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"Ugh… it's too hot…"
As far as the eye could see, not a single cloud could be seen hanging in the air. It was almost a wonder how clear the sky was today. This also meant that a scorching wave of heat was covering the entire land.
"How long have I been out here?"
Whispering to himself, the Traveler was doing his best to hide in the shadow cast by a small hill. Everything near him was too small to cast a shadow big enough for him to hide in. This explained why he was doing his best to stay hidden from the blazing sun.
"*sigh* If this keeps up… I'm going to melt… Paimon… how are you doing?"
Calling out to his traveling companion, Aether was waiting for her to respond, but he immediately remembered something vital.
"Oh… yeah… she went home…"
Hunching over and letting out a weary sigh, Aether looked around and saw that he was completely alone. Not even a small critter could be seen scouring through the sand that surrounded him.
'Next time… I'm telling… her… to wait… near… eh… by the water…'
The person he was referring to happened to be none other than the Pyro Archon, Mavuika, and her unusual idea that she came up with. He could still recall how random the entire thing came to be.
One minute, he was hanging out with Citlali, Paimon, and Kunich discussing what sort of plans were in play to celebrate her birthday, and the next, he was pulled aside by her to meet her in a secluded place.
"How much longer…"
Suddenly, the roar of a vehicle could be heard growing in the distance. It didn't take a scientist to know what that sound was coming from.
*VROOM!*
In the next instant, Aether could see a bike soaring high through the sky and leaving a trail of fire behind. The rider wore a dark helmet, looking both fierce and professional. Before long, he could see long, beautiful red hair flowing in the wind while the bike came forward and drove straight up to him in a halting stop.
Taking her helmet off and placing it casually on her hip, Mavuika flashed the boy with a dangerously gorgeous smile on her face.
"Hey, you! Thanks for coming out here with me."
"You could have told me to come ten minutes sooner. I've been dying out here!"
Noticing the sweat dripping along his face, Mavuika smiled sheepishly before grabbing something along the side of her bike and tossing it over to Aether.
"Here. This should feel nice."
Catching the item with ease, Aether looked at what he had just caught and saw that it was a towel. Not only that, but it was freezing.
"What in the world?"
"I had Citlali help me with a little experiment of mine. At first, she wasn't all that thrilled, but once we got it working, she decided to go all in."
"Cold towels?"
"Infused towels with Cryo. They won't stay frozen forever, but they will last longer if they are piled up with other towels. So, when I'm traveling and come across a heat-stricken merchant, I can help them get a pep in their step," Mavuika reasoned with a satisfied smile. "Plus, it's nice to feel like I'm going all out on the bike."
Fascinated by this idea, Aether couldn't help but wonder if he had ever encountered an idea like this in the many worlds that he had visited in the past. At the moment, he couldn't recall any sort of idea like this, but he did think of other methods that people used to keep cool against intense heat.
"Well, it's sure saving me."
As Aether said this, he placed the frozen towel on his neck and could feel his body chilling instantaneously while goosebumps crawled up his arm. A wave of coolness washed over him.
"So, why did you want me to wait for you out here… in the middle of nowhere?"
Sporting a sly grin on her face, Mavuika walked over to Aether and stayed only a few feet away from him before letting out a sigh.
"I happened to overhear a little something happening tonight regarding my birthday."
"Uh… I don't know if you were supposed to hear anything… I think?" Aether replied, unsure of what he was even saying.
"Don't worry. It's a common practice to talk freely about the Pyro Archon's birthday. I heard from the chiefs that there are plans to move all the bonfires to the Stadium of the Sacred Flame for a massive party in my honor."
The Traveler's eyes widened as this sounded like a major scale thing happening today.
"Honestly, it's an honor to be the reason everyone comes together like that. But I've got a simpler idea: why not just set up the grills right outside our doors, and let the firelight blaze freely in every tribe? That way, no one has to worry about a long trip home after too much to drink, too. A good party should always be within arm's reach, after all."
"That is a good point. People are sure to celebrate to their hearts' content… even though it is your birthday, haha."
She was in agreement with that point. Everyone deserved to have a good time.
"Especially after all that's happened. Additionally, I can zip from tribe to tribe in my flamestrider, and it'd be fun to see what kind of surprises I might run into around every corner. By the way, you didn't get motion-sick riding behind me last time, did you?"
"Nope. I was all good."
"Well, in that case, why don't you take the driver's seat this time. What do you say?"
"Are you sure? I mean… that's your bike."
"And I trust you with my life. I think that clears my bike. Plus, we could go to the People of the Springs for a bit of singing, or drop by the Collective of Plenty for some fresh fruit. Wherever you want to go – lead the way. I'll be right there with you, riding the roar of the road, all the way through."
Giving the red-haired beauty a steady look, Aether couldn't help but let out a strained sigh.
