Akali's POV (the following Monday):
Despite the previous rather unpleasant experience with Uber, Evelynn had decided to utilise the company's service to get Akali to the school. Well, for the girl, it was a somewhat shocking development when Evelynn told her about it. After all, the magenta-haired Goddess usually preferred to drive her off herself. However, regardless of the initial impact, the raven-haired teen noticed something else about her legal guardian. There was a rather drastic change in the way Eve operated. Her usual confidence and filtering nature were gone, replaced with sheer doubt and uncertainty. It was a worrying sight that did not bode well for the day. That being said, Akali had little to say in that matter. In fact, she was confronted with a fait accompli. Hence, she did as she was told.
Because of that surprising events' turn, Akali arrived much earlier than usual at school. She did not mind that all that much. The day was set to be relatively sunny and warm. However, she would have enjoyed the presented opportunity far more if her recovery had been concluded. In fact, she would have given much for her leg to be fully operational already. She could move around with relative ease and what was most important, without pain flaring up. But, the girl still slightly limped, preventing her from running or even walking faster. What made the already regrettable experience even worse was that the teen was not used to slowing down. All she has strived for her entire life was to be better, faster, and stronger. And now, she needed to slow down and allow her body to recover.
Akali became increasingly irritated as she slowly paced around the school's main building. If her leg had allowed her, she would have been currently running. But, unfortunately, it was not the case. Hence, after around 10 minutes or so of a painfully slow walk, the raven-haired girl gave up and sat on the nearest bench.
With nothing better to do, she reached out to her bag, retrieving a book she had only recently started. It was the first volume of J.R.R Tolkien's trilogy, the Lord of the Rings. Akali has wanted to delve into it for a long time. However, in the past, she did not have the funds to allow her to buy the things she wanted. But that changed when Evelynn adopted her. And, as much the teen hated using the diva's money, there were certain benefits to her current situation.
The author, the Englishman, created a world that seemingly sucked the raven-haired girl in. There was something truly magical in the depths of description, setting the universe and the adventure that was to come. But, if she were to speak honestly, the language the author utilised was the most thrilling aspect of the novel. The teen simply adored how the sentences were formed, complex and completed. For her, it was a refreshing experience considering the way modern books were written. Still, due to these factors, the reading was relatively slow.
It really came down to two aspects, the teen concluded. First and foremost, the Englishman had chosen to use somewhat fancy wording that, in many places, required a moment of pause from the reader. Secondly, the story required knowledge, patience, and fidelity when read. As one could have said: The Devil lay in the details.
Nonetheless, Akali somehow felt a hunger. The more she delved into the story, the more significant that feeling grew. No matter how many pages or chapters the teen had gone through, she needed more. It felt fantastic to have a goal that, at the same time, was a driving force. But, it also had its downsides. From the moment the raven-haired girl opened the book, her perception of the world, or to be more specific, her surrounding, greatly diminished. All of her focus was on the pages filled with neatly typed words.
Nevertheless, it was only a short time before Akali heard the bell chiming. It was high time for her to proceed to her today's classes. However, perhaps for the very first time in her life, the girl did not want to do so. It would have been much better to simply sit here and enjoy the novel. However, it only took the girl a moment to change her mind. After all, her whims should not cover the bigger picture that was her future. And to reach that next stage of her life, she needed to get the best possible education and then go to university. It was the plan from the very beginning. Still, as time passed, she occasionally questioned whether being perfect should be her priority number one. And it would not have been a surprise for anyone if she said that these feelings, thoughts, or ideas have come more often since her adoption.
Well, Akali liked her legal guardian more than she should have. But, as much as she wanted to go all out, she feared rejection. There was more to that, so much more. Could the girl's confession have convinced Evelynn to get rid of her earlier? Taken that the magenta-haired had once said that she could stay with her till she was done with her studies. There was too much at stake for Akali to risk it with such a daring and reckless step.
Regardless of the girl's chaotic state of mind, she packed the book and marched toward the class. Perhaps, these classes would allow her to forget about these elusive problems. Still, she doubted that. But, as many say: Hope is the last to die.
…
Evelynn's POV (early afternoon, the same day):
The magenta-haired Goddess sat quietly in a disgustingly luxurious restaurant, waiting for Mister Winsome to arrive. Occasionally, she would raise her left wrist, gazing with murderous intent into her own gold watch. As much as she wanted to pretend, she was not a patient person. And waiting for someone has never been her strong suit. But, it was partially due to her own doing, for she had arrived more than 30 minutes ahead of the clock. So, with that sad realisation in mind, she exhaled, then looked around, trying to kill as much time as possible.
Even though it was only an early afternoon, many people currently occupied the fancy restaurant. The magenta-haired woman would usually be relatively bothered by that minor fact. However, regarding the current scenery, these forgettable human beings presented a possibility to fight off boredom.
