Let's try and enjoy it!
This one's for you Mr. E Box!
The crow's nest was a fantastic little refuge on board the Lemurian ship. The wind, filled with the scent of the seas, fish and salt, blew against bodies gently, cleaning out their lungs with each breath. The seas stretched out around for miles, the glittering sparkling blue that would fade to a sombre and calming orange and purple as the sun began to kiss the horizon. The beauty of it all was so simple that many wondered how they had ever lived without experiencing it just once. Best of all, this little place was so far from the others on deck leaving whoever was upon the small platform alone with their thoughts.
Currently, it was the young Laliveran princess who occupied the small refuge, her golden blonde hair fluttering about her tan features in the gentle wind, her verdant eyes reflecting the sparkling sea as she looked out. She did so quite often, as a Jupiter Adept being so high up made her feel quite in touch with her element, and her mind was always active, so the peace helped her settle her thoughts, especially when she got those unwanted visions. She wouldn't have minded them if she could control it as Master Hama seemed to be able, but they just happened, and it hurt.
It hadn't happened in a while so she was calm enough, but there was something else eating at her mind. There was four more upon this ship with them now. That wasn't a bad thing necessarily, it meant their chances of survival were greater, so she didn't need to worry as much. Still, it was four more minds… she wasn't fully in control of her Psynergy as it was, or, more precisely, not in control of her Mind Read.
It hadn't been a problem up until now, it was easy to avoid accidentally prying into someone's inner thoughts if she focused herself before approaching them, but now there was more of a chance that she may run into someone and see something she knew she shouldn't. Often it was nothing jarring or personal, but it was still an unwanted invasion into someone's life, and she didn't like betraying her first friends like that, especially when it was something personal. She'd seen secrets and feelings she knew belonged just to that person.
It was difficult, but it was her lot in life. A Jupiter Adept's standard blessing and curse. Perhaps, when this quest was over she could return to Contigo and study under Master Hama while she tried to find any evidence of her family. She seemed fully in control of what she was doing, so she should be able to help. She had taught her some meditation techniques to help calm her in the short time they shared… and she was Ivan's sister… so that meant he could help too, right?
Ivan… he was one of the four new minds aboard the ship, a Jupiter Adept like her too. He didn't seem to share her problems, he seemed to thrive in social situations, being the heart of conversations, the life and spark of comedy that everyone enjoyed. He had even made Felix laugh a bit in the short time he was here, and that was an achievement, it was rare to hear Felix laugh.
She was rather jealous of Ivan, spiteful even. It wasn't that she didn't like him, quite the opposite, she greatly enjoyed his company. It was just… he was everything she wished to be. Easier going, in control… he had family. Occasionally these thoughts got the best of her and she treated him poorly, she didn't mean it, but she didn't apologise either, not right away. He didn't seem to mind.
Maybe he could help her be more like him, because with the proper preparation she could often be like him. She had been shy when she began this quest, quiet and withdrawn, scared of what her life was becoming. Slowly, though, she began to open up, mainly thanks to her months with Jenna, and became a new person. She could be sociable and fun, but it was just so hard because of her affliction.
The young blonde wiped a stray tear from her cheek, realising that dwelling on these thoughts was doing nothing for her. Thinking of all this would just put her in a sour mood and achieve nothing in her want to be in control of her Psynergy. She looked down from the nest, away from the horizon and to the deck below as voices caught her attention. Felix had been piloting the ship north, but two more bodies came from the cabin: Piers and Ivan.
Sheba snickered when she heard the topic of the conversation, it seemed Ivan had discovered that Piers was older than he appeared and was curious as to the actual age of the man. Something they had in common then, Sheba had often tried to get him to reveal such a secret bit he was far too protective of it that even her accidental prying didn't reveal any hint of it.
Preparing her mind as she made to join them, Sheba slid down the ladder and leapt from the roof of the cabin to join in with Ivan's line of questioning, snickering all the way. As she reached them, she was surprised to see Piers' brow furrowed in obvious frustration as Ivan smiled and assaulted him with questions.
