Kaeda P.O.V.

A week passes. We reach the southern shore without issue.

Thanks to this new life, I’m experiencing all kinds of firsts. I’ve never been to a beach, never felt the sand beneath my feet, so when we break through the treeline and descend to a shoreside town, I’m in awe.

There’s a soft pink tint to the sparkling sands. Waves crash against the shore. The ocean is clear, as if there are millions of diamonds reflecting warm sunlight. I wish we could spend an entire week here. Lay on the warm sand. Search for seashells. Build sandcastles. Frolic in the cool water….

But Daithi is a hell spawn and we go straight to a ship waiting for us at the docks. So, I still don’t get to experience the beach. At least I saw it. Better than nothing, I guess.

I’ve never been on a boat either, definitely not one like this. Looks like it was taken straight out of a Pirates of the Caribbean movie. The sails are a deep gray ruffling in the high winds. Some local guards are hired to keep watch. There will be ships sailing nearby, checking for anyone. Our own soldiers board the ship with supplies for the voyage.

“Shall we get on board?” Rehan smiles. He holds out his hand, guiding me onto the ship with Henley tagging along on my other side. When we’re safely aboard, he starts to chuckle.

“What’s so funny?” I ask.

“Nothing.”

There’s more pressure on my hand. I look down.

We’re still holding hands.

I pull away fast while Rehan continues to smile. “You’re a sly dog.”

He beams proudly. “Absolutely!”

At least someone around here is fun and kind, unlike the emperor perched atop the bow of the ship. Our eyes meet. He’s quiet. Calm. Tilting his head to the side upon realizing that I’m staring. I swiftly turn away.

On the boat, the floor beneath us moves, swaying with the ocean below. Every step is unsteady. Ropes dangling from the ship sway. I expect I would be too, but I’m surprisingly ok. I don’t stumble, fall, or even feel sick to my stomach.

Is this Kaeda’s instincts kicking in? Where was she when the horse went running off?!

“Have either of you sailed before?” I ask, focusing my attention on Henley and Rehan.

“Yes,” they both reply in unison. Rehan seems proud of that. Henley, not so much. She’s squirming, guess she isn’t fond of ships.

“My father was actually a fisherman,” says Rehan, peering off into the distance. I follow his gaze, seeing only an endless ocean that seemingly fades into the sky.

“Ah, then can I guess, are you possibly a water elementis?”

“You would think so, but no. Air, actually.”

He flicks his finger at me, casting an abnormally strong burst of wind. Now that makes me stumble, gasping afterwards. Reading about their abilities in the book was fascinating. The idea of anyone summoning elements at will, controlling something of nature is undeniably cool! I almost forgot others have this ability.

Typically, their abilities show at a young age, with some exceptions. The book said that Daithi cast a piano in flames once when he argued with his instructor at the age of five. Aquilan made waves in the pond merely by laughing when he was eight. I can’t imagine having such power at a young age. Unfortunately, Kaeda isn’t an elementis. I wasn’t reincarnated into a princess or given cool powers, what a load of rubbish!

“I guess air suits you,” I say with a smile. “Carefree.”

Rehan mulls it over and agrees with a nod.

“What about you, Henley?”

“Light,” she answers. I wait for her to show me, but this is Henley we’re talking about. I’m lucky I got an answer. One of these days, we’re going to be friends.

With everyone on board, we set off. The ship sails out of the dock with air elementi blasting the sails so that we move faster. I linger at the railing, watching the town slowly disappear behind us. Waves crash against the ship, splashing water and the scent of the sea. A cool breeze drifts by. It’s hard to imagine that, soon, we will be faced with a water spirit.

There are a few mentions of spirits in the novel. Most are found in the wild and are only hostile when threatened. They range in appearance, but normally take on the form of animals, or a multitude of them. It was briefly explained that they’re creatures of the Old World, created by the Gods, essentially their pets, watchdogs or nurturers of the environment. Once elemental magic was more rampant in the world, but it began to lessen after the Gods left. No one knows where. Some scholars claim they grew tired of mortals and allowed them to reign on their own. Suppose I can get that, people suck!

“You better hope a spirit shows itself.”

And here’s the prime example of that!

I glare at Daithi, who has appeared at my side. Then I search for Rehan and Henley, finding that they have taken a few steps back, allowing us a bit of privacy. I wish they didn’t, especially when the boat rocks violently and I stumble right into him. He catches me. Warm hands rest on my shoulders, keeping me from plummeting into the ocean below.

I retreat, huffing, “Don’t worry, there will definitely be a water spirit so prepare yourself, if you can even handle it.”

His eye twitches. “What did you say?”

“Nothing.” I shrug. I may be messing with death here, but maybe Rehan is rubbing off on me. He’s kind of fun to tick off. “Just curious to see how fire will fend against water, Your Majesty.”

“What a haughty attitude you have,” he grunts. “I can’t wait to put you in your place.”

I’m sure the only place he wants to put me is the execution block and, if the spirit somehow doesn’t turn up, then that’s exactly where I will be.