So, as soon as the diva received her ordered drink, she began a much closer inspection of the patrons whilst occasionally sipping the lemonade. At first glance, none of these people caught the woman's attention. All of them seemed bland and uninteresting. But that speculation was quickly reverted when Evelynn spotted a relatively strange couple sitting to her left.
As much as she managed to notice, the man was much older than his feminine counterpart. Well, if it was not one of these strange cases when the man seemingly aged faster than expected, then the difference in the age department could be counted in dozens of years. Furthermore, the girl sitting beside him was most likely Akali's age. The siren could not have described her as a woman as she simply lacked the demeanour and still had a teenager's facial features. Though all in all, Eve found the girl rather cute. But, the uneasiness in her movements gave her an impression that something was off in this relationship. Even though the pair held their hands together, it felt like the man was somehow forcing all this onto the young girl.
If it was the case, the lawyer would be utterly disgusted. But, without any viable way to prove that, all she could do was watch and speculate. Still, the situation reminded the diva of something much closer to her heart. Actually, two different questions were born in the woman's mind. First, she wondered what would happen if she had a chance to meet her younger self. How would she approach her? Would she point out the wrongs? These were the type of questions she struggled with. As much as she would like to lie, she could not look at herself objectively. There would always be an excuse ready to be played to defend one of her shortcomings. Well, there was no other way to name it but pathetic. Yet, still, the magenta-haired woman needed to improve in this department.
Secondly, this strange parring was like a hyperbole of her relationship with Akali. Granted, the age difference between them was not that noticeable. But voices in Evelynn's head still wanted her to take the lead. So, all in all, it was not that surprising. After all, the magenta-haired woman had always been a dominating side in her previous relationships. And it would be natural for her to retake that role. But, then again, in Akali's case, it was not that easy. The lawyer was ready to sacrifice many things if it meant that this relationship would work out. However, a part of her was worried that she would try too hard and end up forcing Akali to do something the girl would not be comfortable with. So, that whole problem was like walking over a depthless canyon on a thin line made of cracked glass.
"Why can't it be any easier? Why am I overthinking everything when it's Akali related? Why can't I simply confess my feelings and then live with the consequences? Oh, yeah, because I'm a damned stupid coward," she uttered deep inside her mind for the cuntless time.
Then, she refocused on the strange parring, trying to fight off her conflicted mind. But unfortunately, the scenery provided her with any entertainment for the next five to six minutes. After that period, the magenta-haired woman found it sickening to spectate the non-functional couple.
It flared Evelynn's anger that, without vent, was only growing. Well, it did not take long for that pumped-up feeling to burst out.
"Would you kindly get me something stronger?" the magenta-haired vixen asked the next waiter who passed by her table. Well, all in all, it was a passive-aggressive question, as the amount of venom the lawyer filled the short sentence with was bothering to say the least.
"But, of course," the young man responded nearly immediately whilst turning around to face the woman. "Something specific on your mind?" he questioned.
"I think I've already asked you to bring me something stronger!" Evelynn quietly hissed. "So, please, be a good boy and do what so," she added, her voice filled with sublime anger and venom.
"Eh," the waiter gasped for a moment. For a moment, the man seemingly looked for proper words to address the client's rudeness. But, in the end, he shook his head. "As you wish. I'll be back in a few," he simply said.
The magenta-haired woman knew that her behaviour was shady, to say the least. But, at least for now, she would blame her inner rage for such a situation. But unfortunately, there was an aspect much more bothering in that. The woman lost her calm and collected demeanour instantly without even an ounce of regard. Perhaps... she was already so sexually frustrated with herself that she would be snapping at people randomly. It was a terrifying realisation, but for all she knew, it could be true.
Before she could notice, the young waiter returned with a fresh bottle of red wine.
"It's our best vintage," the man slowly started. "Please, keep in mind that it's a dry wine," he added, barely whispering. Some uneasiness could be spotted in his movement.
"It's perfect, then," Evelynn responded, somewhat nicer. "It'll be all for now, thank you," she added momentarily, virtually dismissing the young man.
This time, the waiter left immediately. His uneasiness was gone as soon as he turned around. Eve spectated him for a few moments, focusing on the young man, possibly for the first time. Well, he was not a model type of man; that fact could be established instantly. While his face was round, the jaw bones were quite exposed, making a strange mix. The eyes were of a greenish taint, exhausted, dry. His relatively short hair resembled the woman a straw, but he kept it clean. Overall, the diva would have never found him interesting or appealing in the physical term.
But nonetheless, she needed to make up for her outburst. Perhaps a hefty tip might do the trick. Still, for now, she would play the role of a cold bitch. A role she was awfully familiar with. Nevertheless, it would be for the best not to think about that minor thing. So, the woman tried to achieve that goal as she poured herself a full glass of crimson-red liquid. Its bitterness was a welcome sensation.
