There were simple rules for Lily to follow. Never leave the castle grounds alone, never go anywhere without notice, and never go to the kingdom border.

Surely 20 years old wasn’t too late for teenage rebellion? 

She made her way through the indistinguishable maze of trees, legs burning in protest as she marched along. The distance had seemed so much shorter on her kingdom tour. Yet this had taken long enough for the full moon to rise. It gazed upon her with judgement and disdain.

Chilled winds crept up her spine. Every rustle had her peering back with narrow eyes. Her heart felt ready to claw its way out of her. She took a shaky breath. I’m the only one out here. There’s nothing to fear. Except, perhaps, the punishment that would await her if she was caught. Not that she was going to be. Everything would be fine. Her mother would be none the wiser.

A faint sound gave the Prince pause. Her ears perked up, tilted forward. Although quiet, there was the distinct rush of water. She went towards it with renewed vigor. Soon the tall trees gave way to the vines of weeping willow. Beyond them laid an inconspicuous river, her target, the border.

There was nothing special about it from a glance. Nor the land that sat on the other side. Yet her heartbeat rattled ever higher as she took deliberate steps to the bank. The moonlight bathed her.

Her muscles tensed. Something deep within her urging her to leave. This is dangerous.She shouldn’t be out alone. She was going to get hurt. Especially somewhere like this. The fear snaked around her throat, but she held her ground. Nothing is happening. No one is here. I’m okay.

There was a rush of something else as well. An excitement that clashed against her worries. A certain thrill, despite it all. I can’t believe I actually came here. She broke the rules, and with any luck she was going to get away with it. 

With a deep breath she forced her gaze away from the other side. Instead following the path of water flow. The ocean should be that way. There will be more open air on the beach. Her legs gradually began to trail down the path, head held high and arms hugged close. 

Thankfully it did not take much of a walk before grass and underbrush gave way to rocks and sand. Trees thinned more and more until all that was left was open salt air. River tones fading into ocean tides. The sight relieved the tension within her chest. She continued up until where land met sea, stopping just out of reach of the moonlit waters. Their wax and wane took her worries with them.

I missed this. She couldn’t recall the last time she had been at the shores. It had to have been at least a couple years now. Her mother wasn’t one to take her places outside of their fair town. Especially not near water. An unfortunate thing, really. Everything about this place brought true calm. She took another long breath.

It caught in her throat.

A frigid chill clawed at Lily’s chest. It could almost be mistaken for the breeze if not for the fact that it was deep within. Rattling her ribcage. Squeezing every ounce of air from her lungs. Don’t panic. It has to be magic. Someone else- 

She whipped around, focusing on the sensation. Slowly zeroing in to where it was coming from. Horror seized her as it became more and more apparent that whoever was giving off this energy, they were on the other side of the border.

Run.

She couldn’t. 

Run.

She had to stand her ground. She was the heir to the throne. She held status. She held power. It was her job to rule, to protect, to fight for her subjects for her dying breath. If I run now then my whole life will be for nothing.

Lily threw out her hand, concentrating energy to call upon her staff. Claws grasped around it with bone breaking force. Her stance shifted to that of a defensive one as she shouted across the waters, “Come out! I know you’re there!” It wasn’t the best thing to have said, but it would have to do.

For a moment there was nothing. Her eyes darted around to pick up sight of something. Anything. Then, bush rustled. There was a glimpse of a hand. Soon the rest of them as well.

The figure stood tall. Maybe even taller than her mother. Their dark brown hair and red tipped bangs covered the right side of their face, but she could still see a peek of a cyan mark even from this distance. Their eye held the same shade, wide and alert. It pierced through her with gleaming curiosity. Hands held in a gesture of surrender.

They seemed unsure of how far onto the sands they were meant to come out. Each movement was deliberate. She kept note of every subtly. Ready for anything. Soon, they stopped at the waters that separated them. A mere few strides away. It would take only a second for her to reach them at her top speed. I should assume that goes both ways.

The silence threatened to swallow her up.

They spoke before it could, “Hello…?” their tone was weary. Confused.

Lily held a harsh stare. Intimation was her friend here. “Who are you? What are you doing here?”

“Oh uhm, I’m Willis-” their mouth snapped shut. Ears pulled back. Something seemed to click in their mind as they paled, taking a small step away. They gave her a big smile. “I was just- uhm- out here for the view? Some peace and quiet. Usually no one is out here…” they gestured vaguely to the sky as they spoke.

Lily’s eyes narrowed. A believable story, sure. But that didn’t explain the intensity of their presence. It was hard to tell if their nervous act was because of her aggression or something more. She looked them up and down. Gaze eventually drifted to their face. Onto that mark they had-

…over their eye.

Wait-

She nearly tripped over herself as she scrambled back. 

Willis did the same, except they actually fell. Letting out a yelp. “Wait wait wait wait hold on-!” They rolled to a better position. They held their hands up once more. “I really do not want to fight please don’t-”

“Shut up!” Lily hadn’t meant to snap. But it spilled out of her. Every inch of her body shivered with energy as she stared down her enemy. An Erys. Those star marks that appeared on their cheeks confirmed it. That must be why they stopped themself. They saw my moon marks. Neither of them moved. The sound of waves and heavy breathing filled the space.

