"Woahhh!"
The huge bulk of a cruise liner hung over the harbor, a floating mountain of metal and glass seemingly suspended effortlessly over the waves below. The constant hum mingled with the growling of the engines that kept it suspended in midair. Numerous people scurried about on its decks, which were left exposed to the sky, their voices lost to the wind, while the lights in the portholes flickered with the motion of the crowd within.
"We're really getting on a ship, Soke?" Kai questioned.
"It's only a 3 hour trip, and I figured you guys'd like this far more than running."
"Well, I'm definitely not complaining."
Everybody's heard of Aethia before, it's almost every kid's dream destination. So I had to ask.
"Soke, the chairman did say we had a week, and we still got five days. So-"
"No, Akio. Soon as we get there, we're finding Diana and whoever else Lucien sent."
I groaned.
"Although, if there really is no trouble for a while, I suppose lingering around the beaches wouldn't be so bad."
"Guess I just have to hope."
The five of us hopped on the ship, guards scanning our belongings before we were permitted entry.
The inside was a playground lit up by neon lights. Bars shone with polish, stretching beyond rows of games that whirred with excitement, a raucous group shouting from behind an arm wrestling contest.
"I'm gonna go do some of that!"
"Alright, just meet us outside when we arrive."
Sorren rushed over to the arm wrestling game as Soke spoke up.
"Guess I'm gonna go make a few drinking buddies then, you lot pass the time."
"Aki, Kai, want to go catch the view from the top of the deck?"
I suppose that wouldn't be bad.
"Sure."
"Sorry, guys, but I think I'm gonna try some of the minigames over there."
He winked as he rushed over.
"Guess it's just you and me."
I trailed her up the stairs to the deck, where she leaned against the railing. Before us, the Atlantic peeled open in a vast, endless horizon. Aurelia was much more known for its tremendous waters than Verthasis.
I spoke up. "It's a great view, huh."
"Yeah, it really is. And I'm sure it'll be much better when Aethia comes into view."
Just then, the thought hammered me.
"Hey, Hana."
"Mhm?"
"Back in front of Sorren's house. Your hands were quivering, why was that?"
Her eyes peeled open, body slightly startled.
"I was just, nervous for the next mission."
"Seemed a bit more than nervousness-"
"That's all it was, Aki."
I squinted my eyes, vision focused on her. "You sure?"
"Yes, it's nothing. Really."
I sighed, gaze drifting back across at the atlantic. "Alright then."
A few hours went by until a massive silhouette began to shape against the horizon, the edges of a great island coming into view.
"Wow."
Emerald palms danced within a thick green canopy that enveloped the heart of the island, extending towards its ring of pure white sand. The sunlight shone from behind the cracks of the wooden structures onto the smooth glass surfaces of the villas and the blue edges of large resort swimming pools.
"I told you it would be a greater view. Didn't I?"
"Yeah. You did."
We bolted down the stairs and scrambled off the ship as it docked, our feet hitting the solid ground of the port. Soke and the others were already there, standing in the shade and waiting for us to catch up.
"You two, let's go."
We began strolling through the island, passing by several villas and souvenir shops.
"Yo! Soke-!"
"No, Diana first."
"Argh."
Suddenly, a familiar voice split through our own.
"So, you're finally here, Soke?"
That was-
"Arielle. So that guy really did send you." Soke groaned.
"Yep, and we've already picked up Diana, she's just over there." She pointed behind at the front of a souvenir shop.
"We? So Zefir's here too?" Kai interrupted.
I swiftly turned around, his black-grey hair fluttering in the wind.
Alongside him was a girl who must have not been even one day older than we were. Her shimmering white hair sparkled with sunlight as two large, crystal-clear ocean eyes stared back at us. When our eyes met, her lips curled into a smile, beginning to approach us. Zefir shortly following.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, I presume you're team Soke?"
We nodded in response. Wait, shouldn't we kneel-
Soke slammed our heads down as Hana got into a bow of her own.
