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Unyielding Resolve
This was my first encounter with such turmoil in the Itayó Forest. As we approached the protest site, a line of police barriers came into view, segregating Lucía and her group of protesters from the construction zone beyond. Behind the barrier, a flurry of activity unfolded. Workers, clad in hardhats and fluorescent vests, were in a frenzy, assembling a series of rudimentary structures and buildings, each bearing the unmistakable emblem of the USC.
The once lush and vibrant forest now bore the scars of the recent battle between fire and ice. Trees stood charred and broken, their leaves reduced to ashes, and patches of scorched earth marked the battleground. The scent of burnt wood still lingered in the air.
Amidst the construction noises, Lucía, equipped with a megaphone, bellowed her voice towards the police. Yet, the continual buzz and hum of machinery overwhelmed the forest's natural sounds and even the protesters' voices.
"Man, it's hard to believe you were right here during the battle! Must've been insane!" Ryan exclaimed, clearly imagining the spectacle differently from my memory, as I recall being desperate to stop it.
"Hopefully, we don't need to have a battle like that again," I replied.
"Que?! Come on, I totally want us to have an epic showdown like that, facing off against a villain. Our very own archenemy! Now that you've got ice powers, we can combine our attacks. Although, I'm not sure how lightning and ice would mix?" he rambled on, getting lost in his pondering.
Even amidst the turmoil, it was reassuring that Ryan hadn't changed a bit. I would need his support for what lay ahead, and I knew he was someone who'd never let me down.
"This way, you two!" Ivory's voice cut through our distractions, drawing our attention from the towering cranes.
We trailed behind Ivory as she navigated through the crowd until we reached Lucía's position. Approaching, the crowd around us initially bore menacing expressions, but those quickly transformed into waves and embraces for Ivory. Clearly, she was well-known among these protesters.
"I need to talk to Lucía," Ivory instructed a tall, bearded protester who gave me and Ryan a sharp look before gesturing towards Lucía's location. Lucía put down her megaphone and descended from a small stool, her curly hair resembled the ember of flames in the air. She has freckles across her nose and cheeks and amber eyes. Her face bore neither an impressed nor a pleased expression.
"Ivory," she uttered bluntly, her greeting hanging in the air.
"Lucía, hey," Ivory responded, her tone more appealing.
One could feel there was history here, one rife with tension. Lucía's demeanor didn't seem to harbor much fondness for Ivory. I couldn't help but wonder what had happened between them.
"I know why you're here, and you know what I'm going to say." Lucía cut to the chase with Ivory.
"I understand that, and you know me well enough to know that I don't beg. I've come here to see if your stance has shifted. The circumstances have changed significantly, and action is inevitable, regardless of the outcome." Ivory asserted with unwavering resolve.
"And risk destroying what's left of the forest? Don't think I'm oblivious to the fact that you and your crew had a hand in the events here." Lucía's awareness extended even to the group and their abilities. "I wouldn't be surprised if you were somehow behind the incidents in Ororena as well."
"Hey, whoa! I know you're all cool and stuff, because you're the face of the people here, but you're acting like a total-" Ryan began, only to be interrupted by my fist connecting with his arm before he could finish his thought. "Ouch! I was going to say 'ass'!"
"Let me handle this, Ryan," Ivory interjected, casting a swift glance my way. "It's true, I was careless. I was meant to oversee them, but I failed. That's why you know I can't be their leader. I might have courage and the heart, but I lack the discipline. You've already turned down leadership once, and that's fine. We had Nicholas, and now we have his successor, Ellion." She beamed, mentioning my name. "The situation with the USC worsens by the day. The government refuses to listen, and every day, we lose more of our forest to their schemes. At the very least, we need to unite. You can assist Ellion in becoming a strong leader like you are."
So that's the angle Ivory is playing. Well, I don't mind that, Lucía seems like someone from whom I can learn a great deal.
"No." Lucía retorted.
I did not expect that. Ryan's expression suggested he was about to voice something, but he held it back. Ivory, on the other hand, seemed almost expectant of this outcome.
