IV
Rainfall in Spring
Syndra's Floating Fortress - 11:26 a.m.
Cold winds blew from North made its way to Ionia, the sky grew dark when gray clouds covered the illumination of the sun, it feels like that the world was sobbing and it was ready to cry.
Syndra stood outside her home with her usual regalia and mantle, observing the horizon that was blackening from its weather. Her white hair flows along with the strong winds which drapes her face, she fixed a strand and locked it behind her ear.
She is waiting for the fox woman for her report, yesterday was troublesome for both of them because of technology. The task she ordered to Ahri was simple: Get Irelia's home number. Her chest beats up as she started to think about it, as the matter of fact that Ahri was having high interest to humans; even Irelia because she was far more knowledgeable to society and not denying she was also a human.
She grunted as she felt Irelia's duty was coming to an end, it will be a huge trouble if Irelia caught Ahri snooping around her house just to take her number by investigating her phone landline.
"Why is she taking too long?" She tapped her finger on her arm as she crossed it. "I can't feel her mana. Don't tell me she is loafing around again?"
Impatient, she flew down and tracked Ahri by locating her mana, passing through those trees she evaded, staying low respectively to avoid suspicion. She still can't locate Ahri and she didn't gave up locating her.
At last she reached the destination, in meters not far away was a lone house that was much like a temple, there was an arch stood at the front of the house before the garden and the porch, it was simply grand and anciently that it exists long time ago and preserved.
"Is this.. her house?" Syndra murmured. "Impressive."
But as soon she continued her search, she felt a drop of water on her hand until the droplets of rain fall, she hid under the shade of a tree to cover herself.
"Tsk. How unfortunate." At the back of the house was something that piqued her interest, it was so familiar that she was surprised to see that white fluffy tails emerged on the bushes.
"It's her. She was now wet under the stupid rain. I thought she have successfully infiltrated that Fool Captain's house."
The bush rustled as the fox woman peered a little with her clothes was drenched with rain water.
"This rain. I love it but.." Ahri sighed. "I am still here, I don't know where Irelia was." She waited by hiding the bush, keeping herself low.
However, before Ahri could proceed, she hasn't felt the rain dropping at her head, wondering why her view has its surroundings showered with rain while hers isn't. She glanced above to see what shades her whole form, she saw an umbrella, an oil paper umbrella which is seen as traditional.
"What brings you here?" Irelia spoke under the shade of the umbrella, she was in her usual armor.
"Irelia!" Ahri stood up, her excitement made herself wagging those drenched tails and it slapped Irelia's face.
"Oh.. Sorry." Ahri apologized, Irelia made a deathly glare with a sigh from her exasperation.
"You shouldn't stay here under the rain. Come." Irelia puts down the tail that sticks on her face, she dragged Ahri with her towards her home.
"Oh..? Hm." Ahri hummed and let Irelia drag her.
But one soul was still observing behind those trees, she gasps as she saw Ahri entered the house with Irelia. She peered a little and they vanished inside.
"That fox..is USELESS. I told her not to sulk her job!" She angrily whispered.
She switched her position for a better view, entering the garden and hiding on the edge of the wall, she now saw Ahri at the hallway, the floor was dripping wet and it made lot wetter because of the tails.
"Ahri. Take off your clothing." Irelia stated.
Syndra was shocked. "Wait.. WHAT?! T-TAKE OFF?!"
"My clothing? Oh.." Ahri snickered in a sly way.
"Is not like-" Irelia was about to protest because on the misunderstanding of the fox.
"Hush.. It's too early, maybe we could do it.." Ahri's voice ended in a whisper that Syndra couldn't hear.
"What the hell?! What did she say?! STUPID FOX! DON'T TELL ME.." Syndra was trying to get close but she can't hear the voice.
"What!? No! No! I mean.. You are wet and.." Irelia stuttered, she blushes and felt embarrassed.
"Wet? Hm. Mostly.." Ahri smirked.
"Ahri it's not THAT 'Wet' I mean." Irelia corrected. Still, she was blushing.
"Oh? I thought it was."
Irelia sighed, she have gotten embarrassed whenever Ahri teases her like that, but that kind of joke was seriously suggestive. She just handed spare clothing and a towel for Ahri and glances away.
"The bathroom was at the right corner, you must wash yourself or else you will end up having a cold." Irelia instructed.
"Yes~" Ahri started to move, following Irelia.
The wall is obscuring her view, she feels infuriated whenever Ahri was sulking with Irelia, of course she only needed the phone number of the captain but it didn't happened as she expected.
