It's been days now since my failed attempt at something at the Arena... My fingertips touch my lips again. What was that? A kiss of death? I've been lost in a daze ever since... He liked strong women? It's been a while? And those scars... You don't collect that many in a day... Why do I feel so uneasy? No. Eager? Disappointed?? Would I have been able to enjoy myself with him if we met a different time and place? Wait. Is THAT what's bugging me? I'm curious to know? But. I don't even know if he survived? Roxus. The first man to call me a woman... I tighten my fist. I need to get out of here.

“Hey, did you hear? Another fishing boat was attacked. People keep saying it's an angry spirit.”

“That's bull.”

“Maybe. But the request has been finally put up to investigate it. I wonder what idiot will take it.” Laughter. I march over to the Office.

“Where's the "angry spirit" one?" I don’t even bother with the pleasantries. The startled girl points to her left. I walk over to the board, rip off the piece of paper, nod and walk back out. An angry water spirit, they say? Perfect. I go look for Crile and Star next. Good thing about best friends - you don’t need words to talk. Both of them come over to me as soon as they spot me. No questions asked. The three of us now enter the Masters' Chambers.

“I'd like to request for you to authorize our leave for missions.”

“What class are you?”

“4th-Rank.” The Lowest level.

“You're still under surveillance. Only 2nd rank and over can take on requests.” Instant rejection.

“How many more potatoes do you want me to peel before you decide that I am good enough for you?” The “Old man” finally turns around.

“I'm here to serve my people and you are getting in my way with your shenanigans. I can understand that hatchlings may need two years worth of chores to have some sort of an understanding of how the world works, before they can handle a sword or a bow, but I do believe we have proven ourselves more than capable.”

“We have the three man team required to start.” Crile joins in too. “We even have a healer with us. And a damn good one too!” He adds proudly.

“You didn’t have to say that.” Star mutters.

“Yes. Yes I did.” He answers.

“Very well.” The Master exhales and stamps, rather carves the stamp into an empty form. Parchment lasts longer in the field. You don’t so much write as scratch the letters in. The pen like knife makes the job easier. It takes longer, but you can write with it quite fluently. The Master attaches the pen to the empty parchment and hands it to me. I make a half-bow and take it.

“However. The Army will not be held responsible if anything happens to you out there, your highness.” I hate it how he adds that last bit.

“No worries. The Palace won’t hold you accountable either.” I bow again. Crile and Star follow my lead and we leave.

“That was kinda scary.” Star admits.

“Hell yeah! Finally! So! What's our first mission?” Crile’s itching for action.

“This.” I show them the paper. The two of them read through it.

“That's a joke. Right?” Crile glares at me completely disappointed.

“Nope.”

“Ugh.”

“We have nothing to lose. It doesn’t have a deadline or a reward. We'll see what's it about and come back. On the off chance it is a spirit - leave it to me.”

“Leave it to you how?”

“I'll merge with it and get myself a Water Form.” I answer.

“Oooh clever. As far as I know - it's not as easy as it sounds.” Crile is not amused.

“Like I said. Leave it to me.”

“This will be dangerous either way... Are we, I mean, you taking Emerald?” Starlight looks up at me.

“No. The local Celodians will be enough. I'll get us two.”

“Why?” Star asks on the spot. Crile smiles and looks away, trying his best not to hurt Star's feelings, I should hope...

“Oh. Nevermind.” Star blushes, realizing she's never ridden one.

“Don't worry, Star, you can ride mine anytime...” Crile finally cracks into a muffled chuckle. Star elbows him disgusted.

“Can I ask the two of you to get us supplies? I'd like to leave before dark.”

“Wait. Today?!” Star and Crile stare at me.

“Problem?” I look them over.

“No. It's just sudden. Is all...” I feel like Star's hiding something.

“Ok then. Let's meet up back in our room later. I'll go deal with the Registry. Don’t want anyone thinking we bailed.”

“Roger that. Come on, Star. We have work to do.” Crile hooks his arm around her waist.

“Get off me, you brute!”

“Never!” Crile persists his teasing. I roll my eyes at them and reach for Emerald.

“Something on your mind, Child?”

“How did you..” I sigh. “Were my feelings leaking out again?”

“Just a little restlessness.” So nothing specific. Dodged one there. “So?”

