The night air on the beach carried the smell of charcoal and sea salt as the last few preparations were made.
Max stood beside the grill with a pair of tongs in his hands, turning a piece of meat while small orange flames licked the metal grate.
Nina stood next to him holding a plate, occasionally handing him another skewer.
For a while, neither of them spoke. The quiet crackle of the fire filled the space between them.
Then Nina broke the silence.
"So," she said casually, "what will you be doing now? Training as usual?"
Max flipped another skewer.
"I don't have anything planned," he replied. "I don't even think I'll be doing any meaningful training for a while."
That alone was unusual enough for Nina to raise an eyebrow.
Max continued.
"I'll probably relax for the first time in a long time."
He paused briefly before adding,
"That might change if I ever manage to get the Time Ring."
At the mention of it, Nina unconsciously looked down at her hand.
The silver ring resting on her finger gleamed faintly under the firelight.
Without thinking, she began rubbing it with her thumb.
She hesitated for a moment before speaking again.
"How important is it… to what you want to do?"
Max shrugged slightly as he adjusted the grill.
"It's important," he admitted.
Nina took a breath.
"Because… if you want… I can give it to you."
Her voice carried quiet determination.
Max immediately looked at her.
For a moment, the crackling fire was the only sound between them.
"I'm not going to lie to you," Max said calmly. "It is important."
Nina's hand tightened slightly around the ring.
"But," Max continued, "it's not worth your life."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"I'm willing to wait until I get my own in time."
Nina stared at him for a moment before her gaze slowly drifted down to the sand.
"Oh… I see."
Her fingers stopped rubbing the ring.
Silence settled between them again.
But something was still bothering her,she'd asked him thus question before but his answer really felt like a lie but maybe this time he'll come clean.
"How did you even come across the Time Ring?" she asked as Max paused.
"Something as powerful as this isn't exactly something people just stumble upon."
Max turned another skewer slowly.
"It's a long story."
"Then make it short."
He glanced sideways at her.
"I know someone who can make them."
Nina stared at him and for several seconds she didn't say a word.
Then she spoke again, completely unimpressed.
"Okay," she said flatly.
"I want the long version."
Max let out a small chuckle.
"I told you. It's a long story."
"That's fine."
She crossed her arms and leaned slightly against the cooler behind her.
"I don't have anything to do at the moment," she said. "So I'm willing to listen."
Max looked at her for a moment.
Then he smirked slightly.
"Alright then."
He turned the skewer one last time.
Inside his mind, however, a completely different thought ran through his head.
This is probably going to be the biggest lie he's ever told.
Because no matter what happened,no matter who asked,Max would never tell anyone about the system.
Meanwhile, a short distance away, Diana was helping Thena and Terra set up the fireworks.
Several launch tubes had already been pushed into the sand, all angled carefully toward the open ocean.
Terra crouched down, adjusting one of the tubes to make sure it wouldn't tip over.
Thena stood nearby holding a lighter, occasionally kicking sand around in boredom.
Diana knelt beside them, pressing another launcher firmly into place.
Then Thena suddenly spoke.
"Hey, Mom."
Diana glanced up at her.
"Yes?"
Thena hesitated for a moment, as if trying to figure out how to phrase the question.
"What's it like… living on Paradise Island?"
Terra paused what she was doing.
Her curiosity was clearly piqued as well.
Diana sat back lightly in the sand, brushing a few grains from her hands as she considered the question.
For a moment her gaze drifted toward the horizon.
"It's peaceful," she said at last.
"There are forests that stretch for miles. Ancient temples older than most civilizations."
Her voice softened slightly as she continued.
"And the ocean surrounding the island is so clear that you can see the reefs beneath the water from the cliffs above."
Thena listened closely.
Then she tilted her head.
"Not gonna lie," she said honestly, "that sounds kinda boring."
Terra immediately smacked her on the shoulder.
"Ow!" Thena protested.
"What? I said it looked nice!"
Diana couldn't help but laugh softly.
"There is more to it than scenery," she said.
"There is training every day. Combat, strategy, history."
She brushed a bit more sand from her hands.
"And there are creatures living there that can be found nowhere else on Earth."
Thena's interest immediately returned.
"What kind of creatures?"
Diana smiled slightly.
"Large ones."
Thena grinned.
"Okay, now that sounds interesting."
Terra crossed her arms thoughtfully.
"It sounds… impressive," she admitted.
Diana looked at both of them.
"Many warriors there would enjoy meeting you," she said.
Thena immediately pointed at herself.
"Obviously."
Terra rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the smile on her face.
When the laughter died down, Thena spoke again..
"It sounds like a place from legends," she said thoughtfully. "I'd like to go there one day… and meet my grandmother."
Diana looked at her for a moment before answering.
"It's about time you met her."
Thena blinked.
"Really?"
"Yes," Diana said seriously. "But first I have to speak with Max about it. If everything goes well, we can depart for Paradise Island a day from now."
For a moment Thena just stared at her.
Then she suddenly tackled Diana in a tight hug.
Diana laughed softly as she wrapped an arm around her daughter and gently rubbed her back.
"I take it that means you agree."
"Of course I do!" Thena said into her shoulder.
Before the moment could last any longer, Nina's voice rang out from near the grill.
"Two minutes!"
Thena's eyes widened.
"Shoot!"
She quickly separated from the hug and sprinted back toward the fireworks.
Terra was already crouched beside the launch tubes, making sure everything was still lined up correctly.
"You almost forgot the most important part of the night," Terra said dryly.
"I didn't forget," Thena replied as she grabbed the lighter. "I was just…occupied."
Terra rolled her eyes but took her own lighter anyway.
Everyone slowly gathered near the fireworks.
The wind carried the distant sound of waves rolling across the dark shoreline.
The sky above them was clear and endless.
Nina checked the small clock in her hand.
"Ten seconds!" she called.
Thena immediately raised her lighter.
"Alright! Here we go!"
Everyone joined the countdown.
"Ten!"
"Nine!"
"Eight!"
"Seven!"
"Six!"
"Five!"
"Four!"
"Three!"
Thena and Terra crouched beside the first fuse.
"Two!"
Both of them lit it at the same time.
The fuse sparked violently, sending bright orange sparks across the sand.
"ONE!"
A rocket shot into the sky with a loud hiss.
For a brief moment there was silence as it climbed higher and higher.
Then BOOM!
A massive explosion of red and gold lit up the night sky.
More rockets followed immediately, screaming upward before bursting into brilliant showers of light.
Green,Blue,Pink.
The ocean reflected the explosions like a living mirror.
The group shouted together over the thunder of fireworks.
"Happy New Year!"
Thena laughed loudly as another firework launched beside her.
Terra shook her head but couldn't hide her smile.
Nina lit another fuse while watching the sky with quiet satisfaction.
And a few steps behind them,Max stood with his arms folded, watching the fireworks bloom across the horizon.
For a brief moment…he smiled a genuine smile.
End of Chapter
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