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My darling,

When I sail on the sea without you, I seem to be heading nowhere. When you are with me, I seem to be heading to eternity.

* * *

Nevari had followed her brother outside to wait for the others. It was the start of a hot day, she could tell. The sun bounced off the rows of green corn, seeming to shoot right into her eyes. Her head already hurt from the lack of sleep the night before— the light was not doing her any favors. A small silver flask was tucked neatly into her boot and she pulled it out, the color dulling from use. She took a swig, noticing the stern look from Melech. She crossed her arms at him.

“What?” She asked.

He continued to scold. It was always worse than being yelled at. Melech’s glare had always said more than words could ever say.

“It’s the best armor I have against what’s to come.” She argued. “It’s not my fault you’re dragging me to visit your girlfriend. I need all the help I can get.”

“Stop being dramatic, Nevari.” Melech sighed. “We are not romantically involved.”

“Whatever you say, boss.” She replied, finishing the contents of the flask. Nevari tucked it lovingly back into her boot as Micah bounded out of the house, a dark green bag slung across his shoulders.

“Do you know where you are going if I get you to the road?” He asked Melech, setting the bag down on the grass.

“I should,” he replied.

Micah nodded as the others approached. The princess, Cecilia, had changed into a dark blue tunic, the color bringing out her eyes. Her black hair was tied back into a long braid that cascaded down her back. Venali was in the same clothes as yesterday, a rumpled golden shirt and trousers that almost blended into his light skin.

“Alright then, let’s go.” Micah headed towards the corn with the two elves on his heels. As they waded into the field, she fell into step with her brother, who was trailing the pack.

“Are you sure we can trust these people?” Nevari asked in a hushed voice.

“We don’t have a choice, Nevari.” Melech replied. “This is the best way to prevent another war. I’m also not worried about who would win if anything turned ugly.” Nevari glanced at the hilt of the long sword protruding out from behind her brother’s shoulder. He had a point.

They walked through the corn to the road, Micah keeping his promise of guiding them there. Melech took the lead after that, heading north. Just as Nevari guessed, the sun was beginning to beat down on them. She closed her eyes, stretching her arms out towards the sky. Daemon’s lived in volcanoes, their skin similar to small creatures called Druiks, who got their warmth from external means. Daemon’s survived comfortably off the volcano's heat. Traveling far away was uncomfortable at best, deadly at worst. Nevari felt reborn in the heat of the day, especially after the cool night.

Entropion was different than Motaiden. Large grassy hills rolled along the horizon. Farms were sprinkled across the land every few miles. They passed silos and large fields of corn. The air smelled like dust and manure. No one was out at this hour, the sun was too strong for anyone to work. The leaves were just starting to bud on the few trees that littered the landscape.

The travelers were quiet on their journey, silently following Melech towards their destination until night began to fall.

They stopped by the river for the night. A small cluster of trees lined the bank, providing good cover for the strange group. It reminded Micah of when his dad taught him how to fish. They had gone to a spot not unlike this one every summer since he was nine. He remembered how his father almost fell into the river after ducking away from the hook which Micah had swung over his head. He smiled to himself at the memory. He couldn’t even imagine what Cecilia and Venali must be going through. Even though he was away from his father, he knew he was alive and well. His mother too for that matter. They were both safe and as happy as they could be while searching for a missing daughter. And even though his sister was gone, he knew in his heart that she was still out there somewhere. Every second that passed was like agony wondering if she was okay. Maybe Melech’s friend would be able to help him find her. There had to be a way to bring her home.

“It’s freezing.” Nevari said, transporting Micah back to the present moment. “I live in a volcano people! Can we please get some heat before I freeze to death?” She was hugging her arms to herself, trying to keep warm. Micah wondered what she had been doing before they left Motaiden. He didn’t think a small, revealing black dress would be anyone’s choice of traveling attire.

“I think a fire would be safe to have out here.” Micah suggested. “Not many people are out after dark, especially in the fields.” He tested a few branches from the trees by where they were standing. They were too green to burn. A dead bush was a few paces back, he noticed it as they were walking, and headed back that way.

Micah’s mind wandered back to his sister. He and Harper had been inseparable since she was born, two years after him. They would do their chores together on the farm, and sneak away to go on adventures in the corn surrounding their summer home until it was dark. They would pretend that they were Earth Feries from Tahro and move the earth with their minds. They would imagine building tunnels in the dirt with their powers, creating their own trading system that mimicked the real ones they had seen many times. They had done everything together, had been each other's best friend when there was no one else for miles and miles. They told each other everything. At least, he thought they did. Harper ran away without telling anyone why or where she was going. She had no reason to go. They had a great life with loving parents and a roof over their head.

Micah was heartbroken. He didn’t believe that she would run away without telling him unless she was in trouble. Finding her was always on his mind. If she were to get hurt and he could have prevented it somehow, he would never be able to forgive himself. She was his whole world and if he lost her for good….

