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Gepard was ecstatic. After getting bogged down by the ridiculous amount of red herrings, he could keep track of all of Koski’s misdeeds! Soon, he hoped, Sampo would be behind bars, and with one less nuisance off the streets of Belobog, the Silvermane Guards could dedicate more time and resources to important matters. Lady Bronya would be delighted to hear the news, Gepard reasoned, making his way down to her office. When he stood at the doors, a familiar feminine and youthful voice rang out from inside.
“Thank you so much, Miss Bronya! Please let me know if there are any updates!”
The occupant rushed to the door with energy in their footsteps, swinging the door open with equal enthusiasm. Out came Lynx who practically skipped through the hallways. In her excitement, she didn’t even notice her brother at the door.
Something was up. After all, Lynx only got this excited about expeditions. Not to mention, her duties typically didn’t warrant her presence at Qlipoth Fort, much less did her duties need Lady Bronya’s counsel. Perhaps Lady Bronya needed to discuss ecological matters or potential discoveries with his sister, but that didn’t explain her enthusiasm.
Could she have…? It was possible. Lynx had always been the intrepid explorer. Did she get permission to explore further out in the Snow Plains from the Supreme Guardian?
“Lynx, I didn’t expect to see you. What brings you here?” Gepard spoke, interrupting her high spirits.
Lynx squeaked, stumbling on her feet to face him. She was equally, if not more, surprised to bump into him. Okay, that was even more odd. Just what could she be up to?
“Gepard! I was just about to check up on you! Da—no, Serval sent me to do that, yeah!” She mustered, not quite believing it herself.
Gepard simply stared at her, unimpressed. She wasn’t wearing her hat, so he could see the tips of her ears reddening—a telltale sign that she was lying. Not that he couldn’t tell she was lying otherwise. Her nervous demeanor and poorly fabricated excuse gave it all away. Still, Gepard was curious to see what else she’d come up with.
Neither of the siblings said anything, standing in silence. Gepard didn’t mind prolonging it. After all, the best way to let someone spill the truth was to let them stew in what they thought was awkward or judgmental silence. Of course, there were other methods, but this was the easiest trick in the book. One that seemed to be working.
“How’s your guitar case holding up, by the way? Serval wanted to know if it needed fixing up. Honestly, I wonder why you use it in battle anyway. Don’t get me wrong, Serval would rather you use it instead of having it collect dust, but… y’know?” Lynx floundered, making a vague gesture with her hand as if that completed the rest of her sentence.
More silence.
Gepard was a patient and persistent man. He raised his eyebrow expectantly. Just a little more he thought, and the truth would come out.
Lynx folded, sighing. “Okay, okay… Pela lent me some books a while ago on Belobog’s history. Apparently, Belobog used to be a tropical hotspot for the IPC! That got me wondering: how could we prepare for changes if the freeze goes away in the future? How would it be for us? What parts of the landscape and animals would change?”
She shifted her weight from foot to foot, choosing her words carefully. “So, I asked Lady Bronya if I could do an off-planet excursion to see if I could endure those conditions. I also really want to see these tropical lifeforms for myself…”
The older Landau absorbed the new information. It wasn’t surprising that Lynx felt adventurous. She had always been like this, much to his dismay. But to trek on an unfamiliar planet with a vastly different climate and culture would be dangerous to anyone, regardless of experience! The weather in Belobog was unpredictable at best, and the fragmentum monsters rampant. Hell, even his most prepared soldiers could die from unfortunate circumstances. He couldn’t imagine how unsafe it would be to explore a completely foreign land by oneself with minimal experience.
Needless to say, this new information alarmed Gepard greatly.
“Lynx,” He spoke, steady yet concerned all the same. “Do you have anyone to travel with you at least? Surely, Lady Bronya has assigned you travel partners?”
This question ignited something in his younger sister, her previous avoidant and conflicted stance now morphing into a defensive one. Her eyes bore into his, defiant.
“Aughhh, I knew you’d be overprotective!” Lynx huffed, affronted. “I can handle myself, you know! I’ll have you know that I sometimes explore Kando—ah!”
The younger Landau caught herself mid-sentence. Recovering from her mistake, her fiery attitude disappeared as fast as it came about. Still, Lynx stood firm as she said her next words.
“Anyway! The important thing is that we’re still looking into the destination, travel resources, and transportation. And yes, I know my limits, Gepard. Since I’ll be out of my element, I need an exploration partner. You don’t need to nag me about that.” Lynx explained, shooting a pointed look at him.
