T-They looks so alike! (Private/Azalea)

Elyx looked over to the side to see a forest, a simple one in which he would smile as the sound of the waterfall poured into the hellish lake. The lake itself did not come from hell, but the Violinist had Aquaphobia, the fear of water. The trigger of this was when he would see large bodies of water, anything that is deep enough to drown in. It was a shame, Nimpha told her that he would be able to go to the beach if he ever wanted to and not have a care in the world. First of all, just because he had muscle, did not mean he looked like he had muscle. His stomach was rather skinny, though rough. It was his chest that was a little bit stronger, but it didn't show much either. Being an above average mage, he was able to take hits a little harder to the chest there than anywhere else. Elyx's fear of water developed at the age of 7, so young and loving to swim back then. Not even the drug that Nimpha gave to the Violinist cured him of his Phobia. Water, one thing he can't stand is water. Swimming always made him want to faint, due to a terrible childhood memory of him almost drowning when a few twigs underwater gripped his foot, causing him to almost drown. He did faint though due to lack of oxygen, and he was brought back to life through C.P.R from a nurse in his Tribe. Well, her apprentice, who was about 2 years older than him. In Shadelle, it didn't really matter the age, just as long as they had the ability... Which was really messed up in some cases. Elyx was glad that the legal laws for... Intercourse were the same as in Fiore. Regardless of that, the one who brought him to life brought him back while she was a child... This hurt him and his innocence a little bit, learning how he recovered from there a few days later.

The boy continued to walk through the forest, just around the borders of Black Rose, a small grin on his face. Ignite was not with him today, she was sleeping for some special reason instead of going on a job. Maybe she had everything that she wanted and didn't want anything else for now? The Violinist snickered at the thought, that could not possibly be the case. As he was walking, he noticed a small shadow figure in the distance, small, but human sized. With caution, the boy began to get lighter on the steps that he was making, he might be dealing with an assassin or spy. Approaching them was a good idea at the same time though, to seem harmless and extract information was not too bad of an idea. Future attacks would be foiled. With his mind back on track, the boy began to walk forward carefully, getting ready to pull out his blade if this person wanted any trouble.

Where had She wandered off to this time? The small girl sat in the middle of a forest panting like a dog. It seemed as if she had been running from something or someone. That's exactly what she had done. This small brunette had come to this port city simply looking for somewhere to go. She was looking for somewhere she could belong. However, she couldn't help but think this place looked rather sketchy. So when a man approached her to speak, she got frightened and ran away. In her defense, he didn't look very friendly. After a while, here she was in this forest.

Eventually, the small child would catch her breath and look around. She saw many trees, of course. Which way should she go? Azalea would stand and brush off her little pink dress. She always wore a black long sleeved shirt under this one because it helped her feel as if she were slightly more hidden. On her feet, she wore a pair of black flats. Brown eyes looked around the area some more as she was trying to study which way was best. After a few minutes, Azalea would pick a way to go but would be distracted by something in the trees. She couldn't see it but she heard it. Perhaps it was just an animal. The thought would make the small girl shrug.

As she turned her head to continue her journey, Azalea would notice something within a short distance from her. It looked to be a person considering she was judging on the figure. Was it the man she had just run from? Was he going to try and kidnap her? What was she going to do? Wait.. what if it wasn't him? What if it was someone else? What would they be like? Would they try to hurt her? Azalea's mind filled with questions and thoughts. She didn't know wether to run or stay put. Eventually, she would decide to stay put but move closer to a tree in case she felt the need to hide herself. By this time, the girl's heart seemed to be beating against her chest.

The figure in the distance sort of seemed still, understandable since they were both strangers to each other. Instead of pulling out some sort of weapon or carrying out some sort of magic attack, it ended up shifting to the side, somewhat gaining distance from him. No threat behind the body of whatever it was, it was acting in a coward sort of way. Taking pity on them, Elyx placed a smile on his face, knowing better than to attack someone who was not going to fight back. He pulled out both of his swords from their sheathes and looked over to the newcomer. Finally, he threw his swords to the right side. With that, he then cupped his mouth to make his voice louder. I'm not here to hurt you! I just want to talk, I'm coming over now! Please don't attack! Elyx exclaimed, surely the shadow was able to hear him. With that warning, hopefully he should not be attacked by whoever or whatever it was. If it was a whatever, it probably didn't understand him anyways, and that's why he had his Violin in his white knapsack for safekeeping. The boy continued to approach the figure to notice that the figure was being revealed, and the closer he got, the more he was able to make out what it was. Or she was rather, it turned out to just be a little girl. From that distance, about 5 meters approximate, the boy would smile and tilt his head to the side. Hello little one, are you lost? I can escort you back home if you want, if you can tell me where that is. Elyx promised before carefully walking to the little girl.

Poor thing, she must have been so scared while alone, almost no way to defend herself, and that's if she was a mage. Taking pity on her, the boy placed a hand behind his back to reach in his knapsack. Once that was done, he was able to get a grip onto a sweet item inside of the bag, in which he pulled out his favorite snack, a chocolate bar. The Violinist lowered himself down by crouching, almost letting his knees skim on the dirt before he handed her the candy bar by stretching it over to her. Whether or not she accepts it is up to her. Don't be afraid, I don't want to hurt you. The boy promised before smiling once again and gently placing his hand on her head, gently patting her to give him comfort.

