Break Free [Private - Aayla Mizune]

The sound of heels clicking against the tile floor of the guild halls were one of the few things to be heard that afternoon. Whatever was left of the frequent activities from earlier on - be it leftover cups from drinking or even just a simple book on the table - was all to be seen in the main dining area. Slowly slipping her pale hands into the pockets of her pink jacket, Brielle simply stood at the doorway of the dining hall. It was a reoccurring habit of the young mage's to observe the rooms before she entered them to catch any important details. Albeit a bit strange from an outsider's perspective, it was all natural to the raven haired girl. Such a thing was a fact that applied to all living beings; each living being carried a unique trait to them that others may have or would find strange. However, it was never a bad thing...

What was a bit unsettling was the sight of a lone girl in the room. It was a familiar face that the young mage had seen once before. Mulling over the past events for a moment, it wasn't until the beach party that clicked the switch of familiarity in the McCloud's mind. The young girl was indeed at the event, although they hardly talked for the duration of it. Hopefully, it was not too late for introductions. Reaching the conclusion to go and converse with the fellow guild mate, Brielle casually began to walk over to the table the girl was residing at. As she grew nearer and nearer, the girl seemed to be around her age which proved to be a surprise. Although, there were a few signs showing that she may prove to be a bit older if not around the same age. Taking care to not let her thoughts wander into a world far from reality, Brielle noted that the fellow mage seemed to be distracted by something within her grasp.

Upon nearing the edge of the table, the raven haired girl decided to follow through with a gentle approach. With a soft pitch, Brielle bent over slightly as her hands were still shoved in her pockets. The girl's electric blue irises seemed to brighten in curiosity at the item within the stranger's grasp, although it was nothing short of beautiful. Yet with closer inspection the girl seemed to be lost in a world far from reality. The clouded gaze of her deep blue eyes could signify that much within a moment's notice. Locks of her long, pale blue hair seemed to gently slide off her shoulders without her taking note of it. It was all the more reason for Brielle to follow through the instinctive nature to talk to this girl.

"U-Um... Excuse me, ma'm? You seem troubled..."

Aayla had been up since very early that morning, tossing and turning in her sleep as nightmares from her past continued to wake her. She had dreams of the happiness she felt with her mother, the excitment of when her father came to visit from this very guild hall. She dreamed of the events that so abruptly took her happiness away from her. For 4, 5 long years, all she knew was darkness. She was young then, and now, it felt like she could only find that happiness in her dreams, since it was so far away, her moemery seemed not to reach.

She had taken a seat in the dining hall, alone, Zinneth still sound asleep in the aquarium in her room. She sat still, holding the blue pendant her mother had given her in her hands, just staring into the deep blue of the crystals. Every now and then, the corners of her eyes would well up in tears as memories slowly started to come back to her...

'Come on mom lets go!'

'I'm coming sweety! Oh be careful you don't wan to fall into-'


Splash!


The young Aayla had fallen off of the lands edge and straight into the shallow parts of the ocean. The young girl couldn't help but laugh at her own foolishness, her mother coming over and picking her up out of the water with ease, laughing along with her small daughter.


'You well into the magic isle Aayla. You know, this is the only spot where the water is shallow... They say, it's there to protect little children who wander away from their parents'


'Woah really mom!?'

Aayla's memory was interrupted by the sudden appearance of a young girl. She seemed truly concerned for Aayla and so Aayla gave a light sniffle and sat up straight, bringing her glove up to wipe away the small tears that threatened to fall from her eyes.

"I...I'm sorry... I'm uh... I'm fine... really... Is it... uhm morning.. already?"
She truly expected the girl to be another adult Wizard of the guild, they all seemed very interested her, no doubt because of her age, but as soon as she cleared her eyes, she noticed just how young this girl seemed to be. She didn't look much older, or even younger than herself... not just because of the height, but the look in the girls eyes portrayed a certain age. The girls eyes... for a moment they drew her in, reminding her of her 'sisters' and her 'brothers' Those other children taken in by the dark wizards that had taken her... at least, thats how their eyes looked before they were broken.

??? wrote:"I...I'm sorry... I'm uh... I'm fine... really... Is it... uhm morning.. already?"

Brielle couldn't help but let a soft smile align her lips at the girl's statement within the state of that was currently taking place. Although, it quickly receded into a frown as the glisten of a tear could be made out, the blue haired girl touching her fingers along the brims of her eyelids. It was at this moment that signified that not only was the mage before her putting up an attempt to brush off whatever thoughts took place, but to drift away from the topic altogether. It was a common step that an individual would take, and natural all the same. The raven haired mage had seen this occur many a time in the past when helping others where she originated from. It was an easy front to catch and was a sign within itself that an issue was at hand; a situation that could be talked about if given the chance and time. It was at that moment that the young mage took the opportunity to slide into the seat, placing herself right next to the elder guild mate.

