CHAPTER 38: AZURE BAY ADVENTURES – DAY 2 (I)

"I must commend you all," she said with a gentle smile. "This may be the fastest time in royal history that all eight of you unanimously agreed on something."

"Technically, Evelisse made the call," Marcus said, raising his cup to her.

"It was a brilliant choice," Aldric agreed, glancing toward her with fatherly pride. "Azure Bay is... nostalgic."

There was a flicker in his gaze—something warm and distant.

"Today," Seraphina continued, "is about enjoyment. The kind that suits each of your strengths."

A rolled-up scroll floated onto the table and unfurled in a burst of glittering air.

"Activities," Seraphina said. "By request."

The list sparkled with animated illustrations:

* Shell diving for treasure

* Underwater acrobatics

* Sand sculpture competition

* Tide pool racing

* Flying fish chase

* Sunset mural exploration

"And yes," Aldric added with a smirk, "there *will* be points awarded."

"YES!" Leo whooped. "Finally!"

"Competitive fun activities day," Lance grinned. "Now it’s a real vacation."

Seraphina tapped her fork against her glass. "Your father and I will be judges."

"Rigged," Jared muttered. "You always give Lucien full marks for anything that involves math or tactical reasoning."

"Because Lucien’s math and reasoning are beautiful," Seraphina said sweetly.

"Ugh," Jared sulked into his juice.

Felix leaned toward Evelisse. "Shall we partner up for sculpture later?"

"I’d like that," she said with a smile.

Fluffy floated above her head. "Shell diving sounds like death. But carry on."

The beach welcomed them like an old friend. The sea was calmer than the previous day, the waves rolling in steady hushes. The tidepools shimmered like mirrors. Enchanted birds flew low and dropped tiny rose-shaped petals as they passed.

Leo was already stripping off his shirt to reveal a lean, wiry frame. "Time to show the sea who’s boss!"

Lance adjusted his goggles. "Just don’t forget to breathe this time."

"I was holding it for dramatic effect," Leo snapped.

Jared strutted forward with a pair of gold-trimmed shorts. "I’ll narrate while you dive. Someone has to make this a performance."

Evelisse giggled.

Shell diving started first. Jared perched on a large rock, singing exaggerated ballads of sea dragons and pearl treasures as Leo, Lance, and Callum dove beneath the waves. Bubbles erupted as they swam in loops, searching for buried shell clusters rumored to hold points.

Felix stayed above water, painting the scenery—his brush moving faster than ever. "Inspiration hits differently when your brothers are pretending they’re mer-kings."

Lucien was busy measuring tidal patterns with magical compasses.

"Sand sculpting begins in twenty minutes," Aldric called out, holding a glinting timer orb.

Everyone scrambled.

Evelisse and Marcus staked out their spot near the dunes.

"We’re building a throne," Marcus said, cracking his knuckles.

"A throne?"

"Of peace. For the Princess of Azure Bay."

She grinned. "Then it must sparkle."

They gathered shells, polished stones, and driftwood. Felix came over and enchanted their pile to shimmer with soft blues. Fluffy subtly helped levitate delicate seaweed to drape around the edges like ivy when no one was looking.

Lucien, of course, made a fortified sandcastle with working gates.

Leo and Lance tried to build a monster crab. It collapsed twice.

Jared sculpted what he *claimed* was Aldric in his "youthful prime" with extra muscles.

When the judging began, Seraphina inspected each build with the grace of a queen and the sharpness of a sculptor. Aldric nodded solemnly and handed out ’dignity points’ to Jared for the ’bold use of absurd fantasy.’

But when Seraphina came to Evelisse and Marcus’s throne, she actually paused.

"It’s beautiful," she whispered.

Aldric murmured, "Looks like the one they used in the old stories..."

"The Princess of Peace," Seraphina added. "Very fitting."

They gave Evelisse the highest score.

Fluffy twirled in triumph. "All hail the seashell sovereign!"

Evelisse stood atop the throne proudly. "I am the Princess of Azure Bay!"

Snugglewuff barked in agreement and tried to climb up beside her.

Marcus placed a tiny crown made of coral and pink glass onto her head.

And for a moment—just a moment—everything was light and laughter and family.

But the day wasn’t over yet

And something still waited beneath it all.

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

By midday, the sun shimmered high above the Azure Bay cliffs, casting golden ribbons over the tidepools below. The water glistened, so clear you could see tiny sea sprites darting under the surface like streaks of sunlight with fins.

"Next up—tide pool racing!" Aldric bellowed with the dramatic flair of a battle commander. "Mount your enchanted lilypads, children of royal blood!"

Evelisse let out a joyful squeak as her lilypad bounced beneath her feet. The enchantment made it hover just above the water, gliding like a petal on wind. Fluffy spun beside her in a sparkling orbit, muttering calculations.

"Physics has officially resigned from this scenario."

"I love it," she whispered, holding her arms out like wings. "I feel like a gliding fairy!"

"More like a mini sea comet," Marcus shouted, paddling ahead. "Last one to the coral loop is a moldy mushroom!"

"You’re on!"

The tidepool course curved around rock towers, through tunnels woven with magic vines, and under sprays of mist from playful geysers. Colorful fish darted alongside the racers, forming makeshift cheering squads.

Leo and Lance raced side-by-side, each attempting to shove the other off their pad with their knees.

"Get your seaweed knees off my line!" Lance yelled.

"You crossed first!"

"You sneezed on me!"

"Strategy!"

Meanwhile, Lucien had optimized his lilypad for speed using air-runed slivers of shell. He zipped past them silently, causing Jared to cry, "Unfair! You’re using brain magic!"

"I’m using logic, dumbass," Lucien replied coolly.

Felix, far behind, seemed content sketching the whole race from a perch.

Evelisse leaned forward and urged her pad to go faster.

She didn’t need to win. She just wanted to feel the wind sing in her ears and the salt kiss her cheeks. And for a flicker of time—it was like flying.

By the end, the tidepool exploded into laughter and soaked shoes. Lucien crossed first, obviously, but the real win was Marcus crashing into Jared and launching both into a jelly-moss pit. Seraphina gave them style points for the splash.

After drying off, the next event began: the flying fish chase.

"Are you up for the challenge, princess?" Fluffy teased with a smirk.

’I was born ready!’ Evelisse asserted with a grin.