Two figures swayed on a small boat. Surrounding them was nothing but a stretch of black murky waters. A boy sat in the boat looking down into the dark depths, his head rested on the edge of the boat. He carefully exmined the water. Scooping a little bit in his hands he drank it, spitting it out immediately with a sour expression on his face.
After her emotional outburts, the girl sat on the other end of the boat, making sure to keep to herself.
"Even here it's all black. Is the whole ocean like this?"
Naren was muttering to himself. His eyes fluttering closed as his arm swayed in the sea.
Vera kept her eyes on Naren, careful not to look him in the eyes.
'He doesn't seem like a bad guy. But he's also a shaman...I think?'
As her eyes wandered about, eventually they landed on his face. Two golden pupils were staring right at her with a slight smile.
"Any ideas?"
She shook a little, in surprise.
"Wh-what?"
"You know? The way to Atlas, which way is it?"
"Ye-yeah."
'This may not be too bad.' Vera thought, letting herself breath a little. She couldn't help but think about the prisoners on the ship with her. Where they dead? Did they live?
She shook hear head, clearing those thoughts. 'I can't get distracted. I have to live.'
Now that the emotional weight of it all had finally subsided Vera had a lot to think about. However, before all that she decided on one thing. 'Have this guy protect me, then leave him.'
She dug into her pockets and pulled out a folded piece of paper. Unraveling it revealed a worn out map, with various markings scattered about and tears here and there.
The map showed a pitch black sea, with various sea monsters scribbled in. Within the sea, there was a big continent off to the eastern sided surrounding itself with several archipelagos. The continent had wrapped around itself creating a lagoon to it's east. However, the lagoon marked with several X's and ?'s.
Vera studied the map carefully before pointing to an Island far to the west. A small island labeled "Thera". The only legible labeling on the whole map.
"Um, the first place we probably have to go is Thera."
Naren nodded. Vera brought out a small compass from her pocket and surveyed it before pointing to their left.
"It's that way. The ship was already pretty close, so um we shouldn't be very far."
"Mmm, that's great."
Vera looked down at the map, sneaking glances at Naren —who was still yawning and showing signs of sleepiness— shifting her gaze whenever their eyes met.
'Scary.' She thought, remembering what happened at the map room and the whole through the door. 'What kind of monster can do that.'
"You-you're a-a—"
"Boo!"
Vera flinched, shutting her eyes. Naren let out a little giggle.
"You're far too stiff. What happened to all that yelling?"
The little girl lowered her head, apologizing.
"I'm sorry. I-I was just-"
"Ease up a bit. You were more fun before."
She stiffened a little, the exact opposite effect that Naren wanted. However, she made an effort to look him directly in his eyes. If she was going to be sure of her chances of survival, this was the best time to ask. Before it was too late.
"Uhm what exactly are you? And why go to Atlas?"
Naren's lazy eyes glimmered, reflecting Vera's own figure. For a second, she swore she saw her reflection move.
"I'm cursed."
Her gaze broke. 'Cursed? What's that?'
"As for why—"
Suddenly the boat began lifting into the sky. Massive pillars of water rose all around them. Propelling their own small dinghy into the air. However, they didn't stay long. Just as suddenly as they grew, the water was sucked back into the ocean, leaving a small crater like hole into the depth before returning to normal.
CRRKK. The boat crashed down onto the water below, its impact straining the wood, forming cracks on the walls.
Naren livened up. Both him and Vera looked at each other. Pale. He quickly pulled the two edges together and held them with urgency.
"No no no. What the hell's happening?!"
Vera began paddling frantically, as best as her little arms could, barely able to get out a reply. The pillars around them continued oscillating, showing no signs of stopping.
"It's the black sea!"
That was enough explanation. Well at least that was the best that anyone could muster up. People have long since given up trying to explain these phenomena. Whether it's the current, the weather, or the creatures swimming in the depths. Nothing made any logical sense and even when they did, it was often unbelievable. That was the black sea.
———————————————
The two had escaped the juggling pillars. However, their boat was still in horrible shape. Naren held the two pieces together, showing obvious signs of fatigue. Vera was also getting tired. Finally stopping the rows to catch her breath.
'Am I really going to die out here.' She thought, looking back at Naren straining to keep the edges together.
'Is my life really in his hands?'
'No. I can't rely on anyone else.'
Vera laid the map out once again and studied it.
"I made sure we rowed east. So."
"Woah that's cool."
Vera turned her head towards the horizon. Vast mountains stretched out before them.
"That's it! That's Thera!"
She smiled with enthusiasm. For a second she forgot about the cracks in the boat. She forgot about the pitiful situation she was in. She forgot about all her bruises and blisters. For the first time in a long time, she was able to feel relief, as slight as it may be.
As if to torment her little moment of respite, the boat began rising again. This time higher and faster than before. As they shot up in the air, the only thoughts Vera could muster were 'This is it. It's over.'
The planks of the boat underneath them cracked and tore off. Slowly leaving Vera to curse her fate.
———————————————
White-washed buildings clung to cliffsides like barnacles, stacked impossibly high. Blue-domed roofs dotted the terraces, their paint peeling from sun and sea salt.
The city spilled down volcanic rock in cascading tiers — stairs carved into stone, connecting one level to the next. Narrow alleyways wound between homes, barely wide enough for two people to pass.
