Not much on the Sea Lands compared to the marvels of the lands beyond the horizon. That’s what Claris Azure believed and confirmed as he darted across Wisteria’s harbor. His eyes were set on a huge ship with no visible sails. It was beautiful. The greenish blue hull glimmered against the radiant morning sun, a jewel floating on the sea. Claris wished he could see it from up close, for it remained far from the docks, possibly until later in the evening.

“Your Majesty!” Larissa, Claris’ most trusted aide and the one who kept him out of messy problems. She was a tall lady, her hair the color of warm sunlight and so long it reached her knees. She kept it in a bun to avoid it getting in the way when she had to run after Claris. “We shouldn’t linger here much longer! You’ve seen their ship now it’s time to head to the meeting!”

“Larissa, it’s amazing! How do you think it works?” Claris stopped running and stood by the harbor’s edge, his cerulean blue hair getting all messy due to the sea breeze.

“I say you’ll have a chance to ask their captain after we make it to our meeting.” Larissa held onto a red notebook, her yellow dress ruffled in the wind.

“You’re always such a stick in the mud.” Claris laughed adjusting his onyx vest and rolling up his white shirt’s sleeves.

“And you’re such a messy boss.” Larissa’s red eyes stared at him, a flash of annoyance in them as she ran her right hand’s fingers over the buttons on the top part of her dress. Despite the frilly skirt, her dress held a more formal top part. It possessed a high collar lined with gold, the buttons beginning by her collarbone and stopping above her waist where the top part ended and was sewn to the dress’ frilly skirt.

“Since you’re being such a bummer about it, let’s go.” Claris rolled his eyes at Larissa and allowed her to take lead.

The capital city of Wisteria was the Sea Land’s most important harbor city. It served as the main site for commerce for all of the region’s coastal cities and the neighboring islands. It was also the last stop of all caravans that came from The Pass and therefore beyond the enormous and heaven high mountain range known as the Heavensward. Claris had business here, like most guests of Wisteria. He’d recently raided a pirate ship off the coast of Wisteria, one that not only dealt in piracy, but also in mermen and human slavery. Slavery wasn’t a thing at the Sea Lands, but on other countries beyond the horizon, Sea Landers sold well. Claris was the commander of an important group known as the Sin Hunters. The Council of Wisteria wanted to thank him for his help in the pirates’ capture and elimination… as well as settle some other trade agreements with the Kingdom of Luna, the largest salt water werebreed kingdom of the Sea Lands.

“Your Majesty, a reminder we must discuss the amount of moonstone we’ll be sending Wisteria next week and the amount of wet oil we’ll receive in exchange. This matter is of outmost importance since we’ll need extra wet oil for the underwater gardens this coming winter season…” Larissa had been talking about the different topics to be touched during the meeting as they walked through the crowded streets towards the center of the city, and therefore towards the structure known as the Hall of Law.

Wisteria was a busy city even during nighttime, therefore it was heavily decorated. Its streets were paved with colorful cobblestones, the buildings painted with bright colors and adorned with lamps, plants and flags.

“…there’s also the matter of sulfunite. Her Highness wanted to purchase some from the Griska family but we have to make sure our permits to transport the supply from Ur are up to date…Your Majesty, are you listening?”

“Totally, I think I have everything memorized as per your words.” Claris joked as he realized they’d finally arrived at the Hall of Law. The building before them wasn’t as colorful as the others in Wisteria, but it was much larger and exhibited an air of power.

Claris and his aide walked up the steps to the Hall’s entrance, two soldiers dressed in purple uniforms and carrying long lances opened the, thick wooden door to them. Inside a short woman with thick glasses, gray hair tied in a pony tail and a black short dress and leggings, received them and guided them through the fancy and glamorous halls of the Hall to the room they’d meet the rest of The Council.

Upon entering the meeting hall, Claris and Larissa both bowed and presented each other to the five members of The Council of Wisteria.

“Welcome, Prince Claris Azure of Luna. Please join us at the table, we have your favorite sulfunite brew ready for you.” Farina Cheyenne of the state of Ur and a longtime fan of Claris, invited them by standing from her chair by the large round table full of varied foods. She was a charming lady with an air of innocence. Her red hair lay in curls over her shoulders and her green eyes could dazzle anyone, even those who’d had the pleasure of seeing them every day. “I’ve been— I mean, we’ve been so excited to have you here after such a victory over the pirates that terrorize our people.”

“It is but only an honor to be of help to the Sea Lands.” Claris replied as he made his way to the table along Larissa.

“Ye must give us all the details, lad! I’d been huntin’ those cruddy urchins meself, slippery folk they be.” Denzel Fenris from the far eastern state of High Hills, was next to talk. The man had spent a good amount of time at sea before the merchant people of High Hills elected him as their leader. “I bet it got real bloody out there, what with ye being such a blood thirsty lad.”

“I am happy to tell you I spared no quarter.” Claris gave the man a wide smile, Larissa shaking her head, trying to hold her giggles. “I can give you quite the description of the battle, but after our meal as I believe a good account of the events would ruin your appetites.”

“Charming boy as always, your mother must be so proud.” Rinne Blanche of the lands of Rivaillia, smiled raising a glass of wine. Rinne was the oldest of the six, but her young appearance tricked everyone to believe otherwise. “I’d love to have you guarding my borders at the Heavensward, what with the sudden rise of frenzied werebreed attacks in our region.”

“Unfortunately, that’s way out of his jurisdiction. Asking a royal from the ocean to guard your borders might be a prickly decision for some of the Heavenswardian werebreeds.” Seras Cassidy, guardian of The Pass and keeper of Ven, the territory north of Wisteria Domain. The man had pretty auburn hair and warm, brown eyes. He was considered cute by many. He had delicate, borderline feminine features… and to Claris and Larissa he reeked of canine.