"That.. fox. Why is she always clinging to her?!" She whispered. "I am so going to catch what will she do to the Fool Captain." She moved slowly and creeped the hallway, she removed her mantle because it was big enough to let the women spot Syndra unexpectedly, she peeked and watches the two infront of the bathroom door.
"I will be right back. I have to switch back to my normal clothing and fix my armor."
"Yes."
Irelia left Ahri and went upstairs. Now the fox woman was alone, she observed the bathroom, her mouth pried open as she saw how simple and spacious of the bathroom, there is a large tub, rack, shelves, and cabinets for supplies. She now unclothed herself and prepared for the bath. But there is one thing that caught her eye, there was a hand shower placed at the wall, she have never seen such thing like this on bathing.
"What is this?" Ahri took the shower and she felt a switch at the back, she pressed it and a blast of water showered her face. She sprung up and shrilled.
"What is that!?" Ahri went hostile and sneaks near the shower. She pokes it and took it again, pressing the switch again that made a blast of water that splashed her chest.
"Oh!" Ahri was delighted, she giggled on how the shower responded whenever she pressed the switch. Hence, she enjoyed the shower, the shower ONLY.
Soft giggles and laughter can be heard inside the bathroom that cringes Syndra, how she was so mad that Ahri really sulked her task.
Then, Irelia went down with her normal clothing, she heard suspicious laughter inside the bathroom, completely wondering what is Ahri doing inside, she opened it and got showered with the powerful blast of water.
"AHRI!" Irelia gasps, she glances at her dress and glared at the fox.
"Irelia! Look at this! This is fun! I never knew humans use this!" Ahri pointed the shower at Irelia.
"What are you doing?! Don't play with the showe-!" Irelia got showered. "AHRI!"
Ahri laughed and smiled, she continued to shower Irelia that made the hallway wet.
"You! JUST WHAT ARE YOU-!" Irelia cried.
"Why? I am having bath!" Ahri finished.
"Bath? More than PLAYING with the shower while..N-NAKED!"
"Hm..Most likely. But it's fun! I made you..wet."
"W-WHAT?!"
"Did I?" Ahri winked.
"That's suggestive! STOP IT!" Irelia furiously blushed.
"What are you two doing?!" A voice echoed to the room that made them stop, Ahri shrilled as she saw Syndra, she quickly hides behind Irelia and hugged her.
"What are you doing here, Syndra?" Ahri made a weak smile.
"Idiotic MUTT! What are you doing?! I am have been waiting for an HOUR!" Syndra floated close towards the women.
Irelia saw Syndra's dress was drenched by the rain as well, she facepalmed on how her day was troubling every time she was on her day-off.
"Did you followed Ahri all the way here?" Irelia asks.
"What ELSE am I doing here?!" She snarled before she made a sneeze.
"Oh. Syndra. Take it easy." Irelia handed her hand to the mage but Syndra shoved it away from her.
"Why don't you TOUCH that fox how she feels when she was WET?!" Syndra barked.
"W-What?" Irelia blushes again. "W-WHY WOULD I-"
"You are going to t-touch..m-me?!" Ahri blushes. "Hmph.."
Now Syndra gasps on how Ahri pounced Irelia and made herself on top, she licked her lips and surged something that brought pink aura on her eyes.
"Ahri! W-WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Irelia struggled and got hostile.
"Hm. I have always dreamt of tasting more human life souls, but Irelia's can be interesting." She made light touches to Irelia's skin that was liberating for Irelia.
"What THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!" Syndra tried to shove Ahri away. "Don't.. DON'T TOUCH HER!"
"Hm. What?" Ahri removed her magic and glances up to see Syndra. "Don't touch her? You said?"
"W-Well.." Syndra got nervous, she blushes and panicked. "Just.. JUST-!"
Irelia glances up to see Syndra, she never have seen Syndra acted like this. Unfortunately, Ahri lowered herself and blocks Irelia's view by covering her face with her breast.
"Hm. Caught you, Syndra." Ahri chuckled.
"What the..HELL!?" Irelia screamed. She shoved Ahri away by pushing her breast, her blades to her side reacted and went straight to Ahri.
"If you are going to show off your size to me, then STOP." Irelia stated.
"What? You are not flat anyway." Syndra mumbled.
"What?" Ahri and Irelia said, flatly.
"..W-WHAT?!" The mage snarled.
"What..?" Ahri made a glance to Irelia as if she was asking her.
"What." Irelia answered.
"What.. WHAT?!" Syndra repeated again for clarification.
Then, silence falls.
"What."
"STOP WHAT-ing ON ME!" Syndra stomped the floor to show her anger while Irelia was urging to laugh.
