Kaleon leaned with his back against the doors. He only caught a few words of their conversation, but it was enough for a storm of anxiety brewed in his stomach.

All Kaleon had to do was a simple task. Make Rynnelle some plates for breakfast and hand them over to Mrs.Prisca. That's it. Granted, it may be pointless if Rynnelle wasn't even in the Manor. Not to mention, Mrs. Prisca was probably too busy trying to find her to deal with Kaleon, but the way Lord Reinard made it sound that wasn't his concern.

Aside from Gumbo, who lounged in his ravaged food bowl, the kitchen was empty. Cybil was the only one who had a reason to come back here, and he was probably out looking for Rynnelle, too.

Kaleon took a deep breath, held it for five seconds, then let it out. "Just do what you're told, Kal. You don't have to do anything else." He said to himself, repeating it like a mantra as he got to work. He summoned the wind, letting them pull together other foods he'd set to the side earlier.

Gumbo as Kaloeon pulled a large wicker basket from a lower cabinet. His mouth salivated as all the food the arms had gathered disappeared into the basket.

"Yep, just hand it off to Mrs.Prisca and go about your day," Kaleon muttered as he retrieved a blanket. Gumbo stirred from where he sat, tilting his head as he watched Kaleon exit out the back door and shortly follow behind.

The Odulfo Family Manor sat in the heart of an elaborate garden maze. Flowers and plants from various biomes across the sea thrive in a kaleidoscope of color. Even more miraculous was a menagerie of topiary constructs roaming along the grounds.

Manor staff and the few Naval officers on duty flooded the cobbled paths, calling for Rynnelle. Thankfully, that made it easy for Kaleon and Gumbo to avoid them. They had to double back several times until he reached a small pond at the edge of the grounds. A small boathouse sat at the mouth of a stone water channel that led around the terraces' perimeter and into the town.

Kaleon quickly walked to the door, smiling as he saw the missing lock. They rushed inside, Kaleon closing the door behind him and placing his hand on a panel to turn on the lights. A stack of crates sat in the corner, covered in cobwebs. On one side of the room, the channel cut through the floor, the gentle water flowing through an open arch in the side wall.

Standing next to the channel was a plinth. Kaleon placed his hand on the circular plate at the top. Glyphs slowly appeared on its surface, forming a circle around his hand. Clouds bubbled up from the calm waters, floating on its surface against the current. They hopped on, settling down in the mounds of cotton as Kaleon summoned a breeze to push them at their back.

A small cluster of topiary constructs watched them as they slowly moved down the channel. They were bushes, trimmed into the penguin-like shape of a Duulis except with a bouquet in place of their distinct afro fur.

Kaleon's mind insisted on drifting into the past as they gingerly floated down the channel. So much time had passed since they'd settled on Teon, yet he remembered arriving like yesterday.

After a perilous month-long voyage, the six remaining airships flew perpendicular to the crater of the ancient volcano. It had long since erupted, but the Navy scouts had found its emptied chamber to be deceptively hospitable despite the island's rough exterior.

They had little choice. Four of the six ships were Stratus-class, carrying civilians and what they hoped to be enough supplies for them to find a new home. The remaining two were what was left of the Cirrus-class ships of the Yanayin Navy. Rynnelle told him they'd started with twice that many ships.

Everyone knew that danger was mainly unavoidable when exploring the outer sectors of the Iega, but the costs of this one had almost seemed too great.

As the channel led the cloud down to the second terrace, Kaleon couldn't help but compare the Teon they'd found to what it was now. The grounds of the Manor overlooked a large, bustling town. Flowers blanketed buildings shaped from sandstone that glimmered in the rays of early light.

Kaleon couldn't help but smile. The frantic energy of the Manor was a total contrast to the rest of the island, as the islanders were swept into a tide of celebration.

Children laughed as they weaved past rolling stalls of food, their owners handing them out freely to parents looking for offerings for their shrines.

