Algernon was running off pure adrenaline as he fought against the current and the soaking wet weight of both his and Lucy's body to drag them ashore.
Once on land, he noticed Lucy wasn't breathing and lowered an ear to her chest to listen for a heartbeat but the thick fabric of whatever contraption of a corset she was wearing underneath made that impossible.
His hand drew to the end of Lucy's dress and felt upwards along her thigh until he found the opal dagger he witnessed her using earlier.
He ripped it free from its leather casing to cut through Lucy's shirt and the front lacing of the corset.
With her chest freed from the constraints, Lucy woke up as water rushed out of her lungs. She tried to breathe but chocked on air until she coughed up what felt like gallons of burning saltwater.
Algernon sat back in the sand watching on while panting deeply.
Lucy was still bent over on her knees, every muscle in her body tensing to expel the water from her lungs, when Algernon said in breathy derision, "Can you for once, not be at the center of every problem I have?"
Lucy couldn't respond as she was only just done spewing up water but stared at Algernon hoping her eyes expressed just as much annoyance in them as she felt.
"I mean honestly," Algernon added, gathering enough energy to be angry as he thought about how close to death she had just come. "With how weak you are there's no sense in you being in a battle like this, let alone Attwood."
Lucy bit the insides of her cheeks and despite her exhaustion stood up. "If you want me to leave, then kill me yourself." She said, straining to put as much strength into her words as possible with the coarse saltwater drying out her throat.
Algernon got to his feet, reacting to her challenge and storming over to her. "You think I can't kill you?"
"I have no doubt you could," Lucy said, refusing to back down from Algernon even when he stood so close to her, she could see herself reflected in his black eyes. Her voice was still weak, but Lucy meant it when she said, "But you won't."
"I should," Algernon replied, finding Lucy capable of making him intensely and instantly outrage beyond anyone he had ever met before. "All you are is a liability. Not only do you constantly need to be saved from every sort of danger, but you go out of your way to be a part of it." He snapped, hoping to wake Lucy up to reality. "When you're so weak you can't even protect yourself."
Lucy's eyebrows furrowed. He didn't frighten her when he spoke like this but the truth in his words stung like saltwater in an open wound. "You know your criticism would actually mean something if it didn't make you a hypocrite."
"A hypocrite?" Algernon repeated, the accusation soaring his anger to new heights, "Who do you-"
"Why did you jump in and save me?" Lucy yelled over him before he could finish another insult. "With everything you accuse me of being, it would make much more sense to leave me to drown. Instead of keeping me around if all I do is drag you and everyone else down." For once Algernon was quiet as he tried to find a response that thwarted hers but couldn't.
His silence swelled Lucy's frustration, while Algernon's own had not yet been settled, though now as he looked down at Lucy, he noticed for the first time how her ripped white shirt soaked with water clung to every curve on the top part of her half-exposed body and became slightly opaque.
His emotions filled with irritation as much as they now enlarged with something else.
"Answer me, Algernon!" Lucy demanded, as she pushed his chest. He only stepped back a little, not because she was strong enough to actually move him, but because he was off-centered and unfocused for a myriad of reasons. "Or am I not even worth a reply."
Algernon glared down at Lucy, his jaw clenched, trying to suppress the urge to act on either of the two contrary feelings that somehow fueled one another. "Or is it that you're only quiet when you're confronted with your own flaws?" Lucy accused, trying to antagonize him into a response. "But you're so quick to point out all the ones you see in me."
"Why are you even arguing with me?" Algernon shot down. "Do you not understand how easy a thing it would be for me to break you in half right now."
"You won't," Lucy said back full of certainty.
"Maybe I would," Algernon replied, leering closer. "Just to see those eyes shatter and those lips begging me to stop."
Lucy didn't so much as blink as she didn't back down to him. "You won't."
"Because if you really were as horrible as you tried to make yourself out to be," Lucy said, staring back against his unbreakable black eyes. "You wouldn't have to try so hard to prove it."
Before he registered what he was doing Algernon grabbed Lucy's hand and pulled her to him. Locking her in place with a grip grown men couldn't escape.
"You want to see how horrible I can really be?" He asked as his eyes bore so deep into Lucy all she could see was black. "Because I'll make sure you never forget." His grip on her wrist was painful enough to bruise, but Lucy held her ground. Even when he moved his face so close to hers, she could see the salt that clung to his eyelashes.
After a few seconds, Lucy was the first to break the stare. Algernon sensed the defiance leave her and his grip loosened, satisfied to see that maybe she finally started to fear him just as everyone else did. And in the same vein it made his throat dryer than the buckets of saltwater he'd just inhaled.