"Did he tell you?" Sheba chirped quickly, "You know I've been trying to find out for months! He just won't tell me, no matter what I try. Did you get him too though? How old is he? How did you get him to tell you? Did you tell him, Piers? If not, why didn't you? How old are you really? Would you be a wrinkly old man I you weren't a Lemurian?"
Piers was always fun, and she was kind of sorry that she was compelled to torture him like this. There was no malice or ill-will toward him, Piers had become one of her best friends. He was always there to calm her down, or cheer her up, or reassure her, and he always know how to do it. She didn't really want to get him so mad, but it was fun, and she had a sneaking suspicion that somewhere Piers enjoyed it too.
"Nah, he didn't tell me, he's being mean." Ivan flashed a grin to Sheba as a means of answer and greeting, before turning back to Piers, "C'mon, Picard, tell me. I promise I won't tell anyone but Sheba, it'll be our little secret, c'mon, tell us. Are you like forty or four hundred, huh? Are you older than Kraden? You should make him treat you like an elder that'll teach him for saying we don't respect our elders."
"You do not." Piers spoke loudly, exhaling deeply, "Felix, if you would please tell them that this line of questioning is off limits, I would be most grateful."
Their leader turned around, tossing his ebony locks behind him as he smirked at his friend, "I'd love to, Piers, however, I am curious as to your true age as well. If you want them to cease you shall have to deal with it yourself." He nodded to the Jupiter Adepts, knowing they greatly appreciated his answer.
"Okay, I'll only tell Sheba and Felix. That's it. Promise. Well, maybe Jenna too, since she's the one who told me about it. And that's it." Ivan announced gleefully at Felix's response.
"You are like children."
"And you're like an old man in a young man's body!" Sheba countered.
Piers sighed heavily, passing a hand down his face shutting his eyes tight, hiding the yellow sheen behind his lids, "I shall have to inform Jenna that for every minute of torture I receive from you two, I shall make her pay."
"You'll not do anything to my sister, Piers!" Felix called back over his shoulder, "Mutiny would occur quite quickly and you would be tossed overboard rather fast, mon capitaine."
"Garet then!" Piers responded angrily, still being assaulted with a constant stream of questioning from the Jupiter Adepts.
Felix nodded, smirking as he heard Piers storm away, "That's fine!"
Sheba was caught in a fit of giggles by the time Piers had slammed the door leading below deck. It was rare to get Piers so frustrated, even she had never achieved it when she asked him of Piers' age. Seems Ivan knew how to push his buttons just right. Ivan beside her was in his own huddle on the ground laughing away. It seemed that the two of them would become friends quite quickly.
"Thanks for that, Felix." Sheba commented, beaming to the leader from behind, "Didn't think you'd let us."
Felix was always nice to Sheba, very nice. Ever since Sheba had confessed her weakness to him he had done his best to ensure that any moments of joy she had lasted. He had been so understanding and attentive toward her as she expressed her problems, like he knew just what she was going through. She loved him for that. He was like the older brother she never had… though she often saw him in another light, a light that more often than not resulted in her avoiding his powerfully kind eyes for all of an hour so he would not see the flush of colour in her cheeks.
"You're welcome, Sheba. I think it is good for Piers, he tries to compose himself too often, now at least his frustration can be let out." Felix replied, turning his eyes back to the seas before them.
Sheba smirked as she held her hand out to Ivan, "C'mon, you, up." She commanded.
Ivan grasped her hand, but only rose to one knee, before planting a kiss on the back of her hand, "Anything for you, milady. Your wish is my command."
Sheba blushed heavily as she bit her lip, she knew Ivan was joking, she could hear him chuckling, "I wish for you to get up." She said, steeling herself and trying to will the heat out of her cheeks.
Ivan shot up within a second, smirking and leaning back against the rails o the Lemurian ship, "Granted. You only have two left now, master. Choose them wisely."
