The artificial day-night system of the Silver Moon Observatory precisely simulated the rhythm of a natural Planet.
As the first soft rays of "dawn" from the settings filtered through the viewing window and spilled into Artoria's bedroom, the room remained filled with a languid and sweet tranquility.
On the wide, soft bed, two figures were curled up tightly together, fast asleep.
The thin silk quilt only barely covered their waists, exposing large expanses of snowy, delicate skin—Artoria's, with the warm, moist luster and faint blush characteristic of a human; and Minerva's, shimmering with a jade-like, translucent glow, the gentle external manifestation of a "starlight body" energy vessel.
Artoria lay on her side, her whole body almost embedded in Minerva's embrace.
Her cheek pressed against the hollow of Minerva's neck, one hand resting unconsciously on Minerva's waist, while the other was held gently in Minerva's palm.
She seemed to be sleeping uneasily; her long eyelashes flickered occasionally, and her delicate brows were slightly furrowed, as if she were still experiencing something in her dreams.
Her crimson lips were slightly swollen, yet the corners of her mouth were unconsciously curved into a satisfied and exhausted arc.
Minerva's sleeping face was much calmer.
She lay flat, her chin resting gently on the top of Artoria's head, her arms wrapped around the person in her embrace in a posture of complete protection.
Morning light danced on her porcelain-delicate cheeks, outlining perfect contours.
Her breathing was even and long—although the "starlight body" did not require actual breathing, the energy circulation system had simulated the corresponding rhythm to mimic the most realistic sense of existence.
At this moment, this rhythm intertwined with Artoria's light, shallow breathing, harmonious as if they were the same lullaby.
Last night... Memories washed over her heart like a tide, carrying a scorching temperature.
When long-held longing, the ecstasy of recovery, and the unprecedented real touch and sensory impact brought by that brand-new body merged together, certain long-suppressed emotions burst forth like a broken dam, unstoppable.
Who started it first? She could no longer remember.
Perhaps it was the meeting of eyes, perhaps it was the deepening of an embrace, or perhaps it was just an inadvertent touch of fingertips... A spark was enough to start a prairie fire.
Artoria remembered Minerva's initial caution, that pair of starlight-like eyes filled with cherishing and uncertainty, as if touching a fragile, peerless treasure.
She also remembered how she gathered her courage, took the initiative to kiss those slightly cool yet incredibly soft lips, and how she used awkward yet firm movements to guide each other, exploring that secret realm they had never stepped into but had longed for so long.
Then came Minerva's response.
At first, it was gentle and tentative, like melting snow in early spring, flowing with a murmur.
But soon, that gentleness turned into scorching flames.
The newborn body seemed to grant Minerva endless energy and a desire for exploration, and the unique precise control of perception and feedback inherent to an information-state lifeform allowed her to clearly capture every subtle reaction from Artoria.
That feeling of being completely understood and fully satisfied was like the finest wine, intoxicating and causing one to lose control.
Artoria also completely cast aside her reserve and shyness, following her instincts and love, responding passionately.
She felt the tightest union with her lover, felt the temperature that was simulated by energy yet hotter than reality, and felt Minerva's awkward yet incredibly focused taking and giving.
Sweat, tears, suppressed sobs, and broken moans intertwined, never to be separated again.
They explored every secret of each other's bodies, using lips, tongues, and fingertips, in the most primitive and intimate way, pouring out the longing and love that spanned life, death, and time.
The uniqueness of the starlight body magnified every sensation, making them incredibly delicate and vivid.
For the first time, Artoria "felt" so clearly how Minerva's love turned into a surging tide of energy, washing over her body and mind.
Again and again, as if tireless.
Until Artoria begged for mercy with a tearful voice, until the last bit of strength was drained, and she lay limp in Minerva's arms, unable to even move her fingertips, only then did Minerva manage to regain a trace of reason from that surging tide of passion.
She held her teary-eyed lover, covered in ambiguous marks, tightly in her arms, soothing her with fragmented kisses, and fell into a deep sleep, embracing one another.
...
The morning light grew brighter.
Minerva's biological clock woke her first.
The moment her consciousness returned, the extremely crazy scenes from last night flooded her mind, causing a surge of heat to rise beneath her newborn, simulated skin.
