In the underground training cubicle, Luciel and Elina were stretching to start their final training session. Three months had passed in a blink. Time was cruel. A one-way street. Technology had advanced so far yet no mention of a time machine.
Luciel yawned as he bended down, fingers touching his toes. "How did you convince the military that I was your long-lost cousin? I don't want to be found out later and become a lab rat for those crazy researchers you told me about."
"I talk, they listen. Who would dare to doubt the youngest Legion Commander in Noxian history?" Elina held her head high, proud of her achievement.
Luciel stood upright and shook his head jovially. "I can't believe you're past thirty! Shouldn't I call you auntie at this point?"
"You're dead," Elina declared, and as if that grave tone didn't signify the end of the world enough, she growled again, brandishing her broadsword. "You're dead to me."
Elina was an S-Class Resonator whose Motif was Gravity Manipulation, a variant of Telekinesis. It wasn't your normal floating forks or flying cups. Her ability involved a huge turret that she called Spiced because in her own words, 'It creates spicy explosions!'
Motif was basically a term for superpowers. In the past, each Resonator would name it unique to their taste, but as the market for Resonators became saturated, it was hard to come up with an original name, so that procedure was removed. Instead, the World Resonator Association named and categorized the Motifs from D-Rank to S-Rank. Elina's Motif was designated as S-Rank, while normal Telekinesis was a C-Rank.
Luciel didn't know the criteria into grading them, but he knew Elina couldn't care less about that. She already hated her codename at work, so having people creating unique variant just for her made her lament her Resonator life. Anyway, Gravity Manipulation allowed her to carry huge weapons without a sweat. Truly an overpowered Motif.
Luciel inspected his sword which was given to him by Elina and swung it a few times to feel it out. It had been a while since he held a weapon or trained for that matter. Elina kept her promise and didn't force him into training for the past three months, so Luciel felt that he had become rusty.
One final stretch, Luciel got into position with his tachi pointed to the ground. "I'm ready."
"You better be," her voice deepened.
And out of nowhere, Elina dashed towards Luciel with inhuman speed, leaving afterimages behind. The weight of her sword was the most dangerous because she could apply tons of weight the moment it touched Luciel's sword, so he opted for a deflection. It was the best move against heavy hitters.
As the sword of judgement fell down, a gentle sword, following the happiness of the wind, glided up and carried the broadsword up in the air. Like a predator waiting for its prey, it suddenly glided down with tremendous speed to capture an opening, only for the prey to jump back in surprise.
Elina widened her eyes and brought the sword to her shoulder. "I could've got slashed there. Good move." She then threw her broadsword away and picked up two daggers on the ground. "These should do," she mumbled before locking eyes with Luciel. "You ready?"
"Long ago."
With his reply, Elina disappeared as if she were a ghost, but Luciel knew she was going to aim for his blind spot. There was no need to be afraid. The wind told all the stories, and to answer his prayers, he felt a tickle behind his back. Luciel quickly turned around and slashed the wind, only to find Elina backed off by a hairsbreadth.
Seeing how she moved so freely, Luciel couldn't give her space to operate anymore and charged in, imbuing his sword with scarlet fire. The fire was much more beautiful and refined than it was seven years ago. It reacted to his will, covering the sword with unbearable heat.
Luciel channeled all the energy to his arm and sword and guided the sword upward, creating a moving pillar of red fire towards Elina. The fire rose grandly like the madness of the sea and reached for the sky. Little flares bounced out seemed like pink leaves free falling from cherry trees. The training ground was painted in the most bewitching fire one could see.
Scarlet Flame Art: Petal Surge
Elina smiled at the scene. It was truly beautiful but also deadly. She readied her daggers as she held in reverse grip. The heat was burning at her face, but it wasn't fire. All she could see was a wall of cherry petals, but it was hotter than lava. It wouldn't be the best idea to let the petals kiss her beautiful face.
