Aqua looked around the campus for Azure. Her senses led her near the dorm's entrance, where her eyes fell on her dearest friend. The champion seemed deep in thought, unaware of Aqua.
"Azu!" She shouted.
The girl lifted her head, and her expression changed. She dashed forward and wrapped her hands around Aqua. "I waited for hours!"
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Professor Mia held me up." She spoke awkwardly.
Azure grabbed Aqua's shoulders and peeled her off herself ."What did she want?"
"I just taught her some things." She said, scratching her cheek.
Azure grimaced and stepped back, her mouth slightly agape. "Do I need to cover up a murder?"
Aqua chuckled and turned her hide to the side. "I am not some murderer."
"Just kidding~." She said while giving Aqua a sly wink.
Azure grabbed her arm and pulled her into the dorm building.
The duo reached their room's door and quickly made their way in. The room was completely dark and silent, and on top of one bed, Aqua noticed a person lying on her back, her head dangling from the side.
"Sheira is asleep already? Are you having any issues seeing in the dark? I prefer not to wake her with a burst of light." She whispered, leaning toward Azure.
Aqua crossed her arms and approached Sheira. She reached toward her and tapped her nose, making the girl groan and roll back onto her bedding.
"She needs her rest," Aqua said.
"I suppose it would be bad to judge her for sleeping early," Azure said, sighing.
Azure smiled and dropped onto her bed.
"Tomorrow, we only have practical casting. Did you make Mia increase the difficulty?" She spoke, her head tilting.
"Not at all," Aqua responded. "She asked if she should make some changes because of me, but I told her it would not be wise."
Azure kicked her legs and collapsed onto her back. Her gaze wandered to the empty ceiling. "While I am really enjoying this downtime, I really have a bad feeling about our nation."
Aqua approached and sat next to her. "Do you need to tell me about it? I am here for you, you helped me, and I want to help you."
Azure shook her head, "It's something we need to worry about, it's just that as a champion I can't afford to shut off my thoughts completely."
Really? Come on, Azu. You have done more for me than you realize.
She rolled her eyes at the words coming out of her friend. "Didn't I tell you I won't let this kingdom be destroyed? It is my home, and everything I hold dear is right here. If your enemies dare do so, I will not rest until the world is a burning husk."
A warm smile appeared on Azu's face, who quickly sprang out of the bed and wrapped herself around Aqua, before pulling her on top of herself. "Do you remember that you told me that you don't want to be involved in politics?"
Her face gained a small blush. "There is a difference between politics and existential crisis." She spoke softly, her head pushed against Azure's chest.
"Maybe if the situation looks dire, but I really want to spare you from helping us more than you already did, you saved us from Lira just recently."
Aqua squirmed before Azure pulled her closer to herself. "I suppose…"
"Azu, why did you drag me to our bedroom? Didn't you want to do something outside?"
"Do I need to? I have everything I want right in my arms~," Azure teased while squeezing Aqua.
Aqua closed her eyes. "I do enjoy your embrace."
"Good, let me enjoy this, and then we can go eat dinner."
"Sure."
Aqua placed her leg over Azure and hugged her tightly.
I really love her.
After some minutes of warm embrace, the duo separated.
Aqua patted down her clothing and grabbed Azure's hand before pulling her off.
"Good thing she is asleep," Azure whispered while staring at Sheira.
"Yeah," Aqua said while pinching her chin. "Let me just inspect her, then we can head out."
Azure stepped behind Aqua, making sure she made contact with her heroine's body. "Of course."
Aqua placed her hand on Sheira's chest, and her eyes glowed faint blue.
The princess squirmed uncomfortably. "Sheira."
She sucked in her lips and stared at Sheira. The power she felt mere days ago paled in comparison to what she felt now.
"She has enough divinity to wipe this kingdom off the map. She is almost at the level of a mature mid-tier goddess." Her voice trembled.
"That doesn't sound good."
Azure separated from Aqua and sat at the edge of Sheira's bed.
"Her Aether is stable, and she merely needs to learn to control it." She spoke, her teeth gritting.
"However, her divinity is as strong as the strongest of spirits. If she learned to harness it, she could give the established gods a lot of trouble."
She pulled her hand back. "I need to teach her how to control it as soon as possible. I made a mistake by only focusing on her aether control."
"Can you handle it? I do not want to have to tell Soleah that her daughter is a time bomb."
"Yeah, I can. Divinity is just like aether after all. But that temporal fragment is making her growth speed on par with mine, or perhaps even faster." Aqua spoke before rising to her feet and turning to Azure. "We should let her sleep, interrupting her will do her no good."
Azure nodded. "Let's go get dinner then."
She grabbed Aqua's hand and pulled her toward the door. "Also, would you like to share a bed tonight? I want to feel your warmth, even if you aren't mine just yet~."
She got so bold. I don't really sleep, though. She shrugged. "Eh, why not?"
Azure pulled her after herself. "Great! Let's enjoy a dinner then!"
"Sure, I am looking forward to it too." She said with a smile adorning her face.
The door clicked behind them, and the duo headed out, leaving the young goddess to receive her growing rest.