"Alright, kid, you're making waves here." Serix nodded as he popped the canopy open. "How about we get to acquisitioning your first piece of pilot gear?"
"My what?" Lila paused halfway through climbing out of the Riven, her face alight with wonder.
"Boots seem like a good place as any to start."
"I get cool pilot boots?"
She had wondered on plenty of occasions where Serix got his own uniform, and what it could provide him both in and out of combat. He didn't glow with confidence for nothing.
"I'll get you fitted tomorrow; how does that sound?" Serix pointed his thumb towards the back of the room. "Your teacher's gotta split, as you humans say."
"Y-yea sure! Sounds good!" Lila waved, unprepared for the sleek black vessel that suddenly hovered above her head. "Whoa," she stared.
She was still far from educated when it came to the elements of the Consortium navy, yet her intuition was more than enough upon witnessing Serix's personal ship. He flew a customized Riven of sorts, or perhaps another ship entirely. Either way, it flew as silent as the wind.
Shaped almost like a trident.
"Sick ride," Lila pointed with a smirk. "Is that like the Ferrari of alien land?"
She couldn't see any noticeable weaponry on the vessel's reflective hull. But that, of course, had to be the trick. Serix didn't like to brag or show all his teeth, even if he strutted around like an ace.
"One of them," the pilot quipped. Clearly, he was rich. "I'll see you around, kiddo."
"Bye-bye!" Lila waved again. "Imma go see my friends."
She made sure to look back again to see Serix fly off. The way he handled even a simple departure had the Earthling feeling inspired. One day, she wanted to be like that.
"Man," Lila sighed. "So cool. Why did ya'll gotta be from the asshole faction again?"
The Earthling shrugged before departing for the tunnels behind Yrix's office. She didn't have a clue where her family was. But there was always the chance Lila would simply stumble upon them.
As she usually did with things in the Aerie.
"Hey, wait a minute," she sniffed the air. It was pleasant, and not at all like the usual scent of carpet and dew she was accustomed to.
Lila took a left down an unfamiliar path, letting her nose guide the way. The flooring beneath her soon disappeared, replaced by cold, segmented tile squares. The girl from a few weeks ago would expect only the worst.
But not this Lila. Not after everything she'd been through. She was getting bolder and bolder without even realizing it.
"Uh," Lila fiddled with her braid as she stepped into what appeared to be a steamy kitchen. "Whatcha doing?"
Yrix shot a brief glance at the Earthling, her neck craned down towards a large pot. She appeared strangely focused, more so than Lila had ever seen. Only after a long moment of study did she regard her student.
"Hi," Lila smiled awkwardly. "What are...uh...what ya doin?"
"Fondue. Curious human recipe," Yrix replied as she used her Psionic grasp to stir a wooden spoon.
"Didn't know you were such a chef," the Earthling giggled, wrapping her hands around the corner of the table. She did everything in her power not to mock Yrix for wearing a red apron. "Who's this for?"
"My students," Yrix clarified. "But I needed your opinion. A taste test, if you will."
"Can't you just-." Lila froze. "Oh right."
Yrix didn't have a mouth.
"Wait, how did you get the last meals right?"
"Trial and tribulation. But this recipe I am not familiar with."
"And how does your species even eat?"
"How to put it in words you understand..." Yrix pondered for a time. She didn't seem all that willing to describe her people's biology. "Like a sponge."
"Does that mean Serix never took you out for dinner?" Lila teased.
The Arch-Flayer's voice carried warmth as she described the pilot: "He did, in a way. Serix is an incredibly talented man."
Lila waved her hand dismissively as she did her best impression of a French accent. "Nah, anyone can cook."
"Very funny," Yrix rolled her eye. "But really, try this."
The Earthling raised a single finger, intent on making a point of the scalding heat surrounding the sample of cheese within Yrix's ladle. She was cut short, however, surprised to see how quickly the food could cool under a quick breeze. Another Psionic trick, she figured.
"Hmm," Lila smacked her lips after taking a quick lick. "Hmmm."
"I'll add a smidge of Becel," Yrix cocked her head. "If that's to your liking."
"I mean yeah," the Earthling shrugged. "Honestly, I'm trying to find something to critique here. You seem to know your shit."
"Spectacular," Yrix wiped her brow. "You should have tasted the trial runs."
"Can't be any worse than how the Infestare smell, am I right?" Lila pointed with finger guns, only to realize how that could be perceived as offensive to Lunae. "Like uh...Zaza or something..."
"The Infestare can smell however they want. The creatures you battled poison the air with a pungent scent entirely on purpose. Lunae, however, will pump you full of endorphins before you even realize she smells nice. It's all strategy with them."
"She uh...she's a little odd, but I like her," Lila's smile was genuine. She wanted to defend her friend. "Girls like her on Earth usually got a stick up their ass, what with the pretty privilege and all that."
"It never concerns you?" Yrix bent her index finger as she held the spoon. "The way she uses your bodily tendencies as a cudgel?"
"I mean, you're about to give us a tasty treat to distract us from how abusive you are, so," Lila chuckled sheepishly. "Hehe."
Yrix would have smiled if she could. "You're getting smarter, Lila."
Lila could hear a hint of regret in her voice. For a moment, it seemed Yrix was genuinely capable of reflection. But it was short-lived. She was already busy once more, preoccupying herself with the Fondue.