A Hideout

"Liz!" I shout and she either doesn't hear me or ignores me. I sigh and jump in after her. Underwater I open my eyes just to see her legs. She's swimming in front of me along the floor of the water. I dive down and follow her. After a moment I feel my chest get pushed into the rock beneath me. The waterfall must be above us. It's not strong enough to be dangerous though, at least I think. I continue after Liz and see she's gotten ahead of me by now. I see her pull herself out of the water and assume we've gotten to our destination. I follow and pull myself out. Once I do I see Liz shivering in the cold. I can't see much but thanks to my detection skills I know what's around me.

"I forgot about the cold." She says and I chuckle. I walk up next to her and cast Create Fire and engulf us in flames. I made sure to set the fire to only burn the water in our clothes and nothing more. Liz freaks out at first, even before the fire appeared since she saw the mana change. She calms down when she realizes it doesn't hurt. Shortly after the flames dissipate and leave behind our dry clothes. "That's an impressive trick." Liz says impressed and I smile.

"Thanks, so is this where you wanted to show me?" I ask her.

"Yep." She answers while fumbling with some rocks in front of her. A few moments later they light up. I realize they must be the yellow gems the Dryads use as lightbulbs.

"So what is this place?" I ask while looking around. It's a normal cave aside from the occasional yellow gem. There are a few stalagmites around and the only entrance is the water we came from.

"This is my getaway. I used to have some fire gems to keep warm with but I forgot I broke them." She answers and I chuckle.

"What'd you do here?"

"Just think and be alone. I love the Dryads, don't get me wrong, but they don't understand human... tendencies. So sometimes when I was frustrated, mainly during puberty, I'd come here and vent it out. None of the Dryads know this place exists. I remember when I first found it. I named it Liz's secret cavern. I even drew a sign for it." She says and I start laughing.

"Where's the sign now?" I ask, wanting to judge her for it.

"It's destroyed. I had to take it in through the water. But it got soaked and ruined, then genius kid Liz thought setting it on fire would dry it and nothing else. Then I'd be able to remake it in here." She admits and I start laughing harder. "Yeah, yeah. Like you didn't do anything stupid as a kid."

"Nothing as bad as that." I say. She smiles and looks around. "So, why did you bring me here?"

"I just wanted to show you this. Now come on, let's go back." She says while reaching out. Vines grow from the floor of the cave and create another portal. I sigh and follow her through. We come out the other side at the park's clearing. I look up and see the starry night sky. "Care to escort this fine maiden home?" Liz asks in a refined voice and I snort in laughter. "It's not that far of a stretch." She says and I chuckle.

"I mean, you're pretty far from being a fine maiden. You might be able to pass as an unrefined maiden though." I say and she laughs.

"Well then, could you bring this unrefined maiden home?" She asks with amusement in her voice.

"I don't know." I say sarcastically while taking a few steps to the exit.

"Then how about this maiden strangles you with vines?" She says in a very refined and regal-sounding voice.

"Try harder. I can burn those." I say and see her look at me shocked before smiling.

"Then how about tree roots? I can use my magic to reinforce them, then you won't be able to burn them."

"Better, but I'll freeze them before breaking them."

"Then I'll cover you in vines first, so the ice can't spread."

"Very well, I'll escort you home, unrefined maiden." I say, not having a way out of that off the top of my head. Liz chucks and we make our way out of the park. We get to the parking lot and I make sure no one's watching. Then I take my Motorcycle out and grow it. We get on and Liz gives me the address of her place. We arrive at an apartment complex.

"Thanks for the ride. And for today." Liz says while getting off.

"It's fine, I'll catch you later." I tell her and she turns around. Before I can ask what she needs she hugs me.

"I'll see you tomorrow." She says and I nod. She enters the apartment complex and I store my bike away. I enter my Domain here since I'll be exiting my apartment in the morning. I enter the bedroom and find Asami, Luna, Innu, and Ramia all sleeping in the bed together. Not wanting to disturb them I go back out to the couch and sleep on it for tonight.