Y'ALL! I am on a ROLL! I am so happy with my progress :3 So we have an early update! I will be out of town during the times I update my stories, so I decided to update early! Next update will be at my regularly scheduled time at the end of the week, so it'll be a little longer of a wait. I do hope you enjoy!
DISCLAIMER : I do not own Marvel Cinematic Universe or their characters, I do own my OC's!
Lorelei yelped as the Eldritch whip she was supposed to be concentrating on found its mark on Lorelei's side.
The impact made sparks that showered the surprised ravenette in an orange, painful glow.
"You are not focusing, Lorelei!" Arthur scolded from where he stood watching as the two students surrounding her backed away at Arthur's comment.
Lorelei nursed her wound, sheepish grin in place.
"Again!" Arthur commanded.
They began again.
It had been a little over a week since Lorelei had received any letters from Steve. In his final letter he explained that he was to be restricted from sending letters during the next week due to confidential reasons.
Those 'confidential reasons'- Lorelei knew- were in regards to Project Rebirth.
Days passed, with Lorelei growing more anxious with each day.
Unable to handle it anymore, Lorelei has taken the week off and returned to Kamar-Taj to train.
Arthur took up her training with renewed vigor, with a strictness that nearly triumphed a Drill Sergeants.
Lorelei needed to save Abraham.
Since she had no way to know when or where, she would have to pray she would be there to save him, dubious as the goal was.
Lorelei stumbled forward at Binsa's blow to her back, easily sneaking up on her as her mind wandered once again.
"Stop, stop!" Arthur halted the fight.
Lorelei halted, attention fully on Arthur now.
She could finally hear the rhythmic chants and fighting in the distance as the teachers watched their students train.
"Where is your concentration?" Arthur demanded, approaching the woman.
Her emerald gaze snapped back to Arthur.
"Elsewhere." She admitted.
"Well, your attention could be costly. Again!"
The students once again began their attack.
Adesh lunged towards Lorelei from her right, while Binsa used her whip to try and hit Lorelei.
Lorelei ducked under Adesh's fist, while Binsa's whip wrapped tightly around her arm.
Binsa pulled at the whip, pulling Lorelei's arm into an uncomfortably awkward angle.
Lorelei turns herself into shadows, releasing herself from the whip as she forms herself back, ducking and rolling away from the students.
"Stop!"
The trio freezed at Arthur's angry exclamation.
" We are practicing with the rings today!" Arthur tapped on his own ring, "you won't always have your powers! You are too sloppy! Your shields don't hold and they shatter at the slightest tap!"
Lorelei grimaced.
"Concentrate! Use all of your senses! The more grounded you are in your senses, the more confident you are in your magic, the stronger it will become."
Lorelei closed her eyes, focusing on the sounds and movements around her.
As she did, there's a strange subtle shift in the air.
Already aware of the atoms within her, the perspective shifted outwards, bringing her awareness to the atoms outside of her body.
She had already encountered atoms that floated about when she was phased into the shadows, (as she already knew atoms were everywhere) but she hadn't been able to sense them when she was in her solid form.
She could sense the movement and vibrations of the air molecules that passed sparingly around her. They danced around in jerky movements, in a sort of jittery jig.
The longer she focused, the more she could discern… things.
She could sense the ground below her, which was the easiest, but the people… they proved to be more difficult.
She became momentarily distracted when an atom shot down from the sky in front of her, more than likely cosmic atoms from the sun and surrounding space.
Surrounded by a new world of information and overwhelmed by the barrage of information the atoms gave, Lorelei quickly attempted to discern the atoms.
The constant 'dancing' of atoms felt like individual dancers were making their way around her, dancing to their own invisible symphony.
Concentrating further, Lorelei honed in on the patterns which atoms vibrated at. She quickly realized each object vibrates differently, such as the ground and the air. She could vaguely sense the people, their bodies emitting three thick 'fogs', one in front, and two on either side of her.
Among the countless atoms that surrounded her, there was a sort of disturbance, a subtle anomaly that set her nerves alight with warning signs.
The familiar sizzle of a whip being conjured sounded to Lorelei's side, bringing Lorelei back into the fight.
Leaning to the side at the right moment, she opened her eyes to see the golden glow of a whip sizzling inches from Lorelei's head.
"You're really aiming for some serious damage here, aren't you?" Lorelei asked Arthur.
He pulled back the whip, a smirk on his face.
"Gotta raise the stakes somehow."
Lorelei sensed movement behind her, moving to leap out the way.