…
Evelynn's POV (around 30 minutes later):
The siren nearly loudly expressed her dissatisfaction once Mister Winsome and a much younger woman, most likely his assistant - Seraphine, entered the restaurant. Considering the amount of wine she had forced into herself, it was a miracle that she found so much self-control. But the point still stood. The man and his assistant were late by at least 15 minutes.
To the man's credit, Mister Winsome nearly momentarily spotted the lawyer. Then, he flashed an apologetic smile before leading Seraphine to the vixen's table.
"I am so sorry, Miss Smith," the man spoke as soon as they reached the table. "I guess I have underestimated the traffic. So, please accept my apologies. How long have you been waiting? I hope it was not that long," he continued, his voice matching the uttered sentences.
"Unfortunately, I've been here for more than 40 minutes by now," the magenta-haired woman said truthfully. "Though it's partially my fault," she added. "Can we start? I'd love to return home as soon as possible."
"But, of course," Mister Winsome responded immediately. "Though, please excuse my apparent lack of manners before we begin. I take you had an opportunity to meet my dear assistant, Seraphine Mell?" he added a moment before sitting down.
"We've been introduced to each other," Evelynn replied politically. "Please, don't consider me rude, but could we speed up this whole process. I'm certain these pleasantries are all great, but we don't need them now, don't we?" she questioned, feeling her impatience slowly taking control.
"Hmm," the businessman hummed quietly. "Let's order some refreshments, then sit down to the business. Does it suit you, Miss Smith?"
"Not necessarily," the siren commented. "However, if you insist on getting something to drink, go ahead."
"Pardon me, then. I will be back in a moment," Mister Winsome said, then stood up and headed toward the bar where some waiters could have been spotted.
"I can assure you, Miss Smith, that Mister Winsome does not try to stall," Seraphine said a moment later. "He simply tries to be courtesy; that is all to it."
"It sure doesn't look like it," the lawyer scoffed. "It'd be appreciated if we could conclude the matter as soon as possible," she added, not even looking at the young assistant. Instead, the magenta-haired woman scanned the surrounding, trying to pass the time.
"I do not think this matter… can be concluded that easily," Mell replied, lowering her tone. "I do understand your approach, Miss Smith. Or… at the very least, I can reason it partially. But you are threading on a thin line between being annoying and straight-up rude," she added. For a few seconds, the assistant seemed hesitant about whether to speak honestly or not. But, in the end, she apparently decided that there was no other way to achieve the deemed effect.
"Pardon me?" the diva asked, taken aback by the assistant's rather honest critique. "Hmm, it'd be so much easier if people openly stated what they have in their minds," she commented. "Dully noted."
…
Akali's POV (shortly after her classes finished):
As soon as the ringing echoed throughout the class, Trey stood up, stretching. The school day was finally concluded. The raven-haired girl waited for a few more moments before packing her belongings into the backpack. Considering the weather outside was more than fine by the girl's standards, it would have been a crime not to utilise it.
"Akali?" Sam called the raven-haired teen, then nudged her with her elbow.
"Ouch! What is the matter, Sam?" Akali asked afterwards, massaging the nudged area.
"Are you going out with us, Akali?" the brown-haired girl asked. "We've been spamming our group chat with the matter for 2 or 3 hours. But… you didn't say anything. Do you have it muted or something?" she continued questioning.
"Oh," the so-called ninja gasped for a moment. "I think I did mute it a week ago," she responded whilst checking her phone. "Yeah, it is muted. Oppsie, sorry for that, guys. But… honestly, why not. Could someone bring me up to speed, please?" she asked, scratching her nape.
"Well… long story short, we're planning to eat out, then go to the Public Park," Alonso said. "Though I wouldn't mind going somewhere with fewer people around. The Public Park might be really crowded right now," he added. "Still, it's a group decision. I'm going with you no matter what," Alonso loudly chuckled.
"What about the Esplanade?" Trey inquired. "It might or might not be the better option, but it is an option, nonetheless."
"I'd prefer the Public Park," Alethia murmured. "Call me a freak, but I like Victorian-era architecture, and we can see some examples of it. So… my vote's for the Public Park."
"I do not mind either of these two places," Trey commented.
"Me neither," Alonso stated. "Akali, Sam, what about you?"
"I like the Esplanade better, to be honest," Sam said after a moment of hesitation. "That being said, I won't be forcing you to go there," she flashed a small smile of reassurance.
"Alethia sold the Public Park for me," Akali whispered. "Sorry, Sam, but you know how I like architecture, and Victorian-era is one of my favourites," she added as if trying to explain her decision.
"Fair enough," Sam exclaimed. "So… Public Park it is. Pack up, then, people. We still need to grab some food before we can venture there."
