CHAPTER 254: BEACH 2

While the boisterous cheers and playful shouts of their friends echoed from the surf, Nero and Khione had carved out a world of their own on the warm, sun-drenched sand. In Nero’s hands was a simple, beautifully crafted kite of white silk, with long, flowing tails of deep blue that shimmered in the light, reminiscent of her hair and eyes.

He didn’t need to ask if she wanted to join him; a subtle nod was all the communication required. They walked a little further down the beach, finding a wide, open space where the wind swept in from the ocean, steady and strong.

Nero unspooled the string, his movements patient and deliberate. He handed the reel to Khione, his hands then gently guiding hers, showing her how to feel the wind’s intention.

"Wait for the pull," his voice was a soft murmur near her ear, almost lost in the breeze. "Let the wind tell you what to do."

The first few attempts were a delicate dance of failure. The kite would lurch, spin, and dive headfirst into the sand. But with each tumble, Nero would simply gather it up, his expression calm and encouraging. There were no words of frustration, only the quiet reassurance of his presence. He would adjust her grip minutely, a touch of his fingers on her wrist, or simply stand behind her, a steadying influence as she tried again.

And then, it happened. On the fourth try, a strong, consistent gust caught the kite. Khione felt the sudden, thrilling tug on the string, a living force connecting her to the sky. Her eyes, usually so cool and composed, widened with a spark of pure, childlike wonder. With a slight, intuitive adjustment of her hands, she gave it more string.

The kite soared.

It climbed higher and higher, a speck of white and blue dancing against the vast canvas of the azure sky. It dipped and swirled, riding the currents like a graceful bird. A small, genuine smile—one of unadulterated triumph and joy—broke through Khione’s serene facade. It was a smile Nero cherished more than any victory in battle.

He stepped back then, giving her space, and simply watched. He didn’t offer more advice; she had found the rhythm herself. He sat on the sand a few feet away, his gaze shifting between the soaring kite and the profile of the woman controlling it.

They played the game in a silence that was more intimate than any conversation. The only sounds were the distant crash of waves, the hum of the wind, and the faint whisper of the string straining against the reel. He watched the concentration on her face, the way her white hair streamed behind her in the breeze, the elegant line of her arm as she guided their shared creation through the heavens.

They looked utterly harmonious. He was her anchor, solid and grounded on the earth. She was the flyer, graceful and connected to the sky. He was the steady hand that had launched her, and she was the natural talent that made it dance.

After a long while, her arm grew tired. She began to reel the kite in, the process slow and careful. When it was finally safe in her hands, she turned to him. No words of thanks were spoken. Instead, she simply walked over, sat beside him in the sand, and let her head rest against his shoulder, the kite lying carefully across their laps.

He wrapped an arm around her, and they sat together, watching their friends still playing in the waves. But in their quiet, sun-warmed bubble, with the memory of the soaring kite between them, they had shared a romance more profound than any spoken vow.

°°°

The ocean, as if sensing the rising competitive fervor, decided to raise the stakes. The gentle rollers were replaced by a powerful set of waves, their crests towering and sharp, throwing plumes of spray into the air. The friendly competition instantly intensified.

Lux was in his element. He seemed to have a psychic connection with the water, anticipating each shift and surge. He caught a magnificent wave, riding high on the curl. He executed a series of breathtaking maneuvers—a sharp cutback that skimmed the wave’s face, followed by a lightning-fast re-entry off the lip. He finished with a fluid, spinning 360, kicking up a curtain of sparkling water. It was a near-flawless display of style and technical skill. Treading water afterwards, he shot the others a triumphant, breathless grin. The bar had been set.

Adam, refusing to be outdone, growled and paddled furiously for the next behemoth. His ride was a masterclass in raw power. He dropped down the vertiginous face with terrifying speed, using his low center of gravity to carve deep, gouging trenches in the water. He didn’t dance; he dominated. The board shuddered under the force of his turns, each one a thunderous declaration of strength. He ended his ride by punching straight through the collapsing curtain of the wave, emerging on the other side with a roar of satisfaction. It was brute force, beautifully applied.

Azalea, ever the artist, chose a different wave. She focused on grace and precision, turning the liquid wall into her stage. She walked the length of her board with elven poise, her movements a seamless ballet. She hung her heels off the edge, toes skimming the water, a move of incredible balance and trust. Her ride was less about explosive tricks and more about becoming one with the wave’s flow, a performance of serene, breathtaking elegance.

Then, it was Eltreth’s turn.

She had been quiet, observing, her orange eyes calculating. She let a few waves pass, her gaze fixed on the horizon. She was waiting for the king of the set. When it finally came, it was a massive, heaving wall of water, darker and more powerful than the others.

With a powerful burst of paddling, she launched herself into it. The take-off was late and critical, a move of pure audacity. For a heart-stopping second, it seemed the wave would swallow her whole. But she fought for control, her body a coil of focused energy, and found her footing.

Her ride was not like Lux’s fluid dance or Azalea’s graceful ballet. It was an attack. She drove down the line with ferocious speed, then launched off the lip not with a spin, but with a soaring, aerial maneuver, her board leaving the water entirely before she slammed back down with controlled power, sending a huge explosion of spray into the air. She followed it with a series of aggressive, carving turns, each one sharper and more committed than the last. She wasn’t just riding the wave; she was conquering it, her every move fueled by a fiery, competitive spirit that outshone even the sun.

She rode the wave all the way until it dissipated into harmless foam in the shallow water. When she finally stepped off her board, chest heaving, water streaming from her crimson hair, there was a moment of stunned silence.

Lux was the first to speak, his voice full of genuine respect. "Well," he breathed, "I believe we have a winner."

Adam, for once, had no argument. He simply grunted, a sound that conveyed both defeat and deep admiration. "Aye. That was a proper fight."

Azalea swam over, a smile on her face. "You didn’t just ride it, Eltreth. You commanded it."

Eltreth stood tall in the waist-deep water, the adrenaline still coursing through her. The frustration she had felt earlier was gone, burned away in the crucible of the competition. A slow, triumphant smile spread across her face. For once something good happened, glancing on shore she saw the couple having fun, they looked so good together, her good mood plummeted.