76: A Glimpse Into The Past

Many years ago, during the Lionheart Kingdom’s annual tournament, a woman walked down an alley with her phone in her hand. Banners flapped overhead in the wind as her boots echoed against the cobblestones. Her hair flowed with a wild abandon, forming a beautiful, but untouchable appearance.

“The meeting spot is here...” She murmured to herself, leaning against a light pole. “I guess I am a couple of minutes early.”

The couple of minutes, though, flew past as she scrolled through social media on her phone. Soon enough, another figure descended out of the sky. Dressed in a more form-fitting outfit, she landed onto the cobblestone back alley without a sound.

“Thanks for agreeing to meet with me before the tournament, Roxanne,” The woman smiled, her voice revealing a slight hint of a quiver. “I know it’s really abrupt, and most people try to not meet up around here, so I really appreciate it.”

“Of course, Seraph, how could I say no? You’re an esteemed upperclassman,” Roxanne laughed, running a hand through her hair. “I just snuck out, and didn’t tell the teachers. They don’t have to know I’m out wandering... Anyway, why did you want to call me out here?”

“Haha, I’m only a year above you, I don’t count for much,” Seraph shrugged before putting her hands on her hips and sighing. “I was just wondering if you’d be willing to go on a date with me? Grab a meal together after the tournament's over or something.”

“Ah...” Roxanne’s smile froze for a second as a sigh left her own lips.

Seraph, wilting a touch, could only let out a slight self-deprecating laugh. As an awkward silence lingered in the air for a couple seconds. “I’ll take that as a no then...”

“Well... yeah, sorry,” Roxanne crouched down cupping her cheeks with her hands as she propped her elbows against her knees. “I’m sorry but I’m already interested in someone else. It’s nothing against you, and you’re wonderful, but... yeah, I’m pursuing someone right now.”

Together, the two women stood in silence for a couple seconds until Seraph wiped her cheek. A smile broke out on her lips as she mustered a faint laugh. “I wish you better luck than I have then.”

“T-Thank you...” Roxanne mumbled. Her eyes wandered to the pavement as a prickling sense of unease tugged at her stomach. Unsure as to how to comfort Seraph, she fell into inaction and began counting the ants crawling along the street.

One... two, three, four... A cracker crumb...

Another minute passed, but before either Seraph or Roxanne could move, a distant shout echoed down the street. “THERE YOU ARE! ROX... ANNE!”

A woman with long black hair in a Luminary Institute branded tracksuit came running down the street. Faster than any normal human, she came to a skidding stop next to Roxanne within seconds while also not even out of breath. Putting on the baseball cap in her hand, she nudged Roxanne with her foot. “How could you just run off? You’re lucky I was the first to notice not the teachers. A bunch of us students are searching, we’ve still kept quiet from the teachers, but this is irresponsible. You may be part of Class Zero, but during this trip for the tournament, I, the student body vice-president, am in charge of you.”

“Look at you, Angelica, buying into bureaucracy. Class One’s propaganda’s getting to yo-” Roxanne retorted before yelping as she got hoisted to her feet. “What was that for?!”

“Puddle under your butt, and you were swaying forward and back, it was only a matter of time before you fell in,” Angelica explained while looking over at Seraph and giving her a nod. “Sorry to disturb you two, by the way. I got a little caught up in the situation.”

“N-No worries,” Seraph waved her hands as a laugh slipped through her lips. “It’s always nice to watch friendly banter like this. We were done with our conversation anyway.”

“Banter... sure, and I’m glad I didn’t interrupt too much then.” Angelica tilted her head side to side. “Anyway, Roxanne, it's not good to be wandering around alone, let’s walk back together. People are worried about you, don’t go sneaking off like that again, okay?”

“Okay...” Roxanne puffed her cheeks out for a moment before turning to Seraph. “See you around, Seraph! It was nice talking.”

“Do you want us to walk you back? It might not be safe?” Angelica extended her hand. “And also, nice to finally meet you in a non-official setting.”

“It’s fine, I know this city like the back of my hand, I grew up here after all,” Seraph shook her head. As she began to float into the air, she looked at Roxanne one last time before taking off. The last phrase she heard before flying off being “So you were looking at my ass, hmmm? What a lascivious woman!”

Tears began to flow down her cheeks as she soared through the air, and, instead of returning to her home, Seraph took a detour to the outskirts of the city.

---

A year later, in the Lionheart Kingdom once more, banners decorated every street as the annual tournament came in full swing once more. The top students from each school met up with each other during the first official ceremony, coming together to represent their schools for the upcoming tournament.

Among the various schools though, a few figures stood out among the rest. The Valor Academy had their supposed ‘golden generation’ in their fourth year. Headed by Seraph Lyra, their student body president, the hosting academy greeted every group of leaders from the other schools with a smile and directions to their table in the auditorium.

The last group to arrive, the Luminary Institute’s, came in with two figures leading the way, arm in arm. Angelica, in a suit, greeted Seraph with a smile. “Student body president, huh? Congratulations!”

“Thank you, thank you, it’s impressive how you’ve also risen to such an office so quickly,” Seraph congratulated as her eyes wandered to Angelica’s vice president. A flicker of understanding sparked between Angelica and Seraph as they made eye contact, and... for a brief moment, the nod they shared conveyed an ocean of emotions.

“Roxanne, I didn’t quite take you as the political type, but vice-president? Congratulations,” Seraph reached out, offering a handshake to both of them.

“Well... yeah, I applied myself this year and campaigned like my life depended on it, and I’m glad it worked out,” Roxanne cracked a smile, unable to dispel the faint tension between her and Seraph. As people began to gather behind them though, Roxanne had to continue walking forward with Angelica. As they left, she turned to wave at Seraph. “See you around though, Seraph! It was nice talking.”

“It was indeed,” Seraph nodded, a twinge of nostalgia mixing with the bittersweet emotions welling up in her heart. After shaking her head and dispelling it though, she turned to greet the rest of Luminary Institute’s student council, along with the teachers who had come to attend with them. “Welcome! Just follow your president and vice-president, they know the way already. Thank you for coming to join us today though, we hope you have a wonderful time here in the Lionheart Kingdom.”