...His perceptions on both Seas and Skys were different from most of the other Earthians Heba had encountered throughout his life.

"You look different.", his veiny fingers trail a route up along the turquoise lines on Heba's face, his hazel eyes shining in a newfound enthusiasm.

Heba feels as if his skin is set on fire under this unfamiliar touch. He slaps the little guy's hand out of his face as he scoots away on the slimy rock, so he will be sitting a bit far from this clingy guy.

This kid has been interrupting Heba's evening session of viewing the Land, which he had always tend to do rather differently than others of his clan.

As per the Code of Conduct it is mandatory that every kid, regardless of their Human Type, go on weekly viewing sessions to the other two territories. So, though Heba too is supposed to walk further into the country, like other ten year olds , and mingle with Earthians and Skys a bit, he has chosen to just sit around on a rock and admire the sea tonight.

Sea has never failed to fascinate him, unlike the damned Lands or Sky.

His eyes settle back on the salty water rings, circling about his ankles, shimmering like crystal dust under the pale moonlight. The deep dark sea, solemn as it always is, expands beyond the horizon, appearing to be one lengthy blanket of dark blues and greens. The cold evening breeze, carrying the pristine scent of the ocean, cares his bare skin.

"Really different!". The guy who had been forgotten for a moment, whose name was given as Won-sia, a lot earlier before Heba even intended to ask, breaks the silence again.

Heba takes deep breath and lets it out slowly. "I'm not." He whispers, expecting the wind would carry the sound and won't let the guy hear him anyways.

"You are." Won-sia repeats, scooting over to bother his company once more. His veiny hand approaches the sea-boy's marks again.

And Heba doesn't enjoy it at all and get instantly worked up.

"I Am. SO, WHAT!" He growls, eyes turning colors as he glares at tiny Won-sia.

Even without seeing he could say his marks are all flared. He knows it's scary to see him now, face dialating like a fire on full burn, and glaring at the boy with odd silvery eyes. But Heba could care less.

He has gotten weary of it. People calling him different, trying to convince him that he is and pushing him away. And it is not helping him when people, who he carefully avoids of contact, approaches him to claim so.

For all these years, whenever he tried to make a friend from the Land it never really went well. All he met up with were either ear-piercing squeals or worst handfuls of pebbles thrown at him. Thus, he never enjoyed his viewing and mingling sessions on land.

Too much to his surprise, the guy seems unfazed by him as he smiles back at Heba. "You are different. And I like it.", he chirps.

Heba finds himself too stunned.

"Differences are not always that bad. They make the world a beautiful place. And you are one of those special people who contributes the beauty it holds. So, as me. Shouldn't we be happy to be what we are?"

Heba just keeps staring at the small guy feeling unable to comprehend his thoughts. This is his first time that someone has really spoken about the Human Types this way. From the beginning he has been always told to look down upon the other two Types, specially Earthians for they don't possess a sixth sense. He was that other two Types were despising him, so was what he felt to be proven whenever he got close to them. And now in this situation, sitting facing the tiny Won-sia Heba does not know how to react something that sounds positive regarding the Human Types.

Startling Heba out of his trance, Won-sia's hand extends towards him. "Friends?", he asks. His hazel eyes shine a shade brighter than before.

And for the first time in his ten years of life Heba agrees to give it a try to make friends with someone who does not have marks on their skin to glow.

A soft knock snaps Heba out of his trance. "Chief--", a voice calls from the other side of the door.

Heba's hands swiftly grab the veil from the stool before tying its strings together at the back of his head. He pulls up the hoodie of his jacket and puts a hand on his temple as if he's massaging it out of frustration hoping that it would cover the ominous glow of marks, before breathing out a low "Come in".

The door opens and a head with a mop of red hair pops from the crack; Ze's beady eyes briefly scan the room for its inhabitants.

"They have sent someone to escort you", she says without bothering to slither her body inside the room.

Heba huffs in annoyance as he hits some buttons on the control board, so the screen suddenly vanishes out of his sight.

"Escort me? What am I? The queen consort of the big cheese?", he spits out feeling rather bitter about the company's attitude towards him.

And a soft chuckle replies to him. It is not a secret to anyone that Agent Daldong is the most loyal as well the most talented in FFI. And he doesn't like such acts that show a lack of trust in himself by the agency.

"Whatever chief. He is waiting outside. And you better be off before he comes up here and collect you." ,Ze chuckles as she warns. "He's quite not the size match for you to start off your day with a wrestling match."

Heba opens his mouth to oppose but she has already disappeared through the crack before that, the door clicking in place leaving Heba back to the silence of his workspace.

"Keep on looking. We need to find what happened to him.", he calls out his peer once more as he packs up the glass bottle among his other belongings in his backpack, before reaching the door and leaving.

A/N: Hope the chapter split didn't confuse you. Let me know if anything seems off. Don't forget to leave me a vote and comments if you enjoy. Love ya <3

wc-1049