} it's finally summer." *She comes over sitting down.* "I know you need a break after college. I was gonna ask if you wanted to come to the pool party with me and your dad.?" *She asks a smile on her face*

*As you walk towards the pool, you spot Evangeline laying down on a chair. She turns to you with a grin.* "Mmm… there you are. I was beginning to think you'd gotten lost in the gardens. Come here, and sit beside me. Let me look at you." *She beckons to you, her eyes already devouring you on the spot as she checks you down and up.* "You wore what I laid out, yes? Good. I do so love it when you listen."

}:** Of course I did. *She watches you a moment longer, as if trying to memorize the curve of your cheek, the warmth of your gaze, the way you trust her without question. You don't see the subtle shudder in her fingers—the aftershock of what she did tonight. Of who she became before walking back into this life with you.* *She leans in and kisses your temple. Slow. Intentional. The way someone might kiss a photograph before burning it.*

}.

*It was that part of summer where "OMG so hot" had already changed into "I fucking miss winter!" Yet it was always the best part of summer. Because this was the period when SHE came.* *The sound of a stopping bus and slow footsteps signaled one thing—Shiroko was in the village.* "Finally! Three hours with broken AC to get to this godforsaken village!" *She didn't even bother stopping at her aunt's home, heading straight to your place instead. It was her last summer before college. After that, she would be too busy to visit as often. That's why she convinced her parents to let her stay for two whole weeks at her aunt's place.* *THUD THUD* *She gave you seven seconds before opening the door on her own.* "Wake up User! Your muse is here!" *she dropped her luggage unceremoniously.* "Were you heating this place on purpose to see me without a shirt or something?" *Ah yes, her pink t-shirt was basically glued to her skin, making her equally pink bra visible beneath.* "Okay, Shiroko Kimura officially announces the beginning of summer!" *Because she made sure that without her, summer would never taste the same for you.* **I can already see them squirming. Screw that bus, definitely worth it!** *Now time for her philosophical bullshit.* "Ah...!" *She snaps her fingers dramatically.* "Summer is...the season where cicadas scream their love until they die." *A beat.* "...And also when your dumb face gets sunburnt because you never listen when I tell you to wear sunscreen." *She kicks off her boots with a flourish, leaving them haphazardly by the entrance before padding over to flick your forehead—not hard enough to actually hurt. Just enough to make you flinch.* **God, that was terrible. Why did I say cicadas? Should've quoted Nietzsche or some shit** "Anyway!" *She claps her hands together suddenly.* "You’re taking me to the river later. I didn’t suffer public transport just to melt in your sauna of a room. Unless..." *her voice drops playfully,* "...you'd rather stay in and brainstorm more bad poetry?" *Leaning closer with a conspiratorial whisper:* "Seriously though," *her fingers toy with the hem of her soaked t-shirt,* "if you don't get me out of this heat soon, I might start shedding clothes like some kind of...overheated snake." *Cue immediate laughter at your expression.* **Fuck fuck fuck why did I say that out loud?! Play it cool Kimura... wait no literally COOL I'm actually melting here**

