"Good morning," Blaze mumbled. He looked like he was still sleepy and was rubbing his eyes. His hair was untidy as if he had overslept. He had a satisfied look on his face after the sleep as all the pain and tiredness melted away.
"Morning!" Lili chirped back. Her voice was pretty bright and full of energy.
"She seemed lively. Knowing how Lili is, she might have woken up early in the morning and got ready for the day ahead. Well, even though Lili and Mili are identical twins, Lili is the big sister. So, she always acts like she is an adult. Sometimes, I think she's even my older sister." That is what Blaze was thinking while looking at Lili.
Blaze was looking here and there around the kitchen. "Where is Mili? He asked.
"Oh, you are looking for Mili? Well, she's still sleeping," Lili replied while stifling a giggle. She has always loved teasing Mili about her sleepiness.
Then, a blurry-unclear voice came flying out of nowhere, "Uwaahhh, Onii-chan, you are still home today?". Mili came out with her untidy hair. She was still half asleep, rubbing his eyes and trying to tidy her hair with her familiar ribbon.
"Yeah, I'll go to train later. First, I have to go and meet with Lisa and say sorry to her for the other days," he said steadily, and the sleepiness from his face was gone.
Then Luna came. She had just cooked pancakes in her hands, which were steaming. "Eating comes first. Take your meal, or today's training is cancelled." She frowned while looking at Blaze. Her tone was mixed with worry and anger. She looked concerned about Blaze.
Hearing his mom, he went to freshen up. He quickly washed his face, brushed his teeth, and changed his clothes. After getting ready, he went to the dining table for breakfast. "Pancakes with honey! I love it." He was super happy to see his breakfast. Then, saying "Thank you for the meal," he started digging.
Blaze raised an eyebrow as he was chewing on the pancakes. He looked at the chairs and curiously asked, "Dad is not home yet?". He was concerned about his father. "What's taking him so long? Is something wrong?"
Lili shook her head. And said without any doubt, "No, he's not home yet." She was also concerned about him.
Blaze sighed but nodded. After that, he finished his breakfast as fast as possible. "Okay, I'm off," he said. After that, he got ready and went ahead, out of his house to meet with Lisa and then continue his training as usual.
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When Blaze reached Lisa's house, he could feel the familiarity. "I haven't been here for a long time. Ohh, Lisa's the one always visiting me. So I don't have to come here often. Last time I came here was when Lisa was ill." Old memories were brushing over him. As he went ahead, he heard a busting sound coming from the house. When he went to see what had happened, he saw Lisa's mom busy with her everyday household chores. So, he thought that it would be best not to disturb her.
He was looking for Lisa. Then suddenly, he felf a tug in his arm. When he looked to figure out what it was, he saw Lisa. Lisa was standing there. She had a soft smile in his face.
"Oh, Lisa, I'm so sorry about yesterday when you couldn't find me. And I am also sorry for the other days. I was out to train," he apologized as he remembered his practice session.
Lisa sighed first but quickly softened her demeanor. "I know, I heard from Lili and Mili. Let's go to our usual place," she suggested. She had her smile in the face but somewhere within her Blaze felt that something was off. But he didn't ask what was wrong.
Then, with a nod, Blaze followed Lisa out of the house. Her calm and familiar smile returned as she led the way. The sun was shining brightly between them as they were walking side by side. It was casting a warm glow between them.
When Blaze and Lisa were going through the path in the forest, the rays of the sun were filtering through the big and dense trees. It was shadowing like it was making a pattern of leaves and branches. As they were going farther in the smell of damp trees increased. The sound of the birds chirping was covering the silence between their soft footsteps on the forest's moss-covered path. There were towering trees that were stretching high avobe around the sky. Their ancient trunks were covered in old green mosses and wrapped with ivies.
Then, Lisa glanced at Blaze and smiled softly. "Do you remember when we first came here?" Her voice carried a gentle nostalgia. "Yes, we came here the month we first met, raight?" Lisa noded. "That was eight years ago. I was only six back than. We used to run around like we had all the time in the world. Just playing and laughing..."
Blaze nodded as a chuckle escaped him. "Yeah... I remember. Everything felt so simple back then."
They were going ahead as their childhood conversation flowed. As they went ahead, the density of the trees decreased. Eventually, a cliff reavealed. An open place with only one tree at the side. They stepped forward. The inspiring beauty of the forest, so beautiful.
