Rika had just wrapped up for the day. Progress was slow down in Valnain’s university labs. In her own quiet, muttering, mumbly way, the Viera woman cursed up a storm at her current experiment. The aether she was researching for its healing properties did not want to behave. To vent her frustration and cheer herself up, she shouted at her inanimate lab equipment. That would get it to work – surely! Her colleagues, which were nothing more than that due to her shyness, looked up from their private conversation to stare at her. Rika gave an awkward smile which was returned by the two lab assistants before they continued their conversation. Rika couldn’t help but eavesdrop.

They were muttering something about the empire which wasn’t unusual, but today’s topic differed from their standard complaining about the recent change. Rita wasn’t as personally bothered by the new Emperor’s reign as much as those in her field and throughout the port town of Valnain were. It had its advantages. And more importantly, her work wasn’t affected. However, she was considerate enough to know it wasn’t for everyone. Her colleagues had a particular distaste for reasons beyond her that she was too polite to intrude upon. She picked up on the words ‘shameful’ and ‘audacity’ used to describe the parade that would be taking place not long from now. Where could that be? She thought. Nearby? She quietly hoped. It’d be a nice thing to catch on her way home.

It would have been easier to ask for more information than just the snippets she caught. But Rika the recluse opted to investigate herself. It was a nice evening, the sky pink and orange thanks to the setting sun. The woman took a roundabout route home, not in any rush to get back and eventually stumbled across the parade. It was rather more formal than she had hoped – no especially loud music or dancing. A soft and steady drum beat announced the Emperor passing through.

As she wandered the cobbled streets, the townspeople looked at her, more interested in the rare Viera woman than the event. Stares weren’t unusual but that didn’t make Rika anymore accustomed to the anxiety and discomfort they caused. As subtle as she could, Rika lifted the hood of her cloak and used it to cover her rabbit ears. With the most significant indicator of her species concealed, she continued unphased. The people went back to boredom and distaste.

The sombre nature of the town reflected the Emperor’s mood. Solus zos Galvus was a handsome and tall man who wore an expression of unrest and mild annoyance. Professionally, it melted away after a few whispered words in his ear. Assumedly an adviser. The man’s face broke into a strained attempt at a smile and waved to the particularly unamused and minuscule crowd. Rika wove her way through them – an easy task due to her agility but also thanks to the sparse density of bodies and their lack of interest in her. She got ahead of the floats so she could watch them go by. She stood with some children who were more interested in play fighting each other than their ruler’s halfhearted waving.

As these things go, the float drifted along at a mind-numbingly slow rate. This allowed the Emperor to gaze upon all of his subjects for far longer than he cared to. Half of which hated his guts. His newly sought addition to his empire had more pressing issues than this nonsense. For starters, getting the people to like him. Solus was a man that preferred to keep busy so this PR stunt his advisors were subjecting him to was close to torture. It was not the way he wanted to go about his goal.

Then suddenly his ‘caring ruler’ mask slipped. Not due to lack of trying. There was a figure amongst the crowd. One that didn’t wear the face of a civilian that hated him. It was a face that caught his attention. As if to confirm the tug of recognition, his chest ached – his heart longing for his past love. Even with a different body, Solus knew those eyes. They were unchanged. His mind filled in the blanks but it didn’t have much work to do. Immediately he knew it was his Antheia.

Words were being spoken to him from behind. He didn’t hear a thing. It was as if he had tunnel vision. How could this be? How was she here? Under his gaze, the woman he had once called his shifted uncomfortably. There was no mirroring spark of recognition. Could it be that she didn’t know who he was? Who he truly was? Another pang of heartache. Right then and there he wished to go to her, but the parade float kept moving. Soon they were past her. He look behind him but an advisor of his came into view instead. The spell was broken. He was back in the present. He was the Emperor of this woman and her town. And he had waving to do.

In the middle-class apartment she called home, Rika was greeted by Oliver, her pet Holyphant. The creature rubbed up against her leg. Absentmindedly, Rika reached down and petted him. She was distracted and didn’t show him as much affection as usual. She drifted into the kitchen and sat. It wasn’t her imagination – the Emperor had been looking at her. He was transfixed! But why? She let herself be unsettled for a few more minutes then fed Oliver and herself. Then she got on with her life.

