Aqua had seen many beautiful creatures in the Ocean Realm, but maybe today he found the prettiest of them all. Maybe it was her eyes, maybe it was her gaze maybe the way she walked, but everything she did mesmerized him.

‘I wonder how she’d look if she was smiling.’

It had been years since Aqua had laid eyes on a girl, a fact that surely contributed to his amazement. But he couldn't shake the feeling that this girl was different from those he had known in the past. There was an indefinable quality about her that set her apart, an air of uniqueness that pulled at his attention.

In the aftermath of the Ocean Song's descent, the world had changed dramatically. Those over eighteen were compelled to attempt the perilous First Dive, leading to a society now dominated by Swimmers and their offspring—those who had managed to survive and embrace the Ocean's call. The survivors were a mix of strength and beauty, their lineage a testament to their resilience.

She was sitting on a tree trunk while she sharpened what seemed to be a spear. Her blonde hair was tied in a bun. She was wearing short jeans made of the leather of some creature of the jungle and a short white top that made Aqua wonder if he had died and this was heaven.

Her most striking feature was her eyes, which seemed to capture the verdant essence of the jungle. They were large and seemed to mirror the verdant environment that reigned around. Each blink felt like a moment frozen in time.

Every movement she made was poetry in motion, a symphony of grace that left an indelible mark on those lucky enough to witness it. She moved through the world as if the world was the one waiting for her to move and not the other way around.

‘How should I approach her?’

 Aqua went with the easy option. He created a large water hand and waved at her.

‘In retrospect, maybe I’m making a fool of myself’

‘Why is she looking at me like that?’

Aqua managed to deflect the spear that was coming for his face by creating an ice shield, but he felt tremendously aggrieved.

“Hey stop it, I come in peace!” He created a hand of water and did the peace sign by raising two fingers.

He undid his shifted form and saw her relax and let go of her second spear.

Aqua sighed with exasperation. ‘That was a close one huh.’

Stepping toward the girl, he observed her, curiosity and a hint of caution coloring her gaze. Aqua offered an awkward smile, searching for words. "Sooo, what's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?"

To his surprise, the girl's response was immediate. She met his gaze squarely, a spark of amusement igniting in her eyes, and then she burst into laughter—a laughter so hearty that tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Hahahahahahahahahaha, was that the best you could muster?" Her mirth seemed to fill the air, her laughter resonating like a melody.

‘So that’s how it looks huh’

Aqua was taken aback, a mixture of emotions swirling within him—anger, embarrassment, and something he couldn't quite place. Yet, despite the embarrassment he felt, he found himself enchanted by the genuine mirth that radiated from her, her laughter echoing through the surroundings like a refreshing breeze.

“You know, you didn’t have to spend fifteen minutes laughing.”

After the first five minutes of seeing the girl cracking up with her arms around her stomach, his amusement merged more into irritation than anything else.

She delicately wiped her tears from her beautiful eyes, her beautiful eyes regaining composure.

 “Okay, okay I’m done,” she managed between suppressed chuckles.

Aqua’s gaze still held a touch of lingering resentment. “Thank you” he responded, his tone a mix of gratitude and weariness.

“Don’t look at me that way, it was pretty funny”, she retorted with a playful glint in her eyes.

“Whatever, anyway, what’s your name?”

She kept looking at him, sparkling amusement dancing in her eyes.

“I’m Kia and you are?”

“I’m Aqua. I’d say nice to meet you, but you laughed at me for fifteen minutes, so I’m not entirely sure how nice it really is.”

“Ohh come on, I was just laughing with you.” She emphasized the last part of her phrase.

Aqua's irritation momentarily gave way to consideration as he proposed a plan. "Anyways, as you already know, we have to reach the same landmark. Why don't we cooperate until we get there?" Their eyes met, and an unexpected connection seemed to ignite.

Kia's own amusement melded with Aqua's suggestion. "Alright, why not?" She grinned, a hint of mischief lighting up her features. "Let's cooperate until the end of our First Dive."

Aqua couldn't help but notice the enigmatic spark in her eyes as their gazes locked, a silent agreement forming between them. "Deal," he said, a wry smile curving his lips. As he looked at Kia, a thought flickered through his mind. 'Why are the prettiest girls always the meanest ones?'