Brown eyes continued to watch the figure as it journeyed closer. The girl's hand was now placed on the tree just so she could tell her distance from it. After a moment, the small girl would noticed he had removed some things from his person. What were they? They seemed to be in the shape of some kind of weapons which didn't sit well with Azalea. Her small body began to tense up even after he had thrown them down. It was only after he had informed her that he was simply wishing to talk with her that her fearful thoughts were flushed away. However, feelings of nervousness soon washed over her keeping her body tense. Nonetheless, the girl never moved. Azalea believed that if he would not attack her then she should have no reason to attack him nor did she have a reason to run away possibly startling this person. Brown eyes stayed locked on the figure as it came closer. Soon the man's face would be revealed to her. He didn't seem to look like a danger to her but there was always the possibility, which would leave her feeling uneasy. Then, he would speak his voice sounding so caring and nice. However, she still didn't speak for Azalea didn't know if she could trust him yet. She was afraid.

His hand reached behind his back and as it did so Azalea leaned back slightly with wide eyes. Her back was now touching the tree. Could he be reaching for a weapon? Had he been sent to kill her? However what he pulled out hadn't been a weapon of some sort, it was simply a bar of chocolate. Brown eyes would light up as she stared at it. This small child adored candy. It seemed to be sent from some unworldy place as to seek refuge in the hearts of people. As he reached out to give it to her though, Azalea hesitated. She wanted it oh so bad but she didn't know wether she could trust this one still, until he reached out and patted her head. Azalea would stand staring at the man's face and slightly relaxing a bit. His face seemed so sweet and caring. Azalea felt as if he was being truthful just by looking at him directly. She felt.. safe. So, she would gladly accept the bar of chocolate and hold it at stomach height across both hands. Instead of looking at him while speaking, she would look at the candy, "I-I don't.. have a.. home." Her voice was soft and just loud enough for them both to hear.

The little girl was reacting in a rather smart way, making sure to keep her trust low while she could. Not as naive as anybody would think, but she did trust someone who threw their weapons to the side. Whether or not that was a good thing was up to the person judging, but now Elyx was there for her, there was nothing for her to fear. She was slowly taking the chocolate from him, and she seemed to be showing a small amount of trust by actually talking to him. It was a small slow sentence, but that was probably the most words that anyone could get out of her if she did not trust him so much. The chocolate bar was a key factor to keep children happy, and with them already so trusting in adults, they were willing to do anything for a candy bar. This poor little girl was probably in danger, and other adult that wanted to kill her, if they did the same thing he did, they would have her done for. But now the Guild Ace of a Bounty Hunting guild was there to protect her, she was just to innocent and helpless to not give assistance to. Especially when she gave the answer that she did, and it was a rather sad one. Regardless of how depressing her answer to him was, she did not answer with her voice cracking or anything, just simply a few words that were chopped to make a sentence. Nothing too vague either, it was just a little bit slow. A smile was placed onto the boys face as he knew that he could provide a place for her. The poor little girl probably walked for so long as well, it was a shame that she had to continue walking and surviving on her own. Who knew what she ate for her last meal? Or where she slept last night?

Well, I don't think we should continue talking over here. I'll bring you over to my house. Hang on tight. The boy said as he put his hand off of head to stop patting her. He then turned his back around and crouched low. With that, he placed his hands behind his back and behind her legs, wrapping tightly to make sure he did this right. The Violinist pushed himself upwards to get the little girl off of the ground, being lightweight, she was easy to carry around with him. What he was giving her was a piggyback ride, it was something that Nea used to do to comfort him whenever he was bored as a young child, this girl no longer needed to walk. Her legs were probably sore from the distance she was forced to travel, but now it was over. Hopefully she wouldn't mind his humble abode, it was not quite clean yet since he didn't expect visitors. Still though, it was a mansion, so how bad could it be?

Azalea stared at the bar of deliciousness she had in her hands. She was rather tempted to eat it but didn't feel as if it would be right to do so in this moment. So, she simply held it and made sure it stayed within eye's view. It was quite funny for the child to act in such a way towards an object that one could more than likely buy anywhere but to her sweets were like her lifeline. Besides, she hadn't had sweets in such a long time that she had almost forgot how much she loved them. Nonetheless, her eyes were diverted away from the candy but her grip had tightened slightly around it. Brown eyes again locked on this male who had just spoken to her. 'His house?' Azalea would think to herself as she tilted her head, "Wait.. Hold o-?" The full sentence would never escape her whispering mouth as the male soon turned around and lifted her off the ground.

Azalea would tense up yet again with that chocolate bar in her small grip. She didnt know what to think. What was this? What was happening? Azalea looked around to notice that he was carrying her. Brown eyes stared straight at the back of this man's head. Who was he? Why was he taking her to his house? Her eyes would then move to her hands. Her left hand sat flat on the man's back and her right hand was still gripping that chocolate bar. Brown eyes continued to move until she noticed how tired her body had felt. She hadn't realized how worn out she was from her continuous moving. She hadn't realized her legs had become numb sometime during that day. She simply hadn't realized. However, it was now all starting to sink in but what she really noticed was how much fun it was to be carried. Azalea was now higher up than normal. She felt as if she were taller. She could see a little bit more from where she was. Soon, Azalea would begin to relax and simply watch. She watched the area around her and every now and then the one that was carrying her. She wondered why he was helping her. Perhaps, he wasn't. Perhaps, he was carrying her to her death but who knew? For now, she would simply go wherever he took her. Fighting was something Azalea didn't feel the need to do at this moment.

