Yo everyone, my apologies, Masters and the new work took their toll on the story, but I am back! So, let us go! Also, thanks for the kind reviews and thoughts as always! I appreciate it and thank you for it, let us go!
Own nothing of League of Legends except for my OC.
Chapter 28: Feelings of the past, hopes for the present, wishes for the future.
"So how does this work? I mean it can't be that simple"
Cid chuckled as Diana was sitting in the couch, after a brief introduction and making her intentions clear regarding the fact that she wanted to get help regarding her thoughts. He explained to her the basics of the therapy and how all she needed to do was to speak her thoughts. Without any fear of being judged or anything, plainly let out all that she was carrying.
"Is as simple as it sounds, just tell me what's bothering you, and I will offer the advice I think you need"
Diana sighed. She felt no deceit in the words of the therapist, Pantheon had made clear he didn't trust mystics, but the therapist didn't look like one, neither did he gave an aura of magic around him. As far as she could see, the man in front of her was a simple human with no powers of any magical kind or supernatural kind…
"I guess… if it is as simple… I will trust you"
Cid nodded behind his desk and turned the recorder of Viktor on. The trinket had proved to be quite useful and if he had to be honest, he felt a bit bad of getting it for free from Viktor, he had been hoping to see him to ask him if he could return the courtesy.
Anyways, that was for later. He was now focused on Diana.
"I lived with the Solari… you know of them?"
Cid nodded.
"Only that they are an order who praises the virtues of the sun in Targon, but not much more than that I am afraid"
Diana nodded. That knowledge was enough for her to keep going.
"You see… they hate everything else, the Solari are closed, and they preach their belief heavily, to change their minds is hard if not impossible… I thought, that one day I would just fit in. One day everything would make sense and I would find myself accepted by them…"
Cid nodded. He had been there. And knew that Diana story probably didn't had a happy scene next.
"Yet I never did. One of the Solari accepted me, their greatest champion…"
Cid nodded. He recalled Jax words about it.
"Leona, she was… different, we were friends"
Cid nodded and considered the way she spoke. It was as if she was speaking of a fantasy, of something that happened so long ago that it just wouldn't repeat itself. It was saddening, but he had expected that from the way she had spoken of the Solari. After all, Leona was pretty much what being a Solari was all about.
"She would stay with me, and she did make me feel welcome… we just… we didn't stood in the same place. She was the embodiment of what being a Solari was all about"
He made a sign of understanding and she kept going.
"Things went bad one day… and yet… it was the happiest day of my life…"
The day Diana became the aspect of the Moon. The day she found truth and acceptance in the power of the Moon. Understanding that she wasn't a Solari like Leona. And that there was an understanding in both.
Yet she didn't receive acceptance. She ended up becoming a pariah, a symbol of destruction. Something the Solari would not forgive. Yet she refused to die. She fought, and she won earning her life, at the cost of those who had tried to harm her first. The saddest part in her tale, was the fact that in the end Diana didn't wanted to take the lives of the Solari. She just wanted to be let free.
She just wanted to be able to live.
That was too much to ask at that moment it seemed.
"Leona tried to find me for revenge… I left, and we never saw each other until I came to the Institute of War. The summoners thought they could help me gather clues and give me resources to find more about the old aspects of the Moon… Leona has tried to speak with me…"
Cid nodded.
"Did you wanted to speak with her?"
"No"
Simple and clean, a rather fast answer, but one that went with an unwavering will behind. She was serious.
And that meant she wasn't one to avoid subjects. Diana was swift and precise. Her speech so far about her past had shown him her personality. Straight forward, plunging herself into the fray, fast, and precise. Diana wasn't one to go around the themes, she spoke her thoughts without fear, and was someone who looked for the bigger truth always. Even if that could have a high cost to her.
"So… Leona has tried to speak with you recently?"
Diana nodded.
"She has, and I want none of it. Whatever she is trying, is not something I want to get into"
Cid nodded.
"So your problem is I am guessing… you want her to stop?"
Diana nodded in acceptance of his words. That was exactly what she wanted. For Leona to leave her alone, it was time she understood she wasn't going to speak with her, nor she wanted to speak with her.
"I see… so you wish to know how to make her stop?"
"Without the need of me attacking her"
Cid sighed. Of course, straight and to the point.
"Well, I am afraid you will have to speak with her to do that"
Diana sighed.
"I was hoping for a mystical solution honestly, something that would avoid me the conversation with her"
Cid chuckled waving at her.
"Sorry, but that is not how things work in therapy, there is no magic, everything that happens, comes from the inside. Change in ourselves, must come from ourselves"
Diana sighed. Thinking on the Moon phases, it changed by herself. Not for others, but by herself.
"I can understand that… I would rather not make much of a show about it… do you have an idea?"
Cid nodded.
"Just ask for Leona to come here, sound won't be getting out of my office, so if you and Leona start throwing insults at each other it won't be coming out of here"
Diana smirked. She liked his sense of humor.
"I appreciate that, thanks Cid"
He nodded with a smile.
"You are welcome Diana, now, you want me to ask Leona?"
Diana denied with her head.
"Thanks, but I think this is something I must do myself right?"
