The sand crawler express service between Windbloom and the Aries Republic was taking forever to cross the desert. It didn't help that the air conditioning was apparently broken and in the midst of repairs.
Being from a cold country, where the seasons consisted of; winter, almost not winter, summer, almost winter, Nao felt miserably hot. And let everyone from Garderobe know it. Not even the ever redoubtable Arika dared to approach her due to the Artaian's foul mood. It was safe to say, most people left Nao well enough alone.
Most people that is.
"Look on the bright side Nao. At least it's a dry heat," a familiar and amused voice opined.
Nao opened her eyes to glare at the Major Chie Hallard, with hopes that it would give the other girl a clue how much she hated her right at that moment.
In full military uniform without a drip of sweat marring her body, the native Arian was smiling at Nao. The mystery of how Chie could endure the heat in her uniform was one the Column really wanted to solve.
But right now, the Artai native was suffering from the heat too much to endure strenuous mental exercise.
"Fuck you," was all that Nao could manage at last.
"Hmm… I prefer girls with longer hair, sorry."
"Then why did you have two short haired souers?"
"To not lead me unto temptation…" Chie answered seriously like a priest before a congregation.
Nao could barely summon the strength scoff at Chie's answer.
"But it doesn't stop a wandering eye apparently."
"What can I say? Girls dig uniforms, I oblige them with a little charm and romance to brighten up the fair maiden's lives."
The Column didn't bother saying anything more to the crazy military officer. It was simply too hot, Nao closed her eyes and tried to ignore her former classmate.
PSHH!
The sound of a bottle being opened caught the Column's attention and her emerald eyes opened wearily to see what Major I'm Too Sexy for My Maid, was doing.
Held in Chie's hand was manna from heaven, an elixir of life, and much more.
A cold bottle of water. Held out like an offering. It glistened and waves of coldness could be seen air.
Nao inelegantly grabbed the bottle out of Chie's hand and dumped the cool water over her head.
"I thought that it might help you a bit if you got something cold," the former number one Pearl commented as Nao luxuriated at the brief sensation of coolness that she had acquired.
"Right, I owe you one."
"I guess being stuck in Artai made you more susceptible to heat again, eh?"
Baleful glare was sent Chie's way. The Major was glad that some things just didn't change with Nao.
The redhead always hated extreme weather and temperatures no matter what.
"It's hot as hell, how can you endure wearing that uniform!"
"I may be wearing the uniform but that doesn't mean I'm wearing anything underneath…" A slightly lewd smirk surfaced on Chie's face.
Nao stared at her fellow Otome for a moment.
"That was way too much info…"
"Hey, you were the one who asked."