Before Gepard could utter a response, light steps echoed through the halls. With it, a voice piped up, calling Lynx by her nickname.
“Lynxy! There you are!” Pela ran up to her, out of breath. “I was wondering where you were.”
Pulling Lynx aside, she whispered something Gepard couldn’t hear, save for the tail end of her sentence. Lynx gave an almost imperceptible nod in response.
Ah. The conveniently timed getaway.
“Sorry, Captain Gepard, I need Lynx for something!” Pela bowed her head politely and rushed away from the hallway, Lynx in tow.
Gepard let them go. The logistics weren’t something they could solve in a single conversation anyway. Pela must have been waiting for her regardless since Lynx was a rare sight at Qlipoth Fort.
Now that he was alone, he combed his mind for possible travel partners and resources to research optimal destinations. Gepard wondered if they could even find someone knowledgeable about the world outside of Belobog. With Topaz and the Astral Express Crew visiting other planets, that left them little to work with. Doing investigative work was nothing he couldn’t do—in fact, he excelled at solving cold cases—but in this case, any books they found on the matter would be centuries old. Outdated information wouldn’t do them any good, especially in such an unfamiliar destination.
Idly, he thought it best if he came along. While he wasn’t as well-versed as Lynx was in extreme environment survival, he was still competent, and tagging along would grant him peace of mind. Serval came to mind as well. He didn’t doubt that Serval wouldn’t fret about Gepard and Lynx’s well-being as they ventured off-planet. Not only that, but she had considered joining the Astral Express crew a few months ago, eager to run away from her problems. Underneath that desire to run away from her problems was a yearning for adventure.
Perhaps Lady Bronya had more leads. Speaking of Lady Bronya, he nearly forgot why he was standing outside her office in the first place—to update her on his significant investigation progress on Sampo.
Wait… That’s it!
That crook, enigma that he was, could very well solve the logistics of their transportation!
Before the arrival of the Astral Express and IPC, Gepard used to hate attributing Sampo’s success to otherworldly technologies and knowledge. It seemed like shoddy excuses to cover for the Silvermane Guards’ incompetency, but nowadays such an excuse was within the realm of possibility.
That in particular explained Sampo’s nonsensical remarks. The conman would throw references to nonexistent media left and right. “Tom and Cherry” and “Roomy Tunes” weren’t just things said to throw Gepard and his men off-guard but could have a meaning sometime, somewhere. Even Pela, who was well-versed in media and fan spaces, was at a loss.
This was a good lead, Gepard determined. He adjusted his collar, ready to discuss both the investigation and the expedition to Lady Bronya.
The Supreme Guardian was receptive to his proposed plans.
Really, it didn’t take much convincing for her to agree that Gepard and Serval could accompany Lynx, Gepard especially. Lady Bronya mandated that this expedition be a brief vacation for the siblings once she checked the last time he’d formally taken time off for leisure. Official decree of the Supreme Guardian, she said lightheartedly.
As for Sampo, they knew he wasn’t the best option, but it was all they had at the moment. He was unpredictable at best, but in Gepard’s investigations, he did find that the conman typically kept his word—it’s just that his words were up to his interpretation. Again, he wasn’t the most trustworthy individual, but Bronya determined Serval and Gepard were capable of keeping Sampo’s antics at bay.
Arguably, monitoring Sampo meant that the trip wouldn’t quite be the relaxing vacation Bronya wanted Gepard to have, he thought, but options were few and far in-between. He felt it safer to tag along just in case some complications arose. In addition to concerns about the hot and humid climate, they decided it was best that the trip lasted only a day long.
And if things went sour, they had Topaz and the Astral Express as emergency contacts, the former being able to provide subordinates to bring them back to Belobog.
Now, all they needed to do was discuss matters with Sampo.
Contacting Sampo proved to be an easier task than he thought. Coincidentally, one of the office workers in Bronya’s office building smelled subtly of roses and gunpowder—something both Bronya and Gepard detected when she went to grab some relevant files. Definitely not suspicious, no.
With a silent signal from Bronya, Gepard confronted the worker, grabbing their wrist. Soft yet firm at first, of course, in case they truly were an innocent civilian. However, upon looking at their face and taking off the wig to reveal his signature blue hair, they confirmed the office worker’s hidden identity.
The crook didn’t even look surprised, brushing it off with a laugh and an odd remark. Something about it being plot convenient? Huh?
At least he was cooperative. That’s all that mattered.
