Yo! Let us keep going, shall we? I apologize for the lack of updates, got sick for a while, but I am back!

Chapter 22: The meaning of balance.

"Welcome to the best place I can offer you all, is rather private too"

Karma spoke smiling as she motioned them to what actually looked like a small house. As they entered Cid took notice of the girl in the middle of the place, the girl wore her long hair in a ponytail, she had a knife in her hand and her blue jacket in the style of Ionia made it sure to prove she was a local.

The small place had many chairs in front of the girl. There were some tables at the sides, but Cid guessed the plus of the place was having the chef cooking in front of you.

Her stare looked like that of a fighter, and when looking at Karma relaxed.

"Lady Karma, is an honor to have you in my place today"

Karma chuckled before waving her off.

"Is just Karma, no need for formalities Akali, I brought some guests today. I'm sure they will enjoy your cooking"

Akali nodded looking at the known faces of the Institute. Only the man with the crutch was new to her.

"Greetings, please seat where you wish, today is a slow day"

As they all sat in front of her, she kept eyeing once in a while at the man with the crutch. She was curious.

"So Karma, who are your guests?"

Karma motioned them.

"You already know Riven and Ahri, but the most recent addition to my group of friends is Cid. He works as a therapist for the Institute, I can vouch he is good"

Karma smiled remembering his supportive words when they spoke. Akali felt the change on the aura of Karma, seeing her smile openly and considering the truth in her words.

"I see, is a pleasure to meet you Cid"

He smiled back.

"Thanks, the pleasure is mine Akali"

She nodded as she kept preparing something for them. While usually, one would wait for the customers to order, Akali wasn't like most. She would prepare food and simply offer it, she knew the people would always enjoy her dishes.

Plus she was used to knowing perfectly what Karma always ordered, so it wasn't hard to guess she would ask the same for everyone as they were here guests.

"Akali is a great chef, she always knows what I want to eat"

Akali smiled at the praise.

"Thanks, is only a hobby honestly"

Karma waved her off before pointing to the place around her.

"She opened this business a while ago, she is great, whenever she is not being a ninja with Shen and Kennen you can find her here"

She shrugged at the comment.

"Being a ninja for the order of Kinkou is good, but it doesn't honestly offer much entertainment, one needs a hobby to keep balance"

Cid smiled nodding.

"True, everyone got hobbies in here"

Akali eyebrow arched slightly in curiosity at his statement.

"Oh, and do you know those hobbies?"

Cid nodded.

"Karma likes reading, Riven enjoys napping in the library, Ahri loves to relax simply by throwing herself on pillows or playing games, and you like to cook… but I would dare say it mostly falls on the handling of the knife and that you like to feed the cats surrounding your place"

Karma smiled nodding, Riven looked sheepish before admitting she did indeed enjoyed napping on the library, Ahri simply commented the Arcade group all got together to play once in a while.

Akali almost lost the handle of the knife at the mention.

Before she could ask how he knew about the cats he pointed at her sash.

"You got a smiling cat there, plus I saw some cats on the surroundings, they didn't look like simple strays, so I guessed someone feeds them, and I guess by their proximity to the place, that is you right?"

Akali kept focused on cooking, but her focus had wavered.

"I didn't know you were a mind reader"

Cid chuckled before pointing to his glasses.

"All the details are out there, waiting to be placed together, is not reading minds as much as is understanding how things work"

Akali hummed. Relaxing at the mention he didn't read minds.

Ahri chuckled at the small demonstration of the skills of Cid.

"He is good at noticing details, he is a good therapist"

Akali nodded, her focus on finishing the dish.

"I can see why"

Riven looked intently at Akali, or more exactly what she was doing.

"What do you call that?"

Akali presented them with a tray full of thinly cut fish, together with bits of rice.

"We call it sashimi, is something you can get easily on Ionia, but mine is special"

Karma nodded before taking a bit of the fish.

"Akali makes the best sashimi of Ionia, some locals have taken to call this place Sashimi Akali"

For a moment Akali looked angry.

"I can do more than sashimi, but it seems it became too popular"

Everyone nodded after tasting the fish. Ahri was the first to speak.

"Is amazing, I can honestly see why they would come over here a lot"

Akali nodded thanking her for the praise.

