The St. Regis Cairo, one of Egypt's most luxurious five-star resorts, stood majestically on the banks of the Nile. The architecture blended modern elegance with pharaonic details—imposing columns, gleaming Egyptian marble, and golden chandeliers that sparkled like stars on the vaulted ceiling. The lobby exuded opulence, with plush Persian rugs and a scent of jasmine in the air.
The infinity pool reflected the clear blue Cairo sky, and polished wooden lounge chairs were strategically positioned to offer a privileged view of the river. Beside it, a bar served exotic fruit juices and chilled drinks, while an alabaster fountain gushed crystal-clear water. The resort had it all: a spa with treatments based on Egyptian oils, international gourmet restaurants, and suites with private balconies that opened onto a mesmerizing landscape.
But, at that moment, the place was completely empty. The idea of booking the place for themselves had been Sadie's, and with a little magic, the group managed to make the resort private just for them for the weekend, with the exception of the staff who were members of the House of Life (whom Ikki secretly placed there to make the place function with them there).
Ikki, wearing blue shorts and a white shirt, stood by the pool, gazing at the silent space.
Zia and Sadie had gone to the locker room to change, Carter was in his room organizing his luggage, and Walt had gone out to explore the surroundings.
Ikki sighed, running a hand through his hair as he looked at his reflection in the water.
Finally, he gave a bitter smile, the kind of smile that seemed real to anyone looking from afar, but inside, carried a weight that no one saw. He had pretended very well in recent days, maintaining the persona his friends knew from the false year he himself had created with his magic. Playful and confident. But that was all it was—a well-rehearsed mask.
The problem was that, no matter how hard he tried, some cracks had begun to appear.
The guilt he carried for what he had done made him lower his guard without realizing it, and that small slip brought unexpected changes. Walt and Carter, against all odds, ended up becoming his closest friends after Percy and Grover. He hadn't planned it—it just happened. Between honest late-night conversations and moments without monsters or gods by their sides, Ikki realized that he trusted them in a way he rarely trusted anyone.
But Sadie and Zia...
Well, that was complicated.
Because, somehow, he'd started to like them both. Not the way a friend likes, but in a way that made everything infinitely more difficult. He didn't want to hurt either of them, but at the same time, he knew he was trapped in this internal conflict that seemed to have no solution.
It was painful, but he didn't know exactly what to do. So, for now, he just kept going.
He no longer had his mother to ask for advice about this.
As much as he tried to convince himself that he was fine without her, moments like this made her absence even more brutal. His mother always had a way of seeing through him, of knowing what to say when he was lost. Now, he was alone with his own thoughts…
Fortunately, they didn't last long, they were interrupted when he heard footsteps approaching. He blinked, snapping out of his thoughts, and turned his head towards the sound.
Zia and Sadie were coming out of the locker room.
First, he saw Sadie. Her navy blue bikini matched her personality—uncomplicated, but stylish. Her body, still transitioning into adulthood, had already well-defined curves. The slim waist and accentuated hips gave her a delicate air, and a slightly defined abdomen accentuated her figure even more. Her breasts were proportional to her physique, standing out without exaggeration. He also noticed how the sun reflected off her blonde hair, which was longer and well-groomed now? Her blonde hair fell in voluminous waves around her face, reflecting the sunlight like golden threads, unlike before when it was shorter and more rebellious. Her light eyes shone with a mixture of sharp intelligence and a touch of rebellion, as if she was always about to make a sarcastic comment or devise some mischief.
Behind her, Zia walked with her naturally elegant posture. The dark red bikini contrasted with her tanned skin and highlighted every detail of her well-trained body. Unlike Sadie, her curves were already fully formed, with a sculpted waist, wide hips, and legs toned from constant training. Her breasts were fuller and firmer, supported by the bikini fabric, and her abdomen had subtle traces of definition. He also noticed that her dark hair was falling to the end of her neck, smooth and well-groomed, her perfect bangs falling almost to the end of her forehead, her amber eyes and her Arab features were perfect...