Micah shook the thought from his head. He had reached the bushes and started collecting wood for the fire. His stomach grumbled as he headed back to camp. Once the fire was going, he would hand out the small portion of bread and vegetables he had packed to everyone.

The others had already set up by the time he had returned. Small blankets littered the ground for them to sleep on. Someone must have filled a small jug of water from the river as well. It was sitting beside a small circle of stones, made in preparation for the fire.

Nevari and Melech were huddled yet again, their heads bent together in quiet conversation. Cecilia had her guitar case open beside her, gingerly restringing the instrument. Her brow was knit together in concentration, small pieces of her black hair dangling in her eyes. She pushed it back absently as she worked. Venali was nowhere to be found. Micah started working on the fire, its small flames appearing after a few minutes of working the sticks against each other.

The early spring weather was colder than what he would have liked, and he was thankful for the fire. The moon moved from behind a cloud and the world seemed to be brighter all of a sudden. He watched as a few trees were shedding their budding petals nearby. Some floated down the stream towards them. Spring, though hard work, was always his favorite season compared to fall. To Micah, fall meant harvesting. It meant working for 18 hours a day, trying to collect and sell everything by the first snowfall. In Spring, it was a new beginning. Planting seeds and waiting for them to grow; tilling the Earth with a tender hand.

Cecilia moved to sit next to him, interrupting his thoughts. She smelled like smoke and grain dust. They all did. He looked over at her. She was looking into the fire. Shadows played on her face and the orange light of the fire made her skin glow.

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“Thank you for all you’ve done today. You are so kind to help us all out. I know it is a great burden to you.” She looked up at him and placed a hand on his arm. Even though he was right next to the fire, when she touched him all he could feel was the soft warmness of her hand on his skin. He tried not to think about it.

“It’s really no trouble,” he said, “I think my sister is going this way anyway, I can at least keep you all safe if we are going the same direction.”

Cecilia nodded, bringing her knees up to her chin and folding her arms around them. She seemed so small. He was having a hard time believing that she was the heir to an entire country, the same country that led the world. After he saw her hit Venali with her guitar he knew she wasn’t as fragile as she looked, but there was still an air of innocence about her that he felt he wanted to protect.

They all sat around the fire, breathing in the smells of burning wood. Micah handed out the portions of food to them all, saving some for whenever Venali would return. One by one, they settled into their places for the night. Melech offered to keep first watch, his blade resting gently against the tree beside him. The glint of the fire off the metal was the last thing Micah remembered before dozing off to sleep.

Cecilia awoke when she heard Micah snore. She must have fallen asleep some time ago. The sky was as black as ink, the fire dying away. Melech was still at his post by the tree, staring absently into the ashes. There was no point in trying to get back to sleep. It was a difficult thing for her to conjure these days. Ever since her mother died, every time she would close her eyes either crippling darkness or vivid nightmares would come to greet her. She had tossed and turned all last night. It was a miracle she was still functioning at this point.

She moved to her back and looked up at the stars through the fire’s smoke. They were so much more visible here than in Aduial Amon. She couldn’t tell if she liked the fact that she could see them. Seeing the stars meant she was far away from her city. From her home. She missed the endless fire lamps lining the streets and the tall buildings that scraped the clouds. Cecilia missed the sound of the people. Their laughter and their shouting that echoed across the city. Here it was so silent it set her on edge.

She sat up, defeated. Sleep wasn’t coming any time soon and she was tired of kidding herself. She nodded at Melech as she stood, who met her with nothing more than a solemn glance. Cecilia headed along the stream away from the camp, careful not to make too much noise, hoping to tire herself out.

The stars danced on the water and accompanied her on her journey. She walked for a while until she found an abandoned bridge that went across the brook. It looked old and worn but still sturdy enough to hold her. Cecilia walked to the middle and sat on the edge and took her shoes off so that her feet could dangle in the water. She wrapped her arms around the railing and rested her head against her hands. The water was cold but she didn’t mind, it distracted her from thinking about her parents or her home. Cecilia closed her eyes and let the feeling of the water take her away. She would be home soon, that’s all she had to remember. Even if the buildings were made out of ashes now, she would be home.

A twig snapped and she opened her eyes. A ways down the stream was Venali. He had disappeared all night, mentioning only once that he would return under his breath. He waved at her and she gave a slight wave back as he headed towards her. The moon peaked out from a cloud and shined a soft light on his hair, making him glow. He was like a white knight single handedly destroying the darkness by only his presence.

She made room for him as he approached the bridge. He walked across and sat down next to her, radiating much appreciated warmth. They looked out at the water in silence for a few minutes, and Cecilia was saddened by the realization that he was awake for the same reasons she was.

“I used to go sailing all the time in the west ocean off the coast of Aduial Amon after my lessons.” Venali said, staring down at where the water enveloped her feet. “I would see how far I could go each day without getting stranded at sea.”

“How far did you get?” Cecilia asked, looking at him. He had always been a good sailor— his father had taught him everything he knew. She remembered him going on and on about him, idolizing him, wanting to be just like him when he was older.

