For the span of half an hour, when Enemy's grueling social interaction with the pharmacist ended, she patiently waited patiently after getting her examination done. In her mind, the certainty of something wrong being amidst was a guarantee, with the only thing she wished for, like Dante, was to find the answer as to what it was. And so, the doctor was ready to tell her the results.
"Alright Mrs...Enemy. Had to go down a few lenses during the examination, but fortunately, it's not something you need to really, desperately worry over. I've compiled what I needed over here in this small paper. You have presbyopia, scale of 2.0. Sorry for the holdup too, but I had to make sure it was a 2.0, instead of a 2.5 scale first.", Dr. Will delivered the news.
"Great...at least now I know what it is."
"Over such a young age, however, that's more than odd. I'd guess you to certainly be above 18, certainly not bellow 25, as with all the young people coming in to get their eyes checked before their drivers license test. And without a proper medical record..."
"I've never had anything of interest to put in my medical record."
"Are you not at least vaccinated?"
"I'm an Obsulyte-user, vaccines are not needed.", she kept up her façade.
"Right. Any sort of eye related illnesses that run through in your family?", the doctor insisted.
"I'll be running through you in a minute.", Enemy whispered as she got annoyed.
"What?", he paused.
"What?"
"Look, ma'am, I am just trying to help you here."
"And you did, we are at a pharmacy too, so just give me a pair of glasses suitable for me and we're basically all done. It's like the one useful set of items you have beneath all these useless clothes and beauty products anyway."
Dr. Will sighed as he realized he wasn't getting anywhere, "Alright, I'll tell the girl up front to give you the appropriate set. Free of charge, just so long as a young kid like you doesn't do anything stupid enough to get themselves into my, or anyone else's office. That's a good wish, by the way. Since I noticed you're not so...socially educated.", he carefully picked his words.
"Same for both sides of this coin Hikari's body ended up being. Thanks doctor, have a good day."
Picking up her standard set of glasses, along with the appropriate maintenance tools for them, she quickly got out of the pharmacy as she started to head up the street back home again. Yet, she looked behind her back, taking a breather in the now emptying streets as she watched the sun settle. One look at the orange sky and one at the bag from the pharmacy, she realized that yet another strange feeling was amidst her mind. All in one day, she experienced all those things she once deprived herself of. Crying, her thoughts spoken and genuine realization of her lack of self care.
She sighed amidst the rocky streets, "Had it not been for Terna, I'd probably still be able to see up close...and had it not been for her, I'd still be blinded."
Doing it once not being enough, her thoughts spoken in the mere wind to fill the silence she so quickly felt was something she grew quite accustomed to, rather quickly. Trading blindness for the ability to actually see an realize so much she's been missing out on, whether or not it's been a thousand or more years to roam the world, it was never too late for her. Her body gave her that chance many other's hadn't ever considered, to be young and living for eons...but her mind, through the same old use of violence, fighting and pushing back all the time, was stuck to what her body had always represented. And with it all, her memories, that of genuine happiness, got stuck and trapped between it too.
Just a few steps further up ahead, the street lights lit up as the day goers retreated to their apartments, the sun setting fully as nightlife started to take over. As such, with stores lighting up left and right, Enemy couldn't help but notice everything up ahead. Clubs, restaurants, boutiques, hairdressers. A laughable feeling, frivolous and uncouth. To even cross her mind for a second, that the seriousness of her task, world and life was to be broken in favor of giving in and doing what she never did before. But looking at the pharmacy bag yet again, she couldn't help herself much as she caved in to what her heart really wanted. As such, questions began to also rise. "Just once won't hurt, right?", "Might as well do it now, just in case.", "Hikari did it in Reingard, can't I?". Dwelling with the dull, the likes of which contradicted her rising impulse, "No...I can't possibly do this.", "A reward I don't really deserve.", "Maybe once this is all finally done? Maybe...".
But this settling day's story, this time, despite it's horrors and tears, was finally one to have a good ending. One single day, when she finally was, despite it all, happy to end to.
Up first, the nearest hairdresser and spa. No longer would her hair have to be as rough and crusty as they were, left to wither no matter the water given. The smooth touching and massaging of her head, the warm feeling of the water the skilled hairdresser only exacerbated this impulse. Why stop there? Her hair had taken a similar look and feel to that of Hikari's. A fluffy, black pillow she felt like she could lean on at any moment. Didn't take long to pay for an hour long session in the spa. And yet, to ruin it, there was a certain decree of fear looming over her, like that old demon she never could shake off.
