10. Water Works
“Master Rudeus, can you repeat yourself?”
“A-ahem, would you like to go somewhere with me?”
“Where?”
“To our training pond. I don’t actually know how to swim, so I’ve been wondering if you could… you know… teach me?”
“...I’ll think about it…”
///
I did it! I got a date out of Lilia. I had a vague idea of how I wanted it to go, and everything.
“There you go Rudy! One, two, one two… You’re swimming like a pro, isn’t that right Zenith?” Paul praises.
“Good job Rudy! Come here, swim to mama,” Zenith says.
So, of course nothing went according to plan.
Ofcourse!
The results were mixed. I think she was just waiting for me to give up, and forget as she stalled for a few days, but I have two weeks of free time, and was very eager for those lessons, for many obvious reasons, and so I went through a lot of effort to make the ‘date,’ happen. Considering we’re in a medieval type society, my options were limited. In the end, I decided to go with a two birds one stone approach, and decided on swimming. It was something I never learned in my past life, and would be useful in this one. A well thought out plan if I say so myself. Plus, bikinis!
"Yosh, their you go Rudy, one two, one two~" Zenith cheered me on, holding my hands as I paddled.
"Don't forget to keep your head above water," Paul added on.
So of course it will be leaked.
Riiight, well this happened. Maybe the gods of romantic comedy really are a thing, because this happened.
Their dicks.
And so my one on one date became a family outing; joy…
My plan wasn't perfect, but this wasn't my fault. As I was talking to Lilia she, 'accidentally,' let it slip that she would be bringing me to the training grounds, the one's before Roxy's arrival, and teaching me how to swim. Then one thing led to another, and... well, it became a family outing instead, Roxy and Lilia included.
Now we're here.
“Let’s go swimming!” Paul said, now wearing a plain bathing suit all things considered. Khaki designed, and with his chest out in the open.
“There you go Rudy,” Zenith says as she hugs me close to her chest in the water. A brilliant smile on her face, and a purple flower hair ornament, dazzling in the air. Her hair styled up in a bun, with the ornament in the middle, combined with pearl-like attachments going down one of her sidelocks, she gives a very, 'flower by the beachside,' kind of vibe.
A mermaid?
As usual she is a voluptuous beauty you can't take your eyes from, but this time... her figure really stands out. Wearing a light two piece, purple colored, orchid colored? Type of swimsuit that presses tightly against her figure, accentuating her curves, and pressing against me. She is the summer flower that blooms purple.
They’re soft, and feel like they're sucking me in.
I-it’s not my fault they're pressing onto me.
Still though, my private one on one time was still invaded by these interlopers.
I turn my head to look at Lilia off by the beachside, without her apron, yet very much still in uniform.
Yeah... I messed up.
Not because I was invaded-although that too, but because Lilia apparently doesn't own a swimsuit.
Because of course she doesn’t.
All that time trying to convince her to come over, and it was pointless from the beginning. I suppose swimming in her underwear is a step too far, but damn, so many days wasted.
Sidenote; Roxy does have a swimsuit, but it's much more conservative in taste. I don't know why she has one, but I suppose adventurer’s gotta adventure.
But what are you doing all over there by your lonesome?
Switching to her, I can see Roxy's figure in the distance as she’s busy trying to make friends with her own shadow.
“Momma… air. I’m gonna swim over to Roxy,” I yell from her breast as I lightly push myself away.
“Sure~ go on-wah!”
Splash.
“Let me in on the fun too!” Splashes in an energetic Paul.
“Honey~”
“Dear~”
The Raijus splash over themselves, continuing back and forth, as I float between them.
Such a cliche… I’m not envious, not at all…
“Alright, sweetie go on to Roxy and play for a bit,” Zenith turns around sending me off, as Paul dives below her, and-
“Kya! Dear!” She shoots her hands into the water, losing her floating momentum for a second, and dragging a laughing Paul out of it. “Not in front of Rudy!”
