As they all stepped onto the vessel, they naturally gravitated towards their quirky little groups, echoing the social dynamics of middle school years. Aria settled into a seat by the curved window, her eyes locked onto the water beneath, a wave of unexpected nostalgia washing over her face, sharply contrasting with her typical demeanor of indifference. She leaned back, her gaze unwavering, while most of the others acted as if she were invisible or intentionally avoided her altogether.
This was a well-trodden path for her; socializing had never been her strong suit. Her kind operated with a logic that felt overly rigid, their focus too limited, and they bore unsettling physical characteristics. Yet, she never understood the fear she evoked; most creatures hunted for food, simply using different techniques to prepare their meals. Her method was, at least, more efficient and less gruesome. Moreover, she had an alternative source of sustenance that didn't require taking a life. The looks she received were often tinged with suspicion and fear, which likely explained why she accepted Paul's invitation; he looked at her without dread, even after discovering her initial attempt on his life. Since her arrival in this realm, loneliness had started to wrap around her like a heavy cloak.
Amy clutched the egg she had discovered, a baseball-sized orb in a soft blue-gray hue that felt surprisingly warm to the touch. She pressed it tightly against her chest as she hurried to her room, with Olivia trailing behind, urging her to abandon the peculiar find. Without hesitation, Amy dashed into bedroom number two, slamming the door shut just as Olivia reached it, locking it firmly behind her.
"Seriously, let me in already! You can't just keep whatever that is; it's ridiculous enough that Brian and Paul brought living creatures on this ship. You can't follow their lead and bring in random stuff too. You have no clue what you're dealing with!" She pounded on the door once more. "Open up! We need to discuss this, just be sensible!"
"Oh, we've totally had this chat before, and guess what? I'm still holding onto it, Mom."
"I'm just relieved that my daughter isn't anything like you."
"Wow, you're ancient enough to be my mom! I can just picture you as the classic overbearing type, nagging your daughter from a distance. I mean, she probably moved to the other side of the planet just to escape your relentless unrequested advice! Good thing for her that intergalactic roaming doesn't exist! No cell service on this planet means you're totally off the grid."
Amy slipped out of her bedroom and locked it behind her.
"I'm relieved you've finally come to your senses. Let's head over to Elek together and let him know that you need to stop to drop off the egg."
"Oh wow, look at you, the ultimate combo of control freak and delusional! Seriously, how do you balance those two? It's no wonder you're flying solo in the dating game."
"You're single too."
"Sure, being single is just the cherry on top of my life sundae, but let's not forget you're on the brink of forty. Congrats, why would you want to rush into a relationship when you can bask in the glorious solitude of impending middle age? Sounds like a real thrill ride," said Amy while walking away.
Olivia hurried after her, exasperated. "So you're really not going to take the egg and just get rid of it?"
"Bravo, Sherlock! Your detective skills are so sharp, they could slice through whipped cream. What's next, solving the mystery of the missing sock?"
"Well, what's next on your agenda?"
Amy rolled her eyes. "I'm heading out to chat with the new girl on board. Who knows, we might end up doing each other's hair and having a little mani-pedi party."
"You don't even know her. You don't know what she is or where she's been," said Olivia.
"That's why I'm planning to have a little convo with her. You know, the whole social interaction thing? Seriously, what generation are you from? Does your generation talk with people?" said Amy.
"What if she's dangerous?"
"You know what they say, better to uncover her villainous side now than to be blindsided by it later."
"Who uses the word villainous?"
"People who like anime and manga," Amy said.
"What are those?"
"Gross, what kind of human doesn't know what anime and manga are?
Amy strolled into the sitting area and dropped down into the chair next to Aria with a satisfying thud.
Aria looked at her startled.
"Hey, I'm Amy, and this clingy shadow next to me is Olivia. She's basically playing mom since her actual daughter is MIA. My mom kicked the bucket when I was five, so honestly, her constant chatter is kind of comforting. Now that I've spilled some tea, what's your story? What brings you to our little circus, and what are you trying to achieve?"
"Are you seeking to understand my reason for being here? My translator functionality may be compromised. It mentioned a scenario involving fluid discharge with dried plant material, a daughter referred to as Mia, people excessively painted on their faces engaging in high swings with potential for fatal falls, and an arbitrary bucket-kicking action while associating with a light obstruction. I detect that you harbor favorable intentions towards me, which I find quite favorable," said Aria.
