Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

The sea was louder than Riddle had expected.

The unruly waves crashed against the sand, arriving in uneven intervals, dragging sand and white foam before retreating into the sea.

Riddle stared at the ocean, a sight so unfamiliar he had only ever read about in books. The book in his lap, "Introduction to Oceanography and The Life Within" by Moe Ana, had not mentioned the noisiness.

It only described the seashore as "the land along the edge of a sea, lake, or other large body of water."

They were far from Crimson City, the capital of the Queendom of Roses. Mother had received news that she needed to travel south. A rather influential politician required her healing skills, and she could not refuse. Father was away from home at the moment, not that Riddle was particularly close with him, as it was primarily his Mother who took care of him. So, that left him in her care.

However, due to his rule-breaking a couple of months ago with Trey and Chenya… He was "not to be trusted with any sort of alone time" as he had "broken her trust." So she had brought him along to her assignment.

Yet, before he was able to step foot inside the beach house, he overheard from the stranger who led them there, that it was a "confidential environment and that kids should stay outside."

So, he was placed by the sea, away from the supposed confidential healing process. Mother, prepared for this situation, had instructed him to stay exactly where she had placed him and handed him the book with strict rules to follow.

He was not to play.

He was not to wander.

He was to observe the coastal wild plant life and compare it with the illustrations in the book.

Riddle straightened his posture and turned the page. It had been…harder to focus. Not that he would ever dare say a thing out loud. It's just… this was the first time Mother had allowed him any time alone since the… rule-breaking, especially in an unfamiliar environment.

The red-haired boy sighed as he tried his best to focus on the words on the page, rather than the urge to touch the ripples of water. It seemed so… peaceful.

"Ocean Colour is the noticeable hue or shade of water that results from the interactions of daylight with the microscopic composition of the water column and water itself."

Riddle inspected the vast sea. The water was a light azure during that time of day, it was around noon with sunny skies. Waves were coming in and out in a gentle rhythm. It was noisy, but he had begun to like it. The water was clean, and the sand was free of rubbish. This beach-side seemed to not be frequented by civilians, as there was no one else around. They were far from any city or town; this beach house stood by itself.

He wondered… would playing in the water give the same feeling as when he played with Trey and Chenya?

Riddle stared at the incoming waves for a moment and sighed. What was with him today? He could hardly focus on reading with the inviting- ahem, distracting noises of the water. He redirected his focus to the plants near the rocks.

There was not much plant life that Riddle could see from where he sat on the sand. Many rocks of various shapes and sizes surrounded him, some with small patches of Sisyrinchium angustifolium, commonly known as "Blue-Eyed Grass". Mother had not given him any paper to write on, so Riddle made mental notes of these observations.

"Rocks by the shore can gain their shape, although normally smooth, based on the erosion of the water. Rocks vary from region to region. For more information on the types of rocks based on region, head to page 476 for the index on 'Rocks Varied By Region'."

Riddle sighed. He had read the book from front to back twice now and completed the crossword in the back of the textbook. His gaze shifted once more to the moving waters.

There was something, almost cruel, about being brought to the sea for the first time but not being allowed to touch it.

But... he did not want to get in trouble anymore. He could be good, obedient and follow his Mother's instructions. He could swallow the urge to play and push it away. He's done it before, he can do it again. If that would please his Mother. He could be trusted with such freedom. She often said, "Freedom is obedience."

The waves rolled in and out as usual, but near the large boulder ahead, something moved. A different, distinct movement. An action that would have gone unnoticed if it were not for the… unusual-ness of said movement.

He blinked. At first, he thought it might be a trick of the water or a shadow cast by the sun. But no… the motion persisted. A small black-and-purple tentacle clung to the side of the rock, twitching with cautious curiosity.

Riddle's eyebrows furrowed as he observed the tentacle. Was there a beached octopoda on land? It was reminiscent of Muusocotpus robustus, known also as a "Pearl Octopus". But he was not aware that this species could also have such ebony colouring.

As Riddle stared at the washed-up octopus, he felt sudden goosebumps on his upper arms, alongside the sensation of… staring? That's odd. Last he checked, he was alone on the shore. He looked around the shore when his gaze shifted more to the left.

That's when he saw it.

Despite, the pale silver hair blending almost seamlessly with the white sea foam by the coast, a pair of sky-blue eyes stared unmistakably back at him behind the large rock.

Was that… someone staring at him?

Riddle's lips tightened as he tried to make sense of whoever it was. Whoever it was, didn't seem to have noticed that Riddle could very visibly see them. He was unsure what to do about this unprecedented occurrence. There was no rule book or instructions to follow.

Should he ignore the figure and return to his book? Or should he address the individual? He doubted that whoever it was posed a serious threat. Riddle could use some spells he was taught in self-defence, but he did not bring his magical pen on this outing. Without the pen his Mother had given him, it wasn't worth risking accumulating any blot by using magic.

If he were to ignore it, he could focus on reading and follow his Mother's rules. Although… now that Riddle was aware of said staring… it was rather uncomfortable. Mother had always said staring was rude.

His mind raced through all the possibilities of action, every rule his Mother had drilled into him, and the tasks he was assigned to obey.

Surely… addressing the staring would only allow them to go away and leave Riddle be. Allowing him to focus properly. The person was still staring, and it was becoming increasingly more difficult for him to pretend not to have noticed.

This was just a way to follow the rules by ensuring this individual would not be a distraction in the future. In fact… Mother would never even know about this because the individual would leave him be before she finished.

It was a very rare opportunity to speak to someone other than his Mother, especially since his… incident with Trey and Chenya. Riddle turned around to confirm that his Mother was still inside the beach house, so it didn't look like he was fooling around or breaking any rules, but... it was not against any of the rules to speak.

"You there, the one behind the rock. You are visible," Riddle called out bluntly. "If you are trying to hide, I can very much see you, so you may as well stop staring at me."

