Phoenix Vanguard: Legends of Astravera

Lessons in Laughter

After the intense sparring session, Andres found himself still nursing his bruised ego, seated behind Haruki with his arms crossed and a pout that could rival a child denied dessert. Despite his sulking demeanor, he couldn’t help but admire Ashton’s skill and cleverness.

Ashton leaned casually against a tree, a playful smirk on his face. “Well, Andres, I appreciate your respect. Not everyone takes a beating with such grace.”

Andres huffed, his cheeks puffing out even more. “I wouldn’t say grace is the word for it,” he mumbled, his eyes narrowing at his playful mentor. “But fine, I’ll give you that. You’re strong.”

Ashton turned to Haruki, raising an eyebrow. “How about you? Don’t you want to test me?”

Haruki chuckled softly, leaning back against the tree trunk, his posture relaxed. “I knew you were strong the moment I saw you,” he replied, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

Andres interjected, looking between his two friends with a mock incredulity. “Why didn’t you tell me? I could’ve prepared myself!”

Haruki rolled his eyes, amusement dancing in his gaze. “I already told you, and it’s not like you would’ve listened anyway.”

The air was filled with laughter, the tension of the earlier battle dissipating into lightheartedness. Even Light chirped in a cheerful tone, fluttering around them in circles, adding to the jovial atmosphere.

“And by the way,” Andres continued, a mischievous glint in his eye, “how come I managed to land a hit on your brother?”

Ashton chuckled, crossing his arms. “My brother is a muscle brain just like you,” he quipped, shrugging in mock defeat. “And maybe he was just too busy flexing those muscles to pay attention.”

Laughter erupted again, each of them enjoying the camaraderie that had formed through their recent struggles. The once serious atmosphere transformed into one of friendship and playful banter, with Andres’ earlier sulking forgotten, replaced by a sense of belonging.

“Alright, alright,” Andres finally said, his mood brightening. “But next time, I’m coming at you with a plan. You won’t catch me off guard again!”

Ashton grinned, his eyes sparkling with challenge. “I look forward to it. Just remember, battles aren’t won with strength alone.”

Light landed on Andres’ shoulder, chirping excitedly as if to say, “We’ve got this!”

As the laughter settled, Ashton leaned against a nearby tree, arms crossed, curiosity glimmering in his eyes. “Alright, enough about me. I want to know more about you two. What’s your story? Skills? Background? And who’s this little guy?” He pointed at Light, who was now perched comfortably on Andres’ shoulder, his feathers ruffling in the cold breeze.

Andres and Haruki exchanged glances, a silent agreement passing between them. Almost in unison, they began to speak.

Andres puffed out his chest, his earlier sulking forgotten.

“I’m Andres Santos, a warrior on a quest to become the strongest, so I can protect those dear to me! I’m skilled with my Bolo Flameblade and—”

“—and you’re really bad at planning,” Haruki interjected with a teasing grin.

Andres shot him a playful glare. “I was getting to that! Anyway, my real strength is my spirit. I’m always ready to take on challenges head-on!”

Haruki nodded, adding, “And I’m a samurai. I want to roam the world and have an epic journey.” He smiled, his demeanor calm but imbued with an underlying excitement at the thought of adventure.