In the market, the shopkeepers worked with members of the Agricultural Guild to create tall floral archways that overlooked the road.

Kaleon's gaze lingered on a father and son standing before one of the shops. The father knelt so his eyes were level with his son as he said something that Kaleon couldn't hear. The boy nodded, closing his eyes as he waved his hands in the wild, chaotic way children do. Kaleon watched as gentle winds gathered around the boy, coagulating, going from translucent to a milky white as it took the form of a small cloud. The father beamed, his chest swelling with pride as he put his son on his shoulders and cheered.

Now that the boy had moved, Kaleon saw he'd used his cloud to lift a shrine. Unlit candles surrounded a stone bowl attached to a portrait. The picture was of a woman. She was only a few years younger than the father, with eyes and a smile that radiated warmth despite the cool breeze of the early morning. The father and son lowered their heads to offer a small prayer, and after a moment, Kaleon lowered his head to do the same.

The memory of Rynnelle's voice flickered in Kaleon's mind. She'd always tried to impart her love of the Harvetal to him. The week-long celebration dates back to before the Awakening and was one of the few traditions kept from the Yanayin's divergence from humanity.

Until five years ago, Kaleon and Rynnelle made their shrines to remember those they'd lost. In truth, he only did it at her behest, but Kaleon knew it was something he probably should be doing anyway. Although he never could bring himself to.

Gumbo let out a short snort that pulled Kaleon from his thoughts. He gathered up the basket, and they hopped off the cloud onto the last terrace.

The dockyards made up the smallest district. Featuring a scattering of taverns and ships docked along a long boardwalk. Unsurprisingly, there wasn't a soul in sight. When they were younger, Kaleon and Rynnelle always wondered why the docks were the only district that wasn't up bright and early on the first day of Harvetal. Now, he could tell the telltale signs of a night of drunken merriment.

"Well, look what the Heikwa dragged in," Kaleon turned towards the sound of the voice, finding its source sitting in a rocking chair on the deck of a small fishing boat. "I was startin' to think I'd have to wake one of these knuckleheads up to get word back to the Manor."

"Oh, good morning, Mr.Luli," Kaleon said brightly. "I'm surprised you're up this early."

Davron Luli threw back his head as he let out a bellowing laugh, "I may be old, but I reckon I can hold onto my drink better than every sailor in this port, and I got last night to prove it," He reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a wooden pipe. Mr. Luli raised his multiringed hand and stuck his pinky over the bowl. Tiny glyphs lit up on the ring, and a small flame appeared at the end of Mr. Luli's finger, lighting the pipe. "'Sides, somethin' told me I'd wanna see this sunrise." He took a long pull from his pipe, blowing the smoke out through his nostrils as he eyed Kaleon, "Wasn't the only one who got that feeling either,"

Kaleon felt himself stiffen, opening his mouth to speak, but the words quickly tripped over themselves. Mr.Luli let out another hearty laugh, "Don't go wasting your words on me, Kaleon. Save 'em for the Lady."

"Oh uh right, I will..um, thanks, Mr.Luli," Kaleon said awkwardly.

Mr.Luli dismissed it with a hand, "Bah, you can thank me by getting the girl home safe, last thing anybody wants is to get 'ol Rei worked up. Only thing shorter than him is his patience."

Kaleon looked at him with startled surprise, so much so that Mr.Luli burst into another round of hearty laughter. The sound alleviated some of the tension building inside of Kaleon, but not much.

"Don't worry, you can count on me," Kaleon said with a reassuring smile full of feigned confidence.

Mr.Luli nodded in acceptance, then gestured toward the beach, "Good, now git before that food wakes everyone up and they ruin my peaceful morning."

Kaleon laughed and started walking toward the beachfront when Mr.Luli called out to him, "Make sure ya use all your words, ya hear! Don't come complaining to me when it's time to ship off, and ya ain't said ya peace."

Kaleon paused, once again unsure what to say. Clenching his jaw, he turned back to face the old sailor, forcing the words to come out with a smile, "I will! Thanks again! For everything! Hope you enjoy the Harvetal! I'll talk to you soon!"

