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The first rays of sunlight pierced into the bedroom when Ajax finally woke up. The morning chill bit unpleasantly at his skin, sending goosebumps racing down spine. He sat up, wrapping himself in the blanket and rubbing eyes. His nose instantly caught the pleasant aroma of baking. He stretched arms, lengthening and relaxing his shoulders, before heading into the kitchen.
Mother and Tonya were already busy preparing breakfast. The oil were sizzling in the frying pan, and a tower of pancakes had already risen on the plate. At the table, Ajax immediately reached for the top pancake, generously drowning it in jam. The mother turned towards the sound, her soft palm instantly ruffling his already messy ginger curls out of habit.
"How did you sleep? We decided to bake your favorite pancakes."
"Wonderful, anything would be better than Fatui's quarters."
Ajax only chuckled, finishing the pancake. Yesterday evening, he had arrived for a short vacation without warning anyone. The younger ones were insanely happy, rushing to hug and telling him everything they hadn’t mentioned in their letters. Mother also hugged him afterward, and then pulled his ear for not warning her, because she hadn't even prepared anything for his arrival. Oh, moms are always like this...
"Well, that's good, get more rest," she pushed the plate closer to him.
"Where is everyone else?"
"Teucer and Anton convinced father to go fishing. They promised him to behave well and not make noise."
"Hmm, I wouldn't mind going fishing too..."
Ajax took another pancake and thought about the past. He remembered how father used to take him along, telling stories of various heroes, and how he used to imagine himself as one of them. Well, now it was the younger ones' turn to spend time with father.
"Mom, we're out of oil!"
"Oh, really?"
Tonia shook the empty bottle and then tossed it into the trash bin. The sizzling of the frying pan faded, filling the room with silence.
"I'll go to the market then. Just make a list!" Ajax looked at Tonia and winked, then headed to his room.
Tonia understood everything instantly and pulled out a piece of paper and a pen, first writing down everything mother said, and then, while she wasn't looking, added her own wishes. Ajax loved spoiling his younger siblings; every coin he earned from the Fatui went straight to them.
In the room, his pajamas immediately flew onto the chair, giving way to warm, fur-lined pants, a thick sweater, and two pairs of socks - the cold of Snezhnaya was nothing to joke about. Back in the kitchen, Ajax unfolded the note Tonia had left him. At the bottom, written in neat handwriting, were the words: “A pink dress!”
With a smile on his face, he slipped the note into his coat pocket and pulled the coat on. He wrapped a red knitted scarf around his neck - his mother’s old gift that he still wore.
The icy outdoor air immediately stung his cheeks. He pulled the scarf higher over his nose and headed toward the center of the village. The silence here was pleasant, so different from the noisy streets of Snezhnograd. Only the crunch of snow underfoot and the occasional howl of a neighbor’s dogs broke the peace.
The center of the village was crowded today. Children were running around, riding sleds, and building snowmen. Behind the wooden stalls stood vendors - some gossiping, some calling out to customers, and one calmly butchering a carcass of livestock with a steady gaze. This everyday bustle strangely calmed him after Fatui's endless missions.
He walked from one stall to another, gathering products from the list. The smell of freshly baked goods mingled with the aroma of smoked meat and pine needles. When he was done with the food, he headed for the gifts. A new dress for Tonia, beads for mother, new fishing tackle for Anton and father. Hmm, all that's left is to find a gift for Teucer.
Looking around, his eyes fell on a toy stall, and not just ordinary toys, but ones carved out of wood. The master carved them with amazing detail: there seemed to be everything here, starting from animals and ending with... Her Majesty the Tsaritsa? Perhaps he should purchase one... And then he saw it - a Ruin Guard, or how Teucer called it, Mr. Cyclops! A big robot with neat carvings and even a hint of battle damage. Perfect. Ajax reached for the toy, but at that moment someone else did the same. Their hands lightly touched.
He looked up and saw a short young girl in an expensive milky-colored fur coat. Her blond hair peeked out from under her cap, shining in the sun. But what caught his attention more were her eyes - warm, unusually golden shade.
The girl was at first confused, and then pulled her hand back.
“Sorry. Did you want this one too?” She spoke first. Her voice was quiet with a subtle coldness.
Ajax blinked. He usually remained speechless, but now, for some reason, he felt a slight heat beneath his scarf.
“Uh… yeah! Looks like you were first… so take it,” He pulled his hand, hiding it behind back, and let the girl go ahead.
"Ah. Thank you," the corners of her lips lifted imperceptibly into a smile.
Ajax watched her for a while longer as she paid and tucked the figure into her bag. Her movements were light and confident, too graceful for an ordinary village girl.
"Who is she?" he thought. Ajax didn't have time to blink, and she had disappeared from sight. She left behind only a light trace of expensive perfume. Ajax sighed, a puff of cold air swirled around him as he turned back to the toys. He’d have to pick something else.
On the way home, he kicked the snow to the sides, his mind filled with her image. He didn't understand himself why she had interested him. Her unusual appearance? Her bright eyes? Or the fact that such a sweet-looking girl took a toy of dangerous killer robots? Probably all of it at once. He shook his head, trying to brush it off.
But when Ajax looked up, his gaze caught on the familiar expensive fur. The girl was standing near some snow-covered birch trees, gripping the strap of her bag. Two men were approaching her, demanding something. At first their voices were sweet and playful, but after her refusals, they turned threatening.
Ajax immediately dropped the grocery bags into the snow and ran forward.
His eyes burned with anger, wanting to protect the girl in trouble. Before he could even shout at them to back off, the stranger swung her bag and struck one of the men across the face. She punched the other in the stomach, and then stepped on him with her heel. The attacker squeaked in pain, while blood poured like a fountain from the first one's nose. Ajax stopped, not believing what he was seeing. His heart beat faster from the spectacle of her delivering one blow after another without even saying a single word.
When the men ran away from her with tears in their eyes, praying to the Archons not to kill them, the girl finally took her first sigh. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the guy from the market watching her.
"Hey, did you send them after me? Over a toy?" She pulled off her glove, preparing for another battle.
"What? No, no, I swear!" Ajax raised his hands in a peaceful gesture.
He stopped dead in his tracks, eyes wide. His heart hammered against his ribs. He had not expected to see such strength in her at all.
"Ajax. And you?"
"...Lumine," the girl answered reluctantly.
"Lumine? Want to spar?" he asked with a bright smile.
"Huh?"