As the both of them were traveling through the forest, they were both able to locate a big building that was his mansion. Isolated so that he would not get many people to come to him, mainly because he was known as a Guild Ace. He would rather not have people swarm him, so being a good distance from the actual area that Black Rose was in was a rather good idea. Isolation, and it keeps Ignite from doing some more crazy things. Being a child, the little girl might not remember where the mansion was located, which meant that when she was taken in by Kakuma, she wont remember where his house is. Good thing if he wanted his space from the rest of the town who might want to swarm him. The boy continued to walk with the girl on his back, and when he reached the door, he crouched down to let the girl get to the ground. He would unlock his arms so that he would let the young girl onto the ground, hopefully he lowered her enough to gently hit the ground, and that he did not just end up dropping her to her to the ground. He then looked over to her with a smile on his face. Well, this is my humble home. You're going to be sleeping here, and then tomorrow, we are going to figure out where you are going. But you should probably rest little one, and eat that chocolate bar as well. Its safe, I promise you, I can eat a square if you would like. Elyx said before looking to the door and opened it without a problem. What wad the point of locking it when no one can find it. It was foolproof while no one can find it, and Ignite would never tell a soul either.

The boy then invited the girl into his mansion, a smile on his face as he was holding the door open for her to walk in, as if he were a doorholder. Welcome, while you are in here, my house is your house little one. Oh! I shouldn't call you that. My name is Elyx Reiaki, Guild Ace of Leaves of Black Rose. Do you have a name little one? The boy asked before letting the girl into his house, this was perfect, he finally got to take care of a shy version of Allison. This was looking up to be a great day. Ignite didn't seem to mind either, how welcoming, but at least she didn't object.

Brown eyes had ended up blankly staring at the back of this man's head. Eventually, she had become tired of thinking and simply wanted to watch him some more as to see what he was like. However, the trip ended up being silent but Azalea didnt mind once something large caught her eye. The girl's head would raise a slight bit more and her eyes would fill with awe. What was this place? It was so big! She had never seen a place so big before! However, this whole place was surrounded by woods. Azalea didn't know if she felt comfortable being here. Was he really taking her to his home? Was she being tricked? Brown eyes were filled with confusion as she looked between the man and the large building. As they approached, the man would squat down again to gently set her on the ground. The brown haired child would slip off his back and stare at the large home. Her head would tilt up and down as she looked at the size. Brown eyes would flicker over as the man spoke.

"This is a house?" The child would whisper to herself bearly audible. "I get to sleep here?" The child continued to whisper as she looked back at it once more. Wait... where would this man send her in the morning? Should she leave in the middle of the night as she did to everyone else? Azalea didnt want someone else forcing her into a home. She wanted to find it herself. She wanted a place that she felt connected to her heart. This girl couldn't get too attached knowing that she couldn't stay. Brown eyes were once again filled with sadness. Of course, she wasn't disappointed since she never got her hopes up. She was just simply tired of looking.

Azalea would look to the now opened door of the rather large estate and then to the smile on the man's face. She would slowly walk towards it and freeze as he spoke noting that from the doorway the inside looked large as well. His words entered her ears and then she had to think for a moment. How should she respond? Never give a last. If she gave a last name to someone, it would signify she had found her perfect home. However, she didn't know if this was it. "I-it's um.. nice to meet you, Elyx Reiaki. Y-You can... call me... Azalea." Her voice was still soft and just loud enough for the two to hear. The child hadn't quite gotten used to the fact that she had to speak to this man. She also hadn't quite gotten comfortable enough yet to eat her chocolate either.

Yup, you get to sleep here! I'll let you choose a room on the second floor if you would like. The Violinist explained with a smile on his face before he then heard a few bits of water coming from the side. Looking over to the window, he was able to confirm that there was a bit of weather changes. Hopefully it would only rain, the gentle amounts of water would splatter on the windows peacefully and let him sleep easily. Rain was rather relaxing, provided its stronger cousin didn't get in play, thunder. Big, annoying, and really flashy if it was so near that it became lightning. The boy continued to look at the window before making a small comment. Well, it looks like it's going to be raining tonight. Looks like we're not going to be going anywhere else to- Elyx tried to say, only for a strike of thunder to occur. The devastatingly loud noise was enough to make his eyes shoot wide, was it really that loud? Well, after the slight shock, the boy looked over to the girl, Azalea. A little child would get scared of lightning, it was only natural. It was such a sad fact, and before doing anything else, he decided to take safety measures. Though he was unsure if Azalea was or was not afraid of the lightning, the boy got down onto his knees quickly and would embrace the little girl tightly, patting her back gently and placing his head on her shoulder if the hug were successful. If this were all done correct, he would continue to comfort her. There there Azalea, I promise the lightning won't hurt you. The boy would say before continuing to speak. As long as you're with me, I won't let anything hurt you.

With that, the boy would just continue to hug her until she would calm down. Hopefully the fear was less than the average childs fear of lightning. Then again, knowing Azalea based on the past few minutes, almost hour, she was a very timid child. This was probably not a good thing since it would mean that surprises like that lightning were probably a trigger for her. Good thing he was there to comfort her though.

Azalea couldn't help but wonder what all the rooms were like. She wondered how many there were. She wondered how big they were. She wondered a lot about this house, until she heard that dreaded noise. Brown eyes slowly locked on the window as she heard small droplets of water flinging themselves towards it. The small child hoped and hoped that nothing else would follow. She didn't want this man to see her fear. She didn't want him to make fun of her or even leave her to deal with her terrified state alone. Being afraid in this house alone just wouldn't be right. She just wished to avoid it all together. The child would turn her head towards the man as he spoke again, however his sentence was quickly stopped.

