Eloise**
I smelled the ocean before I saw it.
The crisp salt air, the gentle roar of waves crashing against the shore, the distant calls of seabirds—it was unlike anything I had experienced in this world.
And then, as we crested the hill, the view took my breath away.
An endless stretch of deep blue met the horizon, shimmering under the golden light of the afternoon sun. Wooden docks jutted out into the water, where beautifully carved boats bobbed with the tide. Further down the coastline, nestled between towering cliffs, was a village unlike any I had seen before. Houses were built into the rocks, some even appearing to float atop the waves, connected by rope bridges and wooden walkways.
Caius came to a stop beside me, watching my reaction with amusement.
"You're staring," he remarked.
I turned to him, still in awe. "I didn't know I wrote this place *this* beautifully."
He chuckled. "You didn't. You only wrote about the Ocean Tribe in passing. The rest... it shaped itself over time."
That made my heart swell. My world—*our* world—was alive, growing beyond what I had originally imagined.
A gust of wind swept past, carrying the scent of fresh seafood, and my stomach let out a very *unladylike* growl.
Caius raised a brow. "That's why we're here."
I blinked. "Wait... what?"
He exhaled, as if exasperated. "You kept talking about seafood in your sleep."
My face burned. "I did *not!*"
"You did," he said with certainty. "Something about grilled fish... and 'buttery garlic shrimp.'"
I covered my face in embarrassment. "*Oh my god.*"
Caius only smirked before nudging me forward. "Come on, let's make your dream come true."
###
The village was just as lively as it was beautiful. Fishermen hauled in their latest catches, skilled warriors sparred along the shoreline, and vendors shouted their daily specials. The people of the Ocean Tribe were tanned and strong, their bodies adorned with swirling tattoos that glowed faintly under the sun.
And the *food*—
Oh, the food.
Caius led me straight to a bustling outdoor market, where massive grills sizzled with freshly caught fish, crab legs, and skewers of shrimp and scallops. The air was thick with the scent of smoked spices and citrus, making my mouth water.
I spun around in excitement. "We are *never* leaving."
Caius huffed a laugh. "I figured you'd say that."
We sat at a wooden bench near the docks, where an elderly woman placed a feast before us. I didn't hesitate—I dug in, savoring the explosion of flavors on my tongue. The fish was grilled to perfection, the shrimp juicy and coated in a buttery garlic sauce.
Across from me, Caius watched with a raised brow.
"What?" I asked, my mouth still full.
"Nothing," he said, shaking his head. "Just... I don't think I've ever seen you this happy before."
I paused.
The words shouldn't have affected me so much, but they did.
Because he was *right.*
This was the first time in *years* that I had truly felt happy, without worry, without fear. Just... happy.
And it was *because* of him.
I swallowed and gave a small, genuine smile. "Thank you, Caius."
His expression softened. "Anytime, Eloise."
And for a moment, as the ocean breeze danced around us, it felt like nothing else in the world mattered.
***
Eloise**
The days that followed were nothing short of magical.
Caius and I stayed longer in the Ocean Tribe than planned, and though he never admitted it outright, I knew it was because of me. He saw how much I loved it here—how my eyes lit up at every little thing, how I smiled more freely, how my laughter came easily.
And so, he stayed. *For me.*
The first morning, I woke up to the sound of waves lapping against the shore and the scent of the sea filling the small guest house we had been given. When I stepped outside, I found Caius already awake, standing at the edge of the dock with his arms crossed, gazing at the ocean.
I approached him quietly, standing beside him as the sun began to rise.
"Not used to staying in one place for so long?" I asked.
He glanced at me, then looked back at the horizon. "No. But this doesn't feel... bad."
I smiled. That was the closest to a compliment I was going to get, but I knew what he meant.
That day, we spent hours exploring the village. The people welcomed us with open arms, eager to share their stories. I learned about their way of life, their connection to the sea, and even got to watch as a group of skilled warriors demonstrated their spear-fighting techniques.
Caius, of course, joined them—because he could never turn down a challenge. I sat on the sand, watching as he moved effortlessly, his muscles flexing as he dodged and countered each strike. The villagers cheered for him, clearly impressed.
And I... well, I found myself watching a little too closely.
When he finally won the match, he turned to me, smirking. "Enjoy the show?"
I threw a seashell at him.
###
The second day was even better.
We borrowed one of the small wooden boats and set out onto the water. The sun was high, the breeze was cool, and the water was so clear I could see schools of fish swimming beneath us.
Caius rowed effortlessly while I sat back, trailing my fingers in the water.
"You're bad at relaxing," I told him.
He scoffed. "I *relax* just fine."
"Uh-huh. That's why you were sharpening your sword this morning instead of enjoying the sunrise."
He rolled his eyes, but I caught the slight curve of his lips.
When we reached a quiet cove, I leaned over the boat, staring into the water. "I want to swim."
Caius raised a brow. "Do you know how?"
"Of course."
"...Are you *sure?*"
Before I could answer, he stood up, stepped onto the edge of the boat, and—*dove in.*
Water splashed everywhere, rocking the boat slightly. I gasped and leaned over the edge, only for him to resurface moments later, his wet hair slicked back, water droplets clinging to his skin.
And *oh.*
That was—*a lot* to take in.
"You coming in or what?" he called.
I hesitated for all of two seconds before pulling off my outer tunic and jumping in after him.
The water was *perfect.* Cool, refreshing, and it wrapped around me like a comforting embrace. I surfaced, gasping with laughter. "Okay, *this* was a great idea."
Caius swam closer, tilting his head slightly. "I thought *you* wanted to swim?"
I blinked. "I am swimming."
"No. You're floating."
I splashed him.
He smirked, then—before I could react—he reached out, his arm wrapping around my waist as he *pulled* me closer. My breath caught. The heat of his skin, the feel of his hand resting against my lower back—it sent a shiver through me.
"Caius—"
"Relax," he murmured. "I won't let you drown."
I wasn't sure if it was the words or the way he said them that made my heart race.
###
The third day, we walked along the beach at sunset.
The sky was painted in streaks of pink and gold, the tide gently rolling in beside us. The village was quiet now, most people having settled in for the evening. It was just the two of us, walking side by side, our footprints trailing in the sand.
"This is nice," I admitted, hugging my arms around myself.
Caius glanced at me, then—without a word—shrugged off his cloak and draped it over my shoulders.
I froze.
He said *nothing,* just kept walking, as if the gesture meant nothing. But my heart reacted differently.
I swallowed hard. "You're going to spoil me if you keep this up."
"Maybe you should be spoiled," he said simply.
I nearly tripped over my own feet.
Caius caught my arm before I could fall, steadying me with a firm grip. His hand lingered, warm and solid.
For a moment, neither of us moved.
I looked up at him, and something passed between us—*something* I wasn't ready to name just yet.
But I knew, in that moment, that I was falling.
And there was no stopping it.