“How's Laira?”

“Seems stable. For now. The Assassin and I keep an eye on her between her lessons with your mother. So far - no reason for concern.”

“I see.” Mother's guilt is strong with Laira even now...

“Child. You needn’t worry. Focus on your own goals for now. You've already saved Laira. Her working hard with her studies is proof of that.”

“Thank you for that. Speaking of. We have a mission.”

“Am I needed?”

“I'd love to take you, but I don’t want to stand out even more. So perhaps another time? I just wanted you to know that we can be away for a few days.”

“Exercise caution, Child.”

“Yes, ma'am.” I smile. “I miss you.”

“As do I.” I smile more. Emerald sometimes feels so motherly, yet so distant at the same time... I sigh.

I fill in the names of our group. A precaution in case of an accident. As if. I stare a moment longer and carve three more words on the corner. This serves as a pass more than anything. The Registry needs to see the stamp to let you out. Day passes are given for days off and later one can obtain a full time insignia as a sign that they belong to the Army. If they want to get paid for doing jobs from the Office that is.

I stop by the Stables and negotiate two Celodians. Star will probably wanna ride with me anyways, so we'll make Crile carry our stuff.

“I'll come back for them later, Pops!”

“Sure thing!” The man smiles at me. He's either not aware of who I am or does not care. I prefer the latter. That means I get treated like a regular person. I return to the barracks and find the two of them squabbling like an old married couple, as per their usual repertoire. Except this time Crile is covered in... Honey?

“Do I even wanna know?” I stand there as I close the door behind me.

  Zarri returns to our room to a sight of a honey covered Crile. I sigh and begin.

“A few minutes ago we were going over our food supplies and he asked me why I was packing honey. I tried to explain it to him that it's a good substitute for some medication on certain cases. Since we are going to be dealing with water, I figured that I can use it in our tea later to help prevent colds and stuff. Then that goofball, started turning the jar around, asking if it's smart to take it since it can spill all over. I tried to take the jar back and...”

“And that's when she poured it all over me.”

“I did not! I asked you to be careful with it!”

“And I was! Till you jumped me!”

“I did not!”

“Enough. I take it you need a new jar?” Zarri looks at me. I turn my eyes away and nod.

“Is this a specific type of honey or will any from the kitchen will do?”

“Any will do.” I nod more.

“Wait. Where you going?” Crile calls out as soon as Zarri puts her hand on the knob.

“To get the honey. Mother's spies are all over the place. I'll get one of them to bring more.”

“Hooo. Is this you abusing your authority?” Crile teases Zarri.

“Yes. For a pot of honey. Sure.” Zarri jingles a few coins from under her pillow. Royalty or not, she still got paid the minimum that all entrants get. So did we, of course.

“Take a shower before we leave, will ya? I'd rather not travel with a bear trap.”

“What? You don’t like it when things get sticky? Get it?” Crile winks at me, taking his shirt off. Ugh!! I swear!!! Zarri does not answer, nor does she even bat an eye to him either and leaves the room. Somehow Crile doesn't seem to be in a hurry to get changed. I feel my face flush a little and look away. When did he... I hate it how I try to steal another glance... He's been working out... Clearly...

“What's with the look?” Suddenly my voice feels cold again. Phew.

“What look would that be, Starlight-dear?”

“Ugh. Why must you answer every question with a question?”

“Because I don’t know what look you think I have. You need to describe to me what you see. So I ask again. What look is that?” He stares me down with his shirt still off.

“That sad and disappointed look.”

“That.” He turns to face me fully and spreads his arms. “What do you see?”

“An idiot.”

He laughs. “True. What else?”

If this is his way of fishing for compliments... “Your shape has improved.” I answer bluntly.

“Exactly. You know why?” Somehow I don’t enjoy his tone of voice so I don’t answer.

“Because I work hard to keep up with her.” Huh? He wipes down the access honey off his neck and chest with a damp rag and finally puts on a clean shirt.

Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

“I don’t work out because I love to torment myself by setting my muscles on fire. I do it, because getting stronger is one way how I can stay in her life, because she is constantly moving forward.” He's not wrong.

“That said. I am sad that she fails to notice my effort.” He points to his abdomen and sighs.

“Why is it important for you to have her notice it?”

“Why is it important for you to have someone praise your hard work in medicine?”