"Same to you, lad," Mr.Luli said, blowing out another ring of smoke.

Kaleon and Gumbo silently walked until they descended the boardwalk stairs onto the beach. Gumbo takes the chance to leap into the air and float beside him. After taking a few steps, Kaleon paused, looking at his feet and then to Gumbo. "Hey bud, can you hold this for me?"

Gumbo snorted, opening his mouth and taking the basket handle from Kaleon as he took off his shoes. Warm sand shifted beneath his feet and between his toes. The sensation brought a flood of memories and put a smile on his face. "One last time, for old times' sake," He said wistfully, taking back the basket and resuming his trek.

Glistening waves crashed along the sand, catching the last embers of sunrise as they ignited the lagoon's crystal waters before cooling into the blue sapphire blue of the day. The scene was so serene and beautiful that Kaleon stopped and briefly wondered if the hand of some unseen God had crafted it just for him.

Kaleon took a deep breath, holding it until he felt a slight burn in his chest before letting it out. A pungent belch of salt and sea breeze hit Kaleon's back. He turned around to face the mouth of a large cave at the beach's end, the breeze going back and forth like panting breaths.

Before he could take a step forward, his mind thought again of Mr. Luli. He was an odd man, marked by his years sailing the skies and sea. While he'd never been exactly a father figure, Kaleon thought of him as the crazy uncle he never had. The one who almost always said something borderline crazy but usually turned out to be more right than wrong.

Gumbo floated in close, whining softly as he nudged Kaleon's shoulder. "I'm good, bud, I'm good," Kaleon told him, "Just finding my words is all," He swallowed hard, taking one tentative step forward to let the shadows envelop them.

They were in the darkness for a few seconds before bioluminescent moss covered them in soft green light.

Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!

A storm of apprehension brewed in Kaleon's gut. Every bolt of lightning was another reason this was a bad idea. The wind was his anxiety, threatening to pull the very air from his lungs. His heartbeat boomed like thunder in his ears, beating against his chest, pleading with him not to turn around. Kaleon knew full and well that he'd likely make things worse rather than better. He ventured on anyway.

The cave extended for a couple of yards before curving to a switchback toward the right. A harsh wind washed over Kaleon, carrying the sound of waves crashing against stone mixed with a chorus of sea birds that gradually grew louder with each step. He placed a hand on the wall to orient himself as the moss's glow faded. The heavy coat of darkness fell over them for a few seconds before pinpricks of sunlight came from the end of the tunnel. His hand shielded his eyes as he approached the exit of the cave.

There were only two ways to enter or exit the island of Teon. The first was at Teon's summit, with a crater over three hundred feet across that was big enough for any ship short of Nimbus class. Another option, although far riskier than anyone would ever need to make, was the barely fifty-foot gap that allowed the seawater to spill into the lagoon. However, even that route required ships to travel by air because of the jagged rocks lining the waterway.

Spanning that gap was a natural bridge that, if crossed, led to an identical cave leading to the other side of the beach. The bridge, or Rhene's bridge as the Islander came to call it, was known for being the only and best view of sunrise on the island.

The bridge's current sole occupant coined that fact Kaleon knew. She hadn't noticed him yet, sitting calmly amongst the flowers. It was a good thing, too, because Kaleon immediately froze upon seeing her.

Rynnelle wore a wide-brimmed sun hat that concealed her face as she looked at something in her hand. She wore casual robes that, while modest, could do little to hide the enchanting curves of her body. Tapering off halfway down Rynnelle's thigh while her legs hung over the side, kicking carefree as the salty spray climbed into the air to brush the soles of her feet. What truly had Kaleon stuck, however, was the sunlight kissing her golden brown skin.

His mouth opened and closed as he tried to find the words to fit the moment, but Kaleon was sure that anyone short of the muse of poetry herself wouldn't be able to do it justice.