Ok, that’s my que to leave. I’ve had enough heads up displays of their affections my first year around, I didn't need a second.
“Bye mama, bye papa,” I swam off.
“How about now?” A voice says behind me.
“Should I hit you?”
At least hold off while I’m in front of you. The water is clean, I DO have a vague idea of what you did underwater, you idiot.
“Sensei!” I call out to her as I make my way close.
Save me from these idiots.
My sensei is wearing her two piece as well. Rather than a sensual swimsuit that shows off her figure, she went with a frilly light-blue two piece, that shows of her loveliness instead. A petal-like pattern, and layered on top of each other, if my mother is the summer flower that stands tall and blooms, then she is the budding Lily, whose appeal comes not in the 'show,' but in her humble 'closed,' layers; a bud to be. Complete with a third piece, if you count the white bottom underneath the underneath.
I-I’m not peeking, she’s just easily exposed.
Looking at her, then at my mother, then at me and Paul, and I can’t help but feel theirs a disparity between men’s and women's fashion. Why are their swimsuits so advanced compared to ours?
Their so...
I guess it’s true what they say, fashion evolves on sex appeal.
“You sure are energetic, it’s hard to believe you were bedridden workaholic a couple weeks ago,” she stated.
“That’s the past. Now I'm all about living in the present.”
“I hope you didn't forget your studies. I’d hate it if you went from one extreme to the other.”
“No problem no problem. Soooo, wanna play?” I asked.
Main mission was a failure, but I will find some enjoyment where I can. I'm going back to my training schedule in a week, if I'm restrained now, who knows when the next day I'll cut loose like this will be.
“Hmph, not particularly,” she twiddled one of her twin tail-braids.
“Really~ cause I know some fun things with a surfboard.”
“You don’t have a surfboard.”
“But I do have a barrel lid."
“Let's go,” she gave a curt immediate response.
///
Riding the waves sure is fun.
“Sensei!”
“Rudy?”
“Faster?” I ask.
“Faster!” Roxy then proceeds to use wind magic to quite literally set sail, and now her and I are surfing across this pond.
“Hey,” I say in a low but gentle voice, hugging her tightly from behind, “you mind if I use a little water magic?”
“You really shouldn’t…”
“The ban ends tomorrow...”
Roxy seems to be mulling it over, we’re losing speed because of it...
“It’ll be fun~”
“Fine, but keep it hidden from your parents.”
Don’t I always.
“Got it. Trace on,” I then control my breathing and concentrate once more. Using water magic to raise some waves up and down, in combination with Roxy’s wind, to skid across the pond. It really is a blast.
“Oy, that looks fun. Let us in on that too!” Paul yelled out from the sidelines.
What followed was a fun afternoon.
Me and Roxy, Me and Zenith, Zenith and Paul, and Paul and me. Mixing and dipping, cutting loose, enjoying ourselves, frolicking like idiots, and we probably were, we skidded all over the pond. Overall… fun. Not the way I intended it, as are many things, but it'll make a pleasant memory regardless.
The eye candy helps too.
"Didn’t help notice the setting sun," wondering where Lilia was, I finally made my way to her when I was done. I looked off to her side from time to time while I was frolicking, to see what she was doing, only to see her casually dipping her toes in the water. “You know, you don’t need a swimsuit for something like this, wanna go for a ride?”
“That’s quite alright master Rudeus, I am fine,” she assured me.
"Sure..."
Although, I noticed her peeking inside her own blouse from time to time when I did so.
I wonder…
All good things must come to an end.
We were all done playing, parents included, and started packing after ourselves; Roxy with her board(barrel lid), Paul and Zenith packing with their clothes and gear, and I... well I'll get to the bottom of this.
Let's investigate.
