Wicked [Super 4]

XXXIV.The Ocean

Leonora

Alien had been napping at every chance he got. Ruby and I thought it was due to the energy he drained when he helped in pulling Morgi, Karma and Ana out of their illusory nightmares. With the little guy sleeping all the time, my only distraction became talking to Ruby.

Sometimes, she would respond with an order, like checking the sail or keeping an eye on the horizon to look for any clue of the distance between dry land and us. Other times, though, she offered some actual conversation.

Ruby had just told me to look at the horizon, so I walked through the deck until I reached the tip of the boat. I know there's a word for it, but I didn't catch it while I was on board. And if I did, I don't remember. My hands rested on the railing, subconsciously leaning on it slightly. I got distracted by the view.

I had been so locked up inside of my own despair that I hadn't stopped to look at the sea, the way the fish danced with the waves and how the sun made the water shine like the jewels of the treasure back home. There, in the simplicity of my tower, the ocean looked like a big blue puddle, nothing too impressive outside of its immense size.

The breeze was messing up my hair and the salty air made me get a weird feeling on my skin, but that's as far as my problems with the sea went. I liked it. It felt mesmerising, and freeing... Maybe that was part of what mom meant when she told me I had to free myself.

Even if she was just in my dream, even if it hadn't been real... The feelings definitely were.

"When everything's over," I thought to myself, "I'll definitely go out more often and watch the ocean. If dad ever lets me go outside of the castle ever again, that is..."

My eyes caught on a sight that snapped me out of my contemplative state immediately. Dry land. Not only that, but the colorful vegetation was easy to recognise, even at the great distance that we still had to cover to get there.

I ran towards the spot with the rudder, forgetting about my manners and the proper way to move as a correct lady. It's not like Ruby was gonna mind, anyways, and what powered me was my own hopefulness, not my education.

--Ruby!--I called, rushing up the little staircase separating the part where she stood from deck level--. I've seen it, I've seen Enchanted Island! Just up ahead!

Her concentration faltered as she flashed a grin and faced me, not letting go of the rudder.

--Perfect. If the weather's on our side, we should be able to make it there by the evening.

Ruby's gaze was laid on the waves ahead again. I could see her glancing up at the sky once in a while, probably to check the weather and also maybe to tell the time by the position of the sun. One of those glances eventually landed on me, and we held each other's gazes for some moments in which the silence became loud. I couldn't decipher her expression.

--Your hair is a mess--I finally commented once I managed to get my voice back--. Have you not been taking care of it?

--As if I had any time for that right now--Her eyes wandered back to the ocean--. And yours looked just as disastrous up until this morning, too--She paused, a chance I used to scoff before she added:--. Actually, you looked disastrous as a whole. A little depressed too.

--Shut it, peasant--I complained as Ruby chucked at my offended tone--. It was just because of the pressure. I've just gotten used to the feeling now, that's all! So now I can take better care of my hair... And you should too.

--I don't have time, I'm the captain!

--I could do it for you--the offer slipped out of my lips before I actually thought of how icky it'd be to touch pirate hair. I tried to fix it with another comment. With an exaggerated voice, I said:--Though I'd suppose you're not like the other maidens, therefore you don't find those activities enjoyable in the slightest.