// Chapter 1 \\

A mist accompanied by spikes of water spat onto my face as I desperately clung to the sail of the boat. My body hurled forward from the sudden shudder of a wave crashing the back of the boat, earning a splash of water that tugged my soaked black hair in its current. Push and pull. A moment, I'd stumble back into the boat, another, I'd almost be sent overboard. There was a flash before a strike and a shutter of lighting sounding in the distance. The winds picked up pace, threatening to shred the sail of the boat right off its hinges. I stumbled once more, my breath ragged as I shivered. Before me were vast choppy waters that almost appeared as the foothills they were so high. Above them was a dark sky that sent down fast, cold, and cruel spikes of water everywhere on the plain it covered. Only did the flashes of light from within illuminate the dense form of clouds. The ocean was relentless in this beating as I sat in the middle of it.

It was no mistake that I ended up here. I'd seen the darkening sky before I took the boat out to sea. And it was no mistake I took one of the small passenger boats often used for milling about the vast shallow waters. No, I'd done this on purpose. And I'm sure one would've even called me mad for directing my sail straight towards the dark horizon ahead. Perhaps they who would ensue such a persona on me are correct. Perhaps I don't even know what I'm doing myself.

There was something about the agonizing feeling and blatant thought of being stranded at sea. Something comforting, as if this were a picture of what my mind felt like. While I know well of what minds look like— which don't pertain to looking like the outside world— I found myself envisioning my own to be a storm. Ruins and debris of what was left before scattered and beaten upon by the well kindled storm. And the ruins would soon be nothing in its wake. And to forget it all would be a bliss— something I desperately wanted as a flicker of memory came in that one moment.

Love. Hate. Deception. Agony.

Nothing.

My golden eyes flashed in the darkness of the storm. Another flash of light was the only thing that compared to the golden light. A burst of thunder shattered through the wide open space mocking my eternal gaze. The flaws in my stare as it grumbled. Then another flash and rumble. And another. Each one breaking down another part of me.

You were the one that wasn't supposed to be deceived, yet you were.

You failed your task.

You left everyone hollow and empty.

Including yourself.

The boat shifted causing me to stumble back once more before I clung to the pole of sail. I gazed down towards my black boots soaked in the ocean water as it sloshed through the wooden floor. I looked up once more, eyes only watering from the rain that splashed there before it cleared to reveal a giant wave above. The waves hurled, white foam like ice spikes as they hurtled towards me. Antagonizing me. Questioning me. There was a part of me that wished to be claimed, but the other part screamed for me to fight.

So I screamed up at the wave hurtling at me, as loud as I could. A warrior's cry bellowed with the thunder as my golden eyes glared to the water that came crashing down over me. And just as fast as the scream bellowed was it broken. I choked on the water that rushed into my lungs. At the same time, my legs gave out from under me, submitting to the push of the current. I was swept away in the violent rush of water, until it felt like I was sinking peacefully into the depths, the warped sounds of waves from above filling my ears. My eyes looked up to darkness before shadows of waves were lit in a flashing light and then the sound of grumbling thunder.

The fight that had lit inside of me then was easily snuffed out as my eyes lidded, knowing the silencing fate to come. The storm defeated me. Just like all other matters, it had come to me and overwhelmed me. And in that moment, I remembered everything. Perhaps it was time to stop fighting. Forget what my goals and desires were— what they've become. I knew that the water I let rush into my mouth was starting to choke me, which made me believe the glint of light I saw was an illusion.

But it wasn't.

Something of silk brushed my outstretched hand in the water. I glanced in the general direction, not being able to see what it was until another burst of light flooded the waters, revealing a silhouette of a petal. My eyes moved to look back at the glint in the distance, now having gotten closer. Another flash of light revealed a shining pink figure before my vision blurred entirely and a ringing sounded in my ears. And right as things were turning dark, I felt a tug. There was a faint sound of something moving in the water as my numbing body barely registered the touch that wrapped around my waist.

Then, suddenly, everything bursted and a cool sensation covered my face and freed my lungs as I began to cough. The water inside me was hurling. My eyes flung open to reality. The harsh sound of crashing waves accompanied by the rain that splattered it. Another flash of light overwhelmed my eyes before thunder rolled through the place. I didn't register the tug at my shirt or the rough wooden surface I now felt my body being rubbed against.

I took in the dark sky above as it flashed, revealing a silhouette of a boat's edge and a sail that looked much bulkier. My eyes squinted in confusion as my mind registered the feature. I'd been dragged onto a boat that wasn't quite the same as the one I took out.

There was a grunt of someone as the ship was steered violently, dodging a disastrous wave. I could only watch the rain splatter and the peaks of waves around me from the floor of the boat. Completely aware, but unable to get up. Even when the numbing feeling left my body, allowing it to be mobile, my shaky hands often gave out from my own weight or a harsh steer of the boat. It didn't seem like too long before the rain turned into a calming trickle and the boat no longer rocked from waves which were no longer crashing all around me.