Cid smiled while he nodded. She had gotten the idea.
"I will stay here until you get Leona, after that I will leave both of you to talk… call it a hunch, but I have a feeling that whatever you two are going to speak is not something I should be listening"
Diana nodded a small smile in her face showing her thankfulness.
"Thanks, it is indeed something that I would rather hope stays between me and Leona"
As Cid nodded and Diana left he felt a sense of peace in him.
Change came from ourselves…
"I guess… I have changed without thinking of it…"
He smiled and took to make a sketch on Diana, she was in a regal posture, looking like a knight ready to throw itself into the fight. Diana left him the impression that she wasn't one to run away from a fight. He had a decision to make.
And he wasn't going to run away from it. After all, a concert was soon coming, and with it his decision.
Morgana enjoyed company, really she liked the idea of sharing tea with others, she never expected to be in the company of Ahri.
"So. How can I help you?"
Ahri looked around the room of Morgana, she was quite captivated by the many cooking tools she had in a wall. Truly it seemed Morgana enjoyed cooking more than she let on.
"I was passing by and thought I could chat with you"
Ahri smiled and Morgana laughed at the poor lie.
"Really you have no need for lies, tell me why you came here?"
Ahri sighed before pointing to the wall.
"Cid likes your cooking"
At this Morgana beamed with pride. She knew the therapist; her friend and tea partner enjoyed the food she made. He had showed to be an avid supporter of her talents.
"I know, and I find myself with pride knowing someone with a good taste in food likes my dishes"
Ahri smiled, this time honestly as her fangs showed in her smile.
"I was hoping you could teach me to cook"
Morgana face had been a mix of seriousness and happiness the whole time Ahri had been with her. Now it was mainly one of happiness. Ahri never knew Morgana could be so fast. She didn't noticed when she placed the cooking hat on her head. She only knew Morgana was smiling, and she felt a shudder at the image of a smiling Morgana.
"It shall be a pleasure to teach you how to cook, let us start"
Ahri was beginning to think maybe asking Morgana for help had been a bad idea.
Sona found herself in a conversation with Poppy and Lux. Or to be clearer, she was in the middle of their conversation.
"I should be able to go visit him in Noxus, I mean I can just change the light around me and be there"
Poppy sighed at Lux words.
"But how will you keep yourself invisible the whole day? I had to use a disguise"
Sona smiled at them. They were having a discussion regarding Cid day in Noxus, according to the agreement Swain had made, he would have to pass one day each week in Noxus, Lux had been worried. Poppy explained her that his first day had gone rather well.
Sona was simply caught in the middle as Lux demanded for her to decide.
"Isn't my plan better?"
Sona shrugged. She didn't thought Lux could hold her invisibility so long. It was magically taxing, Poppy was the more suited to keep him company.
Lux sighed at Sona.
"I just wished he didn't have to be in Noxus"
At this Sona nodded. Demacia wouldn't feel the same without Cid. She had hoped that if the Institute of War ever disappeared. He would just go back to Demacia with her, but thanks to the deal of Swain, he was pretty much to be always in Noxus.
Sona knew there was a more obvious option to who could go to Noxus. But she didn't want to subject Riven to it. If anyone asked her opinion, Riven was more fit to Ionia, she thought the peaceful air of Ionia was better for Riven.
"I hear anyone speaking of Draven place?"
The three champions looked at a waving Draven. He walked with a smile as he got close to them.
"Couldn't avoid hearing you speaking of Noxus, you girls want a tour?"
Sona signed at Draven.
"We were just wondering of Noxus"
Draven knew how to speak in sign language, mainly, because he was able to say his name in many languages. He spoke as he made the signs for everyone to understand.
"Draven gets you, if you want, feel free to ask me for a tour"
Lux was about to retort to Draven when an idea popped in her head.
"Think you could check on a friend of mine?"
Draven smiled as he thought how this would be fun.
Cid found himself hearing the soft knocking on the office door.
"Is open, you can enter"
He was expecting Leona and Diana, and he was surprised when he saw a huge armor of metal entering through the door. The armored figure looked at him as if with curiosity.
"Cid?"
He could only nod still surprised from the giant of metal.
"Good, here"
He opened his iron hand and let a couple of pieces of paper fall.
"Your tickets for the concert, Sona was busy so she asked me to give them to you"
Cid took them and nodded in thanks.
"Thanks…"
The iron giant understood the question.
"Mordekaiser, Master of Metal"
Cid nodded. Mordekaiser left seeing his job was done and Cid was surprised. How exactly had Mordekaiser managed to softly knock on his door?
Before he could begin to ponder on the mystery this time he felt a tapping on his shoulder. As he looked to the side he saw Diana. She was seemingly smiling.
"So. I see you met the Master of Metal… he can be quite tough at times"
Diana was seemingly holding from laughing. Cid did laugh, it had been a horrible joke, but he loved horrible jokes. A moment of laugh later he took notice of the figure walking behind Diana. Leona was looking conflicted if her body language was any indicator to Cid. Everything in her said a clear message.
"I rather not be here"
Cid looked at Diana and moved from the door offering them to enter.
