AN: This is not me adapting a more frequent update schedule, just me being bored because my students have just finished finals and enjoying their summer holiday. Also, do you think this pacing is a bit too slow? I think it's pretty reasonable but I'm afraid some make feel that 6 chapters in and nothing of importance has happened.
"Never let go of your emotions. Hold onto it, but keep a tight reign. Channel it foremost not to slay the foes in the front, but to protect the comrades on your back. A thousand cries of outrage never worth more than a tighter grip of your shield."
It was what aunt Tianna had said to her as they surveyed the soldiers practicing their forward shield formation - one of the rare times the High Marshal didn't look at her niece with contempt or disdain. Lux had all but yelled at her aunt, saying that the woman only ever wanted her to fall in line and be a good little soldier serving the throne. That Tianna only ever cared about the duty and honor of the Crownguard heiress instead of what the girl Luxanna felt because she never had feelings in the first place. Lux had expected her aunt's wrath at the defilement of the family's name and blatant insult at her dignity, not a long-suffering sigh and awkward silence as she turned back to the training field.
"Twenty-five years, Luxanna. Twenty-five years I and your father have bled for our family's honor. Your uncle had died for it. To be the King's shields, it is a duty your brother alone cannot bear. Hold onto your spark, but do not let our legacy burn down with it."
She was sure then that her aunt hadn't just talked about her feelings, or her unwillingness to follow in her brother's footsteps. Tianna Crownguard had dedicated her whole life to the family name, wore it with pride, and defended it with fervor, even with the blood of fellow Demacian if necessary. But as intense as her dislike for the women was, Lux could see that she cared for her kinsman in her way, her role in arranging Lux's marriage to the Prince a testament to that.
The woman in front of her reminded Lux of aunt Tianna, if not in the latter's awe-inspiring stature and commanding presence then in her attitude. Emily Piggot, or Director Piggot as she was to address her, wore a tight expression that barely changed during their whole meeting, her furrowed brows and pressed lips the only indication of her thoughts. The woman spoke with a constant edge as she questioned Lux's circumstance and probe at her story, narrowing her eyes ever-so-slightly every time Lux left out parts that she wasn't willing to divulge. Someone whom only decorum prevented from showing her contempt. Someone you could trust to do right by you, if not with your best interest at heart so long as yours didn't cross hers.
She had given her a choice; a pretense of one as far as Lux was concerned, but one nonetheless. She would be in their temporary employ, and in return they would provide her with accommodation, money, and security. A sort of exchange program as she had said, one that would let her enjoy the full benefit of the 'Wards' in their roster and avoid the risks of independent 'rogue'. Her further explanation had all but stated that Lux had no choice in the matter, being a person out of place and likely out of time with no identity or qualification to speak of. All of that, with only a vague promise to contact the 'higher-ups' for the resource to search for her homeworld.
As someone who had received training in deals and politics, Lux was aware that her hands were tied. Both of them knew that she was in no position and without a means to obtain the knowledge to question or contradict any of Piggot's claims. Even the allowed period to think over her choice was just a farce when there was little chance for her to obtain the proper information from sources that were controlled by or biased toward them.
She didn't like it, but there was nothing Lux could do. True enough, Emily Piggot didn't outright force her into anything, but she painted a picture where Lux would be stupid not to take the offer, and the Director didn't have to give up her benefit out of the goodness of her heart, or may straight-up benefit from it.
Lux agreed.
As she left the room with Lev, Miss Militia had been waiting outside with two other people, a young girl and a middle-aged man, both looking frazzled and on edge. She could only briefly catch a dejected expression on the girl's lowered head before the trio disappeared behind the double door. Lev had assured her that they were just there for application to the Ward program but ... something about the girl felt familiar. Not in the sense that she had known her from somewhere but some sort of deja vu as if she reminded Lux of someone in the past. Someone that invoked a sense of regret and resignation. At least Lev assured her that Lux could meet her later if the application succeeded.
"I'm not saying that it's a bad thing, but do you always go around trying to cheer up every lost puppy and sad person you see?" Came her companion's joking question.
Did she? "Not really." She didn't think of herself as that kind of person. "But if there is a chance to make their day just a bit better, I don't see why not. It ... gives me a sense of purpose, I think. To be granted all these power and privileges and use it for something good."
"Ah ... with great power comes great responsibility?"
"I ... guess?" It felt like there was some sort of joke she was missing from the way Lev was snickering, but she digested.
The next hour was filled with chatter as Lev guided her through the PRT base's facility, stopping occasionally by places of interest even though she didn't have the authorization to do more than staring at nameplates and staring through glass windows. They just talked and talked, about their favorite colors, food, songs, and everything in between. It felt nice. Pleasant. To just have a chat about random nothings with someone who cared little for her status as a Crownguard. Even when among the fugitive mages there was a deep sense of distance, an invisible wall between them that can't be crossed no matter how many times she tried to help.
"And here we are. Our last destination: the Gym, where our heroes and Ward practice their basic combat training. Hand to hand and basic weaponry. It's open to the public tour since there's not much you could just find in any other high school gym, but the equipment is still designed to be more durable and effective for minor Brute power."
Somewhere during their tour, Lev had given her a basic explanation of the power categories and what their corresponding threat ratings meant. Lux didn't think she was entirely comfortable with such an ... antagonistic approach, but she could sort of understand why they needed it as it was. Lux guessed she could be classified as having a Blaster power with a touch of Shaker and Stranger but for some reason, it just didn't feel right.
"Too bad it's not often used these days. Sometimes some of the Ward would hold training sessions as a presentation for visitors, but generally, our capes just go to the much more advanced combat simulation room, and our troopers have their own training facility." Lev walked to one of the 'devices', a thick metal rod with two heavy-looking wheels seemed to be made of granite. He grabbed the middle of the rod and ... just lifted it up with one hand as if it weighed nothing at all. "I think one or two do train here regularly, like Shadow Stalker, but only because they prefer the isolation, and they generally come at times when it's unlikely others would walk in on them."
Curious, she looked at the various devices on the nearby shelf, particularly one that looked much smaller with a handle that seemed it would fit on her hand. Lux gripped tightly and pulled.
The thing didn't even budge.
She could tell Lev was struggling to hold in his laughter as she huffed and puffed trying to lift the thing with both hands to no avail. He twirled his unwieldy-looking device like one would a walking stick before shouldering the thing. Lux pouted. Showoff.
"The dumbbells here are tinkertech with adjustable weight. Anywhere from 20 pounds to 700. They of course have a safety feature to instantly drop the weight if the user drops it to prevent training accident." Lev's hand swept to another set of shelves behind him. "And over here we have the..."
The 'dumbbell' on Lev's shoulder collided with the shelf with a resounding clang.
Lux only had a second to realize the device sagged heavily on his hand. She only had time to throw out her hand with a mental command. Her magic latched onto the light, forcing it to coalesce into a sphere of arrested movement, catching Lev in an awkward-looking kneeling position just before he was crushed by the device.
"Well," The man laughed nervously. "At least we know the safety feature sucks. Thank god you can do this. Honestly a weight..."
"Please don't."
"...off my shoulder."
She didn't consider just releasing her magic and let the dumbbell crush him. But it was a close thing. Very close.
"What the fuck are you doing here?"
She turned toward the entrance to see a person, a girl if their figure and height were any indications. The girl was wearing a metal mask and very ominous clothing with a large black hooded cloak. On her hips were two crossbows, their glinting bolts strapped onto her vambraces and even more onto her belt along with two small knives.
"Hi, Shadow Stalker." Lev's voice from behind her announced the girl's identity.