Aisha opened the gate to the garden, letting Luna run into it. Luna turned while jogging backwards. "Thank you! Go rest in my room! Take the whole day off!"
With a smile, Aisha bowed while red creeped upon her cheeks. "Of course, Thank you my lady." A slight frown twitched her eyebrows as she turned and closed the gate, walking away.
Luna ran down the gravel path as the roses swung by on wind. "Brother!" she shouted as she watched Nyx turn his head. He sat under the old oak tree, enjoying his time under the old wood scent.
"Took you long… You finally made… Hi." Nyx pondered on each welcome in a short time but couldn't find any.
Standing up, he slid down the slight hill that the oak grew on, towards Luna. "Then, are you ready? It won't be easy, I'll make sure that it won't," he said with a grin as he came to a halt by the rose's, staring at Luna's face.
"Yes!" Luna said excitedly, her eyes glimmered as she looked at him. "So what are we going to do!" she said, adding I will make my time spent with brother to its fullest!
"Running…" he said while glancing over the gravel path that spanned across the garden circling the lake. "... So what are you doing? Go! Run."
"Now?" Luna asked.
"Yes! Go! Or if I catch you, you will have to do double the training intensity!" Nyx said with a grin.
A sweat fell down Luna's cheek as his words sunken in like a steady pain in her joints she has been experiencing lately. Luna nodded and dashed down the path, slowly turning as the path was turning to the right.
Heh, Father, I will make sure to prepare her well enough… No, I will prepare her more than enough, With a smile, Nyx dashed after Luna, screaming after her, "Just wait! I'll catch you!"
…
The first lap around the garden and sweat started falling steadily down Luna's face as her breath wavered.
"Are you sure you want to slow down?" Nyx shouted as he conjured a wind sword after whispering a spell: "gladius aereus."
The wind he gripped violently swung around before forming a vaguely sword form, sucking everything around into itself.
"Then make sure to dodge this!" Nyx shouted as he swung diagonally three times, sending sharp, thin wind slashes that violently cut through the air at Luna.
The slashes flew at Luna while leaving a gap to her right to escape from.
Luna felt a tingle down her neck, and she trusted the feeling, instinctively jumping to her right while looking over her shoulder—seeing Nyx, who has a grin on his face from ear to ear, running after her.
A small warm smile appeared on her face before turning into a grin of competition.
"Don't! Stop!" Nyx shouted as he began redoing the same attack pattern but randomly leaving a spot to dodge to.
He didn't leave Luna any time to think; just do it instinctively. Left, left, and unsuccessfully duck down at the place where the path curved. Luna didn't have any time to react; she stumbled and as she flew, the color drained from her face, smashing into the water surface and submerging underwater.
Luna's eyes shot wide, the cold a slap against her skin. Her breath hitched, gone. But the shock lasted only a second, washed away by a warm smile.
She stopped struggling. Let herself sink.
Her body turned in the water, weightless. Above, the world was a wobbling painting of light. She stared up at it, a calm smile touching her lips as she waited.
Nyx, seeing it, his eyes widened as he gritted his teeth, jumping after her into the water. Water bubbles formed around his form as he submerged himself as well, looking around for her. Noticing her to his right, he swam as fast as he could.
Grabbing her into his arms and swimming onto the surface, Nyx jumped onto the ground, placing Luna on grass. His hands trembling as Luna coughed, spitting the water that was lodged in her throat.
Hitting herself on the chest a few times as she sat up, coughing, she spat out the remaining water, saying, "Can we… Have a break? I'm really exhausted." She said while panting for air, regaining her stability.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't push you this hard."
"My selfish side blinded me again…" Nyx looked down, avoiding Luna's eyes.
"Haha! You're funny, brother!..." Luna laughed out loud while her blush and smile won over on her face.
Nyx's eyes wide open; his eye twitched as he observed Luna intensely before closing them. Ah, of course, I was foolish… Nyx thought while looking down at his hands.
Chuckling, he grabbed Luna and carried her inside the arbor. Luna laughed on the way to the arbor. Nyx sat her down onto the chair pinned to the railing.
Looking at Nyx, Luna lay down at the wooden hexagonal table while keeping her eyes on him. Her smile radiated a warm, gentle gaze.
Nyx couldn't help but look away as the blush crept in onto him.
"Thank you…" he murmured as he leaned in, looking at the clouds, tilting his head into the sky. As the water lily's calming scent reached both of them, Nyx took a deep breath and slowly exhaled; a slow smile slowly widened his corners as he closed his eyes.