Today was the day that everything started anew, as my eyes opened roughly for the day, with a smile on my face. "Today is the day, sis said it'll be my final training." While I lifted my body, fully awake I started getting out of bed as the sheets were scattered.
I walked up to my window, seeing the reflection of myself. "I've changed a lot since these past few days, huh." With another smile, I walked up to my door, and opened it. Finally seeing the hallway not as an obstacle, but a path.
Making my way downstairs, I found my sister and Olivia talking to each other. "Huh, I wonder what this is about." I thought to myself as I made my way to them. They both looked at me and ended the conversation as Olivia left.
"What was that all about?" I asked, as Ao replied "We were just discussing your last training session. It'll be with me~" as she gestured to me to sit. I was very confused on what the discussion was, but I didn't pay much attention to it.
Olivia came in with our food for both of us from the kitchen, "Here you are Miss Ao, Master." I was excited for my favorite ramen, I was definitely going to eat this with passion. Seeing my sister, she had a different dish, it was something called katsu.
We ate as we talked to each other, bouncing between light-hearted topics, laughing and having fun along the way as our foods were finished. It was a good time, one I knew that wouldn't be my last, I cherished these moments. "So sis, is it time for us to go. Where are we gonna train next?" She grinned, while looking at me "Hold your horses, we'll get there. But first you should get ready and dress yourself." Looking down, I saw myself, still wearing pajamas of course, I blinked, realizing how ridiculous I must've looked, silly me.
Dressing myself, I slipped into the same old clothing that I had worn the day I fought the Collodeus. Thinking back, that was still a tough fight. The pounding in my heart, the blood pumping through my veins. If it weren't for my sister, I would have been fresh meat and nothing but a corpse by now. I sighed heavily, feeling the weight of it all pressing down on me. With a heavy heart, my mind and emotions sink. "I'm still not strong enough." I whispered under my breath, clenching my hands.
After being finished with everything upstairs, I made my way back down. Seeing something interesting and confusing, Olivia is giving bento's. I still don't understand where we're going, but it can't be that far right?
"Sis, are we ready to go? What's with the food?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me as I glanced at the bags she'd packed, while she said "You'll find out later, right now we should head out, and Olivia. Take care after we get back alright?" Olivia nodded with a respectful bow "Thank you Miss Ao, goodluck with your endeavors, both of you." As we left the mansion, we waved our hands to Olivia as we walked with each step farther away.
We left a great distance so far, I was still curious to where we're going. After walking for a few minutes, we stopped by a park. My eyes sparkled, as I used to go here back when my sister was around, I never thought we would visit again, almost running off, my sister stopped me by grabbing a piece of my clothing. "Now now, don't rush off all by yourself, we're here to go together, alright?" She was right, I would have gotten lost on my own if I ran off "Right, sorry sis. So where should we go first?" As I asked, she pointed to the trail that we'll be taking.
There were a couple of bicycles nearby, free for borrowing, so we each grabbed one. The moment I hopped on the bike, I felt a rush of excitement. Riding the bicycle was always a fun escape. It was a fun time, we sped through the tracks, as the winds brushed on my face, tugged my hair, and filled my lungs with fresh, open air. It has always been my favorite part when riding. Of course we didn't stop there, we even raced each other, having a sibling rivalry would be nice from time to time, and being the winner, my sister had more speed.
She shot me a playful glance. "Better luck next time," she teased, wiping a strand of hair from her face. I shook my head, "yeah yeah, you're still faster than me." Deep down, it didn't matter, I was just happy to spend time again. It was nice to share moments like this. Even in compensation, there was a kind of comfort between us.
After the fun was over, we rested on a nearby bench. Sitting down and relaxing, we spotted a cotton candy stand. I wanted some, as my sister saw my face filled with hungry intentions. "Alright, I'll buy it for you," as she made her way to the spot. While waiting for her, I was lost in my own thoughts while looking at my surroundings. The people that were having fun, running around, playing together, their parents and children. After viewing it, I had mixed feelings about this, I never got to do it with my parents. My sister was the only one who I ever spent time with. Deep bonds were out of the question for them.
As I was deep in thought, I saw someone. A girl with long pointy ears, wearing a jacket and inner clothing with short pants. She seemed to be getting closer and closer to my direction until, "Hello, may I sit down. If that's ok with you?" I didn't mind it, so I let her do as she pleased. "Sure, here you go," as I pointed at the space nearby.
Looking back, she looks to be part of the elf species, I never saw one up close before, she looked so beautiful. While looking at her, those emerald green eyes were captivating me. Her form was- oops, sorry.
