At last, the morning unfolded like a secret waiting to be whispered. The sky was painted with delicate shades of pink and lavender, while the sun stretched its lazy fingers across the horizon, casting golden beams through the soft, fluttering leaves.
A gentle breeze teased the flowers, bending their petals as if urging them to wake and join the world in its quiet symphony.
It was the kind of morning that made you feel like anything could happen.
Serafine, her mood matching the day's serene beauty, sighed and stretched lazily, deciding it was ti to reveal the plans she'd co up with. The other two had no idea what they were getting into, but she was certain they'd all agree on what needed to be done.
Gathering Mariella and Clara, she laid out the mission, training for the entrance of the Academy of Dawn's Edge.
A mix of strategies, action, and power-building.
Training with a purpose, but with their own flair. It was ti to prepare for whatever lay ahead.
"I've been thinking," Serafine began, eyeing both of them, "We need to be ready, and I an really ready. So, here's the plan: we'll train together, and we'll make sure we're each using our strengths, filling in each other's gaps."
Mariella nodded, not fully knowing where this was going but trusting Serafine's direction. Clara, on the other hand, looked at her with an eyebrow raised, a silent challenge in her eyes, but there was a sparkle of agreent too.
As they talked, Mariella beca sheepish.
"I an, I do have an Ethos... everyone does, but it's a really tiring Ethos to have...."
Clara blinked. "Wait, you have an Ethos too? You never ntioned it before."
"I nad it 'Empathetic Heart.' It allows to channel my own life energy into others, healing wounds, curing ailnts… But it does co at a cost. The more I give, the weaker I beco. But, when it works, it works well."
The blonde haired woman blinked, her eyes narrowing with sudden excitent. "That's perfect! A healer, a shielder, and a tank. Sounds like we've got the perfect team, don't you think?"
Clara gave her a sideways glance. "Just don't get too used to being the 'fragile healer' in the group. I've got your back."
"But I'm already old though..."
"Well, don't worry, from what I've heard, the healer's faces lesser encounter to danger..."
Mariella, still a little shy, smiled at her companions, her heart lighter. It was a strange to know that her Ethos could be a powerful tool in their hands.
But the thought of having her life force drained in battle? That was still a little unnerving.
Maybe it was ti to truly embrace the unexpected strength within her.
Serafine leaned back with a grin, clearly pleased with herself. "This team is going to be unstoppable. No one's going to know what hit 'em."
Throughout the day, Calix had been preoccupied with teaching healing Mariella after a particularly nasty training session. Their peaceful corner of the camp beca a haven of calm with the soft murmurs of Calix's soothing voice, the atmosphere full with the gentle glow of healing.
anwhile, Serafine was left with Clara, who was awkwardly standing in the middle of the clearing, clearly not sure what to do with herself.
"Alright, Clara, let's get to work. Why are you standing there like a statue?"
Clara, with a slight grunt, shot back, her voice thick with irritation, "What?"
"Oh, don't even try it," Serafine teased, raising a brow. "You're avoiding . Is it because you're... jealous?"
"So what?"
"Oh my goddess, you're not even trying to deny it. You are jealous!"
Clara's cheeks imdiately flushed, her gaze darting to the ground, avoiding Serafine's probing eyes. She hadn't expected such a direct confrontation, and her brain was scrambling to co up with so clever excuse. "Wait—No! I an…" She flailed, trying to salvage the situation, her voice stamring. "It was a slip-up, okay?"
"You're a confusing one, you know that?"
With a small, teasing step forward, Serafine reached for Clara's hand, as if to steady her, but Clara, in a panic, flicked her hand away, stumbling back a step. "No! Don't touch !"
"I'm not going to bite you, you know," Serafine said, her tone dripping with playful sarcasm, but it only seed to make Clara more flustered.
"That's right! You're... you're just a deranged, fun-thrilling seeker who looks like an innocent angel descended from heaven to trick and fool everyone in this village... and too!" Clara practically shouted, her voice tight with frustration. She was clearly losing control of her words.
"Wow. 'Fun-thrilling seeker'—That's a new one."
'Stockholm syndro, I assu,' Serafine thought to herself, stifling a chuckle. It was almost as if Clara had beco a prisoner of her own emotions. She was just too nice, and now, it seed, she was paying the price for it. "You're the one who's confused, sweetheart," Serafine said with a teasing tone. "But you were definitely jealous of Mariella."
"I was not jealous...!"
Serafine, however, didn't let up. "Oh really? But you were so eager to tell how jealous you were."
Clara's fists clenched at her sides as if to suppress the growing storm inside her. "Yeah, I was jealous! Of Mariella! For so stupid reason!"
"Well, there's no sha in it, you know."
Suddenly, to Serafine's surprise, Clara lunged forward, grabbing Serafine by the collar.
The impact was unexpected, and Serafine found herself slightly off-balance, staring into Clara's eyes, which were now filled with a strange mix of confusion and intensity.
Even Clara was taken aback by her own actions.
Before either of them could say another word, Clara's lips crashed against Serafine's, cutting off the possibility of speech.
For a mont, Serafine could only stand there, shocked, trying to process what had just happened. 'What is happening? Why is this happening?' She thought in a haze.
Clara pulled away just as quickly as she had initiated the kiss. "If you're at least going to manipulate into falling in love with you, then at least own up to it!"
On the other hand, Serafine blinked several tis, utterly flabbergasted.
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