Xena got down from the ship in Valkyrie with a practiced gait. It’s miles apart from when she stumbled on to the land the first time she got off a boat at Espana. The androgynous girl from then has grown into a charming and magnetic young woman. There is a grace of movement of the dancer about her, in the way she gently swayed away from the wandering hands of pickpockets or the grabby hands of the eager merchants. She arrived at her first stop, the tavern that served the pier. She is thirsty for news from the Sunset kingdom. “ A penny for the words, Lady! “ The tavern boy told her. Xena tossed a coin to him immediately. “ They say, the Mad Queen of the first step is attacking her daughter in law. In the north, the winter princess is gathering an army to take back her throne. It is said that the winter princess is cruel and reckless. She could even defy the drakons, but then, I don’t see why anyone who goes against the Drakons could be bad. Don’t you agree ? “ The boy was eager

“ So, could you use it ? “ Xena asked nonplussed. Nadia shut up . “You can’t use it ? “ Xena pushed. Indeed, Nadia could not use it. One needs to cross a certain magic threshold to use Waterblade. This needn’t be water sorcery only but any kind of magic. It’s important because it was the only relic of Gavin the great they were able to save. Sometimes, during the darkest periods of her training, Nadia wondered if the waterblade is something as simple as a shaving blade, and all it’s notoriety and sanctity came from later generations. However, her doubts about the origin of her relics does not mean losing an argument with a foreign envoy. “ Could you use it ? “ Nadia questioned smartly. “ I think so. “ Xena answered readily. Nadia snorted. “ You are a shadow assassin, while I am a mere woman, despite being a sorceress. What’s the guarantee you are not working for opposite factions and want to steal our relic to humiliate us ? “ Nadia asked. She did not even consider the poss

While Dahlia was struggling in the cave and kalim hadn't even recovered from the initial shock of seeing someone doing a power transfer ceremony with flame god's avatar itself, Xena jumped into the canal along with caspian. She herself could swim like a fish. After all, in Strongfort, her mother taught her how to swim in the hotspring. In Espana, the art is further refined as she learned how to swim in tune with the currents of the sea. Caspian is one hundred and thirty pounds of sheer muscle. There's not much fat on his body. The moment he fell in water, he sank like a stone, despite his struggle. His swimming was at best rudimentary. Worst yet, it was learned in the placid waters of First step's lagoons, at a depth where one could easily stand with their head above water. Xena hooked her hand against his neck. Whatever her agreement with the shadow god was, it came into effect real quick, for there was a transparent barrier forming around them. Or was it just her illusion

“ Caspian Hart ! You moron ! You stupid imbecilic idiotic jarhead ! “ Xena exclaimed, as she threw her hands on his neck. “ Hey! What’s with the over reaction ! I did not die ! “ Caspian mumbled, a hand rubbing soothingly on Xena’s back. Xena stopped crying after some time. Caspian held her lightly, enjoying the rare instances where Xena actually shows some emotion. “ What day is it ? “ he asked, after Xena pulled back from him. “ You still have the gall to ask for the day ! It's the thirtieth day after the valhallan new year. “ Xena told him. “ it’s .. My god ! Was I asleep for ten days ? “ Caspian asked in shock. “ How many days did you think it was ? “ Xena asked him angrily. “ Just .. Right after the woman in red left. She was so scary. “ Caspian exclaimed. “ Woman in red ? Madea ? “ Xena asked, an ominous feeling rising in her heart. Caspian shook his head. “ The other one. The whining fire spirits wanted her to submit to them. She ate them all ! I hid because I was a

“ Ladies and Gentlemen of Valkrie ! Welcome andddddddddd… .Welcome to the sixteenth sprint fair of lover’s paradise. As always, your response has been more than hot ! This time, for the first time in the history of lover’s paradise, we meet the numbers needed for the seven trials of the couples. Without further ado, let us start the treasure hunt of the lovers. The first challenge in the game is to know how much your lover knows you. On my right side, there are cabins. Our lovely ladies will stand in the pink chair, our handsome men will sit in the blue chairs. “ The host went on to explain they would be answering three questions. As long as answers sync, the couple passes. “ What’s your man’s name ? “ they asked. “ Caspian Hart “ Xena answered, so did Caspian. What’s your girl’s name ? “ was the next question. They obviously are doing this to filter off the random game breakers from entering the game. “ Xena winter child “ Both of them answered at the same time. “ Where did