Hello everyone! Let us start this week in good energy! Did you notice? Tomorrow marks a full year of when I published the first chapter for this story, I feel rather proud of still being here after a year. Well enough of that! Thanks for your comments! And yeah, let us meet Syndra today!
Chapter 21: Therapy over the clouds
The rest of the dance was in simple and peaceful company. Some took to go away after a while, in the end, few were left in the area. Some wished to enjoy the relaxation without summoners for a while longer.
Some chuckled at Jax and Gragas both drinking while laughing. Graves and Twisted Fate had taken to play a game of cards with no clear winner. Mostly due to both cheating. Lucian had taken to speak with Vayne who was dressed in the colors of the event. No one knew why she had taken to dress for the dance, but no one dared to ask as she had a themed crossbow in her back after all.
On the table of a small group of friends, Sona and Draven were still talking. Or mainly Draven doing all the talking while Sona nodded. Cid found himself smiling noticing both were happy and relaxed according to their body language. So were Riven and Karma, Wukong, Nami, everyone seemed to be relaxing. Morgana had gone to rest.
Cid remembered the exchange they had while dancing:
"I hope you enjoy this dance Cid"
He nodded as he smiled at her.
"I am enjoying it… thanks for the dress again"
She smiled, the same smile he had come to like seeing. She got closer to him as they danced, they had been dancing always keeping a sort of respectful distance between them, but now Morgana had gotten close to him to whisper something.
Cid had been surprised at the words she whispered in his ear.
"I am glad you like the dress… it looks great on you, make us match"
He felt embarrassment flow over him with the close contact with her. But the embarrassment went away and turned to surprise at her next words.
"I would like to make my intentions clear… I intend to court you".
Blitzcrank. Cid shuddered a bit at the memory of the results. He did mention it could change from friendship under a change of variables. Had the variables changed between them? He had felt relaxed by looking at Sona and Draven. It seemed they were hitting well with each other, and he had felt that would allow their friendship to keep like that. A close friendship with no romance in it.
But Morgana was different from Sona. Morgana was no patient of his… she wasn't going to therapy with him. They were friends who ate together at night…
His thoughts were interrupted by the poke of someone behind his back. The whole table looked at the proud duelist who had gotten close.
"May I request a dance with the masked lady?"
Everyone was surprised at seeing Fiora smiling. The duelist didn't often smile outside of the battlefield. She looked actually happy, and Cid knew the smile she had was one of mischievousness. He simply smiled as he stood up to take her hand.
"Let us dance then, there is still time, right?"
Fiora nodded with excitement as she took him to dance. When they got into a nice rhythm Fiora was smiling while conversing with him.
"So, I see you decided to use a dress"
He chuckled.
"One could say that yeah"
Fiora laughed as they danced
"Is good to see you got a good taste, who did the design for the dress?"
It was his turn to laugh as he faked to be in thought.
"Oh I doubt you knew the designer name, she is rather unknown"
While they danced and joked. Someone with keen ears had been hearing everything that had been happening. She smiled at noticing how everyone around her seemed to be in good mood and relaxing. She took notice of her friends smiling and relaxing. But she could only feel how something ugly inside of her tried to show her discomfort. But that could wait for therapy.
Right now, that friend needed her support. And she would gladly give it.
"Ahri, I will take Nami to rest, you will be okay?"
Kong, always one to worry about her.
"I will be fine Kong, I will go back with Cid later"
Wukong smiled before nodding.
"Tell my rival I will also try to visit him"
She nodded.
"Will do Kong, make sure Nami gets safely to her room"
Wukong nodded before leaving her. Now the only one of the original group left was her and Cid. Sona had been escorted by Draven. Karma and Riven had gone their separate ways to rest after a while. And now only Cid and she were left. She looked at Fiora approaching again with a tired Cid.
"He is quite the dance partner, though he needs to rest, need help getting him to his office?"
Ahri smiled thankful at Fiora offer but waved her off.
"Don't worry, I will take him there"
Fiora smiled before nodding.
