[Adaptive system protocol, deactivating.]
I stared in a blank daze as the hood revealed the face of my adversary, Twilight, an opponent that possessed so much skill was a fragile girl with the face of someone who had never felt sorrow springing with naivety.
"What's this?! Was Twilight actually, a girl this whole time?!" her eyes widened in horror, quickly pulled from my grasp, and tumbled to the floor, her face hidden in the concrete pavement before pulling up her hood.
"H-hey–" I tried to call out for them but they just shot me a glance and left, not looking behind her after that. Past opponents looked away in shame as they were bested by such a kid, while others sang her praises even more.
"What were you thinking!?" I heard a stern voice coming towards me, turning to see Ayla grab onto my arm and tugging on it forcibly. My breath hitched as she grabbed my arm, the pain returning as adrenaline left my body.
"Ayla? What are you doing here?" I pondered, looking at her with a look of confusion. She turned red to my question, clearly not wanting to tell me anything.
"N-Never mind that!" She snapped, "More importantly! You were supposed to be resting, but instead, you got out here and fought the minute you had the chance!?" She glared at me, her flames of anger sobering to a soft look of concern.
"What if you've gotten seriously hurt again…" my expressions mellowing as my gaze fell down on her, I could tell she was holding back tears, and a part of me regretted making her worry like that.
"Sorry…" I manage to mutter out.
"I don't want your sorries, come on let me heal you." She declared, letting out a shaky sigh before grabbing my arm,
I nodded, following her right after picking up my claymore, though I would always wonder who that was. But needless to say, even though my wounds were being treated and even though I was victorious, It didn't save me from the onslaught of scolding Ayla would give me.
"Next time, don't overdo it, seriously!" She continued to rant on leading me to groan at her words, my negative response to her concern causing her to flinch. Even though she's gotten used to me on our travels, she's still awkward around me… I guess that makes sense, I haven't been the most open.
It's a strange feeling, to be cared for after so long…
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[Fran's pov]
"What do you want, I have to meet someone today." I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck in frustration as I stood in a dark alleyway, the smell of trash danced in the air further raising my frustration, and causing me to let out a soft sigh, hoping to dispel the stench.
"Where is he?" A figure stood in the dark, away from my flawed human vision.
"I need more time, the amount you gave me was just too unreasonable, ya know…"
"I get that you want to test your powers and whatnot but let's not rush things, okay?" I reached into my pockets, pulling out a small cylinder, paper wrapping something in between. I put it in between my lips and lit it, the smoke dancing up to the sky.
"What's that?" The figure pondered, watching me as I took a deep drag on the object and blew a soft puff of smoke before I answered their question.
"It's called a cigarette, some guy in the south made them and was selling em for dirt cheap, only one silver coin." I took the cigarette from between my lips, sticking it in between two fingers and smiling at the figure in front of me.
"Besides, way more convenient than a blowpipe, ain't it? It doesn't make me feel like some rich snob, just the comfortable feeling of the middle class." With that I took another drag, the figure looking at me with a confused gaze.
"Would you rather settle for the middle class?" The figure asked, disgust evident in their voice as they addressed my beliefs.
"Not everyone seeks fame, I just want to live, I don't need a fancy life, just a comfortable one."I smirked at their inquiry
"I don't understand." The figure muttered.
"It's human nature to want something they don't have, if someone can't afford rent, they'd wish for more money, if someone had to walk to their job, they'd wish to have a cart…"
__________________________________________
Twilight sneaks into a room, sitting on the bed with a frustrated groan, the close call from earlier getting to her. Her heart continued to pound faster and faster without end, the thought of almost being exposed wouldn't leave her mind.
[Someone who doesn't have freedom will naturally seek it out…]
"Princess you in there?!" a voice called out to her, startling her before she shouted back.
"Y-yeah I'm here…" She sat in a fetal position on her bed, her gaze downcasted to the floor as she idly played with her toes.
[Those who'd never had friends before, will naturally try their best to understand.]
"From now on you'll never leave my sight!" Ayla declared, grabbing onto Mihalis's arm as they walked through the street.
"I already said sorry-" Mihalis apologized yet again, frustrated she wouldn't let it go, but yet a small smile still peered through his face regardless.
"Oooh!"Let's go this way, come on hurry!" Ayla groans, grabbing at Mihalis's arm and tugging him along.
____________
"That doesn't help me understand–" the figure said bluntly, I closed my eyes and took another drag.
"That's cause you're not human, you see, the reason I don't want anything, the reason why I'm comfortable–" I stopped in my tracks, looking up with a smug smile as I exhaled once more, smoke streaming from my lips.
"Is because I know what I have is enough. Chasing more would just ruin what I've got." I chuckled, opening my eyes, the midnight blue glowing in the dark alley, a manic smile crossed my lips as I stared at the figure.
"Fame is terrible for the black market biz, ya know."