"Ugh, my bad. I'm from far away, and sometimes what we say has totally different meanings. Plus, those meanings switch up all the time. Honestly, even we struggle to keep track of it sometimes," said Amy.
"That sounds like a difficult language to master."
"You have no idea, we're still learning it even as adults. So why are you here?"
"I accepted Paul's invitation to be his mate," said Aria.
"Woah, woah, woah, his mate? Like his life partner...romantically?" said Amy.
"Yes," said Aria.
"You...agreed to be with him?" said Olivia.
"Yes, he is optimal mate material," said Aria.
"Seriously, you should step outside once in a while. Have you ever seen yourself? You're stunning! And that guy? Total creepy troll. I mean, come on, you can definitely do way better than that."
"My sister is married to a troll, which is not very enjoyable for her since he has an aversion to bathing and frequently brings his catches into the house. I can guarantee that Paul is far superior to a troll. I am pleased with my choice," said Aria.
"Whatever makes you happy, right? Just let us know if you wanna change your mind; we're here for you. By the way, have you ever tried catching a wisp? I'm gonna attempt it from the ship this time because last time was a complete mess. Wanna join? I'll give you a net."
Aria expressed a soft sound, a hint of color rising to her face accompanied by a minor smile. "Certainly, I would like that a lot." She abruptly stood up.
Amy stood up too with a grin on her face and pointedly looked at Olivia before walking over to the storage closet and pulling out three nets. "You're joining us too, right Olivia?"
"I believe I need to. At the very least, there should be one responsible adult present," said Olivia.
"For sure, you can be boring enough for all of us," Amy said while tossing the two of them nets.
Aria caught hers with remarkable ease, displaying the poise of a gymnast as she twirled it like a baton, even as Olivia's net handle accidentally struck her forehead.
Olivia rubbed her forehead while following after the two of them. When they got to the hatch, they sat around the opening with their nets and rested their feet in the water, it was kind of like they were on a fishing trip.
"I liked fishing, I went sometimes with my grandpa on my mom's side. I hardly ever saw him before my mom died, but after she passed away he was around all the time. I think he felt lonely and wanted to be around the pieces of her that remained, mainly me because I look like her."
As the carriage-ship glided over the water towards Farnfoss, the group engaged in lively conversation. Just as they approached the shallows, Aria spotted a young Ice wisp. With her quick reflexes, she swiftly captured it in her net.
"Seriously, Aria is gonna be a great part of the team! Well done!" said Amy.
"I am glad to provide support, but what is the intended use of the ice wisp?"
"We have no use for that at all! Hurry up and toss that ugly thing away!" exclaimed Pyr.
"We're planning to use it to lower the temperature in the carriage when it becomes too warm. Inga pointed out that it could become quite uncomfortable without a way to cool things off, especially if we didn't manage to find an Ice wisp," Olivia said.
Amy shut the hatch. "Go ahead and release the Ice wisp so that it can get aquainted with its new home."
"Is this a boy or a girl Ice wisp," asked Amy to Pyr.
"Does it matter?' said Pyr in a dejected tone.
"Well we need to know what to name the ice wisp," said Amy.
"Tch! Name it blockhead or something," said Pyr.
"Well that's not very nice," said Olivia.
"It wasn't meant to be nice, besides you can pretend that the name is short for ice block or something," said Pyr.
Amy stared at him expressionlessly.
"Fine, the Ice Wisp is a girl, and she's basically your average sixteen-year-old—so annoying! You can't hear her right now because she hasn't been fitted with a translator yet, and honestly, I wish I could tune her out! But don't worry, she's just so proud of herself. She managed to snag a new home and a gig before she even matured! It's hilarious how smug she is, considering all she did was get trapped in a net!"
The tiny ice wisp flitted about the room, then plunged into Pyr's furnace, stuffing it with icicles and frost before zooming back out! "How about naming her Menace? Seriously, can you just get rid of her? It's still early enough to toss her out and find a replacement!" he huffed, his irritation causing the ice and frost to disappear.
"Snowflake it is," said Amy.
With an eerie grace, the ship ascended from the water, its metallic spider legs allowing it to crawl onto dry land. It hurried along to Farfoss, a town protected by high rock walls, teeming with magical shops where a new adventure awaited them.
Coming Next Time: Fracas in Farnfoss, Unconventional Entrance
Detain them!