Night in Nionderland.After an intense day of training, the heroes return to their quarters. The silence in the corridor is broken by soft footsteps and muffled laughter. In the girls' room, Rose settles into bed when Diana's sharp voice slices through the calm:
— Rose... is there something going on between you and Inavy? — Diana asks, her gaze as sharp as a blade.
Rose chokes on her own breath, eyes wide.
— M-Me and Inavy...? We're just friends... I think! — she tries to deflect, already suspecting Darius might have said something.
Diana crosses her arms and leans against the wall with a mischievous smile.
— "I think"? Hmmm... sounds like there's something going on. Look, if you like him, just say it. Men are slow. Especially a thunderhead like that one.
— And what about you and Lorien, sensei? Don't play dumb. That look between you two... there's chemistry.
Diana's smile fades for a second. She averts her gaze, remembering the kiss she shared with Lorien . The awkward silence says more than words.
— I don't know what you're talking about — Diana replies, trying to stay composed.
Meanwhile, in the boys' room...
A disturbing noise echoes through the room.PRRRRT!
— Darius, seriously?! Control that stinky ass of yours! — Inavy groans, waving the air with his hand.
— My bad, man! I think I overdid it with the royal dessert... — Darius says, laughing.
Another deadly fart explodes in the room.
— AGAIN?! Damn, you smell like a dead skunk, bro! — Inavy yells, nearly crying.
— Oh yeah? I don't complain about your tractor snoring! — Darius fires back with sarcasm. — "OHHH Chaotic Snore," powerful enough to destroy cities!
— What did you say?! — Inavy growls, getting up.
— What you heard, Oh Chaotic Snore, — Darius repeats with a big grin.
In the room next door, Diana and Rose hear everything. Both burst into laughter, trying not to scream from laughing so hard.
Morning in Nionderland.
On the training grounds, the two boys sweat in sync.Their strikes are fast, precise. Inavy's aura pulses with chaotic energy, while Darius's radiates solar heat. During a break, Inavy takes off his shirt to breathe.
Rose, watching from a distance with Diana and other heroines, widens her eyes.
— Wow... — slips out involuntarily.
Diana smirks, noticing Rose's look.
— Getting jealous?
Rose blushes.
— N-Not at all...
Darius soon follows suit, taking off his shirt too.
— Well, since we're doing this... — he says, revealing his well-trained body. The heroines nearly faint in unison.
— I SHIP THEM BOTH! — one of the girls yells.
Inavy rolls his eyes.
— Tch... ridiculous.
Later, in Nionderland's hot springs.
Inavy relaxes alone, surrounded by the soft steam of the hot water.Suddenly, a silhouette appears through the mist. A tanned-skinned girl with dark hair and a seductive smile approaches.
— I saw you training today... — she says softly. — Impressive...
— Uh? Who are you?
— My name's Nia. I work at the palace, one of the Queen's maids... but I can be more than that... if you want, — she says, moving dangerously closer.
— Whoa, hold on... — Inavy starts backing away. — I... I'm not looking for anything like that, thanks!
He runs out of the water, grabbing only a towel in a rush.In his escape… BAM! He crashes into Rose in the hallway.
She widens her eyes at the scene: Inavy wet, wrapped in a towel... and Nia behind him, also in a towel.
— R-Rose! This isn't what it looks like! — Inavy panics.
— Oh really? — she responds coldly. — You... pervert!
She storms off. Inavy stands frozen, still dripping, soul nearly leaving his body.
Night falls again over Nionderland.
In the garden, lit by floating crystals, Rose gazes at the sky when she hears footsteps. Inavy approaches slowly.
— Rose... what happened today was a misunderstanding. I swear. I was alone, she came after me.
— Oh, right... sure, didn't know that, — she says sarcastically.
Inavy sighs, taking a deep breath.
— Look... I told her I'm in love with someone else.
Rose turns her face, surprised.
— Oh yeah? And who would that be?
The wind blows, moving both of their hair. The silence between them feels eternal.
— That person... is you.
Rose's eyes sparkle for a moment, and then...
They kiss.The world seems to stop. The stars shine brighter. Their auras briefly harmonize in a golden and reddish glow.
From afar, Diana watches, hidden, with Darius beside her.
— Well, look at that... — Darius whispers.
— Shhh! — Diana covers his mouth. — Let them have their moment.
End of Chapter 54.