The sky is particularly beautiful today. There's not a single cloud to be seen. Yes, quite the sight indeed. One could say this was one of those 'perfect' skies you see so often in media. In reality, only a mere thirty percent of the sky is cloud free at any given moment. I guess this was a very rare sight. If only I could savor it right now.
Sweat trickles down my face.
I find myself sprawled across the ground. Beneath my frame is a luscious field of grass seemingly stretching for miles and miles. However, this too, is an exaggeration. The field of grass is only the size of a small training arena. If I had to say, it's about two-thousand and eight-hundred square feet.
Also, there's another matter I would like to bring attention to.
It's extremely unpleasant to lie on grass. In media, they like to portray lying on grass to be some kind of blissful and romantic experience. It isn't in the slightest. However, what the both of us are doing now could hardly be called a date either.
"Hey! Are you okay?"
Oh?
My train of thought is interrupted by someone calling out to me.
"Sorry, Alias! I really didn't mean to knock you back that far!"
Oh right. That voice calling out to me.. yep. It's unmistakable who that sweet, bell-like voice belongs to. I swing both of my legs upwards, using the downward motion to lift my entire body off that godforsaken grass. Rubbing my back to hopefully clear any dirt and remnants of it from my training uniform, I turn to the lady beside me.
"Nah, you're good. I shouldn't have let my guard down. I got lucky my clothes didn't burn off though."
You see, we were in the middle of combat training when I misstepped and sent my body hurling right into her clumsy uppercut.
"I still can't get timing right for that combo. The window of timing is way too short."
So she says. In my opinion, the timing is far too large. It provides the enemies with the opportunity to counter it easily. Well, it is a new tactic for us. I reckon it'll take some getting used to. I wipe off the sweat from my face and walk to the bench where I'd kept my towel.
"Don't worry about it. We're not rushing to perfect it or anything. Let's try again tomorrow."
I get a nod and a smile as a response.
Celine Elysium.
She's wearing an orange tracksuit along with some jogging pants. She has her hair tied into a ponytail as to prevent it from getting in the way during training. Her bright blue eyes scan my body for any visible injuries to which there is none. I met her around two years ago when the 10th Generation Elementals Meeting was held. She has quite the bubbly personality.
At the time, it was just what I'd needed. Hence, I became quite attached to her rather quickly. Once it was settled that we would living in the same dorms, we only became closer throughout the years. Celine was a crutch to lean on during difficult times. I'm sure it was the same for her too. She always says otherwise though. Our relationship is special.
It all culminated in a single promise.
It's not something I want to recall right now.
Celine speaks up.
"So, what's for dinner today?"
"Hmm.. How about takeout? I don't really feel like cooking today."
"Hey, that's not fair! That kind of food isn't healthy anyway."
"Neither is downing four cups of coffee in a single hour. I still don't understand how that's even possible."
"Hehe~ It's selective bias."
"At least try to convince me otherwise, you absolute buffoon."
"Anyway, let's get changed! I want to take a shower first though. I'm all sweaty."
"Don't try to change the topic!"
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The both of us took a nice shower and got changed into something nice. We'd decided to go out to eat today. Celine insisted that I cook, but I'm all that great at it. Besides, sometimes you just get a craving to eat at a restaurant you used to go to all the time. Today is one of those days.
Zephilis is a city with a lot to do. The nightlife in particular attracts tons of people to its often-busy streets. It's not a surprise when the city is famous for exporting and importing alcohol from all over the world and selling it for dirt cheap. The stuff is first-rate too. Along with Celine and the infinite room in her stomach for caffeine, this is another mystery I can't wrap my head around.
We make it to the diner me and Celine often. It definitely wasn't close, and the food can't really hold up to more high-end places, but it was cheap and had a homelike taste to the food. That alone was enough to hook us both when we first came here.
After all, there was no home the both of us could return to.
Not anymore.
"What's with the long face?"
Celine is halfway done with her plate when she asks me out of the blue.
"Nothing. Is the food good?"
I try to switch the topic.
"Well, it tastes the same as usual. What about yours?"
"The same here."
We both go silent for a moment.
"You're making that face again."
By that face, does she mean..?
"..What face?"
"Don't act dumb, Alias! You're thinking about them again, aren't you?"
"..Yeah. Sorry."
"It's nothing you need to apologize about. Just.. try not to hide the fact you are. We're partners, right? We're supposed to go through thick and thin together."
"I know, I know. I promise to not hide it next time. But still.. it's been three years now, huh?"
"Time flies way too quickly. We should go visit their graves when we have free time. I'm sure they'll be happy too."
"Thanks, Celine."
"Hehe~ No problem."
The rest of the night was rather unremarkable. We finish our meals and head home. It's crucial we get as much rest as possible. The Sentinel attacks have been getting more frequent as of late. It's only a matter of time until we a get a repeat of what happened three years ago.
I will not, cannot let that happen.
It's a promise I made to myself.
Just another chain to shackle me down.
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The next day, we get a call from the chief. He took us in when the both of us were still inexperienced in combat and life in general. It's thanks to him we got to live in the dorm in the first place. To that extent, we try to complete each and every mission he gives us to the best of our abilities.
"The mission is pretty simple. You two will have to escort an important civilian to the base. Nothing too difficult, right?"
"Then shouldn't this be a mission for regular soldiers? I don't see the point in having the Elementals, two at that, escorting them.."
I ask him, ticked off we have to sacrifice yet another day off for one of his last-minute calls.
"You know how HQ is. When you're not running around killing Sentinels, they'll have you do the most meandering and trivial tasks."
"Still, this is new even by HQ standards. Surely, they don't expect someone to attempt an assassination with a whole battalion by their sides?"
"Even they wouldn't send a battalion.. Well, aren't you persistent today, Waybright? I guess I could explain. The reason you two have been called to escort our important guest isn't because they fear an assassination or anything along those lines."
"So why? ..Wait. It can't be..!"
"Yep. You're right on the money. Alias Waybright, Celine Elysium. You've been tasked with escorting the Earth Elemental to Triford Base."
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