As Oliver walked through the crowd, he was looking to all sides looking for Aria. After a couple of minutes, he spotted her. She was buying a parfait in a stand. She was smiling as she ate it.
“Aria!” Oliver called out to Aria as he approached her.
“Oliver, there you are.” Aria smiled. She was holding a strawberry parfait. “I got separated from everyone. I was about to call Nicole.”
“How about we take a look around us two together?” Oliver asked.
“I would love to.” Aria answered. Aria scooped some of the parfait on her spoon and held it towards Oliver. “Have a bite.”
“Eh?” Oliver looked at Aria. She was just intently staring at him. He brought his face close to the spoon. He took a bite. He was blushing. Aria smiled and placed the spoon into the cup. “That’s sweet. Quite delicious.”
“I am glad you enjoyed it. I wanted to share some with you before I finished. You look adorable.” Aria said before starting to eat the parfait again. After she finished the parfait, she used Fire Magic to burn the cup. Then she looked at Oliver. “You know my hands are cold.”
“Is that so? Then give me your hand.” Oliver said as he held Aria’s hand. “Let’s walk around. We can see if anything draws our attention.”
“The festival is so beautiful, everyone is enjoying it.” Aria smiled as she and Oliver began walking. “I was enjoying it by myself for a bit, but I feel I am going to enjoy it more now that you’re here with me.”
“Let’s enjoy ourselves.” Oliver said. “Is there something you want to see or do?”
“I am not sure. I’ll let you decide.” Aria answered. “I trust you’ll choose something we can enjoy.”
“I think I know what I want us to do.” Oliver said as he started to lead Aria. “We’ll have fun. I just need to find it.”
Oliver was looking around the stands as they walked hand in hand. After some time Oliver found what he was looking for. Oliver could see a long outdoor pool. A couple was holding hands and walking on top of the water. After a few seconds they fell to the water; they had made it a quarter of the way. Oliver and Aria approached the old woman manning the attraction. “We should try this, Aria.”
“This should be easy for us.” Aria said. “We have great Magic control.”
“That’s what everyone says, young lady. By yourself it’s quite easy, but this challenge requires you to be in-sync with your partner. If your Magical Energy becomes out of sync with one another, then both of you will fall into the water.” The old woman explained. “My late husband developed this challenge decades ago. Only he and I have completed it. Most don’t even make it to the half point and some make it to three quarters of the way. Completing this challenge involves complete sync with one another with Magic. It’s so beautiful seeing couples trying this challenge and seeing how in sync they are. If you manage to win, the prize is an Eternal Rose. The rose is still as beautiful as the day my husband infused magic in it all those years ago. Do you and your boyfriend want to try, young lady?”
“Do you think we can do it?” Aria looked at Oliver.
“Matching one another’s Magical Energy Flow is quite the challenge because it’s two separate ones and each one has to control it. I have an idea. Aria close your eyes and start feeling your Magical Energy Flow.” Oliver said as he held Aria’s hand tighter. Oliver began to circulate his Magical Energy throughout his body, then he focused on his hand. He focused on Aria’s hand; he began to redirect his Magical Energy Flow into Aria’s hand. As milliseconds passed, Oliver could feel his Magical Energy going into Aria and he could feel Aria’s Magical Energy going into him. After a couple of seconds he could feel his Magical Energy Flow combining with Aria’s. “Do you feel it, Aria?”
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“This is incredible. I can feel your Magical Energy flowing through me. I can see why my mom keeps praising your research skills.” Aria asked. “With this we should be able to keep in sync.” Aria then turned to the old woman. “Yes, we will live to take the challenge.”
“One flow formed by combining the Magical Energy Flow of two people. That’s beauty. If my husband could see this beauty, he would be happy. Please go ahead and finish. I would love to hand the Eternal Rose to you two. But I first need to verify you’re worthy.” The old woman was smiling. “Your method is different from mine and my husband’s. We were two Magical Energy Flow’s matching each other, but yours it’s one combined. Both beautiful on their own merits.”
