CHAPTER 253: BEACH 1

While Nero was focused on Khione and the others were occupied with their own pursuits, Lux found his attention captured by the ocean. The waves were perfect—swelling into powerful, rolling lines of turquoise before curling and crashing onto the sand with a thunderous roar. To him, it wasn’t just water; it was a rhythmic, living force, and it seemed to be calling his name.

A confident grin spread across his face. He ran a hand through his silver hair, his sharp eyes tracking the pattern of the sets. This was his element as much as any dance floor.

He grabbed his surfboard—a sleek, custom-painted design that shimmered like fish scales—and waded into the churning foam without a moment’s hesitation. The cold water was a shock that only sharpened his focus. He paddled out with powerful, practiced strokes, slipping past the breakers with effortless grace.

Waiting for the right moment, he watched the horizon. He saw his wave—a massive, clean wall of water beginning to rise. He spun his board around and began to paddle, matching its speed perfectly. As the wave lifted him, he pushed up in one fluid motion, rising to his feet as if he were born to do nothing else.

In an instant, he was flying.

He soared down the face of the wave, his body low and balanced. The board was an extension of his will, carving a path of white spray along the blue wall. He moved with the wave, not against it, becoming part of its energy. He executed a sharp, graceful bottom turn, then shot back up towards the crest, his form a picture of perfect control.

For a few glorious minutes, he was a silver-haired blur dancing on the edge of power and beauty, a master completely in tune with the sea’s wild rhythm. It was a performance of pure, unadulterated joy.

Meanwhile, Adam, still smarting from his failed attempts at romance, watched Lux carve across the face of a wave with effortless grace. A competitive fire, far more reliable than his charm, ignited in his chest. The ocean looked like a challenge he could actually win.

"Right! That’s what we need!" he boomed, stomping towards the water. He spotted Nero, who had just finished applying Khione’s sun oil. "Nero! Get over here! We’re showing that show-off how it’s done!"

Before Nero could even form a reply, a chill fell over their little spot on the beach. Khione turned her head slowly, her crystal-blue eyes locking onto Adam. She didn’t say a word. She didn’t need to. The look was a clear, silent warning: a mother bear protecting her cub during a moment of peace. The message was received loud and clear.

Adam’s bravado vanished like a deflated balloon. He raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.

"Or... I can go by myself! Perfectly fine!" he backpedaled, hastily making his way to the water’s edge.

The commotion drew the attention of Eltreth and Azalea. Seeing the others heading into the surf, the elven princess stood, brushing sand from her green swimsuit. "It does look rather refreshing. Shall we, Eltreth?"

Eltreth, seeing an opportunity for some spirited fun, nodded. "Let’s go have some fun."

They waded in, catching up to Adam just as he was wrestling with his own, significantly wider and sturdier surfboard—a practical, no-nonsense dwarven design.

"Having trouble there, rock-herder?" Azalea teased, her voice light as she effortlessly carried her own elegantly carved wooden board.

Adam scowled. "It’s about balance, pointy-ears, not just looking pretty. Something you wouldn’t understand."

"At least I don’t need a board the size of a small shield to stay afloat," she shot back, a smirk playing on her lips.

Eltreth, floating on her own board nearby, massaged her temples.

"For once, you two. Can we have five minutes of peace? It’s too hot for your endless bickering." She fixed them with a glare that was every bit as commanding as Khione’s, though fueled by fiery exasperation rather than icy protectiveness.

"Shut. It."

Miraculously, they both fell silent.

They paddled out to where Lux was waiting, treading water with a wide grin. "Took you long enough! Ready for a little competition?"

"You’re on, pretty boy!" Adam roared, his competitive spirit overriding everything else.

The rules were simple: they would take the next set of waves, and the best ride wins. The ocean, as if on cue, delivered a perfect series of swells.

Lux went first, of course. He caught a wave with his innate timing, popping up seamlessly. He was a natural, all fluid turns and stylish cutbacks, making it look as easy as breathing. He finished his ride to the sound of scattered applause from a few onlookers on the beach.

Azalea was next. Her style was all about ethereal grace. She seemed to glide over the water rather than ride it, her movements so smooth and balanced they appeared weightless. She cross-stepped to the nose of her board, hanging five with an elven poise that drew admiring glances.

Then it was Adam’s turn. His approach was, predictably, pure power. He didn’t so much dance with the wave as he commanded it. He took off late on a massive wall of water, dropping down its face with terrifying speed. His turns were not graceful arcs but powerful, explosive maneuvers that sent huge plumes of spray into the air. He rode not with finesse, but with sheer, unyielding force, and the raw power of it was undeniably impressive.

Finally, Eltreth caught her wave. Her style was a surprise—a fierce, aggressive mix of Lux’s flair and Adam’s power. She attacked the wave, driving hard off the bottom and launching off the lip with a fiery intensity that mirrored her spirit. Her ride was short but breathtakingly dynamic.

They regrouped beyond the break, bobbing in the water, catching their breath.

"Alright, who wins?" Adam demanded, water streaming from his beard.

"Lux had the style," Azalea conceded.

"Adam had the raw power," Lux admitted with a respectful nod.

"But Eltreth had the most spirit," Azalea added.

Eltreth smirked, a rare, genuinely competitive spark in her eyes. "So, it’s a tie. Which means we go again."

A shared grin passed between them. The bickering was forgotten, replaced by the pure, simple joy of the challenge.