47

Grace opened her eyes and felt something soft and furry on her arm – Kuro's paw.

'Wake up!' said the cat. 'Lucien sent me. He said you've got to see the garden!'

She slid out of bed at once and went outside with Kuro behind her.

'Good morning, Grace,' said Lucien cheerily. 'Are you sure you planted these things only yesterday?'

Grace looked around, puzzled – and was astounded when she saw that the plants were all foot-high already!

'How are they growing so fast?' she exclaimed. 'In such barren soil, too!'

'I don't know,' said Lucien excitedly. 'But I'm so happy!'

'Oh, this is wonderful!' said Grace, stretching out with a smile.

'Hey, wanna have a cool bathe in the stream today?' suggested the demon. 'The sun has barely risen, so it's the perfect time!'

Grace's eyes shone. 'I'd love to!'

'Spare me,' said Kuro. 'You two go ahead!'

'All right, then!' said Lucien. 'Race you there, human!'

*  *  *

'Woah! It's COLD!' exclaimed Grace, dipping her hot feet into the stream.

'Told you so!' grinned Lucien. 'The water feels so good this time of day, doesn't it?'

'Absolutely refreshing!' said Grace, splashing water on her face.

Lucien looked at her slyly.

'What?' she said warily, looking at him.

'Nothing – just this,' he grinned, cupping his hands in the stream before throwing water at her with a chuckle.

'Ahhh!' squealed Grace. 'Just you wait! Revenge!'

Lucien tried to dodge her, but Grace managed to splash water all over him. They both burst out laughing, and after that, it was a full-on water war.

Half an hour later, they lay in the morning sun, completely drenched, and still laughing like crazy.

'I say, Lucien,' said Grace suddenly. 'Where does all this water come from? If there's no rain...'

'It's like Blessed Earth,' said Lucien lazily. 'There's a magical source – oh wait!' He sat upright.

'What's with you?'

'No, it's just... I've never actually seen the source!'

'Huh?'

'It just occured to me that... what if the magical source of the stream is actually a portal to a stream in Heaven or something? What if?!'

'Erm... okay, that may be a stretch, but...'

'But it's worth a try! Come on! Let's follow the stream and find out here and now!'

'O–okay!'

*  *  *

Azel was walking with a smile on his face, breathing in the fresh morning air, when he heard two familiar voices that caught his attention.

'Is this the end?'

'Looks like it!'

'Should we jump, then?"

'That's the only way – seriously, I've had it with this place. I'll do anything to get out of here, even this.'

Azel frowned. Jump? End? Were they that depressed? He would have to stop them from making any life-threatening move!

He drew closer, ready to swoop in and save them, when he noticed their expressions for the first time – perfectly happy, and full of mischief.

He shook his head with a smile, relieved, but he did wonder why they were lingering near this part of the stream. What were they up to now?

He watched them for a few seconds, until, in the blink of an eye, they both disappeared in the water.

'Huh?'

*  *  *

'So, the start of this stream is from this cave...' said Lucien, looking around the cavern-like space they had jumped in.

'Good thing the water pressure didn't push us away,' said Grace. 'Look, all the water seems to be coming from that spring in the centre... could this be it?'

'It does look sort of bright, doesn't it?' said the demon excitedly. 'Well, let's do it, then. Jumping in here didn't take us anywhere, but springing in the spring – haha! – might be the thing.'

Grace rolled her eyes. 'One more joke like that and I'm jumping in the stream itself!'

'Why do you sound like Kuro, haha!' laughed Lucien. 'But seriously, don't jump – not even in a joke... I hate the thought of losing you.'

Grace smiled as she nodded at him, and her heart grew inexplicably warmer.

'So, hold my hand,' said Lucien, 'and let's step into the spring together—'

'AHHHHHHHH!!!!' they both said together, as the fountain of water sent them flying across the cavern almost at once with an absurd amount of force.

Grace closed her eyes as she braced herself for the impact, and Lucien's eyes widened as he saw himself nearing a jagged rock, when—

'Gotcha!' said a soft voice, and they both realised they had been caught mid-air by Azel, who was holding their hands firmly while his powerful wings flapped to keep them from falling.

'Phew, thanks for saving us, Azel,' said Lucien sheepishly, when they had been set down on the ground safely by the angel.

'No problem,' he replied, 'but what in the world were you trying to do?'

'We, er...' said Grace nervously. 'Erm...'

Azel tilted his head back. 'Please don't tell me this was another escape plan of yours...'

'Actually, it was,' admitted Lucien. 'I thought it wouldn't hurt to check if there was a portal in the origin of the stream...'

'Wouldn't hurt?' said Azel. 'Seriously? There is nothing there but water, I assure you; where do you even get these wild ideas? Had I not happened to have been nearby, you both could have gotten very, very hurt. That was careless!'

'Well, I suppose,' said the demon airily. 'But—'

'No, Lucien, this is really going too far; with every new escape attempt, you put yourself and others in extreme hazards, and I can't allow this to go on anymore,' said Azel sternly. 'As a penalty for this little adventure, you will have to work in the town market for the next one week, so that you can channelise your energies into something productive instead. And you too, Grace; I like you, but an accomplice is as much to blame as the wrongdoer.'

'I understand,' nodded Grace, while Lucien looked at them both indignantly.

'Oh, COME ON! Seriously?!'

Azel shook his head and walked away. 'Demons...'

'It'll be all right,' said Grace soothingly. 'It's not all that bad...'

'Yeah, whatever!' said Lucien grumpily, walking silently for while before giving her a sly side glance. 'So, where are you going to work? I bet you won't last a day with Mrs. Sauer, let alone a week!'

Grace grinned at him. 'Oh, really? Challenge accepted!'

'This might actually be fun,' said Lucien excitedly, while Grace admired how fast his mood could change. 'As for me...'

'Let me guess. The book stall?'

'Hehe. Even better,' grinned the demon. 'I'm going to work at the library!'