The docks shone dimly under the crescent fragmented moon hanging above the city of vale. It seemed calm enough with the usual water splashing against the concrete sea walls, waves lapping up against the sides of docked barges, and the occasional fisherman trying to attract some curious guppies with a small lantern hanging a few feet above his floating line. It was early in the morning just a few minutes after midnight and most barges were still long from leaving and arriving, good enough that they wouldn't crush anything or anybody down in the water at the time.
Standing at the edge of the docks with shield and lance in hand, looking over as a crisp sea breeze brushed the hair from her face, Lavender du Lac stood watching waiting for the proper conditions to start her run. Latching onto the edge with her weapon, the shaft releasing into a serpentine bladed whip, the girl lowered herself down to the water's edge feet touching the water's surface without breaking it. Breathing in she let out a relaxed breath and started sprinting across the water with due haste, the water bursting behind the soles of her feet as she lifted them launching her in a full dash as she threw her shield down onto the surface and leapt onto it with one smooth motion whilst reeling in the rest of her whip into a blade.
Picking up speed by bursting the water behind her Lavender reeled herself along a buoy and slingshotted past a couple of small boats, adrenaline pumping as she skimmed the surface and leaned to the side to turn along the lip of a wave, bursting herself upwards whilst twirling her whip around her then sticking the landing and letting the weapon trail behind her. Spinning once more she made for another leap and barreled towards another buoy, narrowly avoiding the structure and locking the end of her whip to the makeshift anchor before letting go and twirling away once more. As she continued her performance the fisherman at the docks regarded her with a small nod and smiled, watching the girl who often frequented the area improve her technique.
Feeling a tug on his line the fisherman reeled it in, pulling a small straggler from previous fishing trips out of the water whilst laughing at its size before throwing it back in. He honestly believed the little thing was skimping out on food for the sole reason of avoiding catch. Pulling his hat down he reeled in his line and made his way back, the girl would have no reason to stop to say hi for now, she seemed fully absorbed in her training and that was for the best. Lavender didn't need her past weighing her down, and he would probably just remind her of that.
A sudden silence came about the docks and the fisherman looked back at the girl. She was standing atop the surface with her shield in tow, her weapon reeled back, and sweat and water dripping from her face. He spotted her waving at him just like back then, the little girl with purple streaked hair bowing down after performing at the docks only this time she was alone. He smiled and waved back, taking his leave with his rod leaning against his shoulder and a sad smile on his face.
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Dusk approached and Lavender took a quick break sitting on the pier, drinking from a bottle of water while looking out into the now brightening water. She smiled bitterly and looked back into the water, the reflection of the rising sun filling her vision, the previous day now finally over yet her burdens seemed to have not gotten any lighter.