The rest of the afternoon was filled with laughter and splashing waves.
They raced across the surf, their footprints vanishing in the foamy tide. Gwen led a chaotic charge through the shallows, water flying in all directions as she tackled Max from behind, while Rize countered by leaping onto both of them, dragging them under. Cries of victory, surprise, and mock betrayal echoed across the beach like music.
A game of keep-away quickly erupted using a conjured spirit orb—golden and glowing with a faint hum. Rize darted through the surf like a wildcat, her agility turning the game into a blur of graceful spins and clever trick passes. Malaika stayed back at first, watching with arms folded and her usual smirk, but once someone dared splash her, she entered the fray like a thunderstorm. Within moments, she'd snatched the orb mid-leap and launched it halfway down the beach with a burst of spirit-enhanced precision.
Even Mu Qing and Lan Xue, usually more composed, let themselves go. They squealed when Gwen doused them with a bucket of seawater, then retaliated with uncharacteristic playfulness, dragging her into the waves for payback. Laughter echoed through the skies.
Later, Max built sandcastles with the girls. What started as a simple structure soon became a sprawling, intricate fortress complete with spirit-carved battlements, spirit beast statues, and a moat that actually flowed with seawater. "This is cheating," Rize muttered, hands on hips, though her grin betrayed admiration.
"Strategic application of spirit power," Max corrected smugly, as Gwen stuck a seashell crown on top of the tallest tower and declared herself Queen of the Island.
As the sun began to dip toward the horizon, the chaos faded into calm.
Malaika laid back on the sand, sunglasses perched on her nose like a queen in exile, one hand behind her head. "I'm never leaving this island," she declared lazily, letting the golden light soak into her skin.
Nearby, Mu Qing and Lan Xue were lying on soft towels, letting the sun warm their backs. Rize had convinced them to try "sunbathing," and though skeptical at first, the two girls now seemed to enjoy the rare stillness—something they rarely allowed themselves. Giggles passed between them as they watched the others, their cheeks slightly flushed from the heat and fun.
Gwen strolled up from the water's edge with wet hair and a bright smile. "Who's up for round two of wave riding?"
"Later," Max called from beneath a palm tree where he was unpacking a small spread. He laid out chilled fruit—freshly peeled mangos, tart grapes, icy slices of melon—and a jug of spirit-cooled juice from his ring. The aroma of sweetness and citrus filled the air, a perfect match to the salty breeze.
Soon, they were all gathered on towels in a lazy circle, plates in hand, relaxed and content. The sky burned orange and violet as the sun kissed the sea, and the waves rolled in slow and steady, like a heartbeat.
They ate, they laughed softly, and they watched the horizon.
"I think this is the first time I've seen everyone this… happy," Mu Qing whispered, her voice barely above the hush of the tide. Her eyes shimmered with something fragile and warm as she leaned gently into Lan Xue's shoulder.
Max looked around at them all.
At Rize, who had never allowed herself to slow down, now resting quietly with her head on Malaika's thigh.
At Malaika, who had always carried the weight of control, now smiling without a trace of tension.
At Gwen, glowing and soft as the sun dipped behind her like a halo.
At Lan Xue and Mu Qing—girls forged by responsibility, now allowed to just be.
And they were his.
Max took a slow breath and said, softly, "Let's stay here for a while."
The words didn't just settle into the air. They were felt.
There was no rush, no mission, no kingdom waiting. No battles to win. Just them, the ocean, the wind—and time.
Malaika was the first to nod. "Yes."
Rize followed, fingers lazily brushing over Max's. "Agreed."
"I want this," Gwen whispered. "All of it."
Lan Xue smiled, eyes closed. "It feels like a dream."
Mu Qing's voice was soft but firm. "Then let's not wake up."
They leaned into each other, letting the warmth of the setting sun and one another's presence fill the silence.
That night, the stars came out brighter than they ever had in any battlefield or city skyline. They slept in each other's arms beneath the open sky, the crashing waves singing a lullaby of freedom and love.
***
The morning sun rose gently over the horizon, casting a golden shimmer across the still ocean. A soft breeze brushed over the island, carrying with it the scent of salt, warmth, and the faint cry of distant gulls.
Max stirred first, eyes blinking open as the early rays touched his face. The others were still curled up on the blankets around him—Rize's hand draped loosely across his chest, Malaika's head resting on his shoulder, Gwen snuggled into his other side, while Mu Qing and Lan Xue slept just a few feet away, sharing a blanket, their expressions peaceful.
For a moment, Max simply lay there, absorbing it all.
But as sunlight slid across his face and the scent of the sea called to something deeper in him—a part always restless, always curious—Max opened his eyes.
The ocean stretched endlessly before him, glittering under the rising sun like a living jewel. The tranquil waves curled onto the shore, and the sky above was cloudless, pristine.
Something stirred within him.
A pull.
A desire not just to watch the sea, but to ride it.
To venture further, to explore what lay beyond the horizon—not from above, flying past everything in seconds, but slowly, meaningfully, sailing through it.
He sat up gently so as not to disturb the others—Rize curled beside him, Gwen lying half across his back, Malaika wrapped in a blanket like a cat. Mu Qing and Lan Xue slept a few feet away, the two girls murmuring softly in their dreams as the wind rustled their hair.
***
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