And so, over the span of a few discussions together, they smoothed out the details. They were set to go to a planet called Ri’Mavtien: a place with friendly locals and an abundance of wildlife, many resembling the creatures of Belobog long ago. The day of departure was upon them. He was surprised at how efficiently things were moving along.
A text from Sampo lit up his phone, a sharp ping ringing in the air.
Sampo: Everything’s ready, Captain! Meet up in 20 minutes. :)
Gepard: Got it.
They really were going off-planet. Gepard couldn’t believe it. It was one thing to be on the Astral Express, and another to be visiting a world so distant from their own, different in all ways possible. He remembered when he first viewed Belobog from above, in the Astral Express. The bizarre experience made him feel… insignificant, in the grand scheme of things. Even hearing his hometown being referred to as Jarilo-IV felt highly unnatural to him.
In all honesty, he couldn’t imagine a world outside of his beloved Belobog. In a later discussion between Bronya, Sampo, and the Landau siblings, they were educated on how to prepare for their trip, emphasizing carefulness under the intense heat and humidity. That did help a lot, but words could only do so much. Really, the fastest way to learn was to find out for themselves, and with a guide as unpredictable as Sampo, he was sure this trip could end gravely.
No, no, he couldn’t go down a mental spiral now. The captain caught himself before his judgment became clouded. Instead, Gepard found another thing to fixate on: the heat.
Would the weather in Ri’Mavtien be as intense as sitting beside a blazing campfire or beside the geomarrow heaters placed generously throughout the citadel? Was it an unbearable, oppressive heat? Would he and his siblings be able to adapt to the climate quickly? …Would this trip end in a heatstroke for all of them?
Gepard suddenly wished that he hadn’t expedited the trip by offering solutions to the Madame Guardian. He felt woefully unprepared. Sampo’s little seminars didn’t seem like enough.
Apprehension roiled off of Gepard in waves. Serval and Lynx, too, looked to be anxious about the trip, but their worries didn’t seem to take a toll on them. Rather, they were excited. The sisters had a similar yearning to learn more and reach new heights, after all.
The two glanced at each other, then worriedly at Gepard.
Serval approached her younger brother, elbowing him in the side and pinching his cheek. “Relax, Geppie! Your worry is suffocating yourself, me, and Lynxie. We’ve got it handled, and if not, we Landaus always bounce back! We’re stubborn like that.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Gepard sighed, still sporting a conflicted expression.
The pep talk didn’t seem to be effective, so Serval tried again.
“Knowing Sampo, I have a feeling he won’t run off, anyway. Not when you’re around.”
“What?” Gepard uttered, perplexed. “That couldn’t be further from the truth, Serval. Every time we see each other, I give chase, and he scurries away! He’s never not run off.”
Serval met her younger brother’s gaze with a blank look, contemplating something. In the end, she settled on raising her hand to ruffle his hair and ran some static electricity through it to make his hair stand up, sighing.
“You know Geppie, you’re incredible on so many fronts, but you’re also incredibly dumb.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?!”
“Let’s just say you can’t go wrong with your dear sister’s intuition, yeah?”
“Can we please get a move on?”
At the meeting spot, Gepard had a faint suspicion that they had been punked. Sampo promised to teleport them to Ri’Mavtien, after all, so he assumed there would be a sizable, intricate machine. Yet, as he scouted the area, he found no such equipment. Someone of Sampo’s repertoire would at least leave some sort of decoy.
Despite his misgivings, he didn’t think Sampo would disappoint his siblings like this. No, even the trickster had standards and morals that he wouldn’t cross. He wouldn’t change up his status quo without rhyme or reason.
Just to be sure, though, Gepard stood on guard.
At 11:00 on the dot, Sampo sauntered into the meeting spot. With him were two gadgets, one already equipped on his right arm, and the other in his grasp. Alongside him was a maroon suitcase, filled to the brim. Gepard’s hackles raised at the sight of his gadgets.
“Welcome! So glad you could make it,” the trickster bowed at them. “Sampo Koski, best travel agent in Belobog, at your service.”
It was only when Sampo explained what the gauntlet-shaped machines were that he lowered his guard. Serval zapped Gepard’s shoulder, shooting him a glance that said “I told you so.”
“Koski, it’s nice to see you uphold your word.”
“Oh, but of course! You are my esteemed clients, after all. Can’t make a bad impression lest I get a bad service rating.” The other man chimed.
