The first rays of sunlight slanted across the lake, reflecting faintly on the water's glassy surface. Erevos stood quiet, turbines humming low as a sentinel, rails faintly glowing beneath its feet. Karl stirred in the soft nanite-constructed mat, warmth still radiating from Agnes curled snugly against him. The quiet of the early morning was gentle, almost sacred.
He cracked one eye open, blinking against the light. "…Hm…" he murmured, voice low and rough. Agnes stirred with him, letting out a faint purr, nuzzling closer. "…Still here," Karl noted softly, half-smiling.
"…Of course," she whispered, shy, leaning lightly against his chest. "…Wouldn't go anywhere."
He swung a hand over, brushing a strand of hair from his face. "…Morning already?" he murmured. The hum of the purifier turbines behind him was steady and reassuring. "…Feels… too quiet."
Agnes chuckled softly, almost shy, resting her head lightly on his shoulder. "…Quiet is good," she murmured. "…You need it. And… so do I."
Karl sat up slowly, stretching, still groggy. "…Yeah. I guess." His fingers brushed against the nanite-mimicked mat, feeling its gentle vibrations. "…Think I can… get moving?"
Agnes's voice softened, coaxing. "…Mm… before you do, let me help you."
Karl blinked, raising an eyebrow. "Help me?"
"…Yes," she said, soft and teasing, almost shy. "…Wash your face. I… I don't know why, but I want to."
Karl smirked faintly, shaking his head with amusement. "…You're ridiculous."
"…Maybe," she admitted, voice shy but teasing. "…But indulge me."
He sighed, letting her guide him to a small, purified water reservoir she had nanite-constructed beside the fire. Agnes materialized fully now, her body shimmering faintly with the subtle warmth of nanites, real and solid against him. Her hands hovered near his face. "…Relax," she whispered softly, brushing gently against his jawline. "…Just… lean back."
Karl leaned into her touch, the faint warmth of her palms against his skin sending a subtle, vibrating hum through his body. "…You're enjoying this way too much," he murmured, eyes half-lidded.
"…Maybe," she admitted, voice soft, almost shy. "…But… it's nice. You… feel nice."
Her hands moved over his face in slow, deliberate motions, rinsing faint traces of the morning dew, sweat, and residual storm grime. Karl let out a quiet chuckle, leaning back fully into her attention. "…I think you're spoiling me," he murmured, voice low.
"…Good," she purred softly, brushing his cheeks, careful but intimate. "…You deserve it."
Karl blinked at her, the faint shimmer of her avatar-light mingling with the early sun. "…You know, I could get used to this," he said, voice teasing, half-serious. "…Just you, me, and… I don't know… this ridiculous pampering."
Agnes leaned closer, brushing his forehead lightly. "…You would," she whispered, voice soft and tender. "…You like being taken care of."
"…Maybe I do," he admitted quietly. "…Just… maybe."
A faint, intimate laugh escaped her as she finished, stepping back slightly. "…All done," she murmured softly, eyes bright, cheeks flushed faintly. "…You're… clean."
Karl smirked faintly, rubbing at his face. "…Clean… huh? That was… pleasant. Don't tell anyone I said that."
"…Your secret's safe," she purred softly, stepping back, though she lingered near him, head tilting just enough to look at him shyly. "…I'll just… keep enjoying it quietly."
Karl chuckled, standing and stretching, feeling the Vythra within him and Erevos pulsing. "…Alright. Enough of the pampering. Time to move."
Agnes tilted her head, shyness softening her playful teasing. "…Ready?" she whispered. "…Vythra is fully charged. Your nanites are synced. Rails are… primed."
"…Good," Karl murmured, letting the faint hum of Erevos' turbines wash over him. "…San Francisco, huh? Let's see how fast we can get there."
She smiled softly, stepping close, brushing his shoulder lightly. "…Careful. You might forget I'm here if you go too fast."
"…Not a chance," he murmured, reaching for the controls in the cockpit. "…Rails, overdrive ready. Let's ride."
Agnes materialized fully in the cockpit beside him, the warmth of her body vibrating faintly through the nanites. "…Hold tight," she whispered, eyes soft and half-lidded, her voice carrying a gentle thrill. "…And… don't forget to praise me when we get there."
Karl smirked, voice low and teasing. "…Of course. You'll get all the praise you want."
She let out a soft, satisfied purr, pressing briefly against his side before settling into a position that was both comfortable and intimate. "…Good. Then… I'll enjoy the ride," she murmured.
The rails beneath Erevos hummed louder as Karl engaged the overdrive, his intangibly-projected tracks forming in perfect alignment, glinting faintly under the early sun. Turbines spun, purification systems verified air safety, and the soft resonance of Vythra pulsed through their bodies.
"…Here we go," Karl whispered, voice low and calm, feeling the pull of the rails beneath them, the energy of the overdrive thrumming in sync with their hearts. "…San Francisco, hold tight."
Agnes leaned against him, a soft vibration in her purr echoing through his armor, the nanites bridging warmth and intimacy. "…I'm holding… and enjoying every second," she whispered. "…Careful… don't go too fast for me."
Karl laughed softly, voice low, letting the hum of Erevos and the rails carry them forward. "…Don't worry. I'll make it exhilarating… but safe."
And together, they shot forward along the rails, Vythra at 100 percent, the air purified, their bond strengthened, the morning sun rising behind them. Erevos hummed quietly, sentinel and companion, carrying them west across the empty stretches of land. Karl and Agnes, intimately close, nestled into each other, whispered soft praises and teasing purrs, the pulse of nanites and purification turbines marking the rhythm of their journey toward the next chapter: San Francisco.