She looked down at Artoria, who was still sleeping soundly in her arms.
The girl was sleeping deeply, with faint dark circles under her eyelids, showing the exhaustion of last night.
Messy hair stuck to her sweat-dampened temples, a lingering flush remained on her cheeks, her lips were slightly swollen, and on her neck, collarbone, and even further down, one could see the deep or shallow marks she had left last night, standing out prominently on the fair skin.
A mixture of satiety, heartache, and faint shyness surged in Minerva's heart.
She knew she had lost control a little last night; the newborn body and surging emotions made her demand too much, too quickly.
But... looking at Artoria's unconscious movement of snuggling into her arms even in her sleep, and feeling the real touch of that warm, soft skin under her palm, that indescribable satisfaction and happiness filled her entire body.
She carefully and extremely gently adjusted her posture to make Artoria sleep more comfortably, then lowered her head and pressed a feather-light kiss on that smooth forehead.
There was no lust, only full cherishing and tenderness.
Artoria seemed to sense something in her sleep, unconsciously smacked her lips, burrowed deeper into her arms, and let out a vague murmur.
Minerva's heart instantly melted into a pool of spring water.
She stopped moving, just quietly watching the sleeping face of the person in her arms, feeling this warmth and peace that she had lost and regained, and was truly tangible.
Her consciousness became hazy again, and she fell back into a dreamland filled with Artoria's scent.
...
When the artificial sun moved to the center of the "sky" and then slowly slanted west, casting warm orange-red light into the room, Artoria finally struggled to wake from her deep sleep.
Her consciousness was blurry at first, then the fragments of memory from last night swept over her like a tsunami, causing her to "boom" and turn bright red from her cheeks to her earlobes instantly.
The sensations of her body also woke up belatedly, along with the tactile memories of being repeatedly caressed and kissed on her body...
"Umm..." She couldn't help but let out a moan with a thick nasal tone, struggling to lift her heavy eyelids.
What came into view was Minerva's peaceful sleeping face, close at hand, and those star-like eyes that had opened at some point, looking at her with gentle smiles and a trace of trepidation.
Their eyes met.
Artoria's face turned even redder, like a ripe tomato.
She subconsciously wanted to shrink into the quilt, but was pulled tighter into Minerva's arms as Minerva's arms tightened, leaving almost no gap between them, their warm skin pressed tightly together.
"Awake?" Minerva's voice was slightly hoarse from just waking up, with a hint of undetectable nervousness, "Are... are you okay?"
It would have been better if she hadn't asked.
At this question, Artoria suddenly felt a sense of grievance welling up in her heart.
The discomfort of her body, everything about being "bullied" last night, and the way this person was the "culprit" yet still looked innocent and gentle...
Her tear glands instantly went out of control, and large, heavy teardrops rolled down without warning.
She didn't speak, just stared at Minerva with teary, accusatory eyes that were filled with mist and lingering sleepiness.
Minerva panicked.
"What's wrong? Is it hurting somewhere? Or are you uncomfortable?"
She tried to check in a flurry, but was afraid of touching where she was uncomfortable, her movements somewhat clumsy, completely devoid of last night's dominance and strength, leaving only worry and heartache.
"You... you still ask!" Artoria spoke with a weeping tone, her voice soft, glutinous, and hoarse, with no deterrence, but rather appearing even more pitiful, "It's all your fault... last night... so... so..."
She "so-ed" for a long time, but couldn't bring herself to say those blush-inducing words, and finally just buried her hot face in Minerva's chest, accusing sullenly, "...crazy! I... I almost thought I was going to die... my body is still so sore now... I can't move..."
Listening to her tearful accusation, Minerva felt both heartache and an uncontrollable, secret sweetness.
She tightened her arms, wrapping her more gently, her chin rubbing softly against the top of Artoria's head, her voice full of apology and doting: "It's my fault... I was too... reckless. The new body... feels too real, and you were by my side... I... I couldn't control myself."
She paused, her tone becoming even more cautious, "Is it really that uncomfortable? I... shall I rub it for you?"
Saying this, her warm palms gently covered Artoria's slender lower back, rubbing and pressing with moderate force.
The touch simulated by energy was precise and gentle, just right to relieve the muscle soreness.