Sheba's furrowed her brow, confused, she didn't understand what exactly Ivan's line of thought was here, and she wasn't sure if she wanted to either, so she pushed it off, not wanting her confusion to allow her control to slip and for her to delve into his mind. Already, Ivan had turned his attention to the sky above, his hair caught in the sea breeze as he watched a lone cloud drift across the expanse of blue.
Shaking her head, she took a seat on the bench that was against the cabin wall, leaning back and scanning the surroundings. Monster attacks were commonplace aboard this ship, and she didn't much like the idea of something trying to break the peaceful and cheery mood on deck at the moment. Finding nothing of interest in the first thirty seconds, she found her eyes fall upon Ivan who was still cloud-gazing.
"Hey, Ivan." She asked, a previous comment coming to mind. The boy turned with a grin, awaiting her words, "What did you call Piers?"
Ivan seemed unsure of the question for a moment, before realisation came into his eyes, "Oh, you mean when I called him Picard?"
Sheba nodded, "Yeah, what's that about?" She had nicknames for Piers, but they all had something to do with him, captain, or old man, stuff like that.
"Piers is the captain of this ship, right?" Ivan asked, though clearly just as a way to lead into his answer, so Sheba nodded, "Lady Layana gave me a book about an explorer who sailed all around Weyard to learn about it. He was called Captain Picard. It seems kind of like Piers is doing, doesn't it? So it fits. Don't tell him this story though, that'll take away all the fun behind it."
Okay, that was a much more genius nickname than any of hers. That actually had solid backstory and reasoning, as opposed to her flimsy pretexts, "Oh, that makes sense. Do you have the book with you?"
Ivan smirked, "No, sorry, though you could just read my mind if you want to know what it's all about. I wouldn't mind."
Sheba swallowed, feeling her weakness dig deeper into her at his words, "Um… N-no, that's okay… maybe when this is all done with, I could just get the book off of you."
"Sure!" Ivan chirped happily, "I'll even read it to you as you fall asleep each night."
Sheba made to respond… or retort, she wasn't sure what she was going to say to that, but Isaac walked out on deck announcing to them that the others had finished preparing dinner for all of them. Only now did Sheba realise the extent of the hunger within her, considering how long she had spent up alone in the crow's nest. She and Ivan quickly bounded inside, but Isaac continued forward to Felix's side.
He set his eyes on the back of his head, despite their past differences, everything that had happened between them, things that had been said or wished, they were still friends on some level, and now they were teammates, leaders, and above all else, he was Jenna's sister. Still he couldn't help but get a little apprehensive as he drew closer to the ebony haired Adept, as of now they were practically equals in all forms… though he suspected that Felix knew more than he let on.
"Felix." Isaac said simply as he reached his side, turning his eyes to the ocean beneath them after passing a glance over the man in question.
"Isaac." Was Felix's stern, level, reply.
For a moment or two there was nothing between them save for the sounds of the sea, birds, and their companions in the cabin enjoying their meal. Isaac exhaled slowly, they had been in close proximity to one another since teaming up, and, other than the conversation in Contigo, they had not spoken. Isaac knew it was time to change that if they wanted any hope of survival.
"I'm sorry, Felix."
Felix shook his head, glancing at the blonde for just a second, "Don't apologise."
"No, I am. Everything over the past few years, for thinking so little of you. For thinking you had changed so much, become some kind of monster. In hindsight I probably should have realised that you were not so low as to want to restore Alchemy for the fun of it or for some greedy intent. I was just blinded by everything… maybe I didn't want to dare hope that when you had been saved the others had too… that my father had. Maybe I just let myself believe everything to make it easier, and I blamed you, not Saturos, not Menardi, you and I'm sorry." Isaac's words tumbled out of his mouth fast. He didn't take time to think about them, he knew that if he did he would shut himself up and the silence between them would continue for several more days.