“There you go again!” I stand up and get in his face. Crile just smiles at me like he always does. I always thought he mocked me with that harmless smile of his. As if saying: "Oh please." And you know what? I still think that.

“Dumbass.” I mumble and continue packing. And yet...

    We arrive at the spot, described on the request. With the summer in full swing, it took us only less than a day. Especially since we left the night before.

“Nobody's here.” Star says, as I help her off the Celodian.

“For the record - I feel totally cheated. Why am I the only one ridding alone?”

“Cause we'd get nowhere if you'd ride with Star.” I answer. “And yes. It is weird. There should be somebody here...” Not to greet us, but working.

“Everyone's afraid.” Crile and I get in front of Star in a heartbeat. “Too many boats have been wrecked. There should have been more casualties.” A woman approaches us from behind the trees. “Who are you, people?”

“We're from the Army. We have take upon the request to investigate.” I answer.

“Waste of time.”

“Yet here we are.” Crile puts his knives away.

“Anything you can tell us about what happened?” I ask.

She shrugs her shoulders. “Boats set out. Boats come back in shambles. A few dead. Something is not happy out there. That's all.”

“This lake. It connects to the sea, doesn’t it?” Crile steps forward more, hiding more of Amana. I notice her trying her best not to be noticed.

“Yes. There is an opening between the mountains a bit further off.”

“This is a lake only!?” Star gasps and covers her mouth. The woman does not seem to care much for her.

“So then what brings you here, if you don’t mind us asking?” Crile continues the conversation.

“My son died out there.” She passes through the side and tosses in a single red flower into the water.

“Our condolences.” I whisper and the three of us bow. The woman walks by us again and stops.

“What are you supposed to be? Bait?” What!

“As much as we understand your pain, you cannot use it as an excuse to insult others, ma'am.” Crile straightens out, armed with his ice cold killers' smile.

“How low this nation has fallen to employ these...” Now I straighten out, but Starlight stops me, bowing her head still. The woman walks away.

“Wench.” Crile hisses. “She ignored what I said on purpose.”

“When do people ignore anything by accident.” I say. “You ok?” I put my hand on Star's back. She stands upright again and nods.

“Well. What's the plan here? We probably need to get to work, huh?” She smiles at me. The smile's forced. The voice trembles.

“Star. You don’t need to be here if you don’t like it.”

“Oh, well of course. I'll stay on the shore. Someone has to be your lifeline. Now then! Maybe we should set those guys up first. I think we'll be here a while.” Star walks away all chirpy… Oh she’s bothered alright. Hate it when she’s not honest with her feelings...

“Now that's what I call ignoring.” Crile leans in. “It's not your fault. “Don’t take everything personally. She's a big girl. She knows she can leave if she wants to.”

“Does she?” I look to Crile.

“Watch. Hey, Staaaaar-dear!”

“BE QUIET!”

“See. She has a spine when she wants to.” Crile grins.

“For you.”

“For you too. You'll see.” Crile pats me on the head real quick and goes help Star. We set up camp just in case. A bit later I shift and listen.

“Nothing much as far as I can tell from over here.” I tell them, shifting back.

“Open waters it is!” Crile says. “Think anyone will mind if we borrow one of those?” He points to the boats over his shoulder. Or what's left of them...

“We'll cover the damages.” I answer.

Crile shrugs. “Fine. I'll go with you then.”

“Huh?” Star stares at us.

“You said it yourself, someone has to stay on the shore.” Crile rummages through the boats, collecting all the rope he can find. He ties all the ropes together.

“There. That'll be your lifeline. I'll pull you out if anything happens.”

“Why you her?” Star protest on my behalf.

“Cause he's stronger and I’m the Druid here. One of us will have to go underwater to "investigate" one way or another. I'm the better choice and one of us has to stay here.” I cut Star off before she says anything more.

“I don’t know what to expect out there. So we'll work with what we have for now.” Crile throws the rope coils on his shoulders.

“Fine!” Star pouts.

“We'll be back soon.” I tell her and help Crile with the boat. I grab another pair of paddles and we set out.

“She really hates staying behind.” He says.

“Yeah...”

“So? You have any idea how you'll locate your spirit friend?”

“Yeah. I'll need you to shut up and let me focus.”