On the other hand, as soon as Sadie and Zia left the locker room, both their eyes went straight to Ikki.
He was there, standing by the pool, seemingly distracted, the warm Cairo breeze ruffling his dark hair. The white shirt he wore was a little loose, but not enough to completely hide the definition of his chest and arms. The blue shorts contrasted with his sun-kissed skin, and the light reflected off the water, creating a soft glow around him.
He wasn't doing anything. No calculated pose, no flashy movements. He just stood there, breathing calmly, looking at his reflection in the pool as if he belonged in that luxurious setting.
And yet, it was as if time had stopped for a second for both of them.
Sadie felt a warmth rise up her neck and had to force herself not to bite her lip. For Ra's sake, Ikki, she thought, irritated with herself. It wasn't fair that he looked so naturally… that. As if he didn't need any effort to be attractive.
Zia, beside her, kept a more controlled expression, but Sadie knew how to read the signs. The way her breathing became slightly deeper. The way her amber eyes analyzed every detail, lingering a little longer on his face. She could pretend all she wanted, but the truth was that Zia felt exactly the same impact.
And then Ikki turned his head towards them.
For a moment, the three of them stood there, staring at each other.
Ikki blinked when he saw them and, for a moment, seemed to process the sight of them there. He ran a hand through his hair, as if trying to disguise any reaction.
Sadie was the first to break the silence, of course.
"If you were trying to look like a lost Egyptian prince, congratulations." She threw her arms out to the side. "The scene is complete. All that's missing is a papyrus with a prophecy saying you were cursed by Ra and need two incredibly charming girls to break the curse."
Ikki raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms.
"So I'm cursed now?"
"Technically, yes." Sadie smiled and pointed to herself and Zia. "Zia and I are already suffering the consequences."
Ikki knew exactly what she meant. But pretending not to understand was easier.
"What consequences?"
Zia, who was maintaining her composure, let out a sigh, but there was a certain glint in her eyes as she looked at Sadie.
"Are you really going to say that to his face?"
Sadie rolled her eyes.
"As if he'd notice on his own."
"I'm still here, you know?" Ikki pointed to himself.
Zia observed him for a moment before speaking, in that controlled tone that made it seem like she wasn't saying anything much.
"Sadie is just trying to say that you have a bad habit of looking..." She paused subtly, her amber eyes analyzing him as if weighing her words. "Naturally irritating."
Ikki blinked.
"Thanks?"
"It wasn't a compliment."
"Uh-huh. Sure."
Sadie snorted and crossed her arms.
"The point is: you could at least look a little less like you sometimes. Just to give the mere mortals around you a chance."
Ikki chuckled softly, shaking his head. He could feel their gazes on him, the intensity in their eyes. But he couldn't give in to it.
"You know, normally I'd respond with a sarcastic comment, but I'm trying to understand if this is some kind of distorted compliment or an attempt to annoy me."
Sadie tilted her head, as if considering the question.
"A little bit of both."
Zia just shook her head and looked at Ikki with a half-smile.
"You should already know that when Sadie speaks, it's best not to try to understand."
"Hey!"
Ikki just smiled, relaxed, as he watched the two of them bicker. He knew how provocative Sadie was, full of confidence and always ready to turn the tables in her favor. So, when she stopped arguing with Zia and looked back at him, he was already expecting something.
Sadie raised an eyebrow and put her hands on her hips.
"Right, let's talk about what really matters."
Ikki sighed.
"Here we go."
Sadie ignored him and stepped forward, turning slightly on her heels, as if making a point of showing off a little.
"What do you think of my bikini?"
Zia let out an exasperated sigh beside her, but Ikki noticed the slight shift of her gaze to see his reaction.
He blinked slowly, pretending he was just analyzing the garment technically.
"Well, it... covers the necessary?"
Sadie snorted and crossed her arms.