“And don’t worry,” he assured, slapping the top of the mysterious suitcase. His signature half-lidded smile “This thing’s got essentials for emergencies. Snacks, too. Those count as emergencies.”
“Oh, and before we all forget,” Sampo reminded. “Please, apply sunscreen before we go!”
As it turned out, Ri’Mavtien was not comparable to the heat of a campfire, nor was it akin to the heat of the geomarrow heaters. Rather, its heat was comparable to that of a sauna, though less humid. Gepard could work with that. He typically used the sauna after an intense training regimen or after a long and arduous mission. His main concern was overexertion and getting burned by the sun, something Sampo had emphasized in their meetings. What he couldn’t work with was the wave of nausea he got from the teleportation device.
“Geez, no wonder you said to pack lightly,” Serval remarked, caught off guard by the wave of heat and humidity. She was at least acquainted with the heat, typically working with machines that radiated warmth at her workshop. Not to mention, she had her electro abilities and had experimented with stage pyrotechnics and lighting at her shows. That being said, she wasn’t used to the humidity.
Lynx, on the other hand, seemed to regret her choice slightly. She, like Gepard, was slightly green in the face from teleporting and was certainly not used to the heat. Still though, she had a gleam in her eye, keen to explore.
Overall, the siblings seemed to be faring quite well. It was a good thing Sampo gave them weather-appropriate and fashionable outfits to pack into their bags. The lack of layers felt odd to him, but he’d adjust to it eventually.
Of them all, Sampo was practically unaffected. Not too surprising, Gepard figured. The trickster was acquainted with the device, likely using it to escape some chases.
“Alrighty!” Sampo clapped his hands, getting everyone’s attention. “Since our main point of interest is the beachside, that’s where we’re headed! Any objections?”
The Landau siblings all shook their heads.
“Perfect! Sampo Koski will lead the way.”
They were brought to a scenic beach, no doubt teeming with life for Lynx to investigate. It was a beautiful shoreline, too. Perfect for relaxation. The sand was hot underneath their feet, almost burning them with each step, despite the sandals. He could even see the heat waves radiate from the ground and into the air. In hindsight, they should’ve gotten sandals that protected them on all sides of their feet.
Curious, he looked to the others to see if they experienced the same problem. Serval seemed to be doing well, using her electro powers to apply static electricity to the sand, repelling the surrounding sand particles. He glanced at Sampo who traversed the sand with ease, using his wind to blow away the sand particles. Lynx, too, employed a similar technique to the other two, moving the particles aside with her quantum powers.
…
Needless to say, Gepard flushed with embarrassment, wishing he thought about using his ice powers sooner. Silently, he cooled off his feet and the surrounding sand with his ice powers.
At some point, the group decided to split off, no thanks to Sampo. They managed to get in some lunch and relaxation before Sampo got a hermit crab to pinch Gepard on the arm, leading to a chase. Unfortunately, their chase scared off the nearby sea turtle Lynx looked most forward to observing. Faced with Lynx’s ire, Serval thought it best to go their separate ways.
“Yeah, no, you guys are ruining it. Even the animals think so,” Serval remarked.
Gepard frowned, indignant. “But he pinched me with the hermit crab!”
At the childish behavior, Serval almost let out a snort, but she stayed stern as she said her next words. “We’re not going to get anywhere with these two. Lynx, we can go explore somewhere without them.”
“Ooh, can we?” Lynx’s face brightened up.
“Wait, but–”
“No buts, lil Geppie! You decided your fate. Lynx and I have different goals from the two of you, anyway! You guys sort yourselves out, and we’ll have fun exploring, alright?” Serval swiftly scooped up her and Lynx’s belongings which weren’t much. That left Gepard no time to convince them to stay.
With that, Serval and Lynx gathered their belongings and set off to explore to their hearts’ content. It’s not how he wanted things to play out, but with Serval tagging along, Lynx was less likely to venture into the wilderness. Now, though… It was up to Gepard to deal with Sampo’s antics. He shot a glare at Sampo who cast him his signature smarmy look.
How much of an advantage did Sampo have over him now? Gepard furrowed his eyebrows, recalling all the times the thief evaded his arrest attempts in Belobog, his home town. Now, he was in unfamiliar terrain, and he wasn’t even sure Sampo would uphold his promise to return the Landaus to Belobog. It was a frustrating situation, but on such a short notice, what other options did they really have?
Why couldn’t the Astral Express crew have been available? Gepard lamented all the factors that led to this point.