Later that night, stargazing helped a treat at easing her mind. Sat under the gorgeous night’s sky, her best friend snoring away at her feet and a good book in hand, Rika’s worries melted away. She was content in her own little world

Back in the palace, Solus would not settle. He paced the halls, ignoring his duties and wouldn’t stop for supper. He finally relented when it hit him. He had vast recourses at his disposal – why not use them? Immediately he got informants and spies to work collecting intel on the woman. They were under the Emperor’s official command and were supposed to be used to detect threats of treachery or treason. Solus didn’t offer them any more information other than the fact she was a person of interest. It took them a couple of days but finally, he had what he needed to know.

She now went by the name ‘Rika’. She was one of the few Vieras that lived in the more populated towns – a rare and gorgeous rabbit race. Leporine featured humanoids who mostly reside in forests away from other civilizations. It came as no surprise that his Antheia would be reborn into something so special. A secretive visit from himself confirmed it was definitely her. Her hair and even her skin were different but those outside features meant little. The throbbing connection he had felt at the parade wasn’t a one-off. He discovered her place of work, home, hobbies… It was barely enough to satisfy the growing obsession. Rika wouldn’t leave his mind. No amount of information would do. He needed to be reunited with her.

The first step in his plan was to eliminate suspicion of his intentions. Solus sent his spies to investigate others of nonimportance to throw them off the trail – make them think there wasn’t anything special about Rika. Then he needed a place to take her. Somewhere private. The palace would not do. But he wasn’t without other options. In fact, he had just the place in mind. And finally, the actual capturing of his beloved. It would be slightly savage, his plans, but he saw few other options. He would do it himself at least, no crony would be man-handling her. Solus didn’t need to convince himself. It was decided.

He would wait for her to walk home that Friday. Those were days in which she took overtime and stayed late in the lab to complete everything before the weekend. Luck would be on his side. He had methods of dealing with interferers but he prefered not to make a scene. The closer to dusk it was, the fewer witnesses there would be. With a simple disguise, he’d draw no attention from the little passersby still out at that time. He would follow Rika from a distance, quickly grab and sedate her, and then take her to the Amaurot he had constructed for them. A flawless plan.

It’d been a few days since the parade and was therefore long forgotten. Rika moved on with her life of solitude which was compensated with forced cheerfulness and over-the-top playfulness. She didn’t have many friends, those she did living far away in her home town. But she had Oliver, and his companionship was all she needed. Or so she told herself.

After a particularly hard day at work, Rika was more exhausted and less aware of her surroundings than usual. This made her a prime target. People of her race were known for their immaculate senses, but hers were partially dull by the end of the working week. She was none the wiser to the man following her at a distance. Nor did she hear the muttered words – an incantation – that made Rika weak. She swayed, her body too heavy for her own legs. Someone was there to catch her when she fell. The arms that embraced her were strong and solid. Before Rika could see a face, she fell unconscious. All she saw, was darkness.

Solus quickly transported them to an illusionary version of their ancient home town, Amaurot. There would be no one there to bother them. Only mindless ghosts wandered the otherwise abandoned streets. Solus got the still unconscious girl situated in a chair positioned in the middle of their old living room. After some consideration, he opted to tie her down. Just as a precaution. He did this by use of his own summonable vines which grew from his hands. He bound her in a comfortable but secure manner. He hated to do such a thing. But no doubt she would be confused and scared when she woke.

Rika was exactly that. When she came to, her vision was blurry. It was only made worse by the slight wobble of the illusionary building she found herself in. She looked around, too erratically at first to really process her surroundings. Before she could get a second glance, a man crouched down in front of her – the Emperor! With his characteristic white streak in his shoulder-length burgundy hair, he was immediately recognisable despite the common clothes he wore. But why was he here? Where was here? Had she done something wrong? Was she in trouble?! She opened her mouth, prepared for those questions to spill out, however, what fell from her lips weren’t her panicked inquires. Instead, her feisty nature took over and insults came from her mouth. She was angry. She was lacking common sense and forgot about her place in social standing. Even if he was the Emperor he didn’t have the right to just kidnap her! At least, she didn’t think so…

The man kept quiet as she vented her frustration. Only when she was done did he speak, “my sweet Antheia… I mean, Rika…” Solus looked down with a smile, shaking his head at the correction before continuing, “this must all be very surprising for you, and I’m afraid it’s only going to get more confusing, so please listen closely, my dear, and I’ll explain.”

