The school's annual "Heritage Day" was in full swing, but for Lucifer, it was a nightmare of noise and forced participation. The physical education teacher had organized a series of "Old School Games" to celebrate the school's history.
"Everyone, find your partner!" the coach shouted.
Nancy walked over to Lucifer, her ponytail swinging. She looked more relaxed than usual, a small, playful glint in her eyes. "Don't look so miserable, Lucifer. It's just a game."
"It's a waste of time," he muttered, but he didn't walk away.
The first challenge was a simple relay, but the second was unexpected: "The Sandglass Hunt." Each pair had to find hidden glass marbles buried in a large wooden pit filled with sand.
As they knelt by the pit, digging through the cool, gritty grains, the atmosphere suddenly shifted. The scent of damp earth and the feeling of sand beneath his fingernails hit Lucifer like a physical blow. He froze, his hand deep in the pit.
Beside him, Nancy's breath hitched. She was staring at her hands, her movements slowing down. The teenage chatter around them seemed to fade into a distant hum, replaced by the faint, ghostly sound of a child's laughter.
"Lucifer..." Nancy whispered, her voice trembling. "Do you... do you remember the rules?"
"Three towers, one gate," Lucifer replied instinctively, his voice sounding like it belonged to someone else. "And the blue marble goes in the center."
Nancy turned to him, her face pale. The blue marble hanging from her neck caught the sunlight, flashing brilliantly. For a heartbeat, the 15-year-old gap vanished. They weren't high school seniors anymore; they were two kids in a sandbox, terrified of saying goodbye.
But before either could speak, the coach blew his whistle. "Time's up! Bring your marbles to the front!"
The spell broke. Lucifer pulled his hand back, his heart hammering against his ribs. He looked at Nancy, searching her eyes, but she quickly looked away, her fingers gripping the silver chain around her neck so hard her knuckles turned white.
They had almost found it. They had almost found each other.