I made a move towards Lilia, grabbed her by the hand, and pulled her off to the side. “Shh,” I shushed in the universal hand sign to do so. No idea if it translates to this world, but she complies regardless, and so-
“Dad, mom!” I yell out from afar. “I dropped one of Roxy’s text books over there, I’m gonna borrow Lilia to help me carry it,” there's so many holes in what I'm saying, but I really couldn’t be bothered, I just needed an excuse to be alone with her right now, without any interruptions.
I gotta get better at thinking under pressure.
“Hmm? Yeah sure. See you back at home,” Paul says, not really looking in my direction.
Thank you for believing my bullshit. But seriously... can you say that without looking at Zenith's rear end.
I wait patiently a moment after.
“Sooo… anything you want to get off your chest?”
“I’m not sure what you mean?”
“I see,” well, I kind of figured she’d say that. “In advance, I apologize for what I am about to do, you can hit me if I’m wrong,” I point my hand to the pond, and force the water to rise as my mana wills it.
“Rudy?”
I now have a small wave at my disposal, and so with a wave of my hand I threw it to her.
Sure hope I'm not wrong.
“Uwaah!” She screams in surprise after receiving a surprise splash attack. I made sure to hold back so as to not actually hurt her, but sure enough to get her wet. Very, very wet.
Rudeus used Splash, it’s super effective!
“R-Rudy?! W-what was that about?” Lilia skittishly replied, recovering herself, sprawled on the floor, and leaning back on her hands all soaked, and slightly miffed.
Just kidding, splash is never effective.
“I thought so,” staring at Lilia’s chest I can see the faint outline of a bikini beneath it. Her outfit is black so it’s hard to make out, but I threw enough water at her chest that I can still see the clear indentation of something beneath.
I reach towards her chest, Lilia befuddled by my sudden movements doesn’t stop me, and in one breath proceed to open her blouse. There, bare before me, her black swimsuit covering her chest is seen.
Slap!
Of course I get Immediately slapped for it. Hard.
“Ow… Alright, I know I was literally asking for it, but ow...” I wince in pain.
Lilia is looking at me with a look of betrayal. It is not a look that I enjoy.
“Sorry,” I nursed my cheek. “I’m a very blunt person, and this seemed like the most effective way of doing things, without, you know... talking around in circles."
She still looks a little miffed.
“I’m really sorry,” I repeat myself just to be sure.
“Sigh. Fine,” she adjust herself, moving to a sitting position, “I already know Rudeus long enough to know that he isn’t ‘THAT,’ type of person, and does stupid thing out of nowhere-”
“I prefer eccentric.”
“STUPID, things out of nowhere. So what ‘grand’ idea does Rudy have now?”
I can taste your sarcasm.
“Not an idea, just a question; why are you hiding your swimsuit? You missed out on alot today.”
She narrowed her eyes at me, before looking away and sighing, “Is that really all, for such a little thing Rudeus would make such a big deal?”
“I beg to differ, your swimsuit is my top list of-” crap I let my inner thoughts escape my mouth.
Calm down Rudeus! Your hormones aren’t even active yet, how are you going to handle the future if you can’t even handle a conversation.
“...right. Regardless, it’s of no importance. Not worth talking about, if it's all the same, let's go home,” she starts getting up, placing her hand on her blouse opening, beginning to butten up.
“And yet it was important enough to hide,” I quipped. “By the way, now that your clothes are wet, it would probably be for the best to let them dry don’t you think?” I move on to the side, and cut off a branch to hang her clothes, starting a small bonfire to get my point across.
I sit by it and wait.
“...”
She sighs, but ultimately surrenders, coming forth, and stripping.
Being forceful every once in a while isn’t half bad.
I think as the resident kuudere Milf starts taking off her clothes in front of me. I know she said I’m not THAT type of guy (whatever that is), but I kind of wish I was right now.
Unbuttoning her clothes, starting from where I left off, she lets the clothes fall. There she stood before me, a little wet, well a lot wet, but pretty much alright, as she picked up her clothing, and brought them to hang.
I took them from her hand.
