Chapter 168: Snorkeling
The sun had climbed just high enough to turn the ocean into a sheet of liquid glass, its surface shimmering under the weight of light. The villa behind them stood quiet and still, but the shoreline had already come alive with movement as the group stepped onto the sand, the warmth pressing gently against their bare feet.
Ruby was the first to reach the water.
She didn’t hesitate, didn’t test the temperature or glance back for approval. She ran straight in, her laughter cutting through the air as the water rose around her legs, then her waist, then her chest.
"It’s perfect!" she called out, turning back toward them with bright eyes.
Hazel walked at a steadier pace, her steps measured as she let the water rise slowly around her. Racheal followed just behind her, her gaze taking in everything without reacting outwardly. Clara lingered for a moment at the edge, her arms folded lightly as she watched Ruby splash around without restraint.
Damian stepped forward last.
The water met him without resistance, warm and clear, the gentle push of the tide brushing against his legs as he moved deeper. His gaze lingered briefly on Ruby’s energetic movements before shifting, settling on Hazel.
She had stopped waist-deep in the water, her fingers trailing lightly along the surface as she adjusted to the temperature. The sunlight caught against her skin, the reflection dancing across her form in shifting patterns. There was something calm about the way she moved, something grounded that drew his attention without effort.
"You’re staring," she said without looking at him.
Damian didn’t deny it. "You’re moving too slow."
Hazel turned her head slightly, a faint smile forming at the corner of her lips. "Not everyone needs to rush."
Behind them, Ruby suddenly dove forward, disappearing beneath the surface in a clean motion before reappearing a few feet away, her hair slicked back as she laughed.
"You guys are boring!" she shouted. "Come on!"
Racheal shot Hazel a secretive and suggestive wink before stepping past her as she moved deeper into the water, then dipped beneath the surface with barely a ripple. Clara exhaled quietly and finally stepped in, the water rising around her slowly, her initial hesitation fading with each step.
Damian reached down, grabbing one of the snorkeling masks from the set laid out on the sand earlier. He turned it in his hand briefly before handing one to Hazel.
"Try it," he said.
Hazel raised a brow. "You first."
He smirked faintly and secured his mask before slipping beneath the surface.
The world shifted instantly. Sound dulled, light fractured and color deepened.
The ocean floor stretched beneath him in soft patterns of sand and coral, small fish moving in clusters that shimmered as they turned in unison. The water was clear enough to see everything without strain, each movement beneath the surface carrying a quiet rhythm that felt completely separate from the world above.
Damian moved forward with ease, his body adjusting naturally, his awareness sharp even in this unfamiliar environment. He turned slightly and caught sight of Hazel slipping beneath the surface as well.
For a brief moment, she stilled.
Then she moved.
Her motions were slower than his, more cautious, but there was a quiet grace to it. She extended a hand slightly, watching as a small cluster of fish scattered and regrouped around her fingers.
When she resurfaced, she pulled the mask up and let out a small breath.
"That..." she paused, then shook her head slightly. "That’s beautiful."
Damian surfaced beside her, removing his own mask. "You were expecting something else?"
"I don’t know what I was expecting," she admitted. "Not this."
Damain was genuinely surprised by this response. Hazel has lived for a thousand years and she has never done this?
What the hell were they doing while traveling the world with Lin Qui?
Ruby suddenly emerged nearby, her head snapping back as she pulled off her mask, water dripping down her face as she grinned widely.
"Did you see that?" she asked, her voice filled with excitement. "There are so many fish down there!"
Without waiting for a response, she dove again, disappearing just as quickly as she had appeared.
Clara watched her for a moment before slowly putting on her own mask. There was still a trace of hesitation in her movements, but it was weaker now, worn down by the energy around her.
She stepped forward, took a breath, and slipped beneath the surface.
For a few seconds, she didn’t move. Then her body relaxed.
Her hands extended slightly as she drifted forward, her movements cautious at first, then smoother as she adjusted. When she resurfaced, she pushed the mask up slowly, her expression different now.
Softer.
"That’s..." she paused, searching for the right word. "I didn’t expect it to feel like that."
Ruby popped up beside her again. "Right?!"
Clara let out a quiet laugh. "Yeah... right."
Racheal surfaced further out, her hair slicked back as she glanced toward them. "You’re all finally catching up."
Hazel rolled her eyes slightly. "Some of us prefer to take our time."
Damian watched the exchange silently, his attention shifting between them.
Ruby’s energy filled the space effortlessly, her excitement pulling reactions out of everyone whether they wanted it or not. To think the strict one that wanted him to train during vacation was the most playful one of the bunch.
Hazel had removed her mask now, letting it hang loosely from her hand as she watched the water move around them. There was a quiet satisfaction in her expression.
Damian glanced around and noticed how quiet it was around them.He reached out, his fingers brushing lightly against her wrist before guiding her hand back toward the water.
"We are missing all the fun," he said.
This time, she didn’t hesitate. They slipped beneath the surface together.
The water closed around them, muffling everything above as they moved forward in quiet synchronization. Damian had also noticed she seemed uncomfortable underwater so he kept his pace slower this time, matching hers.
A larger formation of coral came into view, surrounded by clusters of fish that moved in shifting patterns. Hazel reached out again, this time more confidently, her fingers cutting through the water as the fish scattered and regrouped.
She turned slightly toward him, her expression visible even through the mask. When they surfaced again, the others had drifted closer.
Ruby floated on her back now, her arms spread wide as she let the water carry her. Clara remained upright, but her posture was relaxed, her earlier restraint almost completely gone. Racheal hovered nearby, watching them all with quiet amusement.
"You two took your time," Ruby said, glancing at Damian and Hazel.
Hazel shrugged lightly. "We’re not competing with you."
"You should," Ruby shot back. "I’m winning."
Clara shook her head with a faint smile. "There’s nothing to win."
"Exactly," Racheal added softly.
Damian didn’t respond. He simply leaned back slightly, letting the water carry him for a moment as he looked toward the horizon.
The sun was higher now and the ocean stretched endlessly.
’You said something about killing the supreme deity and becoming a true God. Tell me more about that.’ Damain finally responded to the system’s earlier comment during breakfast.