"They often come later, this place gets rather packed in the night, well, as long as I am not going on a mission with Shen and Kennen"

Karma nodded before speaking.

"The order focuses heavily on keeping the balance"

Cid found himself nodding before speaking.

"Syndra could surely use some balance in her life"

Riven nodded before taking another mouthful of fish. The mention of Syndra captured the attention of Akali.

"The Dark Sovereign? Are you familiar with her?"

Cid nodded pointing at the crutch resting at his side.

"She is the reason I need a crutch, though she didn't mean to destroy my prosthetic leg"

Akali found that hard to believe but nodded.

"I see… how did you reach the flying fortress?"

Akali looked at Karma waiting for an answer but Cid spoke first.

"I got teleported there, you know a summoner did us the favor"

Akali sighed.

"I find it noble from your part to lie to keep Karma out of this. But I know no one can be teleported to see Syndra… you asked Zed didn't you?"

She pointed the question at Karma who focused on her food.

"She didn't mean to cause any problems Akali… please don't look at her like that"

Akali focused her eyes on the therapist before sighing.

"You know nothing about Zed… if you knew, you would be angry"

Cid shrugged at the statement waving it off.

"I doubt it, is hard to get me angry"

Akali seemed in thought before speaking to him, hoping to try his so-called big patience.

"So you wouldn't get angry if I pointed your girlish looks?"

Cid nodded.

"Not at all, but I would be thankful if you told me how to do the ponytail you are wearing, is fitting for a princess"

Riven and Ahri giggled at this and as Akali looked at the therapist with a threat on her tongue she noticed his stare.

He had played her, he knew what she had tried to do.

"Don't go around playing that game Akali, especially against someone who has more experience in it"

Before she could say anything, Cid pointed to his hair.

"You think I haven't heard every possible comment? I even wore a dress to a dance, albeit that was recently"

Akali was about to ask why before Ahri spoke.

"He looked great in it though, he was the masked lady of the dance, didn't you saw him?"

Akali waved it off.

"I didn't attend the Heart seeker dance, shame, I find myself curious about you in a dress"

Before he could speak Riven took the word.

"He looks good, honestly he should wear them more often"

Cid chuckled.

"Don't count on it, but thanks for the compliments you two"

Ahri and Riven nodded as they kept eating. Cid looked at his leg. Or what was left of it.

"Think Viktor will make me a new one?"

Akali was surprised at the mention of the Herald.

"Sure, he seems to like you, I mean I never saw him chatting with someone so much"

Akali voiced her thoughts.

"Are you friends with the Herald?"

Cid stopped eating to answer her.

"I guess, he is a really nice guy when you get to chat with him… different sure, but he is honestly nice, he has good intentions, need to find another way to show them. But he is really nice when you take the time to know him"

Akali was surprised.

"How many of the champions do you know?"

She found herself looking at him with curiosity as he mentioned the many champions he had met. Akali was getting surprised with each name, mostly because some of those were conflicting between each other, she never guessed someone would take the time, or have the patience to hear the stories of so many different beings.

"You are…"

Karma giggled already expecting the answer.

"Weird…"

Cid nodded.

"Weirdest out there, unless someone else wishes to fight for the title, in which case I would gladly give it away"

Akali ended up smiling as she cleaned her knife.

"You are interesting, I think Shen would benefit from hearing your story"

Cid nodded before remembering.

"We have met, though it was mostly us crossing paths for a moment, big ninja dude right?"

Akali chuckled at the description of the leader of the order.

"Yeah, often looking rather intimidating"

Cid nodded.

"Yeah, crossed paths when I was taking care of Taliyah for Yasuo, seems like a good guy, if a bit too serious"

Akali sighed. If only he knew.

"You can say it again"

As the sashimi got destroyed by the appetites of everyone Akali offered them something to drink.

Akali recommended them an alcoholic drink of Ionia to celebrate, Cid had to deny the offer and asked for water instead.

"I been leaving alcohol for long now, don't think my body could handle it"

Akali nodded. Ahri did accept the offer and Riven too. Karma like Cid preferred water.

By the end of the nice meal, Karma was walking in the company of Riven who seemed had a high tolerance for alcohol. Cid was walking with them, but his crutch had been replaced by a smiling Ahri whose cheeks were red. It seemed she was a light weight for alcohol.

"That was great! We should visit Akali again!"