Seeing as she is only wet because of me, I might as well take responsibility. I hang the clothes and we sit by the fire.
“What would you have done if you were wrong?” The silence is broken by her question.
“...there was always that possibility. I’d probably get down on my hands and knees and beg your forgiveness until you accepted, or confess to my parents, and they could punish me instead, but I was confident that you were wearing something, although…” I looked at her bottom half. “I didn’t expect for the bottom to be so risqué.”
I have to say... it's really... fine. A black two piece swimsuit, three piece if you count the star like collar tying it together, it would really be a simple piece, if it wasn't for the bottom half throwing out my concentration. It's a string piece.
I… really want to see the back.
“I w-wasn’t planning on wearing it today, there's a frilly piece to go with it,” she blushes as she covers her bottom, noticing my stare. “I left it in my quarters though.”
“Wow,” I enjoyed the sight. “Ah-right sorry… it looks... really nice on you.”
“...thank you,” she says by the fire opposite of me.
What were we talking about? Right-
“But really, it does look good on you. I thought you said you didn’t have a swimsuit, but you even wore it here. You clearly wanted to swim so what gives?”
“...I wasn’t lying when I said I didn’t have a swimsuit. I ordered one the day you asked, it arrived just yesterday, but still, I couldn’t swim.”
“What? Why not? You clearly wanted to, and before you say you didn’t, I know-”
“I can’t swim.”
“What? You can’t swim?” Had to make sure I heard that correctly.
“Yes, master.”
"..."
Well, talk about an exercise in futility.
“...wanna learn? Mom and Dad said I’m a natural,” I offered.
“You misunderstand, young master. I can not swim. Specifically; it hurts to. At least for long periods of time,” her hand traces her leg. “I can float in place, but extraneous activities aggravate my… handicap,” she said with a small smile. “I don't think I’m the appropriate person to teach you this master.”
She then went on explaining how she literally can not swim. For small periods of time it’s negligible, but for long periods, unknown. She honestly didn’t know how long she could stay afloat in the water, as such, she didn’t even want to try. Simply aware of her own limits, she doesn’t even try so as not to injure/embarrass herself.
'It would be unbecoming if her student had to save her,' at least that's what she said.
“So you’re not even sure, if you can or cannot swim, and just assuming?”
“It’s a fair judgment master based on the situation Rudy,” she justified. “You’ve sparred with me, remember.”
I get it, I get it. But I don’t like it. That defeatist mentality it... kinda pisses me off.
“There’s also Lady Zenith and master Paul. Specifically miss Zenith. Madame was so happy when she found out she could teach you swimming today, I didn't want to hinder that. I don't know why you don't hang out more with your mother, but if you bother to do so once in a while, you'd make your mother very happy."
Ah, that.
Well, there are many reasons for that, but in the end it’s actually quite simple; I just can’t.
Zenith and Paul are a little dense, but not oblivious. It helps that Paul focuses mostly on training, rather than my personality, but I feel that if I stayed with Zenith for longer periods then a second, she would know that something is up. I can play a kid for a short while, but I know I slip from time to time. With you it's okay, as their are unspoken rule between us, Paul is just dense, and Roxy... seems to have a skewed view being born from the demon continent, but if I were to interact with Zenith, it would be...
As long as it’s not often I should be able to get away with it, but I don’t think I could pull such an act for long periods of time.
“As for Paul… I’d be uncomfortable under his stares…” Lilia continued.
“I can kind of get that,” I said, sneaking a glance aswell, getting a leer for what it’s worth. Yeah, had that coming. “But, you still want to swim don’t you?”
“...”
Lilia nods her head slowly.
“Even I want to let loose every once in a while,” she mumbled into her lap, hugging her knees tightly into her chest.
“I see. Alright, that’s all I needed to hear,” I say more to myself than anything else. I walk over to her, bow down and look her in the eye. “Let me show you something amazing.”
Walking away from her I decide to break my magic ban. Following the rules are great, but sometimes you gotta know when to push.