“Relax, Captain! You’re here to have fun! Supreme Guardian’s orders, remember?” Sampo slid into his view with… a gentle expression? That was new. Was he actually concerned about Gepard? He couldn’t quite discern the expression with Sampo’s blue hair covering the other eye.
He didn’t have long to look, though—the trickster quickly replaced it with his usual playful demeanor as he went on to tease the captain.
“Such a principled man wouldn’t disobey Bronya’s orders, surely?”
Ah, Gepard realized. Sampo was trying to pull him out of his spiraling.
The blond cleared his throat. “Then you’ll have to obey her orders, too.”
His face softened, the slightest hint of a smile gracing his lips. It caught the other by surprise, made evident by how Sampo turned away, pink tinting his cheeks.
“Well, then. Sampo Koski knows just the place!”
The place in question was someplace hidden away from the common eye, away from the buzz of human life. The path—if you could call it one—was difficult to traverse. They stepped and climbed on rocks, large and small. The large ones made the trek a cardio exercise, and the small ones were tripping hazards. Foliage brushed against their face and body, almost hitting them in the face or tripping them.
Insects buzzed in every direction, and swarms of tiny flying bugs refused to part for the two men. It seemed like there was a new swarm every few feet. Gepard was certain he accidentally breathed a few in. Mosquitos too hungry to care about their mosquito spray hovered around their next meal. Gepard froze the ones he could see in revenge. He walked into a few spiderwebs, too. Since Sampo was showing the way, he decided to follow in his footsteps as close as he could.
Besides that, he’d never seen so many animals out and about. Granted, the animals scurried at the sight of them if they didn’t already hear the sound of their footsteps, but to encounter so much non-human life bewildered him. It was a sharp contrast to Belobogian wildlife that preferred to burrow underground or seek shelter to keep away from predators and maintain warmth.
As much as he had to say about the plant and animal life, he had to admit it was impressive and beautiful. Everything was so vibrant and lively. Gepard made sure to hike slowly to take in the scenery, and Sampo accommodated that.
Reminded of his younger sister, he wondered if Lynx and Serval were holding up alright. Lynx would surely gawk at the fauna and flora, likely getting lost. He trusted Serval, though, to gauge their limit and pull the youngest Landau away if need be. Serval was more interested in machinery, anyway, so they would optimally spend minimal time in the depths of the wilderness and closer to human activity. That gave him peace of mind.
Gepard was doing better in these conditions than he thought he would. The thick foliage around them provided sufficient shade from the sweltering heat and humidity. Sampo had also given the blond a water backpack to stay hydrated which he cooled with his powers and drank from frequently. In addition, the conman was kind enough to use his wind powers to provide them both with a breeze. Gepard returned the favor, crystallizing the water droplets in the humid air to melt on skin contact and cool the air around them. He had to use his powers with caution, though, because that could very well lead to overexertion. The combined wind and shade was enough, so he only took one necessary break.
For all the hiking they did, Sampo didn’t show any signs of exhaustion. The break they took was really just for Gepard who began to feel the oppressive heat and humidity. His stamina rivaled that of Sampo’s at least, so ideally he would’ve been able to keep up. These conditions were demanding, but he pushed forward nonetheless. How often did Sampo leave Belobog, anyway? If not often, then just enough times to be able to adapt to any weather, surely? Regardless, his adaptability was truly something to behold.
Gepard pondered how long they had been at this. The trickster mentioned that their destination wouldn’t take long, but their trek seemed to have taken more than thirty minutes. Maybe an hour tops.
As though his wishes were answered, the conman stopped in his tracks, hand on his hips as he looked ahead.
“We’re here!” Sampo declared in a sing-songy voice.
Gepard caught up to where Sampo stood, looking ahead and widening his eyes at the view. They were overlooking a stretch of pristine white sand. Palm trees and local flora separated the grassy area from the expansive sandy shoreline. Past that, the ocean had a vibrant, deep blue hue, and its calm waves brushed the crescent-shaped land. At the center of it all, there was a quaint wooden dock connecting land and water.
“Sooo, what do you think? Sampo Koski never fails to deliver, eh?” The conman gestured to the clearing, proud of himself.
“This clearing—“
“Cove.”
“This cove is incredible.” Gepard finished, enchanted.
“Excellent! Sounds like my service is a 10 out of 10.” Sampo beamed. “Let’s get down.”
The conman then held his hand out for Gepard to take. He obliged, and Sampo promptly and carefully slid down the slope, helping the blond get down safely. The breeze was gentle yet refreshing in the cove, so they didn’t need to use their powers any longer.
