Naturally, we all sat back down and started conversating like normal.

At first, I was just way too aware of the super pretty girl that was sitting right next to me – the water dripping from her hair, her arm slightly brushing my knee (she’d just gotten out of the water and there was a bit of wind near the canal, so she had goosebumps), her heavy breathing – but then I relaxed.

Instead, I began appreciating the unlikely group that was just formed – Mark, Marta, Jia and I – and leaned backwards, smiling with my eyes closed to the sun.

Those three were discussing En and saying a lot of complicated things.

Mark, I think, was saying he has difficulty slowing down En manifestation, which is the technical term for channeling En through the person instead of directly in the air, without it immediately going to strengthen his body, and Marta was explaining him something.

Then Marta made a beautiful, silver butterfly that landed on Jia’s nose and disappeared, and we all laughed.

I, though, couldn’t really be part of those convos, because I didn’t really know much about that stuff yet.

So, I was just chilling.

The sound of the water bubbling against the shore was soothing.

The pebbles I was lying on were warm, and the sun too.

Bees were buzzing over the flowers near the trees, and crickets and cicadas’s calls surrounded us.

The birds were chirping, and the wind was shaking the leaves and ruffling my hair.

I opened one eye to look at Jia.

≪ By the way, what were you doing here? We’re pretty far from the Pond ≫

The girl looked like she was about to say something, then stopped and blinked twice, confused, before slightly shaking her head.

≪ Right… No, I usually go for a swim here in the canals every morning ≫

My eyes widened in surprise.

I felt exhausted even thinking about it.

Every morning?

The canals were narrow and irregular, with rocks and cliffs, and had super strong currents – it was probably so hard to swim in there.

≪ Hehe… ≫

Jia smiled.

≪ Sounds tough, right? ≫

I nodded.

≪ Very much so ≫

≪ But it’s a good exercise ≫

The girl hugged her legs and rested her chin on her knees.

≪ Now that I think about it… ≫

She glanced at the water roaring next to us.

≪ That guy ain’t arrived yet… I hope he didn’t drown ≫

I blinked twice, taken aback

Drown?!?

≪ Who…? ≫ I asked.

Jia scratched her cheek distractedly.

≪ Like… ten minutes ago ≫

She pointed towards the direction where the Pond was.

≪ I was resting on the shore up there, and then that one guy, the loud one, what’s his name… ≫

She tilted her head to the side, unsure, and made like a strange gesture pointing at her hair.

≪ Like… red and yellow, like a parrot… ≫

I furrowed my eyebrows, but then I realized who she was talking about and giggled.

≪ I think I might know who you mean… ≫

Loud, red and yellow hair…

There’s only one guy like that at Ido Academy.

Jia shrugged.

≪ Anyway, he came to me and said that he was faster than me at swimming and that he wanted to race. I ignored him, but we kinda still started swimming at the same time and from the same starting point anyway – though, I don’t think I’ve seen him pass by yet ≫

I quietly nodded to myself.

Yep… only him goes around all the time thiking he’s better than everyone and bothering and challenging people at everything…

I rolled my eyes, and made a sorry face.

≪ I think you’re talking about Taz… and no, if it’s him, sadly I don’t think he drowned at all – that guy is like Nelo seeds in your hair, you can’t really get rid of hi. If he bothers you one day, the next day he’ll bother you again ≫

Jia frowned, very much annoyed already.

≪ Really? ≫

≪ Really… ≫

Right as I said that, someone jumped out of the canal behind us with a loud, high-pitched shout.

He landed on the shore, right next to us, and splashed us all.

It was obviously Taz.

Ragged-breathing, pale, wide-eyed, he pointed a finger at Jia.

≪ There you are! ≫

Glossary

Nelo: a flowering plant that grows everywhere on Aeflia with white flowers and little, super-light red seeds that fly everywhere.