Nova lay sprawled on the floor, asleep on a thin mattress that barely cushioned the hardwood beneath. Elesch stirred on the grand bed, her eyes fluttering open, confusion clouding her gaze. The previous day's events were a void, erased by the fireball's brutal impact. She sat up slowly, wincing as pain lanced through her, a sharp reminder of overexerting her nascent void manipulation on its first day. Her body protested, but she pushed through, her resolve unwavering.
Her eyes drifted to Nova, his chest rising and falling in the quiet rhythm of sleep. The mattress beneath him was meager, doing its job but little else. Careful not to disturb him, she eased off the bed as he shifted, rolling to face the bedframe, oblivious. She padded to the bathroom, its pristine elegance a stark contrast to their battered state: marble countertops gleamed under soft lighting, and a mirror framed in silver reflected her weary face.
Closing the door, Elesch studied her reflection. The fireball's burn, once a raw wound, was fading, its edges softening under the Saint's lingering magic. She smiled faintly, but a jolt of dread shivered through her bones. I was too weak for that fireball, she thought, her jaw tightening. I need to get stronger. For Nova. Her reflection stared back, a silent vow in her eyes.
She washed her hands, the cool water grounding her, and spotted a spare toothbrush. Her breath reeked, foul as decay, so she brushed vigorously, cleansing the staleness. Five minutes later, she emerged, refreshed but still fragile, only to find Nova awake. He stretched languidly on his mattress, limbs splaying like a cat basking in sunlight, then rose with a yawn and shuffled into the bathroom.
Fifteen minutes passed before he returned, his face washed but eyes heavy with exhaustion. Without a word, he enveloped Elesch in a brief, fierce hug, his warmth a fleeting anchor. Then, as if drawn by an unseen tether, he collapsed back onto his mattress, sinking into sleep instantly, his snores erupting in a raucous chorus that filled the suite.
Elesch's eyes narrowed, her brow furrowing in bemusement as she stood rooted, caught off guard by this unfamiliar facet of her brother. Her lips pursed, twisting into a peculiar expression, half confusion, half amusement, as she wrestled with the sight of Nova's uncharacteristic lethargy.
This is quite the scene, she thought, a bubble of mirth rising in her stomach. Never in a million years would I have imagined Nova like this, snoring like a bear in hibernation.
She shook her head, a soft chuckle escaping as she glanced at his sprawled form, his snores echoing through the apartment. She felt like the apartment was cozy, maybe because her brother was there with her, which gave her comfort of being safe, or maybe she just naturally found it cozy.
Elesch's heart warmed, the bond with her brother grounding her amidst the chaos of their recent battles. She moved quietly to a wardrobe, that had all of Nova's clothes, forgetting that she just arrived on Earth. She selected a simple navy blue T-shirt that carved with delicate lotus motifs, and rummaged through the most unisex spare shorts. The fabric felt rather soft against her healing skin, the fireballs burn now a faint shadow on her cheek. She tied her hair into a loose braid, her fingers deft despite lingering aches, and slipped on a pair of flats, ready to explore the world beyond the apartment.
Nova stirred, his snores faltering as he blinked awake, rubbing his eyes. "Elesch?" he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep, a boyish vulnerability softening his usual intensity. He sat up, his dark hair a tousled mess, and grinned at her new outfit. "Look at you, all cleaned up. Planning to ditch me already?"
She rolled her eyes, her smile playful. "Someone's gotta keep us from starving while you nap like a sloth. Come on, get up. We're in America now, I want explore the place."
Nova groaned to himself, not wanting to get up. "I give you permission to go by yourself, take my wallet, it should have some spare money. Just make sure too stay safe."
Elesch smirked, snatching his wallet from a nearby table, its leather composition worn but stuffed with a few crumpled bills. "Don't worry, I will be fine. You just keep the floor warm." She tucked the wallet into her pocket and headed for the door, pausing to glance back at Nova, who was already drifting back to sleep, his face slack with exhaustion.
He's earned a good days worth of rest, she thought, her expression softening.
