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Ocean.

Until today, the word had been only a concept to Lithian. Something to read about, then shut his eyes and attempt to imagine. A daydream. None of his imaginings had ever done the reality justice. Though the Plane had several large bodies of water, nothing compared in sheer expansiveness to this: water that stretched in every direction, as far as the eye could see and then farther still, the smell of salt and a plethora of other things he could not have begun to name if he tried, a true sense of being tiny within an infinite universe.

Lithian climbed up from below deck. After boarding their ship to Eowyn just past dawn that morning, he had spent the larger part of his day up top, simply breathing and staring as though his eyes couldn’t possibly get enough of the sight. His siblings had quickly lost interest and gone below into the main hold to distract themselves with dice games and chatter with fellow passengers. Except for Accucius, who spent the majority of his time curled on his side, groaning various creative curses at the ocean and whatever deities invented it, and occasionally spitting up into a bucket.

Lithian had gone down for supper, but had had enough of listening to other people talk and wanted to see the view again, now that night had fallen. As he stepped out into the night air, his breath caught in his throat, and he froze. For several long minutes, Lithian could only stare, eyes traveling up and up from the horizon to the most beautiful, breathtaking display he had ever been witness to.

Lights. Thousands upon thousands of tiny, distant beads of light — numbered beyond count — winking down on the world like a sky of white lanterns, ever out of reach, or the glint of a billion unshed tears.

Stars.

Why had Abronaxus not given them stars?

Lithian breathed out, eyes lost in the sea above him even as his fingers pinched together, itching to reach out and touch, though he knew logically they were universes away. He only realized how long he’d been staring when his neck began protesting. Frowning, as though irritated with his body for interrupting his view, Lithian leveled his chin and rubbed absently at the back of his neck — then stilled when his eyes landed on another shape above deck with him. Embarrassed and wondering if they’d seen him staring slack jawed for as long as he had, Lithian almost turned around to head below again.

Then, he recognized the shape of her horns.

“Araceli?”

Lithian winced at the tone, immediately second guessing himself. Perhaps he ought to just go below deck again? He seemed to be making a bad habit of catching her in poor moods. Another brief glance to the stars swayed him, however; he had no interest in crawling back below, immersing himself in constant chatter and breathing the smell of his brother’s puke. Maybe he could help her get some things off her mind?

The thought seemed a bit far fetched, even in his head, but she did seem stressed, and he wanted to stay up deck for at least a while longer — what could it hurt to try?

“Sorry,” he apologized uncertainly even as he started towards her, pausing a good few feet distance from her and balancing his weight against the rail. His pulse picked up again as his eyes caught the view below: ocean water breaking against the hull of the ship as they plowed forward and the infinite, glimmering ripples of phosphorescent light that curtained out in its wake. A distant, completely irrational part of him wanted more than anything to swim in it. “I, ah…we met earlier? For a bit…you probably don’t remember. I'm not very memorable. I’m Lithian? Syrikk’s brother…”

Dragging his eyes up from the ocean below, he eyed her, wishing it were easier to read people.

“Does the sea not agree with you…?”

Lithian grinned sheepishly. “I think Accucius just prefers to have his feet on the ground.” His attention flicked back down the shimmering light show beneath them at her question, and he nodded. “I’ve never been outside the Plane.” His brow furrowed a fraction. “I’ve barely been outside Astral City. Mother says I wasn’t well enough, for a long time, and I needed to reserve my strength for when I was ready…”

He thumbed over the railing, thoughtful. Part of him wanted to ask what had been on her mind — what was tearing into her mood — because clearly something was weighing heavy on her shoulders. But his rational mind knew it wasn’t his business, even if he did care. So, instead, he chose a safer topic.

“Have you been to the main realm’s continents often?”

Lithian’s eyes widened, attention latching onto the last statement and, for once, all but oblivious Ara’s negative reaction to it in his excitement. “You were in a battle? Already? What was it like? Did you meet any of the other races? What were you fighting? Was it—” He flushed, backing off with his surge of questions when he realized the degree to which he was rambling, and he dropped his eyes abashedly, glancing sidelong. “Sorry, I…I’ve never seen any of that. I suppose I will eventually, but it just…” He nibbled his lower lip, tugging at a loose strand of hair absently and silently hoping she would elaborate at least some despite her uncertain attitude towards the subject. “It sounds fascinating,” he said at last. “I’ve only ever read about such things before. You must be very strong to have experienced it already…”

Lithian listened, fascinated, as Ara spoke, eyes widening at certain parts and then twisting into a cringe at the talk of the patchwork monstrosity. He silently thanked the fates that his apprenticeship hadn’t gone down such a terrifying path. Yet.

Frowning briefly at the thought that such things might still take place, he touched two fingers to the crest of his torso, sending off a brief, mental prayer to Abronaxus that he not have to deal with such things, ever. Or, at the very least, that the god not send him more than he could handle.

When Ara finished, Lithian tugged at his shirt cuff, flushing. “You must be incredibly brave…and skilled, to have made it through all that. I think maybe I would have just run. I don’t know anything of oblivionites other than what I’ve read and what my eldest sister, Ysette, has told me…” He fingered a loose strand of his hair, still getting used to seeing vibrant teal instead of black. “From what she says of them, they must be horrifying. Others, though…” He frowned. “There seem to be many different opinions. It must have been a very different oblivionite to risk their life for a hybrid. I don’t know anyone who would. Mother says we should pity them, for the lot the fates have given them in life.”

Lithian’s face lit up at the last comment, cheeks heating with embarrassed interest, and he nodded quickly. “I chose yesterday. I…” He tugged at a loose lock of teal blue hair. “I haven’t quite gotten used to the look myself, to be honest, but…” He shook his head. “I don’t regret it in the least. I debated for so long…so much of my family is gaili, and no one has chosen peisio yet, but…” He shrugged. “It speaks to me more than anything, and I think part of me knew that for some time. I always feel at home in the water…” He flushed, smiling sheepishly. “Even if I can barely tap into my magic yet, I can feel it. Are there many of the ayrala clan in your family?”

Lithian smiled. “Then I’m sure your birth parents are…” He bit his lip, briefly guilty over the slip up in wording, “…or, would have been very honored to know you chose their path.” He eyed her, expression soft. “It suits you, too, I think. You will do their memory proud.”

After a moment, he opened his mouth to add more, but a third voice cut in, unexpected.

“Oi! Lithian. Come back down for a spell, won’t you?” Syrikk called, hanging off the door frame leading below deck like a pirate from the rigging. “Accucius is up but moaning like a deep sea beast and we need another defender for playing pisi.”

Lithian glanced briefly to Ara, then back to his brother. “Why am I always the defender?”

“Because Adela always calls lead and you’re slow. Come on.”

After another beckoning wave in from Syrikk, Lithian sent Ara an apologetic glance, said goodnight, and headed obediently below deck.