Crile laughs. “Alright.” He pauses. “How far off you wanna go?”

“Just a bit more.” We paddle some more. “That's enough.” Crile and I set our paddles down and he turns around to face me.

“Watch out for anything. I don’t know what can happen.”

“Shouldn’t you have thought of that before we got here?” He mocks me.

“Just time me.” I take a sip of the tea and wait. I feel Crile put his index and middle fingers on my neck. I try to hasten the trance like Blain taught me. A Druid can enter the Astral Plain, but it takes effort. Doing it in a swaying boat on water probably wasn’t a good idea, but I have nothing to lose. I listen to the tiny waves clashing on the wood. If it is a Spirit, why would it attack anyone to begin with? Animal Spirits don’t usually...

“Breeze...” A feint sound...

“Breeeeeze...” Another whisper...

“BREEZE!”

“What!” I snap my eyes open. Crile points below us. A shadow. A dark and huge shadow… Uh-oh...

  I stand on the shore, praying to whomever. I hate to be left behind. I watch the tiny boat sway in the distance.

“Please be ok...” As soon as I say the words a screech reaches me and a giant shadow emerges from the water, throwing the boat into the air!!!

“ZAAARRIIIII!!!” I rush into the water and freeze. I'm useless!!! Waves rush me and soak me. Boards fly upwards.

“NOOOOOO!!!!!!” I stand there helpless... What can I do? I look around. The boats! I tumble and fall a few times before I manage to get to one of the boats.

“Move!!! MOVE, DAMN IT!!!” I struggle to get the lump of wood into the water.

“I SAID MOVE!!!” I kick the thing and it budges. I slip a few more times before I get in and try my best to paddle. I struggle to get the depth right. I either brush along the surface or dig too deep. My arms aren’t syncing either. I sway on the resonating waves. Another screech! The waves pick up again.

“Zarriiiiii!!!!” I stand up in the boat and almost fall over.

“Oh TO HELL WITH THIS!!” I take two handfuls of dust and throw them into the water. I chant loud and clear as I paddle. I begin to pick up speed. There we go. My chanting is stabilizing my paddling. Hold on, Zarri!! I'll save you! I swear!

  The shadow emerges right from under us and sends us flying.

“Hold on!” Crile tells me.

“TO WHAT!” I cling to the side of the boat. We smack down on the surface with the water-towers splashing around us. The shadow's tail smacks down on us next.

“DIVE!” Criles yells to me and I jump into the waves. Pieces of wood follow suit. This is no spirit. The creature attacks the boat. I look for Crile, but can’t find him. I resurface and look again. The waves make it difficult to stay afloat. I keep going under.

“Cri...” Another wave...”ile...”

  Another thud. I stop paddling. The wood from the shambled boat keeps bumping into me. Another thud. Louder this time. A hand.

“ZARRI!!” I throw the paddles down and grab the hand. Another hand and coughing. It is her!!

“ZARRI!” I pull her to me and we fall in the boat.

“Cri...le...” She wheezes in a gurgle. “Where's...”

“I don’t know... I just got here... Took me forever...” Zarri pushes herself off me.

“Give him back...” She tries to stand up. I stop her.

“Don’t! You'll fall over again!”

“Blood...” Huh? I look over my shoulder. A red puddle glistens in the distance... Oh no. Crile...

“Give him back.” She hangs on the side of the boat. I try to support her. Rather, hold her down. Zarri keeps trying to jump back in. You can’t!

“Give him back!!” Zarri tells the water again. “GIVE HIM BACK!!!” She screams out.

“GIVE CRILE BACK TO MEEEEEE!!!” She screams out like never before and passes out in my arms. Soo heavy... I squirm out from under Zarri. Something feels off. I turn Zarri over. She doesn’t appear to be hurt or bleeding... Huh? What is this weird feeling? I keep looking her over. No. Wait. Her pulse! Where's her pulse! I check again.

“WHY'S THERE NO PULSE!!” I rip open her top and put my head on her chest. Nothing.

“There's no beating!! WHY!! HOW!! SHE WAS JUST!!! WHAT DO I DO!!! CRILE!!!” I turn around and in a horrifying heartbeat I realize I'm alone... In a boat... In the middle of a lake with a monster roaming below the surface somewhere near... And yet what bothers me the most is that in a fit of panic I look to Crile for help...

