Chapter 42: Sun, Sand, and Stolen Glances
Private Beach - Fiore Coast
The secluded stretch of coastline that Tycun had recommended proved to be everything he'd promised and more. Golden sand stretched for nearly a mile in both directions, bordered by crystal-clear water that sparkled under the afternoon sun. Rocky outcroppings provided natural privacy while gentle waves created a soothing rhythm that immediately began to wash away the tension of their recent missions.
"This is perfect," Levy said with obvious delight as she took in the pristine beach. "I can't remember the last time I saw water this clear."
"The magical currents in this area keep it naturally purified," Shiel explained as they set up their temporary camp near a cluster of palm trees. "It's one of the few places in the kingdom where you can swim without worrying about magical contamination from shipping routes."
"Plus," Teal added with a grin, "it's far enough from any towns that we won't have curious onlookers wondering why the prince is building sandcastles."
"I don't build sandcastles," Damian protested as he helped arrange their supplies in the shade.
"Yet," Rygon said with characteristic confidence. "The day is young, Your Highness."
As they finished setting up their beach camp, the group began the universal ritual of changing into swimming attire. The men had brought simple swim shorts, while Teal had opted for a practical one-piece that allowed for maximum mobility. But when Levy emerged from behind the privacy screen they'd erected, Damian felt his ability to form coherent thoughts temporarily desert him.
The bikini she wore was a deep blue that perfectly complemented her hair, elegant in its simplicity while highlighting every graceful curve of her figure. The top was modest but flattering, while the bottoms rode low on her hips in a way that emphasized her slender waist. But more than the swimwear itself, it was her confidence—the way she moved with unconscious grace, completely comfortable in her own skin—that made Damian's breath catch.
"Damian?" Levy asked with growing concern as she noticed his silence. "Are you alright? You look a bit... stunned."
"I'm..." Damian started, then stopped, acutely aware that his usual eloquence had completely abandoned him. "You look... absolutely breathtaking."
The words came out more intensely than he'd intended, carrying all the wonder and admiration he felt but hadn't planned to express quite so openly. Levy's cheeks immediately turned pink, while the Four Horsemen exchanged amused glances at their prince's obvious distraction.
"Thank you," Levy said softly, her voice slightly breathless at the sincerity in his tone. "You don't look too bad yourself."
And indeed, seeing Damian in simple swim shorts rather than his usual armor or formal attire was something of a revelation. His frame was leaner than his clothing suggested but clearly well-muscled from years of combat training, while his skin showed the pale complexion of someone who spent most of his time indoors studying or planning.
"Well," Teal said cheerfully, breaking the moment before it could become too intense, "now that we've established that everyone cleans up nicely, who's ready to actually enjoy the beach?"
"Last one in the water has to help Rygon with his hair routine for a week!" she added, sprinting toward the waves."Hey!" Rygon protested, but he was already running after her, followed quickly by Shiel and Tycun.
Damian and Levy found themselves momentarily alone on the sand, both still processing the charged moment that had just passed between them."Your compliment," Levy said quietly, looking down at her feet, "it was very... heartfelt."
"I meant every word," Damian replied honestly. "Levy, you're beautiful. Not just now, not just in that swimsuit, but always. I probably should have told you that before now."
"Damian..." she began, then smiled with the kind of radiance that made the afternoon sun seem dim by comparison. "Thank you. That means more to me than you know."
"COME ON, YOU TWO!" Teal's voice carried across the beach from where she was already waist-deep in the crystal-clear water. "THE WATER'S PERFECT!"
Hand in hand, they ran toward the waves, leaving behind the weight of royal duties and guild responsibilities for the simple pleasure of sun, sand, and the company of people who cared about them.
Hours Later
The afternoon had evolved into exactly the kind of peaceful enjoyment that none of them had realized they desperately needed. They'd swum in the clear water, built elaborate sand fortifications (with Damian proving surprisingly competitive about architectural accuracy), and engaged in various beach games that had dissolved into laughter more often than actual competition.
"Marco!" Teal called out from somewhere in the water, her eyes squeezed shut as she tried to locate the others in their impromptu game.