“Let’s go, Oliver.” Aria said as she began walking towards the pool.
“Take it slowly, although this is easier than the other method, we still have to concentrate to keep our flows combined.” Oliver said as started walking. Oliver and Aria were walking at the same pace holding tightly to each other’s hand. “We are about to enter the pool.”
“We can do it, Oliver.” Aria said as both of them stepped into the pool.
They were walking on the water as naturally as they walked on the ground; they marched forward, concentrating on the Magical Energy Flow they shared. Left, right, left, right, left, right, their steps had the same rhythm. The more they walked the more in tune they became. Breathe in, breath out, breathe in, breath out, all of their movements had become synchronized. After a few seconds, they found themselves lost in their own world. All that existed to them was themselves. They continued. They could feel each other’s heart beats. At this moment in time they existed as one. Nothing else other than their company mattered to each other. With one last step they left their little world. It felt like an eternity for them, yet not enough time to enjoy each other’s company.
“I am so happy you two overcame the challenge.” The old woman said. Her smile was full of happiness. She was holding a cylindrical glass container in which the Eternal Rose was trapped. “Such a beautiful display.”
“It fills me with joy to know you found it beautiful.” Aria said.
“Take the Eternal Rose. It rightfully belongs to you.” The old woman handed the Eternal Rose to Aria. Aria smiled as she accepted the Eternal Rose.
“Thank you so much! It’s so beautiful!” Aria said.
“It’s quite a masterful work of art.” Oliver said.
“You two made this old lady happy. Enjoy the rest of the festival.” The old woman said. “The fireworks should be starting soon.”
“Oliver, let’s find a place with a good skyview.” Ari said. She held Oliver’s left hand with her right hand. With her left arm she was tightly holding the Eternal Rose.
“Follow my lead. I know where to go.” Oliver started walking and Aria followed.
The water stretched as far as the eye could see. The splashing of the waves could be heard all over. The stars covered the sky. And on this night the five moons were visible. Under a tree in the pier, Oliver and Aria had taken a seat. The sound of people enjoying the festival slowly found their path to their ears as they gazed at the night sky.
“The world is beautiful. I am glad to have been born in Lunaria.” Oliver said, looking at the moons. “There is so much beauty.”
“Yeah, I love this world so much.” Aria said. “I would never want to leave this world. I feel bad for the heroes. They saved Lunaria, yet we forcibly summoned them here. I am certain they missed Earth; their home.”
“There you are, Aria.” Oliver and Aria could hear Yuri’s voice coming behind them.
They turned around and saw Nicole and Yuri approaching them. Both of them were wearing their fox masks. Yuri was holding another fox mask. Yuri sat next to Aria and Nicole sat next to Oliver.
“Here you go, Aria! Now the three of us will be matching.” Yuri said as she gave the mask to Aria.
“Thank you, Yuri!” Aria said as she took the mask. She then put on the mask. “I am glad you thought about me.”
“”It looks like I wasn’t the only one who had a date with you today.” Nicole whispered to Oliver as she hugged her plush flamingo. Her eyes were lingering on the Eternal Rose.
“You were right, Jin-Woo. They are all here.” The group heard Roger’s voice.
“It looks like we’ll be able to enjoy the fireworks as a group.” Jin-Woo said.
“I should be saying that line. I am supposed to be the leader.” Roger smiled.
“Hurry up, you two!” Yuri said. “The fireworks are about to start.”
Soon after Jin-Woo and Roger took a seat, the fireworks started. The sound of the fireworks going off quickly filled the area. The light of the fireworks illuminated the sky, overshadowing the stars and moon. Oliver’s eyes were glued to the sky. There were conversations happening around him, yet at this moment he was lost in his mind. He looked at Nicole and Aria; his eyes went back to the sky. He knew he had to make a decision. His mind wandered to both of them as he observed the fireworks. He smiled, forgetting about his worries for a moment; he decided to enjoy the moment.