
“What’s up?” I ask her, but I’m interrupted by a warm hum spreading through my body, through all my muscles and veins, recharging every inch of them. I look and see the scars from all my previous battles, including my latest one, fading away as I notice a soft blue glow around me.
The True Love effect.
“I can’t believe it,” Trisha gasps. I stare in awe at my new ability. Lora reaches up, touching the place on my cheek where the gash used to be, now perfectly healed. I hold her hand, and the glow spreads to her as well. She smiles as it surrounds her,
and I embrace her as we relish this perfect moment. I know where we went wrong now. Lora gave everything for me; I just had to give everything for her.
“I’m sorry,” I tell her quietly. “There was nothing wrong with us this whole time. I just needed to get my priorities straight.”
She looks up at me and smiles. She turns towards Trisha. “What does this mean about our contract now?” She asks. Trisha looks over the contract that Lora signed, and then turns to discuss something quietly with the other facility members.
“There has obviously been some delay in executing the effect,” she tells us. “Lora, you may stay on Avrox if you wish. Thanks to your contributions we realize now that we have more research to do in uncovering more about the True Love Effect.”
Before they can say anything else, I take Lora’s hand and we make a run for the exit. I just have to get her home. We have some future plans we need to discuss.
EPILOGUE:
LORA
I look out of my window at the jungle, sipping on a berry tea as I watch Asch work. We’ve been happily enjoying our marriage since the ceremony that day, after we left the docking station, just a couple years ago. We both knew we couldn’t wait any longer than we needed to. There wasn’t really much for us to discuss after going through everything we did.
I place my hand on my swollen stomach, excited about our new arrival. I can’t wait to take him to the temples once he’s old enough, and he can help me uncover more of these ancient texts that Asch and I have been finding. I’ve taken the time to help rearrange the library here in the village, where I’ve been learning other languages, as well as teaching the villagers about the ancient stories of Avrox that were laid centuries before them.
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