Once they got inside Cid proceeded to leave. Yet a hand stopped him. Diana was looking at him.
"I would appreciate if you were to stay… I would like to have a witness here"
Cid nodded. He entered the room and sat behind his desk. He spoke nothing and let Diana speak.
"Leona… I would appreciate if you would stop trying to speak with me…"
Leona spoke her face seemed down.
"I just wanted to apologize… for what happened before… and I was hoping maybe we could get back what we had…"
Diana stayed silent. Yet she nodded.
"I accept your apologies. But I do not consider that we can go back to how we were…"
Leona seemed to wish to speak but Diana hand stopped her.
"Don't… I am not the same girl Leona, and you are not the same either… so I would appreciate if you stopped trying to get back to that past"
Leona nodded. She sighed before speaking again.
"Can we be friends?"
At this Diana looked surprised. Leona took it as cue to continue.
"I understand that what was in the past is no more… but I hoped maybe we could have a better future… one as friends… I am not the same woman you knew of the Solari… and I just wish to have a present with my friend"
Diana kept silent. She didn't expect that, and for a moment she seemed lost. And in the lost moments she experienced, he heard the therapist in her head.
Change in ourselves, must come from ourselves…
Leona was trying. Leona was changing from deep in herself, and she wanted Diana friendship. What she had lost before, she was trying to change, and the first step she took was accepting that she wouldn't be getting the past Diana. But she wanted the friendship of the Diana of today…
She looked at the therapist who had a smile in his face as he nodded.
He knew what she was asking.
Should I?
And the answer in his face had been obvious.
Go ahead
Diana sighed and looked at Diana. She placed her hand in front of her.
"I accept your friendship…"
Leona smiled and hugged Diana who immediately pushed her back, the action made Leona fall on her behind from the couch. Diana spoke looking at her sternly.
"No hugs… I don't go around hugging anyone…"
Leona chuckled. With a smile on her face even though she had been thrown off from the couch.
"You would hug me in the past though"
Diana stern glare was enough answer.
"Got it… not the past anymore…"
Leona stood up and offered her hand, Diana accepted the handshake and stood up.
"Good… I am glad we reached an agreement"
Leona nodded and smiled while looking at her.
"Can I hope for a huge one day?"
Diana sighed, she spun and left showing her back to Leona.
"Perhaps… in the future… who knows"
Leona beamed with enthusiasm at her words and left running behind her. Cid could only chuckle at the exchange that had happened. He smiled. He was happy for Diana, and the expression on Leona made him feel similar. He was happy.
Helping others had always brought a feeling of happiness to him… it was time to be selfish for once.
"Tomorrow… tomorrow I will be rather selfish…"
A laugh brought him out of his thoughts. He looked behind and saw Ahri with what seemed to be burnt cookies in a small plate.
"You being selfish? That's new… also… I hope you are not hungry… I wanted to surprise you… but I guess cooking is not my forte"
Cid took into the look of Ahri. She had marks on her cheeks of the obvious intents on cooking, and while she looked happy he could feel her downcast aura. He smiled and took one of the burnt cookies. Without thoughts or regards for his health he ate the whole thing.
Ahri was surprised. She didn't want him to eat them, if anything she brought them to make him smile and laugh at her intents on cooking. But she could feel the kindness in the act and found herself laughing while asking him.
"How is it?"
Cid coughed a bit and looked for a water jar close to the desk. After taking some water he spoke.
"Well… not the worst thing I have ever eaten, you need more practice you know?"
Ahri chuckled.
"I can imagine that, know mister selfishness, I feel selfish myself and demand a hug"
Ahri left the plate of cookies on the desk and opened her arms. Cid sighed and walked close to her. Ahri gave no chance of him closing his arms as she enveloped him in a hug with her arms and her tails, pulling him with her to the couch.
"My, look at you, so eager to be close to me"
Ahri chuckled at her own speech as Cid could only smile while looking at her. Her fangs showing on her smile, a clear signal she was happy. Before he could speak he felt a small weight behind him and Ahri smiled even more.
"Sona!"
Sona waved at them from her upper position in top of them. She had managed to come silently, which wasn't surprising as she always seemed unable to make any noise. Ahri stood and offered a space to her in the hug.
Sona watched this with curiosity and even though she waved at her in denial Ahri was having none of it as she took her in her arms, forcing her to clash with the therapist. The trio of friends were tightly joined thanks to Ahri arms and her tails working in unison to hug them.
"My best friends together with me in a couch, what else could I ask for?"
Cid chuckled looking at Sona who was watching at him with a blush in her face. She was tightly together with him and Ahri. Ahri and Cid laughed as Sona got red face, yet she was smiling in her inside enjoying the time with her friends.
Ahri was right. What was better than being with her best friends in a couch?
The future looked brilliant for the trio.
But it especially shined brighter for Sona. The concert of Pentakill was just around the corner. She was going to show Cid how cool she was. She knew it was unnecessary as Cid already knew of her talents. But this was a special moment to shine.
The future was looking hopeful.
Short one, but I wanted to show signs of activity plus this one was a short one already in my design.
Next chapter
Chapter 29: Are you ready?! Pentakill is here! I chose you.