Felix sighed, dropping his head and passing a hand across his eyes, "In truth, I would have preferred it stay like that, and I don't blame you." Isaac cocked an eyebrow in response this time, an act which had Felix chuckle within when he realised the similar situation, "I never wanted to involve any of you in this, Saturos and Menardi forced you all into it and I had to play along. Had you not been in the Sanctum that day all would have been well. Had we explained you may have believed us, you may not, but I never tried. So, I forgive you, and apologise for my own mistakes."
Isaac found himself smiling as Felix spoke, an outcome he had not expected of this conversation. They had both led themselves to believe something in order to do what they had to, no doubt were it not so serious or if they were still children they would be laughing about it right now, "Apology accepted. You know… Garet always said you couldn't have changed. He's believed in you from the start, after Venus Lighthouse, when you jumped, I believed too."
Felix winced at the memory of the Lighthouse. Indeed, Sheba and he were safe after, but they had come so close to death, so close to dooming the world to its slow death that he was not at all fond of thinking of it.
"Actually…" Isaac started, taking a step closer, his tone becoming much more curious, "I want to know something. It's no secret how high off the ground an Aerie is, but… even if the seas had washed around its base for a while… hitting the water from that kind of fall should have killed you anyway, according to Mia. How is it you survived… or do you just work well in water?"
Felix winced again as Isaac chuckled at his own joke. He was terrified of water, of being in it anyway. Ever since the Mt. Aleph Boulder incident and his near-death in the river he couldn't stand being in a body of water, not even a bath. Being on the seas on a ship, or seeing Piers use water, or being near waterfalls, or having a shower did nothing, it was being in it that shook him to his core. But, Isaac was right… a fall like that would have killed them, regardless of the water or not.
"Yes… the water would have killed us, and I would have likely drowned had I not seen Idejima and been trying to save Sheba." Felix responded, trying to keep his voice level as he remembered the swirling froth and mad waves as he desperately swam towards the island while struggling to keep the unconscious Sheba above water.
Isaac didn't ask for any response, instead he stepped closer. Felix took a breath as he began to retell his story.
"I knew as soon as I jumped, how stupid it was. I don't know what I was thinking, it didn't matter what I did, either way we would both have died, but all I could think was that I had to save Sheba, that I had to keep my promise to her after how I had fought with Saturos for her. As I fell, I heard Sheba's screams stop, her body tumbling more erratically, she had obviously passed out." Felix swallowed and breathed out, "Then I saw the sea wash up over the land, covering everything. I realised how stupid I had been, but the water both scared me and gave me hope. I thought that maybe, if I could catch Sheba, I could wake her up and hit the water first to ease the blow she would feel. I would die… but she'd live. It was a longshot, I know… but I dared to hope."
Isaac found it hard to breathe. He was so caught up in the story, all of his knowledge telling him that it shouldn't end how he knew it did. Whatever miracle occurred was surely the stuff of legend.
"I eventually caught up to her and grabbed on to her, holding her tight as I tried to manoeuvre myself into being the first hit. As I did, I told her that I keep my promises, that I would protect her. My last ditch attempt at saying something meaningful before my death I suppose. Then… it happened." Felix paused, breathing a long breath as he looked to the sky, confusion coursing over his stony visage, "Her Psynergy activated… or at least Psynergy became active within her. It was far more powerful than anything she was capable of at the time, perhaps even now. Somewhat similar to how our Psynergy protects us in battle. These purple-pink wings folded out from behind her, opening wide and gliding us out away from the area surrounding the Lighthouse. As we flew, I saw Idejima. When we finally hit the sea, I swam with all I could in its direction. I then woke up on its beach."
"So…" Isaac breathed out after a moment or two in the silence following the conclusion of the tale.
"Sheba was the one who save us, yes. Although, that Psynergy… I asked Miss Hama before we left if she had ever heard of such power. She had not, only vague tales from the Golden Age crudely deciphered off Anemosian runes." Felix responded.
"And Sheba?"
Felix shook his head, "Has neither recollection of such power, or the ability to recreate it to all of our knowledge. Kraden was the only one I conferred with and I have him researching it whenever he can… fruitless efforts so far."