"Good, also, he praised you a lot while we danced, he said you are great at fixing hair"
Ahri found herself beaming at the small praise. She didn't expect Cid to mention it, but even more, she didn't understand why she failed to listen to it, probably her attention had been brought to something else for a moment. Whatever the case, she found herself standing and linking her arm with his.
"Well, time to get you some rest masked lady"
Cid chuckled before trying to keep himself steady.
"I must say, I didn't do much dancing, I was being guided the whole time, but I feel rather tired…"
Ahri smiled fondly at him, she was managing to keep him steady, with her strength and him being so light it wasn't hard. She found herself speaking her thoughts out loud.
"You looked great dancing"
Cid smiled at her.
"Thanks, I bet you would have looked better dancing"
She smiled while simply keeping him close, she noticed how tired he sounded. She wasn't sure if it was to help him balance or simply because she liked his presence. Maybe a bit of the two were her thoughts.
"You can be really charming when you are tired it seems"
The therapist chuckled before looking at the floor.
"And bad at remembering stuff, when I get tired…. I often don't remember how I end in places"
This caught her attention and waited for him to continue.
"I often fall asleep on my desk… but sometimes I find myself in the bed, and I'm not sure of how I move from the desk to the bed…. I don't recall sleepwalking… but whatever… the bed is comfortable you know?"
Ahri smiled nodding. He didn't know then.
"Sometimes… I feel like someone watches me sleep you know? But that's dumb, there is nothing interesting in watching me sleep"
Ahri kept herself relaxed. He was simply speaking everything as he had become tired. And she found this behavior of his extremely fun as if he was unable to keep his thoughts to himself when sleep was trying to get him.
"Did you saw Sona and Draven?"
Cid chuckled before answering, confirming her thoughts.
"Oh yeah, they are for one another… Sona is great at listening, and Draven loves to be the center of attention, they are a good match… so she will lose interest in me soon"
Ahri found herself surprised. He truly wasn't one to lie when he was tired. He never lied, but this was new.
"So, do you think Karma and Riven will hit off too?"
Cid hummed before answering. His head in the clouds.
"Oh, who knows… Karma is interested, but Riven emotions can be hard at times… she is not one to go fully accepting someone all of the sudden… she will have to be patient or she could scare Riven off you know?"
Ahri noticed how he was failing at keeping her pace at walking. She stood for a moment before taking to carrying him.
"You don't need too…."
She smiled before nodding.
"I need too, so rest Cid. I will leave you in your bed"
They had reached the office. And as Ahri simply kicked the door to open it, she noticed then how the fish was curiously looking at her. She winked at the fish who seemingly pointed to the sketches on the desk.
It pointed to one of her. It seemed Cid had been sketching a lot more recently.
"Well, aren't you a smart one?"
Cid noticed she wasn't speaking to him. And simply spoke.
"He doesn't have a name… I would thank you if you offered one"
Ahri looked at the fish before speaking something simple.
"Koi, what do you say?"
The fish simply seemed to move in approval before resuming his swimming in the small tank.
"I think he likes it"
Cid was with his eyes closed while being carried by Ahri, she proceeded to take the path she knew to his bed. After placing him in place she removed the mask from his face so he could rest. A part of her thought on removing the dress, but she thought better of it. He wouldn't mind sleeping in it.
"Thanks… you are great Ahri…."
Ahri found herself smiling at the praise. Even if it came from a rather tired therapist who seemed unable to hold his thoughts in place.
Maybe it would be to abuse his trust. But she wanted to know something.
"Do you love Sona?"
Cid seemed to be silent for an eternity to her, but it had been some seconds.
"I like her… but a therapist can't date its patients…"
She didn't relent. A part of her wanted him to rest, but this was a rare opportunity and she wanted to make the best of it.
"What happened with Morgana?"
He seemed to take longer to answer than last time but still spoke albeit tiredly.
"She…wants to court me…. Don't know why… I am a simple therapist…"
Ahri tensed a bit at the words, but another part of her was surprised at the sadness in his voice.
"Do you feel so undeserving of love?"
Cid seemed to have fallen asleep as he didn't answer that time. And as she made her way out she heard the soft word being spoken, had there been another sound she would have missed it.
"Yes..."
