As time passed, Ayu was slowly getting used to the responsibilities she had to take care of. After all, she was a Junior Guardian. The pressure in her body that came alongside mismatched great power and a defective half-artificial body wasn't anything new either. She just wasn't made that well, that's all... Technically, she shouldn't be alive, though it wasn't something easy to say. Sense of loneliness, of longing that she struggled to kill inside, was like poison. In her eyes, she was a very flawed being, both inside and outside. The suffocating awareness of burdening people was the worst, she knew it all too well at this point. It would be hard to surprise her with anything, with a solemn and gentle disposition she was going to do what she had to...

Even with all this, even with everything she has gone through - Ayu still wasn't used to compliments. Like at all.

At Liek's remark that her name was pretty, she could feel a faint blush and smiled a little in response, though... Back then, when Liari hadn't eaten all those people, she used to tell Ayu that she was a pretty older sister. It was long ago, anyway, and her heart hurt when she thought about it. Terra and Cress, even Celric that one time said something similar - but they were kids. Their words were honest and full of meaning, yet their description was akin to speaking about the sky or a lovely flower. Ayu wasn't at all used to hearing someone else calling her pretty or to top that, calling her a pretty woman. Never. No, not with a genuine, friendly smile to that. It was obvious as to why her cheeks flushed a very intense raspberry-pink color, burning her skin so much. Avoiding their eyes, she raised the pot with a tea tree sprout that influenced by her bashfulness, sprouted a handful of new leaves and delicate stalks, hiding her face.

"T-Thank y-you..." A shy, both glad and puzzled murmur was the only thing Ayu was able to say, still covering herself with the precious plant - but it was no use. The tips of her pointy ears were all blushed too, telling the two warriors in front of her with cruel obviousness that the Guardian's disciple was a hopelessly bashful young woman.

Thankfully, Opherla pulled something out of the pocket of her jacket and presented it to her, granting her a distraction. One gift was already enough, but two..? After a moment of hesitation, Ayu lowered the pot and slowly reached out to receive the small, soft thing. Her blushed cheeks barely started to return to their regular, pastel-green color. Slightly tilting her head, she looked at the object she was given. The plushie wasn't bigger than Ayu's fist, it was very round and green like a pea... With beady black eyes, thread whiskers, and small ears, she recognized a squishy cat-like plushie, charming in its simplicity. Her yellow eyes softened. When she was a child, Ayu used to gather plushies to not feel lonely when she was alone at home, later she donated every mascot she had to Terra. She had... Matured too fast and too soon because there was no choice and never had a moment to think about plushies. Yet this straightforward gesture seemed to be Opherla's way of telling her to treat the inner child once in a while... No, most likely it wasn't that but it reminded Ayu of it.

"Thank y-you too," she smiled shyly. "It's a cute little fellow," Ayu cradled the Bean - as she decided to call the plushie in her mind - together with the tea tree pot against her chest.

That was a cordial part of their greeting. Soon enough a more serious matter was brought out. The reason they came all this way here was clear now - as so did many others before them. Ayu slowly nodded her head. The mood from lighter turned more pensive, and weighty again. People don't tend to visit the temple unless they need something... But that's how it worked all this time. Dwellers of The Lookout were the ones aiding warriors in their mission of protecting the Earth, while they lived in seclusion here. They were guardians, overseers, helpers - but their place was here, above the skies. They did not take part in the life taking place below, they were separating themselves to not forget their role. They didn't have the comfort to enjoy what the world has to offer. They lived long, lonely, dutiful lives on the Lookout, bounding their time to the responsibility that only a chosen few were aware of. Never seen by regular folk, rarely appreciated as non-fighters, easily forgotten and remembered when it was convenient. Never taking part in the major events but always watching them. Always guarding the planet as a whole but every time letting the consequences of the conflicts on Earth be resolved by people... Unless the whole globe was threatened.

It would be easy to grow bitter but she has never seen anything like this in Dende's eyes. Only tranquility that came with experience and time, something that she wished she could have. He kept reminding Ayu that it takes enormous strength to be kind when the world and its people are indifferent to them. Not loved. Not hated. Simply unconcerned about those who cared.

Still, she will have to be the one to break the news about the Chamber to Opherla and Liek... Ayu knew what was happening inside the Lookout better than anyone she knew. And yet, for a proper explanation, she needed to trouble Dende. He was expecting that she could tell already. Namekians did have an acute hearing - and without a doubt, he was aware of the presence of their visitors.

"Then please follow me. I'd h-hate to be the bringer of bad news but I'm afraid that your trip here was in vain." On Ayu's face, a small apologetic smile appeared and her eyes revealed a sense of sadness. With a gesture, she showed them the entrance toward the lower levels of the Lookout. "I will guide you to the Guardian," she spoke softly, before walking towards the stairs, listening quietly to the steps of the visitors behind her.

