Navia

"I guess the ran out of Tellun's Prides." Sabien said, in an attempt at a joke.

I scrunched my nose and turned to him.

"We only have two," Tyler jumped in before I could speak.

I looked over my shoulder and raised a brow at him.  "Only two?"

He shrugged. "Well, I guess it's just the second now, the first Tellun's Pride was destroyed by the Conquerors. That's why we're taking the Fallen's Hope, the Four Fallen have the Tellun's Pride II."

"I see." I smothered a giggle and sent Sabien a look.

He returned a very guilty grin toward Tyler and grabbed my arm to tug me on board the ship. "You're so immature," Sabien muttered, but I could see him struggle to hide his smirk.

"Oh, I'm immature?" I teased, steadying myself with a hand on the boat's railing. The salty smell of the water was already starting to turn my stomach, and I cursed my seasickness for probably the millionth time.

Sabien stared out toward the castle. "Can you believe that was once home?" He asked softly.

I blinked at him and turned to look at the turrets myself. It seemed so cold now, the stones absorbing whatever sunlight they could. I recalled the first time I'd ever seen it, how awestruck I'd been. So many things had changed since then.

"Was it ever, really?" Sasha's voice startled me. "Home, I mean." The Zhongese boy had walked up behind me just in time to hear Sabien's words. "Wasn't home this, the team? The people?"

Sabien furrowed his brows. "That's very deep," he saids seriously, but couldn't help breaking into giggled as Sasha rolled his eyes.

"You know what I mean." Sasha growled, giving Sabien a playful shove.

Footsteps announced Zay's presence as she joined us. "Are you beating up Navia's boyfriend, Sash?" She teased.

"Hardly," Sasha crossed his arms. "Besides, he started it."

Zay tilted her head and looked over at me.

I shrugged. "He kinda did."

"Wow, how very supportive of you." Sabien said, sarcasm dripping off the words.

I blew him a kiss and turned back to Zay. "So you two are official, then?"

"Yes ma'am," Sasha reached over and patted Zay's head. "Official and four months strong!"

Zay shot him a look that would've killed any lesser man. Sasha just laughed it off.

"I can't believe you guys didn't even send us a message when you made it official!" Sabien wrapped an arm around my shoulders, his dramatic pout visible in my periphery.

Sasha frowned. "What? I thought you did!" He shot a look at Zay.

"Whoops, guess it slipped my mind." She glanced away innocently, but it was ruined by the mischievous smile that played on her lips.

The ship lurched into sudden motion, sending my stomach into my throat.

Sabien and Zay must've seen my face go pale, because they both offered to walk me down to the cabin. I waved the latter away, Sabien taking my hand and starting belowdecks.

I sat carefully in one of the hammocks, hoping it wouldn't dump me out. "Tellun, I hate ships," I muttered.

Sabien smiled halfheartedly. "Maybe you can sleep through this trip. Tyler said it would only take a few hours, I think."

"Sleep?" I raised a dubious brow at him.

He shrugged. "I don't know. Just give it a try."

"Fine," I sighed and swung my legs into the hammock. The movement made it rock, but Sabien quickly steadied it so I wouldn't fall.

He brushed a hair from my forehead and smiled down at me. "Do you mind if I go up to hang out with the others? I haven't gotten to catch up with either Niko or Lucia yet."

"Go for it." I mumbled, "go gossip with your buddies or whatever."

He laughed and took my hand, pressing a kiss to the palm and curling my fingers over it. "Keep that safe for me, okay?"

I groaned at the cheesiness and gave him a little shove. "Just go awayyyy."

Sabien grinned and straightened, heading out of the cabin.

I listened to his footsteps as they receded, the sound drowned out by the ship's methodical creaking. I closed my eyes, deciding to try and take Sabien's advice about sleeping after all.

~

I must've fallen asleep at some point, because I woke up when Lucia entered the cabin.

"Oh, sorry," she whispered, upon seeing that I'd woken. "I was trying to be quiet."

"It's okay." I hummed, running the sleep from my eyes. "What brings you down here?"

"I just wanted a little bit of quiet. Tyler challenged Zay, Sasha, Niko, and Sabien to show him how their bonds have grown, and it's becoming a huge fuss– the boys made it a competition." She sat down on the floor across the room to lean on the wall and watch me.

I snorted despite myself. "Yeah, that sounds about right." I wondered for a moment why Lucia wasn't up there, showing off as well, before remembering the Elle– her spirit animal– and boats did not mix. A bit like me and boats.

It was silent for a beat, then Lucia leaned forward, propping up her chin with an elbow on her knee. "So, you and Sabien, huh?"

"Please don't tell me you didn't see it coming." I joked.

She laughed softly. "Oh, no, I definitely knew you two were gonna happen. Congrats, though. You seem really happy together."

"Thank you." I smiled genuinely at her. "What about you and Niko?"

She dropped her gaze from mine, slumping back against the wall. Her hands twisted in her lap.

I took the non-answer as a no, and waited to see if she'd elaborate.

Lucia licked her lips. "We haven't spoken about it. And we haven't really 'gone out' together, either. Sure, he was living with me for a while, but..." she shrugged helplessly. "He's made no moves to ask, and... it would be weird if I asked, right?"

"What?" I was taken aback by that. I considered it for a moment, then slowly shook my head. "No, it wouldn't be weird. Do you think he'd say yes if you asked?"

She took a deep breath. "Yes? I'm not sure."

"Only one way to know." I pointed out. "And even if he says no– which is a very low chance, by the way. He'd be a fool to pass up a chance to be with you– then you'll have tried, at least. That's better than nothing."

"I guess you're right." Lucia nodded, a small spark of hope in her eyes. "Thanks, Navia. I owe you one."

I rolled my eyes. "Please. You owe me so many, I've stopped counting."

Lucia laughed at that, the sound so warm and familiar that it made me join in.

The sound of footsteps and the fact that Zay burst into the room was the only reason we stopped laughing. She had a determined look on her face. "We're here."

5/08/21
yeah so i figured that having a tellun's pride iii would be too many, so here's a boat that i made up :))
the fallen refers to the four fallen (the great beasts ofc) so yeah
anywayyyy next chapter will be up tomorrow!! enjoy xx