A sliver of dawn had pried open the obsidian sky by the time Eydis reached the lake. The hue of emerald and orange foliage drank the first brushstrokes of sunlight, their mirrored brilliance shimmering through a ghostly curtain of mist. It was a beautiful scene, a serene mask draped over the bloody battles.
Eydis retrieved a white cloth from her bag, intent on banishing the lingering scent of blood that clung to her. To the world, she remained untainted by the monstrous massacre that unfolded.
The cool water and morning mist offered sanctuary, a brief respite from the night's horrors. Shedding the weight of a black top laden with memories, she revealed a delicate camisole beneath. An initial wince greeted the cold water's touch, but she soon embraced the soothing melody of the stream. A transient peace settled over her, a fragile haven amid the tumultuous chaos. Submerging herself in the deep lake, she meticulously erased any traces of the harrowing night, emerging unscathed.
Then, a crisp rustle disrupted the serene ambiance. Leaves crunched beneath cautious feet, unmasked by the golden carpet beneath them. Eydis's eyes resurfaced, her tranquillity shattered like glass. Violet orbs, widened with surprise, met hers. Her gaze traced the path of water droplets from her damp forehead down the expanse of her neck, lingering on the curve of her body and the toned stomach revealed by the clinging camisole.
A hush enveloped the scene—the mere whispers of leaves, the fleeting hum of hummingbirds, and the gentle gurgle of the stream. Astra, roommate and harbinger of exhaustion, stood before her. Dark circles framed eyes that bore the night's burdens. Once-elegant hair now gathered in a messy ponytail atop a face smeared with the faint smudge of crimson. Yet, Eydis found this battle-worn visage intriguing, realising Astra embodied both dedication, akin to a white blossom, and the fierceness of a predator.
Eydis cleared her throat, her voice quiet almost involuntarily." Should you wish to cleanse, there's space here." Anticipating Astra's typical retreat into guarded silence, she was surprised when the other girl hesitated, hand gripping her sword's hilt until knuckles gleamed white.
The silence held like a bated breath, charged with unspoken tensions and lingering adrenaline. Eydis contemplated a deeper plunge into the lake, but the spell was broken by the whisper of fabric. Astra shed her cloak, revealing the dark bruises blooming on her pale skin. With deliberate slowness, she untangled her messy ponytails and unbuttoned her dust-covered leather jerkin. If discomfort lurked beneath the intensity of those violet eyes, Astra masterfully concealed it, her countenance an icy portrait.
Eydis' eyes darted to the newly revealed skin, lingering on a fresh gash near her collarbone, visible beneath a lacy black halter top. Astra's gaze, unreadable yet piercingly intense, remained fixed on Eydis as she gracefully approached the water's edge.
Breaking the silence, Astra's voice sliced through the quiet, a husky whisper echoing in the stillness. "You look like crap," she said, her voice laced with something that sounded suspiciously like... amusement?
Eydis couldn't stifle her laughter, the sound a liberating release after the oppressive silence. "Maybe," she conceded, her eyes sparkling. "While you, on the other hand, embody a fierce warrior goddess, even with your collection of battle scars."
A faint blush graced Astra's typically stoic features, but her chin stayed resolute. "You're fortunate to be alive; why persist in this?"
Eydis' touch, cool and unexpected, brushed against Astra's cheek, rubbing off the smudge on her face, sending a shiver down her spine. "Careful, my Lady," she murmured, her voice a mere breath, "such words could be mistaken for... concern." Eydis' voice dipped low, a hint of playfulness infusing her words.
The heat of her touch lingered on Astra's skin, igniting a fire that had nothing to do with the morning sun. Her lips pursed into a thin line, a mix of anger and something else, something unfamiliar, swirling in her eyes. With a growl that rumbled in her throat, she tilted her head away, but Eydis' touch lingered a moment too long, a silent challenge. Astra plunged into the lake, the icy water a welcome assault on the burning heat coursing through her veins.
Anger, she understood. Yet, there lingered an unfamiliar undercurrent. It was absurd to let a girl get under her skin, but her body acted with volition, solely because the offer of a cool bath was too tempting. That was it.
Moments later, Astra emerged from the lake, a phoenix reborn from the cleansing depths, to be met by Eydis' captivating gaze. "You're retreating, once again," Eydis quipped, her stance steady but playful, as if she could discern Astra's internal turmoil.
"I don't run," Astra replied in an icy tone that could make anyone shudder, except for Eydis, who continued to regard her with that annoying all-knowing smile. She briefly entertained the idea of accelerating their plan to kidnap the brunette, but restrained the urge. It wasn't the opportune moment, not with a tournament at stake. Her fingers twitched in anticipation, eager to wipe the smirk off Eydis's face.
