Vayne: Argh, I can't seem to get a good lot of work in on this anymore. I'll see what I can do, but if worse comes to worse I'll have to hang this story up for a while and rest myself and work on other stories. Guess a year of just Elsword fics has sucked up my creativity.

Chapter Twenty-Six: Seawalk

Chung and Raven waited calmly by the truck, each having taken their shirts off as they just wore their trunks on the drive here. Chung couldn't help but feel jealous of Raven's body. Compared Chung seemed like a child, despite the nature of his armor and weapons he was not toned much. Raven however looked like stone, as if his features were detailed and chiseled into his skin. Raven stood up right and stretched.

"Chung I have to grab something real quick. If the girls get here tell them to wait."

"Okay." Chung said, and Raven walked off. Just his stride alone said so much about his character; he never drooped or bent but maintained a perfect line as he walked with confidence. He was a man hiding a past of pain and Chung wondered if he'd be alright since this place was a resort for the Crows.

"Hey!" Chung looked back to the other hut, Aisha and Eve walking up to him. Raven was already gone from sight, "Where's Raven?"

"He said he needed to go get something from one of the houses."

"I see." Eve stood next to Chung, "So, Chung, do you have any plans for when we are here?"

"Why do you ask? I just want to relax." Eve grinned.

"Oh really?" She suddenly stuffed her hand into his pocket, and pulled out the engagement ring. Aisha gaped, "Then what is this doing here?"

"G-Give that back!" Chung lunged for the ring, but Eve sidestepped easily.

"Chung, why did you-"

"I didn't want that engagement to be the true one." Chung said, defeated, "I wanted it to be correct, so I had Helen assign one of her thieves to steal the ring and deliver it to me the day after. Then, I'd propose to her on our trip. Raven knows as well, it was his idea to begin with." Eve smiled and slipped the ring into Chung's pocket.

"She chose well." Eve said, walking back to Aisha.

"We'll keep quiet." She swore.

"Thank you." Chung smiled. Ara and Elesis both came from the house, running over to the group.

"Hey guys!" Ara was radiating a friendly warmth as usual.

"Elsword sounded like she had a wardrobe malfunction." Elesis said, "Rena's helping her."

"We're here!" Chung sighed as Elsword's voice flew over their heads to his ears. He looked over Elesis's shoulder and felt his face flush with red.

Elsword's two-piece was tight, overly so, to the point it was like every inch of her body covered was screaming to be let free. She made sure to sway her form as she walked to the group, Aisha throwing out a sharp whistle of encouragement. Rena walked just behind her, both of the girls' breasts bouncing to the beat of their feet. By the time they reached the group Chung felt slightly faint.

"Hey baby~." Elsword sang, hugging his arm tightly.

"H-Hey." Was all he managed to say, and all the girls started laughing.

"Oh you got him so good El!" Aisha laughed, holding her sides.

"Nice one!" Elesis high fived her sister.

"I know I got a way with him. But, where's Raven?"

"Getting something apparently." Aisha replied to the crimsonette's question.

"Still, wonder where we're going to swim." Chung said, thinking aloud.

"I bet you just want to see drips of water running down my figure." Elsword teased causing the prince to blush again. Thankfully, Raven finally returned, sneaking up behind Rena and embracing her.

"Looking good babe." He said, kissing her cheek.

"I always do." She countered, kissing him back. Each of the other pairs held their significant other at the motion, "What you disappear for?"

"These." Raven held out several small yellow pills.

"What are those for? You aren't trying to get us to do drugs are you?" Elesis said accusingly.

"No. These are special pills normally used for covert operations during warfare." Raven explained, "They let you breathe underwater like a fish, and it lasts for a day at the least."

"Why are these necessary?" Chung inquired.

"The reef we're going too, and the fresh water spring we'll visit another time are very, very deep. Another thing, these will make you weigh more underwater so you don't float. In other words, you can take a walk under the water." Raven explained, the group beginning to walk down the beach toward a towering circle of rocks in the distance. One could make out a small pathway snaking back and forth to the top.

"Won't we hurt our feet, or worse the coral?" Rena asked, always the nature lover.

"When we first found this place we went to work making it easier to walk along. We carefully harvested the coral to form long, winding pathways. We replaced the coral elsewhere, letting it recover." Raven said, the gang beginning the ascent up the path, "There's all manner of sea life in this pool, we've even seen baby whales come in for a visit." Raven said.

"Come in?" Eve raised an eye brow.

"Yes, be careful at the edge of the reef, because there is an area with no wall so you could fall off. But it should be no concern given how big this reef is."

"How big?" They almost were at the top of the path. Raven smirked, and took the last step before gesturing to the spectacle before them.

"About the size of the city of Hamel, if not a bit bigger." Raven smiled as his friends all stared in shock.