As they were descending between the corridors and many of the countless rooms of the temple, Ayu decided to share as much as she knew. They deserved it, even if she wasn't exactly the right person to be in charge... But Dende was busy, so she could at least take as much off his shoulders.

"Right now, the Hyperbolic Time Chamber is inaccessible," she began her explanation as they walked towards the room that the Namekian occupied. The Lookout from outside didn't seem to be able to hold such enormous space, though it was also a form of sorcery. Orbs crafted from pure energy were lighting their way in the places where there were no windows to shine the sunlight through. In a way, it was a maze... But she lived here so long already that she knew every corner. "The magic spells that have weaved such place into existence, to my knowledge, are self-sustaining. Because of the universe's current situation, we were preparing the Chamber for everyone interested, as many warriors declared they wished to train here..." Ayu's voice grew quiet suddenly. So many lives were at stake and people wanted to be stronger for the sake of defending the Earth. Even if their intentions weren't always pure, the reasoning behind their desire wasn't an important thing as long as it all boiled down to fighting the same enemy. That's... That was how things were in this world.

Unconsciously, she pressed the tiny plushie cat against her heart. First Namek, then Vegeta. Since they opened the door to the Chamber, Ayu remembered the dread in Dende's eyes when they saw both of the hourglasses cracked. The unknown to them case has tempered with the flow of magic inside that very special place, making it dangerous for anyone that would dare to stay inside. Dimension within those walls was very peculiar. When it was damaged like that it would cause time to fluctuate and spiral instead of going slower as usual... A living being could age rapidly inside, or maybe stay frozen in time forever. They didn't dare to check, instead, the Guardian of Earth started repairs right away. Because of all that, her soundless wish to train inside the Chamber alongside others was dying out. They were short on time with Arctic coming and the current state of the Chamber left little to the imagination. The situation was dire. Ayu was going to step aside and give away her place to someone else. The warriors would surely make better use of the possibility of training inside than she could ever do, and she would never foolishly take their chance for preparation away. Earth needed them.

"Unfortunately... S-Something had happened in between our realm and the pocket dimension that holds the Time Chamber. I don't know the details... But as we speak Dende's magic is still fuelling the spells that are restoring the flow of time inside the Chamber," Ayu explained in a gentle voice, and the soft crack that shook her tone when she spoke about the Guardian betrayed her worry. Dende has been using his mana nonstop for quite some time now. With his power and experience, Ayu would never feel anxious but his age started to show, the work was putting its strain on his back. She just hoped that he was taking care of himself but selfless as he was, he was pushing his limits to make the door of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber open to everyone as soon as possible. "I... I p-please ask for your understanding," she lowered her head, eyes gleaming with concern. "As the Chamber is, it was an outside factor that caused damage, unseen from our realm. It didn't happen because of neglect," in a quiet voice, Ayu earnestly appealed to their forbearance. Her steps slowed down and there was a moment when she stopped in her tracks, her heart sinking into worry. "Dende has been working on getting rid of the issue ever since it was discovered. I am... Aware that the timing couldn't be worse, I-I really am..." Taking a deep breath, she slowly shook her head before resuming her walk toward Namekian's chamber. "But please, don't blame the Guardian. It was out of his hands."

They never saw it coming, nor Dende, nor Mr. Popo, nor her. Now the pressure was only growing stronger, with threat breathing on their necks and the very needed aid being under maintenance.

The rest of the way Ayu hadn't spoken a word until they reached the door to Dende's chamber. She barely knocked on them, when they heard the handle creak and the Guardian emerged.

Tall and old Namekian with a gentle gaze, was not one people would think when they heard about Guardian of Earth. Dende was a peaceful, hardworking soul, who chose to live on an alien planet and dedicated his life to protect it. His wrinkled face looked tired, circles under his eyes from exhaustion didn't hinder the aura of a wise and experienced sage. He might have been a presence that was easy to overlook by those who didn't know better... But for those who knew, he was the most important figure on the blue planet.

"I welcome you, warriors," he greeted them with a tired but genuinely heartfelt smile. "I am Dende, Earth's Guardian. I trust, Ayu told you about the issue at hand already... If you have any questions about Chamber or different matters or additional concerns that could require my aid, please, speak."

It was impossible to see. It wasn't anyone's fault... But she knew that somehow Dende still felt responsible for the Hyperbolic Time Chamber's situation.

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Power Level - 319,722 | 10 (Seal technique)
Word Count - 1,985
Total Word Count - 4,147