"Our mission is here!" Kai watched as Isaac scanned through the thick piles of paper stacked on the desk in the middle of their dorm room. Kai had woken up at the crack of dawn, changed into his muddied farm clothes and a woolen coat, and gone running through the snow until his eyes burned and his throat felt dry. Afterward, he'd taken a long, hot soak in the bath, eaten a bowl of steaming porridge, and changed into his Aetherwing uniform. Now, he felt ready for anything.

"Give it here, let me read it." Isaac had just woken up, his eyes looked milky and tired. He passed the stack of papers to Bayu and walked into the kitchen, snapping open the cupboards and looking for food to eat.

"Where's Bayu?" Kai asked. He was skimming over the mission details.

"Still sleeping."

"He should be awake though, I have a feeling this mission we're going on is going to be a test as to whether we remain here at Aetherwing."

"What do you want to wake him?" Isaac quirked an eyebrow at Kai. Kai didn't like the mischievous glint in his eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?" Kai bristled.

"Nothing." Then Isaac bit into some bread. "I'll go see what's happening."

At that Bayu stepped out of the bedroom, dressed pristinely in the Aetherwing uniform, several rings decorated on his fingers. His hair was swept up into a half up half down style. He smiled lightly at Kai. "Good morning to you both."

"Morning!" Isaac called out cheerily.

"They've brought our mission." Kai waved the papers. Bayu walked over to the table and sat down next to Kai. Kai could feel the brush of his dark hair tickle his neck. He fought the urge to shift away from him. He could still feel the lingers of the bond swirling in his mind, sitting close heightened that scathing invasive feeling.

"Okay so-" Kai fanned the papers out, he cleared his throat ceremoniously. "It says here that we're going to Antigua. Our airship is going to detach at six pm today. It will take us eighteen hours to get there."

"Have we got enough food for eighteen hours?" Isaac quipped.

Kai ignored him. "Our mission involves an escalating conflict between the witch and elf communities. The witches are accusing the elves of encroaching on their territory in English Harbour, while the elves believe the witches are using dark magic to sabotage their lands in the Falmouth." Kai flipped the paper over, there was no other information.

"Is that it?" Isaac scoffed. "You can just incinerate them all with your dragonfire, problem solved."

"I don't think mass murder is a problem solved." Kai's eye twitched.

"Is there any other information?" Bayu chimed in, his eyes narrowed in thought.

"Yep." Kai turned the paper over again, as if more information would just materialise. "There's nothing else here."

Bayu leaned back in his chair, he rested his chin in his palm. Kai couldn't help but notice how long his lashes were.

"There's obviously more to this than meets the eye...but sometimes it's easier to just look at it simply. There is an escalating conflict, we need to work out what that conflict is and how its affecting the civilians in Antigua."

Kai nodded. He swiftly brought out a pen and started jotting notes. "Yes and we've got to see it from both sides right? The witches are saying the elves are 'encroaching' on their territory? Is that something that should even happen? Shouldn't all magical species be able to roam on any parts of the island as they wish?"

Bayu shook his head. "I remember this coming up at school, there are still a lot of British settlers on that island, a large majority of them are witches they may have taken control of the territory in Falmouth and are not permitting entry to the elves of the island."

Kai scratched down more notes furiously. "And then we need to work out why the elves think the witches are using dark magic in Falmouth, dark magic has been outlawed." Kai was enjoying this, he felt a layer of anticipation brim in his chest.

"Well I'm-" Isaac cut in, he had taken another slice of bread and was chewing it disinterest. "Very happy we're getting out of this cold place. I can feel my toes falling off. Also an island means mermaids."

"What is your obsession with mermaids?" Kai muttered but he could feel a grin on his lips.

"It's called a preference Kai, I want my children to be strong swimmers." Isaac turned to Bayu. "What about you princeling?"

"Princeling?" Bayu balked slightly.

"Mate, you were wearing blue robes when we met. No offense to Kai but he was dressed in muddy drabs."

"Hey-" Kai cut in, but he was already distracted by the mission details.

"Anyways don't distract me, what's your type?"

Bayu shifted in his chair uncomfortably. "Well I'm technically engaged."

"I knew it!" Isaac stood up in glee, pointing at Bayu. "You're a prince."

