Chapter 38

As the sun is rising, Vain and Void started cooking breakfast while Luxia remained guarding. Everybody who was asleep slowly starts to wake up to the smell of food, even Veto. So Heo turned off his heat generator as it wasn't needed anymore and they all wash up by the lake. Before sitting down by the fire as Void handed them some food. After they finished eating, Vain and Nezerand were about to leave when Luvia stopped them. She quickly applied some enchantments onto his red shirt and blue shorts. Once she was done, she let them go and said, "Have a safe trip." Luvia then turned her attention to the twins and started enchanting their clothes as well. Once that was finished, they climbed into the carriage and change their clothes into some proper swimwear. Before coming back out and hopping into the water to start their swimming lessons again. Luvia wore a blue swimsuit, Flayna was wearing pink bikinis, and Ruby wore blue bikinis. Lumia and Rexalia also joined them after changing their clothes. Lumia wore black bikinis and Rexalia wore red ones.

Rexalia was a little embarrassed wearing the bikini and said, "Is this what you guys always wear when you swim?" Lumia replied, "Most of the time, but if we're going to fight and swim then it's better to wear our equipment." Rexalia wanted to change back into her clothes, but Lumia stopped her and said, "Oh come on Lia, you look really cute in it." She blushed and they soon started their swimming lessons. Void was happy that they were having fun and dived into the deep waters. Luxia left the camp to go look around the forest for herbs and medicinal plants. As for Veto he laid down on top of the carriage and played games on his portable device with headphones inserted, so as not to disturb anyone with the noises.

Once it was time for lunch, they got out of the water and started to cook some food. Vain and Nezerand both came back to the camp so they could eat. Vain saw Luvia in her swimsuit, gave her a kiss, and said, "You look pretty cute in that." She blushed and said, "T-Thank you, darling." Once the food was ready, Veto jumped down from the carriage and they all ate together. Except for Void and Luxia who haven't returned. The twins then told Vain how they were practicing swimming and Vain said, "Oh... I see. Keep working hard you two." He then looked at Nezerand and asked, "Want to learn to swim too or do you already know how to?" He shook his head and replied, "I don't know how to swim." Luvia smiled and said, "Then we should all swim together." So after they finish eating, Void and Nezerand changed out of their clothes and into swim shorts. Vain wore red swim trunks and Nezerand wore green trunks. Rexalia, Flayna, Ruby, and Nezerand stared at Vain's body. They were surprised at the amount of scars all over his body. But after Vain stepped into the water, they snapped out of their little trance and rushed into the water.

This was the second time they were surprised by Vain. The first time was when they were told that he was missing his left arm. Which they all had a hard time believing because Vain had always used a left arm, but it was always as black as the nights. Which was odd when Rexalia thought about it and Luvia told them it was made of magic. Which also explains to them why his coat was design without a left sleeve and why he always used his right hand. Vain had already told them not to mind it, as he doesn't think it limits him in any way. Even now, Vain was swimming fine with only one arm. So none of them dug deep into Vain's past or asked him about it. So they just focused on swimming and getting better at it, while Veto cleaned up after them.

Within four days everybody had improved by a lot and were swimming across the lake by themselves. Void was impressed and said, "So you guys want to see the crystal?" The twins nodded their head and everybody changed into their gear. But before Rexalia went to change, Vain handed her some metal equipment to put on, and Luvia gave her some new clothes. She took them and when she came out of the carriage she was dressed in a red shirt, black shorts, her coat, silver shoulder pads, boots, and gauntlets. Flayna then changed clothes after Rexalia and came out wearing a white shirt, blue shorts, brown leather boots, and a black scarf. Ruby was next wearing a pink dress with white shorts underneath, blue shoes and gloves, and a white cape. Finally, Luvia gave Nezerand some clothes and he went to go get changed into them. When he came out he was wearing a green shirt, black pants, black gloves, and white shoes.

Vain then gave him a belt with a small sword and a knife holder. Nezerand took it and put his knife in its holder. Void then cast magic to allow Rexalia, Flayna, Ruby, and Nezerand to breathe underwater and said, "Everyone ready?" Vain replied, "As ready as we'll ever be." So Veto jumped into the water first, followed by Lumia and Rexalia, then Void, and Luvia, Flayna, and Ruby jumped in together, holding each other's hand. Luxia then followed after them and finally Vain jumped in after them, after summoning Mer and Phi to help Heo watch the carriage and the lake. Mer came out of her portal and stayed on the surface of the lake. While a red magic circle appear in the sky and out came a red and gold mech bird. It landed in a tree and said, "So the master has gone under water?" Mer reply, "Yep, but at least he's call on us to protect his back." Heo nodded his head and said, "It is as you say. Our Lord has trusted not only his life but the lives of others to us as well. So try not to disappoint him." Phi flaps her wings and said, "I know, so where is our leader? He's usually set for this task." Heo laughed and said, "Our leader is currently house-sitting. Protecting the master's home is a very big duty after all."

