--Echo’s POV---
Laying in the cave was relaxing for me. It was just so different from being underwater. Though it could bring its own problems. There were as many species above the water as below and not all were friendly. There was one species, in particular, that was horrible to run into, they called themselves humans. I called them monsters. Most humans stayed out of the oceans, only a few lived on them. They lived in big wooden floating homes. Most merfolk thought they were a myth, but I had seen them. We were on a trip to the north sea, and while we were stopped to catch some food and eat. We had chosen to be above water, one of the boats had appeared. Seeing us they came over. Father took mother and me to hide, while my brothers went to inquire as to their intentions. When father got back the boat was gone as well as my brothers.
Father had gone into a rage, and we headed back to Aquius to request permission to have a detachment look for the boat, but the council had refused him, claiming that humans didn’t exist. Father then demanded to be released from his service, because he had done his time. They refused saying it was foolishness for him to quite something he was so good at that was the last time I had seen my father. He had left in the night, mother and I were left in the dark, even the guards who had been watching us had not noticed anything.
Shivering a little bit and changing my thoughts. Looking over at Silves, he was laying down like me but you could tell that he was looking at everything and trying to take it all in at once. He was much more innocent about somethings and had seen others that I wish he hasn't. Though I had seen many of them as well. Sitting up I slipped back into the water.
“Come on, let's take a look around the island. You should have recovered some magic by now, and I can always protect you,” I said with a wink, slipping below the water.
Silves slipped into the water just behind me, it was easy to see that daylight was fading. As we swam, I thought about earlier today. I had gone to talk to the administration yesterday. Things with my roommate were just getting worse and I knew it would have to get taken care of, but I felt like it was giving up asking for a new roommate. After him tossing my stuff out of the room into a pile in the hall, I’d had enough.
Talking to the headmaster about why I needed a dorm change took longer than I thought. About halfway through he started asking some weird questions and it had taken me a few moments to realize that he was trying to see if he could put me with Silves. Once I realized that I asked outright and told him that I had no problems. Having met Silves, I knew he was a nice person. Seeing that he was doubtful I had informed him to talk to Saous. Seeing as she had been there at the opening ceremony.
I wasn’t sure what she said to him, but this morning I had gotten the notice that we were going to be roommates. My roommate was going to be put in another room, which would put three people in one room. The school had already labeled them as delinquents and wanted to be able to keep a better eye on them.
Shooting through the water and out of the tunnel, then swimming back towards the island, Silves following right behind me.
“Hey, Echo?”
I turned to look at Silves, coming to a stop in the water. “Yes?”
“Where is your weapon, did we forget it in the cave?”
I was confused for a moment until I realized what he was asking. “No, I have it right here. I held my hand out and the Spear appeared. I showed him a ring I was wearing. This ring holds a Triton’s weapon. Normally you get one on graduation, but my father gave me his. It can hold three weapons.”
He looked at the ring his eyes wide. “That is so cool, I wonder if Siren’s get something similar.”
Blushing slightly, and turning away. “Anyway, let's go find a good spot.”
Heading up to the beach was simple, and sliding out of the water to see that the sun had almost fully set. Pulling Silves next to me and then laying back, looking up. He looked at the sun for a moment before he laid down. There was about a half a foot between us.
“Watch the sky.”
“I know where the stars are, I’ve seen paintings,” he said but I could see he was smiling.
As the light of the sun vanished, the stars started appearing. Until they filled the darkened sky, I had been watching Silves’s face. It had lit up when the stars had appeared. Seeing him smile made me happy, turning back to look at the sky. We stayed laying there for hours. Watching the stars move in the sky.
At some point, I must have drifted off because the next thing I knew sunlight was waking me. I went to move, my body stiff after a night out of the water, but my body didn't move. Then I realized there was a weight on my. Blinking a few times and looking down silver met my gaze. Silves was laying with his head on my chest, his arm wrapped around me. My eyes widened and my breath quickened. It had been a long time since anyone had been this close to me. Thought I’d never actually slept next to someone who wasn’t family before.
My movements must have awoken him, because he slowly stirred, stretching even as he was laying next to me. He stopped about mid-stretch, seeming to realize something was different. He slowly picked up his head then looked up at me.
“Good morning, Silves, did you sleep well?” I asked.
His face turned red and he sat up. “I’m sorry,”
“For what sleeping?” I asked.
“For using you like a pillow.” he wasn’t facing me and that was more annoying than him using me as a pillow.
“I didn’t mind, if I had I would have woken you sooner. Granted you woke up not long after me.”
“Okay,” his voice was quiet.
“What do you want to do today? They are getting my roommate moved out today, so you can move in tomorrow. And personally I don’t want to see him, he’s rude.”
“I had only planned on working on my magic this weekend, refining my control over it.”
“Okay, you can refine your control over magic and I can work on fighting style. We can go back to the cave, that is probably the best place to practice, and you probably need to get back into the water.”
“True, I am a little dried out.”
It took us a little bit of time to get back into the water, but our bodies felt much better once we were submerged. Breathing in the water, made me feel better, and the two of us headed back to the cave. Silves found a place to sit at the bottom of the cave, and I watched as he went about manipulating ice. That was a rare affinity for someone like us. We were tropical merfolk, living in the warmer waters. If he went to the arctic his powers would be much stronger, but being able to train here was an advantage in its own right.
The day passed and the moon rose. While Silves worked on his magic, I went up to the shelf with water and cleared it of as much debris as I could to make it more comfortable for the night. I was brushing an area when I felt a hand touch my shoulder.
“Everything okay Echo?” Silves asked.
“Yeah just trying to clear this area for us to use. We will want to be in the water, but in shallower waters than any predators will be able to get to.”
“I see,” he said with a smile.
I watched as he moved over next to me and looked up a smile on his face. Turning I saw the Stars through the opening in the cave. “They are beautiful aren’t they?” I asked.
“They are, there is so much beauty up there, I wish we were able to see more of it.”
“There are lots of places we could visit. There is a lot of beautiful things above the ocean.”
He smiled at me, “Thank you Echo, I would love to see them with you.”
I blushed a little and looked away. He looked so happy with just that little statement. I had known he was horribly picked on, but for such a simple statement to make him so happy, made me realize, my bullying probably didn’t compare to his.
Reaching over I pulled him into a hug, without thinking. Backing up, my eyes wide, “I’m sorry, I don’t know why I did that.”
“You were feeling sorry for all of the bullying I have gone through and acted before you thought.”
My eyes widened and I looked at him.
“I could tell you were thinking something sad when I told you I would like to go with you, and when you hugged me I realized you must have been thinking about how people bullied me.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to apologize for, you have defended me multiple times. I’m grateful, you are even going to let me stay with you in your room.” he took my hand for a minute before letting it go. “I’m glad for this time away from the others. Even my family, they mean well, but they hover always afraid someone will harm me. It can be suffocating sometimes. They love me and I love them, I need time to myself, or with friends my age. Thank you for being my friend.”
I looked at him, but he wasn’t looking at me anymore, he was looking out of the cave into the sky.
“Anytime, Silves.” I said quietly.
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