[Third Person’s PoV]

Thalia kept her arms around Lucian’s neck as they kissed by the lake, his hands resting on her waist and back. They were pressed against each other, their lips never parting.

When they finally did pull away, their faces remained close, eyes meeting before they both chuckled softly.

“I think we should slow down,” Thalia said, brushing her fingers against Lucian’s lips. “Our lips are starting to get chapped.”

Lucian smirked and kissed her hand. “We both have healing abilities. We’ll be fine.”

Thalia rolled her eyes and wiped his lip with her thumb, caressing it softly. “Is this really how you want to spend the rest of our date? Glued to each other’s faces?”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” Lucian mused.

“It is. Being stuck with you more than I have to? Sounds like torture.” She let out a dramatic sigh.

“Wow.” Lucian blinked at her exaggerated exasperation. “And here I thought we were having a moment.”

“We were,” Thalia said, crossing her arms, “but it’s over now. Our relationship wouldn’t be the same if I couldn’t be mean to you.”

Lucian chuckled. “Fair point.” He suddenly gripped her waist.

Thalia raised a brow, glancing down at his hands. “Watch it, mister. What are you—”

“Have a safe trip,” Lucian grinned before launching her into the sky.

“LUCIAAAAAAN! YOU BASTARD! I’M GOING TO KILL YOU!” Thalia screamed as she soared upward.

From her vantage point, she could see the entire lake before gravity pulled her back down. Narrowing her eyes, she extended a hand. The air around her swirled, gathering into a sphere of blue energy. When she clenched her fist, the energy solidified into a massive, ornate spear with a glowing spearhead and flowing blue chains near the tip.

Adjusting her posture midair, she cocked her arm back.

“EAT SHIT, YOU BASTARD!” she roared, hurling the spear toward Lucian.

The air cracked as the weapon tore through the sky, leaving a shockwave in its wake.

Lucian smirked, extending a hand to the side. Darkness rippled along his arm, coalescing into a long, jagged blade.

With a powerful push, he propelled himself into the air, the water below rising in small waves from the force. As Thalia’s spear neared, he swung his blade upward, meeting the attack head-on.

The moment their weapons clashed, a brilliant flash of light burst between them, followed by an explosion of energy.

Lucian was sent flying backward, skipping across the water’s surface. Thalia, meanwhile, landed gracefully on the lake, skidding across the surface tension.

Before the water broke beneath her, she surged forward in a burst of lightning, splitting the lake in her wake.

Lucian steadied himself midair, thrusters igniting beneath his feet. The force sent ripples across the water as he leaned forward, fire erupting from his palms to propel him at blinding speed.

Both shot toward each other—one a streak of blue lightning, the other a spinning blur of red and black flames.

Their speeds intensified until Thalia became a sphere of crackling blue electricity, arcs of lightning dancing across the water’s surface.

Lucian spun wildly, his body engulfed in swirling black and red flames, the heat beneath him turning the lake’s surface into steam.

The moment they collided, both aimed for a high kick—legs meeting midair in a violent clash. The impact unleashed a shockwave so intense it sank the water beneath them, sending a massive wave rippling outward.

As the water settled, Thalia and Lucian remained in the center of the lake, locked in a contest of strength. Despite still being in their bathing suits, they fought fiercely, muscles tensed.

Thalia gritted her teeth, determined to overpower Lucian, while he grinned, sharp canines showing.

Their legs trembled against each other—mostly from Thalia’s efforts to push Lucian back.

Then, with a sudden shift, Lucian hooked his leg around hers and dragged them both into the water.

A massive pillar of water erupted skyward, shimmering blue before crashing back down in a foamy white cascade.

…

Lucian and Thalia floated aimlessly on the surface of the lake, water drizzling around them in a light shower.

“Lucian… I detest your guts,” Thalia said, completely deadpan.

Lucian turned his head toward her, smirking. “Come on, even you have to admit that was badass as hell, right?”

Thalia scoffed, but an inexplicable smile tugged at her lips.

Lucian raised his hands, inspecting his pruney fingers. “Anyway, my hands are already turning wrinkly. Let’s get out of here.”

Thalia glanced at her own hands and sighed. “Agreed…”

“Race you back to the docks?” Lucian suggested, grinning.

“Oh, you’re on. If there’s one thing I’m confident in, it’s my speed,” Thalia said, flipping over in the water.

“Alright, some ground rules first,” Lucian said, swimming next to her. “No elemental abilities—just a straight-up swimming race to see who’s the fastest.”

Thalia smirked. “Why? Afraid I’ll win?”

Lucian rolled his eyes. “I could teleport and win in an instant.” To prove his point, darkness swirled around him, and he disappeared—only to reappear on the dock a second later. Then, just as quickly, he was back in the water. “This is just for your benefit.”

Thalia clicked her tongue. “Fine. No abilities.”

Lucian chuckled at her annoyed expression. They both lined up in the middle of the lake, side by side.

“Ready?” he asked.

Thalia nodded.

“Go!” Lucian dove in and started swimming.

“What?! No countdown?!” Thalia shouted in disbelief before quickly diving in after him.

She kicked her legs rapidly, slicing through the water, her arms working furiously to catch up. But Lucian was already ahead—his extraordinary strength giving him a natural advantage. Each stroke propelled him forward with powerful, practiced precision.

Still, Thalia wasn’t one to back down. She was right on his tail, her natural speed more than enough to contend with his raw power in the water.

Lucian, ever the showoff, spun around mid-swim to look at her, grinning. He started swimming backward, hands behind his head, even pretending to yawn.

Then, with a powerful kick, he surged forward and broke through the surface, launching himself into the air. He landed firmly on the dock, grinning triumphantly.

A moment later, Thalia’s head popped out of the water. She gasped for air, wiped her face, and glared up at Lucian. “Cheater.”

“How so?” Lucian asked innocently, offering her a hand.

“For starters, you didn’t do a countdown and took off before I was ready,” she grumbled, taking his hand.

“For one I did ask if you were ready–” Lucian barely had time to process what was happening before Thalia yanked him back into the water.

Now standing on the dock, she smirked down at him. “Also, you aren’t the only one that can play dirty. You’re the last one out, so I win.”

Lucian resurfaced, shaking his head before pulling himself back up. Grabbing his towel, he tossed Thalia’s to her. “Well, I suppose I’ll let you have this one, considering you had to resort to dirty tactics.”

“You were the first to play dirty!” Thalia shot back as they both began drying off.

Lucian draped his towel over his shoulders and smirked. “Doesn’t matter. What’s important is that I made us lunch. Interested?”

Thalia arched an eyebrow. “How? You only came up with this date idea five minutes before we left.”

Lucian grinned smugly. “The great thing about shadow clones? I get to have all the fun while they do all the work.”

Thalia chuckled. “You really went out of your way to prepare, huh?”

Lucian took her hand and placed a gentle kiss on the back of it, bowing dramatically. “Of course. I could never disappoint my beautiful lady.”

His damp hair fell over his face, somehow making him look even more charming. A faint blush dusted Thalia’s cheeks, but she quickly shook it off, snatching her hand back and smacking him lightly on the head.

“Let’s just go, you clown.”

Lucian grinned. “Am I at least your clown?”

Thalia snorted. “Yeah—my own personal royal jester.”

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