The sun kissed the horizon, casting a golden glow over the morning sky. Beneath the sunlight, the glittering sea shimmered, and crashing waves played harmoniously with the cries of flitting gulls. Their wings, dipped in coral and gold hues, danced above the restless sea.
Huey shut his eyes, blocking the sunlight with his palm. The sea breeze ruffled his hair and blew at his clothes, sending goosebumps along his arms. Despite Ecrelyn being relatively warm in spring, the sea breeze held a crisp edge this early by the coastâa lingering chill of winter's grasp.
He squeezed the handle of his bag, a small valise holding some essentials and clean clothes. The info slip said there were designated laundry days, and they would live in cabins. This two-week trip was looking to be pretty good. Huey was even looking forward to it.
With his hand shielding the sun's glare, red eyes squinted towards the distance. As the tide ebbed and flowed, a distant vessel could be seen parting the waves. Soon, the black blob was close enough to make out a large and modern ship. Its horn bellowed deep and rumbling as it finally drew close to the dock.
One of the teachers raised their voice.
"Students! Please line up in your homeroom from classes A to H! The first years will embark first! Make sure you have everything!" She called out, prompting everyone to begin moving.
Kayson grumbled, "Of course, we have to line up in homerooms." He sighed and begrudgingly waved goodbye to Huey and Nicholas before strolling away.
Nicholas scanned for their homeroom teacher as the boy disappeared into the crowd before spotting Mr. Clark's familiar face. He nudged Huey, pulling the other towards their class.
"Good morning, boys." Mr. Clark smiled and checked their names on the attendance. "Excited?"
Nicholas nodded, though he was never one for the cold. The briny breeze tousled his hair and made his nose runny; butterflies flapped in his stomach. He felt silly, but his family never bothered to go on island vacations, let alone bring him, so who could blame him for feeling thrilled?
"I know it's supposed to be a training camp, but what will we train on an island?" Huey asked Mr. Clark, who was busy marking attendance as more classmates joined the group.
The teacher held his pen over his mouth in a hush gesture. "You'll know when you get there."
Huey took it as his cue to leave and let the man do his job.
Perhaps it was because it was early in the morning, the chill, anticipation, or all three, but Huey did not talk much. Even the most chatty of students spoke in hushed whispers. He and Nicholas exchanged small talk, of course, but they were content to sit and wait, listening to the sound of the ocean.
Time was held in tangent where the boundary between tangible and surreal blurred. The symphony by the seaside promised a set stage for waiting actors. Huey could feel it. Beyond the reach of gentle waves, something was coming.
Eventually, everyone boarded the ship, and it was off, blasting its horn like a salute or perhaps a cheer in its wake. The vessel moved smoothly through the waters, and after the teachers introduced the crew and a couple of ground rules, everyone was free to roam.
Naturally, Huey and Nicholas aimed to find Kayson, and they knew just the place. The duo arrived at the canteen with a bit of asking and exploration. As expected, Kayson could be seen browsing the menu at a table by the windows. Just as quickly as they saw him, he saw them. The pink-haired boy quickly waved them over, ecstatic.
"They have burgers!" Kayson all but shoved the menu in their face.
Huey grimaced. "It's like eight in the morning."
"So? You're the last person I want to hear nagging about my eating habits."
Sighing, Huey grabbed Kayson's menu (ignoring his indignant cry) and browsed the selections. Keeping a mental note of his wants, he handed the menu to Nicholas.
"Sit down," he said to the blonde. I'll get the food." Huey quickly confirmed everyone's orders and left. A line was already beginning to form (many had not eaten breakfast), and he quickened his pace, slotting in before any more hungry teenagers could pile in.
⦠â§
Huey squeezed the disc the canteen staff gave him in his palm. It was a device that would ring when his order was ready. Huey slipped it into his pockets and returned to his table when he heard familiar voices.
Celine and Kade were chatting, which became a familiar sight in the second year despite the difference in status: commoner and royalty. They had not noticed him, and Huey was about to turn heel and leave if not for the person behind them.
Sorin, in all his glory, laid belly down on three chairs pushed together to form a makeshift bench. His pallor is sickening pale, and his eyes are squeezed shut. It was almost pitiful, the protagonist scrunching his face, discomfort colouring him green.
Huey approached the group.