"You have nothing to apologize for, ma'm. A-As for the time, aha... I-It's afternoon actually."

With a calm and soft tone to her voice, Brielle softly spoke as she placed her hands atop one another on the table. Her electric blue irises didn't falter as they observed Aayla's soft features. The very expression present on the fellow girl's face was more than enough to identify that there was something bothering her. If that wasn't enough, the necklace within her palm was another sign of a situation hidden within the contents of Aayla's being. The brief pauses that the fellow guild mate let happen was yet another sign if not an almost immediate giveaway. It was with this that the McCloud slipped into the gentle demeanor that was always present whenever something was afoot. "You must be rather troubled to have let a few tears fall..." It was within those moments that Brielle outstretched a hand to gently rest a hand on the girl's head before a soft and comforting smile graced her lips.

"I'm Brielle McCloud. What is your name, ma'm...?"

"It's afternoon... already?"
She asked surprised, looking around the hall quickly to see if anyone else was here. Had people come by and seen her, maybe even talked to her and she hadn't noticed? Her face flushed red as she put her hands in her lap, her hair sliding forward to partially cover the embarrassed look on her face.

"I was just... well... thinking of my parents... My dad gave this to my mom... a...and before... things happened... she gave it to ... to me.."
She mutterd softly, motionning to the necklace that she held delicately in her hand. She knew full well that one day the object would break... maybe on a job, maybe by some accident but it would... then what would she had to remember them by...

"S... sorry... I'm Aayla... Aayla Mizune... Thank you... for s...snapping me... out of it..."

The girl's face seemed to slowly grow in warmth at the sudden revelation of the afternoon dawning upon her. There was no mistaking it that the afternoon was indeed upon them. It was almost amazing how this fellow guild member before her sat here for a long period of time, unknowing of the events that may have occurred in the hall on this day. Whatever individuals that may have arrived to grace her with their presence were only to be shot down with not even the slightest form of a reply. Instead, all that they were to be greeted by in return was the living image of a young girl staring at her necklace with a cloud blanketing those pair of deep blue irises. Retracting the hand that was on the elder mage's head, the raven haired girl simply reverted back to a more polite composure as she listened to the unknown stranger before her. It was no doubt that the mage had been so deeply lost in thought, but to be thinking about something as close to an individual as their parents... The McCloud could understand that emotion of melancholy all too well. The necklace that hung around her neck delicately proved to be a memoir from a mother now in the past it seemed. Such details could be made out with the way the girl carried herself in front of Brielle, and it didn't take long to figure out such facts if you were one used to helping others in circumstances such as this one.

Aayla Mizune wrote:"S... sorry... I'm Aayla... Aayla Mizune... Thank you... for s...snapping me... out of it..."

It was with a slight tilt of the head that Brielle's own pair of electric blue irises softened in order to comfort the new acquaintance known as Aayla. It was a rather peculiar name - one that the young girl hadn't heard of from where she originated. Pushing all other personal thoughts aside for later tending to, the raven haired mage let a small smile align her lips as she replied in a soft tone albeit a bit high pitched. "My name is Brielle McCloud. I-It's very nice to meet you, Aayla." Mentally scolding herself for the trademark stutter that always slipped past her own lips, Brielle kept her demeanor before slowly straightening into a more calm posture. "You know... I never had a father." The young mage kept her attention focused on Aayla herself, awaiting the fellow mage's reaction before continuing on. "He was never around even before I was born... I only heard talk of him from my mother, and there was nothing good she had to express about him." With a soft laugh of what hinted as an emotion of negativity being kept within, Brielle continued on without any signs of hesitation. "I won't pry into your own past regarding what happened to your own parents... However, I will tell you this: Even after whatever may have happened they will still always love you throughout the days. Whether they're still around or not, I would say that memoir of yours is a way of saying that your parents are always with you. It can be easy to forget that at times as our desire to be with the ones we cherish so dearly overcomes those thoughts, but we just need to be reminded every once in a while." There was a possibility that the McCloud may have hit the nail on the head, but it was all up to Aayla's reaction.

Music:

"It's... I..."
For the moment, Aayla couldn't find the words to say. She gripped tightly onto the necklace and bit her lower lip oncemore. Her eyes started to well up again but she brought her unoccupied arm up to her eyes as she quickly wiped the tears away before they fell.


"I'm sorry you never... got to meet your dad... Mine wasn't around much, but I know... he was always working for us. I know they are always looking out for me... I know... that they will always be there, even if their gone... I just wish that... that I could of been stronger for them... I was little but... maybe I could have saved them if I was a little stronger...maybe I could of kept fighting after they took me... I was just... so scared, I didn't... I didn't know what to do without them... I still don't know what I'm doing."
She said with a light sniffle, her attempt at stopping her tears quickly failing as she thought of all the happiness she had with her family.

