oppositum [a (maybe) Nikolai Lantsov story] (currently being reviewed)

I

And I'm back after this little vacation! Thanks again to everyone who reads, votes and comments, you are amazing! I'll keep the same publishing pace as before. Of course, if you have any questions or remarks if I do something wrong, don't try to tell me! Also feel free to correct my mistakes, it helps me to improve!

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The escape was quick and smooth. Nix had no time to hesitate as Koira continued to pull her toward a small fishing boat. As soon as they stepped onto it, the anchor was raised and the boat silently left the harbor. No lights were on and a general silence had been imposed.

The first day, Nix stayed locked in a cabin, not wanting to let anyone in. The day was spent crying with sadness and anger, because every strong movement brought back memories of her boat trip with Lýkos. Koira tried at first to get Nix to open the door for her but quickly gave up, seeing that she needed time to sort out her emotions and mourn her old life.

A sleepless night was added to the already long list, because every time she closed her eyes, the images of Lýkos' face when he learned the truth haunted her. When the sun lit up the small room, Nix stood up and looked at her reflection in the water of a basin to remove the dirt that had settled from her journey and imprisonment. The image she saw was that of a girl she had never seen before, but she recognized herself anyway, because it would have been suspicious to see another face than hers. Nix approached the water and scanned her reflection as if to print the image of what seemed to her to be her lowest moral state. Her eyes were swollen and red from crying, black semicircles had taken place and gave her the look of a raccoon. Her skin, once pinky, was now white and translucent due to the lack of sunlight. Her hair was dull, greasy and tangled. Nix tried to brush it with her hand but quickly gave up when she saw the multiple knots that blocked her way. Her inspection and grooming finished, she slowly exited her cabin, not knowing if the order to remain silent was still in place.
No one was there. But a noise indicated the presence of the crew on the bridge and the end of the mandatory silence. Still slowly, leaning on all the hard surfaces at her disposal because her legs felt like those of a newborn. Slowly but surely, she went out in the open air and was welcomed by a silence, all the sailors as well as Koira staring at her.

"Hello? Is there anything left to eat? I'm hungry like an ogre."

Koira was the first to react, he rushed to her side and accompanied her to the table so that Nix could sit down. One of the men had gone to get some water and a leftover soup with fish and an unknown vegetable. When he set the bowl down in front of her, he wiped away a tear that had rolled down his cheek, then took one of Nix's hands in his own.

"I am so honored to meet you Your Majesty, Our Queen!"

She didn't have time to respond when he was already walking back the other way, sobbing. She looked at Koira with a puzzled look, who responded with a shrug and a wave of his hand to mention that she had to eat. He didn't have to repeat himself because Nix swallowed his meal in a few minutes, already regaining his color in front of the worried and relieved looks of the crew. One of the men, sitting across from her, watched her with a smile on his face. He leaned toward her, resting his elbows on the table.

"How about an owner's tour, Lady?"

Nix smiled slightly and put her bowl back down. She exchanged a glance with Koira, who nodded, indicating that these men were trustworthy.

"Gladly!"

She stood up, leaning on the table before putting her hand on the sailor's biceps. This one smiled to her and passed the hand of Nix posed on him around his arm, resting it on his forearm, so their arms were intertwined as if it escorted it during a social evening. The young woman raised an eyebrow then let herself guide by the man at the edge of the bridge. She looked at his upright posture with an intrigued look and despite his attire and the dirt on his face, one could have taken him for an aristocrat.

"And you are?"
"Sturmhond, captain to serve you Lady."

Nix turned that name around and tried to associate it with one of the fjerdan navigator names she had been forced to learn.

"You are not fjerdan I presume. Or maybe you weren't on the books less than a month ago."

Sturmhond had an amused smile and dramatically placed a hand over her heart.

"You have me pegged, my dear. I am a child of the sea Lady Grimjer. But enlighten me, did you really memorize all the sailor names to unmask me?"

Nix laughed softly and let her gaze sink into the ocean.

"Yes and no. Your behavior has betrayed you. And your accent, though delightful to hear. Despite the fact that I am fallen, if you were Fjerdan and would support me, you would never have called me 'Lady' but by my title..."

Sturmhond nodded.

"Would you like me to call you by your title?"

Nix shook her head.

"Continue to speak to me casually. Even use my first name, Nix, if you like. I'm not exactly royalty anymore."
"As you wish."

The rest of the visit was done in good humor. Each sailor seemed happy to show Nix their work.
After spending much of the afternoon learning to tie knots with what seemed to be the oldest member of the crew. When evening came, Koira approached her and took her to sit down in a quiet place with a meal already ready.

"How was your afternoon?"
"Good, everyone is lovely and I learned so much!"

Koira watched her mentee then sat down next to her.

"How are you?"

He took her hands in his and made little circles with his thumbs in her palms to reassure her and make her feel confident.

"I'm fine. I'm holding up okay. Spending time keeping busy is helping me. Helps me not to think about him. About them."

Koira continued his massage for a few seconds and then took her in his arms, putting one of his hands in her hair, the other in her upper back. Nix returned her hug, hiding her head in his neck. She relaxed, lulled by his breathing and the circles he made in her back.

"Take your time to... learn from this memory. Move on."
"Thank you Koira... I can't thank you enough for all these years..."

He smiled and placed a kiss in her hair.

"And you can use me as a towel to cry on, as a shield to defend yourself, as a sword to protect yourself and fight under your command little princess."

Nix laughed softly. They stayed in this position for a few more good minutes before Koira forced Nix to eat two servings and go to bed early. Worried that she would have nightmares or just insomnia, he stayed by her side all night watching her and reassuring her just by his presence.