Aqua lay under the shade of a tree on a sturdy branch as she went through her current situation.
At the academy, things were going so far so good. Her performance as a student was as good as ever and her overall interactions with Melfina and Emilia were neither too aggressive nor too friendly.
Her relationship with Ellen and Christie was also at a comfortable standstill. Recently many people detached from Emilia's group, Arielle, Swiss and Milan formed a group of thier own, they had good chemistry with Emilia so they often stayed together despite the visible division. Melfina and Lisa however were constantly with Emilia now. Rachel and Viola had become an inseparable pair now, similar too Christie and Ellen.
She had gotten well along with them as well, they were a polite and easy-going company to have.
Do I have a thing for duos or what?
Aqua thought amused at her current social standing.
The boys were just boys, they all form one big group and fight every day but the next day they again greet each other and act as if nothing had happened. It might actually not be acting though, their nature is only such, it's us girls who usually have long-term grudges and cold wars.
Aqua smiled as she thought about this.
"I have been watching you for five whole minutes, what are you foolishly smiling about?
Alex asked as he showed her the stopwatch on his phone.
Aqua jolted and sat up.
"When did you get here?"
She asked
A little embarrassed.
"Smiling is sunnah ya Habib"
Aqua retorted.
"Oh is that so"
Alex said as he noted it down. Everyone agreed that when it came to religion, Wales was the leading authority so Alex made it a point to note any religious knowledge from Aqua at any time and forward it regularly in the pheasant net.
"Listen, it looks like someone is following me, they are amateurs I guess, behind that grey office"
Aqua said with a pout.
"So what do I do?"
Alex asked feigning indifference.
"Clear the trash for me, please"
Aqua asked coquettishly.
"You are really loosing up around me now"
Alex said trying to suppress his blush as he unsheathed his sword and went to the place told only to find Hugo, Sir Robert's eldest son, an agent at Blackcrow. The boy was startled even more than Alex himself. On getting questioned, he said that he was following the emperor's direct orders which just confused Alex even more, after retracting the order using his authority, he returned to where Aqua was lying.
Aqua once again spaced out.
That cat man, he said he will repay the favor, I wonder when and how..
The land I bought in Ghana, should I make it a place for seeking religious knowledge or should I make it a shelter or orphanage or should I make a house for myself, no I am a princess, I can easily live anywhere in Wales, so no house, now a shelter or religious knowledge?
My engagement to this man..
Will he really break it off after one year? Am I really that disgusting to him? He did soften up after knowing that I am snow but...
Umme Huraira once told me that if I want a good man I must become a good woman first, am I a good woman?
So far we have only figured out a few religious rulings, if I don't follow the complete religion I am not a good woman am I?
Wait, it's out of my hands I don't know about it so will be forgiven right?
All these random thoughts made her head hurt and her heart race with anxiety.
"Earth to Aqua, you ok?"
Alex asked as he waved his hand infront of her. She just smiled and replied with formality.
Seeing Aqua behave like this, he decided not to tell her about the stalker and to his surprise she didn't even ask.
"Ok! That's it your coming with me!"
He said as he picked her up effortlessly.
"What are you trying to do?!"
She asked forcing her voice to come out.
Alex became even more determined after hearing her.
He took her to the coast and rented a boat.
Once on the boat, Aqua's mood lightened, she felt distracted which helped a lot.
She enthusiastically played with her ice and the sea water, making patterns and playing with the fish which gathered around them.
Alex saw this and his heart started pounding.
He opened his mouth to ask the question he wanted to ask ever since he saw that blue iridescence
But the words didn't come out.
He choked, tears threatened to spill out. He then asked forcing his voice
"Aqua, have you ever met a boy named atlas in Wales?"
Aqua looked at him for a minute in silence, then she smiled a beautiful smile which Alex had never seen on her before when she was with him.
"He was a good friend and companion"
she said gently.
Alex became perplexed now,
Was? What does she mean by Was?
"Do you know where he is now?"
Alex asked carefully
"He drowned"
Aqua said with a sad smile.
A familiar sharp pain once again shot through Alex's head and everything went black, only Aqua's concerned look lingered in his consciousness.