"You're welcome to try," Lucy finally replied once she found the words she wanted, her eyes mirroring the setting sun on the ocean weaves. "But I won't break so easily."
Algernon gapped down at her, as confused as he was angry. He was used to seeing fear in the eyes of others, expected it and knew how to deal with that but he had no idea what to do with ones so engagingly self-assured and beautiful.
"Lucy!" Freya yelled, running up to her, from a distance away on the sandy beach.
Pecilia and Jasper followed behind, and as Pecilia approached noticed Algernon and Lucy stood very close to one other as if they were in the midst of an argument or something else. It was hard to tell when there was such intimate hate between them and she remembered something her mother had told her once, you can only hate someone as much as you love them. Pecilia rolled her eyes so far back they strained her brain as she quickly dismissed the pathetic thought.
"Are you alright?" Freya smushed Lucy's face between her palms, looking her over with worried eyes. "You're so cold." She noted, holding Lucy to her small chest to warm her up.
"And a bit exposed," Pecilia added when she saw Lucy's dress had been cut open to nearly expose her entire top half. Pecilia scowled at Algernon who after being caught looking finally averted his eyes.
"Oh," Jasper gasped, joining them. He presently turned away from Lucy and took off the long-sleeved button-up he wore over a white undershirt. "Here," He said, offering it to his friend while still faced away.
Pecilia was much more impressed with the mannerism of Jasper and glared judgmentally at Algernon to let him know that.
"Thank you," Lucy said, as she put the shirt over herself and pulled off her now ruined corset. She threw it on the ground, not missing the tightness of it at all, and buttoned Jasper's shirt over herself, tucking the extra fabric into her skirt.
"What happened to Tina and Creed?" Lucy asked.
"They came to shore with us, but said they were going to disqualify themselves since they didn't get here on their own," Freya answered as she rummaged through her bag for some water.
Algernon snorted from the side, and though he didn't say it, Lucy could tell exactly what it implied. Her attempt to help was meaningless. She only wished she could say he was wrong.
"Well, it's good to see you all alive, and energetic," Brickwood said suddenly coming out of the forest. He glanced between Lucy and his cousin specifically as Algernon glared back.
"And congratulations on making it to the third round." Brickwood added with a short round of applause. "Your third task won't start until tomorrow at sunrise, but I'll explain it tonight." From a small pouch, he took out a few small marbles. The professor smushed them and a buddle of supplies landed in the sand. Lucy recognized the space stone. They were used to store and transport things, but like all magic stones, they were very expensive. But amongst the nobles, they were merely playthings. "At the center of the island is an old cavern built by the last good king himself," Brickwood informed them. "You need to find the entrance to the tunnel and make your way to the last known location of King Leviathan."
Jasper suddenly beamed in excitement and grinned to Lucy. She smiled back at her friend's passion even when the mere thought of another physical activity exhausted her. Algernon spotted the exchange between them as his annoyance sunk miles deeper.
"Is that all?" Algernon asked bittered.
"Yes," Brickwood said, with a patient smile. "But be sure to watch out for all the dangers on the island. The greatest of which is your other classmates."
"Yeah, what else is new." Pecilia groaned.
The professor had to hold himself back from laughing. "I suggest you get some sleep before your adventures begin tomorrow," Brickwood advised, stepping back with a transportation stone in hand. "You won't want to face the challenges ahead of you all with low energy." He raised a hand and the supplies he brought started to set themselves up into cots with blankets and pillows.
Algernon turned away from the scene feeling his irritation surge at his cousin's try-hard charm.
"Oh, and Algernon," Brickwood called before he could brood too far away. "You might want to keep better track of this." The professor reached into shirt pocket and pulled out a ring before unlocking the scythe.
Brickwood tossed it back to its current user who easily caught the scythe and returned it to its docile state.
"I mean it is only one of the strongest weapons in the world," Brickwood added sarcastically. He smiled at Algernon to show it was in good humor though it didn't matter what his cousin said, Algernon would always be over it.
"And excellent job so far," Brickwood said making eye contact with Lucy and winking. Her heart swelled with pride as he acknowledged her efforts and her smile ended at the tops of her blushing cheeks. "I still expect great things from you." He flashed his perfect teeth at her one last time before the flash of the transportation stone took him away.
Though the effects of his presence still lingered as Algernon's ring still vibrated manically upon sensing its wielder's sudden blood lust.
Pecilia caught sight of its shaking from the corner of her eyes and tissed while muttering under her breath. "You sad little cold boy."