Takanashi Kiara: The Immortal Warrior

"Hi, welcome to KFP, where phoenix is everything but on the menu, what can I get for you today?" you say with a smile.

...You must have said that line almost 80 times today, and the lunch rush won't be for another hour. Even still, you feel like you should be grateful. After all, KFP is the most popular fast food chain in Martia, and compared to other chains it has a pretty high pay and they treat their employees quite well. The fact that you work at the first KFP branch ever opened is a plus as well, seeing as how the C.E.O. frequently drops in to see how her old stomping grounds are doing, which keeps the manager from trying anything scummy. You've gotten to know her fairly well, despite the fact that you're just a part-timer, because your diligence and proficiency while working stands out to her. While you're reflecting on your job, the door opens, and, speak of the devil, the C.E.O. walks into the restaurant. She is wearing her usual orange and white attire, with twin hats adorning her head.

"Hi, Shachou-san," you say, bowing, "Do you have business with the manager today?"

"Hehe, there's no need to be formal. How many times have I told you to call me Kiara?" she says, bubbly as ever, "No, I just wanted to drop by for a little bit."

"Alright, stay as long as you like," you reply, going back to your work.

After the lunch rush is over, Kiara tells you to take a break. You didn't get the best night's sleep and the lunch rush is always a struggle, so you comply, plopping yourself down in a seat. You reach for the backpack you always take to work and reach for an apple and a volume of a manga you've been following for a little while. The plot isn't anything too innovative, but the art in the manga fascinates you, so vivid and clean, yet also quite unique, individualizing itself from other shonen you've read in the past, so you have a bit of a soft spot for it. Just when you get a little comfortable, a worried man, looking to be in his late twenties, runs into the store.

"Takanashi-san! I had a feeling you'd be here!" he says, exasperated and panting for breath, "Ignis Slimes have been spotted in the Hikari Forest!"

This catches Kiara's attention immediately. She looks up from the book she was reading and begins interrogating the man for information. A very stern expression covers her face, much different than her usual cheery self.

"The Hikari Forest? That's a long way from Fuego Caverns..." she ponders, then looks at the man again, "It'll be taken care of."

She then glances at you, her eyes filled with determination. "Can you fight?" she asks.

You look at her, quite mesmerized by the change in personality. As for her question, it wouldn't be entirely incorrect to say you can't. You went to the Core when you turned 16 just like everyone else, and you awakened to Glacies. You even attended a camp over the summer where you learned to harness your ability, which is more than what most people do. "Um, yeah, I know a little bit of magic..." you claim.

"Then let's go," she says, trying not to waste any time, "You'll be paid extra for this, I promise."

...

You begin to head for the Hikari Forest, feeling like you're gonna hurl from the nervousness you feel. You know how to use Glacies, but you've never used it to fight anything. You swallow these negative feelings and press onward. You decide you should ask how Kiara fights, so you have a better understanding of how to control your ice. "S-so, Kiara, how do you fight?" you manage to ask her.

"I use Ignis, but that won't be terribly useful against Ignis Slimes," she responds, "But I do have a sword and shield that I'm proficient with. You've never noticed the sheath on my side?"

"I-I can't say I have..." you admit. Ignis... not surprising, considering her status as a phoenix. Ignis attacks might interfere with your Glacies attacks, but you decide not to bring that up.

Soon enough, you reach the forest. You can smell the repulsive scent of smoke deep within it.

"Tch, we're a little late," the phoenix grimaces, "Are you ready?"

"As I'll ever be..." you claim, following Kiara into the deep wood.

After some sprinting through trees and brush, you find yourself in the presence of five Ignis Slimes. "K-Kanata-sama, help me..." you whimper, hoping the divine figure hears your prayer and keeps you safe against the flaming beasts. Just as you say that, however, Kiara draws her sword from the sheath on her waist and begins to charge at the slimes. The more you watch her fight, the more you realize how experienced she must be at battle. Her movements are calculated and effective against the molten creatures. However, you notice a relatively small slime sneaks up from behind and tries to attack her. "Kiara-san!" you cry out.

You remember the training that you were given at summer camp. Glacies, huh? That's a tricky element, but I bet you've got what it takes, kid, the instructor's words echo in your mind, Just think of it like this; water exists all around you, in the air. Glacies just lets you freeze that water and move it around. You take a deep breath, and make a quick movement with your hands. Icicles begin to appear around you, and you begin to send them towards the blazing beasts. The cold ice appears to affect them, and you, along with Kiara, easily take down the Ignis Slimes.

"Hah... nice work..." the phoenix says, panting and flashing a thumbs up your way.

"Heh... it was nothing compared to you..." you say modestly, also panting.

You begin to make your way to the KFP restaurant, content with the knowledge that you helped the world, if only in a small way.

...