"I'm a noble actually."

"Well that's even worse. What's she like then?"

"Isaac don't." Kai couldn't say anything for sure but after the Convergence Trial he felt a layer of discomfort in his bond with Bayu, it seemed to stem from his relationship with his fiancée, but he couldn't pinpoint what had actually happened.

"No it's fine." Bayu whispered. "She's lovely."

"Where are you from anyways?" Isaac barreled on. Kai was beginning to learn that Isaac lacked tact, he was still trying to figure out if it was endearing or not.

"Indonesia."

"I've never been to an Indonesian wedding, you better invite me, I've been inside your head and everything."

Bayu cringed but nodded. "Uh, I think I'll go for a wander around, since we won't be leaving until six." Bayu swept out of the room in his regal manner, but his shoulders were slightly bunched up as if he was embarrassed.

"Did I do something?" Isaac plopped into the seat Bayu had sat in. Kai noted that he didn't feel as uncomfortable sitting as close to Isaac (but that might have been because he had literally lifted black smoke from his lungs, which they were both pointedly ignoring).

Kai shrugged. Isaac shifted even closer to him. Close enough that Kai could count all the freckles on Isaac's nose. "A little space?" Kai muttered, but he didn't move away from him.

"It's the bond."

"What do you mean?"

Isaac stared at Kai so openly it felt like his mind was exploding. Was Isaac trying to reach for the bond again? Was he going to speak into his mind?

"The bond makes me feel like I want to eat you."

Kai blinked, a flicker of surprise crossing his face before he broke into a reluctant smile. "Eat me?" he echoed, arching an eyebrow, caught between amusement and something he couldn't quite name. "That's... weird."

Isaac didn't laugh, his gaze steady and unflinching. Kai felt his pulse quicken, the air between them charged and crackling with something unspoken.

"Alright," Kai muttered, his voice dropping lower, "but maybe save that for the mermaids."

Kai forced himself to take a breath, trying to shake off the electric energy in the air. Isaac's eyes didn't leave his, still filled with that intense, almost unnerving openness. Kai felt himself caught, rooted to the spot, even as his mind raced for the right thing to say.

"So," Kai said, struggling to keep his tone steady, "does the...bond...always make you feel that way?"

Isaac tilted his head, almost as if he were considering the question. "It's not just about...feeling," he said, a hint of wonder in his voice. "It's like...I know what you're thinking. Or almost thinking. And I feel this pull, like we're two parts of something bigger."

Kai swallowed, the truth of Isaac's words resonating in his chest, even as he tried to ignore it. He'd felt it too—that strange presence, that invisible thread binding them, woven so tightly under his skin that it almost burned. But it was more than just the magic—it was Isaac, with his openness, his vulnerability. Something about him drew Kai in, even as it unsettled him.

He tried to laugh it off. "Well, let's hope this bond has good timing. I'm going to need your help in Antigua."

Isaac's lips curled into a small smile, and for a moment, the tension broke. Kai exhaled, the air between them lightening just a fraction. But then, without warning, Isaac's hand found his again, fingers lacing together with a quiet certainty. Kai tensed at first, his pulse quickening, but soon he relaxed into the warmth of Isaac's touch. It felt natural in a way Kai didn't want to acknowledge, and yet it anchored him in a way that made him want to stay.

"It's strange," Isaac murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "I've never felt anything like it. Like I could just reach out and...know you."

Kai felt his face warm and he shifted, forcing a grin. "I'd say it's mutual. But try not to eat me just yet. We've got a mission to handle."

Isaac chuckled softly, but there was something else in his eyes, a flicker of intensity that didn't fade. "Fair enough," he said, voice soft but certain. "But I think there's a lot about you I'm going to want to know."

Kai slipped his hand out of Isaac's. He didn't do it on purpose; his hands were just sweaty. "Well, we're allies, remember." He stood up and shook off invisible dust from his uniform. "Do you want to wander around the ship? I'm curious to see what else is around here."

"I'm alright. I'll have a look at the mission materials again."

Kai nodded and strode toward the door, but before stepping out, he hesitated for a fraction of a second. His mind was still buzzing with the connection they'd shared, the intensity of the bond. He shook it off with a breath and pushed the door open.

It was time to focus. Kai was going to blow this mission out of the water.