"I miss them...N...now that I'm here... now that i'm away from everything the dark mages put me through... it's like I just lost them again, for the first time I can think about what happened.... without being afraid... and it sucks..."
She said truthfully. She didn't understand why she had just blurted all that out to this stranger, maybe because Brielle had come t catch her at such a vulnerable time... Maybe it was because Brielle was so close to her own age? Whatever the case, it looked like poor Brielle was going to get to hear it all.

She glanced over at the young girl, wipping the tears that had managed to escape her glove and gently shook her head, taking in a deep breath.

"I...I'm sorry I didn't mean to... to rant or... to let you see that..."
She said as she sat up just a little bit straighter, trying to pull her mind away from the memories of her fallen family for the time being. Sure, if Brielle wanted to hear the story, she might manage to tell it... in parts at least... unless asked to recount it however, she wouldn't bring it up.

Brielle had simply tilted her head while her brows creased with worry. It was always worrisome to watch individuals in a state like this. One would have to wonder just what exactly occurs whenever they entered this state of mind. An infinite number of possibilities could prove to be true if one didn't keep a sensible mindset. It was all on how individuals such as Aayla approached the situation and memories no matter how painful. The tears that slowly betrayed the girl's own attempts at seizing them were slowly gracing her pale skin, the red tint of her cheeks becoming damp from the trail left behind. All that the raven haired girl could offer at this moment was to listen and wait - that was all that she had been doing in order to help others and a bit more. As Aayla revealed the details of her past, her parents, their undeniable end, a regret... The McCloud simply hummed softly in thought her irises shifting slowly to the wooden table before them. It certainly was quite a bit to absorb but it was not anything the young mage couldn't handle.

If anything, Brielle was rather proud of Aayla for voicing her troubles and worries. There were individuals out in the world who wouldn't do such a thing so easily. It would often take quite some time at best to just get the tiniest sliver of what may be wrong from said individual before being left with just a small detail rather than the whole story. It was better to receive even the smallest of details rather than nothing at all, though. Tapping a finger against the wooden surface in a rhythmic tune, electric blue irises seemed to soften as the young girl was slowly forming the words to reply with. It may be a rather delicate situation but there was always room for the truth and honesty. That much Aayla has shown so far and that is what the young mage would receive in return. "You don't need to apologize for something like that. You weren't the one who left." With a small sigh, she turned to the girl with a soft grin before continuing on. "Still, at least you had gotten to know your parents, right? No matter how short your time together may have been, it is better to focus on the happy times than relish on the sad. You're going to be even more miserable if you spend your time reliving the pain over and over, trying to find an answer as to how you could have saved them or been stronger." That was a natural mistake by everyone of every origin - one would tend to focus on the sad times more than the happier ones that existed along the way. That tended to be forgotten somewhere down the road, and in some moments all that was needed was for someone to remind them of those times.

"It's natural to miss your parents. I surely miss my mother everyday without a doubt. Even if we don't know it as we speak, I believe that they miss us as well just as much no matter where they are - no matter where we are." Brielle then slowly arose from her seat and took a moment to shove her hands in her pocket, beginning to pace near Aayla. "It is a good thing to not be afraid of speaking about it or thinking of it anymore. It means that your heart can handle what has been thrown at you, and such events will only help you grow stronger. You just have to approach the endeavor's life throws your way one step at a time. As long as you push forth and seek out what you wish to find, you will be where you desire to be without even realizing it." The raven haired girl had then stopped for a moment at the spot that she had sat in before, attaining the position once again and scooting over slightly to gain a reasonable view of Aayla as the blue haired girl began to wipe away the tears that were still falling from her red tinted eyes. Leaning forward slightly, Brielle scanned Aayla's features as she spoke before shaking her head in response.

"I-If anything, I'm proud of you for venting to a stranger like me. You could have chosen not to do so, yet you did anyway. It's good to release all your troubles and worries to someone. You feel so much better afterwards." Brielle then folded her arms along the edge of the table and gazed to Aayla. "If you're willing to, you can tell me what happened fully at any time. I'm not going to rush you into telling me anything if you don't want to." Brielle wasn't fond of seeing other individuals in such states as Aayla's, and if there was something she could do, she was going to help in any way she could.

Aayla continued to sniffle as she listened to Brielle speak. Her words were true, and she knw they were. She knew that everything she was telling her was honest. However deep down, she couldn't just abandon the pain tothink of nothing but the good times... she was so young that her memories of her parents were so little... she remembered her mothers face... she remembered her voice, certain events had come back to her through time, but right now the memories of the pain were stronger than the memories of here happiness.