"Ah- No, it's fine. They're my age anyway, it feels weird being bowed to." She chuckled.
Well I can certainly say I liked her more than the grandfather.
The four of us took turns shaking her hand as we introduced ourselves.
I shot a look at Zefir, but his eyes were already elsewhere, locked onto the black-haired girl standing opposite to me.
Seriously, I need to understand.
I crowded into Hana's space, my face so close to hers that I could feel the heat radiating from her skin. I stayed there, my eyes tracing every line of her features as if searching for a hidden answer.
"A-Aki-"
Her irises shifted across the corner of her eyes as she grew warmer.
I backed up, snapping a look at Zefir once more. Huh.
His jaw dropped, his eyes stretching wide in sheer disbelief.
"Well, Soke. You certainly have a bold one on your team."
Soke sighed, his eyes shifting at me lazily. Then, the weight of my actions hit me like a truck.
Oh, wait-
"You're Akio, right."
"Ah, yes."
"Good to see you again, let's complete our mission diligently."
She extended her palm, my own meeting hers.
"Yeah, likewise."
We all started moving towards the hotel, casting long shadows on the ground. It wasn't long before a massive silhouette loomed over the resort.
"Woahhh!"
The hotel standing before us made our dorms look like dollhouses.
We navigated the lobby while Soke and Arielle handled the check-in, our boots thudding against the stairs as we began the long climb up.
"Alright, here's the deal." Arielle proclaimed as we reached the array of rooms.
She hooked an arm around both Hana and Diana, steering them toward the quiet corner of the hallway. A look of shock ran through their faces as they were dragged away.
"Hey, idiot! That's my team member-"
"Too bad, the three of us will be in our own room, you five can split the other two!"
Soke clicked his tongue irritatedly.
"Alright. Sorren, Kai, come with me. Akio, go to room 103 with Zefir."
What-
"Alright then, sleep through the night and we'll recuperate tomorrow!"
He shut the door of the room as the three of them rushed inside.
I stared at Zefir as he quietly walked away into the room, a slight gesture indicating me to hurry up.
Well, that's a start.
Our feet touched the ground of the small room to find two beds placed next to each other, with enough space left on the floor for breathing room. Beyond them laid a balcony, a sufficient space for sight-seeing. While not as fancy as our dorm rooms, there was a certain charm in its simplicity.
Maybe I should try talk, just bring up some conversation.
"Hey, Zefir-"
The slamming of the bathroom door cut my sentence short, only to be followed by the sounds of the shower running. I stood there alone in the now quiet room.
Irritating. Why was he so ignorant? I'm just trying to start a simple conversation.
I adjusted myself into bed as the pillow cushioned me.
Minutes later, he emerged from the steam, the bathroom door swinging open as he stepped out in a fresh set of clothes.
"Had a good time?"
...
Fine then. If it's that hard to talk to another human being, may as well just stay silent.
I shifted around on the bed and bury myself under the blankets, finding a comfortable position. My eyelids grew heavy as they shut, with the world around me slipping away into silence.
"Listen, Akio."
He's talking?
"I don't want to seem ignorant. So let me make this clear."
If not ignorant then what are you?
"I don't like talking to weaklings."
What?
"Especially those that haven't even gotten their charm. So let's just sleep through this night and go our own ways."
Haven't even gotten my charm?
Right, he doesn't know. The only people aware are the rest of my team, the chairman, and Anessa because she happened to be there.
Still, he seemed incredibly...
Full of himself. It was almost an indestructible pride, though I thought it would've dissipated when Kai handed it to him.
Some part of me wanted to press back.
"What about Hana? You sure you don't wanna talk to her?"
His teeth slightly gritted as his eyes formed an uneven arc.
"Sh-Shut the hell up. You're worth nothing anyway."
Ah. I see, so that's why he was busy eyeing her down.
"If that's how you want it to be, then fine. Just get to sleep, we have a mission tomorrow."