For a second, the figure froze at the sound of being addressed. Then, almost as if jolted by the reminder of Riddle's staring, their head bobbed downward fully behind the rock. Only the dark purple and black tip of the beached octopus remained above the water, twitching erratically, clinging to the rock.

Riddle's eyebrows furrowed. Interesting. The individual had clearly been attempting to remain concealed... but not particularly well. Does the person not know that it is rude not to respond when addressed?

"Don't you know it's rude not to speak when spoken to?" Riddle innocently exclaimed, his Mother would be yelling by now if he ignored her. He pouted at being shunned, placed his book gently on the sand by his right side, careful to not get any grains of sand in the pages.

Riddle got up from his position and stood tall, brushing the sand from his trousers as he tried to get a better look to see if the strange individual was still there.

For a moment, nothing happened. Only the twitching octopus remained with a quiet rush of foam against the rock. Riddle frowned, wondering if the individual had fled after being discovered.

When, a delicate rush of sea-foam went towards the shore. Slowly and cautiously, the pale head of hair rose again, this time closer to Riddle and beside the large rock.

Two sky-blue eyes scrutinized Riddle as the person rose up to their chin above the water. He could see beneath the water's movements that the boy had black skin from the neck down, but a purple-grey face. Even a mole on the left side of his mouth. Riddle stared at the wet, stylized hair curl on the boy's left side of his face.

There was a boy by the shore.

Riddle tilted his head with fascination towards the colouring of this boy's skin, almost like an odd yet wondrous appearance. But it was surely a minute that the boy stayed underwater… How was he able to stay submerged for so long? The wondrous boy regarded Riddle with an expression that was difficult to read.

"…You talk really loudly," the boy finally muttered. His voice carried strangely across the water, softer than he expected.

He paused, surprised that the boy actually answered, before Riddle straightened immediately. "Well, you were staring," he replied matter-of-factually. "It would have been improper not to address it."

The boy blinked. "…Improper?"

"Yes." Riddle rested his hands behind his back, posture rigid despite the sand beneath his shoes. "Mother said there are many rules for basic etiquette, such as: 'One must not observe others in silence for extended periods of time.'" Riddle recalled instinctively. "It is unsettling- and you shouldn't mutter." He added on hastily at the end with a pout.

The boy stared at him for several seconds, unmoving. Then he tilted his head, lifted himself a little higher, and revealed himself up to his shoulders, closer to Riddle with his wet hair slicked against his face.

"You use really big words, and you sound funny. You're a strange human."

Riddle's eyebrows knit together in offence. "It's called the Roseish accent, and I am not strange," he affirmed firmly with crossed arms. "You are the one hiding behind rocks and refusing to answer when spoken to. It's rather rude to ignore someone who wishes to speak to you."

The boy's gaze flicked toward the beach house in the distance, then back to Riddle. "You... want to talk to me?" the silver-haired boy asked, clearly in disbelief.

Riddle tilted his head in confusion. "Well, you were staring, so I thought it best to address." His eyes sharpened. "Why? Are you here to cause misconduct and/or harm to me? Because you will be dealt with swiftly and promptly if you make any sort of attempt!" He stomped his foot with a sudden conniption as he readied himself for an attack.

The boy's eyes widened at Riddle's unanticipated behaviour. "N-No, no! Nothing like that! I didn't mean to stare! I was just-! W-well. Ahem, You see, I wasn't staring but rather, uhm. I just-"

He sputtered as though caught breaking a rule, before he turned his head away from Riddle. He caught a glimpse of the tips of the boy's ears, which began to turn… a darker purple?

"I was just… looking for some whosits and whatsits by the shore when I saw someone. It's really rare for there to be people here, and I really didn't mean to stare! Especially not for long!"

The boy's cheeks turned a darker purple as well. "Your hair colour made me think you were a… classmate of mine. He has red hair too, so I thought maybe he got his hands on a transformation potion and turned into a human and got human legs! So I went to take a look, but I saw you were reading a book. Rielle would never read, especially not for so long, so I found that weird. Then I noticed after a closer look that your hair is styled funny, it's different from his, and that yours actually makes heart-shaped curl thingies-"

Riddle's eyes widened in surprise at how chatty the boy managed to be, despite his earlier moments of hesitation. He even observed that the boy seemed to have a habit of nervously over-explaining all while making hand gestures about his ramblings, making little splashes of water.

"-and then you noticed me somehow before I was able to swim away and-! W-well. I didn't mean to disturb you, especially not any harm." The boy ended by coughing awkwardly.

Riddle's mouth gaped open at this newfound chattiness; he would have never guessed that this boy was ever hesitant to talk. All seemed fine then, the other boy meant no harm and simply misunderstood him to be his classmate with human legs-

Wait, what? Human… legs? What sort of classmate required specifically human legs?

Riddle's mind flashed back to what he presumed was a beached octopus, the unusual colouring of the boy's skin, yet identical to the shades of the tentacles, and the unbelievably long time the boy was able to stay underwater. His eyes widened with excitement and curiosity.

"Are you… an octomer?"

The octomer stiffened. Silence stretched between them. Riddle, however, did not step back. Instead, he leaned forward slightly with open curiosity. "I have read about octomers before," he continued thoughtfully. "But I have never seen one in person." He recalled the book he had read weeks prior, which gave a brief description of the Octomer species and their various types, from fish, eels, octopus, and more. There was a wide range of variety, some of which were more common than others.

Riddle remembers a mental note of seeing the illustrations of the rarer octomer species and thinking that it was very…

"Pretty."

The boy blinked. "…Pretty?"

Riddle hadn't meant to blurt that out loud, but he maintained his posture confidently. "Erm, yes. I had found the illustrations of octomers to be very… pretty." Riddle took a small step toward the silver-haired boy, trying to get a better look.

The boy stared at him in disbelief. "…That's your reaction?"

"Is this not a normal reaction? What reaction were you expecting?"

"…Screaming."

Riddle smirked and crossed his arms forward. "Well, I see no logical reason to scream. After all, the last book Mother handed to me mentioned various things about an octomer, none of which mentioned anything worthy to scream about." His smirk turned into a small, excited smile. "But… to see it is a whole different thing! Since you live in the Coral Sea, is it true that octomers live underneath in the colder parts of the Coral Reef?"