"You sure?"
"Absolutely. Besides, it's just a bike. You matter more than any sort of vehicle. The bike can be fixed or replaced… You cannot."
The radiance in Mavuika's words managed to make Aether feel a wave of appreciation as well as many other emotions. Through all the challenges that they had overcome together, they had formed a bond that was both simple and deeply complex. There were things that they knew about one another that nobody even had a clue about.
It was also important to consider that their feelings toward one another were on another level. An emotion closely related to the heart.
"That goes for you as well, Mavuika. The people of Natlan need you."
A sly smirk was starting to grow on her face.
"Hm… I sense there's something else you want to say?" she asked, feeling the corners of her lips rise into a smile.
Deciding to take a leap of faith, Aether continued.
"I… yeah, there is. I need you. You're my friend. More than that, we're partners. We've dealt with things that nobody else will ever have to deal with. We had each other's backs in a life-or-death situation. And… I want to be with you… "
Grimacing at what he just said, Aether wasn't going to retract any of it. Granted, it could have been said better, but he would still stick with everything.
Processing his words carefully, Mavuika's face began to show a pink tint as she replayed every single thing that he had said. At first, she was worried that he would only see her as a friend, but that fear quickly disappeared as he started going into more detail. And then, his last few words were the finishing blow.
"I-I… do you mean that… in what way, Aether?"
"In the way you're thinking, Mavuika," he replied in a cool, straightforward way.
The Archon could feel adrenaline coursing through her body as she just had to know the truth. A point-blank truth is what she wanted, and no matter what, she'd get it.
"Romantically."
Aether's response was met with his entire face now matching her hair while he nodded his head with an affirmed expression.
"Yes, I like you that way. How could I not? You've believed in me, and I've believed in you."
Once this was said, Aether waited for any sort of reaction from the Pyro Archon, but nothing happened, which made him even more concerned.
However, in the next instant, he found himself wrapped in a bone-crushing hug as he could feel his face nuzzled in her neck and his chest feeling something soft and wonderful.
"You have no idea how worried I was for a minute there."
"What? You thought I didn't feel that way."
A simple playful glare sent his way was all that Aether needed to see for an answer.
"I mean, part of me was worried you wouldn't feel the same."
"For being quite the established hero, you're also a bit of a wildcard," Mavuika said with a teasing smile. "Still, this is one of the best birthday gifts I've ever been given."
"You'd call this a gift?"
"You wouldn't?"
"No! Haha!"
"Hehe! Alright then, I'm now eager to see what you have in mind for me~"
Sporting a cheeky grin, Aether was about to reach behind his back and grab her birthday present, but just before he did, an idea popped into his head.
"Hmm. On second thought, I'll give you your present at the end of tonight. Let it be the last thing you receive."
"Oh? Trying to play games with me now, are you?" Mavuika's lips curled into a smile while her eyes remained steady on his. "You're playing with fire against an Archon and not just any Archon at that."
"I can take the heat."
"Let's hope so!"
Smiling at one another, Mavuika was the first to break the lovely staring contest and summoned her flamestrider in a flash of light. She quickly flashed the boy another one of her amazing smiles that he was beginning to have imprinted in his mind.
"So, instead of just staring at one another all day, why don't we head to the Stadium and let all the tribe leaders know about my idea. I'm sure they'll all be happy to go along with it. And you get to drive us there! Sound fun?"
Giving her one last look, Aether simply nodded and began walking up to the bike and examining it closely. He had already been a passenger, but being the driver tended to offer a new perspective.
"If I'm being honest, I don't think I've ever been in the back seat. Normally, I'm the one giving rides to people. Actually… scratch that. I don't think I've given rides to that many people. You and Paimon for sure, but I can't remember the last time someone rode with me. I had some Saurians hop onto the back while I was cruising, but they jumped off within minutes. This will be fun!"
Imprinting her smile into his memory, Aether gently lifted his leg over the bike and got into position.
Suddenly, the Traveler was hit with a sensational feeling that it was almost impossible to put into words.
The feeling of Mavuika hopping on behind him and adjusting her position so that he could feel her get comfy, as well as two magnificent soft mountains pressing into his back, made him blush. She seemed to have sensed this reaction and gave him a smug grin.
"Need me to help teach you how to get going?"
*VROOM!*
The bike sprang to life while Aether flashed a confident smile on his face.
"This isn't my first time riding a bike like this."
"Oh, really? You have my attention now."
"Yep."
"In that case, why don't you tell me about this other bike you've handled. And maybe show me a bit of your skills behind the wheel, my Tumaini."
*VROOM!*
The bike sped away, leaving the sight of Aether and Mavuika smiling together and heading straight to the Stadium of the Sacred Flame to inform the others about tonight's plans. Not only would it be a night to be remembered, but it would also be a birthday to be cherished forever.