Isaac exhaled, shaking his head, "Seems that girl is one hell of a mystery, first she fell from the sky, now she's growing wings. You didn't find anything about where she came from in your travels did you?"
"Not a thing. She, we, had hoped that her answers would be in Contigo and Jupiter lighthouse… seems that was where Ivan's answers rested though, not hers." Felix sighed. He desperately wanted to help Sheba, in any way he could. It was almost like having a second chance with his own little sister. After having abandoned Jenna for three years, and failing to make up for it in any meaningful way, he was doing his best for the Laliveran whose kidnapping he was partly at fault for, "If you would keep what I have told you secret, we would be most grateful. Sheba doesn't need to know what happened to her."
Isaac nodded, sighing alongside him as he went to the anchor's controls, "Well, nothing we'll find the answer to out here, c'mon Mia makes great stew."
Felix nodded, helping Isaac lower the anchor to steady themselves before entering the din of ecstatic chatter from the group in the cabin.
Sheba beamed gladly to the blue haired healer as she filled her bowl with some of the stew that had been prepared. The wonderful aromas of spices reminded her of home. She scooted along the table, gliding past an irate Piers, before taking a seat beside Garet who was already finishing off his second helping. She smirked as he drained the remains from the bowl and belched.
"Polite." She mocked.
Garet's broad toothy grin flashed at her for a moment, before he took on a false air of apology, "A thousand pardons, milady. In the future I shall endeavour to act the gentlemen in all that I do."
"Pfft, yeah right!" Jenna laughed as she took a seat across from them, "The most gentlemen like thing you've ever done is help me up from the mud after you pushed me into it."
"Ah, jeez, you still on that?" Garet rolled his eyes, "That was years ago! Besides, that was after you had dumped a freezing bucket of water on my head, just after I had gotten washed."
"Or so you claim." Isaac smirked as he joined them.
Sheba giggled as the three argued over some pointless past incident that led to another and another, all of which started and ended much in the same way. Jenna or Garet did something to the other, someone would retaliate, it would escalate, Isaac would try to intervene, and they'd team up against Isaac. Shaking her head, she wondered if that was life for all children as they grew up… she didn't really know after all.
She turned her thought away from that, admittedly not difficult with everything that went on when all nine of them were gathered in one room. Kraden was sitting at the end of the table, trying to eat and read at the same time, only achieving to get half the contents of each spoonful stuck in his beard. A fact he would not realise for several hours if no one informed him.
Beside him were Mia, Ivan, and a slightly calmed down Piers. Ivan seemed to be telling some story, though the truth of whatever tales that boy spun were dubious at best, to Piers which required the blonde to be greatly animated as he threw his arms around and make loud exclamations and sound effects. All the while, Mia seemed to be confirming the legitimacy of the story to a somewhat doubtful, but nonetheless wholly attentive, Piers.
Jenna, Isaac, and Garet continued their 'discussion' of days and incidents past, though it had gone from the initial mocking to outright laughing at each other as they called up whatever had happened to one or all of them, and occasionally several other residents of Vale. Sheba swore she overheard something about Jenna, Garet's sister, Isaac and some cake, but dared not hear or imagine more.
She shook her head again, smiling as she tried to keep her own focus, trying to breathe easily, so as not to pry into someone's thoughts accidentally. No easy task considering the amount of life, action, and noise, currently occupying the room. Even though the room could easily hold another nine residents it was still too much for her. Ever since her powers first became such a problem she disliked being in crowds… and from that she had developed a slight claustrophobia.
It was nothing serious… but it could often best her if she let it. Still, she was relatively in control of it in these situations with her friends.
Suddenly, Garet's elbow brushed against her as he exclaimed something. Within a second one of his memories flooded into her mind in perfect clarity, every sound, every scent, every image, every feeling, everything exactly as Garet remembered it pushed itself into her mind's eye. Thankfully, it was only something silly from whatever story they were on at the minute. He and Jenna had been chasing after Isaac as they played heroes from their younger days.
