The Last of the Miras

II | Ni

Two Years After
since the departure of Donquixote's

Within the Marine Headquarters' training field, two beings sparred with one another. One was defending herself from the attacks of the other while the other being strikes in offense to the opposite party. The two of them continued in that position for fifteen good minutes until the tables were turned. The girl who was on defense previously, showed her new set of attacks to strike against her mentor in which these techniques were formed by herself personally.

"Oh? You've gotten better, St. Helen." her mentor suddenly comments in the middle of their training.

The mentioned girl who barely gave a sweat was exasperated by his disturbance once he opened up the conversation. "Sengoku-san, you must know that I hate distractions in the middle of my training."

"It's only Sengoku to you." the high-ranking Marine officer frowned as if he was scolding his own child. "You must value your position as a child belonging to a tenryuubito family." he shook his head twice to her previous statement.

You must do it so, St. Helen. You're even lucky enough to belong with the kind of family you have now. He mentally sighs. Not all celestial families are like yours. They're really hard to find.

The two continued on sparring until the mentor himself said so.

•

After the sparring session, St. Helen the Celestial Dragon changed into her regular tenryuubito clothes as she was getting ready to go back home. Just as she was almost finished in dressing up, she heard a firm knock coming from the door.

"St. Helen, it's time for you to go back." the young Fleet Admiral announced from the other side.

A few minutes after the announcement that came from the Fleet Admiral himself, she finally left the dressing room and walked toward the docks.

I'm glad that I was able to escape from that place for awhile. Helen thought as she exhaled deeply. 

I wonder when I'll be really free? The ten year old turned the doorknob and went outside.

I long to experience the touch of real nature. She let her hands softly graze the leaves of each potted plant she comes across.

Not like the ones up that city. As she glanced her back, thinking it was the place she had come to feel the desire of being free from.

Free from being caged like a bird.

When she came home, she was greeted by her mother who was eagerly waiting for her arrival. "Helen, how was your training with Sengoku?"

"It was fine okaa-san, as usual."

Only then she noticed that it was just her and her mother left inside their family mansion.

With sheer curiosity, she decided to ask. "Kaa-san, where is tou-san and nii-san?" as she looked sideways.

At her child's question, the mother herself stiffened as if on impulse that Helen didn't miss this gesture coming from her.

"They are still in the meeting with the other founders' descendants." the mother replied, to which she almost stumbled at her own words.

There's something off about okaa-san. She seems to be hiding something from me. Helen pondered for a minute as she climbs up the stairs to leave her things inside her bedroom.

At the soft click of the wooden door, Athena couldn't be more thankful and let out a soft sigh.

I hope Alexander and Axel are okay. She looks at her daughter's bedroom door once more. 

I don't want to drag Helen into this problem on the proposal of  Donquixote Family's readmission in Mariejois.