A night out

As Aria went to Joseph's room after changing, she said, "I was wondering, is it allowed for us to sneak out the castle at night?"

Joseph rolled his eyes, "Of course it isn't. What're you going to do? Back out?"

Aria rubbed her chin, "I was thinking, instead of obviously taking a risk and breaking a rule, we can sneak out my window?"

Realisation dawned on Joseph's face, "The rule is not to go into the castle after lights out."

Aria's lips curved into a smile, "And we won't be going in the castle."

Joseph slapped his forehead, "How come I didn't think of that before."

Aria: "Come on."

The two went back to Aria's room, bended wind and flew out of the open windows. They flew all the way deep into the forest, and came upon a clearing.

Joseph landed and said, "What do you think? Should be good enough to fight, right?"

Aria: "Yeah. Let's go then."

The two stood still for a moment with their eyes closed, taking in the terrain and locating water sources. Aria suddenly opened her eyes and called out to Joseph, "Hey Joseph? How about fighting with all our three elements?"

Joseph: "No."

Aria: "....Why not?"

Joseph: "First of all, you're injured, so you shouldn't bend too much. Second of all, there isn't any fire around here, so I'll be at a disadvantage."

Aria rolled her eyes before taking her stance, "Have it your way then."

After two hours, Aria and Joseph both slumped down on the grass.

Aria panted, "Let's call it a draw."

Joseph: "That's not fair. Clearly I won."

Aria made a move to stand again, "You wanna go again?"

Joseph put up his hands in surrender, "Fine. A draw."

A smile formed on Aria's lips as she sat back down and the two began to talk.

Joseph told Aria about hand-to-hand combat moves and the best spots to strike and the best ways to defend. Aria told Joseph how he could easily bend more than one element without much strain. She also told him about how she had been training to bend without using her hands and how tiring it was.

Joseph seemed surprised, "You've been training? When? You got out of the recovery ward just yesterday."

Aria smiled her mischievous smile as realisation dawned on Joseph, "That was why there was always some water spilled around your bed."

He leaned back, "I never thought I would meet a bigger training freak or rule breaker than me. And I met both in one person."

Aria laughed and stretched a little, "Say Joseph, can you bend right now?"

Joseph: "Yeah, but not much. Why?"

Aria: "Light up a fire, will you? I'll collect some dry wood and leaves."

Aria went about collecting small sticks and dry leaves as Joseph closed his eyes and groped for the closest source of fire. Aria knew where it was, but obviously she could not tell him.

Aria had made quite a pile by the time Joseph brought a small ball of fire floating through the air and then the sticks and leaves were set ablaze, providing heat and light to the two.

Aria whipped out her book and began to read as Joseph lay down and closed his eyes.