Cid found himself nodding at her words before pointing to the Placidium.

"Mind telling me where she will be sleeping? I doubt she will be able to walk for long"

Karma nodded before pointing to a guard.

"Just tell him to direct you to the guest rooms, he will take you to one and you can leave Ahri there"

Cid nodded as Karma approached Riven.

"Enjoying Ionia so far?"

Riven nodded.

"Is peaceful, I like visiting Ionia, especially with my friends"

Karma smiled before pointing to the gardens.

"Would you like to walk with me in the garden?"

Riven smiled while nodding.

"I was curious of them, so I would enjoy it very much"

The pair proceeded to walk to the garden. Not knowing someone was having a hard time dealing with someone who had been affected by alcohol.

"Come on! Sleep with me!"

Cid had troubles getting out of the room because of some peculiar reasons.

When the guard had pointed him to the guest rooms and proceeded to take Ahri, the champion had taken to push him to the floor while taking his crutch away. Without his crutch he was unable of walking and moving back to the outside.

"Ahri, please move…"

The second reason, was that Ahri was over him acting like a wall to stop him from standing.

"No! Sleep here!"

He sighed before trying and failing to move her.

"Come on Ahri, just move and let me go"

Ahri changed positions, and Cid thought that for a moment he was free, but as he was trying to stand a tackle from behind ended up making him fall. His fall was cushioned by the body of Ahri and her tails that were in a possessive move enveloping him.

"No! You are going to stay with me tonight!"

Cid sighed simply letting her hug him. Offering resistance would only make her hug him tighter.

"Okay, for starters is not so late as for going to sleep"

Ahri seemed to sigh as her hold on him didn't relent.

"So? Take a nap here then"

Cid felt this side of Ahri was hard to deal with. Alcohol often had that effect on people. He would find himself spilling every thought in his head, and that was a dangerous thing…

"Come on Ahri, is not proper, just let me go"

Cid tried to move but, in the end, it proved futile. Ahri had taken to stay silent while hugging him. He sighed as his last intent on escaping failed. So, he just took to let himself rest, hopefully fooling her he was falling asleep.

A poke in his cheek was the measure to see his tiredness.

"You are sleeping?"

Cid closed his eyes hoping to fool her. If anything, he only felt the soft hands of Ahri taking his glasses away. Now he wouldn't be even able to see even if she released him, it seemed the plan had backfired.

Ahri hug seemed to get tighter as she placed the glasses elsewhere.

"You feel like sleeping?"

Cid kept quiet, faking as if he was asleep when suddenly he felt Ahri cheek clashing with his, it was obvious she wasn't believing him.

"Why do you worry about Syndra?"

Now he was sure she wasn't falling for his trick.

"I think she has the ability to do incredible things, and I think she will be wasting her life with all the anger she carries… she will end up like him…"

Ahri felt the sadness radiating from him.

"You… you have seen this before?"

Cid sighed, memories of the recently born therapist in his mind.

"People say…we don't know everything… and is true. We believe we do, but we don't… I thought I knew everything… and I paid the price of that, of believing I knew what I was doing"

"I feel dumb…. what's the use of this?"

Cid removed his glasses as he tried to clean them.

"You need a job, we got to find something you are good at…"

The young man in front of him looked at the mess of a painting in front of him.

"How is trying to paint a job?"

Cid shrugged.

"Some people pay a good money for their portraits, why not learn to sketch?"

The young man shrugged.

"This is stupid, you don't even know how to sketch Cid"

Cid smiled.

"Then let us learn together"

The young man looked at the mess of the painting.

"Will it be less messy than painting?"

Cid chuckled. Taking the painting away to a side.

"It will be less messy, sketching will leave your hand looking black in the bottom though"

The one in the office pointed to the mess on the floor.

"Definitely less messy than this"

Cid smiled.

"Cheer up Sawyer, we will manage it, you will get a job you will see"

"Sawyer… was one of my first patients, he had anger issues, but he also carried an immense sadness with him… I noticed he had a talent for sketching, painting… he was a mess, but his sketches were amazing, you could almost say they were alive…"

Ahri already knew how the story would end by how he looked.

"So, what happened?"

Cid sighed.