It’s showtime.
“Ladies and-” the ladies and gentleman speech doesn’t work for a crowd of one does it. “Well… just Lady, sit down and let the show begin.”
Alright here goes nothing; Jeronimo~
“Trace on.”
Jumping into the water I paddle until I am a small distance from the shore. I raise my hand, and raise the water along with it.
“Water ball," I cast, before proceeding to split it, then again. And again. Giving into my momentum, and letting it spin. As it goes in a circles around me. Using its own momentum, and my own body as an anchor it’s now going in circles. “Water ball…” I repeat again… "Water ball," again, "Water ball," and again and again, until I have five water balls spinning around me. “Wind rise,” I hit the water balls in sequences making for short splashes.
Now that the shock part is over with, it is time for the awe.
I keep creating water balls again, and again. My hands moving, conducting them, moving them as I will. Spinning them around me again, and again. Paddling in place I am the center of this storm. I’m floating on a bubble, I let my will whirl, and my bubbles spin with me.
A whirlpool of bubbles. Dazzling in the twilight, as I dance a bubble too overhead, creating an array of mirrors. An array of water.
“Icy wind.”
And then I give them form.
Using all the moisture that I’ve kicked into the air, I now start using it to form figures. I made a butterfly. A star. A flower. Anything simple, and easy to make, while subtly freezing them for a moment when I release the shape onto the air. With all the moisture I’ve kicked up, the setting sun sets up just enough light to bounce off the ice shards I’ve made. It’s not quite an ice sculpture, but it’s impressive in its own right.
Or at least I hope it is.
Didn’t have time to rehearse this, so have no idea if the light is hitting the intended angles. Should have done this under a full moon, rather than a sunset.
But I keep going regardless.
Throwing my arms out I am a conductor, and water is my instrument, and so I keep playing… until the show ends.
…trace off…
I stop.
“Whew,” breathing out in relief, I turned towards her, and wondered what her reaction is.
She is silent, staring at me with open eyes, and a little, I’d like to think, a loss for words.
Why thank you~
Noticing my stare she starts to clap slowly .
“Thank you, thank you,” I’m a bit tired, but not exhausted, just enough for one little thing. I walk around the bonfire, and reach down my hand to her. “Do you trust me?”
She reaches for my hand tentatively, “....yes,” and lets me lead her to the pond.
We paddle and continue to drift, until we’re back in the center.
Splash. I splashed her a little.
“You can let loose now Lilia. I’m controlling the water with your legs, I’ll be the water beneath you. How does it feel?”
“Like I’m floating.”
“Yep, so how about a game of marco polo?”
“Marco?” Right, right, other world references.
“Exactly.”
///
What follows was a series of blind tag, aka marco polo, where a Maid is trying to find a young boy in the middle of a lake with her eyes closed.
Funny thing is, with her eyes closed, she didn’t notice the smile on her face.
A beautiful redhead smiling at me splashing water as she doggy paddles here and there.
“Got you,” she caught me.
“You got me,” I wrap my hands around her.
Honestly, this might have been worth it just for that.
“You’re beautiful Lilia,” as we float there in the middle of the pond with the sun now fully set, I say such things. “...in your swimsuit that is…” I let the moment pause, just enough for her to know the hidden meaning.
The original plan was to get closer to Lilia, have her fall for me, and even if I failed I would have gotten close enough that I could convince her to pursue someone that cares for her in body and heart. I would be sad, but with no second option, I could do it.
Now though… Now I don’t want to fail.
Gotta take it calmly, don’t want to scare her off.
Flick. She flicks me in the forehead, chuckling to herself in that demure way only she knows, hiding her smile with one of her hands.
“Say such things when you’re older Rudy."
"...yeah..."
…she got me.
///
Roxy [POV]
Eh? This is…
...
As I was preparing the books for our nightly lessons, me and miss Zenith finally finished our finishing touches as we both realized Rudeus wasn't here yet. Wondering where Rudeus was, I asked for him, only for Paul to say that stayed back for a book he lost.
