The Midnight Clear (Valentia)

[Alyssa Ramius]

Midnight long passed, the eve slid quietly into the arms of day. In her ventures along the Hammel grounds early in the early hours of the morning, Alyssa kept her eyes to the sky. The brightest star, a moon barely a sliver in the sky, and the multitude of Christmas lights casting a faint but beautiful glow among the snow left on the ground. That’s what had urged Alyssa to leave the certain warmth of her room, pocket something away in her coat and venture into the cold, just to come and see for herself the morning of Christmas itself.

Snow crunched beneath her feet, the cold stings her cheeks and furthered the need to adjust her pink scarf. The grounds of Hammel were quiet now, many of the faces she passed every day have gone home to their families, she supposed.

Another year here, not home far north of Vermont, and another year hidden away in Hammel…that was all fine by her. It simply was not in the hands of fate to happen for her this time.

Her heart didn’t ache even a little, she told herself once and twice, many times since her mother’s message.Bells somewhere in the distance rings, ringing beneath a cold and starlit sky. It was for the best and better still, she was able to see such quiet beauty built upon the warm dreams and imaginations of children.

And they all slept now, with visions of Santa and presents dancing in their heads. Alyssa smiled to herself, trying hard not to conjure a rhyme for that thought.

Her travels, her path following a bright glimmer in the sky, led her to the training field where many of the warmer mornings were spent. He places in her heart that meant most to her, where she saw the rising sun and the brilliant colors early mornings offered to her. Those rays, the flashes of electric blue fading into a soft pink brimming with potential intensity come a few hours wait. The sun was meant to fight the cold of winter and shine with brilliance, no matter the season or solstice.

All of those images was “home” to her for the here and now, seared into her heart and what the blonde girl in pink waited for as she always had, no matter the cold and dark it was now.

[Valentia de la Torres]

The holiday itself meant little to Valentia. She had no intention of travelling home; she'd just been there months ago and - despite actually spending little of her time there - she felt as though she'd gotten enough of the country for the remainder of the year.

Perhaps she'd call. That would suffice.

But for now she had work to do. The early morning didn't leave her unsettled or tired - truthfully, she ran on little sleep and felt comforted enough by what hours her ability would allow her to have. Valentia took the time to finish some necessary paperwork before she threw on a jacket and took the path towards the training field.

She was even surprised to see a particular blonde had beaten her to the allotted time. "You are aware that today is a holiday." She said simply. There was no training today.

[Alyssa Ramius]

A soft draw of her breath at the crunch of the snow nearby, and a softer exhale at sound of her trainer's voice.

"I'm aware of that."

Alyssa responds cheerfully when Valentia was near enough to hear the response. A ficker of a gaze over her shoulder, the girl's smile at her trainer is a warm one, one that remained when she looked to the sky again. The early morning silence that blanketed the school was an aching reminder it was holiday, yet she had brought herself here. It would have been easy to say that coming to the usual place was force of habit, but that was not quite the point of the venture.

"I, um...didn't have much else to do. Couldn't sleep. So I took a walk and here I am." The cheer in her voice faded with the weight of reality: maybe next year. Alyssa exhaled into her hands, trying to warm them. Figures she'd misjudge how cold the morning would be, choosing the simple pink knit gloves over warmer ones.

Ah, but right now? Despite how things have come about, this in particular was a fortunate turn of events! The thought went to the object in her pocket, but her hand does not move to it. Not just yet anyhow.

"I thought you would be home by now." Alyssa noted as she approached Valentia. "Even on Christmas, you're working late?"

[Valentia de la Torres]

Valentia might have been a difficult trainer, but she knew the restrictions of holidays. Though she didn't care for it, she could at least acknowledge that others did.

She didn't smile back. She simply didn't have the means to.

The trainer raised her eyebrows at the explanation given. Surely if her energy signal hadn't been as strong as it was, Valentia wouldn't have noticed her at all. "I suppose I can understand that." She replied. After all, she was aware that this girl often sought out solitude to clear her head. Valentia was no exception to that concept.

"Yes." Valentia replied simply. Though she felt connected to the girl, she couldn't divulge the reason why she was busy. She'd already offloaded the impending recruitment of her sister to one person. Another didn't need that. "I doubt I will go home."

[Alyssa Ramius]

“As always.”

Alyssa says with an undertone of humor. Her trainer had an admirable work ethic, so it shouldn’t have been much a surprise she’d carry on her duties through a holiday. Nope, Alyssa couldn’t even imagine it any other way.

The blonde quietly leaned to observe the spoken doubt, the doubt to go home...something about those made her feel wistful. Why doubtful? The curious need to ask further was staved off as the girl getting the hang of what was fine to ask and what cannot be divulged for reasons. Any sudden trips were not up for discussion and fueled the girl’s vivid imagination, but other topics? Play by ear, simple as that.

“Not a good time I take it?” The blonde inquired as she moved half a step away Valentia. The scenario made perfect sense if she was that busy. “Seems like the fates have been conspiring endlessly this year.” The girl tossed a look towards the sky. Stars still glimmered in the dark but began to fade away in the distance. A small swatch of orange seared the horizon, heralding the cold Christmas Day.