Eydis' grin broadened, radiating even more brilliantly. "Are you certain? I can recount a few instances of that. It appears I..." The brunette's words trailed off, her gaze momentarily lifted as if searching for the precise term, "...repelled you."
The silver-haired girl countered, "You're right, like roaches."
"One of the world's oldest living species, I'm flattered," undeterred by the insults, the brunette continued to taunt. Just before Astra could retort, a feminine voice rang out.
"Lady Astra, here you are—oh! Am I interrupting something?" Crimson eyes blinked in surprise from beneath the cloak, catching a glimpse of the scene before it vanished behind the curtain of mist.
Hearing a familiar voice, Eydis hurried towards her friend, eyes scanning for injuries under the faint morning light. "Nat, you're hurt!"
Natalia faltered under Eydis' concerned gaze. A crimson bloom marred her shoulder, barely contained by a makeshift bandage. "Just a scratch, Eydis," she mumbled, wincing as Eydis' fingers brushed against it. Her silence spoke volumes, her usual playful banter replaced by a quiet worry. It wasn't until Natalia wiped a stray tear that her voice returned, husky with unshed emotions. "Lady Astra and Melissa saved the day, really."
Seeing Eydis' puzzled expression, Natalia's jaw clenched, her gaze downcasted with shame. "Blue wasn't all bad, actually. Without her… we wouldn't be standing here."
Suddenly, Natalia lunged forward, burying her face in Eydis's shoulder and letting out a choked sob. Eydis held her tight, her touch firm but gentle, whispering reassurances against the girl's ear. The Inferno girl, fire and fury, was human here, fragile and vulnerable in her fear.
Across the clearing, Astra watched the scene unfold, a kaleidoscope of emotions swirling within her. She hadn't seen this side of Eydis before, the raw concern etched on her face, the tenderness in her touch. It was a stark contrast to her usual empty teasings, a glimpse of the heart beneath the thorns.
Suddenly, Natalia pulled away, a realisation dawning on her face. "Speaking of Blue… She passed out and needed water, which was why Lady Astra left to get some…"
Eydis followed Natalia's hesitant glance towards Astra, who stood stiffly by the lake, an uncharacteristic blush dusting her cheeks. She wasn't sure whether it was because Astra's caring side was exposed, or her detour.
"I was… in the area," Astra mumbled, looking away. A silent "thank you" passed between them, a bridge built over unspoken words. Eydis saw the flicker of concern beneath Astra's stoic facade, and Astra, in turn, glimpsed a depth in Eydis she hadn't expected.
Amidst the palpable tension, Natalia awkwardly interjected, "Anyway, Eydis, perhaps you could, um, get dressed? Here, let me help dry you..." Her friend stumbled over her words, face reddening at the sight of the brunette's attire. Concentrating her mana, Natalia heated the lingering wetness on their skin—an undoubtedly convenient power, Eydis thought with a twinge of jealousy.
Eydis threw her head back, releasing a hearty, unexpected laugh that startled the surrounding girls. "You're bleeding, exhausted, and this is your top concern?"
Natalia's face flushed scarlet. "W-well, just looking out for you..." she stammered, hiding her face in her hands.
Eydis' gaze softened as she lifted the hem of her top, revealing an unmarked stomach, sculpted and toned —a testament to her fortunate night. "I was lucky enough to avoid the monsters, see, unscathed!"
If a volcanic eruption were imminent, this would serve as the catalyst. Natalia teetered on the brink of bursting, an impending explosion of words and emotions. However, before she could unleash her response, a gruff voice cut through the thick tension.
"Hate to interrupt the family reunion," Astra, fully dressed by the lake, cast her eyes, a cool contrast to the warm sunrise filtering through the trees, now concealed as she pulled a hood over her head."But daybreak's here, and we have a liability to deal with."
Natalia let out a strangled laugh. "Liability? I'm glad Melissa wasn't here to hear this. Aaaanyway, hot bath, clean clothes, and maybe some actual water that doesn't taste like iron."
"The water here isn't that great anyway. Come, I know where spring water is," Eydis said, winking as she put on a clean shirt she had packed.
Natalia playfully elbowed the brunette, "You and your memory, I know it'll come in handy someday."
"Please, as if you haven't been copying my Maths assignments."
"Come on! Don't kiss and tell! Oh and you need to work on that wink!"
With that, the trio set off, Eydis taking the lead. Violet eyes observed their departure, the playful banter echoing through the clearing. As Eydis looped a comforting arm around Natalia's waist, helping her injured friend, Astra watched, a complex storm brewing within her gaze. Calm and furious, like a tempest waiting to unleash.