XIII
End of Spring
Institute of War - 1:37 p.m.
"Blue Team Wins!" Said by the announcer in a pleasing tone. All of the champions that were included to the team rejoiced, some of them didn't accepted the loss while the others accepted sportsmanship.
Irelia went to her locker where her things are placed. There are still champions and summoners that lodged inside the room, after all, the fight just ended a near loss, that is why all of them are like tired souls that needed rest. She was about to wipe off her sweat after the battle but someone offered her a towel, it was floating with purple magic.
"Oh!" Irelia wondered who gave it to her, but she looked around that no one is right behind her. "Thank you. I guess.."
Far from the locker, a mage peeked and watches Irelia, she was the one controlling the towel, a smirk entered her lips as she saw Irelia appreciated the offer.
"Hm.." Syndra hummed in delight. But as she turned around, a face that was too familiar was on an inch of her face, she gasps because of how close that face was to hers. They converse in whisper to avoid attention.
"What the HELL?!" Syndra cried as she backed away.
"Boo~!" Ahri giggled.
"What are YOU doing here?! You are supposedly to be at the other side!" Syndra tried to shove Ahri out of the room.
"Hey! I am about to congratulate YOUR team!" Ahri pressed further.
"Oh. Okay." Syndra let her go, she went back watching Irelia who is fixing her things.
Ahri grunted because of how Syndra got attentive these days, after that events last few weeks ago after the Valentine's day, she became so possessive to that one person she had been hating; supposedly.
"What is she doing?" Ahri asked her.
"She is using my towel." Syndra smiled mischievously.
"What? Hm~.." Ahri smirked, she went close and whispered to Syndra's ear. "And then..you will use it just so you can feel her as her scent left on your towel.."
It was so sultry that it made Syndra flustered, she quickly rubbed her ears and shoved Ahri away, her face was in red, so red that it was almost she ate something spicy.
"Hm? What's that? Did I hit you hard?" Ahri giggled most likely a teasing one.
"YOU-!.." Syndra got furious, blushing at the same time, and summoned spheres, she was stopped by a hand.
It was Irelia, obviously.
"What's going on? Are you two going to fight again?" Irelia clarified.
"Nothing. She is just.. annoying." Syndra calms down after she was prevented by the captain. "I am OUT of here."
Immediately, Syndra walks out, leaving Irelia a big question mark popped to her head. She only confronted by the fox who rubbed her head and pats her.
"Don't mind her.." The fox said.
"Is it me? Or you should be the one who is supposedly to be rubbed like this?" Irelia stared at the fox, trying to send her the message to stop.
"Are you seeing me as a dog again?" Ahri pretended to be in distress.
"Maybe."
"If so. PAT me!" Ahri cried. Her tails wagged endlessly that most of it slammed Irelia's face.
Irelia just there, sighing on the fact, she ended up patting Ahri's head. Her time was seriously a waste while she does this. But at the door, the mage who walks out got infuriated, she didn't actually left, what she have done was to test Ahri if she has that desire to tease a human again.
And yes, she was right after all.
The spheres around her brought out a huge amount of mana that resembles as her anger. She kept growling like a provoked animal until she watches the two parted ways.
She kept herself low and watched Irelia all the way, she was almost like a stalker because of this, Irelia went to common places like the hall, stores, and even her detours especially on vending machines.
Irelia now went outside to try a vending machine there because it has few customers than at the inside of the building, and then she felt this vile feeling of being watched. She glances around to try to catch that mysterious person who have been watching her.
Syndra noticed this, so she pretends that she just only passed by, she walks ahead and let Irelia saw her.
"Oh. You." Syndra said, pretending as her expression was telling that she was bored.
"Hello, Syndra." Irelia greeted, she was holding a gold coin for the buying a drink.
"I still have no idea what does that thing for." Syndra pointed at the vending machine.
"This is called as Vending Machine. You dropped a gold coin like this." Irelia finally dropped the coin and pointed at the buttons. "..Which one do you prefer between these brands?"
"Hm.." Syndra went beside Irelia and glances at the choices of the drinks. The vending machine holds brands that were all variety. Syndra just can't choose so instead she pointed at the lemonade one.
Irelia pressed the button and a bottle of lemonade dropped at the hatch, she took it and tasted it.
"Amazing." Irelia gasps to the taste.
"Is it that delicious?" Syndra hoped for having a drink as well.
"Yes, try it." Irelia offered the bottle to the mage.
"Can I?" Syndra asked.
"Go ahead. I can always buy more drinks if I have the feeling of buying." Irelia smiled and watched Syndra.