"Tell me, Ellion, how would you conclude a protest?" Lucía turned her attention to me.
I was caught off guard. If only I had more time to consider my answer. But dwelling on that was futile. This was a lesson I needed to learn – not everything can be anticipated, and sometimes, you must act on the spot.
"Through mutual understanding, from both sides. Without violence or hostility. Unite the people, demonstrate that we're an unyielding force and won't be intimidated any longer. Show them they need us more than we need them." I responded, my answer flowing spontaneously.
She cracked a slight smirk. "Very Nicholas-like. He certainly left an impression on you. I'm glad, it's reassuring that someone can carry forward his vision. However, just like I told him, that isn't the answer I'm seeking."
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Nicholas had known Lucía as well? I suppose it's not unexpected. While I appreciated the comparison to Nicholas, it appeared that I had failed to sway Lucía to our cause.
"We're here to make them understand, that's our purpose," Ryan said out of the blue, capturing Lucía's attention.
"You believe your presence will reassure people, but it's more likely they'll react with fear – fear of you. If the government and the USC decide to step back, who'll be the decision-makers then? Naturally, no one will dare oppose your group because of your powers. And if they do, what if you disagree with their stance? What then? It's not a scenario I wish to be part of. So please, allow me to handle this in my way."
Lucía turned away, but just then, a guy dashed over and halted beside her. "Arlo, what are you doing here?" Lucía addressed him.
The guy bore a resemblance to Lucía but was far leaner, with arms so thin, they looked like noodles. "You must be Ivory, right? I'm guessing from your entirely green hair, yeah. My bad, my name is Arlo. I'm Lucía's brother."
Ivory smiled and shook his hand. "Yes, that's me – the girl with the fully green hair. It's a pleasure to meet you, Arlo. And it's great to know you're here supporting your sister."
"Yeah! My bad, I spotted your hair, and I've always wanted to meet you. Lorenzo used to talk about you constantly, about what you guys did." Arlo embarked on an enthusiastic narrative, but as soon as he mentioned the name 'Lorenzo,' both Ivory and Lucía's eyes widened. Lucía turned away, seemingly disinterested in the story, exchanged a few words with Arlo, and retraced her steps to her previous spot.
"- and that's why I was running, yeah. But now I'm here, and it's amazing to finally meet you!" Arlo's excitement remained undiminished.
Ivory's eyes retained their wide look. "Well, alright then. I'm glad?" She seemed unsure how to respond.
"Yeah. So, hey! My bad for asking, but I was wondering if I could join your group? It'll be just like you and Lorenzo used to be! I know my sister won't join, but I don't care. I believe what you guys want to do is better than just pointless yelling, which is what my sister seems to do." Arlo rambled on, gesturing with his wobbly arms as he spoke.
"Oh!" Ivory's voice faltered, grappling for words. "Um..." Just then, Ryan interjected.
"And how exactly do you know what we're aiming for?" Ryan's tone turned suspicious as he eyed Arlo.
"Lucía informed me about your group, yeah. She cautioned that if I ever exhibited any signs of powers, you might attempt to recruit me – or rather, Ivory. She did express her concerns about you, Ivory, my bad." Arlo responded to Ryan while scratching the back of his head.
"So, you're not even a cell bearer? In that case, you can't join us. My bad." Ryan mocked, mirroring Arlo's mannerisms.
"I can still be of assistance." Arlo quickly asserted. "Sure, I may lack any special ability like my sister or your team, so my bad. However, I'm adept at gathering information and stealth, yeah. Over the past few days, I've carefully observed the movements of the USC's workers and scientists present here. Yeah, I even managed to glimpse the interior of the lab!"
"What did you see inside the lab?" Ivory inquired.
"I don't exactly know, my bad, but I did have a glimpse of some animals and plants inside, like they were being incubated or something, yeah. But I can gather more information if you like!"
Ivory remained silent for a few moments before responding. "It's true what Ryan says, you don't have any powers, you can't join us. But still, I'm not the leader of this group, Ellion's has the final say on matters like this." Arlo's gaze then shifted toward me, his eyes seemingly pleading.
