Florence twirled the racket lazily as she watched Brandon and Eira both bent slightly at the waist, panting, red-faced, and gleaming with sweat under the mellow orange hues of the setting sun.
The sand around them was a mess of scuffed footprints and dragged feet.
Eira's hair clung to her neck, and Brandon had pushed his beach shirt halfway up his chest because of the heat.
Florence smiled as she gave her racket a little flick before slipping it under her arm "I think I'm done bullying you two for the day."
"You both look like you're about to keel over. Go soak in the hot spring. There's one inside, you know, an indoor bathing courtyard on the top floor of the east wing."
She turned to leave but then she paused, glancing over her shoulder and her lips curled into a smile "And fully private."
Eira groaned softly and stretched her arms over her head, as she turned toward Brandon. "I didn't know playing badminton could feel like cardio for your soul."