"Fuck." She poured her potent Echo Energy into the daggers and tore the space in an X-shape, cutting the heat and the fire out. The petals wilted and everything cooled down. It was a simple and quick spar, but Luciel had proved his strength. There was no need to tire everybody out.
"Good job, Luciel," she said, stopping a bit to catch her breath. "You did well."
"That move took me out a little," Luciel replied with difficulty, "but it was worth it."
Elina smirked. "It better be. If you didn't show any results after six years of training, I'd go to the academy and make your life hell myself."
Luciel chuckled and thought about how fun it would be if Elina was a professor there. "I should've faked my performance to drag you into the academy then."
"You know I'd never take such a cumbersome role." Elina waved it off and walked to the water dispenser nearby.
"Why not?" Luciel followed Elina. "You get to leave this neighborhood and live with me, essentially." He grabbed a paper cup and filled it with cool water. "And who would cook for you, hmm? Are you going to revert to your old days, ordering delivery every day?"
"Goddammit." Elina slammed the water cup down. "You think I don't want to go with you? I'm a Legion Commander. A Legion Commander! The old man wouldn't let me."
Old man here referred to the Grand Marshal Raphael Gagnier. He was basically the overlord of Noxio, controlling everything behind the scenes. It sounded evil. However, if Elina trusted and called someone an 'old man' just because the guy was older, Luciel believed Raphael was a good ruler.
"Grandpa Murphy could move in here to take care of the house while we're gone." Luciel threw the cup in the trash and placed his hand on Elina's shoulder. "Make it happen. I'm going up to cook dinner."
Elina went and made some phone calls with the Grand Marshal and the Board of Education. Meanwhile, Luciel was stirring the pan filled with sweet marinated beef. As the beef was being cooked, he put in the finely chopped bell peppers, giving it a flavorful aroma. Luciel opened the cupboard above him and grabbed a bottle of bourbon. "Can't go wrong with a bit of alcohol."
He poured in a shot and the blue flame shot up. Quickly grabbing the half-moon slices of red onion, he dropped them in and let the flavors danced together.
"Beef fajitas?" Elina asked, peeking in the kitchen while making calls.
"You know it," Luciel confidently said. Elina loved his beef fajitas because he added alcohol in it. Luciel was underaged but alcohol in food was different, or so he convinced himself. Now that everything had come down to a simmer, a quick squeeze of lime went over the skillet to cut down the fattiness of the beef and the caramelization of bell peppers and onions.
With everything finished, Luciel warmed up some tortillas and put them on the side plate once done. He prepared everything on the table and took a step back to admire his work. A meal well done.
"Elina!" Luciel shouted. "Eat up!"
"Coming!" Elina rushed to the dinner table and sat down opposite to Luciel, gawking at the masterpiece Luciel had made.
"Drink?" Luciel asked.
"Wine, of course." Elina winked.
Luciel sighed heavily and grabbed the wine on the kitchen counter, poured one and gave it to Elina. He then went to the fridge and took out a bottle of coke before sitting down.
No words spoken, they each snatched the tortilla and filled it with beef, bell peppers, and onions. The bright green of the guac called out to them, and soon enough, the perfect bite was formed.
"So good! Honestly, you could be a chef if this Resonator job doesn't work out, you know." Elina's eyes were twinkling as if stars invaded the dark space and spread all over. "Here's an offer. You work as my personal chef and get paid handsomely."
Luciel looked at her in disbelief. "Then what was I doing for the last seven years? You couldn't pay me enough for all the meals I've cooked for you."
"Hey! I bought the ingredients, just so you know." Elina gobbled down the food more fiercely.
"Well, make sure to get a professorship there. I'd miss cooking for you if you weren't there."
Elina smiled while her mouth full of food. She swallowed down all of it and spoke, "Just one advice. Love everything you can. The world is not full of hatred as you think it is. If you can do that, you will truly live."
It was a hard mission to do. The world had been cruel to him, but the world also let him meet Elina, his savior. Elina had the same fate as well, meeting grandpa Murphy. If she could do it, Luciel thought that he could also.
"I'll take it to heart."