Emotions now in check, Rika came to her senses. She wore a frown but nodded. Tied down in an unfamiliar place, in the presence of the Emperor? No matter the morality of the situation, she was in no position to argue. Her puzzlement grew as the man – claiming to be her past love – explained everything. Lovers? With the Emperor of the Garlean Empire? No, not with him as he is now. He’d been Emet-Selch, Hades.

It was all so confusing. But why was there a tug of recognition? Why did she sense the truth in his words when she couldn’t remember a thing? Before she could ask any questions, the man went on with his explanation. He recounted to her the tale of the ancient civilization that thrived before the current one. It fell due to a magical catastrophe, killing all of the inhabitants including her – the human woman he had known as Antheia. He told her she had been reborn into who she is now, her memories lost with the rest of Amaurot.

Rika shook her head. How could any of this be true? She still didn’t figure out but everything she wanted to ask faded from her mind. She was brought out of her puzzlement when Solus touched her thigh. She jumped in shock but soon found herself calming thanks to his gentle expression. He offered up a way to prove he was telling the truth. It made her blush. He was her lover, and as such knew everything about her body – everything that excited her. This was the only way he could convince her. This made little sense as not even she knew everything that simulated her. She was lacking in experience when it came to intimacy. Maybe his knowledge of such things would be proof.

Slowly, he ordered the vines binding her to the chair to retreat. Soon she was free and being offered his hand. Rika took it and was instantly swept into the Emperor’s embrace. She let out a small gasp, yet the feeling wasn’t unpleasant. He tilted up her chin with a delicate touch and suddenly his lips were on hers. She could push him away if she wanted to, his hold was not a tight one. But the woman did not want to. It took her a moment but soon she was kissing him back. Their lips moved in perfect synchronisation – like lovers with plenty of practice. Rika didn’t let herself think too much. It was rare for her to experience intimacy at such a level so she was eager to let herself enjoy the moment.

As he kissed her, Solus let his hands wander. They glided across her hips, around her waist and up her sides. It all came back to him, the swell of joy at reliving his most precious memories that had only been available as dreams. He had the chance to be reunited with his Antheia, he just had to rekindle her memory. His hands became more daring, one cupping Rika’s left breast. His touch was gentle and light at first – testing the waters. Her breast was the perfect fit for his hand. He squeezed it gently and was rewarded with a soft moan. More were produced as he massaged her. The sounds were heavenly to him but seemed to snap Rika out of the moment. She broke off the kiss, stepping away with an expression of guilt.

“I’m sorry…” Solus whispered cautiously, “I didn’t mean to overstep…”

Rika shook her head in dismissal. It wasn’t that. She’d liked it. And that was the issue. Why did his touch feel so familiar? She still didn’t quite believe it. Yet everything so far pointed to that truth. Underneath Rika’s concerns was another wondered that in itself was concerning. There was a part of her that thought what else he knew about her body. How far would he go to prove himself? And how in the hell would she bring herself to ask him to show her?

Rika let her body and instincts take over. She approached once again. Solus was tall and intimidating, but his eyes were soft and inviting. She kept her gaze on them as her hands went to his chest. She felt the rise and fall as he breathed. Rika was holding her own breath. Solus slowly brought up his hand and caressed the girl’s cheek. She closed her eyes and sighed. Such a rare and loving embrace satisfied an urge she never knew she had. Leaning into the touch indicated her desire for more. More than happy to oblique, Solus leaned down and once again swept her into a mind-blowing kiss.

