"What have I done? I literally lost control of myself.." Irelia said as she stared at herself in front of a mirror.
"I can't help but to get angry, she has no idea what I feel.."
Irelia looked down as she is debating to herself after on what she have done something to her visitor, she felt in need to apologize the Sovereign. She splashed water to her face and think.
"She probably has something to say, that's why she visited."
She looked at herself again at the mirror, she made an expression of confidence that may help her.
"That's it. I will extract truth from her." She stated before she wiped her face and returned back at the living room where the mage is located.
Syndra put aside the tray on a table near at the couch at the living room, she didn't used her magic this time in fact she used her legs to transport herself, thinking on the words she has to say for the captain made her head hurt, instead of stressing it out, she observes the interior of the room. Everything is fully organized and neat, the items were arranged carefully on a shelf, the table is wiped clean, and there are no speckles of dust can be seen floating midair.
Few steps she made, she stumbled on a door leading to somewhere, she noticed that it is open, she is about to grab the knob and the captain got out immediately, both of them got surprised as Syndra moved backwards from the anticipation.
"I.. Well." Both of them spoke the words coincidentally. They averted their gazes just to make sure they won't have eye contact.
"You. First." Syndra glanced away, she holds her arm and floats.
Irelia sighed.
"Follow me."
Irelia moves and waited Syndra, the mage followed the captain as she made her way to the living room. Irelia noticed the tray of food that is currently done placed on the table.
"...I thought you are not going to eat the 'poison'?" Irelia coldly stated, she used the edge of her eyes to glance at the mage behind her.
Syndra kept her mouth shut, she is about to apologize but she felt it is not a good idea, she still recognize a hint of anger from Irelia's voice.
"Please wait me on the hallway. I will be right back." Irelia did a bow and took the tray, she proceeds to the kitchen and started to clean the utensils.
Syndra sighed and proceeds to the hallway where it began, she stayed afloat and made a sitting position. She waited patiently, of course she has nothing for her to get occupied while waiting for Irelia, instead she think some words to say as she apologized the captain.
"What will I say? Is it okay to apologize directly? No.. It..It will not work."
Syndra stared on the wooden floor, she sees her reflection through it, she slides her finger on the floor as she felt the smoothness of the wood.
"She really took care of this place on by herself."
"I hate this, how on earth should I apologize?!" She growled in a whispery way.
"I am sorry for the wait." A low yet refined voice echoed at the side of the sliding door. Syndra jumped and fixed her posture, she made sure that Irelia didn't heard her.
Irelia came with a tray again and this time it contains with two cups of tea and a kettle. She sat beside the mage and poured a cup for her and for the mage. Both of them took the cups, Irelia pretends to drink as she watches Syndra took a sip.
"Hm.."
"How is it?"
"Subtle."
Irelia smirked and started to drink. She faced the garden and relaxes as she let the bitterness of the tea cleanses her system.
"Syndra."
The mage piqued her attention, she glanced at the captain though she avoided looking directly to her eyes.
"I should apologize on what actions I have created. I-"
"Why are you apologizing if you did nothing wrong?" She watches the flow of the tea from her cup.
"You are too nice. And that makes you more annoying." Syndra faced the captain.
"I should be the one apologizing. Not you." Syndra finished.
Irelia drinks her tea slowly, she waited for Syndra's apology but Syndra can't say it, Irelia tilted her head and expected, she have noticed that Syndra is hesitating, in fact she knows that Syndra is a type of person who is not a fan of compassion.
"It's fine, it's just accidental and it's not your fault. You have no idea on the facts why I have got offended to your words so there would be no for you to feel sorry." Irelia raised her hand and shook it, after that she went back sipping her tea.
"But-"
Irelia quickly halted Syndra.
"I should be the one who feel sorry for mistreating my visitor."
Syndra widened her eyes with surprise, is Irelia didn't mind of treating her that way? She wants some answers why Irelia is pursuing not to let her apologize to her.
"I am not mistaken, your kindness is making me irritated." Syndra spats, she tightened her hold on the cup.
"What?"
"And annoying."
Irelia didn't answered.
"This fact alone is what makes you interesting." Syndra decided to finish her turn with a sentence.
Irelia started to listen after Syndra elaborated a word that is completely new to her.
"Am I.. Interesting?" Irelia bashfully fidgeted.
Syndra caught the glimpse of Irelia being bashful to her, with this kind of expression, her cheeks lighten up a bit.
"Stop looking like that!" Syndra yapped.
"What? Why?"
"Nothing! Just..Just FORGET it!"
Irelia leans closer to see Syndra's face, she gazes the half of the mage's cheeks and admires.
"Hm.. I see. " She kept her distance from the mage's who is literally avoiding the captain.
"What the hell? Stop looking at me!"
"What's wrong with you?"
"I SAID. JUST. FORGET IT! ARE YOU DEAF? OR ARE YOU JUST SIMPLY AN IDIOT?!"
"Calm down, I just realized that you can say these things."