"Great analysis, Einstein. But seriously, does it suit me or not?"
Ikki tilted his head, studying her for a moment. She knew she looked good. She didn't need his approval. But that didn't mean she didn't like to hear it. He took a deep breath and then gave a half-smile.
"Well, it does suit you. It has an air of 'look at me, I'm absolutely amazing and maybe a little dangerous'."
Sadie smiled, satisfied.
"Ah, so you noticed."
"It's impossible not to notice."
Zia snorted beside them, crossing her arms.
"He's just stating the obvious."
Sadie turned to her, feigning indignation.
"Don't worry, Zia. Yours looks amazing too. But I'm bolder to ask, so deal with it."
"Are you two going to keep arguing about which bikini I think is better?" Ikki seemed resigned to this.
Sadie pointed at him.
"I didn't ask which one is better. I asked if mine looked good. What Zia wants to ask is her problem."
Zia just rolled her eyes and was silent for a moment, keeping her expression controlled.
But Ikki, even feigning misunderstanding, noticed the way her amber eyes quickly analyzed him before looking away.
She wouldn't ask. That wasn't Zia's style.
Sadie, of course, noticed the hesitation and gave a mischievous smile.
"Oh, don't tell me you want a compliment too, Zia?"
Zia crossed her arms and gave Sadie a sharp look.
"Unlike you, I don't need him to validate my appearance."
"Right, right." Sadie raised her hands, but her expression said otherwise. "But if he said something, you'd ignore it?"
Ikki watched Zia out of the corner of his eye.
She let out a discreet sigh and looked directly at him.
"If you have something to say, say it."
Ikki blinked. He hadn't expected her to face him so directly.
He studied Zia for a moment.
"You know you look incredible." His voice came out calm, as if it were an undeniable fact. "But, as you said yourself, you don't need my validation."
Zia arched an eyebrow, but Ikki noticed the slight blush that rose in her neck.
Sadie let out a short laugh.
"Oh, that was good. You managed to compliment and, at the same time, escape anything compromising. Impressive."
Ikki smiled faintly.
"It's a talent."
Zia snorted, looking away at the pool, but Ikki noticed her face was still slightly flushed.
Sadie looked from one to the other and then crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes.
"This isn't settled yet."
Ikki let out an exaggerated sigh.
"You two really aren't going to let me relax this weekend, are you?"
Sadie smiled with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Depends. If you relax too much, you might end up getting attacked."
Ikki raised an eyebrow.
"Why? Are there monsters hiding in the resort?"
Sadie tilted her head, looking at him as if he were a complete idiot.
"No, Ikki...."
Before Sadie could continue her teasing, the sound of firm footsteps echoed through the pool area. The three of them turned and faced Walt, who was approaching with his usual calm gait.
Unlike Ikki, who was still wearing a shirt, Walt wore only black shorts that contrasted with his dark skin. His well-defined muscles were a sight to behold.
He stopped beside them, observing the scene for a moment. Sadie and Zia's gazes on Ikki, the way Ikki, even feigning misunderstanding, maintained that relaxed air of someone who knew more than he let on.
Walt wasn't stupid. He noticed something was going on.
He decided to ignore it.
At least for now.
Instead, he crossed his arms and looked directly at Ikki.
"Why are you still wearing a shirt?"
Ikki blinked, as if the question caught him off guard. He looked down at himself and then shrugged.
"I'm more comfortable this way."
Walt raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced.
"You seem like the kind of guy who wouldn't care about that."
Ikki gave a half-smile, but internally, it wasn't that simple. He knew that if he took off his shirt, he wouldn't be able to contain the omission of his 'true beauty' any longer. And that… well, that would end very badly.
Sadie, of course, took the cue.
"Oh, leave him alone, Walt. Maybe he's just trying to spare us." She made an exaggerated gesture. "If he takes his shirt off, we might faint from so much perfection. And then, who's going to carry us?"
Zia sighed, but Ikki noticed the corner of her mouth curving slightly.
