The Parallel Paths

A New Friend

ALICE POV:

My movements were swift, my aim precise—every throw of my weapon found its mark without fail. I twisted and turned, weaving through the barrage of ice shards, my feet stirring up flurries of snow with each step. This was effortless now. That meant I was perfect... right?

I would launch my weapon into the tree, pull it back to me with its magnetic force, then repeat— all while dodging Lumi's attacks. This would go one for hours at a time, but I forced myself to push through the tiredness—

I couldn't be a burden, not again.

My long blue hair swayed in my face, my eyes narrowing as I peaked through the strands, just barely slicing a upcoming shard aimed at my face with my weapon, the two pieces falling with a soft thud into the snow. I stood up straight, looking down at the ice shards blankly. Even after defeating her attacks with no flaws—

why did I still feel so empty?

"You're good, a fast learner is just what I needed."  Lumi spoke, pushing through the snow now.

I snapped out of my thoughts and turned to her, smiling nervously. I could feel a soft tingling across my cheeks though it was probably just the coldness.

"Thank you, I just— didn't wanna be a burden to you." I shifted my vision downward into the snow, my hand clutching my weapon tighter now.

She stepped closer now, looking down at me with her tense yet majestic eyes, her sharp blue gaze somewhat softening now.

"You could never be a burden to me." She smiled gently, moving her thin pale hand up to brush a strand of hair from my face.

Her touch wasn't as cold as how it used to be, for the frost had embedded into my arms and down my shoulders. I embraced her touch, smiling faintly from the softness of her hand.

"It's nice hearing that, and this time someone meaning it." I muttered, trying to hide away my growing smile.

She chuckled softly and tilted her head, now pulling her hand away.

"Though, now that you're better— I cannot continue to train you."

A massive gust of wind picked up, brushing my hair back into the breeze. I tensed as the coldness surrounding me felt so warm, the betrayal of my own emotions blending into my world.

My heart dropped, my head immediately tilting upward to meet her emotionless gaze and crossed arms. Was she sending me back? I couldn't go back..

"What do you mean?" I muttered, my fingers  now gently grazing along the sharp cold blade of my weapon nervously.

"With the overruling of Lemuria, my schedule is more complicated. I'm unable to train you from
now own."

I searched her eyes for some sort of guilt, sadness but nothing resigned. She was so emotionless, so impassive it made me feel abandoned in a way, it made me feel—

Angry— no, sad. Only sadness filled my heart.

"So—"

"I'll be having one of my guards train you, I believe he'll suffice." She turned and walked away back over to the castle in the distance.

I stood there blankly, blinking a few times. Why would she hire someone to train me? The thought of having to show my abilities to this new person really made me uneasy.

I sprinted behind her, now walking alongside her trying to quiet my faint panting. My mind wouldn't stop rushing with how this person would look, react. Would I be seen as a loser if i'm not what Lumi describes me as?