At least the fates were being kind today. The thought brings a bright smile to her face when her attention returns to Valentia. “So next year should be much more favorable, right? It's only a week or so before the new year!” A small moment where optimism surfaced – for others.

[Valentia de la Torres]

"As always." Valentia repeated. It was fitting that she knew it to be true.

If nothing else, Valentia had to find it strange that a student was asking her questions of such a nature. What would make her assume it was a bad time? Perhaps her English was not as smooth as she assumed. "I went back some time ago, as you well know." She replied in the end. After all, it was the reason.

Valentia found it somewhat strange again when she spoke, this time about fate. Though it was expected. Alyssa had such interests.

"Of its favour, I would not know." She replied. She never looked so far into the future. She never looked at all. What mattered was the present, and at few points, the past.

[Alyssa Ramius]

Alyssa had never been happier for the cold winter winds. That was the reason her cheeks briefly flushed pink at her trainer's remark, certainly!  

"O-of course...don't mind me, I'm thinking literally again!"

That was right, she had well known that leave Valentia took some tim ago but the blonde's mind had taken the words in the usual complete odd direction.

As always!

Alyssa sometimes wondered how her trainer had the patience to deal with her overall oddness whenever she suddenly dropped by her office overloaded by some random worry, or whenever it surfaced during training.

But thankful that still Vel did deal with her.

The girl huffed, a vaporous puff of cold air carrying the myriad of worrying thoughts rose to the morning golden and blue painted sky.

"No one knows honestly. That's why people take solace in the mystical avenues - it gives them a path into the perpetual unknown. It's always vague and there's not a guarentee...but it gives them something to hold on to."

Alyssa linked her hands behind her back, letting the thought wash through her. That was not her reason for being drawn into that world, but it still enchanted her. There was much that did, in the world of visions and the world where she remained grounded to. That said, there were still things left in the air - the need to graduate, the need to get herself together, the need to figure out where to step next. The blonde in pink glanced over at her trainer, unable to help but regain some of her good cheer.

"But that's all lofty, untouchable things." She says, a tug of the tether to pull the conversation back to earth. "Did you get any nice presents from your friends?"

The pretty socialite, a gentleman, the terrifyingly sunny woman - actually, her trainer really had some odd friends, the few snippits that she could draw from here and there but rarely did she outwardly ask.

[Valentia de la Torres]

As always, Valentia listened as Alyssa mused over the concept of fate. She often lost herself in her own thoughts, and it didn't feel like the right time to interrupt her. Let her find the means to the conversation herself.

"I believe-" She started, but shook her head slightly. She couldn't muse with a student over the unknown. Not properly. "Do not lose yourself in the notion."

Valentia mused over the gifts she had been given. She'd leave the pair be for the holiday; their relationship sparked at a mere look, and it wasn't always the best environment to be a bystander. "I did." She replied simply. Now wasn't the time to tell a student about her growing butterfly knife collection.

[Alyssa Ramius]

Alyssa's nod to her trainer's words was a confident one. The belief was there, yes, but she could not fathom losing herself to such notions. There were other notions she was trying to stop herself from falling into that took precedence - the rampant anxiety being the most problematic. One step at a time, that was all one could humanly manage.

"You did." She repeated the woman's answer with a curious headtilt. Suppose it would be left up to her imagination what kind of presents her odd friends would give to her.

"I'm glad to hear that." She noted cheerfully while refixing the scarf so that an errant wind gust would not carry it away again. The morning light comes to full arrival, casting gold glimmers upon the snow. The little warmth given would be kind but brief reprieves between cold gusts. The girl's eyes flicked to her trainer for a moment, maybe just enjoing the calm silence for the moment.

And then, the glimmer of the sunlight caught her attention, recalling what those kind mornings she looked forward to resembled.

"Ah, that's right! There's another reason I'm happy to see you today...um, not that I'm not usually happy to see you-" Alyssa said and quickly stops herself before her thoughts splintered off in different directions. Her hand dipped into the pocket of her coat and surfaced with a small box wrapped in festive red and gold wrapping paper, a little tag hung from a green bow with Valentia's name in red marker.

"I hope you don't mind one more present." Her smile is a warm one, handing the gift to her. "Merry Christmas."

[Valentia de la Torres]

Valentia wasn't one for idle pleasantries. She felt nothing for them. She wondered if it were the time to ask how her holidays had been fairing. But she didn't need to know. So the question would have been asked under false pretences. THe girl knew her better than to accept such questions anyway.

Truthfully, the emotion that registered on her face was confusion. It was minute, but evident. She watched Alyssa come forth and fish something out of her pocket. Immediately, her dark eyes studied the contents of her hands. A small box. Brightly wrapped in red, green and gold.

Before she started to open it, she looked back up. "What is it?"