Her heart clenched. She hadn't made the right questions before, and it seemed the only good question she had made was the one with the saddest of answers… hopefully, he wouldn't remember any of the questions in the morning.
The morning for Cid was messy. He had to get out of the dress and had let the water tame his hair. But he felt that something had changed. What, he didn't know, but something had changed. The last thing he remembered was Ahri offering to take him to his office.
As he dressed for the day after getting himself clean he remembered the offer Karma had made him. He thought he could use a bit of time out of the Institute. Something told him it was a good time to get out.
As he opened the door he found himself with Ahri about to knock on the door.
"Oh, good morning Cid, I was hoping to know if you wanted to have breakfast together"
He was about to say yes when he thought something else.
"Can you tell me where to find Karma?"
Ahri was surprised at the question but nodded, she took his hand guiding him, she could notice he was still tired from the way he walked slower than usual. His glasses couldn't hide the thoughts in his eyes.
"Cid. What's going on?"
He yawned before speaking.
"Karma told me that maybe I could help a friend of her on Ionia, so I thought I could use the trip, so why not go right now?"
Ahri perked up at this. Maybe she could use the chance to show him her favorite places on Ionia.
"That's kind from your part, do you mind if I go with you?"
Cid shrugged seeing no harm in it.
"Sure, just tell Karma first"
When the group met with Karma she had been about to get breakfast, but she threw that idea out when she heard him ask if they could go to Ionia. Karma nodded and told them to wait as she brought a summoner she knew well.
Karma didn't take long in coming back with both Riven and the summoner with her. It didn't take long either for them to be teleported to the Placidium. And it didn't take long for Riven to help Cid with nausea.
"I know, teleporting can feel horrible, that's pretty much the reason the process is slower now"
Cid got his body back in order before speaking.
"You mean that was faster?! How could someone hold their insides with that?"
The three champions shrugged before Karma took to guide them. As they were all sitting in a room with food and tea Karma took to speak to Cid.
"My friend…. Is not really my friend Cid, in fact, you won't be able to find her by traditional means"
This brought the attention of Cid. What could she mean?
"Syndra is up in the sky, she has a flying fortress that keeps levitating through the use of her power"
Cid knew champions were incredible. But raising a whole fortress was something else.
"So… how you want to get me flying?"
Ahri and Riven were surprised at how Karma wanted to help Syndra. Syndra was one of the few champions who never stayed in the Insitute, she went for matches, and as soon as they were over she would go back to her fortress. No one was dumb enough to try to approach the Dark Sovereign. She wasn't the friendly type.
Some had approached her before. Mainly speaking Zed had spoken with her. But even then Syndra didn't show much friendliness.
As if their thoughts summoned him, a small circle of shadows appeared on the floor and Zed came from it. Riven and Ahri were about to attack before Karma spoke.
"He will be taking you there"
The other two were surprised. Cid simply was amazed.
"You are a ninja right?"
Zed seemingly shrugged before answering.
"Take a guess"
Cid found himself smiling.
"Impressive, I would never have thought someone could come out of the shadows like that"
Zed seemed to smile inside at the praise of his ability.
"Appreciate the compliment, but we don't have much time, Syndra castle will keep moving and I would prefer to get this done fast"
Before anyone could say anything, Zed took Cid from his shirt and threw him in the portal of shadows, as Zed entered afterward the portal close, leaving a gasping Riven and an angry Ahri.
"What?! He just went there alone?!"
Karma tried to reassure her friends.
"Don't worry, Zed has no ill intentions, if anything he wants to help Syndra too"
Riven was still grasping the situation.
"But… only Zed could reach the fortress, how can Cid come back if things go wrong?"
For a moment. Ahri anger reached the sky before she went outside to scream her frustration as Karma simply stayed silent.
"I trust Zed will keep him safe…"
Riven sighed before looking at her tea.
"He is good at staying alive… hopefully things will go well…"
Needless to say, Syndra hated those she deemed weaker. She hated weakness, power belonged to those who could wield it. And she also hated intruders. She hated weak intruders the most. And she hated them, even more, when they were destroying her fortress.
"Stop moving!"