He laughed absently. “Not as far as I wanted.” Though his words were lighthearted, his jaw was set and there was a startling sadness behind his eyes, like he was trying desperately to stay afloat. She knew the feeling all too well.

“I got a message from my parents a few weeks ago while I was apprenticing in Fraton,” Venali lowered his head. His eyelashes cast long shadows over his cheekbones in the moonlight. “They told me that they were preparing to fight against an attack from a human cult and that they loved me.”

Cecilia put a hand on his shoulder. “I’m so sorry.”

He looked over at her hand before continuing. “I left as soon as I got the message but it was too late. If I hadn’t left them maybe I could have-”

“No,” She replied. “There wasn’t anything you could have done.”

“You don’t know that,” he said sharply.

“You didn’t know that was going to happen. It sounds like they wanted you to go. Don’t beat yourself up for that.” Cecilia tried to reassure him.

Before Venali could reply, they were interrupted by a loud splash in the water behind them. Cecilia bolted to her feet and looked out to the other side of the stream. There was a woman frantically thrashing in the shallow water. She rushed down the bridge towards her with Venali on her heels.

They ran into the water towards her. She was still thrashing, struggling to stand. They approached her and Cecilia grabbed her shoulders to help her up out of the water before she drowned.

“Don’t worry I’ve got you, just hold on.” Cecilia said struggling to lift the woman. Venali helped her start to carry the woman to shore who was still thrashing about in the water.

“Just try and stay still” Venali said, trying to keep his grip on her. “It’s harder for us to help you if you are moving so much. We’re almost there.”

When she heard his words, the woman twisted harder in their arms.

“Let me go!” She said hysterically. “Let me go!”

They reached the shore and sat her on the ground. She was crying and shivering from her soaking wet clothes.

“Hey, shhh,” Cecilia said, trying to comfort her. “It’s okay, you’re safe now.”

“Our camp is just a little ways down that way, we have blankets and a fire to get you warm again.” Venali said, kneeling down beside her. “But we must move fast before you get sick.” He reached out his hand towards her to help her up but she only looked at him with anger in her eyes.

“You ruined it!” she snapped. “I was almost there and you dragged me away. I have to be with him!”

Cecilia looked at her puzzled. “What are you—” But before she could finish, the woman jumped back up and ran into the stream. When she got where it was deepest, she thrust herself down into the water.

“She wasn’t struggling to stay out,” Venali said, the light of realization entering his eyes. “She was trying to stay under.”

Before he even finished his sentence, Cecilia had already started towards the woman again.

“Stop! Don't do this! We can help you!” Cecilia reached for the woman's arm again only for her hand to be slapped away. She tried to grab her again and the woman kicked her in the stomach sending her back into the water. Panic rushed throw Cecilia. Venali had reached her side and helped her to her feet. They both rushed over to the woman but it was too late, she had stopped thrashing. The water was now still, the woman’s white dress spread out around her body, Cecilia couldn’t help but think of Angel wings.

“Quick help me grab her, maybe we can still save her now that she's unconscious.” Cecilia said desperately, beckoning for Venali to help lift the woman's face out of the water.

Venali put his fingers to the woman's neck and after a moment put his hand on Cecilia’s shoulder.

“Cecilia, stop.” He said gently, watching her still try and lift the girl from the water. “It’s too late for her now.” Cecilia didn’t listen, struggling to pull her through the sand.

“Cecilia I said stop.” His voice was harsher now. “She’s gone.”

She looked up at him in defeat. “Why? Why would she do this?” Tears burned hot behind her eyes. She had seem so much death in the past weeks. Too much death.

Venali looked at her soberly and helped her up out of the frigid water. He lead her to the bank and sat her down before going back out to retrieve the woman's body. When he pulled her onto shore, Cecilia looked at the woman's face. Little droplets of water were making their way down her cheeks like lone soldiers marching towards a fallen friend's funeral. Her eyelashes clung together into thick spears and the tip of her nose was shaded blue from the cold. Cecilia turned away.

“What did she mean when she said she had to be with him?” She asked, looking at the wet dirt that had wedged itself under her nails.

“I don’t know Losa.” Venali sounded tired. “Maybe she lost someone and couldn’t handle her grief.”

“No, it seemed like more than that. Like she was being pulled to the water and it pained her to not be there.”

Cecilia forced herself to look over at the woman. She looked finally at peace, like she was sleeping. But as she looked closer she noticed a slight shimmer on her skin.

“Venali, look.” Cecilia pointed towards the woman's arm which was becoming more see-through by the second.

“What…” Venali knelt down to get a closer look. In just a matter of seconds, the woman's body was almost barely visible. Cecilia backed away from the body. What was going on? When she blinked again, the woman was gone.

Venali reached out to the spot she had just been and touched the dirt easily. She was gone. Venali looked at her with wide eyes.

“I don’t understand.” He shook his head. “She just vanished.”