(Saiph)

Amaia’s warm body presses against me as she becomes my backpack.

No woman has ever become my backpack.

My motorbike, my beauty, has become the second love of my life now.

Amaia has stolen the first spot on the list. Her invigorating scent surrounds me like a shield and I feel invincible.

We leave the Academy without being deducted by the twins or Ezran. I know this is a risk to bring her along, they won’t be happy.

However, she is mine too, as much as she is theirs, and today she is feeling down because of the whole Alnilam-Jamina situation. I want to cheer her up and if taking her for a ride will lift her mood, so be it.

The wind howls past us as I speed up once we hit the main road. Amaia’s arms tighten against my waist and the feeling is indescribable.

Riding my motorbike makes me feel alive and free.

That mad rush of adrenaline.

That giddiness of being invincible where no one can touch you...

An escape from the dullness and monotonous routine of my life.

It helps me focus, think and ponder over life choices.

A little hut by the side of a stream, a hammock, my bike, Amaia and our kids. Life would be blissful, quiet and rewarding.

My dream is interrupted by Amaia’s sweet voice.

"Who taught you to ride a bike?" Amaia loudly questions from behind me.

"Myself!" I proudly inform her. Amaia’s grip tightens against my waist again and she places her head on my back.

"You are amazing for that."

The night is quiet except for a few crickets going rowdy in the bushes. No Chitterings or any other creature in sight, I still have to be careful.

"Is this your first time on a bike?" I ask, slightly tilting my head.

"Yes!"

I keep a steady speed, not wanting to frighten her.

"You are such a skilled rider," she praises me again, making my heart squeeze inside my chest.

All these warm, gooey sensations are so new to me. I am more used to one-night stands; never in my wildest dreams did I think of finding a mate.

My job is hectic and tiring and at the end of the day, I don’t wish for any drama, just fuck, eat and sleep.

Since Amaia’s advent in my life, everything has been disrupted. I don’t even want to glance in any woman’s direction. My whole focus is occupied by her.

I am planning to take her to my favourite spot. It’s a place I visit whenever I need peace and quiet. Whenever the voice in my head becomes too loud.

Her gloved hands gently rub my chest. A magnanimous amount of peace descends in my heart.

So special, even her touch is special to me.

We have to leave the main road to reach the place and take a winding side road. It’s slightly bumpy and the spot is extremely secluded.

"Amaia, hold on tight, this might get a little rough."

Her hands securely hold me while I manoeuvre the bike carefully.

This part of Orion has flowering fields. People have worked tirelessly to restore this place. During the day, the colours and vibrance are breathtaking.

The scents still linger at night especially in the place where I am taking her. Both sides of the road have endless fields of various flowers.

They are used for medicinal purposes since modern medicine and herbal medicine have combined. Flowers are not only for medical use, but also for export and decoration.

We leave the fields behind and travel on the winding road until we arrive at where I want to take her.

Reaching the spot, I halt the bike and take off my helmet. Amaia removes her death grip from around my waist.

Turning around, I watch her as she takes off her helmet and places it on her thigh. Her dark locks spill out from under like ribbons, spreading on her shoulders.

The moonlight illuminates them, outlining them.

"There!" I point towards the lake nestled between flowering bushes and her curious gaze follows.

"I call this Moon’s Shadow Lake."

It’s shaped like a crescent with still blue water whose surface reflects the pale moonlight.

"Wow!" Amaia’s exasperated voice comes as she climbs down the bike and takes a step towards the lake. The banks are heavy with flowers, tilting into the water.

I follow behind her until we reach the flowering edge of the lake. Halting Amaia curiously stares inside the illuminated water.

"What are those?" She asks, bewildered, watching with her mouth hanging open.

Unknown to Amaia is that the lake carries very rare creatures, the kind we haven’t observed anywhere else but this specific lake.

Translucent and pulsing with a gentle, internal light, sapphire, amethyst, and moonstone. These tiny creatures, the size of my index finger turn the dark water into a living constellation.

"I call them GlimmerSticks. They are the inhabitants of this lake."

Their silent dance of soft radiance set the entire lake aglow, illuminating even the growing flowers on the bank.

Like the lake’s secret heart, these creatures possess jelly-like bodies. It appears as if moonlight and some deep-water magic have mingled with some kind of fish and created them.

Amaia bends down and extends her finger in awe.

"Can I touch them?" She questions, her voice embroiled in astonishment. Her face glows from the radiance these creatures emit.

"Go ahead." I have touched them several times, they are harmless.

Beginning as a single, sapphire pulse far below, their light spreads as Amaia reaches down. Soon, dozens then hundreds gather, their translucent bodies drifting upward and then in circles in a silent, weightless ballet.

Each pulse, violet, cerulean, a soft pink and pearl shade bleeds through the dark water, shattering the reflected stars and painting the surface with slow, living brushstrokes of radiance.

"I have never seen anything this marvellous before," Amaia murmurs, letting one crawl on her hand, making it glow. Her brightened eyes find me.

"Thank you for bringing me here, Saiph."