It was looking like an endless sea of green stretched to the horizon. The leaves in the tree tops were waving like sea water for the wind. It made a beautiful artwork of emerald and jade. It seems like a living artwork from the cliff. The winding river created a silver ribbon path through the woodland area. The shimmering surface glowed with golden sunlight as the sun began to set. High in the sky above the vast forest, birds flew with effortless grace as their shadows moved across the blue sky. At the heart of it all, there stood a massive tree at the cliff's edge. Its ancient roots were gripping the earth as if anchoring time itself. Lisa and Blaze stood beneath its sprawling branches, which were letting the breathtaking sight sink in. The sound of the wind flowing through the forest trees whispers about the memories of their childhood as they stand there.
At the edge of the cliff, she stood while the wind playfully pulled at her hair. Lisa turned her gaze toward Blaze. The sun hung low in the sky. The landscape received a warm golden glow from its source. "Blaze, you are training to become the strongest, aren't you?" She asked Blaze with a soft yet a little firm voice.
Blaze nodded enthusiastically. His eyes were sparkling with determination. "Yes! I'll become the strongest!" His joyful expression was infectious, and it was radiating sheer willpower that made Lisa smile.
"What will you do after you become the strongest?" she inquired. Curiosity was lacing her tone. The future held so many possibilities, and she wanted to know what dreams fueled Blaze's ambitions.
Lisa continued speaking as Blaze attempted to think before her heart began to burn with emotion. "I really don't want to end up being the person who remains behind. I have to become stronger. I can't go like this anymore. So, I have decided."
Taken aback, Blaze raised an eyebrow. A cascade of questions swirled in his mind. "Decided? What do you mean?" He looked at her. His expression was a mixture of surprise and intrigue.
"I'm going on a journey in the other worlds for seven years with my new teacher. She's incredibly strong and truly remarkable. From what I've heard, she's an Advanced Order swordswoman and an Advanced-rank mage." Lisa's voice was calm and resolute. A stark contrast to the excitement bubbled within her. "This will be the last time you see the weak version of me. Next time, when we meet again, I'll be the stronger one."
Blaze's spirit remained unshaken. And his confidence was unwavering. "You can rest assured. I'll be the stronger one between us!"
A smile played across Lisa's face as she suggested, "Let's make a promise. After seven years when we will meet for the first time, we will compete with swords and the winner can make a wish which the loser must fulfill whatever it may be." Her tone was serious. And yet there was a hint of excitement that sparked between them. There was a spark of competition igniting between them.
"Okay, as you say, get ready to fulfill my wish," Blaze replied. Confidence was brimming in his voice as he replied.
Lisa chuckled softly. The sound had a melody that reverberated against the cliffs. "We'll see about that," she teased. Her eyes were glimmering with playful challenge.
Lisa displayed a quick moment of consideration before retrieving a pendant from her pocket. It was carefully crafted but now incomplete. She held it out to Blaze. The broken piece glinted in the fading sunlight. "Take this," she said. Her voice carried a mix of sentiment and importance. "It's a part of a pendant. I want you to have this as a reminder of our promise and the journey ahead."
Blaze accepted the pendant. He experienced the profound depth of their common words and dreams. The setting sun marked their moment as they stood where their separate paths began. Each of them possessed a fervent determination to achieve their personal goals.
The pendant was half of a beautifully crafted silver locket. Its edges were uneven where it had once been whole. It was small enough to rest against Blaze's chest. Yet it was heavy with meaning. Its surface was shining in the sunlight, and it had an awirling design that reminded the vines that were wrapped around the trees. It was telling about the bond that they shared, which even their separation for ages can not break.
At the center of the broken locket lay a deep blue gemstone. Its fractured edge was mirroring the missing half. The gem was shimmering like the night sky. As the sunlight came to the gem, the gem gave a faint golden glow. Even though it was incomplete, it remained precious as their bond. Lisa had chosen it carefully. She ensured that even when apart, they would always carry a piece of the pendant for each other.
When he opened the locket, he saw there was something written. It was tiny but still heartfelt: "No matter how far apart." Then, Lisa showed him her part, that was saying, "We will always find our way back to each other." Though small, the words carried the weight of years spent apart and the deep bond they shared. He knew that Lisa would always carry the other part with her. A heartfelt promise bonded them, the pendant will be whole again.
