Elian PoV
Elian grumbled as he woke up to Kite's legs tangled with his own. He tried to shift, but Kite's legs seemed to have a mind of their own.
"Can't you learn to sleep properly?" Elian snapped, trying to extricate himself from the mess.
Kite rubbed his eyes, still half-asleep. "Huh?"
Elian sighed, rolling his eyes. "Your legs are all over me, that's what's going on! It's like you're trying to wrestle me in your sleep."
Kite blinked, looking down at their tangled limbs. A sheepish grin spread across his face. "Oh, sorry about that. I must've gotten a bit... restless."
Elian finally managed to free himself, sitting up and stretching. "A bit? You were practically doing gymnastics in your sleep!"
Cassia, who had been woken up by the commotion, peeked over from her sleeping bag, a smirk playing on her lips. "What's going on here? Trouble in paradise?"
Elian shot her a glare. "Very funny, Cassia. Kite here just doesn't know how to keep to his own side of the camp."
Kite chuckled, sitting up and running a hand through his messy hair. "I'll try to be more considerate next time."
Liliana, already awake and preparing breakfast, couldn't help but join in. "You two are like an old married couple. It's adorable."
Elian groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Great, just what I needed this morning."
Sylvana, who had been quietly observing, offered a shy smile. "Maybe you should make a wall to keep him at bay. That might help."
Elian sighed, finally giving in to the humor of the situation. "Yeah, maybe that's a good idea."
Kite grinned, nudging Elian with his elbow. "Don't worry, I'll try to keep my acrobatics to a minimum from now on."
Elian couldn't help but laugh, shaking his head. "You better. I need my beauty sleep, you know."
The group shared a good-natured laugh, the lighthearted moment helping to lift their spirits. As they gathered around for breakfast, Elian felt a renewed sense of camaraderie with his friends. Despite the challenges they faced, it was moments like these that reminded him of the strength of their bond.
As they dug into their meal, Elian couldn't resist one last playful jab. "Just remember, Kite: stay on your side of the camp tonight."
Kite raised his hands in mock surrender. "You got it, Elian. No more midnight wrestling matches, I promise."
Cassia chuckled, shaking her head. "Looked like something else to me."
Elian felt his cheeks heat up, and he shot Cassia an indignant look. "Cassia, get your mind out of the gutter!"
Cassia merely smirked, clearly enjoying the reaction she had provoked. "Relax, Elian. I'm just messing with you."
Before the banter could escalate, Sylvana intervened with her usual calm demeanor. "Alright, everyone. Let's get ready for the day. We have a long journey ahead."
With a graceful motion, Sylvana summoned her phoenix and griffin. The majestic creatures emerged, their powerful wings stretching as they prepared for the day's flight.
Kite, Cassia, and Sylvana approached the griffin. Kite looked back at Elian with a grin. "You sure you don't want to join us on the griffin, Elian? There's room for one more."
Elian shook his head, smiling. "Nah, I'll stick with Liliana and Ludo. Besides, I don't trust you not to kick me off mid-flight."
Kite laughed, giving Elian a playful salute before climbing onto the griffin. Cassia and Sylvana followed suit, settling in comfortably.
Elian turned to Liliana and Ludo, who were already mounting the phoenix. "Alright, let's get going," he said, joining them.
Liliana gave Elian a reassuring smile. "We'll make good time with the phoenix. And don't worry, Elian, we'll keep you safe from Kite's sleep wrestling."
Ludo chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Yeah, we'll form a protective barrier around you."
Elian rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a grin. "Thanks, guys. I appreciate it."
As the two groups took to the sky, the wind rushing past them, Elian felt a sense of exhilaration. The landscape below stretched out in all directions, a tapestry of forests, rivers, and mountains. The sun was beginning to rise, casting a golden glow over the horizon.
Flying alongside the griffin, Elian glanced over at Kite, Cassia, and Sylvana. They seemed to be enjoying the ride, their faces lit with excitement and determination. Elian felt a surge of gratitude for his friends, knowing that together they could face whatever challenges lay ahead.
As they soared through the sky, Elian's thoughts drifted back to the prophecy and the journey that awaited them. It was daunting, but with friends like these, he knew they had a fighting chance.
Liliana's voice broke through his reverie. "You okay, Elian?"
He nodded, giving her a reassuring smile. "Yeah, just thinking. We've got a long road ahead, but I feel good about our trip."
Liliana snuggled him from behind. "Yeah."
Elian felt his heart beat strangely.
Elian felt his heart beat strangely as Liliana snuggled him from behind. What was this strange feeling? He wasn't sure, but it was both comforting and unsettling at the same time.
He turned his head slightly, trying to catch a glimpse of Liliana's expression. She had a soft smile on her face, her eyes closed as she enjoyed the moment. Elian's heart skipped a beat.
"Uh, Liliana," he began awkwardly, not entirely sure what to say. "You okay back there?"
Liliana opened her eyes and looked up at him, her smile widening. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just thought I'd make sure you're not feeling too stressed about everything. You seem to carry a lot of weight on your shoulders."
Elian chuckled nervously. "Thanks, Liliana. I guess I do worry a lot. But it's nothing compared to what Kite has to go through."
"Yeah," Ludo said, glancing at Kite. "He is going to a continent a sea away in order to find out more about why he ended up in our world."
"Think he wants to go home?" Liliana whispered, her voice filled with a tinge of sadness.
"Probably. But until then, let's enjoy our time together," Elian said, smiling back at her.
Liliana beamed and nodded.
Ludo chuckled as he looked ahead as they flew through the clouds. "We're on this grand adventure because of him."
The two smiled and nodded. They owed it to Kite. He expanded their horizons beyond just Ald Town.