When the portal opened Zed hadn't been able to keep it in the same place as before as the light had moved and so the shadows were not in the same place. This movement changed the location of the portal, meaning they were in the fortress, but not in the place Zed had hoped for. Instead, they had appeared right in front of a walking Syndra.
She never walked, she was always floating while showing off her power, but this time that she seemed to be relaxing in her fortress, not only did they interrupt her. But they had made her fall by accidentally tripping her. And she was angry.
The orbs didn't take long to materialize, the therapist had been able to jump away from the first orb. Zed had tried to move him away but ended up being pushed out of the area by a barrage of orbs. Zed tried to compose himself looking as Syndra attention was on another target.
Syndra was angry. And as her anger took away the ability to think she ended up doing something she didn't want to do, but her power lacked control at that moment.
When the sickening crunch of the left leg of the intruder was heard. Syndra anger went away in exchange by surprise at the figure of the intruder whose left leg was destroyed.
Cid expected many things of this visit. But not losing the newest leg. Not like that. The leg had made a horrible noise after being destroyed with the powerful orb that materialized in the proximity, he was glad it had been the prosthetic leg and not any other part of his body. Now he couldn't walk. But it seemed the sound it had done had paralyzed Syndra.
Zed was surprised too. He had never seen Syndra do something like that. It seemed the only one who wasn't paralyzed, was Cid as he spoke.
"Well… that happened… mind… helping me stand?"
Syndra was trying to speak as Zed moved faster and helped the therapist.
"Thanks, now… I will not make you responsible for my leg… but I would like something in exchange. I want to chat with you"
Syndra was in shock at seeing how calm the man without a leg spoke. Was he not in pain?
Zed was in a similar state of thought until he heard the distinct sounds of metal.
"Man, this thing was great… know what, forget standing up, let us all seat together shall we?"
As Cid took to sit on the floor with one leg in the front and the other destroyed. Zed simply sat with his legs crossed, still at the ready to fight back if Syndra did anything.
Syndra fell unceremoniously on the floor pointing at the leg.
"Is… is it…"
Cid guessed what she was thinking.
"Is a prosthetic leg, I lost my real leg on a battlefield long ago. But we are not here about me, we are here about your lack of control"
Syndra anger flared before the man in front of her pointed at her.
"That lack of control just now! Don't go getting angry, if anyone has the right to feel angry here is me and you don't see me lashing out do you?"
Syndra stayed angry before sighing.
"Who are you… why are you here?"
Cid smiled before answering.
"That's better, conversation works great. I am a therapist for the Institute, the name is Cid. No last name, just Cid. And I was brought here by Zed. Karma told me you needed help so I came here"
Syndra anger turned to confusion.
"Karma? Elder Karma?"
Cid was in thought before answering.
"She doesn't look that old to me, but yeah, she asked me to see you"
Syndra anger flared and for a moment Zed thought he would have to take the therapist away through a portal fast.
"Why would she want to help me, are you able to cancel my powers? Or will you try to lock them like they did before? That might have worked in the past, but I'm stronger than back then so it will not work I assure you…"
Syndra started to prepare her orbs, and Zed was tense for a moment before the man at his side simply laughed.
"Do I look like someone who can do that? If I could do that, wouldn't I have done it before you destroyed my leg?"
Syndra orbs faded with his laugh and her anger was replaced with confusion again as she saw the therapist of the institute. He didn't seem like he was lying. If anything, she now took on his aspect. Frail, not intimidating in the least, he had eyes that seemed to take on everything around him. But in no way did she felt threatened by his presence.
"I do not understand… if you got no magic nor any ability… why were you ask to help me? Help me with what for starters?"
Cid hummed before speaking.
"Let us start with your superiority complex, or your anger issues, maybe even why you put so much distrust on others, or even better. Tell me how you destroyed my leg"
Syndra found herself with anger. How dare he speak to her like that.
And it came to her. His words made sense.
"I… I focus my power, I can create an orb that destroys its surroundings, that way I destroyed your leg as the orb was where… your knee would have been"
Cid nodded before pointing to the prosthetic leg.
"Would you have enjoyed watching me bleed to death? Because that's pretty much what would have happened with my real leg"
Syndra looked horrified for a moment.
