Grain in our Court

Helios served first, his strong arm sending the ball in a high arc over the net. The sandman moved with surprising agility for a creature made of sand, its form shifting and flowing as it hit the ball back over the net.

Soren, quick on his feet, leaped to meet the ball, sending it back with a powerful spike. The game quickly turned into an intense rally, the ball moving back and forth over the net. Helios and Soren moved as a seamless unit, but the Sandman proved to be formidable opponent.

Its sandy arms would extend unnaturally at times, reaching for balls that seemed too far.

Helios chased after a far-off shot. As he positioned himself for the return, his foot caught on a rising dune, sending him sprawling into the sand. The ball flew past him, scoring a point for the sandman.

"Damn it!" Helios cursed, pushing himself up. Sand clung to his clothes and hair.

Soren rushed over, offering a hand. "You okay?"

"Yeah, just a bit sandy," Helios replied, brushing himself off. He shot a look at the sandman, who seemed almost apologetic.

"That's it," He said with a slight smile, "Time to level the playing field." He extended his hand, summoning a soft luminescence that began to hover around him. With a subtle manipulation, he bent the light around them, creating blinding flashes that momentarily disoriented the sandman.

Quickly they advance on him, Soren called upon an air spell that swept across the court. He used the wind to curve the ball's trajectory in unpredictable ways.

In the heat of the volleyball match, Helios couldn't help the racing beat of his heart. A gleeful expression grew on him as they score another ball yet again.

The sandman, slowly recovering from the initial shock, countered with a whirlwind of sand. Its form split into multiple swirling figures, each striking at the ball, sending it back over the net with relentless force.

"Ha! It's that all you got?" he taunted, his voice echoing in the empty store.

Then, with a burst of overconfidence, Helios attempted a witty retort, "Oh yeah well sandman, you're just…a grain in our court!" His attempt at a burn fell flat, sounding more awkward than intimidating.

Soren couldn't help but cringe slightly at the less-than-stellar quip. He shot Helios a look, "Stick to volleyball pal, not comedy," he muttered under his breath, turning his focus back to the game with a small shake of his head.

The match against the sandman resumed with both sides escalating their tactics. Helios used his light manipulation to create dazzling illusions of the ball, sending multiple false images over the net while enhancing the speed and trajectory of the real one. Meanwhile, Soren employed his air magic with precision, subtly altering the ball's path, making it dip and swerve unexpectedly. His gestures directed invisible currents, complicating the sandman's attempts to predict and intercept their plays.

The sandman, for its part, adapted rapidly, its form shifting and dividing, trying to counter the bewildering combination of light and air. The court became a dynamic battlefield of shifting sand, streaks of light, and swirling air.

As the match reached its climax, Soren prepared for a decisive move. "Now, Helios!" he called out. Helios responded by concentrating his light into a focused beam, directing it at the ball. Soren then unleashed a powerful gust of wind, propelling the ball at high speed towards the sandman.

The sandman, caught off guard by the combined force of light and air, struggled to respond. The ball struck the court on the sandman's side, scoring the winning point for Helios and Soren.

A moment of silence followed, then Helios let out a whoop of victory.

"We did it! We actually did it!" he exclaimed, high-fiving Soren.

"Wait, what do you mean 'actually'? You thought we would lose?"

"No…well to be honest I might have in the beginning. But I really got into it."

"You really did," Soren said before looking awfully serious, "also we got work on your trash talk Helios."

The sandman soon reformed, made his way to them, "Dudes, that was gnarly. You've earned your way out."

The sand barriers at the exits dissolved, clearing the path. As they gathered their belongings, Helios turned to the sandman with a respectful nod. "Thanks for the challenge. It was a blast."

Soren added, "Yeah, thanks. It's been... enlightening."

As they stepped into the harsh light of the outside world, Helios looked back at the store. "You know, for a moment there, it felt like things were normal again."

Soren glanced back, a thoughtful look in his eyes. "Yeah, it did. Let's head home, I'm sure the kids would like what we have for them."

They then walked to the path, inventory filled with all sort of items, mainly clothes and one singular volleyball in case they ever want to do that again.