Chapter 4: Jokes, advice and competition on the horizon

  The sun was just beginning to hide when Talión let himself fall on one of the benches in the dressing room, completely exhausted. The training had been brutal, and his body was still burning after so many laps in the pool.

  "Did you die or are you just acting dramatic?" said a familiar voice.

  Talión opened his eyes and saw Luz approaching with her typical playful smile. He had a towel over his shoulders and drops of water ran down his neck.

  "I died..." Talión growled. What the hell is wrong with the coach? He wants to turn us into fish.

  "And what did you expect?" You're not going to get to the Olympics swimming like a drunk duck.

  Talion let out a tired laugh, and Luz let herself fall next to him.

  "Hey..." Luz said, looking at Talión sideways. Thank you for trusting me in the tests... I don't know if you know, but not many take me seriously.

  "Why not?" Talion looked at him curiously. You're good, you have an incredible technique.

  Luz shrugged, then turned to him and, without warning, gave him a zap on the head.

  "What the hell?!" Talion protested, rubbing his scalp.

  "That was for looking at me weird the other day," Luz sneered, winking at her.

  "What?" When?

  "When you saw me coming out of the water." You looked like 'What kind of mermaid is this?'

  Talion laughed, feeling that he was finally relaxing. Luz behaved so naturally and spontaneously that it was impossible not to have fun with him.

  "Maybe this crazy guy is one of those weird friends you need..." Talión thought.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  ?

  Days later...

  Talión was sitting under the shade of a tree, checking his cell phone when he heard a firm voice behind him.

  "Resting instead of training?" I didn't know you liked living on the edge.

  Talión turned and saw Aurora, the girl who was said to be the best swimmer in the club... and who for some reason never mixed much with the rest.

  "Nah, I was just recovering energy," Talion replied, smiling confidently.

  Aurora sat next to him, shaking her hair still wet from training.

  "And what about you?" Talión asked. I never see you tired.

  "That's because I don't just train the body..." Aurora said, taking her finger to her temle. I also train this.

  "So it's a matter of mentality?" Talión asked, interested.

  —In part. But the most important thing is that you don't doubt what you can do. I saw how you swam the other day... -Aurora paused, looking directly at him-. You're good... really good.

  Talión was surprised by the firm tone of his words.

  "Thank you," he finally said.

  "Just don't trust yourself," Aurora added. The first competition is in a week... and believe me, there are people out there who won't have mercy on you.

  Aurora got up and began to walk away.

  "Hey..." Talion stopped her. Why are you telling me?

  Aurora stopped for a moment, without turning around.

  "Because I think you're the one who can give the team something it's never had..." he made a dramatic pause. A star.

  ?

  Training day

  "Talion, run him!" You're going to leave me alone against the crazy muscles... - Luz shouted from the dressing room.

  "I'm coming, I'm coming!" Talión got up from his bench and ran to change.

  Minutes later, they were both in the pool ready for a pair training.

  "Ready to lose?" Luz sneered as she adjusted her goggles.

  "Lose me?" Talión smiled mockingly. If I beat you, you invite the tacos.

  "And if I win..." Luz paused, then smiled mischievously. You train in a tight swimsuit for a whole week.

  "What?!" Talión was frozen. No, not even as a joke...

  "Afre, champion?" Luz gave him a provocative look.

  Talion sighed.

  —Dear made...

  They both jumped into the water and the race began.

  ?

  The result was clear: Talión won... but by a second.

  Light emerged from the water snorting.

  "I almost beat you, slimy..." he said, unable to stop laughing.

  "But you didn't," Talión sneered. So go take out the wallet...

  Both laughed, giving each other a slight blow to the fist, feeling that that strange connection they had was getting stronger and stronger.

  "This vato is crazy... but I think I like him," Talión thought.

  ?

  The day before the competition...

  The atmosphere in the club was different. The silence, the concentration... everything felt heavier.

  "Tomorrow is the first step..." Talión said to himself while looking at the empty pool.

  Suddenly, he felt a pat on the shoulder. It Was Light.

  "Ready to shine, champion?"

  Talion smiled.

  "Ready to make everyone gape."

  They both laughed, not imagining that the real storm was just about to begin...

  ?

  End of chapter 4