:: Chapter Four, continued :: As Cyrus internally struggled with this, he didn't realize Iphnie was staring at him. Finally, she cleared her throat. Cyrus's head snapped up immediately. He noticed that he had started pacing silently with his head down. The merman stopped moving, looking sheepish. "Sorry, I was just—" Cyrus cut himself off, rubbing the back of his head. Iphnie chuckled, holding her hands up. "It's okay, really," the Air Spirit said reassuringly. Cyrus chuckled nervously, glancing away. Iphnie's smile faded slightly. "Is something wrong?" she asked him. The merman shook his head, forcing a weak smile. "No, it's nothing," he lied, his voice steady and calm. Cyrus and Iphnie walked in silence for a few moments. Cyrus was walking on the shore's edge, where the waves splashed onto the sand, while Iphnie was walking on the sand. "Ahh!" she squeaked. The merman laughed as the Air Spirit fluttered away, and the lukewarm water of the sea hit her feet. "What?" Cyrus asked Iphnie with a smile, still chuckling. Iphnie gave the merman a playful glare, her wings buzzing. "It's cold!" she replied defensively, shuddering. "Don't laugh at me!" Cyrus laughed again, covering his mouth and holding his stomach. Finally, after the merman recovered from the bout of laughter, he smiled at Iphnie, who seemed to lay in midair. "Isn't it colder up higher in the sky?" he asked her with a grin. A warm breeze of air hit Cyrus in the face in retaliation, causing his braids to lift out of his face. Cyrus chuckled, still grinning. Iphnie continued lying in midair, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, but that water's freezing!" she replied earnestly, her eyes wide. Cyrus laughed again. He hadn't laughed this much in years, had he? Not since his mom, Dione, had died.
This was written by @Warrior_of_Fire.