Sheba quickly moved away from it, wiping her hands across her eyes both to return to the real world and be rid of the tears that were coming. She inched away from Garet, trying to escape the notice of everyone around her, no one seemed to have noticed that she had just invaded Garet's privacy. She settled a good distance from where she had been, just beyond arm's reach of the Mars Adept she had accidentally violated.
She bit down on her lip, breathing heavily through her nose as she tried to calm down. It was nothing important, nothing that mattered, she told herself over and over again, it wasn't anything secret, it wasn't personal, it was a story he was openly telling… it's okay. But it could have been a secret, it could have been something only he was meant to know… you should be more careful… keep your distance…
She was so stupid! She should have known this would happen, but no, she had to be stubborn and try to be normal when she wasn't! She was a freak! Even amongst Adepts like her she didn't fit in, there was just something wrong with her. She didn't belong. She should just leave, get them to leave her in Contigo, or confine herself to her room. It wasn't like they needed her anymore, they had a functioning Jupiter Adept. One that wouldn't betray them if they so much as brushed against her when he wasn't ready. They didn't need her…
"Are you okay?"
Sheba's eyes shot up, her breathing quickly becoming fast as she felt a presence incredibly close to her. As Felix came into view she tried to calm herself, she knew it had been him, that it couldn't have been anything too bad, so she took a deep breath, "Mm-hmm… fine…"
"Sheba, you can sit a little further away if you like, I'll sit with you." Felix was so kind to her.
"Mn-mmn." She shook her head. She didn't want to separate from the group, to be like an outcast, or to be alienated from the others. At the same time, she didn't want to hurt them by seeing something she should never see, something that belonged to just them. No… She could handle this, and she would, not just for herself, but for them as well. She was their friend and she needn't cause worry for them.
"Okay… but, if you need to, don't hesitate. The others would understand." Felix replied before he started on his own bowl, even though Garet had started on his fourth.
She didn't want the others to even know, though. That was why she had only told Felix, and why she had told him to keep it a secret. If the others knew she was… defective… they would treat her differently. Try to keep her protected, making sure everything was perfect so nothing happened. She didn't want her friends to treat her like Lalivero did, she wanted stuff to happen, the good and the bad, she didn't want to be treated differently to anyone else on the ship.
She continued to eat, despite how uncomfortable she felt at times, and did her best to join in on the commotion of the simple act of conversation during dinner. Admittedly this task may have been easier to accomplish if there were not at least four excitable Adepts at the table who insisted their voice be heard. At the very least, Felix was always at her side, his strong form reminding her she was safe there, no matter what.
Ivan yawned wide as the day finally came to an end. It had felt like forever between the end of dinner and this moment, mainly because everything had been so insufferably boring. Simply put, nothing had happened all day. During his shift with Isaac, Mia, and Piers, on guard duty not a single monster had bothered to climb on board. He had conversed with the others, but it wasn't anything to truly capture his attention, just idle chatter. It wasn't that he didn't like conversing with his friends… he just preferred something to challenge his mental faculties more.
Then he had a break, in which he filled it with a myriad of activities to try and occupy him, ranging from reading, juggling, experimenting with his Psynergy, and trying his best to convince Kraden he was becoming senile. While the latter had proved somewhat successful, he hadn't really gotten the joy from it he had been hoping for. Without having any drama, fights, or puzzles to solve in dungeons, he found himself rather lost amongst the day-in day-out work they went through.
He had tried what others, namely Garet, did during their leisure time: inactivity. It had proved frustrating, all he found himself doing was thinking, thinking and thinking. His mind would just not stop. He had never realised how active his mind actually was, or was desperate to be. His thoughts bounced constantly from one thought to another, had he wanted, he could have focused and kept it under control, but that would have defeated the purpose of trying to enter a spaced-out state. He had fallen asleep for a short time, though.
