Serai fell to her knees in the wet sand, swaying once before tumbling to her back, and laid still save for the rise and fall of her chest and the twitching of her tail. She finally opened her mismatched eyes with a start when the surf washed up and over her feet.
“I’m never gonna beat you, am I?” She levered herself up on her shoulders, turning to peer at the figure a few yalms down the beach with a mix of amusement and chagrin. “What was that last move, anyway? You haven’t taught me that one yet.”
Serai’s opponent was only slightly more composed, seated rather than collapsed on the sands as she caught her breath. “Oh, that.” The elezen’s reply held a carefully cultivated note of nonchalance, “That’s Resolution.”
“You mean it’s not called Verboom?”
Their laughter was drowned out as the surf washed in again, and Serai scrambled backward, crablike, to find a crosslegged seat on drier sand.
“No, no, it isn’t, but maybe it should be. You seemed ready for it, though.” Blue eyes gleamed mirth from under white locks of hair. “Besides, there was a chance I might have lost to you otherwise. But,” she raised one finger to make a forestalling point, “I still have a few tricks left to teach you.”
Serai put her sword and focus on her lap, delicately cleaning sand from each. “Do you have time to teach me that one before we’re done?” An impish smile as she offered a sidelong glance. “Verboom?”
“Oh-ho! You haven’t been humbled enough for one day, have you?” The elezen rose from her sandy seat and met Serai’s grin with an eager smile of her own, sword extended and focus floating above her other hand. “En garde, and watch more closely this time!”
A graceful roll brought Serai to her feet, her impish grin turning fierce as she saluted her opponent and assumed a ready stance.
Tending their nets down the beach about a quarter-malm, a group of Arkasadoan fishermen mostly ignored the distant boom and flash of aether. They’d gotten used to the pair’s practice duels. More or less.
* * *
They stopped at the Great Work after the lesson was finally done. Serai to pick up a small bundle of hard-to-find alchemical reagents, the other to gather a larger package of medicines and supplies. Both politely declined the offer of a hippo cart ride to Radz-at-Han. Instead, the unhurried walk to the city was filled with their usual small talk: discussion of technique or weaponry, applications of the art both practical and theoretical, recounting past fights. But little and less of other matters.
By unspoken agreement, they sidestepped the personal. After all, it wasn’t a reach to guess who one was, and they each had their own concerns. This was an escape, a place and time to focus on parry and riposte, balestra and flèche, the balance of aethers and aggression. A good fight, after all, had a way of clearing the mind. Most of the time.
More or less.
“You don’t usually press to learn new techniques so quickly.” The elezen’s voice filled a natural lull in the conversation. They’d just passed the Giantsgall Grounds to step upon the bridge to Radz-at-Han, the city looming before them. “Is everything alright?”
“Mmm? Oh yeah.” Serai adjusted the strap of her bag across her shoulder. “I wanted to tell you it might be a while before I can make it out here again.” She gave her “teacher” an apologetic smile, “We’re going to be in Kugane for a time, and the aetheryte fees have really been adding up.”
“Kugane? Whatever takes you to the Far East?”
“We’re looking for someone who’s been missing a while, and we heard that’s the last place she was.” A fair explanation, detailed enough without crossing that nebulous unspoken line. “Besides, I haven’t been home in almost a year.” The xaela offered a wry smile. “Family, right? You know.”
Her companion rolled her eyes and shook her head, a thin braid of hair swaying with the motion. “Oh, Twelve above, do I know the travails of family.” She looked ahead, blue eyes settling on the far side of the bridge. “I suppose it all works out, though. My friend,” the word was strangely emphasized, “is back to their usual exploits. And they were supposed to be enjoying a simple life. I may be busy for a time myself.”
Serai frowned, a particular foreign expression for the usually bright au ra. “I guess it's my turn. Everything’s alright?”
“Nothing they can’t handle with a little care.” The utmost confidence in her tone. “It never is.” A few more paces, and they stepped off the bridge and across the city’s threshold. “You’ll be careful in Kugane, won’t you? I’d miss our lessons, even as intermittent as they are.”
“Me, too.” Serai’s steps slowed to a halt. “I’m gonna take the airship back, save a few gil,” She gestured towards a set of stairs leading west. “Nhaama watch over you. And your friend too.”
“Twelve’s blessings. Oh, and Serai?”
She stopped, one foot already on a step.
“Watch your quinte. You leave it open too often on flèche.” The young elezen smiled, “not that I’d know anything about being aggressive on the attack, of course.”
Serai’s laughter echoed off brightly-painted city walls. “I will!” And then she was gone, steps taken two at a time as she climbed the stairway towards the airship landing.
* * *
I ought to introduce her to the others sometime, Alisaie mused as she made her way towards the aetheryte. The package of medicines was small enough to teleport with her and would be put to good use by the Garlean refugees. Reason enough to come to Thavnair from time to time, she told herself, to refresh the supplies used at Broken Glass and Tertium. It was almost an indulgence to spend time teaching Red Magic to the curious au ra she’d met at the training dummies just outside Yedlihmad. Something outside the other work that never seemed to end.
Not everything has to be about saving the star, she told herself. You’re allowed a little friendship for yourself.
