a huge room, all filled with luminous plates, standing on shelves rising to the ceiling of racks. It looks like a library. Aria took out one of the plates, which looked like a thin 3D computer. But as soon as she touched the flower depicted on its surface,
– Beautiful … – the girl turned to the voice behind her. Arthur chuckled at her surprise. – Not expected?
– You woke up, – Aria looked down in confusion, not knowing whether to be happy or not. The unexpected appearance of a man stirred up a whole storm of feelings in her chest, from almost extinguished resentment to delight. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to smile. – How do you feel?
– Very good, – going up to the girl, Arthur looked at the plate. – Can?
– Of course, – the girl handed him the plate. Scrolling through the images, he clicked on one of them, and immediately the room was transformed into an underwater world. Glowing jellyfish swam around them, somewhere in the distance the singing of whale-like creatures was heard. Yes, here they are. The girl staggered back, grabbing onto the young man as the huge creature passed within an inch of them. The picture disappeared and she met Arthur’s smiling eyes. – Sorry I…
– Nothing. Pretty realistic, right? Arthur chuckled. – Scared?
– No… although it was unexpected, – Aria put the plate back in place. – What?
– Nothing, it’s just… It seemed to me that you couldn’t be frightened so easily, – Arthur looked meaningfully at the girl, but she just shrugged her shoulders.
Arthur, you know. We couldn’t do otherwise…
– Indeed? – from his glance, the girl again became uneasy.
– I… – the girl shrugged her shoulders. – Arthur… Please don’t do this.
– Anna, I don’t understand you. You let me in, then you push me away, like I’m a leper. What’s the matter?
– Arthur, I’m sorry… It’s hard to explain. Although you do understand. Sarah, Boris. I don’t want to hurt anyone and ruin your life.
– Anna, – Arthur stepped closer, and Anna felt a hand rest on her shoulder. Turning around sharply, the girl found herself in the ring of his arms. “We are many thousands of light-years from Earth. And if you think logically, then during this time the Earth that we knew simply does not exist…
– Not quite, you did not take into account the speed of the ship. Getting into a hyperspace tunnel, time is reduced. And we will arrive at Virdu just a month after leaving the Earth. So that…
The girl tried to pull away, but the man’s grip did not loosen.
– Did the captain tell you? Yes of course. How can I compete with an alien in the form of an Elven Knight, – Arthur smiled bitterly. – Princess…
– Arthur… Actually, it was your idea. So what’s my fault? I don’t need this title, I’m ready to change.
– Well, – Arthur smiled arrogantly and bowed in an exaggeratedly polite way. – I understand you. Who am I to argue with the future queen of Daaria. Rest easy, I won’t bother you anymore.
Ignoring the upset look of the girl, Arthur disappeared through the door. Aria thoughtfully moved to a large stained-glass window, behind which a starry abyss shone. Arthur… It’s a pity that they met so untimely. Well, it has always been that way, from the moment they met. Anna was working in the archives when a new employee came to their university. Artur Dalivin… Tall, stately (like Don Juan), the young man immediately won the attention of the entire female part of the team. But their communication somehow did not work out right away – they were too different. Always collected, with cold blue eyes and a slightly mocking smile, the young man who immediately received the favor of the leadership was her complete opposite. But something in him attracted her… And she realized that she was unable to cope with it.
***
Soon the ship slowed down and prepared for a hyperjump. At this time, it was decided to put the entire crew back into a state of suspended animation, with the exception of the Commander, the captain and Aria, who flatly refused to go to sleep. As Mikkel had warned her, the sensation she experienced was not pleasant. It felt like falling into a bottomless well, flying, spinning in the fog, and you don’t understand where the top and bottom are, and then a bright flash of light follows and… Opening her eyes, Aria noticed a huge number of bright stars and a string of planets rushing past at great speed. Turning around, she saw that Mikkel was smiling.
– Did we get out?
– Yes, – he looked happily at his comrades. – Welcome to the Orion Constellation!
The awakened crew gathered in the main control post and peered with undisguised delight at the silhouettes of the approaching planet. It was Wyrda, a large blue-green planet, illuminated by the rays of a huge white sun.
The spaceship picked up such speed that Aria was simply pressed into her chair. Plus, my head was spinning. She, perplexed, looked at Mikkel and Art serenely talking to each other. It seemed that they did not at all notice not only the fall into the void, but also the speed with which the starship was now moving. At the very same Aria, from the dizzying speed from which planet and stars flew by, it darkened in her eyes and, when sometimes the ship fell into an air hole, it shivered somewhere inside. Finally, she noted with delight that the pace of the ship was slowing down. The girl stretched and stretched her arms, which were numb from exertion.
– Well, it looks like we’re on target, aren’t we?
Mikkel exchanged a glance with Art and smiled as he said:
– Yes. I hope that the journey did not tire you too much?
– No, no, what are you. I just love wild speed. Only, I’m afraid now I need a second breakfast.
– Then get ready, we’re going down now.
Mikkel pressed the lever, and the ship went into a steep dive like an arrow, rushing towards the surface of the planet. Having leveled the flight path and passed through the iridescent glow of the atmosphere, the ship made a semicircle and landed on the flat area of the spaceport, located in a gorge among the mountains.
Mikkel pressed the speaker button.
– To the entire crew of the starship Aldabra! I report a safe landing and ask you to gather in the central control post!
Five minutes later the hall was filled with excited astronauts. They talked and sometimes exchanged joyful smiles. Mikkel raised his hand, and the room immediately fell silent.
– Firstly, I would like to thank all of you, friends, for the hard and responsible work you have done. This flight was very long for all of us, but it was more than successful. We not only brilliantly completed the task set by the Council of Astronomy, but also helped Princess Aria escape the captivity of Midgard.
Mikkel pointed to the embarrassed girl. Thunderous applause broke out all around. Glancing around, the girl met Arthur’s eyes. Smiling, he looked away. Biting her lip, the girl tried with all her might not to betray her feelings, which, it must be said, were