With this rather minor decision scratched from the list, Akali and her friends headed to the exit. Unfortunately, the raven-haired girl threaded a few steps behind the group due to her still-hurt limb. But… in all honesty, she did not mind. It would be a refreshing experience to spend some time with her peers. She should be doing so more often. But getting familiar with people was a habit that seemed impossible for the girl to acquire.
"Guys, we should really slow down a little," Trey's voice sounded a few moments later. "I know that Akali will never complain, but her leg is not fully healed yet. So, let's adjust to her pace," he added once he gained the group's attention.
"Thanks, but it was not really needed, Trey," the raven-haired girl said, chuckling.
The friends walked for the next 10 minutes, alternatively covering serious or grande topics and laughing. The raven-haired teen found herself in an unusual situation. But she loved every single moment of it. It could be described as a breath of fresh air. Then, unexpectedly, the teenager's phone buzzed a few times, informing her that she received a message. Considering that the only people who could have sent her any messages were Evelynn or Katarina, she pulled it immediately, wanting to check what was going on.
…
Once you're back home, we need to talk. Have fun.
Love you, Evelynn.
…
Author's notes section:
[2023-02-25]: Hey, here is a preview of the story's next chapter. Please, bear in mind that it is, as mentioned, a preview. Some parts of it might not be included in the final release. I will try to finish this chapter as soon as possible. I would like to clean up some of the tasks in my schedule, and right now, there are many chapters queued there.
[2023-03-13]: Hey, I have a minor update for you. Please, do tell me what you think, as I am still trying to experiment a little bit with the style and the form of these pieces.
[2023-03-29]: Hey, I have a minor update for you. As I informed you earlier, it is getting more and more difficult to continue this story. I'm not exactly sure what causes the problem for this particular piece, but I will try to finish it as soon as possible. Then, take a brief pause from it to clear my mind before writing the 2nd segment of the story. You see the whole original reasoning you can find below. Anyway, enjoy the update.
[2023-04-15]: Hey, I have a minor update for you.
[2023-05-25]: Hey, the chapter is finally concluded. First of all, I'm deeply sorry that it took so long to conclude such a short piece. That being said, as I have told you numerous times, I feel like I'm hitting a wall with this story. So, my decision, for now at the very least, is to pause it, and focus on rewriting and re-adjusting the chapters that had been already released. Maybe it will allow me to gather my wits, but it will take time, for sure. I would not expect this story to be updated within the next month, but maybe I will pick another chapter for rewritinn, but I can't promise that. Afterwards, I will try to go with a model of rewriting 2 chapters per each new till the process it finished. Anyway, sorry for such a huge wall of text, I'm just trying to speak up my mind. Nonetheless, enjoy the chapter, it's been long overdue.
Don't forget to comment. I really appreciate your feedback.
Note that the dialogues written in italic are thoughts.
As always, I would like to thank you for everything. See you soon :)
Changelog:
[2023-02-25]: A preview has been released.
[2023-03-12]: I have managed to update the piece, adding around 500 - 600 words.
[2023-03-29]: I have managed to update the piece, adding around 500 - 700 words.
[2023-04-15]: I have managed to update the piece.
[2023-05-25]: The chapter is finished, and the last review is released.
Info: I have included more stories in the schedule as I'm not 100% certain what I want to write next. Please, keep in mind that I might add or remove positions from the list. I might rewrite some of the older stories or extract some of the longer stories from `The story of one lost soul`.
Schedule:
- Will you look past my mistakes? (finish the WIP)
- The family tree (finish the WIP)
- Exiled you say? (new chapter)
- The shadows can be deceiving (new chapter)
- Hidden in the mountain's shadow (new chapter)
- The war call (new chapter)
- Life is full of surprises (new chapter)
- The rise of the Blood Moons' servants (new chapter)
- Black Diamond (new chapter)
- The heart not so cold (move to the separate story)
- When the clock is ticking (Warhammer 40k new story)
- Sometimes it's just better not to know (new chapter)
- The broken heart (new chapter)
- Lifetime of war (new chapter)
- My home is where my heart lies (rewrite chapter 4)
Bonuses' section:
A new story taking place in the Warhammer 40k universe.
Story of one lost soul: The war call: rewrite.
An entirely new story (possibly Akali x [Irelia, Syndra, Katarina]).
A new short story (Vi x Cait).
An entirely original story (possibly even two stories, one taking place in medieval times, the other in the far future)
Bleach story. (Byakuya x Yoruichi / ?)
Naruto story. (Neji x Hinata / Neji x TenTen / Nagato x Konan)
Fairy Tail story. (most likely Erza x Mira)
Maybe some Star Wars?
References:
- J.R.R. Tolkien - The Lord of the Rings
- Phil Collins - You'll Be In My Heart
*bonuses will be worked on when I don't feel like writing the chapters pointed out in the schedule :D
End of the author's notes section.