"Anger… hate… sadness, and a loneliness in his spirit I just couldn't remove…Sawyer let those guide his life… he started to lose sight of what was important… his sketches were the story of his thoughts, his life… a life that was full of anger… and loneliness…"

Cid kept quiet and Ahri tightened the hug to get him speaking.

"In the end, I found out someone killed him over a petty bar fight"

Cid felt tears beginning to form, but he kept as composed as he could. The past was the past. No use feeling down by it. It had already passed.

"I told him that his temper was a problem… he said I wasn't helping with his problem"

Ahri just kept the hug going as she relaxed her grip. She felt he needed the hug. And maybe just maybe… he needed to let it out.

Cid didn't know what it was. But he just let himself in the hug and sighed. As he positioned himself to fall on the floor.

"Consequences be damned… I will take you on that nap… hope you are happy"

Ahri giggled as she let Cid position himself. Once he positioned himself she noticed how fast he fell asleep. This time for real as his breathing made his chest move in an even rhythm. Keeping her eyes on the movement made her feel tired as she let herself fall asleep.

Riven and Karma took to sit in a bench on the garden. Riven had been curious about them, but Karma mentioned to her they had been added as some people didn't felt like meditating, they mainly came to relax in the garden. Karma kept herself smiling at being sharing time with Riven. The latter being in thought. Karma took notice and decided to ask.

"What's on your mind Riven?"

She seemed to be about to speak, she looked unsure, yet resolution made it in her face before speaking.

"Do you think… Syndra would have really tried to hurt Cid?"

Karma sighed looking at the sky.

"I fear… I do not know. Cid could be the greatest liar for all I know... but I doubt he would defend her if she really tried to hurt him… you got worried?"

Riven nodded.

"Yeah, he doesn't need to lose his other leg…"

Karma sighed.

"You are really worried, aren't you?"

Riven let her gaze go to the sky and speak her thoughts.

"I feel he is exposing himself to danger more than needed… as if he was in a race to get in problems"

Karma just spoke what she thought about it.

"At times, is simply a matter of hoping that things go for the best you know?"

Riven sighed at Karma words but nodded.

"You used to be the one helping others in the Institute right?"

Karma nodded. Memories of many asking her questions came to mind and she sighed.

The Institute thought it would be good for the Enlightened one to answer the questions of many with doubts, but Karma was no therapist nor one to be able to understand the full innards of the mind of others. Lee Sin, the Blind Monk was the same, he was often asked to help others. But just like Karma they weren't fitted to answer the minds of others.

They were in control of their own minds and as such it was hard to project the same in the minds of others. Each mind was a world of its own, it wasn't easy to go diving in them and try to understand what happened to them.

That was part of the reason Karma was surprised when she heard about a therapist in the Institute she was surprised. But by knowing him she became even more surprised. He was able to move through the field of the mind with an ease that surprised her. But she understood why Riven was worried. A therapist subjected itself to many problems, many stories, in a way, a therapist was but a keeper of memories, and was the one who offered advice while taking into account the one they spoke with.

Always have an answer, always offer advice. Always be kind.

Karma had respect for those who offered their advice and helped others by mere kindness. She noticed by Cid actions. He never charged anyone for therapy…

Why?

"Yeah… Riven, did Cid ever charged you for therapy?"

Riven seemed to be in thought before denying with a wave of her head.

"No… he did mention the Institute paid him, but I never have seen him receive payment"

Karma nodded.

"I see… he is too kind then. Maybe too much for his own good"

Karma observed at the starry sky that had taken place over them. She saw some clouds moving around. Seemingly sailing in the sky…. Like a certain flying fortress…

"I hope Cid can help Syndra…"

Riven nodded.

"Think she feels lonely up there?"

Karma smiled at the honest worry of Riven. Worrying about someone she didn't know aside of having fought against in the Institute.

"Maybe… as far as I know Syndra is always alone up there… she keeps the fortress flying with her powers. And is really hard to reach. Zed can reach any place in the shadows, but sadly Shen and the rest of the order have it hard"

Riven noticed the way she said "the rest"

"What happened to the order?"

Karma sighed before explaining.

The militarization of the arts of Ionia through Zed. How Shen father had exiled Zed when he got the power of the shadows, how Zed would end up killing Shen father without much more knowledge on it. No one knew what happened. But Shen fought to save the few members of the order who hadn't been killed by the group of Zed.

