1105. Cynis & Hedonis, 4
(Armylè)
The gift that Prume decided for Elyne was pretty simple really.
She would join her into her martial art practice more voluntarily and actively. Softer still. She wasn’t nearly enough built up to take and block one of Elyne’s strongest kicks without breaking a few bones.
Elyne was radiating happiness like a bright sun still. Oh she loved the news with an innocence that is impressive to me. Such a smile, I don’t recall Elyne ever making. I tagged along to see how Prume would perform as well on one of these new happy times.
We were delighted to see Prume doing more physical activity now. It changed something good. We knew she was strong anyway.
So we went to the neighbourhood gymnasium close to our home, for a training just between them. Prume even tried the common attire this time. As we all expected, everyone else using the gymnasium just did not care at all about them or her paler scars on her skin. Prume still was a little red in embarrassment, but she moved toward the mat lightly, getting herself ready for getting kicked around, gently.
They had enough space to practice.
Prume wasn’t inherently fond of this sport Elyne was growing with. But occasionally she helped her practice, and like if it was a party, she sometimes wanted to practice as well. Now they would more regularly, and this was a free fun for starter. A party she said. Well, with just the right amount of people and activity maybe. Like dancing?
I was wondering how they could enjoy this sport, since it didn’t speak to me.
Prume moved around, light as she was, stretching and getting ready. Her scars were visible here and there but who cared.
I saw her focusing more then, checking all her articulations, from feet, legs, back, shoulders, arms and fingers.
She was conscious of herself in a good way, and then felt the air flowing around her movements. Almost like dancing maybe...
Prume had the fundamentals of this way of fighting long learnt as well. Elyne was waiting a few steps ahead, ready.
Prume exhaled and ran a few light steps over the mat. Just a few metres where she contracted herself, to attack.
That was far too easy and Elyne didn’t let herself get tackled, throwing her sister to the ground with a merciless hit to the flank.
Prume was lying down, recovering her senses. She stood up. She felt the pain, the direct physical pain. It had been a while since she felt anything like that. Sharp, but not like torture of a medical nature she recalled... Elyne hadn’t been mean.
Prume had a mocking smile, still feeling the heat in her flank. I think she was happy she could take that and stand. They spared a little more, Prume getting hit and thrown back every time. Elyne was beginning to have fun too clearly. Oh dear.
E - Come on sis! Show me who’s the strongest!
P - Hum what? It’s you obviously!
Elyne was mocking and teasing her sister in a way I never saw before. I was a little agape. She had an impish smile, denying the obvious and teasing her otherwise intelligent sister as if she couldn’t accept the truth.
E - Tss tss... Show me what you really can do. I know you. Sweet talk won’t be enough to convince me.
Prume stood up again. She rearranged her hair with a hairband and readjusted her clothing. Her ripped torso was covered again. She took a similar stance to Elyne and exhaled.
They attacked again. Elyne measured the strength she put in her hits, but remained merciless. Prume was weakening obviously, her whole body hurting as she kept rolling after the shocks.
Elyne threw a different attack, pushing her voice into a short yell that petrified Prume momentarily.
Under the brutal impact of her entire arm length, from elbow to shoulder of Elyne against her, Prume flew momentarily. She had just the time to feel the surprise and the instant of being weightless, before falling all flat on her back a good metre or so back.
I was a little shocked seeing that flight. How much strength did Elyne put? The hit had surprised some other sporty people around the place. The teenager had put in a well done hit a lot of kinetic energy into her little opponent’s body. Enough to send her flying... The trick was she had kept the impact surface as wide as possible using her entire arm, making it not so painful for Prume, but still quite impressive to behold.
Elyne helped Prume stand up, since she had still taken quite a hit and fall.
Prume was dizzy, but still had a smile. Oh I knew that smile.
Her turn to play savage it said...
Prume took a minute to recover and put herself in position. Her gaze was sharp.
She contracted herself, and as she made her last step before trying to hit, she made a yell with an unusually raucous but loud voice. Prume’s voice in that aggressive yell was louder than ever and resonated.
Elyne was destabilised by the sharp noise at the last moment, and she didn’t react from sight alone for the moment of surprise that followed.
Prume had stepped in Elyne’s blind side and tried the same attack with her smaller frame. Instead of just throwing a punch in her gut, she contracted her whole body as if to brutally shove her out of the way.
Elyne was hit, but not strongly enough this time. Prume had neither her tactics, her strength, her weight nor her technique. Elyne was left breathless for a moment, but then easily shoved her sister to the ground again.
Elyne still congratulated her, she had been taken by surprise by her sudden war cry.