The boy froze, clearly not having expected a reaction like this from Riddle. "Uhm- y-yes?" he answered in disbelief.

Riddle's eyes widened at this opportunity of gaining information, as he took another step forward, inadvertently towards the octomer. "What about that octomer can glow in the dark? Or that they can see in the darkness, so they're more sensitive to the sunlight in their merforms?"

The octomer blinked, still surprised at not expecting such an enthusiastic response. "Some of them, and yes.." he answered with a slight smile.

"The book had also mentioned a special ability reserved only for the cephalopod variety. That is, when they feel threatened, scared, or attacked by a predator, they eject ink expelled from their siphon..."

Riddle trailed off when he noticed the octomer's smile had disappeared, his eyebrows furrowed in anger. The other boy scoffed in frustration. His face darkened, his small smile vanishing entirely. The octomer's voice trembled, half with anger, half with hurt. The tentacles began to move erratically with irritability.

"…You dare mention inking? Are you here just to rub it in my face as well? Did Rielle or my classmates put you to this?!"

Riddle's eyes widened at the volatile outburst that the other boy was expressing. As soon as Riddle mentioned 'ink', the boy suddenly got mad.

The octomer's eyes turned sharp and defensive. "Even on land, you guys create an elaborate plan to harass and bully me. Forget it. How did you guys even know I go here? Just leave me alone!" He turned his back as he started to retreat into the water.

Riddle blinked, confused. Had the book given him incorrect information? "Is… is it not true that Octomer ink? I did not mean to say an incorrect fact. I apologize if I received incorrect information. I don't have the slightest idea who 'Rielle' is. I truly didn't mean to offend you."

The octomer turned around as his chest heaved with heavy breaths, his eyes stared at Riddle. The anger slowly dissipated as he scrutinized him. Eyebrows still furrowed slightly. "You… you're apologizing?"

"Yes. I did not mean to offend you… I've just never seen an octomer in person, so… my apologies if I rambled longer than I should have."

The tentacles' movements lessened as the boy examined Riddle. "You really don't know a merkid named Rielle?"

“N-no! You're the first merkid I've spoken to. I don't even... I… don't normally have the opportunity to talk to many people, if at all. So I'm sorry if I'm not particularly good at this." Riddle whispered near the end with his arms by his side.

The octomer stilled for a moment and collected himself, before his arms seemed to hug himself as he muttered. "I'm… sorry. I shouldn't have had such a big reaction. I thought maybe my classmates put you up to this. I didn't mean to scare you."

"Don't make silly assumptions. That was a brash outburst, but I'm not scared of you."

"You're… not scared?"

"I'm still here, am I not?" Riddle stated as if it were the most obvious fact in the world. "Your tentacles don't scare me. Why? Should I be scared?"

The other boy hesitated. "…Most children are."

Riddle considered this as he observed the octomer. "Well," he said after a moment, "you have not attacked me, and despite your momentary outburst, you appear capable of conversation. Therefore, fear would be illogical and impractical."

The boys held eye contact, processing everything that had happened. Riddle stood on the sand, which was shifting ever so slightly yet remained solid under his feet. The other boy was hiding in the rushing water, which was constantly moving with the flow. Both standing and separated by their respective homeland, as the ripples of water gently lapped over the sandy shore.

The octomers' expression shifted. A small, cautious smile appeared as he got closer to Riddle. "...You really are strange."

Riddle frowned. "I told you-"

"My name is Azul. Azul Ashengrotto." The octomer interrupted.

Riddle stopped. For a moment, he simply stared at him. Then he gave a polite nod. "…Riddle Rosehearts."

The waves rolled quietly between them. Azul's eyes flicked to the book left on the ground. "You're reading about the ocean," he observed.

"Yes."

"…But you haven't touched the water."

Riddle hesitated. He turned slightly, his gaze briefly toward the beach house where his Mother should still be. "…I am not permitted to."

Azul watched him carefully. Then, after a moment, one tentacle slid lazily through the water, making a small swirl of foam. "…That sounds boring."

Riddle stared at the water. "…Yes," he admitted quietly.

"Have you ever even touched the seawater?"

"No... I don't know how to swim either, so it's best to stay away. Mother gave strict instructions to observe the plant life AND not to move from where she placed me. So, I would do well to follow her."

"But... you did move?"

Riddle looked at where he was now standing, eyes widened at not having realized that he had inadvertently broken the rules. His heart stopped for a moment before beating rapidly. He immediately took a few steps back to where he was first placed. "I-I didn't mean to! Oh no.. Mother will see my footsteps on the sand and she'll-"

Azul interrupted Riddle's panicked monologuing as he moved one of his tentacles to brush the water against the sand, making the footsteps disappear. "Do the rules really mean so much to you? Why are you on the beach if you won't even touch the water? Are you scared?"

Riddle grimaced, "I'm not scared, I'm just following the rules." He wipes his shoes of any sand. "Mother is inside, tending to her assignment. She's a skilled medical mage, and I must live up to her legacy by following the rules."

Azul leaned a little closer to the shore as he tilted his head in confusion. "But, it's a beach…? Can't you just study at home and take a break now? Doesn't make much sense to be at a beach but not play."

Riddle stared at the sky as it filled with light grey clouds. He answered quietly, "…Mother said there is no benefit to playing. Studying should be the priority."

Azul twists his lips in deep thought, "My parents said as long as I do my homework, I'm free to play afterwards. As long as I get decent grades." He shrugged.

Riddle looks bewildered at such a preposterous idea. "Doing homework is just a part of it; if you wish to be the best, you must have discipline. That's what Mother says." His head tilts in deep thought. "But if those are the rules for you that your parents set… then I guess you are following the directions. It just seems like there could be some room for improvement. Lounging around and not studying seems like a waste of time."

