A small while longer, I decided. Just for a mont longer, I thought. No harm in just a little longer. So we swam for a bit more, dove deep into the depths, just contentedly enjoying ourselves in one another's company.
What started as a ans for Adalia to learn and have fun with one of my favorite pastis, ended with Ash denouncing of the gold dal swinging by my door for being the best swimr in my town back in my high school heydays.
Then again, I'm sure Ash could pretty much strip anyone of their trophies and dals and she wouldn't even have to try. Maybe I should enlist her for every category in the Olympics as soon as that cos around again. Why though? Why not? It'll be hilarious.
Actually, I think motorsports would be more her thing, really. I could take her to one… a special day's surprise, one day, maybe… in fact, co to think of it…
"Do you have a birthday, Ash?" I thought aloud at one point, treading back into shallow waters to rest. "Or whatever it's called in your world, I guess."
"Alitro Nalitas, I believe, is the closest resemblance to your traditions of celebrating one's birth," Ash said, drifting alongside , her gaze tilted to the skies, and deep in mind. "For us, it is not a yearly occasion, instead we celebrate in phases, throughout decades… starting in childhood, 'Nez', the celebration of newfound life. Once more upon reaching adolescence, 'Jor', for celebrating life experiences, independence. And lastly, one more, when entering adulthood, 'Enma', commorates a long-lived life. It is a celebratory period that usually lasts for weeks at a ti."
"Sounds nice."
"Indeed it is," She sighed, a twinkle in her eyes. "It is rare that we ever get the chance. In my ti, I've only ever witnessed two instances of an Elf celebrating adulthood."
I turned to her. "Why's that?"
"Most of us would never live long enough to ever get the opportunity," She said, matter-of-factly. "So anyti such an opportunity ever arises, it is a cherished mont, a blessing."
"And how about you?"
"As for myself," She ford a smile. "As a Knight, notions such as these, it is best to forget, there is simply no need for celebration, above all else, the Master cos first, it is our only one singular purpose."
I gave her a look, and it must have been quite a look I gave, because Ash was quick to suddenly clarify further.
"But do not misconstrue , please. While normally, servitude is indeed our only true purpose in life. For you, Master, to , it has grown far beyond that. It is my desire, my wish, to forever serve you, and as well as to forever be with you."
In a silent gesture, I felt my hand rift through the water, and take a hold of hers. She flinched feeling my fingers suddenly intertwine, but just as quickly, she gripped back - ears happily twitching red.
"I think it's best that you start rembering again, then," I told her, looking out over the calm blue waters. "Here, in this world, you'll find it ain't as rare as you once thought."
"Master, it's," Ash narrowed lips. "it's not - "
"Needed, required?" I interjected, a half-smile staring back at her. "Don't care. It's an event, a day, dedicated only to you. Arguably, I'd say that's the most important day of the year. Of course, I'm gonna celebrate it."
There wasn't any more deterrence after that. Slowly, I guess, Ash was starting to accept things with gratitude, instead of reluctance.
"So clear your calendar, alright?" I said. "One day, once after this whole ss is sorted, we'll find you a day, soday. We'll celebrate together."
"Truly, indeed, I am blessed with such a benevolent Master. Very well, I shall eagerly await that one day, count every passing mont, second, but for now… " Ash sighed again, and gently, she let her head fall, letting it rest against my shoulder. "Like this, as I am, with you by my side… this lowly Knight is as happy as she can be."
By the ti we finally left the lake, and headed back for ho, roughly two hours had gone by. Ash got dressed, wearing her bikini under her dress… and with that information in mind, I found it a slight challenge to ignore the faint protruding outlines that had ford across her chest. But luckily with enough ntal fortitude, I managed to tear my gaze away to avoid tripping over stray roots littering the forest.
The route ho was significantly a shorter trek now that I didn't have to half-carry a stumbling Ash the entire journey over, and before long, along the lonely trail of grass and dirt, the house was visible again just over the clear blue horizon.
"So, tonight," to the side, I turn my eyes towards her, kicking a stray pebble along the path. "What's the plan, exactly?"
"Oh, yes, regarding that, umm," Ash lips sorta flattened out into a thin narrow slit. "I rely wish to reminiscence of a life distant and long forgotten. Being with you… as I've ntioned before, I wish to share the mont with you."
"And that's all, I'm assuming?" I asked, glancing again. "Nothing else?"
"N-No, nothing more, not that I… can think of… at least…" She very weakly answered, before eting my eyes with a look of her own. "Unless, Master… you believe there can be… more… to be done then…"
I raised a brow, hearing the words behind her words, and giving a smirk. "Such as?"
"Such as… perhaps… umm…" Tightly, Ash nervously gripped the hems of her dress, and veered her eyes downwards to her feet, increasing in pace. "It's nothing, disregard this, Master. I'm rely thinking out loud, is all."
"Well don't mind then, keep thinking," I said, hiding a smirk with a loud sigh. "I'm sure you'll think of sothing else."
"Your father, Master."
"Uhh," I blinked rapidly at that. "Not the best idea, if you ask ."
"No, Master," Ash stopped in her tracks, her eyes pointing to the fields of crops nearby. "It's your father."
And approaching from those swaying yellow fields, a large, lumbering figure drew closer and closer. Dirt in his fingertips, gri on his cheek, and his blank face glistening with sweat.
I took a guess. "Good harvest today?"
Dad stopped closely, grunting. "Better than last ti," then briefly shifted his blue eyes left to right, asked. "Finished?"
"Yes, took a break, like you nagged to," I responded. "All relaxed, all refreshed, after a quick shower, I'm gonna go work on the barrier again."
"It can wait," He said.
"Wait?" I repeated, gazing at him sideways. "Is there a reason it should?"
"He's awake," Dad answered, and from the look he gave , I knew at once who he was referring to. "Five minutes ago, he woke up."
"Okay, great, thanks for the heads up," I said slowly, furrowing my brows. "Um, what's the correlation here? All the more reason to get to work at once, right?"
"He's awake," He repeated again, just as blankly, only this ti, unveiling a little more, and finally I got the correlation.. "And he's asking to see you."
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