"No! I just wanted you two gone from this place"
Cid noticed her reactions and spoke again.
"Is a good day outside right? What do you say we all go see the sky, surely there is an open place to see it in your fortress right?"
Syndra and Zed were shocked at the easy way he spoke. Syndra nodded before motioning for them to follow. Zed helped the therapist stand. Cid found himself being able to keep balance, but the prosthetic leg wouldn't hold the day. But it would hold enough as to allow him the steps to hopefully reach outside.
"Here… you can see the sky from here"
Zed found himself observing Syndra figure, she looked… relaxed. Totally different from the way she had been before.
He had offered to help Karma with the whole issue of Syndra because he wanted to help her. Syndra brought Zed memories of himself. He wasn't sure if they could be similar outside of their powers casting them away from others. But still, he wasn't sure what had brought the desire to help her came from, but he was glad it seemed this therapist could help…
But it was scary. He was able to pull out something from the people around him. He wasn't a being Zed was fond of having close. Whatever he did, it was able to simply take the truth out. Without even being invasive it seemed. And such an ability would do wonders in order for his order to get secrets and the knowledge to be the ones in charge…
He would have to fake to befriend the therapist… he would learn the secret of his craft.
His thoughts were interrupted as he heard the sound of the therapist falling on the floor.
"Well… my leg gave out, but I can see the sky from here so it works out"
Syndra watched with curiosity at the therapist who had a smile on his face. He had no leg, he was with his back on the floor, and he had no means of defense. He was exposed in the presence of two powerful champions, and he seemed to not care at all of his own safety…
"Hey, are you okay Syndra?"
She was even more curious, he was asking her if she was okay when he should be worried about himself…
"Yes… I am"
She also found herself unable to avoid speaking. Even Zed seemed to be in slight discomfort with the therapist.
"Good… well, I will be unable to move for a while, so why not tell us a story for example, where are we?"
Syndra found herself speaking of her flying fortress and the treason of her master. How he dared consider her power should be locked. Her power was hers to be free and for her to do whatever she wanted with it.
No one could tame her power, and it didn't need to be tamed, she could easily do whatever she wishes with it.
"Like breaking my prosthetic leg"
At this, she looked guilty for a moment.
"It wasn't my intention to do it…"
Cid chuckled.
"Accidents happen, ask Zed. I bet he didn't want to bring us to your fortress at that exact spot"
Zed nodded. He was silently observing what was happening. He needed to know how the therapist did what he did.
"The point is Syndra. You could have actually finished me off, and it would have been an accident… but that doesn't mean it was okay"
Syndra looked at the floor for a moment. But the laugh of Cid brought her attention.
"Don't get gloomy with me, look at the sky up there, I never thought I would be so close to the clouds, you got this impressive view of the sky for yourself over here, if I had such a view, I would be smiling all the time"
Syndra found herself smiling looking at the sky. Feeling as if she brought her hands up and stretched she could hold the clouds.
"Yeah… the sky is amazing from up here…"
Cid nodded from his position on the floor before speaking again surprising both Zed and Syndra.
"And that's only possible because your power Syndra when you are in control, you can do amazing things. I don't know anyone who ever managed to lift a fortress in the sky, and keep it floating"
Zed and Syndra were shocked at his words, as he kept speaking their surprise only grew.
"Your power is yours only, you do with it whatever you want. No one should tell you how to use it, but there is nothing wrong with being more in control of it, I mean… the world is full of people with powers that are amazing… I know someone who can easily teleport all over, and I know someone who could probably move mountains with her power"
He took a moment to look at the sky before going on.
"But none of them act superior… if anything they are trying to find a purpose… to do something bigger than themselves, to try to find something that makes them feel they are doing well… tell me Syndra, do you feel you are well in your fortress over the sky?"
He looked at her with his eyes full of something that wasn't stern or strict emotions, no, he was asking her with something more akin to an old man speaking with a child.
"Are you telling me your purpose is to stay angry floating in the sky? Is that all that there is in your life?"
Syndra kept quiet. Her body shuddering with emotions. She made orbs surround her as she spoke with a firm tone in her voice.
"Go away from my fortress…now"
As the orbs took speed while surrounding her Cid could only nod as Zed started to make a portal to get them out.