"What happened to him?" Why does Sorin look to be on the brink of passing out and not in the painless kind?
Kade huffed, "Seasick." As if on cue, the ailing man groaned and pressed his face against the chair's surface.
Ah, come to think of it, the novel did mention it once or twice; Huey wasn't sure.
Celine smiled, though her expression was one of worry. "Melissa left to look for a doctor. We're making sure he," She pointed towards Sorin's collapsed frame. "Doesn't faceplant into the floor."
Abruptly, Sorin shot up from his spot and booked out of the canteen, hand held over his mouth, eyes blown wide, leaving the other three in the dust.
Kade winced, "I'll go check up on him." The prince ran after Sorin, leaving Huey and Celine behind. From the canteen's window, Huey could see Kade patting Sorin's back, hunched precariously over the boat rails.
"Poor Sorin, we'll be on this boat for at least a few hours." Huey could tell from her fidgety hands that she wanted to help, too, but with the limited seating and the growing number of students, she couldn't afford to leave. "Melissa needs to hurry," Celine muttered under her breath, though less of a nag, more like a joking plea.
Huey smiled wryly. "I'll go back to my table then. See you around." The two waved goodbyes, and he left. Now, which way to his table again?
⦠â§
Hours went by exceedingly slowly. There was only so much one could do on a boat; any ocean novelty had long since worn off. Kayson retired to the student lounge to take a nap (like many others), Nicholas was busy reading a thick (and boring) book, and in contrast to the bustling, lively atmosphere in the morning, the afternoon was comparably calmer.
Huey stood by the ship's deck, propped against the railings with his elbows. It was tranquil, chatter and peals drowned out by the wind hitting his face and tousling his hair. The roar of the hull cutting through choppy waves echoing like drums. Huey felt isolated, with the sun shining down, and surrounded by the expanse of wind and sea.
He felt distant, separated from the present, and relished in it. He could almost imagine itââfading whispers of the wind carrying away this third life. He'd wake up in his roomââElijah's roomââshocked awake by the blaring alarm of his (nearly dead) phone to find out he fell asleep while reading Castelle of Lux well into the night. He'd go downstairs, greeted by his mother's cooking smell. When Elijah leaves for school, backpack slung carelessly on one shoulder, he'd meet Kayden by the bus stop, and all this was just some kind of bittersweet nightmare.
The wind's sharp nip at skin smothered all such thoughts.
Someone stopped beside him, propping themselves up on the railing like himself. It was Sorin. He didn't seem completely fine, but the colour had returned to his cheeks, and cold sweat no longer perspired between knitted brows. He guessed Melissa had found a doctor; Huey wondered how long it had taken.
"How're you feeling?" He had to shout lest the cry of the wind bury his voice, and even then, it felt small in comparison.
"I've been better." Sorin grimaced before cooling his features.
Huey snickered, "I didn't know you get seasick."
Dropping his head, Sorin's mop of silver hair whipped from the wind. Huey could hardly catch his reply. "I didn't either."
"What? How do you not know?"
"House Ceylon's in the east, remember? All mountains, and forests, and mountains there."
Huey hummed. "So what? This is your first time on a boat."
"No! I just never went on ones with such..." Sorin stared at the giant waves below and shut his eyes. He could feel nausea building up already. "Brave sailors."
Sorin squeezed his nose bridge. "I'll have to ask where the doctor gets his medicine. Bless him. It works wonders."
Huey swayed on his feet, "Well, you won't have to suffer for long." He laughed, pushing himself away from the railings in restless eager.
Huey points in the distance with his chin at Sorin's confused expression. Sure enough, when Sorin turned around, he could see it. Ocean mist parting to reveal the silhouette of an island. It wasn't large, but it wasn't small by any means. An archipelago surrounded the verdant isle, and the tickle of butterflies washed away all the dizzy nausea. He rubbed his arms, feeling the little bumps rising on his armsââunsure if it was from the cold or the dripping excitement that pebbled his chest.
When he looks back, Huey is gone, replaced by the crowd of students coming out to witness their arrival. Sorin turns back to the island, steadily coming closer.
What did they call the island again?
"Moea Island." He whispered, sunlight dusting his face even as Sorin ran off to fetch his friends.
They've arrived.
~ð©ðª ⧠â¦~
Guess what... my English class is making us write a short story...