She paused as she undressed, looking around as she took one glance in the mirror, "This...no. This is-"
And yet, a the female masseur entered the room, that fear gradually faded. To know what the past had scarred someone like her, to not be able to feel safe in such a horrid way...but no. That demon, however she chose to subside it in her mind, was then defeated. One of the many in her way, up until now.
The feeling of pain was all she could initially feel scattering across her body, the masseur herself being curious as to what exactly was the root cause behind it all. Her skin was nothing short of harsh, like sandpaper. Nothing even close to that of Hikari, or even Terna, who both she and Tiki pointed as being reckless...while wanting nothing more than to look even a sliver like her. Something more than just an all powerful image of a daunting warrior, who makes others kneel as they shine an impossible to follow, hollow and shallow example to others, young and old, that they too, deeply, couldn't even match. Through every spasm of her body as all of her muscles seemed to be untied like the tightest knot cut into releasing, the pain soon disappeared along with the remaining facets of fear. The tears the masseur caused to slightly drop out of her eyes as she did what she knew best...they weren't that of sadness. Rather, a mix of happiness and wonder as to what she would look like after walking out of that spa. And as she finally moved to the personal hot pool for the last step of her treatment, the aromas blend in with the water and the steam from the hot water covering the area only further helped to clear her mind and pain a proper image in it.
She would look like a girl. A young girl, like many others her age, coming out of a spa like many others her age, and acting in a way that others her age did on a night out. She wouldn't be that brass, jet black armor wearing, pillar of a warrior she had always been, with a silhouette that of a true horror approaching. Exactly like her real body, beneath all those metal plates was. A petite, young and feminine looking girl.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
Within those thoughts of utter freedom, if even for a few hours, there was no more doubt in her mind. This is what she wanted. Not the lavish lifestyle or being spoiled constantly, rather than just a little once, like sneaking in a few extra cookies from the jar. She wanted a war to end and for this to be not just hers, but the life of many others. It only took one day and one time to do this. Whereas she had forgotten what it meant to be a human and a woman, aside from a soldier on constant alert, through years of war...only one time was what it took for her to cherish, want, and remember what it was like.
Not stopping now. The feeling of shame in her own room's bathroom was still young. And the boutique was just standing there and waiting. One set of clothes? No, make it three. But what about having formal wears? Something a bit more casual? Maybe a few swimsuits for summer. But it's winter, the sun fell quickly because of it too, so why buy that? Eh, whatever, summer will come around again. That being said, how about a few warm clothes for said winter? It's getting chilly with just a T-shirt.
In total, a whole 4 bags, completely and fully loaded from under wears to dresses and shoes. Was it too much for her? Were they going to go to waste? She must've surely just been abusing the magic card full of money...no. It was too much at once. But like a volcano erupting, the flow of magma would only stop once it has settled, for it to turn into a solid, igneous rock. In her heart, a use was found into every single one of these clothes, like she found in every single rock she could easily use as a lethal weapon. Coming out of the changing room and taking a look at the mirror then...who was that girl? She was never lacking confidence in anything she ever did. Doing so, would literally equate to death. And yet, without lacking it, not just through the clothes she was in, or the hair that flew behind her back...she found it. Confidence. In a twisted way, confidence that she found among splitting herself in two, not to further cause a divide...but to finally realize that she, like so many others in this world like her, were not one sided. Not just stuck into being the person behind the image that oh-so many eyes portrayed.
And when that was all done, when she could finally get it all out of her system, a stomach gargling. A chuckle almost crossed her mouth as she felt it. One body where two fit, she never quite had to face such a thing when Hikari was the one providing all the nutrients and way, way, way more. But no...this day had gone on long enough. No matter the ecstasy, she still had it stuck in the back of her mind. A new day would rise tomorrow too, and she'd need to face it. Despite the fact that the restaurants served so much, and the captivated, salivating many waiting in line to take a bite, all she could gaze to instead was the supermarket right next to it all.
Time was of the essence? No. She could at least put it on hold, just this once, as she took so many things off hold, just this once. A part of her life was spent to learn exactly where and what to get, how and why she needed everything on every shelf. Just two bags, full of ingredients, was all she needed. Enough to keep her through. It was a hiatus she wanted to reach for the night. She wanted to finally put those skills to use. To prove to herself and the world that the hands tainted in so much red had more to give and take.
With the night coming to a peak as the streets began to fill back up with those seeking thrills, she couldn't endure but rather retreat back home as many others did. Though she had finally broken through and achieved so many things she never once thought she would, or rather, never thought that she would remind herself of that she wanted to do, this one was one too many. It would take a lot more for such a lone soul to be integrated back into the world she so confusedly looked in and around on. Way more, that no matter how her other wishes were forthfilled with both the mental strength turned into acting and material obtainment...this would only be what her heart could bare, what her entire mental being would be tried and tested in a climax far, far ahead of what was now.