Artoria felt more comfortable from her rubbing, hummed twice, and snuggled into her arms, which counted as accepting the apology.
Actually, besides the soreness and slight discomfort, there was more of an extreme sense of satisfaction and sweetness.
But looking at Minerva's nervous and gentle appearance, she couldn't help but want to act spoiled and wanted to be cared for even more carefully.
The two of them hugged quietly for a while, enjoying the intimacy of skin-to-skin contact and the peace like surviving a disaster.
Until Artoria's stomach "growled" ungratefully, breaking the romantic atmosphere in the room.
"Pfft—" Minerva couldn't help but chuckle.
Artoria was extremely embarrassed, her face, which had just faded a little, flushed red again.
She clenched her small fist and hit her lightly: "Don't laugh! It's all your fault! I... I haven't eaten since yesterday!"
And the consumption was so high! She didn't dare to say the last sentence out loud.
"Okay, okay, it's my fault, it's all my fault." Minerva followed her lead and admitted her mistake, but the smile in her eyes could not be hidden.
She kissed Artoria's forehead, "Then... shall I carry you to clean up, and then get something to eat? What do you want to eat? I'll learn."
She remembered Artoria mentioning that the Silver Moon Observatory had a perfect ecological circulation system and could produce fresh ingredients.
Artoria thought for a moment and said in a low voice: "...I want noodles, hot soup noodles."
"Okay." Minerva agreed, gently lifted the quilt, and got up first.
The morning light outlined the perfect curves of her body, and the golden-white light flowed faintly under her skin, breathtakingly beautiful.
She didn't seem to realize how charming she was at this moment, naturally turned around, bent down, stretched out her arms, and prepared to pick up Artoria in a posture of absolute protection.
Artoria's face flushed red again, this time out of shyness.
Although she had seen everything last night, and... done that, being naked like this in the bright morning light, and being carried in a princess carry like this, still made her incredibly shy.
She scrambled to pull the thin quilt nearby to cover herself, but was picked up firmly by Minerva, quilt and all.
"Don't move, be careful not to fall." Minerva's voice was gentle and firm, holding her, walking steadily toward the cleanroom connected to the bedroom.
The warm water flushed down, washing away the fatigue and stickiness.
Minerva's movements were meticulous and gentle, helping her clean up and carefully drying her off, as if treating the most precious porcelain.
Artoria kept her face red and eyes closed the whole time, letting her serve her, only occasionally trembling slightly when Minerva's fingers inadvertently brushed against sensitive areas.
After cleaning up, Minerva wrapped her in a large, soft bath towel and carried her back to the bedside.
Then she quickly cleaned herself up.
By the time Artoria had barely put on a loose and comfortable pajama, Minerva had already changed into simple home clothes—also energy-simulated, but looking no different from ordinary clothing.
"I'll go prepare some food, you lie down and rest, or watch the scenery outside the window?" Minerva settled her in a soft recliner by the viewing window, carefully placed a cushion behind her waist, and took a thin blanket to cover her legs.
"Mm..." Artoria nodded, watching Minerva turn to walk toward the small kitchen area connected to the bedroom, that back view which was serious yet a bit clumsy (after all, she had just acquired a body), her heart filled to the brim with an overflowing sense of happiness.
The images from yesterday flashed in her mind from time to time, bringing bursts of shyness.
But more than that, it was a sense of peace as if dust had settled, and the deep-seated sweetness of truly possessing each other with her lover.
She looked out the window.
Outside the Silver Moon Observatory, the magnificent Nebula rotated slowly, and the artificial sunset dyed the console in warm gold.
In the kitchen, there came the slightly clumsy but very serious, light clanging of pots and pans, and... a subtle smell of something seemingly burnt.
Artoria couldn't help but curl the corners of her mouth, buried her face in the soft blanket, and laughed silently.
Well, although her body was still a little uncomfortable, and someone was really a bit excessive last night... but, this feeling was really, really good.
------------------------------
I hope you're enjoying the fanfiction so far! If the fanfiction has you hooked and you can't wait to see what happens next, you can unlock 30 or more chapters in advance over on my patreon: patreon.com/FTLGenBen
Also every bit of support means the world to me so if you're loving the ride, don't forget to drop a Power Stone, Thanks.