Azul's ears heat with a purple tint as he defends himself. "I don't just loungearound. I may not study all the time, but that doesn't mean I'm doing nothing. You're the one with the weird rules."

Riddle huffed, "The rules are necessary and important for the Queendom of Roses. They are a vital part of the Queen of Hearts! She single-handedly brought harmony and order to chaos and disarray."

The silver-haired boy scrunched his nose. "A little bit of chaos can be fun, though." He shrugged, "But I've never heard of the Queen of Hearts before. We don't have anyone like her under the sea. But we do have the Sea Witch!"

Riddle tilted his head; he had not read much about the other figures as he had for the Queen of Hearts.

"It's said that the Sea Witch lived underwater in a grotto, and that she had a kind and ben-ev-o-lent soul helping those more unfortunate, that is, if they were willing to pay the price. I bet no one messed with her despite her being an octomer…" Azul stumbled over the bigger words as he spoke, disgruntled near the end.

Riddle nodded as he absorbed this newfound knowledge. His own tone softening as he spoke, he had always found the stories of the Queen of Hearts interesting.

"The Queen of Hearts brought the rule of law to a chaotic kingdom. Under her strict leadership, she managed to control her citizens with an iron fist and brought order to chaos. The Queen's crown is said to be quite magnificent! She had a big crown right on her head. It was worn with great pride and posture." The corners of his lips turned upward into a small smile.

"She was said to never allow a single broken rule to go unpunished, or it would be off with... their.... heads." Riddle's mouth promptly shut. If Mother were to see him right now, he would surely go unpunished as well. The last time he broke the rules… was with... Trey and Chenya.

The outcome of that incident was permanently burned into his memory.

"Azul...you should go. This conversation has been most informative, but it'd be best for you to leave." He said monotonously. He really was enjoying their talk… Riddle began to dig his nails into his hands. Despite it being a bad habit, his Mother told him to stop, but he still did it subconsciously from time to time.

The octomer's face shifted into a blank expression. "Ah. I see." Azul's eyes lowered. "You're right, I have stayed too long. After all, no one wants to talk to a tubby octomer."

"Tubby?" Riddle blurted before Azul disappeared completely into the water. "What would physical appearance have to do with it? That seems like a ludicrous excuse to avoid conversation." He questioned.

Azul hesitated in the water, staring back at him.

Riddle's expression tightened, his brows knitting together as if Azul had given an incorrect answer on a test. His fingers tightened briefly in his long-sleeved jumper before he forced them still. He straightened his posture.

"Appearance has no connection to what I said. I only advised that you leave because continuing this conversation might cause me to break a rule." His heart pulsed rapidly; he felt it pounding within his ribcage.

"…Not because you are 'tubby.'"

The once unruly waves stilled, while his own heart could not. The waters receded farther into the vast sea. Silver eyes locked onto silvery blue. "…And even if you were, that still would not be relevant."

The cloudy skies darkened as the two boys stared at each other. Riddle felt warm and flushed despite the cool breeze that was picking up.

"Don't mistake my words with misintention. I understood I had to stop the conversation… or my Mother would get upset if she found out I didn't follow her instructions."

Silence filled the air between them as Riddle saw Azul analyzing him.

"...Then why? Why did you stop me from leaving?"

"I don't know." He blurted without thinking, words pouring out of his mouth without a second thought. "B-because you were wrong, and corrections are needed when someone says something untrue."

Why did he stop him from leaving? It was a moment of impulse that escaped his lips. It did not matter if Azul misinterpreted his reasoning. His arms were shaking slightly by his sides. It would be best if he pretended this interaction never happened. No punishment for either Azul or himself. Now that it's been corrected, he should let him go once more.

"I apol-"

"In that case… what if she doesn't find out?"

Riddle's eyes widened. What... was this boy proposing? He was stunned. Azul stared at him, his face unreadable. "W-what?"

The octomer shrugs as he goes back to his original position, closer to the shore. "Just watch."

Riddle watches intently as one of Azul's tentacles comes out of the water. Slithering cautiously towards the sand where the water did not reach. Before he began to… draw in the sand? After a moment of silence, with even the waters making no noise with their lack of movement, the boy retracted his tentacle back into the water.

Riddle leaned over as best he could to see... a drawing of a fork. Or maybe it was a trident? Beside it was an illustration of a nautilus shell, also known as Nautilus pompilius. Azul had drawn two wonky designs in the sand. Was- was this octomer setting him up–?! It would be obvious if he tried to brush away the designs with his hand. If Mother saw these drawings in the sand, he would—

Riddle's eyes widen when he sees Azul suddenly lift a tentacle. What was this boy doing-?!

The octomer shoves a strong current of water onto the drawings. The sandy grains settle back into the shore, with the water flowing back into the sea. Leaving the sand with an appearance of smoothness and being untouched. Vanishing as though the drawings were never there.

Riddle's mouth gaped slightly as he stared into the eyes of the octomer. Of course… Azul had already washed away his footsteps before.

“What if your mom just never finds out?" Azul suggested, as he continued to draw, washing away and repeating. "If you're so scared of breaking the rules, why don't you just bend them a little bit..?"

"Bending rules is still breaking them." He blurts instinctively.

Azul tilted his head, studying him. "…You really care about them that much."

"Yes," Riddle replied immediately.

"But, your mom would never know."

Riddle shifted his weight, eyes darting toward the sand that once held the drawings, no longer visible unless you knew what was once there.

"Your mom made it a rule to observe the plant life… but you can't make accurate observations until you can examine them closer." Riddle stared at Azul, quite literally speechless at what the octomer was saying.

"Technically," Azul began, tilting his head, "you'd be breaking one rule, but only to follow the other one better. The rule says to observe carefully, right? You're simply… optimizing your position to follow the rules properly."

Riddle blinked, astonished. "…Optimizing?"

"Yes," Azul continued, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "If observation is your task, then the sand under your feet is… a tool. That rule is obeyed, just better."

Riddle's fingers tighten in deep thought. "But.. If my Mother were to see…" He trails off.