"Why did you said that Syndra?" Ahri wrapped her body with a towel. "Tell me?"
"I said what?!"
"You said that she was not flat!"
Irelia heard this and glances at her chest, she was not really flat. Really.
"So WHAT?!" Syndra spats angrily.
"Why? Why did you said it?!" Ahri pressed further. "Don't tell me you are looking at her chest all the time?"
While the two are exchanging statements, Irelia just covered her lips to hide her laughter.
"Why the hell would I-I DO THAT?!
"So why did you said it if it wasn't?"
"B-Because.. I-!"
Syndra was lost of words, she has no words to say, she knew that this kind of pressing was ridiculous, so she walks away and shuts Ahri, making a light sneeze as she went to the hallway.
"Pathetic! This day is pathetic!" Syndra screamed. "The fox is sulking like a dog! The fox plays the freaking shower like a lowlife child, NAKED! The day was sobering! The rain is MADNESS! And that PHONE NUMBER..!"
Irelia went towards Syndra and handed something, it was a tray consists of cold medicine, glass of water, and a cup of warm tea. She smiled and pats Syndra, confronting the mage who breakdowns with the thoughts she have experienced today.
"Here. Take a deep breath and take this medicine, it will help cure your cold." Irelia smiled. She even cloaked Syndra with a warm towel.
"What are you-.." Syndra gasps as she saw Irelia's warming face that made her blush a little.
"Take the medicine now. After that, drink this tea, I have brewed it today this morning."
"And here. " She was handed a piece of paper from the fox, it was numbers; a phone number.
"Happy? Irelia gave me permission!" Ahri smiles.
Syndra was now contented, she hides her smile and gripped the paper.
"Syndra is smiling.." Irelia stated as she stood up.
"What?! No! I AM not!" Syndra denied as she blushes.
"Well. Nevermind. Just let yourselves at home, I have to do some chores. Just leave the tray there if you two are done." Irelia scuttles away, leaving the two women alone.
Before Ahri could speak, she felt a slap to her shoulder. "Are you NOT happy that you have finally acquired Irelia's number?" Her tone has a mixture of pain from the slap.
"Shut up! You are making myself caught into these kind of ridiculous games you have been playing!"
"Hm. But, my game really helps, isn't it? I could tell that Irelia's day brightened up a little."
"Hmph."
"You are happy, I think I knew where does this will lead into."
"What do you mean?!"
"You know.. You. Irelia." Ahri sticks her pointer fingers. "..This?" Then she pressed it together.
Flustered, Syndra summoned spheres to attack Ahri, she was being teased and it made her embarrassed.
"WHAT THE HELL?! WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?!"
"You know? Well I could tell that you will not sleep and talks to her all..night."
"Hell NO! T-THERE IS NO WAY!"
"No way? It's possible. Trust me."
"Like I could trust a deceptive FOX."
"Oh. Don't come running to me if you have.. those.. interests to Irie."
"YOU-! MUTT!"
While Irelia was fixing her fresh, new clothing, she heard a loud noise at the back, she facepalms and got enough of her stressful day-off. Still, she was delighted to see that her house was lively than before, her living alone was bland and colorless until she have found the possible source of happiness she seeks. Companionship.
8:28 p.m. - Syndra's room
The day has come to an end yet the rain was still ongoing, this made the whole Ionia completely invisible due to the rain which was obscuring the view.
The fortress has fallen into a deep darkness while it was showered with heavy rain, but only Syndra's room was lit up, a light from a candle was making it more illuminated quite a bit.
She was in her night gown, fixing her hair in front of the mirror, the fact that her day was so handful and ridiculous, still she have felt the liveliness of it, thanking on how the fox got Irelia's number which is that supposedly one of her goals for the day.
As she remembered the number, she glances at the phone that was sitting on top of her desk, feeling that she want to give the number a try if ever Irelia answers it. She hovered herself to her bed and sat, making herself comfortable with her blanket, taking the phone with her and looks for the paper that contains the home number of the captain, she dialed the number; though it was sloppy at the same time since she was not yet familiar with it.
The ring has come and she waited, she was nervous on what she will say to Irelia if ever she answered.
"Maybe.. I should say thank you." Syndra murmured.
"Thank you, for.. for the medicine. N-NO! That's not right. I need to be formal as she is!" She practiced words to say yet she denied it.
And then the ring ended and a voice boomed out on the phone, low and stoic at the same time, she jumped a little because of the sudden anticipation of the phone, blushing at the moment as she heard Irelia's typical refined low-key voice.
"Hmm.. He-Hello." Syndra greeted.
