The Great War of Rhodesia

Antology Story: A Week Later

Lucia appears to enter Mahan Staan in a cave at the bottom of the Star Alcove. This time Jean was not with the young queen because she was attending a meeting with the top military officials. While the guard soldiers stayed on guard at the mouth of the cave.

Nata was busy doing something in front of the display board called the monitor when Lucia opened the entrance.

"Oh, Her Majesty the Queen." Nata looked a little surprised at Lucia's presence.

"How are you, Nat?" ask Lucia while walking closer. Fear was seen in his eyes.

"As you can see. Incredibly," Nata replied cheerfully as he moved his right arm that had been previously injured by a magic bullet.

"Holy Girl is indeed amazing," Lucia replied that looks quite relieved to see Nata's condition now.

"Yes, right. In fact, it leaves no scars at all." Nata pulled up his sleeve to show that there were no more blue frost marks on his arm.

"really. Thank God" said Lucia after confirming what Nata said was true.

Then the girl breathed a sigh of relief. "Then what are you doing in this place?" he continued to change the theme of the conversation while walking around observing the surrounding space.

"I'm recalculating proba... I mean, I'm working on a Particle Breaker," Nata said, trying to give Lucia an easy explanation.

"What is this thing?" lucia asked as she stood in front of the Particle Breaker Tool. "Tool to return to your world?" continues ensuring.

"True that one," Nata replied staring at Lucia. "And what need was there until His Majesty came here alone?" he then asked questions because he felt a little awkward about Lucia coming to the place.

"I told you not to speak too politely if there is no one else" Lucia warned before answering. "I just wanted to say hello and make sure you were. Because I haven't seen you since a week after the attack." The expression that the young queen made was incomprehensible to Nata.

"Your Majesty need not worry. I'm fine" Nata replied trying to prevent Lucia from feeling sad or guilty. "I understand why you haven't seen me in a week. Because there are indeed many things you have to do after taking over Tyrion."

"Yes, right. Thank goodness you're okay." Lucia sat on the back of the chair while putting her hands to the side to hold her body.

"Then are you okay, Queen?" Then Nata asked back.

Lucia was a little surprised by Nata's question. "Yes" he replied in a hurry. "I guess," he added after that.

"We still have to deal with Joren and Augra after this" Nata said. "Not to mention the trouble of the nobles in the north." The young man continued.

"Yes. That too," replied Lucia who sounded hanging uncertainly, while staring glaringly at Nata.

"Take time to rest, Queen. Let others replace you while taking care of those problems" said Nata who began to look worried about Lucia's condition.

Lucia was silent for a moment looking at Nata. It was as if he was processing the young man's words, before then nodding lightly with a smile.

"And how long until it gets back to work?" Lucia suddenly changed the subject as she walked back to the Particle Breaker.

"According to our calculations, maybe about a month away," replied Nata who was also seen staring back at the monitor behind him. "After the required parts are completed, we can turn on this Particle Breaker."

"So another month, huh?" tanya Lucia was still paying attention to the object with the three bracelets that intersected with each other without turning towards Nata.

"But that doesn't mean we can go straight back to our world. Because this tool had previously become unstable." Nata spoke again. A little more detail this time. "So once we've turned it on, we still have to reanalyze it, and find the right pattern to bring us back."

"Yes, not sure. Only then can we predict after this tool can be lit," replied Nata ascertained.

"That's it...." Lucia turned her body back to face Nata. A faint smile was seen on his face.

"It seems you're happy to see we can't get home soon?" Suddenly Aksa poked out from behind the iron stage right above the metal boxes with a flashing light on the upper right where Nata was standing.

"Aksa?! You surprised me." Lucia looked really surprised to find Aksa who appeared suddenly. "What are you doing up there?"

"Check the connection of the Power Supply cable and the Server cooling fan," Aksa replied lightly.

Lucia then cleared her throat short. "Not that I'm glad to see you can't go back to your world," his sword hesitantly said. "I just. I might feel a little lost. When you guys come back."

"Am I included in that word 'you?" aksa asked trying to tease Lucia as she went down.

"Whatchu mean? Obviously I will feel the loss of both of you," Lucia replied hurriedly and visibly inadmissive.

"Alright if it is so," said Aksa then when it was below. "And since it's 12 noon, so let's have lunch soon. Before Rafa and Luque came and nagged us all day" he continued, cleaning his clothes from the dust.

"Oh, right. I have promised to always listen to Miss Luque's words in return for healing my arm" said Nata who seemed to have just remembered it. "Come on, Your Majesty, come have lunch with us" he continued, taking Lucia.

"Alright," Lucia replied happily.

And then the three of them came out of the laboratory.

They were accompanied by 4 Queen Guards walking towards the place where the Iron Train to get out of the cave was located.

"So if there's me then, Your Majesty? But if it's just the two of you, you-me?" aksa asked quietly while approaching towards Nata. Making sure Lucia who was walking in front of them with the guards did not hear his words.

"What are you talking about, Aks?" Nata looked a little panicked but managed to cover it up.

"Don't it be a few more months, I'm-you?" Aksa is still trying to tease her best friend.

"It's up to you, please," timpal Nata said with a little care not to prolong the conversation about it.

"But what is the term of a Queen's spouse? Definitely not a king, right?" Looks Aksa still does not want to stop because Nata has not been irritated. "Prince? The earl? A dux? The arcdux? Queen's husband?" continue to guess.

"Have stopped talking about it, Aks!" exclaiming Nata who this time can not help feeling annoyed at the behavior of his best friend.

"What is it that talks about?" Lucia looked back in curiosity.

"No, it's nothing Your Majesty," Nata replied quickly with a wide smile.

"really. It's nothing, Your Majesty." Aksa followed the way Nata said His Majesty's word as a plaintiff.

"Alright," replied Lucia who looked forward again and continued walking towards the Iron Train that was quite close.

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