How pretty much the only left in the order willing to keep fighting were Shen, Akali and Kennen.

"Balance has been pretty much broken in Ionia… but I will not let it go to waste… too many have fought to keep the order of Ionia, and I will keep fighting for it"

Riven noticed the determination in the eyes of Karma and could only smile and nod with her.

"I will help if you need another sword"

Karma smiled at the honesty of those words.

Riven truly was a friend already.

"Thank you Riven. I will have it in mind… shall we go to rest? Is getting a bit late"

Riven nodded. As each made their way to their own quarters for sleeping, Riven found the small surprise of Ahri sleeping near a relaxed Cid in the floor. She smiled looking at her friends. She took to rest on the floor near Ahri. She could feel the heat emanating from her tails as she was near. She smiled at herself with the small scene she found herself in.

Her friends were sleeping beside her. It was the first time she was sleeping in the company of others who were not soldiers. It was the first time she was sleeping with her friends beside her.

Still she was wondering before sleeping, that she thought Cid would sleep in a different room.

Not like she cared of sharing a room with Ahri and Cid. She trusted them.

Blissful sleep took her soon relaxing in the atmosphere created by the soft sounds of the breathing of her companions.

Karma was in thought, rather than just sleeping she took to meditate to order her thoughts.

Syndra had actually hurt the therapist… yet she didn't as she only took his prosthetic leg. Cid had been stubborn on his defense of Syndra explaining she didn't do it to hurt him. And the worst part was she believed his words. Syndra had simply been exposed to a rather hard approach. She was often the one in charge, the one who no one could touch, the Dark Sovereign.

And suddenly this therapist comes to her and tells her something she is not fond of. Proving his point and making her angrier to the point of trying to hurt him.

But that was the worrisome part. Syndra was unapproachable and trying to speak with her would probably need to be in the Institute.

She thought that maybe she would try to hunt down Cid. But that was a foolish idea. After all, she never left the fortress. Why would she even try it now?

Finishing her meditation, she just let herself fall asleep.

Tomorrow would be a new day.

Syndra was wearing a robe over casual Ionian clothing, she would look just like anyone else, still the robe was needed to hide her hair and face from anyone who might possibly recognize her. She let her orbs disperse. She needed to play her cards well in order to reach the therapist. She knew where he was.

If Karma had asked for his help. He would be on the Placidium. So she would only need to wait to find him.

Descending to the surrounding area of the Placidium had been easy. She just let herself softly fall from her fortress to the outsides of the city, the orbs around her working to keep her safely floating. When she reached the floor she knew it wouldn't take long for the morning to come. She would just wait outside of the Placidium. She simply took to walk to the city as anyone else who might wander in the morning.

It was a simple plan.

And it was surprising to see how well it seemed to work when she looked at a figure walking out of the Placidium with a crutch. Waving at a guard he would be fine. She could hear his voice through the silent morning.

"Don't worry, I will be fine really, I will be walking closely so if Karma or the others look for me I shouldn't be far"

The guard nodded and went back to place. Syndra saw the figure of the therapist walking with the crutch and couldn't avoid feeling a pang of guilt knowing he was using the crutch because she destroyed his leg…

"He shouldn't have entered my fortress in the first place"

She started to walk near him. Silently, and while she was no ninja, she could be silent if she wished to be. When she was at arm's length of him, he spoke.

"I got nothing of value with me, so I would dare say I'm someone who has no worth on being mugged"

Syndra stayed silent. She didn't expect that. But at least he didn't know who she was. He made a turn to look at her. And suddenly she noticed the surprise in his eyes.

"Syndra?"

This time it was her turn to be surprised. But before he could do anything she ended up knocking him out cold with an orb she had summoned behind him. It had been a simple blow. Not much damage, but strong enough to knock him out.

She took him with her power. Noticing how light he was. She had little trouble lifting anything with her power. But she always had a good sense on weighing things, and she took notice of how light he was.

Was he sick?

She didn't had the time to wonder, she needed to take the trip back to the outside of the city, surrounded by the trees of Ionia. As she walked in front, the orb carried the trapped therapist behind her.

The trip was silent. And even though she could sense the therapist had gotten awake he didn't seemed to do any sound. This was starting to make her feel uncomfortable and forced her to speak.

"Is my back that interesting?"