"Polo!" came the chorused response from five different directions, though Rygon's answer was noticeably closer to shore.
"Found you!" Teal declared, reaching out to tag what she thought was Rygon but turned out to be Tycun, who had been standing perfectly still in the deeper water.
"How did you get so close without me hearing you?" she demanded.
"Decades of tactical training," Tycun replied with his characteristic deadpan humor. "Stealth is part of the curriculum."
"That's cheating!"
"That's professionalism."
From their position lounging on the sand, Damian and Levy watched the water games with contentment. They'd taken a break from swimming to dry off and were now sitting close together on a large beach towel, sharing fresh fruit from their supplies while enjoying the warmth of the late afternoon sun.
"Thank you for this," Levy said, leaning slightly against Damian's shoulder as they watched their friends play in the waves. "I didn't realize how much I needed a completely peaceful day."
"Neither did I," Damian admitted, his arm coming up naturally to wrap around her shoulders. "When was the last time you saw Teal laugh that hard? Or Tycun actually participate in something purely for fun?"
"They needed this too," Levy observed. "All of you work so hard, carry so much responsibility. Sometimes you need to remember what you're protecting."
"Moments like this?"
"Exactly. Joy, friendship, the simple pleasure of being alive and safe and surrounded by people who care about you."
As if to illustrate her point, Shiel's rare laughter carried across the beach as Rygon apparently attempted some elaborate water-based maneuver that ended with him face-first in the sand.
"See?" Levy said with a smile. "Even Shiel is letting herself just be happy."
"I love seeing them like this," Damian said softly. "And I love that you're here to see it too."
The words carried implications that went beyond simple friendship, and they both felt the familiar electricity that seemed to spark between them whenever they acknowledged the depth of their connection.
"Damian," Levy began, turning slightly to face him more directly.
"Yes?""I want you to know that spending time with you and your friends... it's been some of the happiest moments of my life. Not just today, but all the time we've shared recently."
"Mine too," he replied, his emerald eyes holding hers with an intensity that made her heart race. "Levy, I—"
"INCOMING!" Rygon's voice interrupted whatever Damian had been about to say, followed immediately by a splash of cold seawater as the blonde knight executed what appeared to be a strategic retreat from whatever game had evolved in the waves.
"Sorry!" he called out, not looking particularly sorry as he grinned at the two of them. "Tactical maneuver!"
"We'll get revenge later," Damian said with mock seriousness, though he was smiling as he helped Levy brush droplets from her hair.
"I'm counting on it," she replied with a laugh.
As the sun began to set over the ocean, painting the sky in brilliant oranges and purples, the group gradually made their way back to their temporary camp. They were all pleasantly tired from the day's activities, their skin warm from sun and salt water, their spirits lighter than they'd been in months.
"We should do this regularly," Teal said as she toweled off her hair. "Maybe once a month, just to remind ourselves that there's more to life than missions and paperwork."
"Agreed," Shiel said immediately. "Today has been... therapeutic."
"Plus," Rygon added with a grin, "I got some excellent ideas for new equipment based on beach volleyball dynamics. The applications for combat coordination are fascinating."
"Only you would find tactical applications in beach games," Tycun observed with amusement.
"It's a gift," Rygon replied without shame.As they began packing up their supplies, Damian found himself reluctant for the day to end. The peaceful happiness of these hours, surrounded by his closest friends and the woman who had captured his heart, felt too precious to surrender to the return of normal responsibilities.
"Levy," he said quietly as they walked back toward the transportation portal he'd prepared, "would you... would you consider staying at headquarters tonight? As my guest, of course. We have comfortable guest quarters, and..."
"And?" she prompted gently."And I'd like to spend more time with you before you have to return to Fairy Tail obligations."
"I'd love to," Levy replied with a smile that made the evening stars seem dim by comparison. "Besides, I want to spend more time with my new grimoire. There are so many possibilities I haven't even begun to explore yet."
As the group prepared to return home, each carrying with them the memory of sun and laughter and the simple joy of friendship, Prince Damian E. Fiore realized that some victories had nothing to do with defeating enemies or saving kingdoms.
Sometimes victory was simply a perfect day at the beach with the people you loved most in the world.