Elizabeth
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The trio, still clad in the lingering vestiges of the history class, made their way through the school campus towards Baratie, the floating restaurant on the school's artificial lake. The establishment was a familiar haven for Orion, Luna, and Aurora. It was a tradition to share a meal here every Monday, their weekly ritual an unspoken pact among the siblings.
As the sun warmed their faces, Orion observed Luna and Aurora walking by his side. They were quieter than usual, their minds seemingly far away, lost in the tales of their world's turbulent past. They'd always had an empathetic streak, feeling deeply about the stories that formed the world they lived in.
With a gentle squeeze of their hands, Orion comforted them, "They are just evil people. There are also heroes. Although Twilight City is midst of both sides, we are pretty safe." His voice was soft, yet the determination behind his words was palpable.
Aurora and Luna glanced at their brother, their gaze meeting his. There was strength in his eyes, an unwavering resolve that had seen them through countless trials. They trusted him, his words working their soothing magic. Both nodded, leaning into Orion, their arms wrapping around him as they continued walking, their brother's assurance a beacon in the echo of the grave history lesson.
Their destination soon came into sight, the sun glinting off the expansive surface of the lake. The Baratie, a unique spectacle in itself, bobbed gently on the water, a sight that always brought a sense of comfort to the siblings.
Elizabeth Liones was already there, a bright smile on her face as she spotted them. With a dash of excitement, she ran towards Orion, her hand finding his in a familiar, friendly grasp. "Orion, you made it. Let's go. There's much to talk."
In response to Elizabeth's burst of energy, Orion could only chuckle, holding on to Luna who was clutching Aurora's arm. Like an odd human chain, they allowed Elizabeth to steer them towards the restaurant. Luna and Aurora were silently amused by this whole situation, they didn't seem to mind, on the contrary, there was a twinkle of mischief in their eyes.
Upon seeing the group, the restaurant's cook, Sanji, offered a genuine smile. He motioned to a vacant table by the window, overlooking the serene lake. "You're here every Monday," he noted, a playful lilt in his voice. "Are you creating a tradition?"
Orion chuckled, his gaze meeting Sanji's. "Exactly that," he replied, his voice filled with warmth. Sanji nodded in approval and went off to prepare their usual order.
Once seated, Elizabeth was practically vibrating with anticipation. Her fingers fiddled with the hem of her skirt, the corners of her lips twitching into a smile. Orion noticed this and raised a curious brow at her, waiting for her to spill whatever was on her mind.
Finally, she took a deep breath and looked directly at him, her eyes shimmering with gratitude. "Orion," she began, her voice soft and earnest. "I can't begin to express how thankful I am. Three weeks ago, before I bumped into you, I was cursed." Her words hung in the air for a moment, filling the atmosphere with a sense of dread.
She continued, her voice shaky but resolute. "The curse made me forget the events of each day when I woke up the next morning. Life was bleak... Every day was a new start, but not in a good way. I had no memories of the people I met the day before, things I'd done or experienced."
She paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts before she resumed. "Each morning, I had to watch videos recorded by my father to catch up with the previous day's events. Imagine reliving eighteen years of your life through recordings narrated by a voice you can't even recognize. But you..." her voice trailed off, her eyes meeting Orion's.
"You lifted my curse!" she finally whispered.
"I'm glad that it's lifted, and I can't express how happy I am for you, Elizabeth," Orion replied, his voice sincere. "But like I've said before, I'm not sure if it was me or not. I don't have any curse-lifting powers."
Elizabeth shook her head vehemently, a defiant glint in her eyes. "It was you. I'm sure of it. When I bumped into you, when our lips met, I felt it go away. You saved me, Orion," she insisted, her tone as resolute as her gaze. Her heartfelt words painted the room with a profound silence, even the ambient chatter in the restaurant seeming to dull for a moment.
It was Aurora who broke the silence. "Orion, you don't know your superpowers. Maybe one of them is curse-related," she suggested, her brow creased in thought. Luna nodded in agreement, her expressive eyes focused on Orion, a soft warmth lingering in them.
Orion mulled over Aurora's words. His powers had always been a subject of mystery and speculation for him. Perhaps he did have a dormant ability related to curses. Yet, he had long since realized that his abilities had a strange effect on luck, his and those in his proximity. Maybe, just maybe, his luck had lifted Elizabeth's curse.
He exhaled softly, looking up to meet Elizabeth's hopeful gaze. "Alright then, Elizabeth," he started, a gentle smile tugging at his lips, "Like I said, don't worry about it. I'm just happy that you're free of the curse now."
His words took Elizabeth by surprise. She was telling him that he had done something monumental for her, and yet he remained humble, brushing off any credit for it. The sincerity of his words, the gentleness of his smile – it stirred something within her. If what she had felt for Orion could be described as a small crush before, now her heart seemed to beat just for him.
A blush bloomed on her cheeks as she stuttered out a response. "Th-thank you, Orion."
Orion only gave her a reassuring smile in response, his gaze shifting to the approaching Sanji, carrying their meals with his usual flair. As the delicious aroma of the food filled their senses, the topic shifted from Elizabeth's curse to more mundane matters, a comforting sense of normalcy settling in.
Throughout the meal, Orion found himself stealing glances at Elizabeth, a newfound understanding making him see her in a different light. Her resilience, her unwavering gratitude, the subtle strength she carried – all this made Elizabeth more beautiful in his eyes.
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