She sat up a little straighter as she took a deep breath, clearing her face of any water stains. That did'nt however completely remove the look on her face that said she had been crying.

"T... thank you... I... I just don't think... No one's ever just sat there and listened... I havent really told anyone the whole story... and I don't... think I'm ready too...  might not ever be ready too.... but thank you... really, thank you... this has made me feel a lot better..."
She said as she looked over to the young mage, a large smile on her face. She wondered how a girl her own age, could be so wise...

A full smile had found its way onto Aayla's features a few moments after a bout of silence, the fellow mage's words of gratitude slowly being released into the world of reality. Expressing one's gratitude could prove to be difficult with some - especially in moments such as this - yet the very effort to do so was enough. 'Twas to be understandable that the blue haired girl wasn't ready to express the whole story as it was a difficult time of her past, yet talking about it every once in a while would help relieve such negative emotions. It was within that moment that after Aayla had finished her stumbled words of gratitude that Brielle offered a smile of her own, shaking her head for a moment before speaking softly. "You're very welcome, Aayla. I'm always here if you need anything at all. I'm glad to hear that this has made you feel better even if the aftermath is difficult to bear with." The McCloud then gently rubbed a finger across the red tinted cheek of Aayla's face, wiping away a stray tear that stained her pale features.

Retracting her hand, the raven haired mage let her smile grow as the vibrancy in her eyes seemed to brighten from the lights above. This is what Brielle enjoyed the most - helping others in situations such as this. Whether they were in a state of distraught or despair, she would always jump in whenever someone such as Aayla needed a person that would listen when no one else could. Opening her arms slowly, the young mage tilted her head as her voice softly chimed. "Would you like a hug, Aayla?" The McCloud didn't dare to let the expression on her face falter as the seconds ticked by. She simply waited for Aayla's answer as to what the girl would do from this moment onward. Whether she would accept the hug or deny it... Whether she would return to her domain or stay in the main room... Brielle would accept the mage's wishes no matter what she chose to do.

Aayla continued to smile gently as the young girl continued to offer her support, now in the form of a hug which she gladly took. She moved closer to Brielle before hugging the girl tightly. She couldn't express just how happy it made her that someone cared about her at all, even if it was just long enough to listen to her. It really made all the difference...

"You're really nice Brielle... Thank you..."
She said softly from the hug before pulling back and smiling down at the girl. As much as everything still hurt, she had been able to make it go away, give her words of advice for the next time it started to bother her. She went to speak again when her stomach was quic to interrupt her. She had been sitting there all mornin, not touching an inch of food all day, it was no wonder it had started to finally make noise. Her face blushed however as she glanced back to Brielle.

"I dont suppose... you would want to grab a bite to... to eat with me?"
She asked lightly.

A warmth could be felt as Aayla had accepted the hug. Such an action was always a favorable one to the young mage herself - hugs being deemed as one of the best things to both give and receive to anyone no matter their origin. It was always a wonder as to how easily an action could be overlooked regarding the deeper aspects and its meanings to other people. It was a thought provoking revelation that could be pushed aside for later. As for right now, the McCloud would focus with respect on the Mizune before her. All the while, the blue haired girl was a good acquaintance after this situation and there was a hope that it could transition to a new friend in the time that she would spend here. There was no telling what the future would hold for them both individually. That was up to whatever godly forces awaited above, below, and beyond.

A compliment was then given to the raven haired mage, a soft tint of pink dusting the girl's cheeks. A familiar warmth had then returned once more within her chest; this same warmth had been felt with the man Aegis Bright when he had performed a similar action with his own words. Upon instinct, Brielle parted her lips slightly in surprise before rubbing her head with a soft giggle. It wasn't often that she was complimented yet such words were wonderful to receive all the same. "O-Oh, you don't have to thank me, Aayla. I'm just being myself after all!" That much was true - the raven haired girl was simply being herself, but all the while the compliment was certainly appreciated even if Brielle wasn't making it apparent in her actions.

Returning her own thoughts and concerns to Aayla, the young mage had to wonder if the blue haired elder would remember to take her words into account for the next time something similar to this time happened once more. It wasn't without a doubt that it would happen again someday, but it was hopeful enough that these words would perhaps serve to help in making her stronger. A soft sigh escaped the McCloud's lips before locks of black hair arose in reaction to Aayla's stomach growling. Piercing environment, there was a moment of silence before a laugh escaped Brielle's lips. The color of red was clearly apparent on a certain mage's cheeks as she placed her hands over her stomach to calm the growls and protests for food. At the Mizune's offer, Brielle nodded in response before arising from her seat and exiting the row of the table. Turning to the fellow mage, the McCloud patiently halted in place to wait for the girl before pressing forth at her own pace.

"Come on, Aayla. We better get some food in your system so you won't grow terribly famished!"

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