SIEL
"You dummy...you better be safe...or I'll..."
'Hmm?'
"What are you murmuring about, Essic? Speak louder will you?"I patted his back.
His hug tightened on my waist. "You'll be safe, right?"
I smiled. "Of course."
He finally let me go with a small smile lingering on his lips.
We decided to go back inside, to see my friends one last time.
"You're back?" said Aspen, who was leaning on a corner. Did he just arrived?
"Yeah." I faced my friends. "I'll go now, I'll see you soon."
"We'll see you off." They started to rise one by one, unto which I stopped them.
"I'd feel bad if you do. I'll just go to the shore alone. I'll see you soon, I promise."
"But--"
"I'll see her off for everyone, so be at ease." Aspen interjected.
I shrugged. Well, he knows Sai anyways, so maybe he wants to see my twin too.
I gave everyone a hug before leaving.
"Siel...I'll take care of it." Says Essic before I close the door.
That last remark was enough for me to leave with a light heart.
As I swam deeper, I started the conversation with Aspen
"Hey Aspen. Thank you."
Frowning, Aspen turned to me. He looked lost and weirded that it made me chuckle.
"For what?"
"For taking me to Sai and thank you for talking to my Father about Sai." I gave him a sincere smile.
I bet Sai didn't even want to have anything to do with Father.
He shook his head. "I didn't do anything special. You were bound to meet one way or another."
I shook my head too. "No, I really believe that you played a pivotal role in our reunion."
"Pfft." I chuckled a bit as I beam him my most grateful smile.
"...Not...really." He looked away, though a bit shy, I could see the tips of his ear turning red.
'I didn't know you had this cute side...' I thought in my head.
We turned to the next valley and arrived at our village.
"That reminds me, why did you go to my house earlier? Did you talk to my Father?"
"Hmm? Ah, yes. I had something to ask him."
"Hmm..." I trailed.
Well, I was hoping he'd tell me more but he kept his silence. I stood behind the huge stone in front of my house. "I'll be back." I told Aspen.
He gave me a nod.
Knock, knock.
"Father, it's me." I opened the door and found my Father waiting for me.
"I'll be leaving now."
"Are you sure? Maybe I should just go..." I hugged him.
"Come on Dad. I'll be fine, besides you don't have legs."
Father exclaimed, "I can always find a way, like I did back then for your Mother!"
Heheh. "I know, Father. But this is my journey, I'll be safe, were no longer at war. So, don't worry, alright?"
"...besides, I don't think Sai would meet you." I sadly said.
With my last words, he looked sullen. "It'll be solved soon. I'm sure this is just one big misunderstanding."
Father patted my shoulder and took my bag. "Alright, alright."
"Here are your things. Don't forget to take care of yourself..."
"I...have no idea if I'm making the right decision as your Father, but I'll trust you. And if I really have a son named Sai...I want to meet him too." He looked worried and anxious.
I hugged him tight. "I'll be back, Father."
This time without much nagging, he let me go.
Aspen and I made our way out of Trivadocea. We passed the usual seaweed fortress and the bed of beautiful corals.
The fishes continued to flounder, the whales gave us a wave. The usual sea is calm today, as if giving me a peaceful goodbye.
'It was the same ocean that I grew up on...and I'll be missing it for a while.'
A certain nostalgia hit me at my throat. I suddenly felt like wailing, it's funny.
We swam silently until we arrived just about the next island.
When I saw the new scenery of the bed of sand-rocks, I knew we were almost at the promised destination.
Thump, thump.
My heart was beating loudly. Was it because of excitement? Worry? Anticipation? Regret? I didn't know.
Maybe it was mixed of everything.
"Here." Aspen abruptly handed me a box.
"???" I gave him a questioning look. "They're oyster cupcakes."
Oh.
I let out a dumb awe expression.
"I saw you enjoying them at the party. I thought I'd give you some before you go." He smiled.
It was a little smile that anyone could have missed if they're not paying attention.
I took the box from his fingertips.
He silently gave me a pat in the back, urging me to go.
"You didn't come see me off to meet Sai?" I asked bewildered at his actions.
He chuckled. "Sai was never the reason I stayed with you."
I paused, confused, but didn't have time to mind what he said. He softly pushed me forward.
"I'll see you." He said, I turned around one last time before waving goodbye.
Maybe he meant to say that we'll see each other again when I come back.
"See you, Aspen!" as I swam to the surface.
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After Siel and Aspen left, regretful sighs filled the room. The group left behind couldn't help but feel dejected.
"I wish I could help." Said Avery with a downcast expression.
"We all do, Ave. But this is not something we can meddle with. This is their family matters." Rave remarked as well.
"Obviously, Siel wouldn't let us get involved as well. Plus, we don't have legs." Says Hannah.
Sighs.
This brought a spark into Essic. "...Hey guys,"
"Hmm?"
"How did Siel's Father pursue Siel's Mother if she was a mage?" Essic asked.
"Didn't Siel say that he tended her in during the war?" Hannah.
Draein leaned forward as if something was really amiss. "No, but what about after the war? He followed her in land, right?"
A deafening silence crashed in the room.