Gumbo waited behind Kaleon for a minute before he couldn't take it anymore. He fell from the air, rushing through the flowers for the unaware future Lady of Teon. Rynnelle's head turned just as Gumbo tackled her to the ground in a loving, sloppy attack. At the same time, a gust of wind blew the hat from her head as she went down. Curly hair resembling auburn-colored clouds fell just above her shoulders.

"Wha-Gumbo? Down boy! Down!" Rynnelle laughed, sounding like a refreshing shower rain to Kaleon's ears. Rynnelle pushed her attacker, and Gumbo flopped to his back, tongue lolling out of his mouth as she scratched his belly. "Oh, I missed you too. What're you doing out here, though?"

Kaleon cleared his throat, and in his best impression of Gaspar, he said, "Miss Odulfo, I would strongly advise against missing breakfast. It's known to be the most important meal of the day."

Rynnelle visibly stiffened as her head slowly turned to Kaleon's voice. They stared at each other for an eternity, Kaleon losing himself in eyes that were pools greener than springtime. Her chart took up the right side of her face, dozens of tiny stars twinkling anxiously.

The moment broke as Rynnelle brushed away a few tufts of her hair from where the wind blew them in front of her face. With a broad smile that was happy and sad in equal measure, Rynnelle said, "Good morning, Mash."

"Good morning, Buttons," Kaleon walked forward, matching her smile. It only faltered as he noticed what Rynnelle held in her hand. Tied to a string around her neck was a silver ring stylized into the shape of a Banda featuring a brilliant sapphire gemstone filled with white veins. The sight of it nearly broke Kaleon's heart.

Channeling his inner Dashard, Kaleon tried to keep his emotions off his face as he stopped a few feet away from Rynnelle and pulled the blanket from the basket. He set it down and placed the basket on top before removing Rynnelle's breakfast. After he was finished, Kaleon took a step back.

Kaleon was trying his best not to make it incredibly apparent that he was attempting to keep his distance. Rynnelle and Gumbo had other plans, however. "Ohmygosh, ohmygosh, ohmygosh! Kaleon! Is that what I think it is?"

Before he could move away, Rynnelle plopped onto the blanket next to Kaleon. She grabbed two steaming muffins topped with a purple sugary coating, not waiting for Kaleon to respond before taking a bite out of one and tossing Gumbo the other. Who happily swallowed it whole in a single bite.

Kaleon stifled a burst of laughter as Rynnelle let out a closed-mouth scream. She chewed the chunk of the muffin rapidly before swallowing and giving a more than satisfied sigh. "Oh Kal, your Harwalé muffins are my favorite holiday food." Rynnelle blew on the muffin to let it cool before taking another bite. "You should make these year round."

"Oh, I should, should I?" Kaleon chuckled as he stood up and back. "Well, I'd consider it if I didn't spoil you enough as it is."

"Me? Spoiled?!" Rynnelle looked at Kaleon with an affronted look, "I'd watch your tone if I were you, Mr. Yelran. There's nothing about me that's spoiled."

Kaleon and Gumbo looked at her for a few seconds, then at the vast array of breakfast foods Kaleon personally made, delivered, and laid around her. Kaleon arched an eyebrow at her, "Is that right?" Rynnelle's only response was to scrunch her face and stick out her tongue, which made Kaleon laugh again.

Rynnelle pouted for a few seconds, looking between Kaleon and the food. "Have you eaten?"

"Oh uh...no, not yet," Kaleon's eyes darted around, avoiding Rynnelle's gaze. "I set some food aside for me back in the kitchen, so I'll just eat when I get back."

"Great!" Rynnelle said cheerily, "I can't remember the last time we had breakfast together; hold on, let me clear you a space."

Kaleon tried to keep the panic bubbling inside him off his face, "No, it's okay, really. I made all of this for you, and I know you must be starving because it's so late." He laughed nervously, scratching his scar with a finger. "I'm not hungry right now anyway."