Azalea heard the loud booming of thunder, which caused her to drop the very candy that she was holding due to her jumping. The candy would make a loud thud as it dropped to the floor. Brown eyes were wide with fear as she stood almost paralyzed. Then, the flashing of lightning would follow and the child's eyes would tightly close. At this moment, Azalea would hear a small noise and feel arms wrap around her. Was he trying to comfort her? She would then continue to feel his head on her shoulder and his hand as it patted her back. The child continued to keep her eyes closed. As the thunder rumbled once more, Azalea would put one Palm over her ear and press the other ear to Elyx's head. Her free arm would wrap around his neck but not too tight. The girl had begun to shake slightly and tears would begin to roll from her eyes as the storm continued.

Very few people had ever tried to comfort Azalea during her times of fear. However out of the ones that did, she couldn't help but feel a slight bit safer with this one. She couldn't help but wonder why that was. Azalea had realized in this moment there was no need to be so skeptical of him. Elyx seemed to be gaining more of her trust than anyone ever had since the day she lost her last two "family members".

Shhhhhh. Elyx shushed quietly as the girl began to cry, which he confirmed after feeling something drip onto his shirt. Azalea needed him now, anybody to comfort her, and that person to do that was him. The Violinist noticed that even she cried quietly, not even screaming intensely, but she was shaking instead. And tears were slowly running down her cheeks. It pained him to see her so damaged, tears did not look too good on her. He would prefer to see a smile onto her face, which he had yet to see yet, so he was not quite able to see it just yet. The boy had his face neutral, keeping his head on Azalea's shoulder, and her head pressed to his. Shaking was what made him continue to pat her on the back, refusing to let her go until the fear has blown over. Nothing will ever hurt you as long as I am there. You are safe with me. Elyx promised as he continued to hug the little child. He remembered being a child, and his "Mother" made the same promise to him while he was crying in the storm. Such a terrible moment for him to be so scared, but then to be so calm and even sleepy when he would stop crying. A bottle of warm milk was enough to put him down to sleep after crying, and though he still had a few tears left, he was actually happy to know that back then, Nea actually cared. Shhhhhhh, what are you crying for? Elyx said before pulling his head back a little bit, just so he could look over to Azalea and lock her in the eyes. You got me, right?

With that, he just continued to hug her, hoping that at least the shaking would be slowing down. Once that happened, he would pick up the chocolate bar from the ground, while it was still wrapped, then share it with her to prove that it was not some sort of trap or anything. Hopefully she would be able to trust him enough to eat at all, breakfast in the morning especially. It was going to be a hard time for her if she did not even trust him to feed her. Still though, this child was rather special, he felt like he should be caring for her more. Treasure her, she was helpless on her own so far, anyone who wanted to rob her or take advantage of her could have if he left her on the streets. But here she was, in his arms under his protection.

Azalea, although her ears were still covered, could hear Elyx speak and also continued to feel him pat her back. The girl would sniffle through the tears and try to breathe through the shaking. Elyx was certainly helping her realize she needed to calm down. He was certainly not aware of the fact that Azalea could have been more dramatic about such a small event had he not been around. Had she been alone she would hear and do nothing but scream. She would feel nothing but terror and shaking. However, he was here and she was beginning to trust him. He was helping comfort her, which was more than she would ever ask for.

He continued to speak and although his words sounded a bit muffled through her covered ears, she could still hear them. The words would run through her mind and straight to her heart. They were spreading somewhat of a warm feeling through her. She began to feel a bit safer. However, he would begin to pull his head away from her but she wouldn't let her arm leave his neck. Then, he asked a question as the child stared at him through big brown eyes, which were also red and still flowing with tears. Now the tears seemed to be because of what he said but there was no evident difference in the reason for her tears. She knew that he would only be there until tomorrow when he would send her away. He would never think of her again or even care that she was gone. That was the part that would hurt. However, she still trusted him.

Her shaking would lessen as he continued to embrace her and continued to comfort her. The tears would begin to slow until they were just sniffles. Her hand would slowly fall away from her ear. After she had calmed a bit, Elyx picked up the candy that Azalea had dropped and decided to share it with her. He was more than likely still worried that she didn't trust him. However, she did. So, she would take a piece and eat it before he did. After doing so, she would smile slightly. Azalea wanted him to know that she was alright now. She wanted him to know that she trusted him. She wanted him to know that she was happy.

After eating a piece of chocolate, Azalea seemed to have a smile on her face, a small shy one. It made Elyx feel happy, but now he was rather concerned. He remembered Lilith, and how he left her with Kakuma. Never again has the boy seen her at all, and if he were to give this little child up to his Guildmaster for her to raise, he would never see her again. Elyx was unable to see how the other child was, seeing if she got any better. And knowing that this one had a huge fear for lightning, to the point in which she cries so heavily. It would pain him to see her go... But would she be better off here? Could he take care of her? If his Guildmaster took care of the child, Azalea might think and act like a wolf. Give or take on what one may think of that, Azalea was a human, and Elyx knew what it meant to be one as well. He placed his hands on her shoulders, gripping them firmly to make sure she knew that he was serious. It was a huge change, and if she has nowhere to go, maybe she would like to be hear. It was just a few seconds, and already one important decision was about to be made. He locked his light brown eyes with hers, making sure that his question was clear. Azalea, I know that this may be hard for you. And it's a bit hard for me as well if I would have to let someone else take care of you. Neither of us have a family, no parents, no connections, none of that. I want you to think real hard before answering. Elyx explained, letting a small sigh escape from his lips. Then he nodded his head, confirming that this was what he wanted.