With all her bags at hand, going through the streets and backtracking home, she was so, so happy to have been...irrelevant. What she would think from all the lies she's been fed to, that such an extravagant treatment would turn the heads of many, where the complete contrast of her being her warrior self while going down the streets with massive weapons instead would do the same, was indeed nothing of the such. She was just...normal. To everyone who passed by her. Despite what it looked on the outside, no one would turn their heads to look at her with all she had done and changed into. A peak of a moment that made her finally realize that it was all inside. No matter the endless bravado and enemies slain. She was always, deep down inside, regretful and in fear. She could never do this along. She was always physically strong, given her Obsulyte, but when it all boiled down to it's core...who could do this alone? Who could put up a face and act tough, saying that they needed no one, ever? Who could go into a battle, both to arms and in life, not wanting and not wishing having anyone covering their back? Had you spoken to her mere hours later, she knew exactly what her young, rage filled mind would say if faced with the question, "Are you strong enough to take care of all this?". "Better not make yourself a burden to me.", "I'll take care of all this myself.", "Never asked for anything like you to deal with this, honestly.". Had you asked her now? "I don't know.". A phrase she would say on a whim without understanding it at it's core...nevertheless, it'd be more than the right thing to say.
Back in the headquarters, everything remained eerily silent in the night. In contrast to what she had been expecting, with Tiki looking around and working, Drima trying to contain Lina and her excitement, or even anyone inside the training room. Paying no heed to it, as her instincts, honed as ever, spoke of safety, she headed directly for her room. Just 20:00. She laid her bags down as she casted away her keys and took a look at the place. Clean and tidy, as her responsible self always kept it like...less so when Hikari was around. But even in the absence of her voice at the back of Enemy's head, this time, she wished that this silence would only last longer. She more than happily began to finally use that closet of hers, containing nothing much, other than Hikari's now outdated battle dress. As she was not one to keep around things she'd never make use of again, she was quick to take it out, and instead start replacing it with all the clothes she brought back along with her. Once done, she moved to the kitchen, where she then realized that she forgot to put the things that needed refrigeration. Quickly getting it done, she then realized that due to that order of taking care of things, she had rushed to quickly get it done in a mere 25 minutes, leaving her plenty of time to look around in the rest of the room. Finishing putting everything away as far as bags were concerned, she then started taking out a few materials out of the cabinet in preparation for something.
"Right...that should be all.", she looked at the ingredients.
Chicken, vegetables, spices. It was a clear vision she had in mind, and the execution was to be swift with her skills of the blade and the cutting board set. However, very much aware of her own strength, she took a last look at the only bag she had left out. That of the pharmacy. She slowly pulled out the box of glasses and took them out, holding the briefly in her hands as she looked at her own reflection from the lenses. Knowing full well that now, without them, she was pruned to messing things up, she wore them on her face. At first being a little weirded out by the weight of the glasses on her face, she began moving her hand back and forth in front of it, realizing that the blurriness was no more. As she felt more accustomed to them by the second, she went to test them out on the cutting board, quickly synchronizing the movements of her eyes with her hands as she forgot about the weight of the glasses more and more, their grip being enough to sustain their own weight almost perfectly.
Within just the span of half an hour of her starting her preparations, the chicken was almost perfectly seasoned along with the vegetables on the tray, being put into the oven to cook for an additional hour, all up until 22:00. When she finally took it out, the pure blissful mix of smells from the carrots, potatoes and the mustard layered chicken that slowly cooked above the watery, salty broth of the tray's base filled her room, her placing it on the counter to cool off before eating. Must have been ten minutes after, that she finally heard a knock that broke her long lasting silence.
"Hey, Enemy, what up? You got your eyes checked or something?", Tiki vigorously knocked.
"Yes, I did. Hold the knocking.", she went to the door.
As soon as she opened the door to Tiki, the reaction she never once got off of anyone on the street as she waddled along was but the first thing Tiki gave her as she walked in the room in an almost zombie like state, gazing at enemy with her eyes locked on. The only thing powerful enough to brake her gaze as she started to make Enemy herself feel awkward was the smell of the irresistible food prepared on the counter, mixed with the closing of the door behind her.
"What...what?", Tiki was astonished.
Enemy let out a heavy sigh as she was getting tired of giving away explanations, "Yeah. It's me. Look, instead of standing up like scarecrows, how about I set you up for a portion of chicken and vegetables to talk it over instead? I'm not escaping the explanations I'll have to give, so might as well tell you now, and have you middle-manning it onto the others to set me free off of that task. Deal?"