Cassian was sitting on the tall grass of a verdant field located a few kilometers from Veritas, her blue eyes fixed on Hiro and Lena who were gently training about ten meters from her.
Lucia behind her was manipulating her long blonde hair with gentle and precise gestures that suggested intense concentration on what she was doing.
“What exactly are you doing with my hair there?”
Cassian tried to turn her head slightly to see but Lucia immediately put it back in the initial position.
“Stop moving like that, I am almost finished and you will ruin everything if you keep fidgeting.”
She smiled while adding another small section to the braid.
The group was currently in this peaceful field because Hiro had suggested this morning that they just have fun.
Lena and Lucia had immediately said it was an excellent idea.
That is why we are outside enjoying the sun.
Hiro was currently dodging Lena’s sword strikes with a relaxed ease that suggested the exercise was not particularly challenging for him.
At first it was fine.
He dodged without too much trouble by moving just enough to avoid the blade.
Then slowly the speed increased gradually as if Lena had decided to accelerate the pace without warning.
Hiro immediately noticed the change and became more focused in his dodges.
At several moments he avoided the blade by only a few centimeters.
This is supposed to be just a game.
A light training.
A moment where we can practice without risking injury or death.
He raised his eyes to look at Lena’s face while dodging another horizontal strike.
She was frustrated.
Visibly frustrated.
Every time he successfully dodged, her face became a little more annoyed and tense, her eyebrows gradually furrowing, her jaw clenching.
She would then readjust her next strike to make sure she hit this time.
Oh shit.
She is really trying to hit me.
“The goal was not to kill me Lena!”
The realization hit Lena like a cold slap.
Her eyes widened enormously as she looked at the real sword she was holding in her hand.
She stopped moving immediately.
Instead of apologizing for almost accidentally killing him, she said in a slightly accusatory tone.
“You should have explained the rules of this stupid game better from the beginning.”
Hiro remained open-mouthed.
What?
How can she blame me for that?
She was literally holding a real sharp sword!
How was I supposed to explain that the objective was not murder?!
Was it not obvious?!
The training fortunately ended without any more potentially lethal complications.
As they returned to the spot where Lucia and Cassian were patiently waiting, Hiro and Lena immediately noticed that Lucia had created a delicate and complex little braid in Cassian’s hair.
Cassian saw them staring at her head with intense attention that made her uncomfortable.
“What?”
She frowned.
“Lucia is completely destroying my hair, is that it?”
Lucia took a falsely offended expression while placing a hand on her chest.
“I am hurt that you can even think such a thing, I spent fifteen minutes creating something magnificent and you accuse me of hair vandalism.”
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
Hiro approached smiling.
“Your hair looks really pretty like that Cassian.”
Good.
I am going to put my hair back to normal as soon as we return to the lodging anyway.
No need to create unnecessary drama.
Lena sat down next to Cassian with enthusiasm.
“I want to add my personal touch now, let me try something.”
“No.”
Cassian’s answer was firm and final.
Lucia immediately intervened.
“Lena is going to completely destroy my artistic work, I categorically refuse to let her touch these hairs.”
I myself plan to destroy this work tonight by removing everything.
So Lucia really has no reason to worry so much.
---
They then walked for about twenty minutes to a tranquil river that Hiro, Lena, and Lucia had noticed while returning from their quest several days ago.
The place was magnificent with a small waterfall that created a soothing sound of running water and majestic trees that offered generous shade.
Hiro took a large blanket from his storage ring and carefully spread it under a particularly imposing tree whose branches extended widely above them.
He then began to methodically take out all the food he had prepared for the picnic.
Varied sandwiches with different fillings.
Grilled vegetable skewers that still smelled of spices.
Small meat pies whose golden crust shone under the sun.
Spiced hard-boiled eggs.
Crunchy apples.
Fresh grapes.
Wild berries he had picked yesterday.
Small honey cakes.
Iced tea in a large pitcher.
And refreshing lemonade.
As soon as the food was placed on the blanket, Lucia immediately served herself and began eating without waiting for anything.
Cassian, seeing Lucia serve herself so quickly, panicked and also took food for fear that Lucia would take all the best pieces before she had her chance.
Lena shook her head while looking at Lucia.
“You could have at least waited for everyone to be served before throwing yourself on the food like a starving person.”
Hiro laughed softly while comfortably taking his place on the blanket.
“It is fine, there is more than enough for everyone.”
Cassian was focused on carefully putting what she wanted to eat into a small well-organized pile next to her.
While taking a particularly appetizing red apple to add it to the top of her pile, she suddenly noticed that her pile had mysteriously decreased in size.
Huh?
She immediately looked at Lucia who had cheeks full like a hamster and who was smiling innocently.
“I know it was you who took from my pile.”
Lucia made dramatic hand gestures to deny any responsibility in this serious matter.
“It was not me, I have no idea what you are talking about.”
Cassian narrowed her eyes dangerously.
“I let it pass this time only because I am in a generous mood.”
She resumed adding things to her pile while paying attention this time.
But when she looked again, it had decreased again while she was not looking.
What the...
She suddenly stood up to rush at Lucia but stopped dead when she saw Lena holding exactly what she had just put on her pile.
Cassian slowly advanced toward Lena with a threatening expression.
Behind her, Hiro took advantage of her distraction to now attack her abandoned pile.
Cassian stopped when she felt something wrong.
“I am surrounded by uncivilized gluttons with no respect for private property.”
She headed toward Hiro trying to take the apple he was holding in his hand with a mocking smile.
Hiro played with her by not making the task easy, raising the apple high above his head.
Cassian firmly grabbed Hiro’s arm with both hands, applying a grip.