She could her the soft chuckle of the therapist.

"Just a bit. I mean the robe doesn't let me see much, but I can say you are in good health"

She shrugged before speaking. Never looking behind at the therapist direction.

"You speak too relaxed for someone who is trapped…"

Cid smiled before nodding.

"Indeed. But is not like getting in panic will help. I can't even try to outrun you, nor can I fight you. My best bet is to keep calm, an opportunity will appear itself"

Syndra sighed before turning to look at him.

"Are you not even afraid? Do you know what I got planned for you?"

Cid shrugged at her.

"What are you going to do Syndra? Kill me? Destroy my other leg?"

She seemed to be in thought and Cid interrupted her thoughts.

"Out of getting me out of the Placidium. You didn't think so far ahead did you?"

This seemed to anger Syndra, but before she could speak the palm of the therapist stopped her.

"Don't. We both know you are angry, but as I said, the only thing I can do is keep calm… so why not speak right here?"

Syndra looked at her surroundings. They were already far from the city. They were already too far for Karma to find him. So why not?

She released him from the orb making him unceremoniously fall to the floor. She smirked expecting him to get angry. If anything, he seemed to look around.

"You didn't take my crutch?"

The question took her by surprise before she found herself denying with her head.

"Oh well, guess I'm staying on the floor. I don't have practice to stand with only one leg"

Syndra found herself surprised before simply nodding. She wasn't used to someone… taking things so lightly. She was in control of the whole situation.

Syndra didn't know it, but she wasn't the one in control. Cid had managed for her to drop him. To not take him to the fortress no one could reach but Zed. So far he was safer on the land without being able to walk that up in the fortress no one could access. So far he was managing to move things his way. But still… he had a job to do.

"Let us resume from where we left our conversation yesterday... don't you think staying up in the sky alone in a fortress got to be the biggest tantrum ever?"

Syndra was angry. And she was about to speak when Cid said.

"I can't understand what you went through. I'm not you Syndra. I'm a simple therapist, so explain me… what is so good of that fortress?"

She stayed silent.

What was so good of the fortress?

"…the view is nice…"

Cid smiled at her while nodding.

"Indeed, the view is nice. You get a lot of peace up there. But what else is good?"

Silence seemed to reign before she spoke again. This time showing clear signs of being uncomfortable as she took to grasp her elbow. Something similar to the gesture Riven did when uncomfortable.

"… no one can tell me what to do…"

Cid smiled but spoke the obvious.

"Isn't that something children say when angry?"

Syndra this time didn't get angry. But rather looked sad.

"It is… but I don't trust them. If I'm here, they will try to seal my power, to stop them from growing…"

Cid nodded at her before pointing to the sky.

"They say the sky is the limit. But I think you actually got no limits… so why not learn to have more control?"

Syndra looked at Cid. This time with nothing close to anger, but rather the honesty one can see in someone who wants advice.

"How can I control them? How am I supposed to learn control? By making myself weaker so they do not fear me?"

Cid smiled. He denied with his head.

"Practice. Simple as that, just keep practicing, practice somewhere no one gets hurt"

Syndra was curious before Cid pointed to the sky again.

"You stay up there so no one tells you what to do. But did you ever consider you could simply practice up there? No one would get hurt…. Maybe a bird, but you get the point"

She looked at the sky. Thinking before she heard him speak again.

"I meant what I said last time… staying angry your whole life will do nothing for you. Let that wish for revenge go away…."

Cid looked straight into her eyes.

And Syndra felt that even through those glasses. Deep in his eyes lied an incredible pain and sadness… a feeling of impotence.

"If you let those feelings hold your life… you will never find balance… but more than that… you will never be happy… the saddest of things Syndra, is knowing a life is lost in pathetic feelings such as anger and revenge… no one wins…"

The memory of past cases had made his way into his heart again. He felt betrayed as a tear got out of his eye. Syndra let out a small gasp seeing the tear roll in his face.

"Don't lose your life in something stupid as a tantrum… you are too amazing as to let your life burn in that way"

Syndra looked at him.

She never met anyone who was sad at her situation. Not in a demeaning way, but rather was actually worried… the way grandparents and fathers worry for their grandsons and children… the way family worries about the others…

Why was he so sad for her?

"I..."

She never got to finish the phrase, as she was speaking instincts took over as she used her power to push a knife that had been flying at her.

