Lenoa’s backyard.

“Huff!! Huff!! Huff!! Huff!!” Ai was sweating and breathing more heavily, leaning on her wooden sword. “Fuu~” she took a deep breath and her breathing settled. “It’s unfair how talented you are, Cirrus,” Ai said, a bit salty.

“Not my fault, after Artemis’s 'training' and diving the dungeon so intensely that rust quickly fell off after a few months. Why are you complaining about that? You getting more of a challenge now!”

“… Your lucky I’m busy doing your job!”

“Oh, speaking of that, me, Nox, and Lili are going to Melen for a little trip.”

“What!?!? What do you mean a trip?!”

“The Poseidon Familia hired us for some sets, and for some other reasons.”

“And those are?”

“Making up for giving up searching for me. Hm?” Cirrus thinks about that. “How did he know — “

“Can I go as well? I can be like your security!” she said with starry eyes. “Maybe we could even go to the beach and have fun!”

“Ah, well…” he thought about how it would go. He wanted to see her at the beach, but he had other plans for her. “Maybe some other time. I will make it up to you later.”

“Mmm…” she had an angry look on her. “I want to help you with your defense. It’s sloppy.” She gets back into her stance and holds her wooden sword up.

“Alright.” He puts his wooden spear up. “You have 5 more minutes before you need to go.”

“That’s enough!!”

She charged at Cirrus as he goes on the defensive.

‘Hmm… yeah, the goddess festival is the way to go, plenty of stuff and huge crowds to hide to give us privacy. It is still a couple of months away in early November.’