Ebb and Flow

To hell with her plans.

A simple life of peace and research? There's no way Selena would simply live like that. The gentle resolve she built over her first week of arrival in this new world washed away and the wreckage left behind burning.

She would have been fine. Content even.

Beginning a rhythm of helping Bryn around her clinic and looking for odd-jobs, and afterwards going to the beach and stalking a variety of critters. Already, she had begun saving up towards a notebook in order to jot down observations. Herbert was more than happy to answer her endless stream of questions as she helped out in his fishing business.

Solades also left her alone, now Selena just drew odd looks from others when enthusiastically researching sea creatures. So nothing new there.

Everything had been fine. She didn't need to think about the past. Didn't need to miss the world left behind, instead focusing on settling in this new one.

But then, one day, a large, large fancy ship entered the harbour, drawing everyone's attention. It was a ship of the Royal Navy. To be completely honest, Selena didn’t notice at first. Her full concentration still on stalking the same species of crabs. If she just looked long enough, she had to find out the use of those spikes and swirl patterns, right? Herbert mentioned that some animals had adapted to the mana of the sea.

So it was only when she got back that Bryn excitedly talked to her about it, drawing Selena’s attention. They had gotten into a habit of eating dinner together, since Herbert was out fishing at the time. Bryn set down bowls of hearty stew which Selena took one gratefully. She had eaten a lot of fish stews in her life due to working so much at sea, but the spices were unfamiliar. It tasted good, Bryn proudly exclaimed that she may not be a great witch, but her cooking and potions were undefeated.

She was barely able to enjoy the warming taste before Bryn excitedly began talking.

“I can believe that there's a ship of the Royal Navy! In our quaint fishing village.” She practically swooned with pride. Selena couldn't stop her eyebrow from raising. This harbor town may be home to a lot of fishermen, but more than anything, it was a bustling market with trade ships arriving and setting off all the time. But it probably was a point of pride in her husband's work, so Selena didn't say anything about it. Her interest was instead peaked.

Royalty was of course a thing of her world too, but not exactly something common. And definitely not in these ways. An actual royal ship belonging to the leaders of whatever place she was huh? To be honest, she half forgot the name again. She was never good with those.

“Who’s Royal Navy again?” Selena asked bluntly, since Bryn answered everything without questioning back anyways. And as expected, the woman eagerly explained.

“Of the Neva’ra Kingdom of course! It's thanks to their victory in the last great war that trading is flourishing as it is. Even if the pirating problem grew afterwards…” A frown, before Bryn shook her head. “But still, we now have a very strong Navy. And even if it's not sent out for the specific reason, maybe its presence alone is enough to Kaelore off those vile folk. You know, Herbert once almost encountered some.”

Selena had to cut in before Bryn rambled off about the tales of her husband again. Because that name, that kingdom, sounded far too familiar. Sending a cold flash through her, which even the warm broth couldn't melt.

“Oh? Really. How interesting. Say, why was the Royal Navy sent out, if not to Kaelore off pirates?” Her voice sounded far away, almost if someone else was asking. Bryn just leaned in conspiringly.

“Haven’t you heard? It's the talk of town. We luckily get a lot of news due to our market. And if the rumours are correct, then the heir to the throne, Princess Lucienne, has run away.”

Selena froze. No.

“Of course, the King immediately sent out the Royal Navy in order to bring her back. Seems like she is searching for something? Or perhaps someone. Perhaps love~”

Selena barely heard the other anymore.

She should have known, the moment she heard the Kingdom’s name. No, she should have known this world seemed just a tad too familiar. Selena had brushed it off as common fantasy tropes, but… who was she kidding.

Lucienne. Lucy.

“I have to go out.” Fell past Selena lips, breaking Bryn's rambling flow. A concerned look she barely noticed, already standing up.

“Thanks for the food. I will clean up later.” Barely putting on shoes before she stumbled out. A few steps, and she began running towards the harbour. Loose red hair billowing behind her. Uncaring about the looks she drew.

Kingdom of Neva’ra. A war and pirate problems. Princess Lucienne. Selena should have known.

Unbidden, suppressed memories began flashing as Selena made her way on the slowly familiar streets.

“My first book!” Lucy had smiled so brightly. And Selena had smiled right back, as proud. Because her best friend has just finally chased her dreams and become an author.

She kept running, even as her lungs began to burn. People at the busy harbour began getting out of her way with annoyed and concerned calls she just ran.

“The Pirate Princess”. A story of princess Lucienne running away from the heavy responsibilities and set in stone future, instead to be free at sea. Following her dreams and the needle of a magic compass bestowed to her by her late mother.

Selena had loved it. Had spent ages talking with Lucy about as she figured out the plot and world she wanted to craft. Had supported her every step along the way. Had done so in all parts of life. And then Lucy had gone and-

Finally, with exhausted breath and aching legs, the majestic ship came into view. Glowing writing declaring it as a vessel of the Royal Navy. For a moment, Selena could do nothing but stare as her view focused. It truly was something right out of a fantasy book.

