The scorching light evaporated the water dragon into a mist, creating a rainbow in the sunlight.
"I'm sorry!" Wanda apologized in a panic. "I just...zoned out."
"Zoned out?" Xiao Han turned around, water droplets sliding down his well-defined chest.
Wanda's gaze unconsciously followed the droplets: "It's just...distracted..."
Xiao Han suddenly took a step closer, grinning at her: "Wanda, do you know what happens to apprentices who zone out at Kamar-Taj?"
Wanda swallowed hard: "Wh...what happens?"
"Three hours of extra training." Xiao Han's lips curled into a smile.
"But considering the special circumstances." He snapped his fingers, and a portal appeared. Two lounge chairs and a parasol materialized on the beach.
"Let's rest before we continue."
Wanda breathed a long sigh of relief and slumped into the recliner.
The sea breeze caressed her gently, carrying a slightly salty scent.
She glanced at Xiao Han beside her, finding that he had already closed his eyes, the sunlight casting tiny golden shadows on his eyelashes.
"Xiao Han?" she called softly.
"Hmm?"
"Thank you for bringing me here."
Scarlet Energy danced on her fingertips, transforming into a small flower that drifted to Xiao Han's chest.
"This is much better than Hydra's simulation room."
Xiao Han caught the flower and twirled it between his fingers. "Tomorrow we go to Tahiti. The coral reefs there are better for practicing energy control."
Wanda sat up straight, surprised. "Really?"
"If you make me happy with your performance this afternoon." Xiao Han put the flower behind his ear, adding this as Wanda laughed.
"Now, focus on feeling the rhythm of the waves. The real lesson is just beginning."
The waves gently lapped at the beach, and the sunlight warmed the fine sand.
Wanda sat cross-legged under the parasol, Scarlet Energy flowing like a veil in her palm.
Following Xiao Han's instructions, she tried to adjust the magic frequency to synchronize with the waves.
"That's not right." Xiao Han suddenly said, his eyes still closed.
"You're trying too hard."
Wanda pouted, "I'm already relaxed."
"Heart rate 92 beats per minute, pupils dilated 0.3 millimeters, a slight sheen of sweat on your forehead," Xiao Han said lazily.
"You call that relaxed?"
Wanda widened her eyes. "You… how did you…"
"Super senses," Xiao Han finally opened his eyes, his golden eyes looking at Wanda.
"Now, breathe deeply and imagine you're a piece of seaweed."
"Seaweed?" Wanda couldn't help but laugh.
"The kind that goes with the flow." Xiao Han sat up and suddenly flicked her forehead lightly.
A warm current instantly spread through her body. Wanda felt her consciousness suddenly expand, as if she had merged with the entire beach.
She could sense the vibration of every grain of sand, the ebb and flow of every drop of seawater.
"What is this?"
"Empathy Magic." Xiao Han retracted his finger. "Lasts for three seconds."
Wanda held her breath, trying to maintain this wonderful state.
Scarlet Energy was no longer under her deliberate control, but naturally danced with the sea breeze, outlining patterns on the sea surface that were perfectly synchronized with the waves.
"Very good."
Xiao Han's voice seemed to come from a great distance. "Remember this feeling."
When the connection severed, Wanda was momentarily dazed. She found herself still in a cross-legged position, but her entire body was soaked in sweat.
"This… it's amazing," she gasped, her red hair plastered to her cheeks.
Xiao Han handed her a bottle of water. "It's like this the first time. Rest for ten minutes, then practice Elemental Shaping."
Wanda sipped the water, secretly observing the man beside her.
The sunlight gilded his chiseled profile, and Wanda felt her breathing quicken.
"What are you looking at?" Xiao Han suddenly turned his head.
Wanda choked on her water: "I... I was studying light refraction!"
"Oh?"
Xiao Han raised an eyebrow, feigning ignorance, "And what did you discover?"
"I saw the material of your armor before, and its reflectivity is very strange," Wanda said, thinking on her feet.