I was a bit worried and a bit ashamed, but also all smiles when they returned, with lots of contusions all over them. They were still smiling brightly, both of them.
I doubted Prume would get a liking of getting her butt handed to her so violently too often. But if it was in training instead of free fight, I could now see her doing a little more sport willingly.
They had their fun. Prume had overcome some inhibitions and trusted her body to handle all this rather well.
Things were well.
~
It was a peaceful time for us. Our family enjoyed our lasting happiness to the fullest.
Who cared if some details in our family were odd. The year twenty-four was going bright.
The children, well, my big girls, finished middle-school peacefully. It was a soft time of our lives. Prume even went as far as to reveal a little her wrists and elbows where scars could be noticed. Even though she had not aged or grown at all over the last years, she was learning to accept it and doing alright.
The differences against Elyne and the other children were massive now. They were looking all the high-schoolers, while Prume barely looked like a middle-schooler still. But she was able to smile nonetheless, because her closest friends and family didn’t care about the details like her size.
They all took care of her, even Néphéline. Prume continued living as usual. She was even less timid than before when she tended to hide a little. She might have not fully bereaved her adulthood yet, but she was finding her joy in the present again.
Even though it must have hurt both of them a little to hear that Prume looked like the little sister to Elyne, eventually they would both grow to laugh it off.
Néphéline unfortunately for her admiration toward Prume, had reached her size and soon more. The little girl was growing fast like anyone else. She remained young and rather slim, but now a little pained that Prume didn’t look taller anymore. She was losing a distance she had counted on, and feared changing their relationship in a way as time went on. Néphéline wasn’t very confident in herself in a way.
Well, the awkwardness would be subsumed either way.
Néphéline was a little embarrassed seeing Prume’s scar on her shoulders when they were bare at home now.
Prume had told her about everything.
Néphéline was young but serious enough to take the full weight of it. She felt honoured really, and humbled.
Prume trusted her more than I would have expected.
Now she shared her secret, and felt a little embarrassed when the scars were visible in simpler clothing. She was powerless, but very sympathetic toward Prume naturally.
Néphéline could comfort her by being there on her side at the very least. Not much more, to her regret. But she shared that nonetheless with the twins. Néphéline was still wary of Elyne like a small critter would be of a much bigger predator, but they never had any bad blood or open jealousy against each other.
I shared the main lines with Margarette as well gradually.
She didn’t react as much as I thought she might. She kept drinking her tea quietly, keeping her thoughts to herself.
I knew what she meant...
Samanthine wasn’t ready yet to hear it, so on their side we kept unfortunately things shallow. We still spend a lot of time together naturally. Sam was my good friend regardless, and Maya and Amélie loved the twins.
So our three families orbited around each other merrily for a while.
Our good holidays occurred nicely. Similar to before, but freed from some more weight. Now that we had names and clarity on some aspects, Prume could actually go forward better than before.
I was relieved seeing her doing even better now, simply being free and enjoying what could be.
Prume went to swim in the big lake again, along with the others. Her swimsuit let some of the white scars visible, but now she could hold it. She didn’t mind her stripes so much anymore.
They had asked me the authorisation to go there again, where she had felt unwell in the past. But Prume was wiser and certainly healthier now. We had more trust, and it would go well.
Slightly more funny, as their skin would tan, just as incredibly strong as in the past, Prume’s white stripes turned even more visible in contrast. They didn’t burn too much, but they remained pale. It almost looked like she had make up now, more than scars. I was still uneasy seeing them, but Prume was laughing and playing around with her sister and friends.
We were free to enjoy this good time.
~
As a person loving to play with colours, I was fascinated by how dark my daughters’ skin could get. Far darker than mine for sure. Their usually pale beige skin could turn darker than their hair was brown almost. Elyne’s white eye looked even whiter in contrast, just like Prume’s scars. She looked like a small wild animal with skin or fur patterns meant to give her some camouflage, except that it didn’t work at all. It looked amusing and even she could finally laugh about it. That was good...
My girls looked like milk chocolate cakes, making me want to nibble them slightly. They caught some eyes I noticed, good and bad. Elyne’s body could look good, but her gaze could look harsh still. And Prume’s face looked kind, but her body looked weirdly painted.
They would bear it, with more confidence over time. Together they were strong. They now played nonchalantly, just enjoying their time naturally. I was happy with what they had together. Now I wished I had a sibling like they had, lucky them. Or a new lover maybe. But I already had more than enough good feelings at home already.
I looked at them frolicking around with a blissful smile. I was so happy for them and thanks to them.
This time of our life was the nicest.
~