"Kaleon." Rynnelle said evenly, "Sit and have breakfast with me." Against his better judgment, Kaleon looked at Rynnelle. The look she gave him was so intense it could strip the paint off the side of a ship. To his credit, Kaleon hadn't immediately caved like he usually did, lasting a full minute before Rynnelle's intensity faltered and fell entirely. Kaleon wanted to let out a cheer of triumph but stopped. Catching a glimpse of tears welling in her eyes.

Rynnelle looked away from him and out to the horizon. A hand absently clutched the ring hanging from her neck in a fierce grip. "What happened to us, Kal?" Her voice was a whisper, fragile, like a thin ice sheet over a twisting river of grief. "Father used to tear his hair out, trying to keep us apart and out of trouble. Well, at least keep me out of trouble. You just followed me into it, trying to stop me from doing something dumb." She chuckled, but there was no humor in it. "We were inseparable and sometimes I feel like you can't even look at me."

Tears burned Rynnelle's eyes, blurring the edges of the sky and sea until they shifted shades of white and blue. Gumbo let out a soft, concerned whine as he nudged her side. Rynnelle drew him in, using him for stability as she shut her eyes tight. Not daring to let a single tear fall. "I-I get it if you hate me, but-"

"I don't hate you," Kaleon sat beside her, cutting her off by placing his hand on hers, "I could never hate you." Slowly, Rynnelle's grip around Gumbo loosened. Her misty eyes locked on Kaleon's hand, trailing up his arm to look at his face.

"But I-"

"No," Kaleon said firmly, then his voice took on the same somber tone as hers. "We were kids, Rynn. As much as I…" He paused, holding his tongue before he said anything they'd both regret. Kaleon sighed, "We had to grow up sometime."

Kaleon stared into the abyss of longing behind Rynnelle's eyes. Knowing in his heart that she saw the same bottomless depths in his. She closed her eyes, and It was at that moment that Kaleon noticed how close they'd gotten. Their faces were inches apart. Close enough that her shallow breaths brushed his lips.

Gods only knew how badly he wanted to close that distance, to throw away everything that was keeping them apart. Wrap her in his arms and never let her go.

"We should head back to the Manor," Kaleon said as he pulled back. He suppressed a wince as the words caused physical pain via an ache in his heart. But the look of utter disappointment on her face hurt Kaleon on a different level entirely.

After being released from Rynnelle's grasp, Gumbo not so subtly gorged himself on the unattended food. Up until the tension between the two was so palpable that even he could sense it. Gumbo trotted over to Kaleon, nudging him to pause his stunned silence for some head scratches.

The horizon was a blur, the deep blues of the Iega fading into the lighter shades in the cloudless sky. Another sudden wind wafted over them as the sun continued towards its apex. This one was far more brutal, carrying the smell of salt and, for some odd reason, hints of what Kaleon was sure to be smoke.

"What're we doing out here, Rynn?" Kaleon said, breaking the silence.

Rynnelle took a moment to respond, so long that Kaleon wasn't sure she'd say anything. Eventually, Rynnelle said, "Do...do you still get those nightmares?"

Kaleon blinked. Unsure what to make of the question and even less sure of how he should answer. "Sometimes."

"Do you remember them?"

Kaleon absently rubbed the scar on his face. He didn't like trying to think of his nightmares while awake. The more he tried to remember, the faster it faded away. All that got him was making it harder to figure out how to survive the night. "Bits and pieces," He said eventually.

Rynnelle waited, studying him to see if he'd reveal any more and only showing the faintest hint of acknowledgment when he didn't. Silently, Rynnelle nodded, more to herself than Kaleon, and looked out upon the pernicious expanse that was the Iega. She extended her hand, streams of green wind rising between her fingers.

After a few seconds, Kaleon said, "Why're you asking?"

Without looking at him. Rynnelle spoke in a voice that was so utterly haunting that it sounded like the final rights of the dead, "Because I think I'm starting to get nightmares too."