Xiao Han chuckled softly and snapped his fingers.
The watch on his left wrist began to change, and the black, fluid-like nano-materials surged.
His beach attire instantly transformed into his signature black armor, with golden patterns flowing in the sunlight.
"Uru Metal mixed with a special alloy, reflectivity 0.0001%," he explained matter-of-factly.
"How is it?"
Wanda nodded, her face flushed, and quickly changed the subject, "Is Elemental Shaping like this?"
She waved her hand, summoning a ball of Scarlet Energy and struggling to shape it into a dolphin.
Xiao Han shook his head, "Too stiff."
He reached out and covered the back of her hand, guiding the energy flow, "Imagine it's alive."
The two's magic energy briefly mingled, scarlet and gold intertwined. The dolphin suddenly became lively, flipping in the air and splashing tiny energy water droplets.
"Woah!"
Wanda exclaimed in surprise, then realized Xiao Han's hand was still on hers.
Xiao Han seemed to notice this too, but he didn't immediately pull his hand back.
He lowered his head slightly, his breath brushing against her ear: "Control your breathing, and the energy will follow your rhythm."
Wanda's heart rate accelerated. She could smell Xiao Han's unique scent.
At this moment, he forgot about studying, forgot about Chaos Magic, forgot everything...
Scarlet Energy surged uncontrollably, exploding the dolphin into a burst of fireworks.
"Sorry!" She hurriedly retreated.
Xiao Han saw it and smiled: "Emotional fluctuations are the catalyst for Chaos Magic, but they're also a double-edged sword."
He stood up, his armor reverting back to casual wear, "Keep practicing. I want to see a dolphin that can swim around the island before sunset."
"That's impossible!" Wanda's eyes widened.
Xiao Han was already walking towards the beach, waving his hand without turning back, "At Kamar-Taj, apprentices get five hours of extra practice for backtalk."
Wanda felt it was difficult, but still started practicing obediently.
This time she was smart; she calmed down before slowly releasing her energy.
As time passed, her dolphins became more and more realistic, even able to jump out of the water.
When the seventh dolphin successfully swam around the island, the sunset had already dyed the sea golden.
"I did it!" Wanda jumped up excitedly, turning to look for Xiao Han.
She found him standing on a reef in the distance, his back to the sunset, taking a holographic call.
Tony Stark's exaggerated voice could be faintly heard:
"Xiao, so you two are really dating? I don't believe you went to Hawaii and didn't do anything! Oh ho, Superman and Lois Lane, are we?"
Xiao Han immediately cut off the communication and turned around, just in time to meet Wanda's gaze.
"Uh, I just happened to walk over here," Wanda explained, flustered.
"Tony's always like this, you know. Getting ready to go back," Xiao Han raised his hand and opened a portal.
"Oh."
Wanda indicated that she understood and followed him.
Just as she was about to step through the portal, Xiao Han suddenly spoke:
"Tomorrow at eight, Tahiti. Bring a swimsuit."
Wanda's eyes lit up: "Really?"
"If you can finish reading Fundamentals of Magic Theory tonight." Xiao Han's lips curved upwards. He had specifically borrowed the book from Kamar-Taj for her to study.
"That book has five hundred pages!" Wanda protested.
"Four hundred and seventy-two pages." Xiao Han corrected. "The apprentices of Kamar-Taj…"
"Alright, I got it!" Wanda interrupted him, helpless.
"Three hours of extra training, right?"
Xiao Han chuckled softly, gently pushing her through the portal: "Clever little witch."
PS: (This doesn't count towards the word count.) Someone mentioned earlier that the pacing feels too fast. So, I'm slowing things down a bit with Wanda's scenes, adding some everyday moments. Do you all enjoy these slice-of-life scenes? I'll read all your comments to help me decide where to go next.
Also, I'll post a picture of the protagonist in his Armor under this comment. I couldn't find a really cool one, so this is the best I could manage. I don't have enough points to post pictures.