As they approached the dock, Gepard noticed a rusty metal sign depicting a man falling into deep waters. He brushed off some sand and dirt, reading the words.
CAUTION: SUDDEN OCEAN DROP-OFF
Hm. That was concerning. For all the bickering they did, they displayed a constant awareness of their surroundings, so he hoped for no accidents. There was no harm in being too cautious, though, so he chose to sit at the center of the dock. That way, he wouldn’t have to learn to swim on the spot.
Speaking of swimming…
“Koski,” Gepard questioned. “Do you know how to swim?”
Sampo stilled at the question, oddly enough. Gepard tilted his head in confusion. It wasn’t a loaded question unless he had bad memories or shame surrounding swimming. It was best if he didn’t pry—he didn’t want to upset the conman and increase the likelihood of using their emergency contact.
The other man quickly schooled his expression, fabricating his next words. “Nope, not at all! I very much prefer big ice baths, though.”
He rambled on. “Some people rave about the benefits of ice baths, you know. I thought it was bogus until I tried it for myself. Perhaps you should give it a try too once we return to Belobog.”
“I see. I can’t swim either,” Gepard acquiesced. “I never got the chance to, what with my duties as captain. My men don’t swim, though some do take ice baths.”
“Hard to swim when all the seas are frozen over,” Sampo quipped, pretending to mope. “Even if I could swim, I don’t like the feeling of sand sticking to my feet.”
There was some semblance of normalcy in his latest response, at least. If not for the previous moments, he would’ve taken that statement to be the truth, but there was something he was skirting around. Gepard contemplated whether it was a bad idea to play into the trickster’s whims.
In the end, it was Sampo who continued to interact with him, trying to get back into his groove.
“It sucks that we can’t swim then,” the conman lamented, gaining a mischievous glint in his eyes as he continued. “I figure now’s the perfect time to ask: I heard you’ve been practicing your art skills lately?”
Oh. Oh no.
Now, it was his turn on the anxiety.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Gepard vehemently denied.
“Oh? When the Astral Express came by, I remember seeing some wanted posters of the trailblazers. New art style, too,” Sampo pushed further. “Maybe you saw it? I think this interpretation captured my beautiful features quite well. Here, I’ll show you.”
The trickster opened his suitcase, digging into its contents. Sampo pulled out the wanted poster in question, waving it in front of his face to taunt him.
Perhaps it was the combination of being overwhelmed by new stimuli, the anxiety of being on an entirely new planet, the underlying worry about Lynx and Serval’s wellbeing, Sampo’s unusual behavior, and the mention of his modest drawing skills that made Gepard react the way he did.
He chased after Sampo. It wasn’t strange to them, but this time the crook had something important to Gepard. With unusually excessive force, he snatched the wanted poster from Sampo’s hands and shoved him aside…
…Off the edge of the dock…
…And into the water.
A yelp sounded, followed by a loud splash.
In a moment of panic, Gepard defaulted to his habit of saving people, jumping into the water after Sampo. A poor decision, in hindsight, as he belatedly remembered that he couldn’t swim. As such, his body reacted accordingly, flailing his limbs about.
Staying afloat proved to be a difficult task. Just as the caution sign indicated, the dropoff left Gepard’s feet with nothing to stand on. Gepard sank slowly into the deep blue, nose burning from the change in pressure. The deceptively clear water betrayed him, blurring his vision and making it all the more difficult to even spot Sampo… who had mysteriously disappeared from view.
More importantly, though, was the fact that he was running out of breath. Gepard hadn’t wasted a moment jumping into the water—one of the many failings of this heroic stunt gone wrong. It wouldn’t be long before his body needed to gasp for air. He had to get out before then, but time was running out.
Despite his best attempts to stay afloat, the distance between him and the lake’s surface remained unclosed. Gepard’s lungs protested the long distance relationship.
Suddenly, arms wrapped around his chest, gripping him firmly, and the mysterious force propelled them to the surface, practically shooting him out of the water and onto the warm wooden planks of the dock. There, the sun wasted no time
Gepard’s lungs greedily took in the sweet, sweet oxygen that had previously been deprived from them, coughing from time to time. He couldn’t savor the moment for long, though. Looking around, Sampo was still nowhere to be found. That could only mean that he was still underwater, Gepard surmised.