He flopped onto the adjacent bed as he clicked his tongue to sleep.
It's weird.
Since then, I've been giving up on things easier.
It's like I'm shifting across to an unknown place, becoming something different.
And I'm not sure whether that scares me, or makes me happy.
***
The door blew open as Sorren rushed inside.
"Get the hell up Akio! And the other guy too! We're going to the beach!!"
Eughh. What?
...
We're at the beach.
Sand ground between our toes as the lustrous tide surged, dragging the earth from beneath our heels.
Diana was the first to exclaim.
"It's amazingly beautiful, right!?"
She ran up to Hana hastily.
"Yeah, it really is."
What happened overnight there?
Certainly must've been something better than whatever I had.
Kai brushed against my arm. "Yo, Akio."
"Yo."
"Was the night fine?"
"Well. I slept. But I doubt you'd find us chatting up anywhere else."
Kai chuckled. "Alright, did he say anything in particular?"
"He doesn't know I have a charm. I don't think anyone apart from you guys do."
"Well, that's to be expected. But, you'll get a chance to show it off soon. We don't know when the cultists will make their move. Or if they'll even make a move at all. So for now, let's just enjoy ourselves."
"Yeah...we'll do that."
Diana's voice rippled through the beach. "You two should come join us too."
Glimmering sunbeams danced in the salty mist that formed from the water spraying back up into the air when the waves collided with the beach.
"Let's go." Kai tapped my shoulder as he rushed in to join them.
And soon, so did I.
...
The sun rose higher, searing us with the salt as we walked away from the receding waves. We sank to the scorched sand, feeling the warmth penetrate through the towels as the sound of the sea was drowned by distant murmurs.
"Hey, Diana." Kai questioned.
"Yes?"
"You're the princess, right. And yet you chose to be a cadet like everyone else. Why is that?"
Diana's face grew slightly grim.
"I just, wanted to see how it would feel. You know."
Kai's eyes squinted.
"How it's like to be a cadet. To help the kingdom, to do something real. Not just watch from an empty throne that meant nothing."
A wide smile carved on Kai's face.
"I see... then I hope you're able to."
"Huh..?"
"What it means to be a cadet. I hope you find out."
She softly smiled in response.
"Thank you.."
Screams tore across the air, harsh and jarring, abruptly silencing their conversation. The steady beat of footsteps across the sand grew heavy and urgent in the wake of sheer terror that washed through the crowd. No one was lounging anymore.
They were running, footsteps scattering white clouds of sand as they fled from the shore.
Soke's mouth burst open. "Shit! They're here. Arielle!"
"No...way... that's too many."
I wrenched my gaze toward the opposite end of the shoreline. Out of the eerie silence, dark shapes began to bleed into view; hundreds of figures draped in heavy black robes. The sheer scale of the mass sent a violent shudder through me as the distance between us and the obsidian wave began to shrink.
This time, nobody will die.
Things have to change.
"Those are... the cultists?"
"Yer kiddin'.."
"Kai! Take Diana and run off! The rest of us'll manage something here!"
"Alright!"
"W-wait, you don't need to-"
With one sweeping motion, Kai lifted her up, her muffled scream drowned out by his body as he spun away. In just a few moments, he was nothing but a blur, his feet flinging sand as he disappeared from sight.
"Akio."
"Yeah?"
"Remember our promise."
From back then.
"Yeah. I know. Last resort only."
"It's more important considering your wounds still aren't fully healed. Those bandages are still on you right? I know pain packer doesn't literally hurt you."
...
"But it does something worse. It deconstructs you."
"... I know."
"You're plenty strong enough with just your energy."
Hana's voice cut in.
"He's right Aki. Don't push yourself."
"Arright!"
"Better keep up with me, huh Soke?"
Crimson sparks engulfed my body.
I knew. That shared laughter, the splashing of water, the casual conversations.
They wouldn't last.
My happiness wouldn't last.