"Or maybe he's just hiding some embarrassing mark." Zia crossed her arms. "A ridiculous tattoo, perhaps?"
Ikki rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, you got me. I have 'I love Sadie Kane' tattooed on my chest."
Sadie grinned.
"I knew it!"
Walt shook his head, laughing.
"Okay, I get it, I'm not going to win this argument." He looked at the pool. "But since we're here, I think we could at least enjoy it before Carter shows up and starts playing the responsible one."
Ikki nodded.
"Good idea."
They grabbed some towels and went to one of the cabanas by the pool. The polished wood structure and flowing white curtains gave a luxurious touch to the space, and the soft cushions offered comfort for relaxing in the shade.
Sadie threw herself onto one of the lounge chairs, stretching her arms.
"Ah, yes. This is exactly what I needed."
Zia sat more elegantly beside her, while Walt and Ikki occupied the remaining seats.
For a moment, the group was silent, just enjoying the warm breeze and the feeling of tranquility.
But, of course, with Sadie around, the silence wouldn't last long.
She turned to Ikki, resting her chin on her hand.
"So… have you decided which of us is prettier?"
Walt coughed, almost choking on his own saliva.
Ikki let out a theatrical sigh and leaned back on the lounge chair, closing his eyes for a moment.
"I think I'm going to need a drink to deal with this."
Sadie smiled immediately. "Great idea! Since you're going, bring one for me too."
"I didn't offer to serve you."
Zia raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "But you will."
Ikki opened one eye and looked at the two of them before chuckling. "Alright, alright. But only because I want one too."
He stood up, adjusting his shirt as he walked towards the poolside bar. The space was sophisticated, with glass shelves displaying bottles of various drinks and a spotless marble counter. Since they had reserved the resort for themselves, there were no staff around, so Ikki moved with the ease of someone who already knew what he was doing.
Behind him, Walt watched his friend walk away and then gave Sadie and Zia a suggestive look. "You two could be a little more subtle, you know?"
Sadie blinked innocently. "Obvious about what?"
Walt just laughed, shaking his head. "You know exactly what I'm talking about."
Zia didn't answer, just looked away towards the pool, as if she was more interested in the crystal-clear water than the conversation. But the slight touch of color in her cheeks betrayed her.
At the bar, Ikki scanned the available options and decided to improvise something refreshing. He took a tall glass, ice, passion fruit juice, and a touch of mint. Precise, habitual movements. He mixed the ingredients with ease and, for a moment, lost himself in the simple act of preparing the drink.
He could simply use magic to materialize any drink he wanted, but he enjoyed the manual process. Maybe it was a habit, an attempt to hold onto something simple amidst the complexity of his own existence.
It was strange how certain mundane things made him feel a little more… human.
He grabbed a straw, swirled the glass slightly, and took a sip. The mixture was perfect, refreshing, balanced.
Before he could go back, he heard footsteps behind him.
"I didn't know you were good at this too."
Ikki turned and found Zia standing there, watching him.
"I'm full of hidden talents." He smiled faintly and raised the glass. "Want to try?"
Zia hesitated for a moment before accepting the glass and taking a small sip. Her eyes lit up slightly.
"This is really good."
Ikki leaned his elbows on the counter and watched her. "You know, for a moment, I thought you were going to come here to interrogate me about something."
Zia smiled faintly. "And why would I do that?"
"Because you never miss an opportunity to test me."
She shook her head, looking at the glass in her hands. "This time… I just wanted a moment of peace."
Ikki studied her face for a moment before looking away towards the pool.
"So, I guess I can make another one for you."
Zia raised an eyebrow. "You're going to make a special one for me?"
"If you ask nicely."
She smiled.
"Just do it before Sadie realizes we're taking too long and comes over here with some annoying comment."
Ikki smiled and grabbed another glass, starting to prepare Zia's drink. His movements were fluid, natural, as if he had done this hundreds of times before. He took ice, lime juice, and a touch of honey, mixing with precision.