As a rogue, you may only visit here for a few days. Then you would be forced away if you can't pay for a place to stay. Being a Guild Ace of Black Rose, I can sign documents to make sure that doesn't happen. To do that, you would have to have some sort of connection here. The boy explained before pausing for a brief moment. Hopefully the girl was understanding what he was saying, but if she were not, he was just going to have to simplify what he was trying to say. Do you want to be a part of my family, I can be like a big brother, and this would be all of yours. I don't want you to go away, it just doesn't seem fair. What choice you want to make is yours though, and I don't expect a quick answer. It's just a chance, I promise to take care of you and make sure nothing ever hurts you.

Azalea's smile would fade as she swallowed the piece of chocolate she had popped into her mouth. She stared at Elyx becoming rather nervous when he placed his hands on her shoulders. Her eyes moved between his arms and his face. She didn't know wether She shpuld be concerned or not. Brown eyes were filled with confusion as she finally locked her eyes to his. After a moment, he would begin speaking words that made her feel rather conflicted. She couldn't help but wonder where he was going with this. However, she also wondered why she felt a slight bit of hope arising within her.

He would pause for a simple sigh and then continue speaking. Azalea listened eagerly, although her outer appearance showed nothing but a blank slate. The girl was quite happy to hear what he was saying. However, she couldn't help but remember all the ones she had loved before. They were all dead. However, this one had to be good right. He was a Guild Ace after all. He should be super strong and be able to protect himself right? There was no way he could end up like the others.. was there?

Azalea looked around as he spoke of everything being hers. Brown eyes shifted from the ceiling to the walls and from the window to Elyx. He was offering to give her a family and a home. He was offering everything she wanted to her but she was hesitant. "I-I don't want you to end up like the others." Azalea would say softly while looking down. She wondered if he would still be willing to have her around if she told him what happened to them all. However, she didn't want him to think silly of her. So, she would simply speak the rest of her words softly. "They're.. They're all dead. It was all my fault. Every.. one was my fault." Azalea would begin to tear up and sniffle as she spoke. Her voice would become slightly louder, as it was hard for her to whisper through the sadness. "I-I.. don't want that to happen to you either. You should protect yourself.. from me. I'm not what you should want to protect." Azalea would look back to Elyx with tears running down her cheeks. However, this time she looked calm. Tears of sadness are much softer than tears of fear.

Elyx felt much pain to see tears of the young girl rolling down her cheeks. In an attempt to comfort her, he placed his right index finger against her burning face, catching the teardrop to stop the flow of it's movement. This was to wipe off a tear that she had. The same process had been done with the same finger, but on the other side of her face. Just seeing her in tears made him want to destroy things, but there was nothing but thunder that caused this. So instead, he was just skipping to the therapy part of it. With a smile on his face, he decided to make his reply. I don't care about whatever may happen to me. I am a grown man, I can take care of myself. But if I let you out into the real world with no protection, I would deserve nothing more than a screaming death. The boy explained before embracing the girl once more, he was desperate to get her to calm down as much as he wanted her to stay with him. Not to end up like Lilith, she was scared, shy, had barely any magic power based on what Elyx could sense. She might have a worse fate. He split himself from Azalea once again after the quick hug, locking eyes with her once again. You are exactly what I want to protect, it's not your fault. If I can give myself up to give you a bright future, I will do just that. And I can do all that, I just need you to say yes. The boy promised, a smile on his face. With him, Ignite, Cassie, and Knight of Frostfire, he was willing to protect her with his life. He wanted a family member, one to protect would be even better. It had been so long since he felt like he had an actual family.

Azalea's face would turn from one of worry to one holding a bit of surprise. The girl could feel the fingers of Elyx on her face as he wiped away her tears. He hadn't seemed to change his mind. He hadn't seemed to be the least bit frightened or grown any more distant from her. Was he arrogant Or did he really just not care? Did he really feel so strongly about her being his family that he would wipe away anything she said to change his mind as he did with her tears?

Brown eyes continued to stare at the man and she would sniffle as she listened to him speak. He confirmed her thoughts about him being able to take care of himself. This gave Azalea a little more hope that maybe this could work out for the both of them. Perhaps, they could both have something they wanted but it all depended on her. Elyx would embrace her once more and Azalea would once again feel happiness. Her heart felt a feeling she hadn't felt in a long time, at least it seemed that way. She felt a warmth and safety that she hadn't felt since that day so long ago. That day she lost everything important to her.

Brown eyes would stare into his as he spoke once again. He still wished to protect her and care for her. He still wished to be her family and now she wished for him to be her family. Azalea would smile with all of her small teeth showing and wrap her arms around Elyx's neck. She couldn't help it. It was as if a feeling of great happiness and relief had washed over her. "I-I would love it if you were my brother and I-I'll be the best sister ever. I'll do anything to make you proud and... I won't ever get in your way. I'll never ask for anything I don't need. I-I'll try to stay out of trouble. I'll always do my best. I promise." Azalea would say in a normal tone of voice as she continued to hug Elyx. At this moment, Azalea didn't feel a need to cry like she thought she might when she found the perfect family. She simply felt like she didn't ever want to let go. She didn't want to disappoint. All she wanted was to be happy and here she was with someone that would always make her happy. He was going to be her big brother something she never got the chance to have.

"You can call me Aza, if you'd like. I always let the people I care about call me that. Of course, you can call me whatever you want. It doesn't matter to me." The girl would say as she let go of Elyx's neck. She didn't want to but she also didn't know if he'd want her around his neck too long.