Whoever saved him must have gone to save Sampo, Gepard desperately hoped. Scrambling to his feet, he rushed to the edge of the dock and leaned over to look into the water, careful not to submerge himself a second time. Surely, he would see Sampo and their savior in the waters.
The conman was easy to find, fortunately. Blue eyes met green as the other resurfaced, blue hair matching the depths of the water. Besides that, no one else floated up beside Sampo, nor did they walk up from behind Gepard. That meant that Sampo saved him. He’d have to thank Sampo later.
Gepard was the first to speak. “Sampo, are you okay?”
“Peachy as ever, dear captain!”
Upon his confirmation of well-being, the tension in his shoulders dissipated. He was relieved to see Sampo at the surface, exhaling out a deep sigh.
“So…” Gepard trailed off his sentence. “You can swim.”
Right now, Sampo seemed to be doing well in the water, too. The captain mentally crossed off the traumatic memory hypothesis. What could make the confident Sampo Koski have some aversion to water…?
“Yeah, and you sink like a rock,” Sampo retorted, curt and simple. Then, with a lighter tone, he added, “Fitting for a follower of the Amber Lord.”
Gepard bit back his response, narrowing his eyes instead. He mulled over the details of the recent incident. The conman lacked his usual carefree, playful tone. It was understandable, given the near-drowning. Well, Gepard was the one that almost drowned, but whatever happened between then and now seemed to agitate Sampo’s anxieties.
During his silence, he observed the other man. Upon closer look, Sampo hadn’t fully lifted his head out of the water, his ears submerged beneath the waves and his nose just high enough above the water to allow for breathing, save for some waves. It would have made for an amusing sight if not for the worry of drowning.
“Since you can swim, why don’t you get out of the water?” Gepard asked bluntly.
“…I can’t.”
Huh…? Was he actually stuck? Sampo didn’t seem to display any signs of struggle. Socially? Yeah. Physically? Maybe.
“I can help, you know. Did you get stuck in the seaweed?”
“Really, I’m fine,” Sampo answered, reluctant. “I just got taken by surprise, that’s all.”
His unusually meek demeanor was throwing Gepard in for a loop. This was the first time he’d ever seen Sampo like this. It was genuine sheepishness—not the usual act that the crook employed to make people underestimate his abilities. Did the teleportation device somehow scramble his cells the wrong way?
“Are you sure you’re not stuck?” Gepard asked a second time, skeptical.
“Yup. The water’s nice.”
Very eloquent. Thank you, Sampo. This was certainly getting somewhere.
Hold on.
How was Sampo holding so still in the seawater? Surely, he would be bobbing up and down from the waves. Even a skilled swimmer would have trouble being stationary in the water. Not only that, with the way Sampo was staying afloat, the waves would hit his nose, making the act of breathing in air just slightly more challenging.
Maybe this was just a new method to mess with him.
Just as Gepard began to grow agitated, Sampo dipped his head underwater, startling him. He resurfaced within seconds, though, this time rising above the water by a few more inches. His ears remained hidden, though, obscured by his hair. Navy green peeked out from his strands.
“Ah, you have something in your hair,” Gepard commented, his offer to remove it from the conman’s hair silent. He made sure to move faster than Sampo could process his words or dodge accordingly. The captain parsed through his hair strands, picking out the plant matter.
The seaweed lifted his hair, too, revealing a glittering, cranberry-colored fin. Both parties stilled, one from bewilderment and the other from anxiety.
Gepard did a double take. He didn’t know what he was expecting, but it definitely wasn’t this. A mosquito whizzed past his ear, reminding him to shut his mouth.
“…Surprise!” Sampo waved his now webbed hands in weak fanfare. From the timid yet resigned look on his face, it seemed as though he was bracing for an adverse reaction.
He couldn’t gather the words to speak. So many questions popped into his mind, the first of which being:
“What are you?”
Gepard covered his mouth with his hand, mortified by his bluntness.
“Apologies, I didn’t think that through! I think you look nice.” Gepard hastily tried to amend his wrong.
“What?!” Sampo wheezed, surprised. Blush spread on his cheekbones, and a large maroon tail splashed abashedly.
“The scales, I mean!” Gepard corrected himself. “Wait, you have a tail?!”
The two men needed a moment to collect themselves, but in the meantime, Sampo’s tail made itself known, drawing Gepard’s attention and amazement.
Now calmer, Gepard asked the same question again but with careful, curious intention and awe.
Sampo’s eyes lit up at Gepard’s openmindedness and eager words.
“Where do you want me to start?”