"Don't dare hurt him Dark Sovereign"

Syndra looked at Akali who had gotten out of the shadows of a tree. She looked different, dressed as a cook rather than the usual green ninja uniform she wore.

"Akali… I wasn't going to hurt him"

Syndra tensed as she saw Akali getting a knife seemingly out of thin air. Before she could try to attack the therapist spoke.

"Akali. Is okay, I would like if you could leave me alone with Syndra. We are still chatting"

Akali looked surprised at the figure of the therapist who had asked her to leave. Was he not afraid? Did he not know of the danger?

"Akali, please, I need a moment with her"

Akali looked at him again, her senses never stopping to focus on Syndra who had yet to summon one of her orbs. She nodded again before taking from her back a crutch.

"I found it on the way to the restaurant… thought something had happened"

Cid smiled as he took the crutch.

"Nothing bad has happened… really"

He smiled at Akali. She took notice of the sadness, but saw no pain in him. With a final nod she started to retreat not before speaking again.

"If something happens to him…"

Syndra raised her hands in mock surrender. Akali knew she didn't need to use her hands to summon those orbs, still she accepted that and left. Staying close if anything were to happen.

Cid used the crutch to raise himself from the floor. This time the silence was broken by Syndra.

"Why do you care about me? You didn't even know me until yesterday"

Cid nodded.

"Indeed. I didn't know anything about you… but you are just like someone who I used to call a friend long ago… and I couldn't help him… but I know I can help you to not end like him"

Syndra was still looking at him. Trying to find a sign he was lying, something that gave her reason to crush him… but she didn't find anything.

"So… you want me to drop down my fortress?"

Cid denied with his head.

"I want you to let that wish for revenge go away. That you can actually get down from that fortress once in a while, walk-in Ionia, visit the festival, do whatever you wish to do… as long as is not killing someone"

Syndra sighed.

"Is not easy to forgive what they did…"

Cid nodded.

"I didn't say you had to do it immediately, take it one day at a time… I think Zed could use your company"

She raised an eyebrow at his statement.

"Both of you carry an immense sadness. Zed carries to much anger in him and is because of the anger he has yet to know how sadness is in his spirit… maybe you can make him smile. I mean, there must be a reason why he even offered to take me to you the first time"

Syndra was in thought before nodding.

"So… no need for me to stop using my powers?"

Cid smiled nodding.

"All I'm asking is for you to forget the whole revenge deal, not today, and maybe not tomorrow, but just let it go away, that's all I'm asking"

Syndra was in thought. It seemed too good to be true… but in a way, all he said was to help her. So why not try to trust someone again? It was scary, but at the same time it felt nice knowing someone out there didn't want her to stop using her powers.

Syndra smiled before nodding.

"I will try… at least I can promise you not to hurt Karma"

Cid sighed while smiling.

"That's good enough for me"

Syndra smiled before pointing to the trees.

"Akali is waiting for you over there, I shall get going then"

Cid let out a whistle to make her look back.

"I have yet to have breakfast…. Why not come with us?"

Syndra was in thought. But she politely declined with her head. Cid spoke.

"Too soon?"

Syndra nodded.

"Too soon… I shall take my time… thanks… Cid"

She didn't know why, but to her, Cid seemed like a grandparent who was worried about the children around. This made her smile a bit before turning again. This time leaving without looking back. But as she left, she felt lighter. Something had been left back there, and she wasn't going to get it back.

Cid walked to the direction Syndra pointed, finding Akali seemingly playing with her knife.

"All set to go, shall we get breakfast with everyone?"

Akali nodded walking at his side. She noticed how he seemed to be in a good mood and spoke a simple question.

"Are you married?"

Cid was surprised for a moment before denying with his head.

"No, single still"

Akali nodded before speaking again.

"Bastard children you got around?"

Cid chuckled denying again.

"No, as far as I know I would need to have relationships for that"

Akali chuckled this time before speaking her thoughts.

"Has someone ever told you that you seem to act like a grandparent at times? Getting worried about children?"

Cid smiled before nodding.

"Jarvan once told me that if I had a beard and shorter hair I could be a grandpa"

Akali chuckled looking at his hair.

"Don't cut your hair… it just fits you having it long…"

Cid smiled.