I'm sure you would be the best sister ever little Aza. Elyx explained with a grin on his face. Wow, a little sister for him to protect. While he is faithful with the little, or "little" rather, that he had, he would end up getting plenty. You can have a lot of money, be one of the richest, but still have nothing in the end. This was proof right here, Azalea has been the best gift he has received in his life, a little sister. A family member, a real family member. He won't ever go back on his word, until he breathes his last breath, Elyx is going to guard her and protect her with all of his strength. Azalea continued to speak about making him proud, as if she had to prove anything. And to not get in his way, as if she were some sort of shackle. He placed his index over her lips to silence her from that point. A small sheepish smile on his face from that point. Hey now. If you're going to be my little sister, you better know that you can't possibly let me down. And there is no way in any life that you can be in my way. Don't be so humble, I'll give you anything. Elyx explained, before putting his hand away, then stood back up onto his feet again, the girl below him now no longer in a crying sort of mood. He calmed her down, but that was the least of all of the great things that had just happened. Once he signs the documents, they could be legitimate siblings. Still, even now though, he was going to consider her a little sister. And the first thing he would have to do is take care of her. Unfortunately, he had no clothing for small children, could she possibly sleep in those clothes? Then again, Ignites clothing was not that big since she kept in great shape, and loose clothing made great pajamas.

All right, the first thing we're going to have to get you to do is get into some new clothes. We're going to my friends room, she has plenty of clothes for you to try. Elyx explained before making an attempt to hold her hand. He wanted to guide her to Ignite's room, then have her go through the drawer. There were many clothes she could use for pajamas for now, just until tomorrow when there is no rain and the both of them were able to go clothes shopping. Once they reach the She Phoenixs room, he would let Aza get all the clothes she needs for tonight, then let her change in private by leaving the room. From there, he would knock every now and then to see if she were all right.

The small girl could feel the happiness welling up in her even more so as Elyx spoke of her being the best little sister. She definitely would be the absolute best. Azalea was certainly going to be nothing less than the best. She had finally found a family. She had finally found someone to take care of her. She didn't have to run anywhere anymore. The small girl finally had a place to stay that wasn't some strangers home or somewhere outside taking on the elements. Azalea could tell she would be safe here. She had full faith that everything would work perfectly with Elyx. He was her big brother now after all. Azalea had been silenced by Elyx as she began to speak about what she would do and how she would act. Then, he would replace her thoughts with new ones. She didnt have any reason to be so strict or hard on herself. It had already been confirmed that no matter what her bug brother would be proud of her and never feel as if she was a burden, which had made the child smile ever so much.

The small girl would look up at Elyx as he stood. 'He sure is tall,' this was the thought that crossed her mind in this moment but of course Elyx had more important matters on his mind. It sure was a good thing that he was the older sibling or else who knows what would happen to the two. Azalea sure was childish for her age and sure had a lot to learn before she was ready to take care of anyone but herself. Elyx would state that the girl needed clothes for the night, which would make the child blink. She had forgotten her clothes who knows where. Azalea normally carried a small bag with her but it seemed somewhere along her journey she lost it and simply took whatever she could find. The outfit she had been wearing on this day was handed to her by a woman that seemed to be in her thirties with a teenage girl at home. Of course, Azalea took it not wanting to be rude as the woman insisted.

Now, she was holding hands with Elyx as he lead her to a girl's room, where she would be directed to search for bed clothing. At first, Brown eyes simply stared at the drawers. Azalea had been quite nervous and didn't wish to wears one thing this woman may not want her to wear. She didn't like going through other people's things but she soon got over it. The small child had found a T-Shirt that seemed to hang on her loosely but it covered what it needed to. She also found a pair of shorts that fit her quite well actually, however they were a tad big. Either way she had found clothes and had changed into them every once in a while she would inform Elyx that she was perfectly fine as he checked up on her. After she had been changed, the small child would open the door a crack and brown eyes would peek out. She would stand for a moment and then open the door all the way. The brown haired child stood with a ball of pink and black clothing in her hands, a pair of flats, and an outfit that made her look slightly smaller than normal. Azalea would smile nervously. She had never felt so embarrassed before. It seemed so odd of her to wear a T-Shirt and shorts, while looking small and probably ridiculous.

Elyx felt a little bit bad that there was nothing that he was quite able to do while the rain was still pouring, if it were not, he would be more than glad to go out and get some good child-sized clothing that she liked. At least she had a pair of pajamas, now he was going to have to wash her dress to make sure that it was clean for tomorrow, since she didn't seem to have anything else. Part of him felt like that was his fault, which he was not quite able to understand since he was so sure that it was not. It was probably due to him being her guardian now, which meant that technically, everything that was wrong with Azalea was his fault. That sort of stress did not feel good onto him, but to get the better things in life, you had to deal with the hard things as well. As the little girl came out, he let out a grin as he knew that they were going to work for a night, though they were a little big on her, they would protect the parts that nobody in the house should see. A child! Ignite exclaimed happily, her wrists bumping into each other a few times before she ran over to Azalea from behind, then would give her an embrace from behind to give her a hug. She is so cute! She's just like Allison, Elyx! But what's she doing here? The She Phoenix asked, still hugging the girl, who might have been surprised due to the sudden squeal and hug. Or maybe she wouldn't care since it was late, and maybe she was tired instead. Elyx crossed his arms and looked down to the both of them with a smile, the She Phoenix had no problem with the girl or how her clothes were being used.

