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 benefits. 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 wondered. 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 beautiful 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.