Syndra hesitated to drink the contents, Irelia used the mouth of the bottle with her lips, so she kept wondering what will happen if she REALLY drink the liquid with the bottle.
"I..say this will be an indirect.." Syndra blushed, she thought of giving it a go.
But before she could take the liquid as her own, her hands slipped as a ball hit her hand. Someone is playing a sport called Volleyball at the grounds, and they were all champions of the League.
"Oh! I am sorry.." Lux apologized and bowed. "Please I am sorry!"
"NO! My INDIRECT!!" Syndra screamed as she watched the bottle spilled all of the liquids.
"What..?"
"It's okay! Don't mind it Lux." Irelia accepts the apology.
"But Syndra.." Lux got threatened after Syndra glared at her.
"AREN'T YOU SUPPOSEDLY WATCHING WHERE YOU HIT THAT BALL?" Syndra growled with annoyance.
"It was an accident! There are no places to practice Volleyball but rather than here." Lux pouted.
Before Syndra fights back again, Irelia distracted Syndra by placing a new bottle to her cheeks, she gasps on the feeling, the coldness of the bottle tickled her skin.
"Are you engaging a play with me?" Syndra hissed playfully, smirking at the captain.
"Please calm down." Irelia tried to persuade Syndra using the lemonade.
"I am not going to drink it UNLESS you tasted it first!" Syndra pouted. Lux was just there, gasping on the activity she thought. Then Irelia sighed, drinking it first before she gives it to Syndra, leaving the mage alone with the drink.
"Syndra is acting weird lately, according to the Nine-Tailed Fox!" Lux said as she pointed at the mage who was so delighted with the bottle; drinking it slowly and giggling like a mad witch.
"Really? I don't see much any difference.." Irelia sighed and glances at the entertained mage.
"I have the feeling she has the highest curiosity levels among the others! By through observing her movements." Lux smiled and takes the ball that was handed to her.
"Maybe I should keep my eye on her, or else she'll do something intimidating." Irelia finished.
"Likewise. After all, you are the most reliant captain of Ionia!"
"Well, anyway. Why are you practicing volleyball with.." Irelia glances at Lux's companions. All of them are Demacians composing: Fiora, Poppy, Vayne, Jarvan IV and even her brother Garen. "..your Demacian team?"
"Hm.. There would be a playoff in summer for Volleyball, so we are practicing as an activity!"
"Really? Hm.." Irelia paused.
"It just a fun way to spend summer. I am so excited! Garen will cook some barbeques with Xin, I never had seen Garen cooked food before so.." Lux giggled and made a teasing glance to her brother.
"Oh. I see, maybe I could spare some of those barbeques by your brother.." Irelia hid the fact she quite saddened by the looks of Lux's life with a sibling.
"Of course! Don't worry! We had plans of having a buffet after the summer event!" Lux chirped with her excitement showing.
"Lux! Are you done?" Garen shouted as he calls his sister.
"Coming!" Lux said before she waved goodbye to Irelia.
Irelia made a last smile to the Demacians and let them practice, she looked down and pretended she heard nothing. What she feels is that after Lux talks about her brother, she reminded hers as well, she had a sibling that she have always hoping on return, in fact she really missed her brother, as well as her family.
She didn't noticed that Irelia left her without saying any word. With that, she hurriedly followed Irelia and stopped herself from loafing around with the lemonade.
Syndra wondered why Irelia got quiet all of the sudden, even any slight nudge from her didn't make it to do any attention.
So after that, she decided to press Irelia, it could be a good way of having her time allocated to hers. Timing was great as she saw a bench not far from the building, it was located at a garden where champions or summoners can pass their time with it.
She used the same method as Irelia did today, she poked Irelia with the coldness of the lemonade and made her face her.
"What?! O-Oh.." Irelia gasps. She asked apology after.
"It's alright. You don't have to." Syndra replied, she kept her usual face to the captain.
"I am just.. wondering." Irelia tells her the truth.
"Let's talk. There." Syndra pointed at the bench. She leads Irelia and sat beside her.
But before she would let Irelia talk, Syndra offered her the lemonade back. She thought a subtle amount of sour can spice up Irelia's mood with it, and so she persuaded Irelia to drink it.
"Just a little." Syndra tries to persuade further.
"I am fine. I bought that for you, so please have it your way." Irelia declined in a good manner.
"No. Drink." Syndra pressed again, this time she opened the lid and shoved it to Irelia.
The captain sighed and accepts the offer, yet in Syndra's delight; it was planned all the time, just so giving Irelia a hidden indirect from her.
"So? Feeling better now?" Syndra smirked, checking how the captain's feeling changed.