“What are you doing out here?” Lily asked. She fixed them with the hardest look she could muster.

Willis simply stared back. Their eyes dropped to the ground, hands clawing at the sand. They cleared their throat, “I wanted to be alone.”

Lily couldn’t help but flinch. That’s… not what I was expecting. It felt genuine. More so than the answer she had gotten before. Her body relaxed, just a bit.

Apparently it was enough for Willis to feel confident enough to stand. Slow and deliberate, they slinked towards her. Not directly, but along the river that turned to sea. Coming up next to her with a hunched posture. The only thing separating them being that strip of water. It felt so small now.

She should have told them off. Growled at them. Something. Anything. But it all seemed to die in her throat. Fire within her simmered down. She had never expected to meet an Erys. Not like this. They’re dangerous. Vicious. That’s what her mother had told her. Yet they hadn’t made a single move. The hints of their magic had barely been a threat, stars already faded off their face.

What now?

“Why are you out here?” their question made her jump. They didn’t even look at her. Attention on the starry skies above.

“Why do you want to know?”

“You asked me.”

She couldn’t argue with that. Would it hurt to be honest? “I wanted to see the border.”

“Oh,” Willis turned to her then, eyes wide. It didn’t last long before their gaze was elsewhere again. “I guess you came here at a good time. Or a bad one, depending on how you look at it. It’s not usually so exciting out here.”

“Are you an Erys?” she had to ask.

“I am,” they said simply. “Are you a Harmoni?”

“Yes,” she swallowed roughly. Against her better judgement she finally tore her gaze away from them. Instead choosing to indulge in the same view they were. Stars littered the sky, even with the full moon shining bright. A beautiful night, really.

“What’s your name?”

“Lilium.”

“Oh! Like lilies?”

“Yes.”

“That’s nice,” she caught their smile out of the corner of her eye. It was less strained this time. “I’m Willis. In case you forgot.”

It might have slipped her mind. She let go of her staff, letting it return to its resting place. Deep breaths. “I’m sorry I yelled at you earlier. It was improper.”

“Thank you. Not that I blame you,” Willis said. They rubbed the back of their head. “My volume wasn’t much better. I panicked too. Still might be,” they chuckled. There was a wavy quality to their tone.

“I don’t want to fight you, if that’s any reassurance,” Lily said. Not when I know what you can do.

“It is! A lot, actually. Thank the stars,” they muttered the last part. “How long do you plan to be out here?”

The question drew a hum from her. “I’m not sure. Originally I planned to stay for a brief moment and then return home. However,” she paused. Sparring the one beside her a glance. “This went a bit different than I expected.”

“Ah- I’m sure. I hope you don’t mind the company?”

“You’re the one that wanted to be alone.”

“Sure, but I think you’re worth the exception,” they faced her again. There was a starry look of wonder in their eyes. As if she were the cosmos. “You’re a Harmoni.”

“What of it?” she scowled.

“Well, I’ve never met one before. I don’t know anything about you,” they pointed out the obvious. Their ears twitched as they spoke.

“That’s how meeting new people works.”

“You know what I mean. We’re in the same position though! Technically speaking,” they waved their hand. “We are both heirs to the throne. That’s interesting, isn’t it?”

It was. In a weird way.

Lily shrugged, “I suppose.” She brushed the feeling aside.

Willis gave her a look. “You seem very bored for someone meeting another member of royalty.”

“It’s called being cautious. Excuse me for not jumping for joy when meeting someone so dangerous,” she retorted.

Apparently, her reasoning was funny enough for them to cackle, “Dangerous? That’s a new one for me. Usually that descriptor is saved for my family.” They stifled their amusement when she fixed them with a withering glare. Hand rested over their mouth. “I think you’ll be the first and last person to be scared of me.”

“I’m not scared!” she snapped. Although, their casual attitude was unnerving. Any concern they had about her seemed to have evaporated into the night. Not ideal. Especially when her’s began to ebb away as well. The Erys family was a threat. The border wasn’t safe. Shouldn’t I be scared?

“Sorry, sorry, apologies. I shouldn’t have laughed,” Willis said. Their tone softened, “I can go if you’d like.”

“No,” left Lily before she could think about it. Her spiked heartbeat rattled her chest. Words spilled out with just as little thought. “I want to talk to you. I do it’s just-” Wrong.She gestured at them vaguely. 

Willis hummed. They looked her up and down, seeming to consider her words. Eventually, they stood up straighter. “Can I come over?”

“What?”

“Can I come over?”

Lily’s face scrunched up. “What does that have to do with anything?” What are they doing? What are they playing at? Why am I still here?-

“You’re avoiding the question.”

“Fine! Sure! I guess!”

At her answer, they smiled. Small, sincere. They took a few steps back before launching themself forward, hopping right over the water and imaginary line that had been separating them. She might have screamed if given the chance. 

All that left her was a yelp instead when they tripped face first on the beach.

“Are you ok?” she asked, stepping away while she did.

Willis picked themself back up. Swiftly brushing the sand off with a sheepish grin. “Yes I’m alright. I promise I’m not usually this clumsy. I swear it gets worse if I’m nervous.”

“You’re nervous?” Lily scowled. They just jumped over here with no care! A shiver rolled up her spine. Wait- they came over here. Across the border-

There was a pit in her stomach.