Unfortunately her leap sent her straight into Binsa's attack.
"What was that?! Have you lost all sense of direction? You didn't even look!" Arthur called in disbelief.
"Sorry!" Lorelei grunted, conjuring Tao Mandalas on both hands to block Binsa's blow, "just- getting the hang of something new!"
Sparks flew everywhere during the impact of whip to shield, the atoms that emitted off from the sparks muddied the field.
So she couldn't truly anticipate a blow or direction someone would attack from the information the atoms would give her, but she could keep an eye on where someone was around her.
Arthur burst into the fight, quickly taking over as Lorelei parried hit after hit.
Pushing her speed, she leapt into the air.
Utilizing the Tao Mandalas, Lorelei used them as platforms, each step placing her higher into the air.
She jumped over Arthur, landing behind him and used her whip to tie him up.
"Good." Arthur praised, "but you should probably remember that there are more threats than just me."
As he said it, Adesh and Binsa used their whips to bind Lorelei to place.
"That's all for today." Arthur said to the students.
Adesh and Binsa released Lori and left.
Arthur approached Lori.
"Honestly, Lorelei, you've done better than this. I understand you're worried about Steve, but he will be alright. To prepare for what you plan to do you must focus. Any distraction, any moment your mind wanders elsewhere can lead to deadly consequences. Ones you cannot change."
Lorelei sighed and nodded, "I understand, Arthur. I'll work on it."
"Preferably before you get yourself killed." Arthur said, allowing her to leave and return to her studies.
Later that day, Lorelei approached the Ancient One with her concerns.
As always, the Ancient One was expecting her.
They settled into a casual conversation, sipping the tea the Ancient One had called for.
The Ancient One allowed Lorelei to begin by beating about the bush.
Lorelei idly traced her sling-ring, preparing herself for the conversation at hand.
I've been thinking... about the timeline, about destiny," Lorelei picked up the small teacup, taking a sip so as to think about how she would phrase the question, "what happens if someone tries to change the fate of someone who is destined to die?"
The Ancient One watched Lorelei, understanding the true nature of her question.
"Time is a delicate fabric, each thread interconnected. To pull one risks unraveling the whole. Attempting to save someone destined to die can have unforeseen consequences, which would ripple through the timeline, altering events in ways we cannot begin to predict." The Ancient One's answer was measured.
Shifting uncomfortably, Lorelei's gaze dropped to the floor.
She must save him. She knew how much Abraham meant to Steve.
"I want to save Abraham Eirskine." Lorelei blurted.
The silence was drawn out as the Ancient One regarded Lorelei with a level gaze.
"Are you ready to own the consequences and prepare for the unknown?" The question hung heavy in the air.
Lorelei set the cup down, heart racing as she felt a wave of doubt wash over her.
Was she?
Could she prepare for the unknown?
Lorelei looked up, meeting the Ancient One's eyes, her own filled with uncertainty.
"I- I don't know," Lorelei admitted, her voice wavering, "I thought, I thought I could be, but- I'm not sure."
The Ancient One nodded slowly, her gaze softening.
"The flow of time is essential. Every event, every action, has a purpose. Erskine's death," Lorelei looked up at the mention of Eirskine's death, "while tragic, is a pivotal moment in the timeline. It sets in motion events that lead to the eventual defeat of our greatest adversary."
Lorelei clenched her fist in frustration.
"But the Adversary... He wipes out half of the universe. What if saving Erskine could help prevent it?" She knew she was grasping at straws.
The Ancient One placed a gentle hand on Lorelei's wrist.
"Lorelei, you know our actions must be careful and thoughtful. One wrong move, one alteration in the timeline, could make things worse. We must consider the greater good and the balance of the universe."
"So, I can't save him. I have to let it happen."
The Ancient One nodded, her gaze compassionate, yet firm.
"Sometimes, the hardest choices are the ones that preserve the balance. Your desire to save Erskine is noble, but you must understand that their sacrifices play a crucial role in the larger tapestry of time."
Lorelei took a deep breath while nodding slowly, a sense of resolve settling in her chest, though her heart ached with the acceptance of what must happen.
"Thank you, Ancient One. I understand it now."
The Ancient One smiled, eyes shining with approval.
"Remember, Lorelei, your path is not set in stone. You have the ability to make a difference in other ways. Trust in the journey, and you will find your place in the grand tapestry."
Lorelei bowed her head in gratitude. She may not be prepared yet, but she felt a little more grounded in her decisions thanks to the Ancient One.