[Alyssa Ramius]

Alyssa merely waves her hands to the gift; open, open and you shall see! Underneath the festive wrappings was a plain little box, but inside was something far from ordinary. On a small protective fluff was a pendant, with a stone gleaming of fire and ice forever locked in battle. The girl had tried to find the simplest frame and simplest chain for it just for the stone to shine on its own merit.

"I found that stone while hiking on the most recent camping trip."

The blonde pressed her fingers to her cheek, maybe to ease the sting of the windburn reddening her cheeks. She had recalled trudging through the woods in early morning while many still rested. The morning light glimmered off the stone even as it was obscured by rocks and forest floor. It was mesmerizing, especially when it had been properly cleaned and polished. But to keep it her care? No, she never felt worthy of keeping such a lovely stone in her hands.

"It seemed to be destined to be made into something great...so I made it into a kind of talisman."

She linked her gloved fingers at her waist, bright brown eyes glancing away for a moment. "Of um, protection..." Spoken softly. The girl knew her trainer was not one to believe in that sort of mysticism, but in some small way, every little bit helps. Especially if her trainer had to be away from Hammel anytime soon. However, Alyssa had made her worries quite clear last time. At least the gift could pass off as simple jewelry rather than the mystical nonsense if need be.

"Ah, and if you look at it in different lights in the day, the colors change. It's pretty amazing."

[Valentia de la Torres]

Finally, Valentia made the move to unwrap the little present in her hands. It was a strange feeling - her friends hadn't made the move to wrap things. Maiella had, she knew. But this was different. She couldn't recall receiving a gift from a student before. Her dark eyes reacted - which in itself was a rarity. They widened a touch, almost insignificantly so, at the sight of the gift itself.

Alyssa's words washed over her like white noise, though she did her best to hear the story.

"I did not get you anything." Valentia finally added. As if it somehow mattered immensely. Mysticism or no, she did appreciate the gesture within itself. To be thought of offered a strange feeling.

[Alyssa Ramius]

There was not a hint of rejection of the gift, which may have settled an irrational worry deeply buried away in the girl's mind. Her trainer's reactions were always so controlled, but the slightest of change of the usual accustomed range was not lost on Alyssa. As long as she liked it! The girl shook her head at Valentia's words.

"You don't have to do that. I like giving things to the people important to me. The fact they do remain in my life is enough for me."

Alyssa bowed her head for a pensive moment, her eyes gazing upon the glimmers in the snowdrifts. Always give, always show when one means the words spoken. Those that she could hold on to, those that did acknowledged the ties of friendship and existence...and those that no longer became shadows passing her by on a daily basis, emenating a glow of their own even in the dark when she willingly shuts herself off. The girl's gaze rises again to meet her mentor's.

"The fact you never once have given up on me when you could have and that you continue to deal with my erratic worrying..." A pause slips between her words and she shakes her head of that track. Self-pity wasn't needed here, no matter how truthful it was. In the smallest possible way, the incident both had been the worst possible ordeal to face and the best possible thing that happened to her. The girl briefly bit her lip before continuing. 

"There really is very little I can say or give to express how thankful I am for your continuing support and guidance."

[Valentia de la Torres]

Valentia realised that if nothing else, gift giving was a custom with many inflections.

It was strange to be thanked in such a way. For doing the job allocated to her. It wasn't as if she'd ever made the move to choose her students. Alyssa was no exception. She got what she was given and worked accordingly.

Still, she didn't answer right away. She allowed the girl to continue speaking as she closed the lid on the box. Still, the kinetic held it in both hands.

It was precious. At least, it seemed to be to the girl.

As silence fell, she felt the overbearing need to speak up again. That was the typical response when silence landed.

"I would not give up on you." Valentia replied after a time. Though it felt more like an admission than a simple response. "I might have considered the idea in the beginning, however I-" She paused, offering a simple shake of her head. "I would not. You are... Important."

[Alyssa Ramius]

The girl tilted her head to the side as her trainer spoke. It would be dishonest to say that her heart sank briefly – Valentia had considered it once. The only thing that didn’t make her despair was it had been in the beginning. That was so different then, Alyssa was certain she was a terrifying force that she had the misfortune to be paired with…but somewhere along the way, things had changed. In fact she could recall the exact moment when her own perception about her trainer changed for the better.

“Important…” She repeated quietly. The girl’s shoulder hunched and her hands clutched at the pink scarf to obscure her expression. Had a cold wind redden her cheeks again? Had a sort of nervousness overcome her? There may have been, but there was far more facets to it. This was truly a good thing to know!

“So are you.”

The kind words muffled by the scarf but still discernible. The girl emerges from her scarf and exhaled in a puff that rose to the sky, back to cheerfulness! “I really do have the best.” Not an admission at all, it was simply fact.

And just like that, whatever caused the nervous girl to switch gears so quickly clicked, her eyes lit up with the dawn of a realization. Maybe it had been the pairs of footsteps in the snow coming from opposite directions. They had been visible the few instances she had bowed her head, but significance finally surfaced.

“Ah, we’re you heading somewhere, Vel?” Her fingers tapped her forehead once. “I really have the habit to keep monopolizing your time for myself.”