"It seems it really worked! I love the flavor of lemon." Irelia smiled brightly, all of her worries were swept away.
"Well, I made sure I gave you my indirect.." She whispered as she adjusted her position.
"Come again?" Irelia clarified because she didn't quite heard the mage spoke.
"Nothing. I said that I am relieved." Syndra immediately hid the fact.
"I see. I am glad that you know how I feel." Irelia fidgeted as she was about to open her topic.
"So. What is on your mind?" Syndra started the topic before Irelia could.
"Ah. Nothing, I just remembered my family. That's all. Nothing serious." Irelia made a smile that counts that she was pretending.
Syndra huffed because she knew that Irelia was lying. By the looks of her actions, the captain has something to say that no one has to know.
"Do you perhaps know why I turned my back away to the society?" Syndra finally stated.
"What is it?"
"It is because those elders that took me.." Syndra flowed her magic to her fingertips and leered at the captain. "..are liars. Untrustworthy, cowards."
Irelia was shocked to hear this from Syndra, she knew from the start that Syndra is not the type that opens such sensitive topics like this.
"So?" Syndra leaned and tried to threat Irelia by showing how her magic shows malevolence now. "If you have plans to lie at me, I have no choice but to turn you into..like this lemonade here."
"Wait.. Turn me into a lemonade?" Irelia chuckled. So far, her innocence started to show.
"Why yes! And drink you whole." Syndra smirked playfully yet..
"Wait.. THE HELL I AM SAYING?! THAT WAS SUGGESTIVE!" She screamed internally after realizing what it meant.
"What?! D-Drink me whole?!" Irelia pouted, her blush came once again.
"What?!"
"That was.. THAT was.." Irelia bashfully cried, she has that blush that continued to intensify.
"What do Y..YOU expect for a LEMONADE?!" Syndra quickly countered as a pretend, also with a blush.
"Well.. yes. Someone has to drink it since it was a form of liquid to quench someone's thirst." Irelia said logically.
"See?! So you ADMIT that it has to be ingested!" Syndra huffed and showed agitation.
"Hmph. What..are YOU thinking?"
"What?"
"I said. What are you thinking?"
"Nothing.. NOTHING."
"Hm. I never THOUGHT of a mere captain like you can think over things like that.." The mage laughed and teased the captain.
"Try thinking it other way around then and see if you can manage to learn about what you have said." Irelia crossed her arms.
"W-Well.. I am not mistaken that it may LEAD into perversion.." Syndra tries to hide her blush but it didn't worked.
"Oh well." Irelia sighed as a relief. "Alright, I will tell you. I don't.. want to become a drink as a penalty."
The mage blushed furiously, she let Irelia speaks for what she have thought about lately. All of them is about her family, after she heard Lux talks about her brother Garen, she remembered her lost brother.
And so, the topic ended after she elaborated that all of the things in her house was the safekeeping of her family.
"..Since I am the only female of the family, I'd watched their safety. I have this habit of being meticulous when it comes of keeping things." Irelia ended her statement.
"That's why you prevented me to make outbursts to your home because I may have the chance of ruining it." Syndra clarified as she listened intently to Irelia.
"Well, that could be a one reason." Irelia smiled. "But somehow, it can be prevented if you are treated professionally."
"Hmph. But you have done it. A lot." Syndra made a glance. "I should say at least, thank you."
"You don't have to." Irelia smiles again that brought the mood in upbeat. "It was an emergency so.."
"You called it emergency after you alloted your time to take care of me?"
"..It's part of the services that I do."
"Really? So I have to pay you up?"
"No, no, it's not like that. I serve people with all I can." Irelia corrected the mage.
"So it's free."
"You could say it was." Irelia nodded, delighted that Syndra understands her.
"So. Am I included to your..services?" Syndra fidgets like she wanted something.
"Wait..What?" Irelia immediately got the word.
"No? That's too bad. I could give you rewards if..I have to." Syndra started to play along with Irelia. She thought it might be a bait for having Irelia as hers, it was all part of her plan.
"W..What kind of..rewards, you mean?" Irelia pouted, she gained interest with it.
With Syndra's delight because of the bait, she pretends that she is disappointed.
"Why would I tell you if I am not included? I knew that you only served YOUR people more than anything."
"People means everyone. So you might be also included.." Irelia countered.
"Really? Maybe you said that because your curiosity striked your fancy like it should be." Syndra teased a little. "Or maybe because since you have done great things to me so you expect a reward?"
"Of course I have to. And..if you say so, I am aware of what kind of reward that you will give to me." She said right after she approved Syndra's statement.
"But, what if that reward was far more sinister than the simplistic ones?" The captain added, with a valid reasoning.
