The moment the meal was over and their plates were neatly stacked back into inventories or left in the sapphire cuboid for later cleaning, there was a collective sigh, half from full bellies, half from the realization that for the first time in what felt like centuries of divine war and training, they could just… breathe.
And so, they ran.
They didn't need to say it aloud. Narisva darted forward first with a grin on her lips, diving into the waves with a graceful arc. Peroncerea tossed her shirt aside mid-sprint and dove like a teenager. Xander roared like a beast and charged after Eldrigan, both of them racing into the crystalline water as their partners cheered them on.
The sea welcomed them.
The ocean surrounding the Islands of Inexpelcae wasn't like the rest of the seas across Spheraphase. It shimmered with an unnatural clarity, almost prismatic, like the surface of liquid crystal. But what truly set it apart was its pressure, usually so thick and overwhelming that only the Hydroborn or the most attuned of Divines could bear its weight.
But not today.
Thanks to their acceptance, granted by the gods for coming to the island, they were now immune to the mystical oceanic pressure. And as they dashed in, the difference was immediate. The water supported their bodies like a mother cradling her child. Buoyancy was abnormally high, meaning even the faintest of kicks sent them gliding for meters. It was like flying but beneath the sun and waves. Vastarael, standing knee-deep in the water, closed his eyes and smiled. He took a breath and raised his hand.
Water responded.
Tidal veins surged beneath his palm. With a gentle wave of his arm, the ocean moved, wrapping around his form. Waves surged in patterns, circling him.
"Alright. Let's kick it up."
In a sweep of his hand, he summoned a rolling wave the size of a wall. With perfect timing, he leapt onto it and let it carry him like a moving platform. As it rose and dipped, he used his Water Divinity to push from one curl to the next, surfing through the water without a board, his body balanced on arcs of pure Divinity.
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" Farrynelle shouted, laughing as she pointed at him. "He's showing off again!"
"Do you blame him?" Elyonari called back, shielding her eyes as she watched him ride wave after wave, occasionally flipping through the air. "I'd do it too if I could water surf like a legend."
"I CAN DO IT TOO!" Peroncerea yelled before she was immediately slapped by a random wave, sending her tumbling back into the water. She surfaced with a cough and a laugh
"Okay, maybe not."
The rest of the group swam and splashed, playing games only Divines could. Elyonari created water shields and had the others try to break them with small spheres of force. Even the Andelaris twins, usually aloof, got in on the fun. Natalis was the first to relax, letting herself float in the water. Denisia followed after, eventually letting Farrynelle and Elyonari drag them both into an impromptu fight that ended in chaos and laughter. Vastarael spotted them all. He lowered himself into the water and joined them. A few seconds later, Narisva was on his shoulders, trying to knock Adelasta off balance. The resulting splash nearly capsized everyone around.
There was water everywhere, sunlight dancing on every droplet and laughter echoing louder than the ocean's roar.
Hours passed. The beach sparkled with scattered belongings. The scent of grilled meat was still lingering. This was one of the ten best moments they shared as Sentina Erideae.
-------
The sun had begun its slow descent beyond the horizon.
They were all sitting together now, sprawled out on the cooling sands, their skin still damp from the swim, their bodies sore from laughter and motion and their hearts strangely full. Half-eaten platters of roasted meat, still warm thanks to Vastarael's Heat Runes, sat between them, though no one was really focused on eating anymore. Vastarael sat with his legs crossed on the sand, leaning back slightly as Adelasta pressed into his side with her head on his shoulder. Narisva had tucked herself against his other side, idly toying with strands of his damp hair. Elyonari was lying across his lap with a half-eaten piece of chicken in one hand, eyes half-lidded from the sunset's warmth.
Xander and Farrynelle sat wrapped in each other's arms, quietly talking. Eldrigan rested on his elbows as Peroncerea sat on his lap. looking far more at peace than anyone had seen him in weeks. The Andelaris twins sat in their identical poses, knees pulled to chests, arms draped lazily over them, watching the golden light wash over the ocean with tired smiles.
The silence was perfect. And yet, something tugged at Vastarael's thoughts.
The training was in two days.
No one knew what to expect. Not even Annierouge, despite being the First Hydrangea, had explained what awaited them. It could be simple. It could be hell. And while they had prepared, trained, and fought for the right to stand among gods, they were about to face something entirely new. For once, they wouldn't be Sentina Erideae, royalty, or heirs. They would be students once again.
"We're going to make a promise," he said softly.
The conversation died around him. The others looked his way.
Vastarael sat up straighter, adjusting Elyonari gently as he did so.
"I don't know what's going to happen in this training. We might be tested mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally and even as Divines, we have limits. And this place? This place is designed to find and break them."
A quiet hum of agreement passed around them.
"So, we make three rules."
He lifted three fingers slowly.
"First rule, if any one of us is in trouble, no matter what, we help. We don't ignore it. We don't wait. We go."
"Obvious," muttered Xander with a grin. "But fair."
"Second," Vastarael said, lowering a finger, "no matter what we go through, whether it's rage, grief, betrayal, confusion, we never turn against each other. We are not each other's enemies. Ever."
That one lingered longer. Even Narisva's teasing smirk had faded, replaced by a rare look of quiet solemnity. Elyonari sat up properly now, nodding once. The Andelaris twins exchanged glances but didn't object.
"And third…"
His final finger remained upright.
"This is the most important rule. We never separate. No matter what happens… we don't walk different paths. We don't say goodbye. We don't pretend we're better alone. We will become the next Deities of Spheraphase together. And when that day comes, we might perhaps think of breaking this rule. Sounds fair, right?"
There was a stillness after that. Adelasta sat up, placing a hand over her heart.
"I vow under the name of Spheraphase to follow them."
Narisva followed. "I swear it under the name of Spheraphase and the stars that birthed me."
Elyonari closed her eyes. "So long as this world spins, I will never break this bond."
Farrynelle placed her hand atop Xander's. "We vow," she whispered.
Xander nodded, resting his forehead briefly against hers. "Always."
Eldrigan, who had barely spoken all day, pressed his fist into the sand and whispered.
"So let it be bound."
The Andelaris twins each lifted a hand in unison and declared,
"Under oath of Spheraphase, we bind our will to this vow."
Finally, Vastarael closed his eyes and released a long, tired breath.
"So it's done. I swear in the name of Spheraphase to uphold these three rules."
Their words, backed by intent, had become a binding force. They all felt some kind of bond forming over them.
"That's the Sapphire Bond," Vastarael said to them. "We are all connected to it until the day we become Deities. Sentina Erideae will have their own bond from now on."
The ten of them remained on the beach a little longer, watching the last light fade, the remnants of their feast cooling between them, the warmth of their vow still clinging to their skin like stardust.
Tomorrow was their last day of peace. And then… the training would begin.