MELTED SNOW

Kojo slowly opened his eyes, the soft light of the room piercing through his lids. He blinked a few times, taking in his surroundings. He was still in Lin's room, lying on the plush white bedding. But something was different. He felt a warmth beside him, a gentle weight that hadn't been there before. He turned his head to see Lin snuggled up to him, her face peaceful and serene. Her arm was draped over his chest, and her hair was spread out across the pillow.

Kojo's gaze lingered on Lin's face for a moment, a soft smile playing on his lips. He gently reached out to brush a strand of hair out of her face, his fingers grazing her skin. She stirred slightly but didn't wake up.

He looked out the window, the darkness of the night still lingering outside. But he could sense that it was morning. That and the fact that he could sense movement throughout the building.

Echolocation.

He smiled. He'd been using the skills he had mimicked from the beasts in the forest of Ekron as if they were his own. Occasionally, he'd think about them and become conscious of them, like how a person tries to manually control their breathing when reminded of the process taking place. He stretched; his internal clock told him he'd been asleep for eight hours.

Kojo carefully got out of bed, trying not to disturb Lin. He pulled the sheets up to her shoulders, covering her exposed skin. She murmured something in her sleep but didn't wake up. He stood there for a moment, looking down at her peaceful form.

As he turned to leave, he noticed that the coat he had given her, which was originally on a rack on the wall when he first entered the room, had now been flung over a chair. The floor under it was wet, and there were partially dried patches on the coat.

Melted Snow.

"Must have gotten up and gone somewhere," Kojo muttered to himself, wondering where Lin had gone the night before.

He opened the door and stepped out into the hallway, yawning as he stretched his arms. He put his hands in his pockets, feeling the cool air on his skin.

"I guess I'll ask her when she wakes up."

The Previous Evening...

Loch asked Lin, his voice low and measured, "So, you want me to serve under you as your informant?" Lin nodded.

"I wouldn't have told you about the Moon Shadow and their objectives, or presented you with this offer, if I didn't see you as a useful asset."

Loch took a drink from his glass cup, not even sparing her a glance.

"The Dark Apostles, criminal underworld, and whatnot are matters of the surface and are of no concern to the Oceanians. As for me and my crew, we're just transporters for various inter-continental networks. We deliver things to people and sell things to people. Not because we have to, but to liven things up. Life in the depths can be slow at times, and needlessly dangerous."

Lin leaned forward, her voice taking on a persuasive tone. "And that is my reason. It's because of your experience that I've approached you with this proposal. You've navigated the complexities of the surface and the depths, and I believe you could be a key person for the Moon Shadow in achieving our objectives."

Loch nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Up here, things are nice and slow. And we're not bound to any surface allegiance. We just go where we want to go, doing things we want to do. But if things get out of hand, we could just return."

Lin's eyes sparkled with amusement. "That's true, but if that was the case, you wouldn't be a pirate. After all, it takes balls and isn't something a coward can do."

Loch's face remained impassive, but a hint of tension crept into his voice.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Lin's smile grew wider. "You're playing dumb, but it wasn't that hard to deduce. When your ship was damaged, I used my ability to push out the excess water out of the lower decks and fill it with an air bubble to keep us afloat until we reached the port for repairs. I saw more cargo than you should be carrying. Special cargo that had no business being on a ship of ordinary 'transporters'."

Loch's eyes flicked to the side, his gaze meeting Lin's. "And so?"

Lin's voice took on a subtle edge. "So, it would be very problematic if the authorities of Ezkanur found out about this. What would happen to your crew? What would happen to Ophie?"

The water in Lin's cup suddenly shot out towards her like a spike and was mere centimeters from her eye. But Lin didn't react.

The water lost its tangibility and spilled on the table.

Loch sighed.

"You got me, princess." He gathered the spilled water back into the cup with a flick of his finger.

Lin nodded. "I saw the way the two of you acted near each other; it was familiarity beyond just simply being childhood friends." She added, her voice low and measured, "I know because I'm in a similar situation."

Loch looked at her, then thought of the white-haired male she was with.

"I see," Loch said, taking a sip.

"I acted on impulse. Sorry," he said, bowing his head slightly.

"No, it's alright."

They fell silent.

"You won't report me," Loch said, breaking the silence.

"You didn't do it when there were saints present on the ship, and you won't do it now that I have key information. So, if anything, I have the advantage in this... negotiation."

Lin's eyes gleamed.

"I'm not going to report you, Loch. But you will serve me."

"Oh? And why should I be subordinate to you?" Lin's voice took on a subtle, menacing tone. "You will, Sea Serpent."

As soon as Lin spoke those words, Loch felt a sudden jolt of recognition. It was as if he had been pulled up by a higher authority, one that transcended the body and soul. That was it. His True Name was being invoked.

In their world, True Names held immense power. Every being, every object and every concept, even space and time and all that transcends them, have True Name s. And once that true name was called out by a higher authority, they had no choice but to obey.

For the Oceanians, once they discovered what these names were,these True Names manifested as tattoos on their bodies, a physical representation of their true nature. But the tattoos themselves were not the true names themselves; a tattoo of a fish did not mean that the true name of that person was Fishman or Salmonella.

This misunderstanding was applicable to Ophie. One would assume that since Loch was Sea Serpent, her true name would be Manta Ray or Stingray. Even Black Manta. But that's not how it worked.

No, they were merely a symbol of the power that lay within.

Lin, with the pure blood of the World Tree flowing through her veins, possessed an authority that allowed her to call upon and order any and all elves. Even without invoking one's true name, she was a Machiavelli, an elf of royal blood, an individual that commanded respect and obedience.

Loch's eyes widened as he realized the true extent of Lin's authority.

Loch's expression changed, his eyes gleaming in submission.

"I thought you were one of those fragile princesses," he said, his voice laced with amusement.

Lin's smile grew wider. "You thought wrong. And if you were wondering how I knew your true name, you literally have a hint tattooed on your skin. Though it took me a while to figure out what it actually was." She eyed the serpents coiled around each of his arms, her gaze piercing.

Loch's face went blank, his eyes fixed on Lin's face. He slowly got down from his seat, his movements deliberate. "I shall serve to the best of my ability," he said, his voice low and measured.

"Good," she said, extending a hand to him with a cheerful smile.

" I should act like Sharone more. It's kinda fun." She thought as she helped the Oceanian up.

*******

Kojo continued to walk, pondering Lin's late-night escapade.

"Nah. She probably went to take a piss." he concluded with a shrug as he turned a corner.

(Idiot.)