"What if that reward was far more intimating than the simplistic ones you expect?" Syndra teased again with a smirk that counts as playful.
Irelia blushed, she heard that word right, isn't she? Their beliefs are contradictory but this one is different, she wanted to hear it again to clarify, or maybe she wanted to hear it again because she liked it.
But the truth is, she really wanted to hear those words again.
"You didn't heard it? I don't believe you." Syndra slyly chuckled.
"But." Irelia pressed.
"I have said it CLEARLY." Syndra stood up and made a glimpse back at the captain.
"Wait! I must know that!" Irelia followed the mage.
"Oh, why are you following me?"
"I am just wondering if I could hear it once again." Irelia said truthfully.
"What do you want to hear?"
"The..reward part. So.."
"Oh, so you are interested?" Syndra snickered mischievously.
"What? It's not like I am interested, I want to clarify more details.." Irelia's chest beated up suddenly that made her flustered.
"It was more likely that you are interested."
"I said. No.."
"If I would be able to tell you, you might come to serve me as well." Syndra pondered. "And since that DUCHESS prevents any actions that I gave you."
"What really? She said that?" Irelia pressed.
"Why yes. That's why I am not going to give you a CHANCE."
"I see.."
"Just shut up and stop pretending that you are interested. You have done so many things to me, that is why you are eager to know what rewards would I give to you." Syndra stated bluntly, she has no time to idle for Irelia's sudden interest. In fact, she wanted to hear Irelia say it.
"Let's say.. I am interested."
"Hmph. Pity. I will say it if you are TRULY wanting to have that reward."
"But..! What if it was..-"
"What if it was a trickery? Or something sinister you expect? Is that right?"
"..Yes. I have that feeling."
"Hmph. Don't forget what you have done to me Fool Captain." Syndra glared. "Or, maybe you have forgotten about it?"
"Of course not, why would I forget those things?"
"So?"
"Alright. Fine! I am interested to what kind of rewards!" Irelia gave up and tells the truth. She ended up blushing at the fact.
Syndra finally got what she have wanted, she is absolutely entertained on how the captain is acting adorable in front of her, she made the captain spoke by her presses. Now her plan was progressing, it will be the right time to say it as for her desires to have the captain as hers.
"Finally." Syndra smirked. "I have lots of rewards, you see?"
"Yes, I understand." Irelia nodded seriously, it was too cute to handle.
"And yes, I want to hear your thoughts about it." Syndra floats around Irelia as a stroll.
"Tell me. What if your reward is a thing?" Syndra elaborated the first one.
"I say, I will keep it safely with me." Irelia answered like a well-mannered child.
"Hm.. I see.." Syndra was truly entertained by Irelia's reactions.
"How about, a field trip? Like I can show you where I drive my fortress with my power." Syndra stated the second one.
"Oh..! A field trip? I would love it, and so I will put my experiences to my journal." Irelia exclaimed excitedly.
"Hmph. I know you loved your hobby." Syndra snickered.
"Yes, I loved aviation. I would also include you to my journal."
"That will be fascinating indeed." Syndra thought about the next one before she would elborate the best one.
"How about.. I let you experience floating with my power?"
"Like you will use me-"
"No, no. Not like a stuffed animal, but a floating companion. I will let you experience flying instead of your blades. What do you say?" Syndra corrected.
"Why yes. It will be certainly interesting!" Irelia's eyes has a glint of sparkle with a huge amount of excitement.
"I see. It seems you liked my rewards." Syndra now anticipated the very last one. "But.."
Exactly, the whole surroundings were all trees, since the day was still spring; even though it will end after a week, there are still blossoms that continuously fluttered everywhere. She faced away before she could return back facing at the captain.
The reward she have been wanting to say has now expressed. She leaned forward and almost of her face was just an inch to the captain's, her fingers made its way to reach that chin, lifting it up to make a full view of the woman's face.
"What if it was intimate? Will you go for it?" Syndra stated, even the way she stated it made her heart fluttered.
"I..Intimate..?" Irelia blushed, she gasps on that word itself.
"Do I have to say it again?"
"No. It's enough for me."
"So? How about it?"
"..Is it just like on that..festival last time?"
"Why yes. Most certainly."
"..W..Well. I am fine..with it." Irelia muttered, she can't make an eye contact due to her embarrassment.
"O-Oh? Really? Are you sure? Don't make me expect YOUR Duchess to come and fetch you AGAIN." Syndra pouted.
"Of course not! It's i..intimacy so why is she included..?"
Syndra have heard so many great things with the captain, it really is working, the plan she have yearned of attaining its success has finally achieved. She can't express her emotions on how happy she was.