He never had such problems when he lay in bed trying to sleep. At least he could hope that his dreams proved more entertaining, or tomorrow. He called good night to the others as he, Garet, and Isaac, made their way toward their room. Within there were two bunk beds of which he had called the top bunk in both. Not that Isaac, or Garet, had minded, they much preferred to sleep closer to the ground.
"So, guys, where we headin' anyway?" Ivan spoke up as he changed into his nightclothes, "I noticed we're not exactly heading north."
"We're not?" Garet responded, looking as dumb as ever.
Isaac smirked, ignoring Garet's questioning glances, "Kraden and Felix are heading for northern Gondowan. There's an Elemental Rock they couldn't get into before… but apparently we have the Psynergy they need."
Ivan nodded, finding this only mildly interesting. At the very least it meant a new dungeon to crawl through and solve, monsters to fight, and hopefully for some more fun to be had.
"Which would be?" Garet egged on, tired of being out of whatever loop he imagined he was being left out of.
"Lift."
Garet made some form of unimpressed noise as response, "That useless thing? Man, we barely even needed that. Couldn't they just blow up whatever's in their way?"
Ivan laughed, "Oh, sure, Garet, like you wanted to blow up those pipes in Mercury Lighthouse instead of pushing them around. Yeah, we would have made it to the Aerie that way."
"As if it would have mattered! Either way we were too late to stop them and besides, we're now going about to try and light the last beacon. Or did that slip your mind?" Garet replied smugly as he climbed under the covers of his bed.
Ivan shook his head as he climbed the ladder to his bunk above the same Mars Adept, "No, no, I just thought I'd bring up one of your bright ideas. Like that time you decided to punch that log in the Altin ruins, despite the fact that we could have done it from a safe distance with Force."
"Hey, did I get us to the bottom or not?" Garet retorted, as Isaac chuckled from his own bed.
"Not my point."
"Ah, whatever, squirt." Garet exhaled as he turned onto his side, "You're just jealous that I can get things done."
"Yeah, Garet, that's it."
Some idle words followed, but Ivan had long since drifted out of keeping apt attention to the words, which were probably some variant of good night as the lights were turned out at some point. Oddly enough… he was having the same problem as earlier. He couldn't calm down enough to sleep, his mind was very active… as a matter of fact it had been since Jupiter Lighthouse. Maybe it was an after effect of being so close to the Jupiter Beacon being ignited. He did recall that Mia and Isaac had been more… lively than their usual selves after their respective Beacons.
He sat up, feeling quite warm… he kicked his blanket from him, but that did nothing for him and he found himself staring at the wooden panels above him, wondering why the grain took the shapes they did.
That's it. He finally thought to himself.
Climbing from his bed, quietly enough to ensure he didn't wake Isaac… having no fear of ever waking Garet, he edged closer to the door and was in the hallway quick enough. He wasn't sure what he was planning to do exactly as he ascended to the common room… get some water perhaps. And he did just that, though he did wonder how the ship pumped water through it to these taps, as Piers called them. A question for tomorrow, he supposed.
He sank into one of the couches of the room and started taking sips from his drink. As he did, something caught his attention. At first he thought to have imagined it, but by the third time it came to him, he was sure it to be real. Turning about, his ears trying to properly pick up whatever it was he was hearing over the gentle waves, Ivan found that the door to the deck was slightly ajar, allowing the barest sliver of sparse moonlight to shine through.
Moving to it, Ivan peered through the gap, listening carefully. He could see nothing, but someone was definitely talking out there. Shrugging, he took a step out and glanced around, again, he found nothing, but the voice was still there. It wasn't until he glanced upward that he saw her. Sheba was standing in the crow's nest, her face turned upward to the heavens, illuminated by the moon's pale sheen.
Curiosity growing, Ivan quickly climbed to the ladder and began his ascent. As he drew closer, Sheba's words became louder to him, but still escaped clarity. Even as he reached the top, she was still whispering too quietly… he was amazed he had heard her in the first place. He peeked up over the edge to find her back to him as she stared up. The sky was particularly clear tonight, so there was a definite glow about the Laliveran.
