"How do you clean yourself before this?"
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Lizy asked Lily, who wore the new clothes that I had bought with her.
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"The public shower rooms at the beach... People kept forgetting to take their shampoo."
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Lily's voice was barely above a whisper. She glanced down at her hands, which were now twisting nervously in her lap. The quiet hum of the boat's engine filled the brief silence that followed.
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"That's... I can't imagine,
How about where you live? Where do you live?"
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"..."
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The two kids were chatting together, and Lily was constantly shy during the conversation, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. Lizy, on the other hand, was asking questions that, while well-meaning, sometimes crossed the line of personal boundaries. Lily’s eyes darted around nervously, her shoulders tensing with each probing question.
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"Lizy."
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"Ah yes, sorry, sorryyyyy~
I won't do that againnnnn"
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With some new clothes, Lily looked more like a clean and young engineer. She ran her fingers over the material, appreciating the comfort it provided. She did tell me that every few days, she had to return home to eat dinner with her parents, but besides that, she could stay with us as much as she wanted.
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"I still enjoy the workstation better,"
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She muttered, her eyes flicking away as she spoke. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, looking more at ease as the conversation shifted to lighter topics.
The chatter between the group went on for a while, lightening the mood. Lizy threw an anchor into the water and jumped off the boat with a splash, her movements confident and agile. She landed lightly on the sand and stretched her arms above her head, taking a deep breath of the salty air.
Meanwhile, Log flew to shore, holding me as I didn't want to go through the trouble of touching salty, impure water. His strong arms made the journey effortless, and I felt the rush of wind against my face. I glanced back at the boat, ensuring we hadn't left anything behind.
Once on shore, Log flew back to help Lily. He scooped her up in a princess hug, earning a startled gasp from her. They landed gracefully, and I couldn't help but notice Lily's face turning as red as a tomato. The sight brought a smile to my face, as I giggled.
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"Hey, why didn't I get the princess treatment?"
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Lizy complained, crossing her arms with an exaggerated pout.
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"Well, you basically jumped onto shore and missed the chance, oops!"
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Log shrugged, flashing a grin. He brushed some sand off his wings and folded them neatly behind him.
Lizy rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a smile.
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"Next time, I expect to be carried like a princess!"
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My mind jolted for a second, but I kept my composure.
As we gathered our belongings and prepared to move forward, Lizy looked to the side and spotted some blue, jellyfish-like plants. Their translucent bodies shimmered in the sunlight, creating a mesmerizing effect that caught our attention.
Lizy bent down to examine them, her fingers brushing lightly over the delicate petals.
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"These are Aquablooms,
The body of it can be used to make transparent-looking caesar wraps."
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She gently traced the outline of one of the blooms, its surface cool and slightly slippery to the touch.
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"Don't eat the anther though; it could give you serious hallucinations and is addictive."
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I looked at the flowers and picked a few, thinking that they might be of use later. The blooms felt delicate in my hands, their petals soft and cool to the touch. I carefully opened another compression cube and gently placed the flowers inside, making sure they were secure. The cube whirred softly as it adjusted to accommodate the blooms as I closed the cube and slipped it into my belt bag.
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"Lizy, can you tell me more about them?"
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I took out another cube. With a flick of my wrist, it projected a writing screen. I made an easy note-taking interface during the boat trip; it is already good for use now.
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"Sure! Aquablooms are quite fascinating.
These plants thrive in coastal areas and have a unique jellyfish-like appearance. The body of the plant is translucent, which gives it that mesmerizing, ethereal look.
They’re often found growing near the water’s edge, swaying gently with the tides—"
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As Lizy explains, she casually guides us away from the beach, as the aquablooms fade from our sights.
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"I'm getting tired,"
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Lily complains, her voice carrying a hint of weariness.
We have been walking for two hours by now, and I can feel the fatigue starting to settle in. I glance at Lizy, who seems completely unfazed by the distance. Her scooter, now folded and strapped to her back, suddenly makes perfect sense. She walks with an easy grace, her energy levels seemingly untouched by our long trek.
I pause for a moment, considering our options.
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"Let's take a short break."
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I look around for a suitable spot to rest. There's a small clearing up ahead, shaded by a cluster of trees.
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"Over there looks good."
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Lily nodded gratefully, her steps becoming a bit lighter with the promise of a break. Lizy led us to the clearing, and we settled down, each finding a comfortable spot to sit. I took out my water bottle, offering it to Lily first. She took a few sips, the tension in her shoulders visibly easing as she rested.
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"How do you manage to keep going like this?"
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I asked Lizy, genuinely curious.
She shrugged, a playful smile tugging at her lips.
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"Lots of practice and a bit of stubbornness,"
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She replied, stretching her arms above her head.
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"And the scooter helps, of course. I'll lend it to you next time."
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"RoseBud, can I return to the workstation?"
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Lily asked, her eyes hopeful. She shifted on her feet, the fatigue evident but so was her eagerness.
I had been waiting for this moment for a while now.
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"Of course you can, but while you're there, can you help me with something?"
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"What can I possibly help you with?"
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"Let's set up a forum,
I'll call it...Techgirls Society!"
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I forced a grin that spread across my face.
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"Huh?"
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Everyone looked at me, their expressions ranging from surprise to curiosity. Lizy's eyebrows shot up, her head tilting slightly as she processed the idea. Log, who had been quietly listening, quickly straightened up, his wings giving a small twitch. Lily blinked, her mouth opening slightly as she tried to grasp the concept.
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"That does not sound like you at all,
When have you started to want to connect with others?"
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Log noted in a mildly serious tone.
I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of their scrutiny.
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"Well, it's something I've been thinking about for a while."
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I made my excuse, meeting their gazes one by one. But in actuality, I do not know why I had to, either.
I placed down the portal module and activated it, the swirling lights of the portal shimmering in the air. As the gateway opened, Lily took a hesitant step forward, then walked through it. The light enveloped her, and in a blink, she was gone.
With a deep breath, I closed the portal, the space around us returning to its usual calm. The gentle hum of the module faded, leaving us in the serene silence of the clearing.
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