Luxia and Vain soon reach the bottom of the lake and they found everyone staring at a big and pretty shining blue crystal. It was floating five feet off the ground and Vain said, "So, are you guys enjoying yourself?" Void reply, "Yep, they really like looking at this thing." Vain then said, "I see, then I'll go check out the cave." Vain then walked away from the group and headed into the cave. Nezerand saw him leaving and swam after him. Soon everyone swam after Vain and followed him into the cave. Void, Veto, Lumia, Luxia, and Luvia cast light magic so that they could see in the dark. They all continue to walk further into the cave until Phi called Vain telepathically, "Master, have you guys gone inside the cave?" Vain replied, "Yeah, why?" Phi then said, "Well there's about to be a quake. I suggest you leave as soon as possible." The ground then started shaking and rocks fell from the ceiling as Void shouted, "Everyone out!" Everyone started to swim out of the caves, but the kids and Rexalia can't swim as fast as the others. So they swam at their pace protecting them from rocks. At this rate, they weren't going to get to the exit before it collapses, so Vain said, "Come Lev." A blue portal opened behind Vain and a blue mechanical serpentine dragon came out. It swam forward, firing ropes out from his body, and Vain shouted, "Grab it and hold on tight!" Everyone quickly held the ropes and Vain held the end of Lev's tail. As he flaps his four wings and drags them all out of the cave.

Once they reach the exit, Lev stopped and retracted his ropes. Vain then let go of his tail and they all slowly glided forward. Lev then surfaced out of the water and Mer said, "Hey Lev, you're quite small aren't you?" Lev replied, "I couldn't enter the cave, much less fit in this lake, if I was full sized. So ten meters will have to do. If I was in the ocean then I could be my full length of fifty meters. Anyway, how are the master and his family?" Everyone surfaced out of the water and Vain said, "We're all fine, thanks for the help." Lev nodded his head and said, "Your welcome master." Vain then looked to Phi and said, "So when do you think this will end?" The tree Phi was on was still shaking and she said, "Hm... give it five more minutes." Vain then said, "I see, then I guess we'll be staying in the water for a bit longer." A tree then broke and fell towards their direction. Vain fired a wind sword wave, Lumia forms her bow and fired an arrow, and Void said, "Vaporize." The tree then got blown to pieces with the first attack, turned to dust with the second, and all the dust completely vanish with the last.

Phi stared at the three of them and said, "Don't you think that was too much, master?" Lev agreed and said, "You guys do realize I was here. I could've grabbed it with my mouth and moved it." Vain replied, "Force of habit, anyway what's happened has happened. Nothing we can do about it now." Lumia laughed and said, "Yeah, what Vain said. We're more used to doing things our self after all." Void then said, "Well there is nothing we can do about it now, but I agree with Phi. Next time we should plan out who is doing it." Vain looked at Void and said, "That's stupid. By the time we agree on it, it might have fallen on us. React first think later." Void stared back at Vain and said, "See that's your problem. You always react first and think later. What happens if you accidentally hurt someone?" Vain was about to say something, but Luvia said, "Stop. Please, no fighting." Vain then looked away and said, "Tch." Void gave a wry laugh and said, "Alright, no fighting. Sorry about that Luvia." Vain then said, "Sorry, Luv." Luvia giggles and said, "Why are you guys apologizing to me? You're supposed to apologize to each other." Vain and Void both looked at each other and both said, "Nope, not gonna happen."

Luvia then got sad and said, "Not even for me?" They didn't want her to be sad, so they both shook hands, and apologize to each other with a wry smile. Lumia and Veto both laughed at the scene and Lumia said, "It's amazing how they get along so well and still can fight and argue with each other every now and then." Soon the quake stopped and everyone got out of the lake. As for Lev, Mer, and Phi, they went left through their portals. Everybody then spent one more night at the lake and they all stayed awake to enjoy the light of the moon reflecting off the surface.

Back at the town, a group of six people wearing black capes with hoods is talking to the king and their leader said, "It seems they are not home. But at least all of our plans are in place. So when they return we can immediately get started." The king nodded his head and said, "I see, then what will you do about the others?" He then grins under his hood and said, "I and my team will deal with them. We should have no problems keeping them busy until the plans are finished." The king grinned and said, "Good, soon the power to rule the world will be in my grasp."