It had gone quiet, the only sounds being the slight creaking of the boat and the sound of thunder in the distance. That's when the sounds of footsteps, soft yet strong, approached me. A pink figure hovered above me. It took another moment to register his blue worrisome and angered eyes staring down at me. Yeosang's blue eyes, despite glaring, appeared glossy in the cloudy and rainy sea, his pink hair dull as a few blossom petals fell from his antlers. He was covered in dry brown robes, but a few holes or breaks in between the cloth revealed a deep aqua armor that looked accommodated for harsh storms and oceans such as these. One I was fully aware of having myself yet purposefully didn't bother in wearing, as I laid soaked in a tattered brown tunic and combat pants.

Yeosang shook his head, eyebrows furrowing as he breathed, "What were you thinking?"

My mouth opened to speak, but no words came out as I closed it in an instant and averted my eyes from his gaze. Guilt began to wash over me at what I'd done.

"I wasn't," I finally murmured to Yeosang as we passed through the busy bustle of the Eastern Court docs.

My eyes weren't focused on the ones that saw us. What they saw was a soaked, tattered Monarch wrapped in the brown robes given by the other who strode in his confident, yet, intimidating manner in the saturated aquatic blue and gold armor. No, my eyes looked down to where my bare tanned feet walked on the perfectly polished and slightly gold-tinted wood. The solid fortitude and rough brushing of it under my feet gave me no strength or reassurance to Yeosang's underlying frustration. I'd seen it before and I knew it wasn't pretty.

The silent answer he gave was enough for me to know how much he thought of the entire scenario— what he interpreted. Perhaps I could explain what happened, clear things that might be clouding his mind. However, I couldn't seem to comprehend or remember half of what truly happened.

I looked up then to the tower base of the doc— one of the few Eastern Court docs that was built in few of the civilized locations here. The towers reached into the sky and clouds above and, when looked down upon, appeared as compasses imprinted in the large mass of water. The eastern pointers of the compass shape often harbored the more militant and classified ships or underwater ships known as mergers. That is where we walked from as we entered the tower's interior.

The pale gold wood of the docs was replaced with gold-glittering white marble. Dark black-gold lines of the stone weaved around, jagged as lightning, as they laid out intricate designs of the tales of the sea. From the crashing waves to the lightning and the storms to the many beasts that roamed the terrain. These lines made a focal point around the center, forming a compass.

The walls were trimmed with gold frames and pillars, covered in aquatic vines that had a tint of unusual blue in their mostly green foliage. What mostly made up the walls of the tower were the large glass panes, looking out to the ocean. The glass is called limpid glass. Its tint only made the ocean outside brighter and much more inviting. It wasn't fogged or disfigured in any form, more like the glass crafted of the Eastern Court had better sight than any living creature that walked the plain of existence. Limpid glass was fortitude enough to last through any brutal storm, which was surprising since it was quite thin.

Above were multiple levels of the tower, the floors which were crafted of the same impeccable glass. Crowds of people were gathered on those floors as it was clear to see their feet magically standing in the sky above us. Many appeared as Eastern Court subjects, though quite a few appeared to be from other courts. These towers were known as great tourist attractions.

I focused my attention back down to the floor in front of me, finally taking a few glances to some onlookers who quickly went about their own business. It only took another moment for me to register the two familiar figures off in the distance.

Hongjoong and Heeyoung stood there. Both of them wore similar aqua blue armor to Yeosang's except there's had a more green-ish tint. Their armor was rimmed with intricate pure gold designs. Heeyoung wore a similar intricate gold headpiece. Her red hair underneath was pulled back into a braid, long and scarlet falling at the hips of her curvy and tall figure. The feminine features of her face made her appear slightly different to her brother, yet they both held that kind, charismatic face. Her scarlet red eyes met mine then as she spotted Yeosang and I's approach. It took another moment for Hongjoong to realize this and turn his head towards us. His dark blue-ish grey eyes spared little time on Yeosang before they met mine. His hair was put up into a tail which bounced as he began to run our way.

I stumbled back when his smaller figure embraced me. My mind fell out of reality, numb. Though, it had always been that way since...

My eyes went to meet Yeosang who looked away towards Heeyoung as she approached. I bit the inside of my cheek before quickly looking down to Hongjoong. Towards his auburn silken hair which brushed against the skin of my upper chest and neck. A small sigh of relief left Hongjoong's lips as he slowly moved back. He braced a hand on either of my shoulders as his worried eyes peered into mine.

"Where were you?" Hongjoong asked in a worried manner.

