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For a moment, I am pleased that Eric is unable to decipher the gladness within me. Poor Eric, for he can only see the surprised look on my face, and I really do not have the sweetest surprised look plastered.
I never thought I would see him again, not even in the daytime for that matter. The last image I had of him was during the night, and now, out of coincidence or mere perusal, he is right in front of me, and I am right in front of him. There is no visible space between us. I can feel his vest and dress shirt brush upon my bodice. We are too close. I must withdraw from this dual arrangement.
With everyone around us still dancing and singing, I pull back my arms from his elevated shoulders, and he pulls back from my waist. We stare at each other for a moment. Having each of us is still transfixed with the former event, we silently wonder how this occurrence shall unfold.
Eric was the first to act. He laughed, and I could not help but laugh as well. After the critical events of this morning, I realize I have no choice but to tail off a bit. The air between us carries less weight now that we unitley broke into unruly laughter.
With partly closed eyelids and a vibrating posture, I feel a gentle tug on my hand leading me out of this very eventful gathering.
"Surprised?" Eric questions as he tries to find the answer buried in my eyes "Not the least, not when I assume that you have been following me around all day" I huff at him and at the humid weather. I forget my status before him "Your highness..." "Oh come on now, I introduced myself as Eric yesterday night" He walked closer to me "I shall be Eric to you, Azure" he looked at me, and in that moment I realized that I am looking at his blue ones during the daytime. They look splendid.
As I break from the thought that had consumed me "Alright Eric, why have you been following my lead this entire day?" I ask him intensely "So you would have no other choice but to follow mine the entire day, of course" He confidently admits, and I am left stunned. Eric begins to walk away from me expecting me to tag along.
There is no ship for me to board, no place for me to stay, and no one I am familiar with. I really have no other choice but to follow his lead.
Eric stands by a convenient carriage that can seat two persons, and is preceded by one horse. I pet the neck of the horse, and Eric gets into the coach "Come on, get in" he tells me, and I climb the miniature steps and fall into place as I bump Eric's shoulder. The carriage begins to move away from the village. As I look back at the village, I think of how such a small place can have the rhythm of an entire metropolis.
"Tell me Azure, from what I have seen, I bid that you have a drive for adventure" My vision snaps from the serene view of the sea, to Eric's accurate assumption. Could he know more about me than he had expressed?
I hesitate in my response "I do, I really do appreciate adventure" I look out at the sea and relax into my response more "Something about journeying across open waters is refreshing" I breathe "A feeling of accomplishment and wonder you attain, like a badge, when discovering new places as you also begin to comprehend that you are just a fragment of a great beyond" worried that I have said too much, I look at Eric, who shifts his head back to the road. Was he staring at me this entire time? "Something like uncharted waters?" He smiles "Yes just like that"
As I notice the sun starting to set, I begin to question where Eric must be taking me. He might actually be a pirate prince after all, sending me to my doom. "Where are we going? We have been riding for hours now" "Wait and you'll see, we are almost there" Eric assures me. I really want to say something in return, but my eyes linger on the nature beyond.
When the sun set was completed, the carriage came to a stop, and Eric got off his side of the coach. "Stay in your place, I shall help you come down this time" He says as he walks over to my side and offers me his hand, and I gently come down.
With Eric's hand still on mine, he directs me towards a labyrinth of tropical greens. "This is the Island's favored coastal garden"