In fact, she wanted to hug the captain like a stuffed animal.
"Hm..? She is not included.. huh." Syndra teased further. "I will keep that in mind."
"Well..what kind of..intimacy?" Irelia asked again for clarification. She was eager to know since she had done also something intimate with the mage back then.
"What kind?" Syndra thought deeply, of course there are a lot of things that counts intimacy but, what is the best?
"How about. That.." Syndra pointed her lips as a sign.
"That?" Irelia wondered.
"That..yes."
"What that?"
"You know.. well."
"Don't tell me.."
"Yes. That. Of course, as a reward. For you."
And so, Irelia blushed, her face was beating red, she can't even think straight because of it.
"What? Don't like it? Maybe you wanted..more?" Syndra pressed as if she was teasing up the captain again.
"There..is more?!" Irelia gasps, with her face reddened.
"So. You wanted to go..further than the simplest one? How bold you are." Syndra teased, she really, REALLY loved how the conversation went.
"What!? NO!! I mean-!" Irelia stuttered, she kept fidgeting on her feet.
"Hmph! Just admit it!"
"I said NO! That is beyond..more.."
"More?"
"More..intimate.."
"I see. Hmph." Syndra laughed with her voice got mixed with her power's harness. "You know what? You entertain me so much.. Irelia." Somehow, she played along by pronouncing her name in such way of playfulness. Honestly, she really, really loved how Irelia acted so cute in spite of the thoughts to the reward, as if the captain is too innocent like an amateur.
Irelia gasps on how Syndra stated her name once again. Instantly, her face warmed up, making her uncomfortable.
"How about..now?" Syndra started, blushing at the same time.
"Now? What now?"
"Reward."
"Wait! You..You will-!"
"Yes." Syndra leaned, grabbing Irelia's chin and prepared for the best thing she wanted to, even she was levitating with her powers.
"Wait!" Irelia shoved her away.
"What!?"
"They might.. see us." Irelia got worried.
"I don't care." Syndra went back to what she was about to do.
"S-Syndra!"
"How about, you use your blades to cover us?" Syndra used her power to spread out Irelia's blades, she made it cover each sides of their head.
"Syndra.." Irelia pleads that this must be stopped.
"So..YOU prefer it in private? Hmph.." Syndra snickered.
"Well I. Of course." Irelia bashfully stated. Goodness. This made her squirm as embarrassment continued to play at her feelings.
Immediately, Syndra dragged Irelia with her power, she used it to lift Irelia with her.
"Where are we going?!"
"Where else? To the place you call PRIVACY."
"Wait!!"
"Shut! No more excuses from YOU! Plaything."
"What the-? WHAT DID you just called me?!"
"Plaything!"
"I am NOT a toy!"
"But you are! You are entertaining me! So you deserved to be called as that!"
"I have a name!"
"I am not dumb, Irelia."
Irelia sighed, she just let the mage take her, it will be wise to do so since the mage is threatening if she did something stupid. Of course, she knew where will she be taken to. At least, Syndra knows her name; also with the fact she was not being bullied or whatsoever by Syndra, and she was contented with that. Well, perhaps she was until she realized that Syndra is taking her to somewhere just to perform such thing that counts intimacy in private.
And so does the spring was about to come an end, their moments has just begun; yet the only one who was making advances was the feisty mage that kept clinging secretly on a busy captain, for her to attain what's best for her, and that was to make the captain as hers.
Still, the upcoming summer would be the season of relief for the captain, much likely the days of her last spring with some mage that kept pestering her all the time, she has that certain day-off that she have been waiting for so long.
About on what happened to their privacy, the mage gave that reward to her plaything , it costs some of Irelia embarrassment since that sort of thing was really, really intimate. It was just like what they did on the festival, and yes, it was that thing Syndra calls lip contact. Yet, she saw how Syndra was truly enjoying herself with it, and so she let it slip by, also being contented on what she sees on the malevolent mage.
Lastly, she waved goodbye to the mage and returned to her room in the Institute. Of course, as a champion of League, they have specialized rooms that are likely a dormitory. Except that it was required to stay at the League because of the upcoming summer event that all champions must attend for their vacation, they are only allowed to leave after the event, so it will be troubling to Irelia since she was not that much who spends on a pool or at the beach with people.
But, even Irelia was still inside her room, she has a neighbor that was indeed watching her again, and yes, that is that mage who gave such thing today as a reward.
"I say, a fate?" Syndra murmured as she lodged in the veranda of her room. "This room was not half bad it can get.. My fortress was far more better."
The end of Spring is about to come, and of course, summer will soon to rise.