This is your new little sister, her name is Azalea. Azalea, this hyperactive girl is Ignite Rosella. She seems to be taking a liking to you already. Elyx explained as he then got behind the She Phoenuix and pulled her up and off of the little girl. Ignite resisted a little, but gave in when she knew that she was unable to get free. Once the both of them were up, Elyx made a small announcement for the both of them. To celebrate a new member of a newly made family, we're going to have a feast! Ignite, would you like to do the honors? The Violinist asked, and just as his sentence had just finished, the She Phoenix zipped to make the food. It was fun for her to be cooking, though Elyx could cook too, he didn't have a burning passion to it. Ignite could cook for hours if she really wanted to, and now this was her chance. A feast for Azalea, hopefully that would be a great kickoff before he would put her to sleep.

Azalea watched Elyx as he grinned at her. She didn't quite know what to make of this situation, until she heard a squeal come from behind her. The small child would freeze and then squeak a but herself as she was hugged from behind. Who was this woman and why was she hugging Azalea? Brown eyes shifted from left to right as the girl tried to see who it was that had an unexpected hold on her. The small girl's breaths were rather quick and heavy. Azalea had never had this happen to her before. How should she react? Azalea would then realize the clothes she was wearing may possibly be this woman's. If she was in Elyx's house, then she had to be a good woman right? Azalea would make the decision to simply stand in her tensed up position, until the woman let her go.

After a moment, Elyx began to speak to the woman, who by the way was still holding onto her. 'Little.. sister?' These were the only words to cross Azalea's mind. This meant that this woman would be her big sister. Azalea could remember the last girl she thought of as a big sister. Of course Like all the others, that girl was dead. However, maybe this girl was also really strong. Maybe, just maybe, she could give this woman a chance too. It seemed that she would have to either way, considering she had already agreed to being Elyx's little sister.

Ignite had been pulled away from the small girl and the child could finally relax. The small girl would breathe out and then turn her eyes to Elyx as he began to speak again. This time Brown eyes would widen as she stared at him. Azalea was so excited. She couldn't help but wonder what kind of food there would be. To be honest, chocolate had been the only thing that Azalea had eaten that day, however she didn't realize until her stomach had growled a bit. At this point, Azalea would look down at her stomach and back up at Elyx. A small nervous smile along with a blush was present across her features. It didnt bother her to be hungry since she had been living on her own for a while and hadn't always been able to pay for food. That was something she wouldn't miss but she would always remember it. Azalea would remember the struggles so she could remember how lucky she was. Once again, the small girl would move to Elyx and wrap her arms around him. She couldn't help but be very thankful for him.

Elyx felt Aza hug him from the side once again, which warmed his heart as he knew that he can make her life a lot better right now. He placed his right hand on her head and began to stroke her hair before speaking once again. All right Azalea, you probably need a shower before you eat. I'll get you clothes like that from Ignite's room, I'll lead you to the bathroom. Don't focus on the ones you wear right now, leave them for me to pick up later. Same applies for the towel, I'll explain how you can put them away later. Elyx explained before walking forward, ready to lead her away from the current place and to the bathroom where the shower is located. The boy wanted Azalea to learn much about the place so that she would be able to navigate on her own one day. Once she does, she could do a few chores to help clean around the house. The bathroom isn't too far from here. When you run in, just walk up the second floor, make a right, then go down this hallway until you see the second door on the right. That is where the bathroom is located. Elyx explained with a smile before putting his hand on the door and opening it. Ignites room was just a few steps away, so with his speed enhancements, he zipped over to her room at lightning speed. Opening her drawers to pick out two more pieces of clothing, another pair of shorts and a long sleeve cotton shirt. Elyx then zipped away from that area and went back over to the bathroom to meet up with Azalea. The towels are on the rail, the wall holds a rail. That rail holds a towel in there, which is replaced every time someone takes a shower. Put your spare clothes on the side, leave the current clothes you have on the ground. When you're done with your shower, the feast should probably be ready.

Azalea would smile as she felt Elyx's hand upon her head. The brown haired child had always loved the feel of people stroking or playing with her hair. However, it didn't happen much considering she didn't have anyone until just a few small moments ago. The child could remember when she was little how much her mother loved to play with her hair and how cute her hair always looked. Then, Azalea made a mistake one which she was told never to make and that was the first incident of her loved ones deaths. The child couldn't help but notice how all the good moment brought the bad thoughts with them. It was as if something was trying to tear her apart as she was trying to piece herself together. Nonetheless, now was not the time to be having such thoughts. There was no reason getting upset when there was so much happiness filling the air.

Azalea had been paying attention to everything that Elyx had been saying while she was convincing herself to keep the happy thoughts active and to throw the bad ones away, at least for a little bit longer. The child would stand in the bathroom by her lonesome for a quick second as Elyx exited to retrieve a new pair of clothing for her. In a flash he would return. He would hand her a pair of shorts and a long sleeved shirt, which would make the child rather happy. She didn't feel very comfortable in the T-Shirt she had found but it was the first thing she grabbed. Soon after Elyx had directed her on where things were and what to do, he would exit the bathroom leaving the child to clean up. The small girl would look around. This house sure did make her feel very tiny but that was alright. Without wasting anymore time, Azalea would strip herself and hop in the shower. The child hadnt exactly thought about what soap to use and since she had been borrowing Ignite's other belongings, she decided to use the soap that she figured was the woman's. After a few minutes in the shower, Azalea would hop back out grabbing the towel from the rail Elyx had been speaking about.

