The Enchanted Sea (1)

By the time Jasmine went back to her room, it was already late at night so she climbed to her bed to sleep. However, her room was so cold that she felt as though her bones were freezing. Her palms were even colder, so she couldn't rub them against her arms to generate a little warmth.

She had once again forgotten to get wood for the fireplace, which made her wonder whether Rosetta was asleep. On second thought, she decided not to bother Rosetta who had to be up early and went to wake Dairon instead. He brought her here against her will, so he should be the only one facing all the troubles that came up during her stay.

She made her way down the corridors after successfully convincing herself. After taking several turns and almost giving up, she finally noticed a room that seemed to be Dairon's.

It was just a guess and she didn't comprehend why it was the only room that her mind decided on after passing by a myriad of rooms. As soon as she raised her hand to knock, the door opened.

So it was automatic too. She guessed. This was awesome. Perhaps it might just present her with the long-desired chance to murder him in his sleep.

She walked in carefully and decided after a few steps that she should instead wake him up with a huge start. Perhaps he would die of shock. She stopped herself from childishly toppling the huge vase near the window.

She walked towards the bed to wake him, only to realize how pale he looked.

"Dairon?" She called out his name.

He looked pained. His eyebrows were knitted tightly and sweat dotted his forehead. His breathing was labored, making her tremble at what agony he must be undergoing.

"Dairon, are you okay?" She asked gently.

"Stop." He mumbled, making her wonder what he meant. What should she stop doing? His eyes were still tightly closed and the knit started to clear from his eyebrows, before it suddenly returned.

Was he perhaps having a nightmare? She guessed.

"Dairon, wake up." She shook his shoulder.

"Stop!" He yelled and sat up with a start.

She retracted her hand in shock and almost jumped away but instead froze into place.

Dairon's eyes cleared and he looked around him to see the upset woman. "Jasmine?" What was she doing here?

"Get me to stop stopping." She growled. He had compelled her yet again and it was the first thing he did after waking up.

He was amused. "I don't know if that's really a thing but alright, you can do as you wish."

She could finally move, and only then did she realize that he had not intentionally compelled her. He just happened to be awake.

"What's wrong? You don't look alright. Nightmare?" She asked superficially.

It was not everyday she asked about him so he was in surprise as he nodded. "Sort of. It happens once in a while, but it's been happening a lot lately."

He neither asked about her presence nor said anything about the fact that she had woken him up. Instead, he simply pulled off the covers and stepped out of bed, shirtless.

She looked aside at the audacity of this unmarried man to expose himself in front of a woman. Right. He was a demigod. Perhaps it was different for them. But it was awful for her, alright! This would be scandalous if anyone ever found out. She looked aside and noticed the lit fireplace. She should steal some wood to bring back to her room.

"Where are you going?" She asked when she noticed him walking past her towards the door.

"To the sea. I need to have a word with my mother." He responded curtly.

"Okay." She caught up to him and was torn in between leaving so she wouldn't be on her own in a man's room and stealing some wood.

"You can come with me if you are afraid of being lonely." He threw her a string of words, looking her over his shoulder.

She frowned at his choice of words. She was not lonely nor was she afraid of it. When she thought about the fact that he was meeting his mother, she decided to go along. She might just bump into something that might help her. Or perhaps, the goddess might help her.

They walked to the shores of the sea where they stood. She smiled at the beauty of the moon that had been reflected on the surface of the calm sea. If she had a camera, she would take a picture. However, this realm was so ancient that she might receive an infuriating answer if she asked for one.

"Mother," Dairon called in a calm voice.

Jasmine, who had expected him to yell at the top of his lungs, was surprised. Was the goddess nearby? Otherwise how would she hear his call?

Minutes passed and the sea remained calm. Only a small ripple formed before calming down once again.

"I guess she will not come. Let's go back." Dairon sighed in disappointment.

She nodded. "Is this how you summon her?" She couldn't help asking.

"I tried many ways. But we only met once—when she called me." He confessed. "I didn't even know who she was then but that was centuries ago."

"Why did she only call you once?" She was just as curious as he was when he was younger.

To her question, he laughed and shrugged. "I have no idea how twisted the logic of gods is either."

Just as they turned to leave, the sea filled with a bright light.

Jasmine turned with a gasp at how beautiful it looked and lamented at her lack of camera. How hateful.

The next thing she expected to see was a goddess making her way across the water gracefully, but it was something else coming to them instead.

Dairon picked it up with an overjoyed smile while Jasmine followed it with a shocked gaze.

"This feather! It looks so familiar." She gasped.

"Perhaps you saw one of the paintings in the gallery." He guessed.

She shook her head. "I'm certain that I've drawn it before but I don't remember why I drew it."

"It's mother's." He was confused that she was familiar with it too. "Have you met her?"

She didn't think she would meet such a beautiful woman and forget about her so she shook her head. "Why did Goddess Alaya send you a feather?" It still made no sense.

"This is a message. She can hear me and feel me, but she is too busy to come up to the surface. So she sent me something that's part of her." He hugged the feather, making her wish to hug her mother or any of her belongings too.

"How come she can hear you? Is she near?" She asked curiously.

"The sea is enchanted." He explained.

She finally understood how his mother could hear him but was disappointed. She had been hoping she could meet Alaya.

"Can you speak to anyone in any realm?" She asked, and he nodded.

"Even in the human world?" She tried her luck asking.

"Yes." He nodded, making her mad.

"And you didn't care to tell me?" She fumed.

"You didn't ask me." He laughed.

_________

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