"Is that a compliment?"

Akali smiled looking at the approaching path to the city.

"It might be"

Cid laughed before walking faster.

"Race you to the Placidium?"

Akali simply laughed at this as she closed her eyes.

"You think you are faster than a ninja therapist?"

She stayed smiling. She could hear the rushing sounds of the crutch and his leg. She just kept smiling counting out loud.

"Four, three, two…. One"

She took to run fast passing the therapist who even with the advantage on distance didn't move faster than the ninja. She simply couldn't be defeated in a race. She turned quick smiling at the therapist who had a determination to not stop running.

Whenever he reached Akali she just went away fast in another burst of speed.

"I will get to the Placidium first!"

Cid laughed after his declaration only to be surprised by the feeling of a tap on his left shoulder. Akali waving at him before vanishing once again.

"Oh! Now that's just showing off!"

He could hear Akali laughing. The ninja was laughing enjoying the fun. When was the last time she had just taken to run around like this?

She remembered Kennen racing her on the temple of the order. Shen would scorn them both, but they were able to notice the small smile under the mask… one day Ionia would be finally in peace. But that didn't mean that she couldn't have some fun… she would need to find Kennen later and get him in a race.

True balance was all about not getting too much into something. Rather enjoy everything and take things as they happened. She stopped over a roof looking at the smiling therapist who was still running as fast as he could with the crutch.

Someone was rather good at keeping balance in himself it seemed. She would have to get him to speak with Shen. As balanced as he could be. Shen needed to let out some thoughts of himself rather than keeping them in a box.

As Akali smiled at the idea of getting her best friend back, she took notice of how Cid was getting close to the Placidium.

"…I can give him this win…. But"

She smiled once again as she rushed with the speed of a trained ninja appearing right in front of Cid. Right in the Placidium.

"I guess I won Cid"

Cid laughed getting his breathing back in place.

"You did, didn't you?"

Akali nodded before they heard soft laughter coming from the entrance. Both looked at the entrance in which Karma was smiling.

"I wonder, how long has it been since you were running around like that"

Akali smiled back.

"Quite long I must say… maybe too long"

Karma smiled looking at Akali, feeling her aura showing happiness, she was relaxing it seemed. She then took to look at Cid.

"You look extremely happy… may I inquire if it had to do with your sleeping arrangements?"

Karma was teasing him, Akali was curious about what she meant. Cid could only smile in embarrassment.

"I was able to help Syndra… that got me all happy"

Karma smirked before speaking again.

"So… it has nothing to do in you sharing quarters with Riven and Ahri?"

Akali was surprised at the revelation, she never thought the therapist was so forward. Hadn't he said he was single?

Cid was red on the face at that. When he woke up in the morning it had been a surprise to see Riven next to him and Ahri. Needless to say, as fast as he could feel his glasses close he left the room with the crutch that was free of the hold of Ahri.

He had rushed out in the morning needing to breath. He hoped nothing had happened as he was asleep. Needless to say, he didn't expect his morning need for walking would end with him finding Syndra.

"No, it has nothing to do with that"

Akali smiled before laughing.

"You are quite forward, who would have thought you moved so fast"

Before Cid could retort her statement, he felt the hug of Ahri whose whiskers were making feel ticklish with the contact to his cheek.

"I can't believe you didn't wake us! You surely had breakfast before us"

Cid laughed trying to get some space from Ahri. Riven had thankfully separated them from the hug.

"Enough, you didn't have breakfast did you?"

Cid nodded, and she smiled.

"Great! Let us go then, Akali do you serve breakfasts?"

Akali smiled before motioning for them to follow.

The small group went to eat. Not knowing what was happening in the Insitute.

"Get the therapist. This is something that needs to be solved now"

The voice of a summoner spoke while being shaky.

"Sir, I don't know if he can actually help us with…. This"

He motioned at the image they were seeing. The scythe wielder and the sword were making a mess in a hall as another image showed a girl trying to obliterate Rek Sai.

"As far as I know, this is sort of his field, separate them. Get bard to place them in stasis, and someone get Kindred before those two Darkin kill each other!"

Cut! Hey! Don't you love when plans go to the thrash because of sickness? Man I being sick is no fun at all, but Im back! And next chapter we will have some fun!

Clash of Darkins, Void Hunter and meaning of family.