Ava takes their first step into the rustic village, their heart's steady beat finds solace in the serene environment; its youthful vibrance contrasts with the pastel stillness of Amythyst Cave and East Gearen city. The flowing streams shroud the sound of the twin waterfalls from the previous passage.
A young girl lets out a strong sigh. "It's hopeless, Eldest. Things are just too broken." Her voice captivates Ava, like a fly stuck in honey. "It's been like this for an entire year, but now it's getting far worse."
The squelching sound of wet rubber hitting the pavement. The young purple haired girl continues. "He won't come out to eat– Heck, he won't come out of his house in general.-"
A tall man streaks past the girl, and in front of the shapely older woman. "-He's neglecting… his duties…" Aelita stops her sentence and stares at the tall man with disheveled hair.
The man looks up to Ava, and they meet his gaze; both of them are tired of their past and anxious for what's to come. "You will train under me. No self indulgence, no saying no to the elder. This is what you want, but if you wish to leave, do not come back."
That tone… Ava does a slight bow as the breeze bristles the lively greenery. "Yes sir."
The purple haired girl shouts out from behind him. "I'll join!"
"No, just her-" The tall male's naturally authoritarian tone is cut by the older woman's staff rising in front of his face.
"Sheridan is a village of community, Keta; let alone you have forgone training your own pupil." The older woman's sweet voice flows with a bit of tang. "You will train Aelita and this new soul."
Keta turns to the woman. "But Celi- Eldest-!" And she threatens him with two fingers softly poking his side.
"You will train both equally as hard." Her aura oozes a sense of authority. "The inn needs me." Her eyes scour and stay on Ava before leaving. "After all this time you come… it's a shame that this is where you begin, and honestly a bit sad." She whispers low enough for only her to hear.
Once Celia fully leaves Keta turns his direction back to Ava and the purple haired girl who's brimming with excitement. "I don't expect you to be capable of learning what I'll be teaching Ava as quickly or at all, but I will still teach you the basics that they'll be taught."
The girl raises her clenched fist, as if she was taking her sensei's words as a challenge. She then turns to Ava extending her hand with a genial smile. "I don't why the Sensei is so suddenly interested in you, but I know it's for a good reason. My name's Aelita, I help run the Cherry Blossom Inn ."
Aelita leaves an inviting pause. Ava takes a moment before embarrassingly answering. "A-ah right! I'm Ava."
Why did I have to make that so awkward? Before Ava can fully turn away from the two a swift leg narrowly misses her chin.
"No indulgence, your training starts immediately." Keta asserts with his foot at Ava's throat. "I know how you don't like to listen to words so I will result to force if I deem it necessary "
Ava stumbles back, wanting to protest but stopping just short as Aelita speaks up. "Was that really necessary? If she had any slower reflexes that could've ended worse."
Keta replies with an exhausted sigh and lowering his leg, turning his back to Ava and walking away. "Failure to show up will result in a spar against me."
The purple haired girl readjusts her bushy ponytail while scratching her head. "I'm starting to doubt he's doing this for a good reason at all."
Ava stands there; recalling the final day of her voyage, how hopeless she felt going against the Riftmons and how she barely survived; and Melia's scream in the cave. I shouldn't rely on my powers, I don't even know how to use them or activate them. That with not knowing if they're temporary should be more than enough of a reason…[1]
Aelita stands on her tippy toes and blows wind onto Ava's face. When Ava finally comes to, Aelita's exposed nape flashes their view; scarcely draped with amythyst strands of hair accompanied with the dark cherry blossom colored strap of her sports bra. "Earth to Ava…"
Ava's head shakes furiously "Sorry! Let's get going!"
Aelita guides Ava through the crowded village walk ways, practically shoving through everyone. "Sorry!" She says shoving another trainee. "I guess everyone came out to finally talk to sensei."
"Has he really not talked to anyone in over a year?" The intersex woman gets jostled between bodies while getting dragged by the fit student.
"You heard that part? Well yeah, he's been so reclused that everyone thought he was disappointed in us. I even started wearing my old training gi." Ava looks up to see Aelita is wearing a slightly worn gi like it was a bath robe.
The two continue pushing through the crowd, hearing people wonder why their beloved sensei is only coming out now. Theories being thrown about. "Maybe he really did give up on us."
"He came out for her?"
"A year of nothing and this stranger gets all of his attention."
"Maybe she can motivate him to start training us again."
Ava's head lowers in response to all the recent attention. I only came here to train, not to fix whatever problem you guys have.
[1] "You know the only reason is because you're a pig."