POV: Rai Shinsei
Within the empty facility was only the two of us as I laid on the rocky riverbed with the current of the river gently brushing across my body as on top of me was Aria, who was enervated from our spar with a calm and collected demeanor, despite her titillating position as I was left mesmerized by her weary golden eyes, which stared intently into my own as our breathing slowly became one, accompanied by a racing pulse as I felt myself nearly succumb to an unnecessary desire.
This is far too dangerous.
If a member of her family were to catch us like this, I would be executed on the spot.
Through what felt like a miracle, I was somehow able to regain my senses as I broke the uncomfortable tension between us by handing Aria her windbreaker, prompting her to look down at herself as in the moment she became aware of her appearance, her cheeks had flushed red, sending her into a flustered state as she immediately removed herself from on top of me and stood up while covering her torso with her windbreaker.
In a panic, Aria struggled to utter a coherent sentence as she would begin stammering and amidst her desperation of trying to explain herself, I picked myself up from the river and combed back my wet bangs with my hand as when my gaze fell upon Aria, who eventually went silent, I felt the urge to tease her as witnessing her have a mental breakdown was somewhat amusing.
Maybe another time.
"When did you become aware of my vision?" I asked curiously, easing the tension amidst Aria putting back on her windbreaker.
"Are you referring to your crazy spatial awareness?" Aria asked with a lingering, yet subtle blush as she tried to regain her composure while I confirmed with a nod.
"Well, I was always curious as in some moments, you would perceive things that a normal Aspector wouldn't even notice, but I guess what confirmed my suspicions was during your fight against Atticus, where in the moment that I tried to take a step forward in order to help, you were immediately aware of it as well as my intentions, despite having to focus on Atticus in front of you." Aria explained as her analytical response left me surprised.
Her perceptiveness is quite impressive.
"Honestly, I found it ridiculous at first as being able to perceive even the smallest movement around you at all times felt absurd to even think about, but after sparring against you, I'm certain that time flows differently for you as it would have been impossible for me to land an attack on you without deceiving you, which makes me wonder, Rai…"
"How is it that you're able to perceive time differently? Were you just born with such spatial awareness or did you gain it through training perhaps?" Aria questioned as I thought back to when I trained with Nyx, who forced me to push my body to the brink of destruction nearly everyday as within those two years, I truly believed that I would die.
My vision has always been unique since I was born as I was able to perceive things that I shouldn't have during my childhood, but it wasn't to the degree that it is now as after training with Nyx, I was able to perceive time differently than most, allowing me to effectively avoid any attack as long as my opponent isn't overwhelmingly stronger than me.
Because of my trauma, Nyx decided that it was best to maximize my physical prowess as well as utilizing the full potential of my innate talent.
This was for the sake of efficiency as eventually, I developed a technique that discarded my Aspect for overwhelming physical prowess as paired with the hand-to-hand combat skills I had learned from Nyx and my elevated hyper spatial awareness, I would become practically unstoppable in theory, but there was one fatal flaw.
My mind and body couldn't handle the intense strain placed on it because it involved using various techniques involving my Aspect, which I had neglected for nearly two years.
Of course, I was able to endure the pain eventually as now, I'm able to only use the technique for an hour at most and after that, my body will be rendered useless as I don't have enough insight into my own Aspect to utilize the technique to its fullest potential.
Could this be the reason why Ryan wants me to further my insight into Aura Manipulation?
"What do you think?" I asked as Aria stared at me in thought for a moment before answering.
"I don't know, but I think it's safe to assume that both factors play a part in it." Aria replied as I found her answer amusing.
"We'll go with that answer, but I just wanted to let you know that if it wasn't for you seducing me with your appearance, I doubt that I would have fallen for such a simple trick." I teased as Aria's face flushed red once more while tears began to well within her eyes from embarrassment.
"I-I swear that wasn't my intention! I really just wanted to win-"
"I was only joking, Aria." I asserted with a wry smile as Aria glared at me in vexation.
Thanks to you, I'll be more aware as in the future, I could very well lose my life by falling for a simple trick such as the one you pulled off tonight.
"Although you made an arrogant declaration to defeat me, our original deal was that if you were able to land an effective attack on me, I would be your sparring partner in order to prepare you for the upcoming exam and within three hours, you succeeded and for that, I'll be your sparring partner as I promised." I added as Aria's expression brightened while I stepped out of the river and sat down onto a nearby bench, signalling Aria to sit down beside me as despite her contented demeanor, I noticed her legs were slightly trembling from fatigue.
"You really do notice everything, don't you?" Aria asked with a soft giggle, sitting down onto the bench beside me as she leaned back and began gazing into the starry night sky above.
"You know, during our spar, you made me question myself as for the first time in a while, I felt utterly useless and incapable of achieving anything, but your harsh, yet truthful words brought me back to reality and woke something up inside of me, so for that…"
"I wanted to thank you, Rai." Aria added sincerely as her eyes fell upon my own with a faint smile.
"I know those harsh words that you said to me earlier were meant to motivate me as if I were to have despaired, I would never be able to achieve my dream and thanks to you, I've gained more confidence in myself and even gained some insight into Aura Manipulation." Aria added with a bright, appreciative grin as her gratitude was beginning to be too much for me to handle.
"You may act cold and distant towards everyone, but deep down, you truly are a kind person." Aria asserted as her compliment left me speechless.
Those words were…
"You act as if you hate everyone around you and yet, deep down, I know that you're truly a kind person."
"I don't know what you're talking about." I replied with a nonchalant smile as Aria and I began bickering over nonsense while the night grew old, allowing the faint draft of wind to dry our clothes before we stepped outside into the crisp, autumn air.
She's just like you, Iris.