Zia watched him silently for a while, leaning against the counter. He noticed her gaze, but didn't comment. Instead, he kept his focus on the drink.
"Since when do you know how to make drinks?" she asked, breaking the silence.
Ikki gave a small smile. "It's been a while. I learned because… well, I like to try new things."
"Or because you like to impress others?" Zia arched an eyebrow.
Ikki let out a light laugh. "I'd say it's a side effect."
He picked up a sprig of mint and pressed it lightly between his fingers before adding it to the glass, releasing the fresh aroma. Zia followed each movement, and for a moment, Ikki had the feeling that she wanted to say something more.
"It's strange to see you like this," she finally said.
Ikki looked up at her. "Like what?"
"Normal."
He blinked, surprised, before laughing softly. "Was that a compliment or a tease?"
"Maybe both," Zia replied with a small smile.
Ikki finished mixing the drink and pushed the glass towards her. "Here. No magic involved, just pure talent."
Zia took the glass and took a sip. Her gaze turned thoughtful for a moment before she nodded, satisfied.
"It's great."
"I know."
She rolled her eyes, but she was still smiling. "Conceited."
Ikki leaned against the counter next to her, watching the horizon beyond the pool. Before going back to work to make some drinks.
He finished preparing the drinks and looked at the finished glasses on the counter. For Sadie, he made something vibrant and sweet: a mixture of passion fruit, orange, and a touch of honey, finished with crushed ice. For Walt, he opted for something more balanced—lemon, ginger, and mint, bringing a refreshing coolness.
Zia watched silently as he finalized the details, adding small mint leaves to the glasses.
"Let's go," Ikki said, picking up the drinks and walking towards where Sadie and Walt were.
Zia accompanied him as they returned to where Sadie and Walt were, still near the pool.
"Something special for you two," Ikki said, handing them the glasses.
Sadie took hers and took a sip without hesitation. Her eyes shone with satisfaction. "Wow! This is amazing! Since when did you become a bartender?"
Ikki gave a small smile. "Since I realized you two accept anything I offer without question."
Walt chuckled softly as he tried his own drink. "This is really good. How do you always know exactly what we're going to like?"
Ikki just raised an eyebrow. "Magic," he said, shrugging.
Sadie rolled her eyes, but smiled. "Of course, it always has to be magic."
Zia settled down next to Ikki, watching the interaction.
At that moment, footsteps echoed across the wooden deck around the pool. Carter approached, drying his hair with a towel, clearly fresh from a shower. He wore only dark swim trunks, which contrasted with his tanned skin. His physique was strong and defined, the result of years of training with staffs and combat magic, but without the excessive muscles of a professional fighter. His broad shoulders and upright posture gave him a naturally imposing presence, although he didn't seem to realize it.
His glasses were hanging from the waistband of his shorts, and without them, his brown eyes seemed more intense under the strong Cairo sun. He frowned slightly when he saw everyone gathered with glasses in their hands.
"What did I miss?" he asked, throwing the towel over a lounge chair before sitting next to Sadie.
Sadie smiled sideways.
"Ikki became a bartender."
Carter raised an eyebrow at Ikki.
"Is that true?"
Ikki shrugged.
"I just mix things and see what happens. So far, nobody's died."
"That's not very encouraging..." Carter murmured, but took the glass Ikki extended to him.
He took a sip and made a surprised expression.
"This is really good."
Sadie patted him on the shoulder.
"I know! He's unbearably good at everything."
Ikki just smiled as Carter took another sip, seeming to relax for the first time in a long time. He rested the glass on the arm of the lounge chair and sighed.
"I finally finished packing my bags. Now I can enjoy the rest of the day without worrying about it."
Walt laughed.
"That sounds exactly like something you would say."
Carter rolled his eyes, but a small smile appeared on his lips. He leaned back and looked at the pool for a moment, letting himself be absorbed by the tranquil atmosphere around him.