"I can wash away any footsteps with just a wave of water. She would never find out. I'll even keep an eye out for your mother if she comes out of the beach house.” He shrugs, “ From where I am, I can see the beach house clearly, but she wouldn't be able to see you until she gets closer."

The stillness of the water was replaced by intense surges of the sea, growing stronger and harsher than before. The urge to feel and learn how it feels seemed to lure him in. Almost like a Carassius auratus, also known as a goldfish, to the water. His gaze turns upward as the light grey clouds darken to a deeper grey.

Riddle's lips pressed thin, knitted in deep thought...He knew deep down, he would never forget the fury and screaming his Mother displayed. The aftermath of his disobedience with Trey and Chenya was forever burned into his memory.

But… so was the memory of the fun he had with them both. The longing to play more with them…suppressed but never having fully gone away. In the moments he had played with Trey and Chenya, he had never felt so free. If given the chance... would he do it all over again?

Was it worth the disappointment and distrust it caused in his Mother? She stated that the rules are absolute, and he declared to both himself and his parents that he would never break them again.

But... he already had. Riddle had already inadvertently stepped towards Azul earlier and moved out of his designated spot; he had already broken the rules. His Mother would be so irate if she found out... Except… Azul washed away any evidence.

He didn't willingly break the rules… but he still did break the rules. Breaking rules when found out required a swift and befitting punishment. If… found out.

Being faced with another moment like this? With a guaranteed way to not upset his mother, a foolproof plan of sorts. It was more than tempting.

He has never been good with emotions; even Riddle knew that. He pushed away the feelings and memories associated with Trey and Chenya, but now had to confront similar circumstances. Instead of jumping out a window, he only needed to take a few steps toward the shore. Taking one measly step should be easier than leaping out of his study room.

He felt many things that he did not know how to describe suitably or deal with. He knows emotions are inconsequential to logic… But he felt them all the same. All these suppressed memories and feelings he pushed away, now practically exploding out of him as Azul observed him process such finicky sentiments.

In the superficial words he knew from the dictionary, Riddle had felt…

…Shame.

….Frustration.

……Loneliness.

But, he also had felt…

…Happiness.

….Exhilarated.

…..Companionship.

So… what if… just what if.

What if he followed one rule better than the other?

What if he could have his fun AND his Mother would never know…

Azul had a point; he would not only be able to watch over his Mother but also wash away any evidence. Riddle turned around, assuring that his Mother was not already out of the beach house. When he faced forward once more, a decision was made. One he hoped not to regret once more.

Riddle crossed his arms, shaking slightly with excited nervousness. "This is solely done so I can observe the plant life more closely. I do not condone breaking any rules… but this is done in part to properly observe, as you said. But that means you must ensure that you do your part and wash away any footprints and look out for my Mother."

Azul gives a small smile. "It's a deal then."

"So it is. It has been agreed that by stepping closer, I can better compare the flora to my book's illustrations… and the footprints would remain unrecorded, so I… I suppose I should step closer for better observation…"

Riddle's body stilled. His body was trembling as he prepared himself. It was now or never. His right foot lifted carefully as he stepped closer to the shore. The feeling was overwhelming but… exhilarating. The trembling he felt stilled as he stood on solid ground.

He moved carefully, a foot forward, then another. Until he was right before the seaside. As he looked behind, he saw that each step was visible in the sand. A thrill of satisfaction ran through him. Riddle stepped aside as Azul ensured his end of the deal and sent intense waves towards his previous footsteps, each footstep vanishing. The plan was working.

He could see so much more clearly up close. The particles of wet sand as they sink downward from the harsh waves, the large amounts of bubbling sea-foam and also a small smile on Azul's face.

"…The rule is being followed. Observation is… enhanced." He whispered, he kneels right at the edge where the water does not meet. "I am... going to touch the water for learning purposes now." Trembling out of nerves or excitement, he did not know. Riddle carefully crouches, slowly hesitating before his fingertips gently dip into the sea.

Azul leaned a little closer, voice soft but teasing. "So? How does the water feel?"

Riddle's lips curved into a small, unrestrained smile. It was cold. Far colder than he had expected. The sensation startled him, just slightly. But he did not pull away. His fingertips grazed the sea. Azul's tentacles brushed the sand.

A tiny bond formed between the two boys. One built on careful obedience… and a little clever bending of the rules. The two boys by the shore shared a quiet moment, the waves lapping at the seaside. No longer were they separated by land; now their borders interlapped, sharing a piece of each other.

"Thank you, Azul. This means... more to me than you could know. It's difficult to describe almost. The water it- it feels extraordinary." Riddle's breath shudders from excitement as he takes it all in. His hand was moving clumsily as the waves came and went.

"O-of course, it was the least I could do for a friend who has never even touched the waters before."

Riddle looked away from the water in shock as he made eye contact with the octomer. "...You and I are friends?" He stood up from his crouching position in shock.

Azul blinked before he blurted. "I didn't mean to say that out loud-!" His cheeks turned a ferocious dark purple. "But... but yes, Riddle. I do think of you as a newly made friend. I mean, what... what else would you call people who are kind to each other and share conversation?"

"Friends?" Riddle acknowledged, testing the words on his tongue.

Friends, huh... It technically does fit the dictionary definition of "friendship". A sharp pang of hurt beat in his chest at the thought of his previous friends. But... it'd be nice to make friends once more.

“I'm not very knowledgeable about the rules of friendship... but... I'd like to call you a friend as well." The two once again shared matching small smiles.

"I don't know much about friends either. But I don't think there are really any rules for being friends. I know they talk about a lot of different things! Like... playing Coral Rush after school, and... uh, well, that's all I really know...? They ask each other lots of questions?"

"Then can I ask a question?"

Azul glared lightly at him. "It better not be about inking or I'll splash you with water-!"

"Don't you dare!" Riddle huffed as he stomped his foot with a slight smile. He knows that Azul wouldn't dare do such a thing. The question came to mind easily, but something about Azul's earlier reaction made him pause. He hoped this wouldn't be another "volatile" topic.