Grand, made of dark wood and what must be golden ornaments. Selena's eyes traced the runes engraved. Some faintly glowed, intricate swirl patterns reminding her faintly of the crabs she had been stalking. She shook her head, not the time to think about it.

There, under the glowing declaration, was the name. “Illumina”. It was just another name on the list, but Selena could now confirm it with her own eyes. This was real. Or was it?

Because this meant that this was a ship of the Royal Navy of the Kingdom Neva’ra. A kingdom, part of her best friend's book. Something from a world Selena had seen created.

A world she was now part of. Washed in, after drowning in betrayal. Eliot’s betrayal. Lucy's betrayal.

Selena was ready to turn around and run away again, unable to face any reality right now.

But then.

But then she heard him. Freezing her in place as her mind went blank, heart ice cold.

“...have no worries. Everything is going according to plan. Not long until…”

She knows that voice. Barely able to listen to the content. She knew that voice intimately. For years, that voice had been a source of comfort and joy. A voice Selena had planned to spend the rest of her life with.

“So there’s no need for a break, no? The goal is clear. We can rest afterwards…”

And it sounded so fake, darkness lurking, like it did the last time she heard it. She has to move. Be it running away or turning around and facing the source. Heart thrumming. Was it fear? Hope?

Slowly Selena turned around. The busy masses having begun moving around her frozen form again. There. Across the deck, right at the Royal Navy.

The first thought was that he looked wrong. Because that wasn't Eliot, her Eliot. Not that he was hers anymore. But it wasn't him. Perfect golden hair instead of brown that fell in pristine waves, doing nothing to hide eyes that seemed equally golden in the lantern light.

Actually golden, Selena faintly noted. Not the warm brown she was used to. The brown eyes that had seemed so warm and golden. Which had gazed at her so lovingly on that boat. On their- A sharp breath. Selena's eyes darted over his whole being. Fancy uniform. Some coat of arms that probably spoke of his rank. Was that a pistol at his hip?

None of that mattered. (It did.)

Because that man still had Eliot’s face. Same features, same way of smiling that damnable perfect smile that was all pearly white teeth. She wanted to punch them in.

The urge came sudden, instead of the old want to kiss. The thought only intensified her drowning and burning feelings. Because of course right in that moment, when she actually strained her ears to listen to the conversation again, a name fell. Automatically moving behind crates.

“But Captain Helios, we can't just-”

That name. Selena felt so stupid. Lucy had swarmed about her story, and Selena had of course listened. The book had the common popular trope of a love triangle. The princess at one point had to make the decision between the sweet and proper captain of the Navy Helios and the wild and untamed Kaelor. Between comfort and freedom.

Selena should have known. Helios backstory was that of a poor commoner who through hard work and talent had reached a position of power and prestige in the Kingdom.

Eliot came from a simple background, first of his family to go to college and too, through hard work and talent finally reached a position of power and prestige.

His tenacity and determination had been something that Selena had loved. And Lucy seemingly too. How shameless, to write a character, a love interest inspired by him. More so that the main character Lucienne was so obviously a self-insert of sorts.

In the end Lucienne comes together with Helios and goes back to the Kingdom to accept her position as the next Queen and follow her duties and responsibilities. Living in luxury and prestige until presumably the end of their lives.

Selena had found it sweet, even as she bit her tongue about the way Lucy had killed off Kaelor in a heroic sacrifice so it wasn't like there was an actual choice. (The choice of freedom literally taken away.)

There was nothing but loathing in Selena at the thought of that end now.

“Yes, I am the Captain. You just need follow my orders and we shall fulfill our mission. So tell the men that we’re setting off this same evening.”

Because that man wasn't the sweet male lead of the book. No, with every shrewd word Selena overheard and watched the demeanour of the other, it was obvious. This was Eliot reincarnated into the character based on him.

And he was a clever man. Selena knew that, but there was no admiration now. Eliot knew bits and pieces of the story and definitely would use them to his advantages. The way he was already screwing people over now proved it. Hurrying along at the expense of his crew, probably hoping to catch the princess and treasure early.

There was no doubt in Selena's mind that Eliot would do everything even if it meant that others would suffer in order to grow his riches and prestige even more. And he would succeed, avoiding challenges of the book and get to that ending of love and fame.

So to hell with her plans. She already had new ones. Ones that didn't involve her fading back like a sitting duck. There was no way that Selena would let that- that bastard live a easy life of fame and luxury. Not after what he had done.

Selena was going to destroy Eliot or Helios or whatever, and tear the picture perfect story to shreds. Screw him and screw Lucy.

Without another glance, Selena turned around. Slowly walking back to where Bryn was probably worried, not that Selena thought much about that right now. Determination burning. Mind wirring.

She already knew how. That bastard wouldn't see it coming.