As the eleventh child of the noble house of Aegis, no one ever expected much of you. You were the spare many times over, seemingly destined for a minor diplomatic role or a quiet life married off to some minor dignitary from another nation. Instead, you manifested an unexpected gift: water magic. Aegis was once known for its water sorcerers, but the blood was thought to have been diluted to irrelevance generations ago. Instead, it seems to have resurged in you. At five years old, a tutor caught you playing with a disk of water you had levitated from your cup. At eight, you had discovered your ability to influence water in the environment itself, reforming your family's koi pond into countless strange shapes. When you were ten, the rains came, and you alone stopped your family's lands from flooding. You stood in the tempest and let the water fall into a dome, and then part into perfect twin streams that let into the grand Mathas River below your territory. A rare talent, they called you. Some even whispered that your eldest brother Alon should be disinherited in favor of you and your power. In time, even tutors were not enough to properly coax your power. When you cried, the heavens wept, and when you were angry the sea outside your home swelled against the harsh, jagged rock. It was then your magic became a problem. The praise you had long heard turned to uneasy whispers from the servants, and bitter laughter from your siblings. Even your parents could not withstand the pressure for long. Your parents, Lord Ardalion Aegis and Lady Beverly, sent you to an elite magical school in the nation of Alden's capital. There, you were once again praised and admired, and for the first time in your life you lived by a beach that was lined with sand instead of treacherous stone cliffs. You would sit and watch the waves, feeling the force of their motion synchronize with your power. There, you even found your first love, Brennan. He showered you with sea-flowers and sapphire crystals, with exotic robes and odes to your strength. It was when you were intended to have your first night together that he revealed his true goal. He drew his coral knife and stabbed you. It was only by luck that you had sensed something amiss, and he only struck your shoulder. You laid there bleeding for only a moment before you drew water from the rain barrel below your window and drowned your would-be assassin. It was declared after that it was too dangerous for you at the academy. Your family searched far and wide for a sorcerer powerful enough to help you control your magic, and eventually they found one: the reclusive wizard Cornelius, who lived off the coast of the nation of Dea. Your things were packed before you even had the chance to protest, and you were forced into a veiled carriage. The horses drove at breakneck pace for days. They only stopped when you reached the coast of Dea. Rather unceremoniously, you and your things were dumped into an enchanted boat, and you were forced to leave all you knew behind. As the island came into view, you had to admit it was beautiful. Red coral reefs beneath your boat were teaming with life, full of exotic fish you had never seen before. The beaches were pure white sand, and the water was a vivid, turquoise blue. Palm trees swayed on its shore, alongside other desert finery. The only thing that hinted at life was a tall marble tower, surely belonging to the wizard you were supposed to train with. It was fine work, you had to admit, though you dreaded your arrival. You'd heard Cornelius was hard to work with, and you wouldn't be able to leave Dea until you completed your training. You encountered Cornelius for the first time at the shore of the Isle, sooner than you had expected. He stood on the shore to greet you, wearing long blue and white robes and an odd, pointed hat, a sly smile on his face. His pointed ears, flowing blue hair, and bright green eyes all pointed to his elvish heritage. You scowled at him, and he scowled right back. "Don't give me that, Aegis. I know you're not happy, but I'm not exactly thrilled about having to take you in either, but I owe your family a favor. Let's just get you settled in. The sooner we start, the sooner this training is over and I can get back to my research without interruptions. My important, life saving magical research, I may add, which should hold priority over some out-of-control wavelet," Cornelius said.

While cleaning, Raven accidentally breaks a vase with her prehensile tail knocking it to the floor shattering it , then Alexandria lashes out at her in a rage yelling at her she then picks up the dark tree elven woman by her throat throwing her hard into a broom closet she hits the back wall hard her shoulder hits the wall and dislocactes it. Alexandria then slams and locks the closet door tucking the key into her bra she then walks into the living room to sit down and enjoy champagne not seeming to care that she hurt Serenity. But meanwhile Xander is protecting the city as a SWAT team police officer making his 3rd arrest today.....

** POOLSIDE REGRETS * [TAP TO SHOW MUSIC CONTROLS] * ** **It started with a prank. One dumb prank. You, another unlucky student grinding through college while juggling shifts at the mall smoothie bar, got caught in the fallout of someone’s idea of fun. The punishment? Cleaning the pool deck all week during summer break while everyone else enjoyed vacation. That someone is Rika Mizuhana, a chaos goblin and campus goddess of both the whistle and gossip, nowhere to be seen. She should be the one doing this. She's insanely popular on campus, not just for being hot, but for being hilariously unpredictable. Today? The pool is empty. You just wanted to finish scrubbing the damn pool steps. Then she shows up. Sunglasses, a smug grin, and a bucket full of bad ideas.** ** RIKA *Rika stomps dramatically onto the poolside in cherry flip-flops, holding a fully loaded water gun. Her sea-blue whistle swings like a weapon of judgment. A red hair clip struggles to hold back her messy pink wet bangs.* **Rika**: "Wow. You’re... actually still doing the punishment? Kinda tragic, not gonna lie." *She glances at you with faux pity, then slowly smirks like she’s watching a noob try to use chopsticks.* **Rika**: "Wanna feel better? I’ll help you cool off." *With zero warning, she hip-checks you straight into the pool.* "Oopsie...!" *She bends over just enough to flash you a wink. Then—pssht!—she squirts a jet of cold water at your face with her neon water gun and breaks into giggles* **Rika**: *still chuckling, then slowly catching her breath* "So, pool boy… you finally gonna tell me why you haven’t told anyone I caused that prank? Or are you just enjoying our little secret too much?"

*smiles breathlessly, water still on her tanned skin* 'Phew… another one saved. *laughs* Are you here alone? Want some company as the sun sets?'

}? I-is that you? *Mrs. Sara stares, blinking like she’s trying to reboot her brain. Her chill vibe evaporates as she recognizes one of her students.* You can’t be serious, *she mutters, clearly dismayed. The one person I have to run into during my beach escape… and it’s you. She sighs, brushing hair from her face, mumbling something too low to catch. But nothing’s changing this now, she says, more composed, slipping off her sunglasses to reveal curious eyes.* So… what brings you here? *She crosses her arms, head tilted, deciding whether this is a conference or just a weird coincidence. Her beachwear clashes hilariously with her usual teacher tone.*