Because her two hands were not free to grab the apple directly, she instinctively opened her mouth to bite into it.
Hiro pulled his hand away much too quickly.
In the movement, Hiro’s thumb slipped between Cassian’s lips.
She accidentally sucked.
The lollipop effect was involuntary, wet, and lasted one second too long.
Silence fell over the clearing.
Only the sound of the waterfall filled the space.
Lena finally broke the silence.
“Wow Cassian, you are really greedy huh?”
Cassian had a completely empty look.
I am going to move out.
To another continent.
Moreover the position she was in was objectively embarrassing, quite literally leaning over Hiro’s arm turned toward his hand.
Hiro was staring at something without realizing it.
He is not staring at the hand.
Definitely not the hand.
He abruptly averted his gaze from the view that presented itself to him.
Cassian quickly stood up, snatched the apple with a brusque and violent gesture, then returned to sit as far away as possible from Hiro.
Her elf ears burned with a vivid red.
She ate while carefully avoiding looking in his direction.
Lena came to settle next to Hiro and began feeding him as if nothing had happened.
He lay down comfortably on her thighs while enjoying the attention.
Lucia also joined them.
After a moment of rest and digestion, Hiro suggested swimming because it was really hot under the midday sun.
Cassian was not really affected by the surrounding temperature because of her magic that naturally regulated her body, but she decided to join them anyway.
She was the only one still fully dressed in the water.
I am having fun in my own way.
She swam incredibly fast by gliding through the water with practically no resistance thanks to her subtle manipulation of the currents around her.
Hiro looked around.
“Where is Cassian?”
She resurfaced right next to him with a competitive smile.
“I propose we race, the one who swims the farthest wins.”
Lena immediately shook her head.
“That is a very bad idea, I saw how you swam earlier, it was surely something new you learned recently with your water magic.”
She crossed her arms.
“It is clearly a bad idea to challenge you in the water now.”
Cassian did not appreciate this remark at all that suggested she was cheating.
She rushed toward Lena to get revenge by creating a huge wave.
It violently splashed everyone.
Hiro and Lucia apparently thought it was a fun game and immediately joined the water fight.
Not at all.
It was a personal revenge.
Not a game.
Cassian was clearly winning her duel against Lena when Hiro suddenly lifted her from behind and threw her into the water.
She involuntarily slid against his chest while trying to regain her balance.
Her hands landed directly on his pectorals to stabilize herself.
This day is going to be long.
She sighed internally while quickly moving away.
---
After multiple games in the water that lasted several hours, they all decided to take a collective nap on the large blanket now warm under the sun.
Lucia woke up later with the sun beginning to slowly descend toward the horizon.
Cassian was comfortably nestled against her murmuring something incomprehensible in her sleep.
Lucia did not see Hiro lying with them on the blanket.
Where is he?
She turned her head toward the waterfall.
Hiro and Lena emerged from behind the curtain of water, their clothes hastily put back on.
They were holding hands.
Lena had hair even more disheveled than usual.
Lucia looked at them. She said nothing. She made no sign. She simply closed her eyes and went back to sleep.
It is not my fight.
---
At their collective awakening a few hours later, they methodically packed all their things then calmly headed toward the city while the sun set creating spectacular orange and pink colors in the sky.
Cassian walked behind Lena and noticed that she had a slight difficulty walking normally.
Maybe she sprained her ankle.
Or she has a blister.
But Lena seemed perfectly happy despite her slightly irregular gait.
---
They returned to the city without any notable problems just as the first streetlamps were lighting up in the streets.
Lena and Lucia walked at the front of the group talking and laughing together at a joke that Cassian had not heard.
Hiro was just behind them listening to them with a satisfied smile.
Cassian lagged slightly behind everyone lost in her thoughts.
A silhouette detached itself from the shadow of a stone pillar.
Constantine.
He did not see the rest of the group.
His blue eyes were fixed only on Cassian.
A flash of sincere pleasure crossing his face.
He accelerated his pace, a charming smile on his lips, happy to see her.
“Cassian,” he began while extending his hand.
He did not go any further.
Hiro abruptly turned around upon hearing Constantine’s voice.
Before Cassian could react or even understand what was happening, Hiro suddenly pulled her against him in a fluid and possessive gesture that left no room for hesitation.
“Hiro, wha—”
He placed a hand behind her nape with his fingers digging firmly into her hair, his other arm wrapping solidly around her waist to press her completely against his chest.
He tilted his head.
Captured her lips without the slightest hesitation.
It was not a soft or romantic kiss.
Intense.
His lips crushed hers, tongue immediately forcing entry, exploring without asking permission.
Cassian’s eyes widened enormously while trying to process exactly what was happening.
She instinctively pushed on his chest with both hands.
But Hiro did not move a single centimeter.
His free hand tightened its grip on her waist, lifting her slightly onto her tiptoes to deepen the angle.
I cannot breathe.
What is he doing?!
What is happening?!
Cassian moaned despite herself — a muffled, involuntary sound that vibrated against Hiro’s lips.
She slowly stopped struggling.
Her hands remained placed on him, unable to push him away, unable to grip him.
She had not even seen Constantine approach before Hiro grabbed her.
Constantine gradually slowed down until he stopped completely a few meters from them.
His smile froze on his face.
His eyes widened.
Over Cassian’s shoulder, Hiro’s eyes were open.
He was staring at Constantine.
He did not blink. His gaze was severe, cold, devoid of any emotion other than a primal warning.
She is mine.
Constantine remained motionless, the smile dead on his lips, his fists slowly clenching at his sides.
Lena and Lucia continued walking ahead without noticing what was happening behind them, too absorbed in their hilarious conversation.