They ended up whiling away the rest of the day at that dock. Apparently, there were people who were gazed upon favorably by an Aeon and were given express permission to draw on THEIR powers. Those people were called emanators of that Aeon, and Sampo Koski happened to be one of them. It was the Aeon of Elation who favored the trickster, and THEIR emanators were granted another, higher form. Not all emanators had such showy forms, but given Aha’s likeness, it made sense.
Upon Gepard’s request, Sampo surfaced from the water in his mer form, letting the captain admire his tail and scaly features up close. The full tail was a deep red magenta like his signature outer coat, shifting into a beautiful indigo hue to match Sampo’s hair. Idly, Gepard wondered what came first: the conman’s rebellious attire or the tail. He was willing to bet on the latter.
To Gepard’s delight, Sampo regaled him of all the places he’d been and all the things he’d seen underwater since being granted an aquatic ability. These tales, spun from truth, lie, or both, enchanted him. Though he personally had enough water for today, he couldn’t get enough of Sampo’s underwater tales.
Of course, they didn’t just spend time at the dock edge. They sat underneath the trees sometimes for shade, and other times, Sampo was keen on making sand sculptures to depict his stories. They would laugh when the sand didn’t cooperate with his artistic vision.
Dinner was a simple picnic, food generously provided by Sampo’s suitcase. The cove was far, anyway, and they didn’t want to take the hike. The dinner wasn’t special food-wise—it was normal Belobogian cuisine, but the moments they shared as they ate were.
Then, the sun set on the horizon, beautiful pink and orange hues splashed the sky. They both sat on the dock, gazing at the sun, enjoying the moment. Sampo’s narration became a comforting background noise as he reviewed the day’s events.
How much time had passed by since their mishap, anyway? He didn’t miss the drowning part, but he was glad it led to a pleasant discovery. He exhaled loudly, taking in the sky and sea breeze, kicking his feet in the waters of the dock.
A comfortable silence fell between the two, broken only by Gepard.
“Thank you, Sampo, for bringing us here.” Those were the words he settled on. Simple and sweet, he decided.
“No problemo, captain!” Sampo turned to give him a toothy grin, genuine. His next words, though, were careful. “Would you believe me if I said I wanted to bring you here? That this was one of the main reasons for this trip?”
“Yes, but not so soon, evidently. You were so anxious about your mer form.” Gepard pointed out, a note of concern underneath his straightforwardness.
Sampo splashed Gepard with his tail, gasping in mock offense. The water soaked his clothes, cold against his skin.
“I had my reasons!”
“Uh-huh.”
“Yep, sure did.”
“Then what were they?”
Silence. It was obvious something about his other form still worried him greatly. Oops. Gepard looked for something else to talk about, respecting Sampo’s desire not to share why.
“You have something in your hair again.”
Gepard leaned forward, picking out yet another strand of seaweed from the Sampo’s head. As he withdrew his hand, seaweed in tow, the conman grabbed it, holding it by the fingers lightly. Confused, Gepard looked at Sampo’s face for answers. The other man had a fond expression, and they locked eyes as Sampo lifted the captain’s hand to his face and kissed it.
Gepard short-circuited, his face becoming a rosy red at the romantic gesture. He covered the lower half of his face with his hand, looking away.
“D’aw, you’re blushing! Who knew the Iron Wall of Belobog could turn so red?” Sampo teased, playful.
Still flustered by the kiss, the captain couldn’t form a coherent thought to speak, so he instead shot the conman a weak glare. It stood to make his point but didn’t disapprove of the romantic gesture.
Sampo simply laughed, giving him a comforting pat on the shoulder that Gepard flinched at.
The conman stopped, perplexed, and tried to pinpoint the problem.
He looked at Gepard’s face, likely still tinged with blush, and then to his arms and legs, scrutinizing the skin. Gepard, too, examined his skin. It was red and slightly flaky. He wondered what that meant for him.
“You’re sunburnt!” Sampo exclaimed, unhappy with his discovery.
“I’ll be fine,” Gepard replied, wanting to comfort the conman. He didn’t think sunburns would be much of a problem, anyway.
It was definitely more of a problem than he thought it’d be, he grimaced as Serval gave him a hug as a greeting. The tender and flaky skin was at least unnoticeable under the midnight moon. He didn’t want his sisters to notice the redness. More importantly, he wondered how long it would take for him to recover from the sunburns.
Sampo gave him a sympathetic look before launching into his usual banter.
“So… on a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate this travel experience?”