"No matter how far apart, we will always find our way back to each other."
This pendant wasn't just a piece of jewelry. It was a symbol of the past. It was a tether to their memories. And it was a silent vow that neither time nor distance could break.
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Blaze came home. When he stepped through the main door, he announced, "I am back." When he announced, he felt a sense of relief that brushed over him.
"Welcome back, Onii-chan!" Mili chimed in cheerfully. Her eyes lit up as usual as she saw her older brother coming home.
Blaze's stomach was making noise. He seemed hungry. Then He touched his stomach and said, "Is dinner ready? I am super hungry."
"Yes, dinner's ready," Lili replied with a warm smile. She was still busy preparing the dinning table with the super tasty looking meals that they are going to have.
"Thank you for telling, Onee-chan," Blaze teased Lili with a grin in his cheeks.
"Onii-chan?" Lili frowned as she puffed her cheeks.
"Welcome back, Blaze," Ignis greeted him. He was standing by the kitchen with a smile on his face.
Blaze saw his dad. "Dad, you are back!" He was relieved to see his dad home.
"Yes," Ignis replied. His expression was weary but satisfied. "It was a lot of work this time. I never thought that it would take that much time."
The aroma of the meal filled the air. The whole family was eating together again, which motivated Blaze to train even more.
As they were eating dinner, a sudden thought crossed Blaze's mind. "Where is Eisha? I hadn't seen her for three days now." He was curious about her because it was rare to not see her helping Luna.
"You didn't know?" Lili asked.
"Well, no wonder. You are always busy with training. You takes no care of us, recently," Mili puffed her cheeks.
"That's not true. I just didn't see, that's all. "Where is she?"
Luna said, "There seems to be a problem at her home-world. So, she went there. She said she'll come back soon after the problem is solved." Luna seemed worried about Eisha.
"What happened?" Blaze asked his mom with a serious expression. His voice was filled with concern.
"She said that she didn't know what happened, but something bad happened for sure," Luna replied.
"Will she really be okay by herself?" Blaze asked, looking at her mom and dad.
Then Ignis replied, "She is an advanced order swordman, so she will be probably fine in her travel between worlds. But the problem is what happened in her home-world."
"Isn't there anything that we could do for her?"
"Yes, when time comes, we'll do whatever we can to help her. But we have to know first, what happened. I am trying to figure out that." Ignis replied to Blaze.
"Oh, okay, Dad." Blaze seemed happy.
Then, changing the topic, Ignis asked, "So, Blaze, how's your training going?"
Blaze leaned back in his chair. His eyes were lighting up as he recalled his recent experiences. "Well, there's this old man I've been training with," he began. Excitements were bubbling in his voice. "He has a burn scar that runs across his bald head, and his presence is both intimidating and inspiring."
His father raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Old man with a burn scar, huh? What's his name?"
Blaze frowned slightly. The memory of their conversations was flashing through his mind. "I don't know," he admitted. "He never told me his name. He just shows me what to do and expects me to give it my all."
His father nodded approvingly. His voice was steady like it has always been. "If he is training you, then you must give your all in this, Blaze."
At that moment, Blaze's two younger sisters piped up from across the table. Their voices were like a harmony of encouragement. "Good luck, Onii-chan!" they cheered Blaze, and their faces were beaming with pride.
Then, suddenly, Ignis's face and voice got deeper as he said," I should tell you what's going on." As he said that with a deep voice, the wind of the room changed. It turned serious. Then, he went ahead," Especially you, Blaze. If you are aiming for that spot, then you are bound to cross paths with them."
"With whom, Dad?" Blaze's curiosity was piqued, as he wanted to know what was going on.
"There is an underworld organization. We still don't know anything about them. You will know about them when you mature a little more as a swordsman. So, you must be careful when the time comes. That's all I want to say and you have to know for now." Saying that, Ignis went to the living room.
"What could it be?" Blaze felt a surge of determination wash over him. A smile was spreading across his face. "Yes, I'll do my best," he replied. He was inspired by their support as he imagined all the lessons and challenges that lay ahead in his training. i h.
The flames of determination burned brighter within Blaze. With Lisa setting out on her own journey and his training intensifying, the path ahead was uncertain but thrilling. No matter what, he would be ready when the time came to prove himself.