Below, the ocean stretched endlessly. Turquoise water so clear you could see shadows moving in the depths. All separated from the homes via rocky terrain and tall mountainous borders.
The sun beat down mercilessly. Everything was white and blue and blinding.
The city was built atop a small mountain range, all surrounding a common hub that stretched for several kilometers.
The hub was in chaos. Street vendors pitched their products. Factory workers headed home for their lunch break. Children littered the streets, running and playing. It was evidently rush hour.
Among all this chaos, a man with bandages over one eye walked through the crowd. He wore all black, hands stuck in his pockets. He passed a balcony where a vendor sold ice cream.
On that same balcony, a young woman—looking to be twenty—was buying the last one.
She adorned dark blue hair that could be mistaken for black, pitch-black eyes, and a deep purple flower on her ear. She wore a short white dress that reached her thighs, over it a slightly oversized jacket, as well as heavy black boots.
"Here you are, last one of the day. 1 crown."
The young woman handed over a small silver coin and took the ice cream sandwich, looking at it with a mix of awe and excitement.
She walked away from the line along the nearby narrow steps, approaching the edge that overlooked the bottom floor. As she was about to take her first bite —
Fwoosh. Something fell right in front of her.
A person. Holding a little girl in his hands. Outstretching their hands, they grabbed onto hers. Both fell off the platform onto the roof of the vendor beneath.
CRASH. Three people caved in a vendor's stall completely.
A crowd quickly formed to see what had happened.
As the dust settled, a soaking wet boy with reddish-black hair and a crimson scarf was sprawled out a couple feet from the vendor, holding a little girl in his arms. A young girl with blue almost-black hair and a flower in her hair was slowly sitting up from among the debris.
She got to her feet and dusted herself off. Staring at the remains of her ice cream.
The crowd murmured, trying to make sense of what had happened.
The girl went over to the boy, still sprawled out, now beads of blood trickling down from his head. She kicked him slightly. He didn't budge. She squatted down and spoke in a calm tone.
"Who are you?"
Naren slowly regained his senses to see a girl looking over him. Dark blur hair, almost black, with a white flower tucked into it. She had an aura about her, one that separated her from any normal person. Even her eyes held a glint of madness.
"Who are you?"
"Me? Naren. You?"
"Yuna."
She waited for him to sit up slightly. Naren held his hand over his head, the beating sensation annoying him. he looked over to the girl who was pointing at the floor a couple feet away from them. An ice cream sandwich smushed onto the floor. Or at least that's what he thought it was.
"That's 2 crowns right there. Hand it over."
"I did that?"
Yuna didn't respond. Instead she outstretched her hand. Showing a glint of annoyance now.
A sudden memory flashed before Yuna's eyes at incredible speeds: Golden eyes. Staring at her. Bruised and battered, bleeding from his head.
"Two...?"
The little girl who had been in his arms slowly got up. She was protected from the impact by Naren's body. that isn't to say that she was completely unscathed. The fall still rattled her, just not as it did to Naren.
"What-what was that?"
Yuna looked at the little girl, noticing her bruises, then back at Naren. A sickening expression fell on her face. A look of disgust and pity.
"Can't help you there."
"3 crowns if you want me to forget this little girl as well."
"what? I don— little girl?"
Yuna got to her feet slowly, brushing the dust off herself. Then drew in her breath, suddenly animated.
"EEEK! HE'S A KIDNAPPER! SOMEONE CALL THE GUARDS!"
"Ruining my ice cream."
She looked at where the boy should have been, but saw only a pale bruised little girl walking away slowly. Yuna snapped her head around looking for the boy, then noticed his reflection in a giant window.
'When did he-' Her thoughts were cut off by the gossiping of the crowd.
"Wasn't there a boy here?"
"Yeah he was carrying some hurt little girl."
"Where did he go, we have to find him!"
She looked at the reflection as it grew smaller.
"So you're a shaman."
She turned away.
"None of my concern. I've already overstayed my welcome."
———————————————
Naren clung to the walls of an alleyway, trying his hardest to walk and stay conscious. The fall had done a number on his already sleep deprived body.
"Hey!"
Behind him a little girl was running to catch up.
"Ugh, you're so loud."
She paused in front of him, her eyes unable to make eye contact.
"Are you...ok?"
"Never better."
Then Naren fell against the wall. Vera stopped by his feet.
"Can I really trust you?"
Naren didn't respond. Just stared at her.
"You're a shaman, right?"
"Not yet."
"What?"
"The trial and all that. You know?"
Naren coughed up some blood.
"Never mind that. Just make me a promise."
Naren stared at her, his lazy golden eyes reflecting hers.
"Make sure, no matter what, you take me back to the Tomb of Atlas."
Naren didn't answer for a second. His golden eyes glimmering. Then he cracked a small smile
"As if I would ever make such a prom—"
His voice trailed off not letting Vera make out anything after 'as if'. Slowly his hands fell flat on the ground. His head falling deeper into his scarf. All the exhaustion catching up to him at once, Naren fell unconscious.
Vera sat there looking at his sleeping face. At first she didn't know if she could trust him. Even now she was unsure. However, she knew one thing. That he was the best chance she had. That if it weren't for him, she would still be on that ship. She knew that if there was ever a time to take a risk it was now.
"Please don't die. I need to get home."