It had been a few minutes since Korra and Azra had left Lewis alone at the café and he hadn’t moved a muscle. He’d confined himself inside his mind as he contemplated what he’d just been told, what had just been asked of him. No not just him, them. He couldn’t possibly complete something like this on his own. Especially not how he is now. Lewis racked his brain as he tried to conclude the best steps to confront this.

Eventually he sighed and leant back into his chair and looked far into the seemingly infinite blue sky.

‘I should tell Kate and Eric before I decide anything’ Lewis quickly realised.

The scent of hot beverages, bakery goods and sandwiches abruptly hit his nose. ‘Since I’m already here might as well get something’.

The abrupt sound of a cup and mug touching the table rapidly drawn his attention away from the sky.

“It might be a little cold” a man with a strong Thalassian voice stated as he pushed a cup of tea across the table. Instantly Lewis couldn’t help but smile. He knew that voice. “It is your usual, two sugars. I got it when I see you arrive but decided to wait after seeing you had company. Especially after seeing who you had for company” the man smiled.

“Thank you. It’s good to see you Iason (I-son)” Lewis greeted, the smile never leaving his face. He dragged to tea closer to himself as Iason took a seat beside him on the table. “How did you know I’d be here?”.

“Complete coincidence” Iason admitted “I come here all the time and just saw you approaching”.

Captain Iason Ionchi, twenty-two years old, is a Thalassian prodigy, who was only ranked at Captain because he refused promotion. At sixteen when his name started to become known, he denied the opportunity to join the royal guard and instead chose to undergo tutelage with Rear Admiral Triania, now Fleet Admiral. Fleet Admiral Triania taught Iason alongside his nephew even bringing them to Elysia whenever he visited. In fact that’s how Lewis met both Iason and Nerin. He’d then seen him again the few times he’d travelled to the Thalassi isles where they’d became decent friends. Or more accurately Iason would get Lewis, Kate and Eric out of any trouble they found themselves in.

Iason had a similar build to Nerin, he was a bit taller but had the same athletic, lean muscular build. However, their similarities ended there. Iason had long, straight, dark red hair and fiery bright red eyes. He had a pretty face and along with his long hair, no would blame you if you mistook him as a woman from afar.

“How long has it been?” Iason asked taking a sip of his coffee mug.

“About four years” Lewis told him.

“Four years, and no one has come to visit me once. Bastards” Iason said jokingly.

“Could say the exact same to you. There’s more of us in Elysia. Bigger incentive. In Thalassi there is only you” Lewis countered.

“Not just me. There is also your old friend Pyra Spartas” Iason said with an evil grin. Instantly Lewis winced as memories flooded his mind and Iason burst out laughing.

“How’s it going between you two? Still strong?” Lewis asked.

Iason nodded “We’ll be celebrating five years in a few months”.

“Congratulations” Lewis said. A playful grin then spread across his face “You’ll be king in no time”.

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Instantly Iason’s face went pale “Gods I hope not. I love Pyra but I have no interest in becoming King consort. I’d never tell her, but I sometimes pray she’ll give up the crown to one of her siblings”.

“I doubt it” Lewis told him honestly “Me and you both know it’s all she’s wanted since she was a child”.

“I know” Iason admitted “But that’s for us to face in the future”.

“Us?”.

“Oh you will be helping me at every step” Iason grinned “But that’s enough about possible futures. Let’s talk about the present”.

“Go on” Lewis nodded “I can tell you have been wanting to tell me something since you sat down. Your fingers and legs haven’t stopped moving, so you’re either extremely desperate for a piss or there is something you really want to tell me”.

Iason stared at him blankly. He then blinked and his face muscles started working again. “I see you’re still perceptive as ever at least”.

“At least?” Lewis asked confused.

“I’ve heard rumours that you’ve let yourself go” Iason confessed.

‘Not this again’.

“From?” Lewis demanded. First the others in the coliseum and now Iason.

“I cannot say” Iason raised his hands.

“It’s Kate isn’t it?” Lewis questions.

“Again I cannot-”.

“It’s Kate” Lewis decided.

“Do you or your friend wish to order Captain Ionchi” a café worker walked over to their table. She spoke in Thalassian, but Lewis knew enough of the language to understand her.

“Yes thank you Daria” Iason replied happily “Can I get a bacon sandwich and a water please?”.

“Of course” Daria nodded. She then turned towards Lewis.

“Can I also get a bacon sandwich please, and do you serve saccharo?” Lewis asked as best he could in the Thalassian dialect.

Saccharo was a worldwide popular carbonated drink made mostly with sugar and blended with a variety of different ingredients to produce a bast number different flavours. In fact there are many places across the world known and visited just because they produced a unique flavour you can’t find anywhere else.

“Yes. We serve apple, pear, kiwi, orange citrus and lemon citrus” Daria informed him “And of course they’re all made fresh at the café”.

“Citrus please” Lewis replied “Lemon”. Daria gave them both a nod before vanishing back into the café. Lewis then turned back to Iason “So what is this news?”.

“I’m accepting a promotion” Iason informed him.

Lewis smiled “Congratulations and about damn time. So you’ll finally be a Commodore of the Thalassi Navy”.

“Yes. Well sort of. I’ll be a Commodore but not in Thalassi. I’m coming to Elysia” Iason stated. Lewis’s brows shot up. “Me and Fleet Admiral Triania have been in contact with General Jager, and he has offered me a position in Elysian Navy”.

“Where?” Lewis asked still a little stunned from the news.

“Sincia” Iason told him “So not Elysi”

“But a hell of a lot closer than Thalassi” Lewis said.

Sincia was a city on Elysia’s southern coast and was home to one of Elysia’s two Navy outposts. “Is the Fleet Admiral happy with this decision?” Lewis asked.

“He’s actually the one who got me the opportunity and urged me to take it” Iason said, “Told me it was exactly what he would’ve done at my age if Thalassi didn’t need him”.

“Well then” Lewis mused as he stuck his hand over the table “It’s going to be fun having you around”.

Iason shook his hand “Why do I feel like you’re going to be a huge pain in my ass?”.

Lewis grinned “Because I am”. However, then his smile vanished, and his expression grew stark as he remembered his time with Korra and Azra. “I can’t explain it Iason. But I get the feeling big things are about to happen. The things that people are telling and the stuff that is happening … I don’t like it” Lewis confessed.

Iason matched his expression in an instant “What do you need from me?” he asked.

“I’ll understand if you refuse but will you help me when I need you. Will you answer my call?” Lewis questioned.

“Did you even need to ask? Of course” Iason grinned and as fast as the stern atmosphere arrived it disappeared. Lewis gave him a thankful nod and then a moment later Daria returned to their table with their orders. Lewis took a long refreshing sip of his ice-cold fizzy drink.

“So what does the princess think of your promotion?” Lewis asked curiously. Iason almost choked on his water after hearing him.

‘Don’t tell me’.

“Well that’s the thing. I’ve not actually told her yet” Iason admitted.

“Aww Iason” Lewis leant back in disbelief.

“She’s going to kill me” Iason said.

“Yeah” Lewis agreed. They both started laughing at the idiocy of the situation.

They then proceeded to eat their meals under the warm Thalassi sun and cool coastal breezes all while catching each other up on the last four years.