...but I had all his books at home...
Going back, I decided to get to the bottom of this less he be doing something 'unusual,' again, thus I left, and saw... something peculiar.
As I stand by the shoreline I see… Rudeus and his maid midst a sweet embrace.
The sun had set, and the stars were now visible, with the horizon a purple hue, as it transitions from twilight to night they seemed to be stuck in their own little world. My student ignorant of this, seemed to only see his maid. A secret trysts, my disciple seemed to be trying to court her. Floating under the moonlight in the middle of a pond, his hands laid tantalizingly above her waist. The atmosphere seemed rather...
…she didn't seem too against it.
“Ahem,” I coughed into my hand.
“Roxy?” My disciple and maid turned in question turn their heads to me as I finally cut in. Her pushing herself off my disciple’s grasp and floating a hand’s reach away.
“Your night reviews will start soon. I heard you left a book, but… all your books are back at home,” I spoke to my disciple as the maid silently drifted back to shore, to a bonfire, and clothes.
“Are they? My mistake. Must have lost my mind with all the fun we were having.”
And what fun were you having, disciple?
“In any case, let's go. Any longer and your parents will worry. Children shouldn’t be out at night.”
“Sure~” My disciple waves away my concerns, getting out of the water nonchalantly. His maid already changing, he swam back next to her, placing her uniform over her-
What a scandalous swimsuit…
A short moment later they were both dressed, and ready to go home. Along the way we entered into some casual banter about swimming and lessons, and someone named Marco who discovered the north, of which I had no idea what he was talking bout. In any event, not the least bit embarrassed, he talked about everything with a certain confidence you'd think he did nothing wrong.
It’s alright, it’s alright. He’s just a child. He's not doing.. 'that.'
Such a monologue went through my head until we finally reached his abode.
It’s not like… it’s not like it’s mutual right?
My head turned to the maid in question. She walked meekly behind us all this time, not once intruding. Only ever giving ger opinion when called upon, and only by Rudy, and nodding from time to time when not. She remained ever cordial.
As we reached his home, and Rudy entered first, I finally let out some of my thoughts with me and her alone.
“Rudy has quite a crush on you you know."
“Yes, it would appear so,” came an eloquent reply.
“You seemed to be having fun.”
“Rudeus... is a very charming child.”
That’s true. However…
“I hope you’re careful of his feelings. He might be charming... but I don’t think a heartbroken souls adds to his appeal."
“Rest assured Miss Roxy, when the time comes, I will respond to Rudeus' feelings appropriately. I will respectfully, and kindly turn him down.”
“I see…”
Perhaps it’s not mutual.
"Rudeus deserves a better women such as I..."
...some oddly phrased words were left at the end of it.
It's fine...
Although the image still lingers; her smiling face while embraced. Followed by more insidious rumors I once heard; tales of how young maids would sometimes try to seduce young masters, in the hopes of setting a life for themselves, if not their future son or daughter.
No, no no no, she’s not that kind of woman. That disciple is putting strange thoughts in my head...
“Miss Roxy?”
In my turmoil I failed to notice her closer, and my back now against the door.
“Ah, sorry. Got lost in thought. But thank you for your understanding. Zenith will-no, it's probably best if she doesn't know. In any event, dinner is ready, I’ll fetch Rudy,” I open the door and made for my student’s bedroom, their were many lessons to get through, and love might be one of them. I might-
Ahhh, my head. Only my disciple could give me such a headache.
After a day's worth of excitement, it seems the vacations is over.
"...I really hope I don't have to have that talk..."
AN: More of a question really; I like to space my writing before hand when I'm typing. It helps me think, and/or add edits to a story, but I've noticed this site more or less already does that for you. Is the reading experience, not the content, pleasant to read, or does the spacing bother you when reading. Please comment, as well as any other thoughts on the chapter.