"Oh, Syndra! Good evening. I never thought of you calling this late. " Irelia said, she was delightful behind her voice.
"Well. I only tried the number, that's all." Syndra replied. "Wait.. Why did I said that?! It will end this conversation!" She whispered after her reply, it was true that her words will end the talk literally.
"I see." Irelia agreed on Syndra's claim. "So, have you finally got used with your phone?"
"Thank goodness she didn't end this call. She was good at conversing with people." Again, she murmured, she was impressed on how Irelia was good at socializing people.
"Come again?"
"It's nothing. Anyway, I am trying to get use of this phone yet."
"That's good, if ever you wanted to know more, don't hesitate to ask me. Not Ahri this time, she was the same as you."
"What?! That mutt and I are the SAME?! HOW DARE YOU! She thinks as an INFANT than I am!"
"Seriously? An infant who had tried to make advances with me lately, is that it?"
"What would you EXPECT from a vixen?"
"If she was a vixen, did she made something to you like she had done to me today?"
"If ever she would do THAT to me, I WOULD pull out her tails one by one! No one will ever DARE to touch me!" Syndra barked, she cringes on how she remembered Ahri pounced Irelia today as she spotted her. "Also, my size is better than HERS, so what of it?!"
"..Here again with these sizes. " Irelia sighed behind the line.
"What. You are worrying with your size? How unfortunate." Syndra teased.
"Of course not, why would I? I am fine with my size."
"Hmph. Yet you chose to wear those armor of yours halfway to your chest."
"That was the armor they made for me as a Captain. I like it because it was not just an armor, but it makes me move a lot better than most armors here in Ionia." Irelia coughed and fixed her voice.
"So it makes me think that how a captain like you wear an armor that was showing a little of your chest." Syndra wondered.
"..So Ahri was right, you are admitting that you have looked to my chest. "
"WHAT?! YOU FOOL! I AM NOT THAT DISGUSTING DEVIANT THAT MADE MY FIRST CALL!" Syndra screamed, there was a hoarseness of her voice due to her magic.
"Oh yeah, him. Geez. My hands are full because of that man." Irelia sighed.
"Him? What happened?"
"He was exposed with excessive intake of alcohol, drunk and helpless, he kept pestering me at the detention center, and yes, I am not going to elaborate anymore."
"So you've disposed him?"
"Imprisoned until five weeks as a penalty. We also confiscated his liquor that was locked inside his home."
"Hmph. I must thank you for locking off him for me. You are not half bad as a captain." Syndra praised, yet she was quite surprised to hear her speak like that.
"You are certainly welcome. It is my job to look for unnecessarily circumstances that will happen to Ionia."
"Yes.." There was a long pause from Syndra, she was anticipating to say thank you for Irelia on giving her hospitality today.
"U-Uh.. T-Tha.." Syndra voice out.
"Hm? Is there anything wrong out there?"
"Than..Th-Thank.."
"Syndra?"
"I SAID, THANK YOU! OKAY?!"
"Hehe~"
"I-Is that S-SUPPOSEDLY funny?!"
"Sorry. I am just happy.. to hear you say that."
She squirmed like she was not uncomfortable on her position, blushing so deeply on how the conversation have got into, she can't think of words to say in order to continue the conversation.
"W-Well.." Syndra stuttered.
"You're welcome." Irelia finally accepted the thanks. "Just let me know if you have problems, okay?"
"Fine."
A brief silence came after Syndra spoke, she have wondered if the conversation was finally ending, she was sad because of how she liked this night conversation with her rival yet it was about to end in any minute.
"Syndra." Irelia called her name, which it made her blush and nervous at the same time.
"W-What?"
"I see so much difference in you. In fact, you are not that bad in my view as much people would do. You see me as your rival but I feel that this rivalry was the most vague that I could imagine." Irelia said, since it was all detailed, Syndra thought that this topic could be serious.
"Vague, indeed. You are my rival yet you help me out. Is that supposedly a rival would do?" Syndra replied.
"Actually, no."
"Then why? Rivalry is a challenge, a battle, a contest of who will be transcending, but you.. you are not doing that job as my rival."
"It seems I have to admit it now."
Syndra got the word, she took the phone away from her ear and whispered. "Admit? What? So, all of those help was a purpose?"
"I..I wanted to see if there is an another part of you that will come out from your shell." Then, Irelia spoke. Weakly, and softly on the line. "That's all. I have nothing to say."
She was shocked to hear that from the captain, she never knew that all of those help were all of Irelia's personal decisions, and those things that she was nice to her, the rivalry that she expects for both of them was not really it is but compassion.