Extremely tuckered out from the battle, you ask if you can take the rest of the day off. The manager complies, and you begin to pack your backpack, before you are interrupted by Kiara.

"Hey, do you wanna hang out with me for a little while?" she invites, grinning. She's back to her usual self, you think.

"Oh, sure," you accept, putting your backpack on your shoulders, "Got anything in mind?"

"Yeah, I think I've got a place," she smiles, "Follow me."

Together, you navigate the streets of Port Town, passing by many different shops and restaurants. Of course, you've lived here your whole life, but you never really realized how busy the place was, with all of these specialty shops and restaurants, not to mention the titular Abby Port, one of the world's largest centers for trade and commerce. I should go for walks more often, you think to yourself. After quite a bit of walking, you reach the famous Port Town Clocktower. Kiara goes to the door near the back of the tower and begins fiddling with the lock. In a matter of seconds, the door opens, which makes you quite impressed. The two of you begin ascending the large staircase inside the tower, and, in time, you reach the top.

"Are you ready?" Kiara asks.

You chuckle to yourself. "As I'll ever be," you say.

The phoenix opens the door, and what you see astonishes you. You tower above your hometown; the people roaming the streets of Port Town are little larger than ants. You can see everything from here, your house, the KFP, Abby Port, the salty ocean. You stand in awe of what you are witnessing. You glance at Kiara. Her scarlet hair flows in the light breeze, her smile glows almost as warm as the evening sun, her beautiful, slender figure glistens in the light. For what feels like hours, you don't share any words; you merely take in the beautiful sight, phoenix by your side.

"Wow..." you finally manage to say. That really is the only thing that can describe what you're thinking right now.

"Hehe, I'm glad you like it," Kiara says, beaming. She takes a seat on the tower, her legs dangling. You take a seat next to her, still enamored by the sight.

"I'm..." you struggle to find the right words, "I'm really happy you took me here."

She doesn't say anything, but she flashes you her typical toothy grin. You can feel yourself getting red, so you try to keep conversation with her so as not to draw attention to that fact.

"Why did you take me here, anyways?" you ask, "I'd like to say we're pretty good friends, but I'm sure I'm only keeping you from doing important things. You're the C.E.O. of the world's most successful restaurant chain, as well as a warrior on the side."

"Nonono, you're not keeping me from anything..." she says, shaking her hands, "Although... I should probably be honest... I called you up here to ask a few things."

"Hm? What's that?"

"Well, I was just wondering..." the phoenix looks to the sea, her smile still intact, although her eyes appearing to be a bit more somber, "Why do you work so hard?"

"Huh? What do you mean?" you question.

"I've seen you work... you work harder than everyone else, even though the pay isn't the greatest" Kiara explains, "Even today, you swallowed your fear and helped me with those slimes. I might not have been able to do it without your help."

"Well..." you think for a moment, still somewhat confused by the question but grateful for her praise nonetheless, then answer her question, "It's mainly to fuel my own interests, if I'm being honest, haha."

"Your own interests?"

"Well, I've never told anybody this, but I want to study overseas to become an artist," you admit, "But college isn't cheap, let alone moving costs and money for the fare. I need to work extra hard, or else I'll never see my ambitions through."

"Ambitions..." the phoenix looks down, dropping her smile.

"Hey, are you alright?" you ask her, worried.

"Tell me honestly," she commands, "Me being a phoenix is unfair, isn't it?"

"Huh?" you say, taken aback by her question.

"When I die, I just turn to ashes and come back..." she says, "Humans would dream for something like that... so I need to help those who don't have that luxury. I can't have any ambitions. I already have this gift, it would be selfish of me to ask for more. It's why I became a warrior. I've never really been interested in combat, and there are things I used to want to do, but I have to do this. For those without my gifts."

"Wh-what?!" you exclaim, astonished by her thoughts. Is this really what she thought? You feel horrible for never asking about this sooner, but really, what could you have done? Nonetheless, you need to convince herself that this is a toxic mentality.

"I can sympathize with how you feel, but that's not an okay way to live, Kiara," you explain to her, jumping to your feet, "Ambition is what drives us, what keeps us going. It's not selfish to have them, even if you're immortal!"

"N-no..." she stammers, tears welling up in her violet eyes. She gets up as well. "If someone else had this gift, they would make better use of it. I know they would. But instead it's me who got born with it. So I need to serve others with my power."

"Kiara, it's okay to be selfish every once in a while!" you proclaim, putting your hand to your chest, "I think what you're doing is incredibly admirable, and you're a great person for doing so, but giving up your ambition? You can't be like that!"

"Wh-why do you care about me so much...?" Kiara cries, her tears now fully formed and dropping to the platform below you, "You shouldn't care so much about someone like me... please stop worrying about me..."

"I can't stop worrying about you, because I..." you stutter. You can't hold yourself back anymore. These feelings won't go away until they are released. "Because I love you, Kiara!"