The massive reef spanned the horizon. Lining one side was a sandy beach and breaching the ocean were countless spires of coral. Rope ladders hung from several, and it was far too deep to see the bottom. Raven handed everyone a pill.

"You will still be able to swim around if you want to, but it might get tiring after a while. If you're on the floor and too tired to swim up, we have weighted ladders lining the inner wall for you to get back up to the beach." Raven said, taking his pill as the others did the same. They all rushed down the path, eager to explore in reality what was a new world. Soon they stood in a line on the beach, staring out at the calm sea. Raven walked out into the water, slowly sinking past his ankles until he stopped once the water was at his waist. He looked up at the sky, lost in thought. Rena slowly walked towards him.

"Raven?" She prayed the past memories he held here were not too strong. Raven suddenly turned around and grabbed Rena by the arms, "Ah?!" He pulled her backwards with him, and they went underwater and didn't come back up. The others just looked at one another, and Eve had Oberon set up towels on the floor, laying down on hers to sunbathe.

"Well, you guys have fun." Aisha said, joining Eve on the beach. Ara and Elesis took off down the beach, hand in hand, to have some time to themselves. Chung looked at Elsword.

"Want to swim?"

"Sure." Elsword smiled. They all had taken their pills on the walk up, and the couple walked off into the water. They soon saw why Rena and Raven vanished. Soon after the water reached their waists, the land dropped off into a complete ninety degree drop down to the bottom. Elsword held Chung's hand tightly.

"On three?" Elsword nodded.

"One." She said first.

"Two."

"Three." They both stepped forward in unison, sinking down into the depths below.

Upon their entry, nothing special was to be seen. The pillars of coral sunk down into the abyss below, where the light did not reach. They slowly sunk deeper, not letting go of one another. Soon ocean dwellers came out to greet them. Octopus and small fish circled them, one small greenish octopus wrapping around Elsword's free arm and doing a small dance, shaking from side to side before letting her go.

"Cute." She said, and she and Chung locked eyes.

"Did you-?"

"Raven must have forgotten this detail." Elsword said off handedly.

They continued downwards, the world around them growing darker as the light failed to reach them. Soon they were in pitch darkness. Feeling uneasy, Elsword held Chung's hand tighter. Then, comfort greeted them. Millions of tiny specks of light clustered around them, lighting up their dim world. They remained where they were as the two visitors went below, and suddenly all was bright. Countless bioluminescent plants and sea life covered the bottom of this pool for about a few hundred feet down. They soon landed on their feet on the carved pathway Raven spoke of, and looked up.

"Wow..." They breathed. The bright specks of light from not long ago looked like stars, faintly lighting up the black sky above them. It was like a world always at midnight.

"Let's take a look around." Chung said. Elsword smiled and nodded, both starting down the path. Just above their heads, fish tiny and giant swam about. Other mysterious sea life poked their heads out of their hiding places. They reached a four way intersection, and were not sure which way to go. Then a tiny little blue octopus swam up to them and poked Elsword's arm.

"What's up little guy?" She asked cutely. The sea dweller swam off.

"Maybe he wants us to follow." Chung said. The octopus swam into a large hole in one of the big spires and stared at them. They pair had no better ideas and walked over to the hole. The octopus just sat there, staring. There were several lines of green lights going up the path, and the two began their ascent. After several minutes, they suddenly broke free of the water.

"Whoa." Elsword breathed. The walls of a single large cave greeted them, lined with reflective stones that shined different colors, and they reflected off one another to paint the room like a palette. Elsword swam up to the edge and climbed onto the platform. The drops of water clinging to her body shined as well.

"Whoa indeed..." Chung breathed, following his love. They just stared at the walls, and finally at one another. They held each other's hands.

"Chung, I love you."

"Me too, so much." Chung replied, leaning in and kissing her sweetly. Elsword reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Chung?"

"Hmm?"

"I...want to know something."

"What?"

"We aren't going to be wed for some time...right?"

"It all depends on you." Elsword blinked.

"Really?"

"Yes. Whenever you want it, I'll tell my mother and we'll make the arrangements."

"Then I want you on the phone with her as soon as we get back." Elsword said. She continued, "But...I wanted to know..." She blushed.

"What is it?"

"Could we...sometime on this trip...do it?" She asked timidly, still not sure if she was ready herself. Chung blinked, getting serious.

"Are you sure?" Chung asked.

"N-No..."

"I don't want to hurt you." Chung said adamantly.

"But-!"

"I couldn't live with myself if I did." Chung said. Elsword looked down, and sighed.

"V-Very well."

"Come on, we can still enjoy our stay."

"Yeah, you're right." Elsword closed her eyes and began leaning into Chung, forcing him to lay down on the floor with her on top.

"Elsword?"

"Let's just...rest for a while." Elsword mumbled. Chung smiled and ran his fingers through her hair, comforting her as they admired the cave they rested in.