The fool & The Wall Flower

On a short hill above the winding river, two young knights emerged from the shadows. The moonlight cast their silhouettes against the dark water below, which rippled with an unnatural stillness. One of them, a broad-shouldered boy whose muscular frame was evident even beneath his cloak, stood with his hands on his hips, exuding confidence. The other, a girl draped in a long cloak with her hood down, revealed twin pigtails that framed her face. Her calm demeanor was in stark contrast to her companion's fiery energy.

Simon and Ivy, knight cadets from the Sanzu regions, had been sent on what felt like a glorified errand. But Simon was determined to make the most of it.

"Hey Ivy," Simon said, his voice brimming with confidence. "I think I can handle this one on my own! You just go find another target!"

His azure blue eyes sparkled beneath his hood, which dipped just low enough to conceal his forehead. He stepped forward, cracking his knuckles with a grin that practically screamed overconfidence.

Ivy stayed where she was, perched gracefully atop the hill. A faint smirk played on her lips as she crossed her arms. "Sure you can handle this, Simon?" she called out, her voice carrying an air of playful skepticism.

Simon ignored her, striding toward the river. The water glistened, unnervingly lifelike as it reflected the moon's glow. Then, with a sudden, violent surge, a trident of water shot up, aiming to skewer him. Simon leapt back, narrowly avoiding the attack. His laughter echoed across the hill as he dodged another spear of liquid death.

"See? Too easy!" Simon taunted, effortlessly weaving between the strikes.

From the depths of the river, the creature controlling the water emerged. A towering figure with a humanoid upper half and a shifting, liquid lower body took shape. Its voice was a low growl, dripping with disdain.

"You cocky brat! I'll drown you for your insolence," the Galco hissed, its watery form swirling with rage.

Simon's fist ignited with azure flames as he charged forward. With a roar, he drove his flaming hand straight into the creature's chest. Steam erupted as the blow landed, and the creature's form disintegrated into a cascade of water. Simon landed on the riverbank, shaking his hand as the flames sputtered out, revealing slightly singed skin.

"Ha! And that's how it's done!" he declared, his hood falling back to reveal his spiky azure hair. He planted his hands on his hips, laughing triumphantly at the vanquished foe.

High above, Ivy stood on a taut wire strung between two hills. The line didn't so much as tremble as she began to walk across it, each step deliberate and poised. Her grin widened as she approached Simon, her amusement barely contained.

Simon noticed her smirk and frowned. "What? What's so funny?!" he demanded, suddenly feeling self-conscious.

Ivy chuckled, covering her mouth with a gloved hand. "If you must know, that wasn't the real Nix. Just a clone trying to breach the town."

Simon's triumphant expression faltered. "Wait… Nix? As in Nix, the Lament? An ocean deity?"

Ivy nodded, her grin growing. "Yep. And you barely scratched the surface of his power."

Simon stared at her, dumbfounded. Then, as if brushing off the revelation, he crossed his arms. "Well, next time he shows up, I'll beat him even faster. Just you wait."

Ivy's amused expression softened into something more incredulous. She sighed, shaking her head. "You really are a hopeless fool, you know that?"

Simon ignored the jab, poking a finger in his ear. "Yeah, yeah. So what's next? We didn't even get a real battle out of this."

Ivy's tone turned thoughtful, though it carried a hint of melancholy. "Not much else we can do besides some scouting. Keep an eye out for cultists." Her voice dipped at the last word, quieter, almost reluctant.

Both of them fell silent as memories of a few days prior came flooding back—a messenger crow had delivered letters bearing grim news. Leonardo, their mentor and leader, had vanished.

Simon broke the silence, his voice uncharacteristically solemn. "He was more of a father to us than either of our real dads."

He clenched his fists, his fiery determination reigniting. "I'll stay out here, matter of fact. I'll find some kind of clue about what happened to Leo!"

Ivy's gaze softened. Sitting on the wire with effortless balance, she extended a hand toward Simon. "I'm with you, partner," she said, her voice carrying a quiet strength.

Simon looked up at her and grinned, his usual exuberance shining through. "Let's do this."