The gentle sea breeze swept through the coast as Seraphine and Nandya stood side by side near the water's edge, their duties keeping them stationed there for the day. The rhythmic crash of waves filled the air, but it did little to drown out Seraphine's endless stream of questions.
"Nandya, why is the sea blue?" Seraphine asked, tilting her head slightly, her fiery red hair catching the sunlight like a cascade of flames.
Nandya, crouched by a rock and examining something intently, gave her a sideways glance. "Because it reflects the sky," she answered calmly, her tone patient despite the simplicity of the question.
Seraphine nodded sagely, as if just learning this for the first time. Yet only moments later, she asked, "But why does the sky reflect on the sea and not the land?"
Nandya paused, lifting her gaze to Seraphine. "It's because the water absorbs certain wavelengths of light, letting blue scatter more," she explained, her voice steady.
"Ohhh, I see!" Seraphine exclaimed with a dramatic wave of her hand. Then, not even a heartbeat later: "But why is water clear when it's in a cup?"
Nandya sighed, rubbing her temples, though a small smile tugged at her lips. "We've been over this, Seraphine."
"I know, I know," Seraphine replied quickly, rocking back on her heels, her golden eyes sparkling with mischief. "But I like the way you explain things, Nandya!" She beamed, puffing up her cheeks in an exaggerated grin.
Nandya couldn't help but let out a chuckle, shaking her head. "You're just trying to annoy me, aren't you?"
"Noooo!" Seraphine gasped, placing a hand dramatically over her heart as if wounded by the accusation. "I'm just curious!"
Before Nandya could respond, Seraphine leaned closer, her eyes wide with innocent wonder. "What about those little crabs? Why do they walk sideways? Is it because their legs are funny? Or is it because they don't know how to walk forward?"
Nandya raised an eyebrow, her exasperation growing by the second. "Seraphine," she said, her voice firm.
But Seraphine wasn't done. She crouched down next to Nandya, practically bouncing on her toes. "And the waves! How do they know when to stop? Do they get tired? Or does the ocean tell them what to do?"
Nandya finally set down the equipment she had been working with and turned fully to face Seraphine. "Seraphine," she said sternly, though her lips twitched, threatening to betray her amusement.
"What?" Seraphine asked, blinking innocently, her golden eyes practically sparkling with fake ignorance.
"You already know the answers to most of these questions," Nandya pointed out, crossing her arms.
Seraphine grinned sheepishly, scratching the back of her head. "Maybe," she admitted, her cheeks puffing out slightly. Then, leaning forward with a playful smile, she added, "But you're much more fun than a textbook!"
Nandya sighed, shaking her head in defeat. "You're impossible."
"I'll take that as a compliment!" Seraphine chirped, twirling on her heels and skipping ahead, her laughter echoing against the sound of the waves.