“I was just curious, do you come to the surface often?"

…A beat of silence. Riddle watched a tentacle move mindlessly across the sand, as there was no response. "It's just… well, it's a known fact that Merfolk don't typically swim to the shore. And the book, 'Down to the Sea: The Genus of the Merfolk Species' by Melodia Atlantica. She stated that 'particularly cephalopod types tend to reside in deeper regions of the Coral Sea.'" Riddle tilted his head, studying him more closely. "But you're here," he continued. "Near the shore. In shallow water. Why?"

The waves filled the silence between them, arriving harsher than before against the sand before retreating again in shorter bursts.

"…Well?" he prompted.

Azul's gaze shifted away for a brief moment, his expression tightening ever so slightly. "…I don't think I like this question," he muttered.

"That does not answer the question," Riddle replied.

"You ask a lot of bad questions."

"Every question is deserving of an answer," Riddle countered.

Azul grimaced slightly. "You're stubborn."

"That is not a flaw."

"…It could be."

Riddle huffed quietly. "You said earlier you were 'looking for whosits and whatsits,' which is not a proper explanation, as I'm not sure what exactly those are."

Azul's expression faltered. For a moment, he looked almost cornered. "…It was an explanation," he muttered.

"It was a vague one."

Azul hesitated. His gaze drifted away, toward the water, then back to Riddle. He was quiet for a long moment. Then, without a word, he shifted slightly beneath the water.

"…Fine, if you won't stop asking, then here. But you can't make fun of me," He said a little too quickly.

A small, ragged pouch with a draw string was nudged toward the shore by one of his tentacles as Azul sank slightly in the water.

Riddle blinked. "What is this?"

"…Just look inside," Azul muttered.

Riddle hesitated before he took a step closer, reaching mindfully, making sure his shoes wouldn't go too far into the water. He crouched as he picked up the bag between his fingers. It was damp from the sea. Riddle opened it with precise movements.

He peered inside the sack to see a collection of small items. There were a couple of things, and with each item, he carefully placed it on the sand.

A rusted fork.

A nautilus shell.

A few coins, dulled by age.

And also…

Riddle's eyes widened slightly as he reached in and lifted it out. "…This is a decorative accessory," he murmured. He turned it in his fingers, examining the way it caught from the dimmed lighting.

In his hands was a small, golden crown-shaped pin with a heart in the center with no clutch.

"This looks similar to what the Queen of Hearts wore," he said. Riddle carefully positioned the pin above his head, just floating atop his temple.

"Her crown is much larger, of course," he continued, matter-of-factly. "And significantly more decorated. But the shape is comparable." Riddle adjusted it slightly above his head, excitedly.

"That's what the Queen of Hearts wore?" Azul tilted his head in awe as he stared at Riddle. "It suits you, too! I think a crown like that... it would sit on top of your head like it was meant to be there... You could make a good queen; you really care about the rules."

Riddle wasn't expecting a comment like that. The corners of his lips twist up as he places the crown pin back down. "..Thank you," he said genuinely. After all, the Queen of Hearts was an utmost respectable figure. "However, you must be careful, as it is missing its clutch".

"Clutch? What is a clutch?" Riddle stared in confusion before he recalled.

"Oh right, Merfolk don't typically wear clothing. It's the backing for this pin; it's to ensure it causes no cuts."

"Is that why it hurt?" Azul said, quieter now.

Riddle's expression changed immediately. "Hurt? It's not meant to hurt… Did you get a cut? Where?"

"…It's not-"

"Where?" Riddle repeated, more firmly.

The octomer must have seen that Riddle would not let this go. After a moment, Azul slowly extended one of his tentacles further out of the water. He brought the tentacle closer to Riddle's face, where he could see it. It was barely noticeable, but he could see a droplet of purple blood oozing out immediately, which must be where the puncture hole from the pin must have stabbed his tentacle.

Riddle approached even closer, as much as he could without getting engulfed by the waters. His attention was fixed entirely on the injury. "…It is a minor injury," he said, brows furrowing. "But it should still be looked at."

Riddle reached out his hand before he stopped. His hand hovered for a brief moment. It would be best to warn the octomer before he reacts brashly.

Azul stilled. "You're not—"

"I am going to touch it," Riddle expressed.

"What?"

"It would be inefficient to look it over with no physical contact."

"That's not what I mea-"

Before Azul could finish, he went completely still as Riddle's fingers gently took hold of the tentacle with careful and precise movements, so as not to agitate it. He noted that the tentacle was smooth to the touch, but surprisingly strong and muscular in feeling.

Riddle's expression remained serious as he examined the cut. "The cut is very minimal; it is likely due to improper handling of a sharp object. It should heal relatively quickly. I don't have any bandages to give you, although it would most likely come off in the water. Hm… You're normally supposed to stop the bleeding, but due to the size of the cut, it should be okay. You'll have to be more careful next time."

His knowledge came from the various medical textbooks his Mother assigned him, none of which mentioned specific Merfolk treatments. His fingers gently let go of the tentacle.

"…You touched me," Azul said, almost disbelieving.

Riddle glanced up briefly as he turned pink in the face. "S-sorry! I didn't mean to touch you if you weren't comfortable. I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

"…Why?"

"…Because you are injured??"

"Aren't you disgusted?"

Riddle blinked. "…You are being illogical again."

Azul let out a quiet, shaky breath. "You really are a strange person." He laughed quietly, "Well, thank you again for… making sure I am okay. It shouldn't take long to heal. I was just surprised by the pain because I didn't see the sharp end behind it, so when my arm went to wrap around the pin, it cut me."

"Huh? Isn't it your tentacle that got cut?"

"Octomers call their tentacles 'arms'; it's actually Squidmers who have tentacles. That's what my mama told me!"

Riddle noted this information. "So that's why you were near the shore? You got injured because you were… collecting these random pieces of rubbish? That's why you got injured?"

"It's not 'ruhbesh'", Azul attempted to copy his accent. "And it's not trash either. I collect treasure."