There was no hesitation this time. Rika kissed back, not quite reciprocating Solus’s decades of need and hunger but not far off either. He deepened the kiss and soon their tongues were exploring and tasting each other. He held her close, a hand on the small of her back to keep her pressed to him. Simultaneously, their desires grew. Kissing was no longer enough. Solus pulled back and spoke breathly, “the bedroom… is just back here…”

As he guided her, he held her hand in a loose grip, allowing her to withdraw if she changed her mind. She did not. There was a tug of familiarity as they entered. The furnishing and decorations of the bedroom appeased Rika’s taste, even in this life. Hoping for it to trigger some memories, Solus waited and let Rika look around. Nothing more than a distant feeling came. She turned her attention back to the man, her shyness rearing its ugly head. Blushing, she nibbled her lip, unable to initiate the continuation of intimacy. Thankfully, Solus had confidence enough for the two of them.

This incarnation of Antheia was lacking in serenity; a more on-edge version of her past self. It was nothing Solus wasn’t eager to soothe. With the grace of the highest nobility, Solus gestured for Rika to sit on the edge of the bed. Then he bowed low and elegant, took her hand, held it to his lips and kissed the back of it. Rika blushed and giggled at the gesture. It put her more at ease and gave her enough confidence to reach up and guide his head down. Once again, she met his increasingly tempting lips with her own. As they kissed, Solus lowered her back onto the bed, careful positioning himself over her as he did. They take a break to look at each other. Rika’s expression was still one of uncertainty but reassurance came in the form of Solus’s warm and endearing smile.

The man swept Rika’s white hair off her face. Everything about her was gorgeous, yet he all the time found himself returning to her eyes; they were Antheia’s after all. Rika began to squirm under his gaze, signalling he shouldn’t delay or her doubts would rise. He pulled them back to their feet. There was the matter of their clothes being in the way to attend to. With light and nimble fingers, Solus undid the strings of Rika’s bust corset. She was biting her lip in nervousness so to lighten the mood he gave her breast a playful squeeze. The woman squeaked and batted at him with a giggle. They wrested and laughed as they both worked to undo the complicated shirt. Soon, Rika was topless. Her tanned cheeks were flushed pink. She made a gesture to indicate it was his turn.

The Emperor undressed with painful slowness – at least it felt so to Rika. Her little Veira heart was hammering away in her chest – willing and scared, nervous and excited. As part of his disguise, Solus wore a simple robe which was easily removed. He helped Rika with the rest of her clothing and soon they were both free from its burden. Both naked, they resumed kissing – this time charged with a lot more lust and passion.

Back on the bed, Solus groped at Rika’s chest. He projected an image in her mind of him doing the same thing to her past self. She gasped at the vision and the feelings she derived from it. It was as if she was feeling the sensation of his touch twice over. The vision played on, displaying the couple from a third-person perspective. She watched the woman she felt more and more connected to be tied to the bed with the same vines Solus had used on her earlier. A strong desire to have that experience now caused Rika to produce a soft whine. Through their past connection, Solus easily picked up on this cue. He dismissed the illusions he was showing her and brought them to reality. Summoning forth his red vines, he bound Rika’s hands above her to the headboard. Immediately it made her smile with giddy excitement.

The foreplay continued with kissing, neck bites and more boob groping. Solus massaged one of Rika’s breasts while he sucked and kissed the other. The feeling was heavenly but soon Rika needed more. The Emperor was more than ready too. They made love sweet and slow. With Rika’s body lacking experience, Solus was extra tender and gentle. He prioritised her pleasure over his own – attempting to get her body to remember him. Alas, her memory wasn’t restored to completion. He managed to get her to a point of familiarity for him and their old home. It wasn’t much, but at least it was progress.

The rest of the night was spent embracing and storytelling. Solus lolled the girl in his arms into a blissful sleep with his enchanting words. He roused her early the next morning. Rika was reluctant to end the dream-like experience but Solus was insistent. He had to get her back before anyone noticed her uncharacteristic disappearance. Besides, there was Oliver to take care of – the Emperor helpfully reminded her. Even if only he noticed her absence, she wouldn’t want to worry him. Only slightly more inclined, Rika agreed and rose. She washed and dressed and soon her shyness returned.