The crowd watches intently as the girl confidently stands on the edge of the well, her gaze locked onto Elandor in challenge. Elandor smirks but remains still for a moment.
"That was impressive. But if you really want to make an impact, try doing it with your eyes closed."
The girl tilts her head slightly, her eyes glimmering with excitement.
"Oh, so that's how we're playing? Fine."
Before anyone can say a word, she shuts her eyes, stretches her arms for balance, and starts walking along the well's edge.
The crowd holds its breath, the anticipation thick in the air.
The first step–steady.
The second step–still stable.
The third step–a slight wobble, but she corrects it quickly.
Elandor watches closely. She's bold, no doubt. But how long can she keep this up?
Varenoth, still dripping from his earlier fall into the well, observes with a quiet chuckle, shaking his head.
"If she falls, at least I won't be the only one."
The air is tense, as if the entire celebration is focused on a single movement. The lanterns flicker in the wind, and the music softens slightly, as if even the musicians are waiting to see what happens next.
Elandor watches the girl, who is still walking along the edge of the well with her eyes closed. Her movements are firm, but with each step, the risk grows.
A sudden gust of wind lifts her hair and makes the lantern above the well sway. The shifting light casts unexpected shadows, a small disturbance–just enough to throw off her concentration.
She wobbles for a moment, her weight tipping forward.
Elandor instinctively moves, ready to intervene, but the girl reacts quickly–she gathers momentum and attempts a small jump to recover her balance.
Each step the girl takes heightens the tension. Her balance is flawless, even as the wind lifts her hair and the lanterns above the well flicker unsteadily.
Elandor watches with his arms crossed, while Varenoth mutters under his breath:
"If she pulls this off, even I'll admit she's bolder than us."
She reaches the far side of the well, and the crowd is on the verge of cheering–when she does something completely unexpected.
She suddenly stops, tilts her head slightly, as if weighing her options.
Then, she grins–and instead of jumping down safely, she abruptly leans forward and dives straight into the water.
A loud splash.
For a moment, stunned silence.
Then, laughter explodes throughout the square.
Varenoth, still dripping from his own fall, stares in disbelief.
"Wait... she did that on purpose?!"
Elandor laughs, then steps closer to peer over the edge of the well. The girl surfaces, brushing her soaked hair back with a smirk.
"Sometimes, it's not about winning. It's about having fun!"
Elandor stands for a moment at the edge of the well, watching as the girl grins up at him from the water. Laughter still echoes across the square, the energy of the celebration surging as people cheer and raise their glasses.
Varenoth shakes his head, still drying himself off.
"You could at least attempt the challenge before giving up."
Elandor doesn't answer right away. He tilts his head slightly as if considering the situation, then suddenly smirks.
"No. I think I'll take the simpler approach."
Without any warning, he takes a step back, gathers momentum, and dives straight into the water.
The crowd gasps in surprise before erupting into even louder laughter. A massive splash sends water flying in all directions, forcing Varenoth to step back just in time.
Elandor surfaces, water dripping from his hair and clothes, but his face is lit with triumph.
The girl chuckles.
"See? In the end, you just had to do what I did."
Elandor wipes water from his face, slicking his hair back with a grin.
"Sometimes, the simplest solution is the best one."
Laughter still echoes through the square as Elandor and the girl climb out of the well, water streaming from their clothes. Varenoth waves a towel around, attempting to salvage what he can, though he's already resigned to his fate.
Then, a firm, familiar voice cuts through the celebration.
"Varenoth!"
The crowd instantly quiets. Standing at the doorway is a woman with her arms crossed–Varenoth's mother. Her gaze sweeps over the three soaked troublemakers before she lets out a sigh.
"All three of you–get inside and change into dry clothes. Now."
Varenoth blinks in defeat.
"But Mom, the fun was just getting started…"
She doesn't budge, merely raising an eyebrow.
Elandor glances at the girl, then back at Varenoth's mother.
"I don't think arguing will do much good."
The girl chuckles and shrugs.
"Fine. But I hope I get something warm to wear before I freeze."
The crowd erupts in laughter again as the three sheepishly make their way toward the house, Varenoth muttering under his breath about the injustices of life.
Varenoth adjusts the fresh shirt he's been given, still sulking as though his mother personally orchestrated the entire situation.
"Well, that was great. First, I fall into the water, then I get humiliated in front of the entire village, and now I'm forced to change before I catch a cold."
Elandor smirks, leaning back comfortably in his chair.
"At least you got dry clothes. I'm still debating whether to jump back in the well because my old shirt was more comfortable."
The girl chuckles, pulling the oversized coat tighter around herself–one that Varenoth's mother had given her.
"Neither of you can complain. I can't even recognize my own clothes underneath this mountain of fabric."
Elandor looks at her curiously.
"Now that we're clean and dry–maybe it's time we actually introduce ourselves, don't you think?"
Varenoth snorts.
"First, an insane night, then jumping into the water, and now a mother's command. And only now you think of introductions?"
The girl shrugs.
"Hey, we had to prove ourselves first, didn't we?"
Elandor extends his hand toward her.
"Elandor. Wandering traveler, occasional troublemaker, and sometimes wise advisor."
Varenoth rolls his eyes but steps forward.
"Varenoth. Usually quiet, except when I fall into water."
Both turn to the girl.
She pauses dramatically, as if preparing some grand statement, then finally grins.
"And I'm the one who dragged everyone into a challenge. Rivena. Bold, creative, and always ready to take the plunge."
Elandor chuckles.
"Well, Rivena, I'd say the three of us had quite an unforgettable night."
Varenoth sighs, dropping onto a chair.
"Unforgettable? More like chaotic. But maybe that's what made it fun."
Varenoth finally leans back in his chair, resigned to his fate, while Elandor is still adjusting his hair after the quick change of clothes. Meanwhile, the girl drums her fingers excitedly on the table.
"So..." Rivena starts with a mischievous smile, "Now that we've already been soaked, how about another adventure?"
Elandor raises an eyebrow.
"Personally, I enjoyed the swimming, but could this new adventure be a bit less cold?"
Rivena grins, leaning back.
"Oh, don't worry, it won't be cold. But it might be even more dangerous."
Varenoth sighs.
"Great. Now I really want to know what this is about."
Rivena leans forward at the edge of the table, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
"The mine and the lake. You know, at the edge of the town."
Elandor immediately pays attention.
"They say it's been closed off for years. Why?"
Rivena smirks.
"That's exactly what I want to find out. And I think you two are the perfect people to help me."