Riddle looked down at the supposed 'treasure' once more as he pointed at the rusted utensil. He was not impressed. "How is this fork treasure?"

"You mean the dinglehopper? It's really good for brushing your hair. You never know what you could find just by taking a deeper look. This is what I meant by I don't just lounge around! I collect gizmos and gadgets, and I keep 'em all in my room." Azul pointed to a specific coin out of his collection, "See this one coin? I found this one near a sunken ship, and when I asked my ma, she told me that only 100 coins of this type were ever made! That means it's super duper rare! So now I keep it on me for good luck."

Riddle listened intently as Azul explained. The octomer has the privilege to do whatever he wishes… he wonders what it must be like to have that freedom for more than a secret hour.

He placed all the items back in the sack, all except the pin, as he held it in his palm, staring at it once more. The tides surged in with growing force, yet withdrew sluggishly, stretching against the shore like something reluctant to let go.

"We should put it away before the shore begins to wash it away. The waves are much stronger now. However, I had no idea that coins could be more valuable than their initial price. So… I suppose you're right that it's not all rubbish. After all, the crown pin is quite… lovely. But you must be careful when looking for treasure in the future."

“Did you want it?" Azul asked.

“Huh?" Riddle stood from his position.

"Well, I don't really have any clothing to put the pin on, and I have more thingamabobs at home. It can be considered a gift from a friend."

He's never received a non-educational gift before. His gifts have all consisted of having an informational purpose. This pin does not serve any educational intent but.. It makes him really happy. He doesn't remember the last time he felt so delighted by a present.

"Only if you're sure, and since it's from a friend... That'd be lovely. I accept."

Azul's tenta- arm, he made a mental note. Azul's arm went towards Riddle as he signed to him to hand it over. He left his palm open, as Azul gently grasped the pin this time, careful not to cut himself.

A second arm grabbed a piece of actual rubbish nearby in the sand. He wrapped the pointy end of the pin with a piece of discarded purple ribbon, the wind so strong that the other end of the ribbon started fluttering in the wind. When did it get so strong all of a sudden-? Azul securely wrapped the pin until the sharp point was fully covered so it would not have the ability to cut Riddle. With his own palm still facing the dark grey sky, Azul gently placed the gift in his hand.

"Here, now you won't cut yourself."

"Thank you," Riddle expressed gratitude as he placed it gently in his right trouser pocket. "I'll truly cherish it… a gift from a friend. Heh. I'm really glad to have met you by the shore, Azul." Riddle felt ecstatic as he let out a childish grin.

"Thank you for being my friend, Riddle. I’ll truly never forget this-" The previous smile vanished on the Octomer's face. "Riddle." Azul's tone abruptly changed. Riddle gauged the reaction on his face, the octomer was facing the beachhouse, was his Mother coming-!?

"Did you say your mom was healing someone?"

Riddle quickly turned his body as he faced the building his Mother was in. He turned around, frightened. Fully expecting her to be walking towards them, not anticipating the actual reality of a horrifying sight that was worse.

A small but powerful rain cloud was over the beach house, a heavy downpour with black water he had never seen before. With a thick liquid oozing out of the house, what looked like ink, was excreting from every crack and crevice of that house that he could see. What was happening?! It couldn't possibly be… anything but that.

"Mother?" He whispered worriedly.

"Riddle! What is happening?!"

He turned around to see a thick, black, viscous liquid instead of water surrounding Azul. It clung to his various arms and torso. It was far too much ink in the water for Azul to have made himself. It surrounded them from all around, slowly starting from the shore, then dispersing to the rest of the sea. The intense waves were crashing harsher, creating an awful sound. The clouds above them fully darkened, with the sound of thunder now sounding.

“I didn't ink, I really didn't! I swear!! What is happening? This water… It's not only water. There's something else in it. It hurts to breathe in it!"

Riddle barely heard him. Focused on the frightening wave of black ink coming towards them. "Azul, move!"

"I should have figured out the waters were different, I knew something was off-!"

Azul was interrupted as a particularly huge wave crashed over them both. The octomer was splashed entirely by the wave as he was taken away beneath the contaminated waters. The wave surged up to his ankles, splashing his shoes wet. He stumbled backwards as he realized how strong the ocean truly was.

The incoming waves were too fast, only getting bigger and bigger. The waves pulled back farther than before. Then surged forward again. Riddle was paralyzed with fear. He has never read about what to do in this scenario. He's never been in this situation. What should be done? What can be done? Is his Mother okay?

He was knocked out of his spiralling thought as another crashing wave, this time much bigger, hit him squarely in the chest. He stumbled but still managed to stand, as it dragged him closer towards the shore of dense and inky waters. The force of the impact made his body ache.

He needs to get farther from the shore before he's dragged past the sharp, bigger rocks. But he isn't too sure he wants to go near the beach house either, that's where it seems to be originating from.

Azul hasn't surfaced back up. His Mother hasn't come out of the house either. Was he truly alone?

"Azul!" Riddle yelled in fear, hoping Azul could hear him.

"Mother!" hoping she could hear him.

Anyone? Please save him.

He was scared.

He was scared for Azul.

He was scared for his Mother.

Another large wave was incoming for Riddle; Azul was nowhere to be seen. This one is surely double his size; it's ebony thick liquid going towards him. He can't outrun it, it's far too large—

The incoming wave crashed into him brutally. His legs gave way as he felt the solid sand beneath him. It was cold. He couldn't breathe. This wave was swallowing him whole. It was so frigid. Before he thought he would have to take a breath of the muddy water, the wave let him out of its inky grasp.

The force of it knocked him down flat onto the sandy shore, not yet engulfed by the sea. Gasping severely for air, he was left with a stinging sensation as the black goo and sand stuck to his clothes. He needs to get away from the shore. Now.

Riddle turned as he looked up and saw that another wave was incoming. Somehow larger and quicker than the one before it. This seems all so sudden. Even if he could run away, the wave was so huge that it would have caught him even if he stayed in his original position, where his Mother placed him. His heart beat erratically with dread as it was incoming. He screamed.