"W-WHAT?! I.. I JUST STATED WHAT I WANTED TO SAY! HAPPY?!" Syndra shook her head, hiding her blush behind the silver strands of her hair.
Syndra kept her head facing away from the captain, she thought that Irelia would still pester her until she felt her hair is moved inch by inch, since her hair is draped enough to cover her flustered face, Irelia took the strands and unveils the mage.
Irelia made a small smile and closed her eyes in sequence.
"Why are you averting yourself to me?"
"Shut up."
"Fine."
The captain gave up pressing Syndra more, there must be a reason why the mage acted this way. She finally started to open a conversation that is about the reason why Syndra visited in the first place.
"So, why did you make a thought on visiting me?"
"..I wanted to clarify the thing what you had said to me yesterday."
"Oh that?" Irelia took a sip. "About that.."
"Tell me, what if I accepted it? What will you do?"
"I am willing to help you anything, that's all, but not on terms of destruction obviously."
"Hmph.. it will be fun if you acted as one of my comrade."
"Not a chance, Syndra."
"Hmph."
Both of them got quiet, the sound of nature is the only thing that is making the noise.
"Anything. You say?" Syndra clarified.
"Yes."
"Are you..certain?"
Irelia responded with a nod, she glances on the mage in seconds and went back staring at her cup of tea.
"Anything.. huh."
Without any doubt, Syndra sighed as she collected her posture, she placed the cup of tea from her hands. She have heard what she has to know but something that prevents her; it is to gather information from the captain.
She thought a topic that could lengthen the conversation, and she finally found it.
"Hey."
"Hm..?"
"Tell me, why did you outburst earlier?"
Irelia pauses, her face saddened up a little bit.
"I.. I remembered something that I shouldn't."
"And what could that be?"
"I guess it's fine to tell you right now."
Before Irelia could speak, Syndra adjusted herself right enough to face the captain, this could be a chance of knowing her more.
"Are you.. perhaps familiar on the war back then?" Irelia started. Her voice hoarses as she stated every words
"Maybe. I never happened to get a glimpse outside because.."
Some of Syndra's memories flashes back while she listen Irelia. The fact the power that only made her feel alive is shackled and attempted to get taken by the elders is the only reason why she turned her back away from Ionia. The happiness that she yearned for herself is only a trickery that disgusts her own belief of Balance. She ignored the flashbacks and listened, it will be a iste of time if she just let Irelia speak while she is messing around.
"Because..?" Irelia asked innocently.
"Forget it." Syndra grimaced.
"I see. Anyway.." Irelia avoided pressing for more questions despite she noticed Syndra's mood darkened a bit.
"Ionia fights for its glory until death. The Noxian army advanced to The Placidium and took what everything they need.."
"What just happened is unsettling, they have destroyed the temples that are located passed beyond the Nexus." Irelia explained, her grip to her cup tightened as she reminiscences.
"This house is located near on the temples back then, but now it is standing alone on the slope.."
"Basically, the temples are destroyed. Is that what are you implying?" Syndra rhetorically asked.
"Yes, all temples are guarded by the elders, some temples are home of the people who are applied to Transcendentalism, and some of it are most likely a stronghold of misguided people with talents whom are bound to enhance with enlightenment."
The words are familiar to Syndra, since she is held by elders, she can relate on how her life has been during that time. All of it are making sense.
"And..this is the time where my only family; my brother, insisted to get to Demacia as soon as possible just to call for assistance, the army is decreasing because on how those..Noxians used anything just to gain victory.."
Irelia made a weak smile, she stared at the distance where she see an image of her and her family together at the garden.
"He is so stubborn. I kept insisting him not to go because on how dangerous it is. I will never forget what he had said to me.."
"..And what?" Syndra asked.
"He said, 'Irelia, I want you to be strong, I know that you have always surpassed me when it comes on handling a blade. This is my last resort of saving Ionia, I wanted to attain what father have accomplished.' " Irelia's voice got scratched, the memory that she and her brother shared playbacks on her mind.
"I am leaving Ionia to you, please protect our home." Irelia finished.
" Now that's interesting.. So that is why she is motivated to protect this country even it costs her life. " Syndra thought, she sipped her tea until it is empty.
"You know what Syndra? That time, I is afraid.. I am afraid of losing that I really loved.. I have seen the horror of seeing the person you have cherished just disappeared into a thin air without any goodbyes.."
Syndra heard how Irelia's voice changed, it is filled with misery and abandonment. She felt her chest sank a little bit, different from before yet some of it are the same as the one she had felt since she is held by the elders.
"To withheld the honor of my family, I took my father's blade and tried to defend with all of my might, I have stood resolute even though I am just a teenager fighting Noxian men that ruined the lives of many until it happened.."
Irelia suddenly breathes air as she gripped her chest.
"Those.. b-bastards.." Irelia grits her teeth, her mood is sinister that she seeks killing at any point. "They have used magic. Magic let them decapitate each single Ionian; children, elderly, women and disabled."
