The fork he was holding in his hand suddenly dropped and fell on the marble floor with a thud, showing a totally shocked face. Avine noted with satisfaction that she had succeeded in totally shocking her...friend.

Because as everyone knows, the mud competition, a very popular and highly sponsored game, consisted of a frantic race between competitors, in groups of eight, where they had to cross, on all fours and without magic, lanes of a few kilometers long, the hardest part of which was to overcome, on the way to victory, very tiring obstacles, such as dodging sharp arrows, avoiding falling into gaping holes, or even pushing with their body shapeless masses, and all this in a limited time, but especially with the whole lower body from the waist down, immersed in the mud, hence its name. So, despite their natural strength, few participants had ever made it to the end. Avine's mother, who had once taken her to watch this show, remembered having a good time. Which clearly was not the case for Pross. For to imagine the latter, and especially his worthy mother, sneaking into common events especially as noisy and joyful as the mud competition, were as inconceivable as ridiculous.

Then shaking his head, the latter picked up the object, laughing, convincing himself that his beautiful princess was only making fun of him.

- Forgive me, my darling, because my gesture was a little too cavalier in front of your words although they did not mean anything other than a joke. Because it was a joke, wasn't it?

- Of course it was...

The young man was already smiling, sure of his answer.

- ..not!

- What? You're laughing at me. exclaimed Pross, standing up slightly. The disappointment on his face was laughable.

But seeing the dramatically serious face of his companion, the young man had to realize that she meant what she said.

- But what does it take to want things that are not normal and so... dirty? he asked, not understanding anything.

- Speak for yourself, Pross. I find that doing common things is very tempting while the usual things like parties or lavish parties start to get really annoying and tiresome.

- But boring or not, it shouldn't bother people like us, right? Counter-attacked Pross, cautiously observing the girl.

- Ah, and what are we exactly?

- Superior beings, of course?

Avine waved his hand.

- Why ask again what I already know. She declared more for herself than for her friend.

- Exactly. Fortified the blond heir not understanding the irony. He shook his head in disgust.

- If Mother had heard that. Just thinking about it would break her spirit.

- Would it? Avine inquired mischievously.

- Of course it would!

But the young boy stopped short. Seeing his friend's face as she spoke frankly about her mother's character, Pross knew that he had made a mistake and that he had to make up for it somehow to get his way. He took Avine's hands and squeezed them hard, his face condescending.

- But if you insist, Mom could make an exception for you and prepare a huge magic mud pool, where we could, for a short time, out of sight of others, have fun without staining or spoiling anything.

So, that was the maximum he could agree to, thought the young magician, ironic and a little weary.

- I have no doubt about it Pross.

The latter, proud of his solution, thought he had won Avine over. But she decided that after that day, she would not see the young man again.

Pross asked for the bill. Then they left the restaurant, Avine scorning his friend's arm. The latter, thinking of another whim, had not really formalized. The maître d'hôtel personally escorted them to the exit as he had done at their entrance to Pross' personal table.

- I hope you enjoyed the meal, Miss, sir.

- Yes, as usual Hirok, Pross replied indifferently.

Avine did not deign to answer. Such obsequiousness began to seriously revolt her.

Outside, a line of ships lined up in front of the establishment. One of them, very luxurious and of an ostentatious aspect which was not at all of her taste, parked at a very enviable place, was ready to leave, the driver got out besides at the approach of the couple, and opened the back door for his young master. This one turned to Avine and ordered.

- Okay, get in, I'll take you home.

- No," the latter answered immediately, revolted. I'll take a free Terwak.

- What?

- A Terwak, I said.

Pross was astonished.

- A Terwak? But that's the means of transportation for commoners?

- And I am one.

- Not with such a mother.

- She is one too.

- But she is famous.

- A matter of perspective probably.

- Without a doubt. Besides, which reminds me, my mom is inviting her for a business lunch on Sunday.

- I doubt she'll come.

- It was just a formality. My mother is very busy.

- So is mine.

- You could say that indeed, Pross nodded indifferently, and visibly relieved that this lunch or whatever it's called didn't end up happening.

- So, I'll leave you in the back of your race car.

He considered his ship, a roguish smile on his lips, and pointed to it.

- It's beautiful, isn't it?

- Yes, I'll give you that, even if its color isn't to everyone's taste. It's very nice of you to have invited me to lunch and to have offered me a lift. But I'm still surprised that you took the trouble to get a driver.

- Mom put him at my disposal. Answered the young man by shrugging his shoulders, but proud to be so spoiled by his genitress and to expose it. She does not like that I drive myself, and me either after all. Although I am a wonderful driver. Besides, I have noticed that this way of doing things gives more importance.

- And not only that. Avine concluded ironically.

- What did you say? Pross asked, not having heard the sentence, too busy contemplating his beautiful ship.

- I said that to end this discussion, I answer you at once that I will not go to the festival of lights with you nor to the imaginary pool of magic mud that your mother would have especially prepared for me, nor to any other future event.

Pross was surprised again.

- Why?

- Because you are what you are. And I am what I am. she replied simply.

She stretched her soft cheek to her stunned former friend who kissed her without realizing that it was a farewell gesture.

Then, after a last look, she left. A friendship had just ended forever.

- Shall I call you?

Raising her eyes to the sky, dotted with mother ships, artificial islands and countless constellations, Avine couldn't help but turn around to look at him, stunned in turn that he still didn't understand that their story, if it had ever been one, had just ended completely and definitively. And she saw him staring at her for a long time with an expression so awful that she shuddered before slowly rushing into her car. Then when he disappeared, caught in the waves of other ships that passed and re-passed in the great city, Avine sighed with relief, for she finally realized that her friend, despite his environment and his mind, was not as stupid or blind as she thought. Then raising her hand, she created a light board and pressed a few keys. A bright green dot told her that her action had been successfully executed. After that, the immaterial picture dissipated.

Avine had just erased everything about Pross, his e-mails, his contact information, every concrete link between him and her. Absolutely everything.

Then, moving forward a little, she raised her arm to activate the bracelet on her wrist, and a small wearer appeared. A device with metal edges. She climbed on it gracefully. The smooth surface on which she placed her feet was as purple as her long hair and the dark suede shoes she wore with class.

The Terwak floated for a moment, inching toward the line of traffic before swooping in and flying home.