Azalea would get dressed and leave the clothes she had previously worn along with the towel she had used in the floor, however she would make sure they were out of the way. She wasn't that careless about such things. The child had dried her hair to the point that it wasn't dripping but it was still wet. She also hadn't brushed it since she didnt have anything to do so with. So, the child would open the door a crack and peak out. She didnt know if someone would be there or not. If they were, She would simply stare for a moment and open the door the rest of the way. If they weren't, Azalea would find herself slowly making her way downstairs and roaming about.

Elyx then took the time to go downstairs to see what Ignite was making, and it turned out to be many things. There was a giant chicken already cooked in the center of the table, a few bite-sized sandwiches and a smile on Ignites face as many things were on fire. The Violinist shot his eyes wide with shock to say the least. Ignite, there are multiple fi- The boy was about to explain, only for the She Phoenix to shove her pointer finger and press it against his lips to silence him. She did this without even looking at him, but it was clear that she knew where he was. Shut it, I know what I am doing, trust me you ignorant child. Go take care of the child that actually has a brain now. Ignite ordered before creating another fire once again. The boy let out a sigh as he went upstairs, putting his faith in Ignite's cooking skills, maybe it was not such a good idea if some materials were going to be destroyed in the process. She knew what she was doing, maybe she would make an amazing feast, but she might also have to make him buy some new things in the process, and currently, that was not what he felt like doing. The rain was still pouring, but no lightning. That was a good thing to say now, Azalea would no longer have to be scared anymore. Instead, he decided to go see how she was doing, a simple knock on the door and asking should do the trick. Elyx didn't know how much time passed while he was gone.

When he got to the top of the stairs, he went over to the right before looking for the second door on the right, only to find the door already open. This triggered his mind before he looked over to the stairs, seeing a strand or two down the stairs. His light brown eyes shot wide open, causing him to run over to the stairs in a blur. Another blur of brown was located at the bottom, downstairs. Perfect, now he can catch her, he just hoped she was clothed. Risking it all, he placed himself onto the stair rail and began to slide down the soft wood. Upon the end, he placed his palm onto the end of the staircase and jumped out before turning his head around, finding Azalea right there. There you are Aza! You had me worried, you took a shower so fast? The boy asked with a smile before walking up to her. From there, he would make an attempt to pick her up, just to entertain her a little bit before putting her down once again.

Azalea stood at the top of the stairs and stared down them. She would then turn her head right and left. Brown eyes saw nothing but the child seemed rather scared. Azalea didn't know how large this house really was nor did she know what she may find in store if she had wandered through the many closed doors the home held. Brown eyes continued to look around yet still saw nothing. It did make sense considering the child had only known of two people that lived in this very house. At first, the girl didn't know where she might have to go first. She disnt know where everyone had went. The chikd was slightly frightened and almost felt as if she might jump from her own skin. However, she would take a deep breath through her nose and realize she smelled something ever so faint. Azalea took another breath through her nose and smelled it again. It was quite a wonderful smell. It intrigued the child. So, she would slowly descend the stairs one step at a time.

At the beginning of her descent, Azalea felt rather nervous. The child was tempted to remain near the bathroom and wait for someone to come get her. Then again, the faint smell was just tempting her to find it. Azalea couldn't help but hear her stomach growl once more and once more she would blush. Although nobody was around, Azalea couldn't help by feel like a failure due to her nit being able to take care of herself. She felt rather embarrassed at the noises her stomach was making. Nonetheless, the small child would attempt to erase the thoughts from her mind. Azalea was simply trying to find the others and find the source of the delightful smell. However not too ling later, Azalea would find one thing she was looking for. The child had reached the bottom of the stairs when Elyx had come jumping out from behind her. This very act would startle the girl and cause her to jump herself. Brown eyes would widen until he had turned around and she saw his face. The child couldn't help but think the world was out to hurt her. He would speak and she would listen. "Uh.. well.. it wasn't that short honestly. Plus, I'm pretty small. It doesn't take that long to do what you gotta do and get out. The child would answer with a smile and a small giggle as Elyx picked her up. When she was it back down again, Azalea's brain would move back to the smell. "What is that?" Azalea would ask as she took another breath through the nose. "Smells... good.

Azalea asked about something after sniffing a little bit, it seemed that the aroma had caught her attention. The Violinist didn't notice there was one until he took the moment to take a breather, but now that he was able to take the time, he noticed the smell was not that of fire, but meat being cooked. Ignite was actually doing a very good job, or so the smell said. Nothing better be burning without her consent, or the She Phoenix was going to be in much trouble. The boy smiled as he decided that time seem to pass fast anyways, to see if the dinner was ready for the both of them to eat. Hey Aza, lets go see what big sister Ignite is making for the both of us. The Violinist offered with his smile still so bright, being around the She Phoenix made him rather tense. The little girl by his side was like the remedy to his tension. Elyx would make an attempt to grip her hand to help guide her to the dinner table. If that were done so correctly, he would make an attempt to lead her to the dining hall. Ignite would be there, her finger shaking at a giant chicken, resisting the urge to eat it. Why she didn't call the others to the table was a question that Elyx would prefer not to ask. In his house, logic was not exactly a requirement, which was something he wished was. Hopefully Azalea would help him balance the spectrum to help give this place a little decency. There you two are! Come on! I wanna eat! Sit! SIT! The She Phoenix exclaimed loudly, her voice echoing through the hall. If all of this happened, the boy would look down to Azalea with a smile before walking to a chair. From there, he would pull it back to invite her to sit down, then sit right next to her.