"If you wish to resume this chat. Find me in the institute, or send me a message through Karma or anyone in Ionia, surely you know someone who can send me a message"
As he ended his sentence an orb appeared again close to his prosthetic leg.
"I said go out now… didn't you hear me?"
He nodded, and Zed took him away. It didn't take long to appear back in the Placidium, he tossed the therapist on the floor in the entrance of the Placidium. He didn't want to stay close to him longer, he had much to think about.
Zed was surprised they had managed to get out unscathed. But he was more surprised at how the words of the therapist had made him feel. And they weren't directed at him. So how would Syndra be feeling? How would the target of the words of a man who seemed to carry the wisdom of someone older affect the dark sovereign?
In the flying fortress, something that hadn't ever happened had taken place. It lost altitude. It had been a short moment, but for a few seconds, the fortress in the sky had lost altitude. It wasn't noticeable by anyone who might be seeing it from afar.
But the point is that it happened. As she screamed in frustration, her fortress had lost altitude. And it was because his words replayed in her head.
"Is that all that there is in your life?"
She couldn't avoid screaming her frustration.
"What does he know! He has nothing that makes him special! Nothing! What does he know?! How does he dare speak like that to me?!"
She looked at the ground in frustration. He had dared to act as if he knew her as if he understood how she felt. No one could get her, she wasn't like anyone else. So how could he even try to understand her?
She kept looking in anger at the floor as she heard his voice again.
"Don't get gloomy with me, look at the sky up there, I never thought I would be so close to the clouds, you got this impressive view of the sky for yourself over here, if I had such a view, I would be smiling all the time"
She looked at the sky, it was as blue as it had always been. Up here the sky was always peaceful, always a beautiful sky…
A sky that was lonely…
"I hate you…"
She kept speaking those thoughts. Of how she hated the man that had brought bad news to her. The sky had always been blue and peaceful. And now it was the witness of how alone she felt. She could do nothing but stand and look at the sky.
"I hate you Cid…"
How dare he make her look like a child.
Ahri had been the first to rush to the entrance of the Placidium when the guards mentioned a frail man with glasses on the outside of the Placidium. She took Cid and gave him a tight hug, she had been worried. Karma and Riven had been worried too, but they had been able to have the company of each other to relax. But she had taken to walk around in the garden waiting tiredly of hearing news.
When she took Cid and notice the state of his prosthetic leg she felt anger coursing through her. The next time she faced Zed or Syndra they would have to be careful. She was going to be bringing pain. And even more, she found herself angry at Cid defending Syndra actions.
"You could have died!"
He chuckled as she was carrying him.
"You know, with how much you carry me others would get a wrong idea of our friendship"
She wasn't letting her anger fade. She was frustrated at the lack of self-preservation Cid had.
"She destroyed your leg! She could have killed you if it was the real one!"
He sighed before speaking looking at her in the eyes as she was carrying him.
"It was an accident… she didn't want to kill me, hurt me, yeah, but her intentions were in no way to end my life"
She sighed in frustration, they were in the garden and she placed him on the soft grass, she positioned herself on top of him. Capturing his attention and making sure he wouldn't move. They were going to have a conversation he wanted too or not.
"What would have happened if she killed you? You think Zed would have brought you here?"
He noticed the look in her eyes. And he found himself unable to lie.
"He did throw me in the entrance though, it has to count for something"
Ahri kept looking at him. She was expecting a better answer. And he knew it.
"… I don't know, I fear I do not know Zed that much"
Ahri kept on top of him. She wasn't going to let him go.
"Cid…do you think you dying would help anyone?"
He sighed. He already knew that answer.
"No… it wouldn't help anyone"
She sighed and tried to keep her composure.
"If anything… it would bring a lot of sadness…Riven would be sad, Sona would be sad, Morgana, Zac… you got friends you know? Kong even calls you a rival and looks to see you all the time to challenge you, but is just his way of showing you are his friend…I would be sad"
Cid saw the beginnings of tears forming on her face.
"Ahri…"
"Cid!"
Riven and Karma came looking for him in the garden, they had seen the position Ahri was but didn't ask her anything as she stood up and helped him to stand.
