Aquarius first glanced at the tall Kabe. Recognizing his familiar face, she gave him a somewhat friendly nod.
Then her expression darkened as she sized up the stunned Sorano from head to toe.
Her gaze quickly fell on the small pouch at Sorano's waist that held Celestial Spirit keys, and she sensed the familiar presence from within.
"Tch. Another Celestial Spirit Mage. No wonder you were spouting that crap about 'masters.'
Listen up, little girl. I am not like those three idiots, Scorpio and the Gemini twins.
If you want to be my master, I do not care even if you are the Celestial Spirit King. It is not happening."
"Scorpio is an idiot? Isn't he your boyfriend? You are really calling him that?"
Before Sorano could even process that bombshell, Kabe could not help but cut in.
Aquarius whipped her head around, brows knitting together as she floated up to him.
She flew right into his personal space, one hand on her hip, one finger poking his chest, eyes blazing.
"Listen, brat. Do not think that just because we know each other a little, you can put words in my mouth.
Who would like some idiot who thinks his cringey posing is cool when he actually looks cheap as dirt?
Next time you talk, watch yourself. Got it?!"
With Aquarius practically pressed against him, her fair curves all but squashed against his chest, Kabe hurriedly took a step back, raising both hands in surrender.
"Sorry, sorry, my bad. I trusted a rumor without checking.
As an apology, how about you stay and join our picnic?"
He crouched down and spread the blanket out again, then made a gentlemanly "please" gesture toward the two women.
Aquarius snorted proudly, then looked back toward the other side of the stream where the water had receded and Lucy was wobbling to her feet like a drowned chick.
Only then did she nod.
"Since that stupid brat went out of her way to summon me, I guess I will chat for a bit."
With that, she sat down on the blanket without a hint of politeness.
Her beautiful posture, skin like carved jade, and sapphire like mermaid tail shimmered even more mesmerizingly under the sunlight.
Kabe could not help admiring the view for a couple of seconds before waving a hand in front of the still dazed Sorano.
"Alright, stop standing there like an idiot.
If you cannot understand how Lucy and Aquarius get along, you will never surpass Lucy as a Celestial Spirit Mage in this life."
He did not wait for Sorano to respond. With a light jump, he flew back across the stream and scooped up the soaking wet, shivering Lucy.
...
"Hmph. At least that kid has decent taste. Lucy is stupid, but in terms of talent as a Celestial Spirit Mage, she is without a doubt the strongest in this era."
Aquarius actually praised Lucy for once, a hint of pride in her tone.
Even the way she looked at Kabe now carried a bit more approval.
Only Sorano silently mulled over those words, not really understanding, but firmly engraving them in her heart.
...
"Ah… ah-choo!"
Lucy huddled in front of the fire, hugging herself and shivering as she sneezed.
Kabe took off his only remaining shirt and draped it over her shoulders. He tossed more branches into the fire, then teased her with a grin.
"You have gone through this so many times, you should be used to it by now. How are you still catching colds?"
'Because you kept me awake all night and I did not sleep at all!'
Lucy screamed in her heart, but what came out of her mouth was soft and pitiful.
"M maybe the stream water was just too cold.
I, I am still freezing. Can you hold me for a bit?"
Kabe glanced down at his bare chest, then up at Lucy's pale, chilled face.
Just as he was about to reluctantly agree, Aquarius suddenly floated over and yanked Lucy straight into her arms.
"Hmph. Useless brat. Humans really are fragile."
If this had been any other time, Lucy would have burst into tears from being treated so gently by Aquarius.
But right now, her rare chance to act pitiful and dive into Kabe's arms had been completely ruined, and she was one step away from crying for a different reason.
"Uu, Aquarius, you are freezing. I still want…"
"Shut it. Hold on a while and you will warm up."
Aquarius cut her off sharply.
Kabe could only shrug at Lucy.
"Alright then, I will leave you two to it. I am going to go find some more firewood."
Under Lucy's hopeful yet unwilling gaze, he turned and disappeared into the trees behind them.
The instant he was gone, Lucy's eyes went dull.
Aquarius's cold hands suddenly cupped her cheeks, turning her head so they were face to face.
Looking at Lucy's wronged, resentful expression, Aquarius slowly split into a chillingly wicked smile.
"Trying to seduce a man, huh? You are way too early for that."
The whisper was so low that only the two of them could hear it.
Lucy's eyes flew wide. She stared at Aquarius in disbelief and almost shouted on the spot.
But Aquarius did not give her the chance.
She pushed Lucy's head straight back into her chest and spoke loudly, making sure anyone nearby would hear something very different.
"Oh my, Lucy, your face is so cold. Let me warm it up for you."
Not far away, Sorano stared blankly at Aquarius's "gentle" expression and Lucy flailing "happily" in her arms.
For a moment, her emotions were a tangled mix of confusion, awe, and an odd, indescribable feeling.
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