"We were worried sick!" Heeyoung exclaimed in a soothing voice as she inched close to the side of her brother, now gazing into my eyes as well, "Are you okay?"

Despite the softness of their tones, their questions poked and prodded at me. I began to form a weak smile on my lips as I tried to move them to speak the words I wanted to say. However, like before, I had none. Nothing came out of my mouth.

"She almost drowned in the middle of a storm out there. I only knew this from seeing a wrecked boat floating out in the choppy waters. However, it was a small passenger boat. Not one of the more militant or strongly built ships available to us," Yeosang blatantly spoke, yet his cutting-edge fury was evident enough in his voice. So evident, it made Hongjoong tense and Heeyoung give a concerned, sideways glance.

"W-Why?" Hongjoong gasped out ever so quietly.

Heeyoung quickly grabbed onto his shoulder, giving him a glaring look. He looked back at her with shattered grey eyes. My heart sank with my eyes to the marble floor. There was the rustling clank of armor before I felt the hardened touch of metal on my shoulder. I glance up to Heeyoung's beaming face. Her face looked confident and her eyes trying their best to be filled with hope, but I could see her own sorrow and pity in them. I showed no reaction as we looked at each other. She broke the stare as she turned back to Hongjoong and Yeosang. Yeosang had taken into observing the bustle of the tower around us while Hongjoong stared blankly at the floor.

Heeyoung grimaced before she suggested, "Why don't you guys go on without us? Leave us some time alone."

Yeosang glanced down at the floor before looking at me with an unreadable look that sent my heart lurching. He then looked to Heeyoung before nodding. Hongjoong glanced up hesitantly, worriedly, before he took to following Yeosang, surprisingly without any objections. The two had turned away from us and had disappeared into the crowd.

Heeyoung slowly turned back to me with a faint smile, the feeling of her hand being moved to my own hand.

"Let's walk," Heeyound softly spoke before guiding me along through the crowd.

I pursed my lips before my voice spoke a faint, "Okay."

"Things have changed a lot," Heeyoung tucked her arms behind her back as she walked. She peered out to the currents of the endless ocean outside the window before turning to me. She gave a faint smile at my frown, "One day, it's us as little kids running through these towers and laughing. The next, well, we're all dressed in aquatic armors in a formal setting, now highly ranked royalty. We've grown up."

I gave a slight nod to Heeyoung's words, but nothing more.

"You're turning eighteen soon, are you not?" Heeyoung questioned as her smile grew slightly as a cheerful teasing voice mused from her, "Yeosang can stop teasing you of being a minor now."

I wanted to clench my fists as I thought of Yeosang— the disappointment and rage I felt from him. But I'd kept it under wraps. I did not wish to think about it. I remained silent.

Heeyoung sighed at this, "Star, I know you've been through a lot. I'm not here to talk about that. I— It's just... I want you to be yourself again. You... you aren't you."

To this, I gave in. I let out a shaky breath before turning my golden gaze to her scarlet one. I gave a faint smile, "It's okay, Heeyoung. Everything will be fine."

I could tell she doubted my words. Heeyoung's brows furrowed as she bit her lip. She was hesitant about telling me something. She made a move to speak before stopping herself and pondering the thought once more. She decided to tell me.

"It's been three months, Star," Heeyoung faintly spoke with a sway to her voice that made it all the more weighing on my own mind.

I simply nodded as I tried to keep the smile on my face firm, "It'll all work out, I promise."

Heeyoung only stared at me for a while. I was afraid she wouldn't believe me. Until I saw the small smile that peaked on her face. She looked to the ground, nodding, before she looked back to me.

"Okay," Heeyoung's soft voice was comforting as she nodded once more, "I believe you."

My smile widened as well. It grew even more so as Heeyoung nudged my side.

"We better catch up with those two before they start a fight," Heeyoung suggested in a humorous tone.

To this, I found myself surprisingly letting out a forced chuckle. As serious and dreadful as their moods were, Heeyoung was nowhere near wrong on her statement, "Night save us all if that happens."

Heeyoung beamed with a joyous giggle that was lighter yet similar to her brother— Hongjoong's. I simply smiled. She was happy to see that side of me.

We began walking to the stairs of the tower— the ones that would take us below water to the kingdom that laid underneath. I couldn't hide the frown when Heeyoung finally looked away from me. I truly wasn't happy in the conversation we'd had and I couldn't keep the question from sprouting in my mind, no matter how hard I tried to push it back:

How do you know what truly makes me me?

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SURPRISE- bet u weren't expecting this :)

I now dub \\NIGHT\\ my surprise story series--

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REMEMBER:

1. Smack dat butiful star

2. Leave a comment talkin abt dis tea

3. Share dis tea induced book with yo fwends

WHY? Because I appreciate it 🥺

\\Catch u in the next chapter--\\