Broken Providence

(16) The Trinity Ball Preparations

It had been a few months since Aleodei had gotten to Trinity and during those months she grew even more spiteful around her. She managed to find a little underground library that was on its last legs.

It was so mistreated that there was no librarian or people inside, just books and books dusted with time, neglected by war.

She sat in one of the corners surrounded by books. Fantasy, fiction, but most importantly history of the Drigenife. A race that was above humans in agility, strength, power and all else. They had a greater connection with the earth and thus controlled and possessed more core power than humans could. They had demonic features which made them feared but they were a quiet race, focused on serving the earth and keeping peace. Aleodei noted that the chapter on them stopped abruptly, around nineteen years ago. She knew why too. The organization that had swore to make peace in this growing war took them out, fearing that they would be in charge of the new world, and not them. Not her. Aleodei closed her fists tightly but let it go. This was the reason she was fighting, the reason she was to end the war. Tears threatened her eyes, and she shook her head, laughing to herself at the thought of her crying.

After she was done and set the books gently back where they were on the shelves she left to her room, to go speak to her familiar May'Qli who waited for her in the sub space. As she continued to head toward the prison building where her crappy room laid, a hand reached out to grab her arm but Aleodei dodged swiftly.

"Aleodei!" A voice that was Claire's called out to her. Aleodei turned and noted she had been working in something that involved paper and glue, seeing how she was covered in it. Aleodei only nodded in response and waited for Claire to continue. "I've been looking for you!" She said cheerfully despite the dismissiveness that Aleodei showed her during the morning drills recently. Aleodei only began to walk before Claire walked alongside her. "I know you might not know this, but Trinity holds a yearly ball to motivate the soldiers, Lady Monarch has asked me to formally invite you," she said smiling. Aleodei stopped confused.

"There is going to be a ball...? During war..?" She asked concerned. Claire nodded and shrugged.

"I know it's quite unconventional but it has proven to strengthen the moral of the troops, and we all have fun and look forward to it," she said trying to explain.

"They do this yearly?" Aleodei asked softly. Claire's eyes glazed with slight sadness and she nodded.

"Correct, though I didn't attend last year's so I wouldn't know what to tell you how it was." She looked down sorrowfully but then rebooted and looked up cheerfully. "Though the year before that was so fun! The theme was magical forest," she said marveling at the memory. Aleodei tilted her head and asked a heavy question.

"And were your morals boosted?" She asked bluntly. Claire gaze lowered and became gentler as she remembered what happened weeks after. Something that changed how she felt for Trinity that she had tried to shove deep down. She got lost in thought and memory that Aleodei felt bad and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Lieutenant Claire," she said, gently trying to bring her back. Claire blinked and the light came back into her eyes, she looked up at Aleodei and smiled softly.

"I'm sorry I got lost," she said warmly but Aleodei knew she felt a tint of sadness. She wondered what had caused her such distress and scolded herself when she realized she was being caring. Anger and sadness and despair bit at her. She lifted her hand off her shoulder and stuffed into her pockets and looked off quickly.