"I am so sorry Cid… I didn't expect Syndra to hurt you… is all my fault"
Cid waved them off before speaking.
"Is no one faults but mine Karma, I should have been more careful… but if it makes you feel better, you can make it up to me by getting me a crutch and getting us some food"
Karma smiled before nodding and going to get him a crutch. As he took to support himself with Ahri, Riven spoke.
"How was she?"
Cid sighed.
"Angry, she carries a lot of anger with her, and a superiority complex was born from her anger and her views on others. She surely destroyed the spot where I was after Zed took me out"
Riven nodded.
"You are always getting into danger, aren't you?"
Cid sighed as Ahri grip got tighter on him.
"Someone needs to help… even if I fail at first, I have to keep it up"
Riven sighed before giving him a soft pat on the shoulder. She smiled but her face was serious.
"You are a good therapist Cid. But some people don't like help, make them feel weak… so give time to those people… you know not everyone can be helped"
Cid sighed as Ahri spoke.
"She is right, some don't like help, and will keep refusing it, chances are some might even come to hate you for even offering to help… let this case rest"
As Karma came and offered a crutch, Ahri released him albeit slowly. Riven took notice of this and was about to question Ahri on it before Karma spoke.
"Well, is only fair I invite you to a special place to eat, you will see some traditional dishes of Ionia"
Cid smiled at the promise of food.
"Lead the way! I could really use a good meal"
Karma smiled leading the way, Cid walked fast behind, Ahri and Riven noticed the easiness in which he moved with the crutch. He was used to it…
Cid was in thought while walking behind Karma.
He couldn't just make someone change. Sometimes making them see the truth of what they were doing was hard. But Cid couldn't just give up. He knew the look on Syndra. Loneliness. She had the sky around her, and no one to share it with… what was the use of having endless power if it ended up alienating you from everyone else...
Syndra was powerful. And in the intentions to keep her power in check, they had ended up making her feel different, and a bad different. She ended up alienating from others, superiority and anger had made her someone prone to loss of control. She was probably more dangerous to herself in such state that she couldn't keep control of her power.
Cid didn't like the idea of a fortress falling over a small town…
Or the idea of a small town being raised from the land only to be thrown…
Too much power… in the hands of someone who lacked control.
It spelled disaster.
He could only hope Syndra would find balance in herself.
Riven was in thought as they made their way to the place Karma had pointed. She wanted to ask Ahri about the position they found her in the garden. She didn't know how to ask.
Ahri who was more experienced in body language and emotions could clearly see what Riven was thinking, she approached her before speaking.
"I was worried about him"
Riven thoughts and plans were interrupted as Ahri spoke.
"Oh… is just, it seemed you were going to do something to him"
Ahri chuckled.
"Like what? Scratch his face?"
Riven shrugged.
"I thought kissing him"
Ahri steps halted right there as Riven kept walking. Riven kept on walking when Ahri got close to her.
"Why would you get that idea?"
Her face was red as Riven spoke again.
"I read it in a book, the guy kissed the girl after making sure she was safe. You two ended up making me remember it"
A part of Ahri was happy that Riven education was going great, another was worried what sort of books she was reading.
"Who recommended you such a book?"
Riven smiled before speaking.
"Sona recommended me a lot of books last time we spoke, I been reading them, though really slowly I must admit"
Sona taste for literature was one for romances and fantasy it seemed.
"I see… well I hope you enjoy them"
Riven smiled before nodding.
"So far they are nice, though I think is weird"
Ahri looked with curiosity.
"What is weird then?"
Riven hummed before answering.
"They both like each other, but no one says it, I think is… dumb, why hide their feelings?"
Ahri was in thought before nodding.
"Why indeed…"
Cut!
I will be trying a small experiment this week, releasing daily chapters of 6k words. Is a small experiment for myself, hopefully, a successful one. Hope you enjoyed this chapter! We will meet again tomorrow in chapter 22!
Also, thanks everyone who reviewed the last chapter! I promise we will get some Kai Sa, just not right now sadly I fear. Maybe a couple of chapters if all moves as I want.
Chapter 22: The meaning of balance.