“I'LL SAVE YOU! I can do this!! Now think!!” I take a breath and... If there's water in the lungs I can draw it out first and she might... No!! I need to start the heart again. Time is of the essence!! But... Can I do both? I hesitate. Focus!! I take a handful of dust and add it to my potion to increase the effectiveness and begin chanting. I guide the liquid into Zarri's mouth. It will connect with anything that is not Zarri and help me draw it out. At the same time I take out my tunnel-needle and gently stick it into Zarri's chest. I focus on another portion of the potion and send it towards Zarri's heart through the needle. If I can wrap the heart in my potion, I can gently stimulate it from the inside... Like a hand, squeezing the heart itself... Short, gentle pulses... Just tight enough to move the muscle...

“Huh. Why...” There's no water in her lungs!! She didn’t drown! “Then WHY!!” I try to pat Zarri down and...

“DAMN IT!! I BROKE THE CHANT!!” I try again...

  It's dark.... I... Where... I don’t feel my body... It's so cold... A light brush... Who's there! Nothing... Another brush touches me... What is this? What was I doing again? Where was I again? I... Something blurs... I reach for it... There it goes again! Wait! Is that... Crile! I remember! CRILE! Crile's... I need to save him! Where is he!

“CRILE!”

  “CRILE!” Zarri suddenly sits up, scaring the life outta me. She throws herself over board, swaying the whole boat. I lose my balance and land on my butt.

“Careful! I haven’t removed the...”

“WHERE'S CRILE!”

“He...eere...” A gurgle from the other side. Zarri jumps over me and drags something onto the boat. Something moves me too and I help drag the lump of meat in. It coughs up water all over my feet. Zarri finally notices my instrument and pulls it out. Blood drips down her cleavage... Out of pure habit I chant a quick spell and the potion merges itself with Zarri's skin, closing up the red patch without leaving a trace.

“Sorr...Star...”

“Crile?” He lifts his head up at me. There it is. That same smile. I...

“I'm back...” He mutters to me and looks back down and through his arm. “Hey. You good?”

Zarri helps him turn over. “Yeah. I’m good.” They sit up, one on each side... I... You two...

  I stare at the drenched Crile in front of me. My heart keeps pounding it's way out of my throat...

“What happened?” I nod to the distance.

“You tell me.” He nods at me. “Did you connect?”

I shake my head. “There wasn’t enough time.” His expression changes.

“You mean...to tell me...that... I almost drowned...for nothing?”

“Sorry...”

“You... Two... DUMMIES!!!!” Star throws herself at us. "I was soooo scared!!" She begins to vail... Crile and I stare at each other.

"Apologize!! Apologize to me right now!!" Amana cries out again. We smile.

“Sorry, Ammi.”

“My bad, Star-dear...”

“DUMB DUMB DUMBASSES!!! YOU TWO!!! I thought!!” Star does not let up..

“Oh well.”

“Can’t help it.” Crile and I smile, holding the crying Amana to us. After a few good gulps of air, Crile finally throws all of Star to me.

“As much as I love a good show of affection, Star-dear, but we need to get the heck outta here.” He grabs the paddles. I wave for one, he throws me it.

“Don't mock me...” Star keeps breaking in the air, referring to her way of speaking. We start paddling.

“So? What was that...” Amana finally gets her breathing back to normal.

“A baby whale.” Crile answers. “It probably got separated from his momma and got dragged into the lake by an underwater current or something else. The lake is connected to the sea, so it wouldn’t surprise me if he's "lost." It attacks the boats only because the shadows rouse it. It either thinks it's its momma or food. I felt bad cutting it, but it would have swallowed me whole if I hadn’t...” Explains the blood.

“How did that happen?” Star asks.

“That's what I'd like to know. I hear the Balli loooove whale hunting...”

“Since when?” Star's disgust shows again.

“Guess being stuck in a gigantic sandbox will make one look for new entertainment...” Crile answers. “By the way. How did you managed to paddle all the way out here?” He looks to Starlight. Now that he said it...

“I used the Dust.”

“Huh.” We both stop and stare.

“I used my chants to help me paddle... I couldn’t get the timing right...” Amana admits and Crile bursts out laughing.

“Star! I swear!” He starts paddling again.

“Nice.” I smile.

“Thanks...”