Cloudy skies, lowering temperature, gentle chills blowing across the cityfolk of Altiel... the cooler seasons were arriving, meaning many citizens were bundling up and readying themselves for the holidays. Shopping, staying warm, making memories with photoshoots, families walking together... no matter the lowering temperature, there was still a sense of warmth bustling about...
"I'm not certain why, but seeing rays of light breaking through winter clouds... it's such a gentle yet inspiring sight..." the normally sheepish Gardevoir commented with a tender tint of excitement, ears lifting as she felt her artist fingers twitch her finger across an open page in her sketchbook.
“Yeah, it’s kinda pretty I guess...” Meanwhile, the pale Gallade just looked on towards the sea, his gaze seeming... disinterested...? This didn't go by Oriel unnoticed, of course...
"Brother?"
"... Yeah?"
"... Pardon me for saying so, but you seem distant... is everything alright? You've grown passive as of late..."
"Eh, well... it's just, we've been working here for a while, doing all these fights and whatnot, raising money to make our ends meet..."
"Yes...?"
"... I guess I've just been wondering..." Alyx just rubbed the back of his head as a pessimistic sigh left his lips, "Don't get me wrong, Oriel, I'm thankful we've gone this far, it's just... As psyched as I am, I was just wondering if we ever will... , or at least, if we did go to see them, if something would make things take a turn for--"
"Heeey li'l bro, hey li'l sis! What're YOU two doing out without your li'l jackets, hm? Heehee~!"
Well that was a pleasant change of pace. The twins ears shot up as they caught the wind of a very familiar doting sisterly voice, with Oriel being first to turn her neck and see their adoptive sibling Lixue hopping over ever-so-cheerfully, sipping a cold beverage.
"Ah, Lixue! Hello again!"
"Hiya hiya! Have you two been standing here this whole time? C'mon, we live in Altiel! Go walk around the city! See the sights! What's gotten my lively li'l bro Alyx and inspired li'l sis Oriel staying put like this? It's not like ya!"
"Ah! W-well, erm, we're just--"
"Catching our breath and taking in the sights for once. Day off and all, sometimes all we just need is fresh air, y'know?"
Lixue could only giggle. "I could believe Oriel saying that, but YOU needing a break, Alyx? Heehee, you have the stamina of a Mudsdale! That's just silly!"
"Erm, Lixue... where is Masou...?"
"Hm? Oh!" She stuck her tongue out as she took a sip of her lemonade before giving a little sigh. "He's just back at the League, thinking to himself as usual."
"The guy's gotta get out more... can't go isolating himself all the time, y'know? Hasn't he beaten himself up enough yet...?"
Way back at the ABL, the Hellfire Hoodlum himself was perched upon the ceiling of their fighting organization workplace, looming over the city. His own version of sight-seeing, perhaps? Akin to what a nightwatcher would do, at least. The reptile let out a steamy hiss as a whispy trail left his nostrils, gazing down at the cityfolk while allowing himself to be lost in his own thoughts.
<< Mmh... this view of the city...>> he thought to himself, tail idly swishing about as he hissed behind his collar, <<... perhaps one day I'll allow myself to actually enjoy it, once my debt is repaid... >> A disgruntled yet brooding exhale left his mouth, wanting to uncover his head to welcome the breeze, but he held himself back, as if fighting temptation, or perhaps refusing for another reason...
As his eyes wandered, he noticed far off in the distance that the vacant block of space far away from the more lively part of the city had but a few souls attending to it... an area that gave a chillingly silent vibe.
---
"..."
A somber wind howled lightly around the tall dark knight as he glanced down at his subject, as a sigh echoed within his mask and helmet.
"Two years..." he muttered to himself, "... nearly two years now... how time flies..."
Zarathos remained still, unmoving not unlike a statue, as his thoughts continued to escape him...
" ... To think, had I not allowed something so... primal... so arrogant..."
The rest of those would-be words died in his throat, replacing the remnants with harsh mumbles. At a loss for what else to say, Zarathos pledged a hand powerfully to his chest, letting out an adamant snarl.
" ... rest well, soldier..."
Unbeknownst to the Bisharp, at least yet, there were two other Altiel citizens that happened to walk by the entry to this somber field, looking on at the terrifyingly tall warrior from a safe distance.
"... Erm, how long do you think he's been there...?" a soft, concerned male Bisharp's voice uttered to the other.
"Ah, that I cannot say, mein Freund..." retorted the girl, holding a hand up to her mouth. "I... try to avoid areas such as these, yet seeing him here all by myself makes me wonder..."
"I agree, it's a somber place, but the fact that the Champion is all the way from the Battle League, here, all alone...?"
"Pardon me, but what are you two unlikely onlookers doing?"
"GCK--!"
"ACK--!"
Takeshi and Eira nearly leaped at the sound of being addressed from behind, the Medicham behind the both of them merely chuckling in amusement. Adjusting his glasses, he continued to prod.
"Are the two of you here to spy our notorious battle-reigning brood? My my, how unusually rude of you two! Even the champion can't get a moment of peace during such glum displays of consciousness. I highly doubt you two came to merely stare at the dead from a long distance?"
"O-oh! I was just, er, fetching supplies for the Kirikuisine! Food supplies!"
"And I was, er, making my way to the Blue Moon Cafe!"
"The Blue Moon Cafe is not this many blocks away from the ABL, madame. And why come here when the food supermarket provides superior ingredients in the other direction for your quaint little foodshop?"
Just before the two could answer, they felt a burning glare pierce them from the distance.
" ... How long have you been there?" snarled the champion at his unwelcome 'audience.'
Needless to say, Takeshi and Eira were quick to make their ways away, but not before awkwardly waving to Zarathos and then each other.
"T-to the food market with me! Ahaha, farewell!"
"Oh of course! Take care, Takeshi!"
The Medicham just rolled his eyes and shook his head, raising a hand peaceably at the dark champion before walking off. <<Very well, leaving him to his charmingly depressing payment of respects is fair enough I suppose... my curiosity would only be squandered in a place such as this.>>
---
" ... I'm sure he'll be alright~!" Lixue remarked before sidling up to her adoptive siblings, tilting her head with a cute smile. "C'mon, cheer up Alyx! Masou does enough frowning for the rest of us, you don't have to stay so quiet! C'mon, let's see a smile," insisted the icy Lucaritales before hugging her adoptive Gallade brother.
"Nnh, Li, please--"
And then Alyx's blood sister joined, smiling up at the bladed brawler in hopes he would listen to the words of Lixue. Al could only sigh and give off an awkward grin.
"C-c'mon Oriel, Lixue, you're embarrassing me out here..."
"Heehee, you're beyond embarrassment at this age, Alyx!"
"There's that smile..." Oriel chimed with a little giggle. “How ironic, is it not? You’re usually the one who consoles me...”
"Hah, alright alright, ya win. I've just been thinking a lot that's all, but I guess I'll spend more time seein' sights as usual.”
"Yee~! There we go! Great idea! Let's walk around Altiel together!"
"I-If you're alright with that, Alyx...?"
"... Heh... sure, why not."
---
(( The Valorous Hearts is back! This is a soft boot; a continuation from the older archive blog, with some tweaks to designs, stories, motives and other details! Most relationships, unless desired otherwise, will remain canon, but some have been redone/adjusted! Some questions can be re-asked, feel free to ask which ones! ))