Kaleon felt his heart drop. His nightmares were spurred from a healed wound, while hers were fresh and ran deep. He wanted to tell her something encouraging, but before he could speak, someone said, "Hey, yeah, sorry to break up...whatever this is, but I strongly suggest you pack it up and move."

Kaleon, Rynnelle, and Gumbo craned their necks to see a man descending towards them. The stranger was a jarring contrast to the expanse of blues that were the sea and sky.

His hair reminded Kaleon of the rising sun he'd just seen. Red-orange clouds with gold bands woven in to stylize it into a Mohawk made out of dreadlocks. The man kept his hands in the pockets of a vermillion coat, looking at the trio with intense golden eyes.

The stranger looked at them expectantly, hovering slightly over them just off the ledge. Kaleon and Rynnelle sat in stunned silence, which caused the stranger to give an exasperated sigh. "Yeah, I know what you're thinking," He shot in the air, arching over their heads to drop to the bridge behind them.

They sprang to their feet, watching wearily as the stranger swiped a muffin and changed his tone as if speaking in some strange culinary theatre, "Why would a fair maiden as yourself abandon the romantic picnic of her lover for the word of some...some..." He paused, looking in contemplation for a moment before finishing, and said, "Rougish vagabond,"

The stranger nodded as if satisfied with himself and took a bite of the muffin. His eyes went wide, and he looked at the muffin, "Holy shit, that's good," The stranger said, breaking character and finishing the muffin in three more bites. Wiping his mouth with his sleeve, "Seriously though, the three of you need to leave," The stranger glanced at Rynnelle for a solid two count, then to Kaleon, he said, "Before someone gets hurt."

A raging inferno of fear blossomed in Kaleon's chest as his instincts told him to run. They screamed that this was not someone he wanted to be anywhere near. His mind begged him to forget everything, to run far away from this island and never look back.

Kaleon's hands trembled as he balled them into fists. His feet felt like anchors, planting themselves into the soft earth of the bridge as if they were immovable objects. Lightning flashed through Kaleon's hair as he ignored his terrified thoughts to put one foot in front of another. It was only a few steps, just enough to put Kaleon squarely in between Rynnelle and the stranger, but for the sheer effort it took, it felt like he'd just trekked miles through the unforgiving desert.

The stranger didn't really react as he watched Kaleon supplant himself between him and Rynnelle. His only response was a wickedly mischievous grin that spread across his face with each defiant step Kaleon took toward him. "Woah there, pal," Just as Kaleon's shadow casts over the stranger, he quickly puts up both hands in a sign of surrender, "As interesting as that would be, we don't have time for it. I wasn't trying to threaten either of you, honest. I'm just a guy trying to fill his quota of one good deed a day by getting you out of the way."

Kaleon's jaw set as he bit back all the fear trying to gather as a scream in his throat and said, "Get us out the way of what?" Instead of answering, the stranger just pointed to something behind him. Kaleon glared at him, lightning flashing again as frigid fury surged within him, cooling the fires threatening to burn a hole through his chest. "Do you really think I'm going to fall for that?"

The stranger grinned broadening, and Kaleon was about to take another step to get him within arm's reach when Rynnelle tugged at his arm. With great reluctance, Kaleon turned away from the stranger to look at Rynnelle, then to where she and Gumbo stared up into the sky.

At first, Kaleon couldn't see anything. He considered just wheeling on the stranger so he could give Rynnelle time to escape and get help, but he stopped. All at once, the stormy seas of fear, rage, and turmoil inside him drained out as his mind went quiet for the first time since he could remember.

Rynnelle's grip on his arm tightened, and it was the only tether keeping Kaleon's knees from giving out from under him. Under her breath, she said, "Hewa help us."

There was a ship falling from the sky. They hadn't seen it before because of the sun's glare, but the world around him collapsed once Kaleon got his eyes on it. It was wreathed in fire and smoke, pulled straight from the nightmare realm of Kaleon's innermost thoughts. And the worst part was that the nightmare was on a collision course for Teon.