"What..what kind of magic is that?" Syndra asked as she felt the suspense of the mood coming from the story of the captain.
"..Necromancy." Irelia replied, her tone has misery which it affected her mood literally.
"Necro..mancy?!" Syndra cried. Never knew this information is far more horrible than it should be.
"Not just that, we have no single idea that they have allied with the Zauns. Because of that, they have used poison and bombed us.. They don't care, even their own army got affected with the poison.."
Just after the sentence, Irelia induced to vomit as she remembered what happened on that day.
"Hey..! What the-?" Syndra panicked, she quickly poured another batch of tea on Irelia's cup. She shoved the cup both of her hands, even though it is lukewarm in temperature.
"Drink!" She ordered, the captain took Syndra's hands and grasps it as she drank all the contents of the cup.
"..I am sorry.." Irelia suddenly fainted, her head went straight on Syndra's shoulder pad.
"Now what?! Wake up!" Syndra tried to wake up the captain.
"S-Syndra.. I.." Irelia sniffed. "I.."
"Just shut up and stop it!"
"I-I am just starting to..let you know who am I.."
"What are you talking about?"
"Will you..stay and listen for me..?"
The look that Irelia gave to Syndra is pleading, the green eyes of the captain sparkled with a faint hope and mercy as she never let go at her gaze on the mage's glowing eyes. Syndra could describe it much like a hopeless animal that is begging for something valuable.
"Just..this time." Syndra hides her blush by averting her gaze away.
"Thank you.." A smile formed to the lips of the captain.
"I expect that you will object and leave.. but you didn't. Why?"
Good question, at least she have started to get to know about Irelia for more.
"I..don't know. I don't know! And that IS completely irrelevant right now!" Syndra shouted, she huffs air as she is getting impatient.
Irelia warmly smiled back at the mage and proceeds.
" Will you JUST stop smiling like that?! " She growled inside her mind, though her cheeks got lightened upon seeing that smile.
"..That poison, it totally melted the whole system of a person whoever got touched by it."
In Syndra's horror, she jumped on conclusions that are absurd.
"Don't tell me you have been-"
"No, silly, I'd never got touched by that poison. My eyes as a young teen is nurtured with death and agony on that time.."
"I see.." Syndra sighed.
"Are you expecting that I have gotten poisoned back then?"
"Hmph..what would be your look if that happened..?"
"I may not have existed if that happened. Death is the only way to solve that."
"..Right."
Minutes have passed, Syndra didn't noticed that Irelia rested her head on her shoulder pad which it instantly made her blush, before she is about to shove the captain away, she saw Irelia's resting face, little did she know that she finds it adorable at the same time in peace after Irelia breaks down with her trauma and stress at the same time while she tells the story of how everything started.
She let the captain took a nap on her shoulder, and started to talk with her thoughts.
" And that's it.. I felt that it is not enough.. It feels missing but.. " She took a glance back at Irelia.
"..Cute.."
"Why I find her cute?"
Her face is indeed in red. Her chest started to beat up fast like a drum. She continued talking using her thoughts.
" Damn it! This is her fault! " Again, she peeked at her side for her to see Irelia. After that, Syndra outbursts, making Irelia woke up.
"Wha-?"
"Ugh..You. ARE. HOPELESS!" Syndra grips the captain's sleeves and barked.
"This IS. YOUR. FAULT. THAT I FEEL THIS WAY!" Syndra blushed furiously.
"What..?"
"ANNOYING!" Syndra punched Irelia on her shoulder.
"Ow! What are you- Ah!"
"INSOLENT!" Another punch.
"S-SYND-!"
"STUPID" This time it is a harder one.
"If you keep doing that-!"
"CAPTAIN!" Before Syndra could punch, Irelia grabbed Syndra's wrist immediately.
"What is wrong with you?!"
"Let go off ME!"
"I am asking you a question!"
"And go ahead and KEEP blabbering because I am NOT GOING TO LISTEN!"
"I don't understand you! What have I done to you that made you feel like this?!"
"THAT IS WHY I AM ASKING MYSELF! YOU ARE THE ONE WHO MADE ME FEEL THIS WAY!"
Irelia tilted her head and completely confused.
"Look, I have NO idea on what are you pointing at Syndra."
"Hmph! I am leaving, see you. FOOL CAPTAIN!" Syndra floats herself and quickly zoomed out the sky.
"What is that..about?" Irelia scratches her head and made a thinking gesture.
"Well..I guess I should pay her a visit some other time as soon as I can." Irelia smiled, she picked up the tray and did some of her household activities. Her day is gotten lively, she settled a plan for thanking Syndra by visiting her someday, who knows what could Syndra possibly will react when that happened.
NOTE:
The story might be rushed a little, and I have done this for the story to avoid slowing down in process, there would be a lot of chapters that has a series of fluff and the actual events that'll evoke emotion of the characters.
Also, this chapter tells some of Irelia's lore.
Still being tsundere, Syndra is still kept as like that for now, who knows if she will soften a little. Well, we better find out!