He may lack powers, but he is Lucía's brother. Perhaps if we include him, it could impact her decision to join as well. Or it might lead her to resent us even more. Additionally, he appears quite young, driven by stories told by this individual named Lorenzo. I don't wish to shatter his aspirations either.
"Listen—" As I began to speak, my attention was drawn to a figure within the distant crowd, concealed amidst the foliage. It was the same darkly hooded man who had materialized in my hospital room that fateful night. A wave of fear washed over me, momentarily paralyzing me. Amidst the bustling mass of protesters, he remained still, his gaze fixed on me.
"Cabrón!" Ryan's shout jolted me back to the present. "Snap out of it. Did someone catch your eye? Come on, you puto, let me see who." he began scanning the direction of my gaze, but the hooded man had vanished.
"I'm sorry, I sometimes drift off like that. I wasn't focused on anyone in particular." I responded calmly, though my heart continued to race and fear gripped me.
"I think it's safer if you didn't join, Arlo. It's not because you lack powers, in fact, I believe you could contribute significantly as a scout and informant. But what we plan to do is extremely dangerous, to put ourselves on the first line of defense, making sure no one gets hurt. You'd likely be an obstruction more than an aid. But we're still here to support your protests." Hopefully, this came out well, and he doesn't take it personally.
"I see," Arlo replied in a subdued tone. "Yeah, I've figured out what I need to do to be part of this. Thank you, Ellion!"
What? What did he mean by 'figured out what he needed to do'? Hadn't I been explicit enough? I tried to say something, but he quickly bid his farewells and melted into the crowd. What a puzzling guy.
"Did I not make myself clear enough?" I asked them both.
"He's an odd one, for sure, I wouldn't read too much into it. Was that the girl that caught your eye, Ellion?" Ryan asked, still scanning the crowd, lost in his thoughts.
"The problem is that you gave him a partial compliment. You should have outright refused, even if it sounded harsh. Nevertheless, Nicholas would've welcomed him without hesitation, so I'm relieved that you haven't fully absorbed his nature." Ivory said with a smile. "Come on, let's join the others. You'll have another chance to convince her, I'm certain." With that, we merged into the crowd, raising our voices in unison with the other protesters, lending our voices to their revolutionary cause against the USC.
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The night had fallen, and we found ourselves back in Ivory's living room, the place where our journey began. Ryan was sprawled out on the sofa, sound asleep as usual. My nerves were on edge, anticipating the upcoming conversation about my potential leadership role within the group. Yet, the room remained empty, devoid of our fellow members.
I was tapping my feet constantly, my mind playing tricks on me, imagining their various reactions and answers, having me leading them. "Where is everyone? Usually, they're here guarding the base." I chuckled a little but I knew it was a dumb joke, I just needed some reassurance that they would show up and help alleviate my anxiety.
"They're either working or studying. And people are defending the base, us." Ivory replied with a smile, playing along with my attempt at humor.
A soft chuckle escaped me as I scanned the dimly lit room. Suddenly, my thoughts returned to the mysterious hooded figure. Should I tell Ivory about it? Would she believe me? In a group where people can conjure blizzards and fire, a shadow-traversing figure doesn't seem all that impossible, right?
-KNOCK KNOCK-
Two solid knocks echoed through the room, originating from the front door. No one from the group would've knocked, so who could it be? Could it be... him? I quickly got up from the couch, too fast that it woke Ryan up, weirdly not the loud knocks.
"Wait, Ivory!" I yelled out to her as she approached the door. "I have to tell you something first-"
"Lucía?" Ivory had already swung open the door, revealing a visibly exhausted Lucía, panting and covered in sweat. "What happened? Are you okay?"
Lucía caught her breath before responding, "Arlo... he's missing. I have a feeling he's inside the USC's lab in the forest. I need your help to locate him."
Ivory's expression mirrored my concern, and she turned to look at me with a mixture of worry and consideration. Meanwhile, Ryan roused from his slumber, letting out, "Finally, an adventure!"