1 I.I A Quiet Life

The tale begins...

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A new year. 

Another full year of living an uneventful, peaceful life.

This was on the thoughts of one Alice Heather Littman as she stared out of her cheap, one person apartment balcony. White smoke billowed in the distance as the young adult stretched her lithe body for the day ahead, mismatched ruby and sapphire eyes gazing out into the metal filled landscape. Living in the more industrialized district of the city, she was used to the towering chimneys and sterile white factories that surrounded the small apartment building. Granted, Nancaan wasn't exactly known for its sprawling suburban domiciles and cleaner than not clean air, but it still sported small, leftover communities, ones untouched by the rapid industrialization of the district.

"Hnggggg...." The spectacled woman moaned as some of her bones cracked comfortably into place. "That never gets old."

Not in the same way that she can get old at least. Having just turned 26 last month, the young adult was already starting to feel age creeping up on her body. Sighing as she stared at herself in the mirror, a free hand pinched the small amount of flab starting to develop on what used to be a slender and taut stomach. Her arms were also starting to lose some of their former strength, misuse atrophying what used to be at least toned biceps. 

"Well, at least my looks didn't suffer too much."

Apart from her mismatched irises, her face still looked as youthful as ever; no bags under her eyes, no wrinkles, no pimples or blemishes of any kind. Still a decent looker, if she did say so herself. Perhaps she should also count her lucky stars on good genetics. 

Taking off the rest of her lingerie, the woman entered her small apartment bathroom and took a quick shower. It'd be best not to get late on the first school day of the year after all.

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Drying herself off and putting on her teacher's uniform, the ruby haired woman stared one more time into her full body mirror, making sure that her ensemble was nice and proper for the day.

Hmmm.. Peach polo with the Nancaan Elementary School logo was nice and pressed, black slacks has no crinkles or creases, shoes were nice and shiny.. And her hair was still as long and as straight as always, the red locks reaching her back with her bangs parting slightly to the side.

"Everything looks to be in order.." The teacher adjusted her red rimmed glasses as her mismatched red and blue eyes gave her reflection a final once over. "Time to go."

Grabbing her handbag and donning a white cotton jacket before briskly walking out the door, the ruby haired woman descended the long winding steps of her apartment before reaching the concrete streets below. A hand went to her slightly heaving chest, having found herself breathing a tad bit too hard for such minimal effort. She tutted to herself in annoyance, that's one more thing that she needed to get back to.

Electing to walk the distance as a start to living a healthier lifestyle, Heather walked the cold, early morning streets of her neighborhood. The air was biting, the northeast monsoon still in full effect as she tugged on her thin, white jacket. 

"Brace the cold Heather..." The red haired woman whispered to herself, glasses faintly fogging as she breathed hot air into her shivering hands. "It's getting hotter every year, might as well enjoy it.." 

Especially here, what with all the smoke polluting the air. It was a wonder people still lived in Nancaan, herself included, seeing as there were cheaper options at the Relocation district should one really look for deals. Maybe it was the nostalgia talking? Or perhaps some sort of attachment to the place seeing as she lived here for most of her life? 

"Ms. Littman!" The teacher was shook from her musings as a young boy greeted her from across the street. "Good morning!"

"Good morning Charlie." Heather greeted back as she crossed over to the other side of the street, her student now walking beside her. "You're pretty early going to school."

"Mama told me to go walk to school today." The boy beamed at her, a thousand watt smile plastered on his adorable face. "It's exercise she says~"

"And your mama's right Charlie." The red haired teacher smiled at her student as she pet his head in praise. "It helps the muscles in your body grow stronger no?"

"Stronger~" The boy flexed as they reached a crossing. "As strong as you Ms. Littman?"

"Maybe as strong as your papa no?" The kind teacher corrected as the light turned green, letting them cross the busy intersection. "Boys are stronger than girls after all." 

"But you beat that bad guy up like he was nothing!" The teacher winced at the memory. "You went all terminator on him Ms. Littman!" 

Heather fought the urge to frown as that particular incident came up again to haunt her. It was one time! One time that she led the students out in a field trip on Riverside Park! And a pickpocket had the audacity to steal her wallet! She didn't do anything too out of the ordinary on her opinion. She simply twisted the offender's wrist till he dropped her wallet, then she let the man go. The students saw her doing that and they dubbed her a Terminator. 

Her superiors both praised and reprimanded her that day.

"For the last time, I didn't beat the bad guy up Charlie." When will their hero worship end? "It was self defence."

"But you kicked his butt!" 

"I made him drop my stuff to the floor and never laid a single bruise on his body." The exasperated teacher smiled as they reached the open school gates. "Far from 'kicking his butt' no?"

"You still kicked his butt though~" Charlie beamed, before bolting straight towards the school building. "See ya later Ms. Littman!~"

Heather let out a weighted sigh the moment her student disappeared into the main school building. She could never understand why her students thought she was stronger than their fathers. 

Crossing the threshold into school property, the teacher gazed at the old glory that was the Nancaan Elementary School. Old memories of childhood flooded her everytime she laid eyes on the old school building on the right side of the property, having spent the six years of grade school within its old, creaky floorboards.

Seeing as she had a bit more time before clocking in, the nostalgic teacher gazed up at the old logo blurrily emblazoned on the dilapidated five story building. The paint job was already faded, what used to be peach colored walls now grey and grimy from the elements. No one was technically allowed to go inside seeing as it's a condemned building, but she swore she saw some students playing tag or hide and seek somewhere within its walls.

The woman chuckled at the memory. Now wasn't that fitting, a new generation imitating the old, nostalgic...

*BING BONG! BING BONG!*

The slow echoing sounds of the school bell rang from the new building just to her right, signifying the start of a new day of learning. Brushing her hair with her fingers, Heather tore her gaze away from old memories and walked towards the newly built, seven story building. 

"Another day of teaching semi unruly brats..."

The teacher whispered to herself, more as a reminder of the life that she now led. It wasn't as exciting as back in her old college days, but she wouldn't have it any other way. She already experienced far too much excitement for one lifetime, the only thing that she'd ever wish for now would be to live out her life in relative peace. 

Bracing for another day of work, Heather went towards the faculty room. A faint smile found its way to the teacher's face as she passed the newly built classrooms. The students may be brats, but they were her brats. 

And she loved them for it.

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