“Guess we have to trust you, you’re marrying one of their leaders, aren’t you?” The last member of The Council of Wisteria was a man by the name June Ocean. His name was the silliest in Claris’ opinion, but he was also the sexiest man on the Sea Lands. What with his dark brown hair, morning shadow beard, soft mint green eyes and huge muscles that he loved to show off in his very tight choice of clothes. “Congratulations by the way.”

“I’m guessing the lucky fellow must be Nivesh Shiva?” Claris knew the scent of snow foxes, he’d had the pleasure of meeting Nivesh himself during a visit to Ur.

“Yeah… since it’s been brought up we’ll have our wedding next spring…” Seras had blushed an intense red. He looked really happy, his eyes had lit up and he couldn’t stop smiling. “You’re all invited, Nivesh said he’ll only invite human friendly clans. You’re included Claris, in case it’s not clear.”

“And I’ll be there, wouldn’t miss our darling Seras’ wedding for the world.” Claris replied, raising his cup of sulfunite. “To Seras and Nivesh and to their happiness.”

“Cheers!” Everyone around the table rose their cups or glasses before taking a sip from them.

“Alright then, shall we discuss business, Prince of Luna?” June gave Claris a very, very, suggestive smile that only he got to understand. Well he and Larissa, who knew about the, what she described as a “dumb", relationship the pair of men had.

“Shall we?”

***

Claris and Larissa had had a successful meeting with The Council of Wisteria. The humans really loved Claris and how open he was to them, unlike his more conservative sisters and previous representatives from Luna. Queen Calliope had chosen wisely when picking her younger son to take over trade negotiations for the kingdom.

“Alright, I knew we’d strike it off with Farina but that Rinne decided to give our merchants full access to all of Rivaillia and direct trade of her own Burgundy Wine for our Sea Brew was a pretty surprising turn of events… and you don’t care much now because you’re thinking on how it’d be like to get your clothes torn off by June.” Larissa sighed mortified.

“You know me better than I know myself, my dear.” Claris laughed at her reaction as they walked in the same direction they had come.

“Why don’t you invite him to the Palace, lay with him and get this silly sexual tension out of the way?” Larissa poked at Claris’ cheek with a pen she usually kept inside her notebook.

“Because, where would the fun in that be?”

The pair walked out and down the stairs leading to the Hall of Law discussing all they’d cleared out during the meeting. As they walked away from the Hall, they noticed some particular people making their way amongst the crowded street that led to the main harbor.

“Oh! Could those be the guests from Arakawa?” Larissa asked out-loud. “Oh, dear me, talk about an attractive bunch.”

“Larissa, your definition of attractive is rarely—” Claris was about to dismiss his aide’s claim when his eye caught a glimpse of sun kissed skin. “—spot on.”

Two people clad in foreign outfits made their way through the streets. The short woman wore a white shirt with long, bell sleeves that were decorated with a tracings of a flower he’d never seen before, the woman’s vest tight and adorned with gold patterns over red, the collar popping out and running low enough so as to frame her chest. Instead of a skirt, she wore pants made out of a shiny looking material Claris didn’t know of, leather boots reaching her knees. The woman’s hair was tied in a bun, expensive, hand carved sticks holding it together, if not just adorning her hair. She walked with confidence, but nothing pinned her down as arrogant.

The man at her side walked as her equal, same confident gait, matching clothes safe for the fact he’d chosen to sport no sleeves of any sort. Claris couldn’t stop gazing at his pretty skin color, someone who looked like that must’ve spent countless hours under the sun each day. He wasn’t as bulky as June, but his arm muscles looked amazing in his getup.

“Ho!!! You’re staring!” Larissa was very excited, for once her likes had matched her boss’.

“What pretty eyes they have…” Claris mumbled, just at the same time the pair walked past them.

The man glimpsed sideways and made brief eye contact with Claris. The Prince flinched, feeling disarmed at the mercy of such a strong gaze.

Such charming eyes. Claris thought before he looked away and stormed off.

The man snickered, amused by his reaction before returning his gaze towards the road itself.

“Oi!” Larissa called after her boss, barely managing to catch up to him before he got lost in the crowd. “What was that all about?”

Claris had turned red. His heart beat hard and fast against his chest.

“He was kinda cute, right?” The prince was freaking out, walking fast and with no set destination in mind. “It’s okay to admire someone like that, right?”

“Goddess, Claris!” Larissa was having a fit. She’d seen Claris like this only two times before, one of them when said prince met June Ocean. “Calm down, you’re crushing! It’s normal!”

“You’re right, it’s just a silly crush. It’ll pass.” Claris was trying to reason with himself. His heart started calming down, but he figured a couple more drinks would help it finish settling. “Larissa let’s head back to our inn… I need more drinks…”

“What you need, your Highness, is to get laid.” The blonde woman laughed and beckoned him to follow her. “To think you were so eager to meet The Council’s guests from Arakawa.”

“If that’s them, I need to calm down first.” Claris sighed taking his hand to his temple. “And you’re right. Maybe I should stop playing games with June.”

“And all it took was an attractive visitor. Who would have guessed.” Larissa was enjoying every bit of Claris’ current state. Not every day could one find the prince as troubled as he currently was. “Would you like me to send for him?”

“I’ll ask him myself tomorrow,” Claris could see the ocean at the end of the street they were walking on. Thinking about new partners brought back memories of past ones. Actually, just one in particular. They made him smile as a bittersweet emotion settled in his chest. “Goddess knows it’s been a while…”