"You are likely CONFESSING to me, Fool Captain." Syndra pouted, blushing on every word she have said.
"What? Well..M-Most likely. I am admitting everything."
"Why are you so honest? It is not like I don't like.."
"Hmm."
"What?!"
"Ahri was right. You are like those characters in that animé.. thing."
Syndra gasps.
"How COME THAT MUTT WAS STILL AT THE FREAKING TOPIC?!"
"She was relevant, that is why. "
"Don't INCLUDE HER! I want a talk without her!"
"Are you..serious?"
"YES! I want to TALK. Just you.. and.. and.." Syndra was speechless on anticipating words again.
"And?"
"..Me.." Syndra finished with a blush yet she was being replied with a small laughter behind the line. "Y-YOU KNOW WHAT?! JUST..JUST FORGET WHAT I'VE SAID!"
"You know, Syndra. You are quite entertaining at some point. I never knew a Sovereign who was intending to sought destruction was quirky at the moment." Irelia made a small chuckle at the end.
"SHUT UP!" She cried. Yes, she was blushing, deeply and uncomfortable.
"Oh well.. Furthermore."
"What the hell? Furthermore? You want to talk to me more?" Syndra smirked, she wanted to test Irelia with wits even though they are conversing using phones.
"Why, yes. You don't want to? Let's end it now then." Irelia said straightforwardly.
"W-What! NO! Don't..G-GO YET!"
"Hm. So you are the one who wanted to talk more."
"W-WELL.. I-I-!" Syndra was furious on how she was feeling right now, she thought that Irelia was teasing her behind the line. "F-Fine! I wanted to talk more! Happy!?"
"Yes. I am happy to hear that you wanted to talk with me more." Irelia said straightforwardly again that made Syndra wondered why is she so serious even this conversation is out of hand.
"Tch.. Now what.. I don't know what to say." Instead of whispering, she have said it in front of the line with Irelia. "What else should I say?! I don't know how.."
"I am still here." Irelia spoke, laughing at the same time.
"UGH! FOR GOD'S SAKE!" Syndra cried with embarrassment. "Are you ENTERTAINED NOW?!"
"Sorry. It's just, it can be relatable when no one knows what to say to lengthen the conversation."
"Well, yes. This is my experience of having real conversation using this technology."
"I see. Use it as much as you like you wanted to be, I am pretty sure you will get used to it."
"Hmph." She now paused again to think words for proceeding the talk, but the rain just got stronger, it penetrated the walls that the sound coming through it catches the phone's line.
"A heavy rain. Lovely." Irelia said in a caustic manner.
"Lovely, indeed." The mage finishes.
"It's getting late too. Thank you for conversing with me."
"Me too. Thank you too.. Wait."
"Yes?"
"Can we..talk..again?" Syndra's voice fallen into a whisper but was loud enough for Irelia to hear it.
"I am happy to receive your calls, Syndra."
Just by now, after she heard that from Irelia, her face deepened its reddening again, she was speechless and let the call end.
"Let's talk some other time, I need to get up early tomorrow, I have work. Bye for now."
"Goodbye."
And the phone was turned off, she was invited with a long ring that tells that the line was ready for a another call. She threw the phone at the desk and buries her face to her pillow.
"Oh..my goodness! That talk.." Syndra screamed to her pillow that muffled her voice. "WHAT..WHAT WAS THAT?! IS THAT WHAT I CALL..REAL NIGHT CALLS?!"
"The hell?! SHE EVEN SAID SHE WAS HAPPY TO RECIEVE MY FUTURE CALLS!"
"Also, her laugh can be.." She blushes again and remembered Irelia's sweet laugh behind the line.
"WHAT THE HELL?! DON'T FALL FOR THAT!" She slapped her cheeks to wake up in reality.
"Ha! I am so going to beat that MUTT! I can't wait to hear her CRY after I tell her WHAT HAPPENED!" She made a sinister laugh that was unheard under the heavy rain. Literally excited for the rest of the night that it made her can't wait to brag the call to the fox.
NOTE:It's just in! They know that Syndra is a tsundere! Although, Syndra herself is denying it.
Anyways, Irelia here is kind of a little bit from that Irelia from my previous fiction; Beyond Those Memories, but I added an amount of quirkiness to her in this fiction to make her flow along with the characters' comedic personalities. And yes, Ahri is just the usual, flirtatious type, will advance Irelia further and for the future stories, she'll definitely batter Syndra with teasing and mockery.
And now, next chapter will sure a headache for Syndra because, yes, Ahri will come and mock her again.
Happy Reading!