A war of the heart

[Guest]

Ainia calmed down as she did her weekly prayer to Athena, kneeling in front of the statue. The temple is really a place that soothes the soul. The Amazon had just returned after a rather thoughtful experience in the Athenaeum Stables. She needed some time to think and reflect.

"Lady Athena, my wise Goddess, a few questions had been plaguing my mind..."

"Almost five years ago, when you first brought me here, I had decided to shed away all the emotions I had left. I believe that it would rid me of any obstacles on my path to becoming a true warrior--the one who would emerge victorious in this Tournament. But now..."

She looked up at the Goddess' face, sculpted beautifully into the stone, but without any hint of emotion to grace it--just like her own mask.

"But now I wonder if it was truly the 'right way'. Five years I've been here, and five years I've watched everyone cope up with their emotions. Be it happiness or sadness, they laugh and cry together. I can only look at them, hidden under the pretense of my mask, not able to understand anything."

"What is an 'emotion'?

"...Now it seemed rather cowardly of me to just throw away my own. It's as if all I've done was to run away from what I fear most. It's not what my race had taught me. It's not the way of the Amazon."

"So please, O wise Goddess. I wish that your wisdom would lead me the right way."

After ending her prayer, Ainia stood up and left the Temple of Athena, wondering what's in store for her next. ...It can probably start with forgetting her "I-hate-all-men-in-the-world" dogma...

"That's so NOT going to be easy...," she muttered to herself as she continued to walk. It's one of the Amazon's major rules... Actually, it's the one rule that defines them. But Ainia supposed that a few things just had to be sacrificed for the greater good. She began doubting if she'd be able to do this...

[Guest]

Augustin just walked around the temples. He thought to go to Apollo, it was time about, but he didn't knew what to say. That he hope that he will help him in the final battle, which's day came closer and closer. No, he didn't wanted that. Why would he hope some help from him. That was a lie. Everybody had same chance; all of them worked hard.

Or probably that he wonder how the play would be for the highest pristess' class? No, he didn't wanted to talk to the God about his wife. And he wasn't that kind who just went to the temple to say a short and meaningless prey. He really wanted to talk to him. For some advice.

When he looked up, after quite a long time, he saw a familiar face. "Ainia...?" he asked with half-volume.

[Guest]

"Oh," the Amazon paused a moment, thought about how friends should usually act, and tried to greet Augustin cheerfully.

"Hi, Augustin!" she said with a smile. It faded once she felt the disgust of how stiff and fake it must have looked like.

"Tch!" her expression turned back to the usual scowl as she gave up pretending. Well... Augustin is here. Might as well ask him stuff...

"Hmm, Augustin, I...," she wondered if she should tell him, "Okay, don't laugh! I... I wanted to--uhh..."

"I wanted to try make some friends!"

She sighed when she finally managed to blurt it out.

"Umm, mind telling me the positive side of guys?" Probably seeing their good side is going to help her out a bit...

[Guest]

Augustin opened his mount, and closed it. He couldn't say a word. How the positive sides of guys just came here?

He cought. Twice. "Well... um..."

When he noticed how odd he looks like, he tried to say a normal sentence "Please don't mind... it was just quite an unexpected question" Augustin tried to explain his situation.

"You know, it quite hard to think about that from the other side" he said slowly "But probably after things that I happened to read... I could say that girls like the strength of guys" he started "But I don't really think that this yould be a really good point for you" he thought after.

"Even probably not the strength, but the feeling of security" he tipped. "But it's really hard, I was never a girl, so I don't know. But I can tell you, that even it's the most unbelivable thing, somehow girls and guys just needs each other. That how the world run" he smiled carefully.

Indeed it was a strange thing, but just how everybody knew, it was one of the world's secrets.

[Guest]

"The 'dependence on each other', huh?"

The Amazon tribe had lived together and helped each other throughout, but for some reason, she never felt really 'whole'. It might have something to do with hating the guys...

"Thank you, Augustin. You've taught me a lot today. Now I have something to ponder about...," she chuckled and returned to the Warrior's Quarters.

[Guest]

"Are you all right, Ainia?" in asked the girl, before she could totally disappear. "Why did that came up so suddenly? What would you like to do with?" he run after her. It seemed to be strange a bit, and he didn't wanted that to end badly.

[Guest]

"Augustin! I've had too much on my mind, so just stay away!!" Ainia shouted, glaring sharply at the Pegasus.

A few moments later, she gasped, realizing that she had just accidentally let her fierce Amazon nature loose. She really needed some time to think alone.

Ainia immediately turned and ran towards her room without another word, not wanting to cause anymore trouble.

[Guest]

Augustin looked after the girl, and realised that he just don't understand anything. Why does she run away. And what was that question about boys? He just didn't get it.

He thought back what he wanted to do. A pray to Apollo. After that it just seemed impossible. He decided to return to his room, and search a book, which can probably explain what just happened.

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