"Sheba?" Ivan asked as a way of announcing himself and to ask of her wellbeing.
The girl nearly jumped over the edge from the shock she received of having someone sneak up on her so late at night. As she finally glanced around and found Ivan's moonlit purple eyes, she exhaled gladly.
"Oh, Ivan. What has you up?" She asked innocently, clearly trying to pretend she hadn't seemingly just been talking to herself.
Ivan shrugged as he climbed up from the ladder, "Couldn't sleep. You?"
"Same…" She responded, though she sounded much more melancholic than he was used to hearing. He found this rather worrying.
"You okay?"
"Mm-hmm." She responded, flashing him a smile, a brief smile. It didn't convince him, but clearly she wasn't in the mood to discuss it with someone she didn't really know. Ivan recalled them having spent all of about four hours together in all the time they had known each other, and even then, only about half an hour of time with just the two of them.
Honestly, Ivan wasn't sure what to do. He could leave, just say he was heading back to bed… but he felt bad about leaving Sheba alone right now. Even if she didn't want to talk, Ivan knew that just having someone nearby was a good comfort.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Sheba spoke, but so quietly, softly, that one would have had missed it if were not so silent around them.
Ivan looked at her, but her eyes were turned upward, much as they had been when he first came out. He followed her gaze to the moon high above them. It took a second or two, but he felt himself calming, relaxing as he looked up at it. His mind ceased thought and he just marvelled at the pale jewel of the night sky. Ivan exhaled slowly, breathing out an agreement of sorts to the girl at his side.
"I wish I could touch it… that I could see it up close." Sheba said, her voice strained ever so slightly, "Ivan… do you think… do you think people will ever be able to reach it?"
Ivan doubted that really. Flight itself was for birds, not for man, and even then, they couldn't reach the moon. The only stories of anyone reaching the moon was… oh. Realisation came to Ivan like a Ragnarok to the skull. The Anemos… the moon… Sheba falling from the sky. If the stories of her origin were true, the logical assumption would be she was from the Anemos' city on the moon.
"I'm sure we will, Sheba." Ivan smirked as he patted Sheba on the back for support, "I know we will."
Sheba didn't respond, she just stared upward, her mouth slightly agape, and marvelled at the moon. Ivan with nothing left to say, simply leaned on the rail beside them, doing the same. He had never really taken time to stare at things too often, especially not up in the sky, yet, as he stared at the moon, he couldn't fathom why. There was something so alluring about it, not just it, all the stars that twinkled, the swirls of cloud that drifted by, it was all so sedative.
He turned from it in due time, not from boredom or because he became accustomed to the sight, but because the act had piqued his curiosity. He began searching for other sights, and looked down. Though it was dark, he could make out the faint lines of the sea as they brushed up against the ship, leaving just a film of foam atop it as it reflected a wavy image of the previous object of interest.
Then, by sheer chance, as he turned again, light caught in his eyes. He began to stare at the girl beside him. The moonlight was shining about her figure, it was ethereal in the way it seemed to shimmer just about her, almost similar to the effect objects took when he used Reveal, yet this was so much more… captivating. The golden blonde hair caught in the silver sheen, the lush green eyes reflecting the pale crescent that hung above… it was all so… amazing…
Time passed, and Ivan, having admired all he could tonight, found himself rather tired, very relaxed. He bid a sleepy good night to Sheba, who grunted in response, her eyes still turned upward, despite the fact that several clouds had gathered and obscured much of the object of her longing. Ivan didn't notice and simply returned to his bed.
Meanwhile, Sheba let a tear or two slip from her. Pity. That's what Ivan had felt as he answered her. She didn't want pity… she wanted someone to understand and help her.
That's the first chapter!
I was a bit iffy about posting it... mainly for the Isaac/Felix scene.
What'd you think?
I'm think you thought: "Oh, poor Sheba. I want to hug her and keep her safe."
Well, do review!
Till next time, lovers!
Your friend and writer,
Droory