Stepping outside, Elesch was greeted by the crisp morning air of America, its streets humming with quiet vitality. The apartment was a short walk from the American Association Guild's headquarters, it replaced Guild of America, but people tend to say either, since either work.
The city felt alive yet unhurried: a bakery's aroma of fresh bread wafted through the air, a dog barked in the distance, and early risers jogged along tree-lined sidewalks.
She wandered towards the city's main street, her flats scuffing softly against the pavement. A quaint café caught her eye, its windows adorned with hand-painted flowers and a chalkboard sign boasting "Best Pancakes in Town." Smiling, she pushed open the door, a bell jingling above. Inside, the warmth of brewing coffee and the clatter of dishes enveloped her. She slid into a booth, the vinyl seat creaking, and ordered a stack of pancakes and a hot chocolate, savoring the normalcy of the moment.
As she waited, her thoughts drifted to Nova, still snoring back at the apartment. He's probably exhausted to the extreme," she recalled what happened the previous day, as her memories allowed her to unlock new regions in her mind, going up against so many opponents.
The pancakes arrived, golden and dripping with syrup, and she dug in, the sweetness a small rebellion against the chaos they'd faced.
Elesch settled the bill with the change from Nova's wallet, offering a warm thank you to the waitress who'd brought her pancakes. She stepped out of the café, the bell above the door jingling as she emerged into the crisp morning, ready for her next venture.
She strolled through a nearby park, the grass glistening with dew under the early sun. Children's laughter rang from a playground, their voices a bright counterpoint to the rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze. At a vendor's cart, she purchased a small bouquet of daisies, their petals soft and white. Tucking one behind her ear, she felt a quiet grounding, the simple act anchoring her to the moment.
Elesch decided to explore the park's vast expanse, circling its perimeter at a leisurely pace, savoring its essence like a sloth basking in sunlight. She meandered along winding paths, discovering hidden nooks: a stone bench tucked beneath a willow, a pond where dragonflies skimmed the surface. Each step was deliberate, her senses drinking in the serenity amidst the Nornir's looming shadow.
A few minutes into her walk, her gaze caught on a football field where young children kicked a ball, their shouts echoing with carefree joy. But her attention sharpened on three figures lingering at the field's edge. Each wore a matching bandana and a hooded jacket, their faces obscured, their postures radiating menace. They stared at the children from a distance, their intent palpable, dark as a gathering storm. The children are in trouble, Elesch thought, her instincts flaring.
She halted, then crept closer to the field, her movements cautious, predatory. Perched behind a cluster of shrubs, she watched like a tiger stalking prey, her eyes locked on the trio, tracking their every shift. The park's passersby glanced her way, their expressions uneasy, misreading her intense focus. At eighteen, the same age as Nova, her adult frame and unwavering stare drew wary looks; they thought she was fixating on the children, not the hooded figures.
Elesch scarcely registered the uneasy glances of passersby, her focus locked on the bandana-clad trio. What are they scheming? she wondered, her void manipulation flickering within, a latent ember poised to flare if they acted. Her pulse thrummed, not with fear but with a fierce resolve to protect.
This sudden, visceral urge to shield these frail humans stunned her; never in a million years had she imagined harboring such empathy for mortals, her heart now a crucible of unexpected compassion.
The trio moved with deliberate nonchalance, their hooded figures blending into the park's rhythm. They sauntered closer to the football field, their steps casual, as if merely strolling, but their eyes, sharp and predatory, betrayed their intent.
One adjusted his bandana, fingers lingering on the knot, while another cracked his knuckles, the sound muffled but ominous. The third, slightly ahead, flicked a cigarette butt into the grass, grinding it underfoot with a lazy smirk, their collective ease a calculated facade to mask their menace.
They're too relaxed, Elesch thought, her eyes narrowing. They think no one's watching. Her void powers stirred, a restless pulse in her veins, urging her to act. Her mind raced, weighing her strength against their numbers, her empathy for the children clashing with her inexperience, yet fueling her determination.