The sea welcomed her as she slipped underneath the surface, muscled legs morphing together to be covered by a canvas of grey placoid scales. ‘Shifting’ was like second-nature to her. She only needed to whisper a ‘hello’ to the waters and it would wrap comforting arms around her, encouraging her to stay where she belonged.
“But this is no longer my home,” she thought to herself. “Why?” The sea did not answer her question. Her fists tightened, accentuating her arm muscles as well as the jet-black blades that protruded from the side of her fore-arms. In her heart, she already knew the answer.
As the figure ventured deeper, the silence that greeted her was almost suffocating. However, she knew they were there watching her every move. She turned her head slightly to her left, milky midnight eyes staring into the darkness. Bubbles frantically formed around the general area, signaling that the figure hidden there had fled. Suddenly, a deep voice called out for her. “jǫru-fægir.”
“faðir,” she whispered back. She stilled, her hands unconsciously running through her coal-black hair. She would have to braid it again once she was back on land – maybe she would buy one of those floral hair ties that were for sale in a little town down south. They were pretty and affordable. Maybe she'd buy a couple and give them away to some of the little girls that ran arou -
“Sylvia, answer my question,” the voice interrupted, irritation laced in the deep resounding voice.
“I - “ Sylvia jolted out of her thoughts, lowering her gaze as embarrassment washed over her. “What did you say?”
“What do you want?”
She frowned, twirling a strand of her hair. There were many things she wanted. So many things she wanted to achieve but she just couldn't. But it would be nice if she could... “Leave. I want to leave,” she rasped out.
“…You what?”
“Yes, that’s what I want. I want to travel somewhere, anywhere...”
---------
Her skin burned. Sylvia's trembling fingers reached over to her face, ghosting over a deep three-claw scar that ran over her right cheek as she continued to walk towards the Annos Dorei region. It was a place that was supposedly diverse and abundant with adventures. A perfect place for Sylvia to explore before leaving for the next region. Plus, Annos Dorei was located near an ocean. It had been weeks since Sylvia last stepped into the sea as she still felt uncomfortable coming across one of her kind.
Sylvia took measures to hide her identity. She wore a well-worn brown cloak over her clothes that effectively covered her distinct features. She carried only a simple rucksack that only held essentials and nothing else. Besides, she didn't particularly enjoy lugging around a huge bag or handling one of those strange land creatures used for transportation.
The night breeze was pleasant and she could almost smell the familiar salty scent the winds brought. Sylvia looked up at the star-covered skies briefly, enjoying the view before catching sight of a shooting star. A faint smile spread on her face as she remembered what a child had told her a while ago. "Sylvie, you always have to wish upon a shooting star. It'll come true!"
She was about to close her eyes and make a wish before she realized that this shooting star was not what it seemed to be. It was clearly heading towards land. A few seconds passed and the ground suddenly trembled and moaned underneath her feet, causing Sylvia to lose her balance. "I wonder what that was," she mused as she regained her footing before continuing on her journey. "It was probably nothing."
-----
In a few short hours, Sylvia entered the rather quiet town. The only signs of activity were in the blacksmiths and the bars, so she headed towards the latter. Once she stepped into the tavern, Sylvia was in awe. It was loud and crowded, filled with jolly people of all kinds. "Interesting." She took a seat in the corner, her knee-caps cracking as she sat down. A breath of relief escaped her lips when she stretched out her long legs, fatigue catching up to her.
A few long minutes passed and no one seemed to notice her so Sylvia took off the hood of her cloak. That was alright with her - she would start making friends tomorrow. The candle-light showed off her gray-blue skin and the black lines on her neck, including her facial scar that was now throbbing with dull pain. To keep her mind occupied, Sylvia loosened her braid, an old floral hair tie clutched in her right hand as her fingers nimbly weaved her hair together.
nichinichisou
Savo