I was confused on what to do, my sister should have been here by now with our cotton candies! As I was thinking about this, she started talking, "So, how was your day today?" I was confused, talking to a stranger like me out of nowhere, but thinking back, I do need more socializing for my own good. "I'm fine, just here with my sister spending time, that's all- haha." It was really awkward for me, but she broke the tension as if it was a simple conversation. "That's good to hear, I'm just here enjoying the park. That's all."
I never asked her back, but she immediately answered me. I was going to say something but then, "I don't know why but, I get the feeling that you're having trouble with something." As I was shocked, did she read through me? Is that even possible?
"How did you-" she replied before I could, "I just had a feeling, and my feelings are never wrong most of the time~" and after hearing that, I realized that elves do possess some sort of instinct or sense that are great for analyzing. I felt even more awkward, talking like this to a stranger, even if my knowledge for socializing isn't much, I know that this would be considered as strange. But what could hurt to tell y'know, since this was my first.
"I was just thinking about my parents, after seeing others." And she looked with curiosity "What about them?" As I was hesitant, my words were not coming out for a moment, but suddenly "I've never had any real connections with them. It just feels so off that the only bond I ever had was with my sister, even after my parents passed. I didn't know how to react." She was surprised at first, after hearing my words, she had a pause for a moment, until.
She looked at the sky, with a smile on her face and her eyes glistening, "I understand how you feel. Your parents never got the chance to connect with you, and neither do you. The only one that really did was your sister. Don't be hard on yourself, it's not your fault or anyones. Even when they're gone, I know that they still loved you to the very end, I can just feel it. They may be gone, but their love still resides, in here~" as she pointed her finger, and poked on my chest.
I felt flustered at first, and quickly tried to steer the conversation back on track., "Uhm, uhh yeah, right-" She laughed, and I couldn't help but be struck by the joy on her face, what a beauty she was. I never knew or imagined that someone would come up to me and hold a conversation one day, this was really something, even for me.
After all that, she was about to leave, "Well, it's time for me to go now." she raised herself out of the bench, and before walking off, "Wait! What's your name!?" I asked quickly before she was out of sight. She said with a smile "It's Sharlotte. I hope we'll meet again one day." as I was thinking, "Sharlotte huh, what an interesting girl."
And out of nowhere, my sister came up to me while holding the cotton candy for me and herself. "How was your date~?" I was shocked, as I became flustered by the question, "DATE!? What do you mean- Shut up!" she laughed, as I took the cotton candy from her hands.
We both sat on the bench together, eating our food. The moment was peaceful, And people were going about their own business, lost in their own activities around us. It was nice. After we finished our snacks, we left the park, as I took one last look at everything, even my mind thinking about that girl.
As we were walking to our next destination, my mind shifted on the thought of what that girl told me, Sharlotte was- actually right. Even if my parents aren't here anymore, their love would still linger on, in my heart. I don't know how it feels, but I somehow felt like I could trust her.
The next stop was the Arcade, where I also went when I was little. Back then Olivia used to guard me when I was playing on the games they had, and now it feels different. The place has been completely renovated, new games here and there, a cafeteria even, and also a new photo booth.
"Sis, what games should we play!? I want to try all of them!"
"Just calm down buddy, we will get to most of them~"
As we played the games, mostly multiplayer for both of us to enjoy, even in competitive games and fighting ones. We were having so much fun, we even went to the photo booth. Pictures were taken of us, doing funny faces. Along with those pictures there was one that I cherished the most, I kept the picture in my pocket that was in my hoodie on the right.
After having our fun, we left the arcade with satisfaction. It was a good time, and I never got to spend it with my sister until now. I was feeling happy until "One last stop, and after that we'll get to the serious part." I was stunt, but also confused, what does she mean by that I wonder.
Our final stop was the Aquarium. My most favorite place in the world, all the sea life, all the beauty, I can't handle it. We went in while I had a very energetic look on my face. My sister followed while buying the tickets.
First on the list, we found the school fish. They were swirling around, swimming together in a synchronized manner. The next one being an octopus, it looked like an alien, but it didn't move a lot, just staying in one place which was a bummer. Then going to the sharks, it was my favorite sea animal so far, they swam in a continuous lateral which was side to side. And they're movements were graceful, and fast.
After a few more looks of the marine wildlife around, we finally had our lunch break on the sitting areas that were provided. "The food is great, Olivia really packed a good one!" Ao replied while eating her fill. "You're right, this ones really great."
After stuffing ourselves, we waited for a moment, and then started packing. We went out of the aquarium while taking the tickets off our wrists.
"Sis, what's this serious stuff that you were talking about? Is it part of the training?"
"You'll find out soon enough, but first. We need to go somewhere far from this place."
I don't know why, but I felt intense. Whatever it is, I hope I'm ready. She walked off, as I followed behind her. The final step for me, My heart raced from fear. But after Everything, every choice, every twist, every turn, had led to this point. I couldn't turn back.