"Azul! Where are you?! I can't swim!"

Riddle took a deep breath, this time preparing before it hit him. He might not know how to swim, but he'll die trying. The wave hit him as it knocked the air out of his body. The wave struck him breathless.

Sucked back into the never-ending darkness. Riddle couldn't see under the water; the water was too viscous to open his eyes even if he wanted to. He tried to swim, but he had no idea how. His body thrashed instinctively, but he had no sense of direction. Up, down, it didn't matter. He couldn't even see the direction of his air bubbles within this dark, inky abyss, forcing his eyes closed. With each consequential wave, the water was throwing him around senseless as he was powerless to do otherwise. Everything felt the same.

He can't breathe.

He can't breathe.

He can't breathe.

He can't breathe.

He can’t breathe.

The thought repeated, louder than anything else, feeling the most excruciating pain in his chest. He was going to die. The thought became a realization that this wasn't an awful nightmare that he could wake up from.

Is this... what he gets for breaking the rules again? This is because he disobeyed. This is his punishment.

He'll never break the rules, ever again.

He's losing consciousness, his lungs screaming for air as his eyelids begin to shut. It felt as though his chest was collapsing inward, his lungs raw, his entire body rejecting the absence of air with desperate, violent insistence.

Everything was so dark; the frigid waters slowly grew warmer with every passing second. His body slowed and stopped its thrashing; even his mind felt it was starting to slow its thoughts.

…

…

…

There was a faint sensation of a sudden force wrapped around his arm, and then another cradled his neck. A firm and unyielding grip. It was a different sensation than being pulled by the water. The grip felt smooth and muscular, stable in comparison to the raging waters above his head. Another arm wrapped around his waist. This hold felt… warm. Friendlier than the surrounding waters.

…

…

...

…

A…zul?

Riddle's body was too weak to hold back; he wanted to ensure his friend was okay. He wanted to help Azul. But everything burned. Everything hurts. Everything aches. But that means Azul is here. Azul is alive. He's tired. His body really, really hurts. He's never felt such a harsh pain before. He wants his Mother to make him feel better.

The feeling of Azul's grip was going numb. Did he let go? Or was he still there?

A..zul… he hoped he was okay. This water surely wasn't good for the octomer to breathe in… he hoped his friend… would.... be okay….

Riddle no longer felt the need to breathe, physically still screaming desperately for air, but mentally was too weary. He's feeling really sleepy. Maybe a nap would be okay. The burning sensation was slowly being replaced by what felt like going to bed. He'll… just take a nap for now. The waters feel so warm now.

Mother? He will just take a quick nap… okay?

He hopes his Mother doesn't yell at him for taking a nap…. He just needs to rest his eyes, and then he'll resume reading his study time… promise....

…

...

...

…

…

The last thing he could feel vaguely was the loss of the warm and gentle embrace, as the harsh wave pushed him into what felt like deeper water. An intense and blinding pain suddenly abrupt from the back of his head.

"...dle!"

"...iddle!"

"...ke up!"

Was that... a voice?

"…iddle! Wake up!"

Everything hurts. He doesn't want to wake up yet… can't he just sleep? Whoever was talking was so loud…

"Riddle! Can you hear me?" The voice continued to yell.

He began to cough violently, and water gushed out of his mouth. His lungs were burning, and his body felt so achy. Not to mention the blasted pain in the back of his head. The sound of rushing water was so loud. Was that… the sea? The sea was louder than Riddle expected. Deafening to a point, causing more pain in his headache.

His eyes fluttered open to a bright sight, too bright for his eyes. Riddle blinked up at the sky. The clouds were thinning out, pale light filtering through. He could barely move. To his side was the familiar sight of red hair, heart stylized curls and worried grey eyes.

"M-mum?" He could barely whisper.

"Oh, my poor Riddle! You’re conscious, that’s a good sign." His Mother was holding a bottle of magical medicine in her hand. "Do not move unnecessarily. You have sustained a serious head injury. You must try your best to drink this." A disgusting flavoured liquid entered his mouth, his lips tightening shut from the revolting flavour.

"Now now, Riddle. You must not be stubborn. This is for your own good." It felt like agonizing ages before the nauseating liquid was all drunk. Riddle breathed heavily. The pain in his head was beginning to lessen slightly. He felt his upper half slowly rise as his Mother put him in a sitting position.

"…What happened?"

"My patient overblotted." She said coolly. "His magic accumulation was far too great for him to handle, and he overblotted. Hmph, if he weren't already deceased, he would have paid for such a miscreant act! Making my poor Riddle drown and suffer a head injury. The nerve of that man, how utterly repugnant."

Riddle frowned faintly. overblot, yes… he had read about those before. There was so much information being processed.

"I… is that what happened? I almost drowned?"

How odd, his mind went blank as he tried his best to recall, only furthering the pain in his skull.

"The excess magic contaminated the surrounding area. You were positioned too close to the shoreline. By the time I came out of the house, I saw you were on your back on the sand. How fortunate that the waves brought you back to shore. It was an oversight on my end to have put you so close to the sea.”

Riddle's breathing came unevenly, each inhale sharp as his lungs struggled to recover. The pounding in his head dulled to a heavy, persistent ache, his thoughts slow to settle, disjointed pieces drifting without order.

"…I see," he said quietly.

There was something else. A faint, fleeting sensation brushed against his thoughts, like a word just out of reach. He was... forgetting something.

Something important.

Something he should recall.

Something Riddle wouldn't want to forget.

Whatever it was, it brought a warm feeling to his chest. It felt reminiscent of the first time he ate a strawberry tart. His brows knit together as he tried to recall.

“The authorities have already been called, so I was able to rush over to you immediately. I will ensure that they pay dearly for endangering our lives.” She ended darkly.

"So before I got injured… I was…" he began.

He had been reading by the shore. Observing. Following instructions. His expression smoothed, the tension leaving his face as his thoughts aligned neatly once more.

"…reading," he finished.

His Mother gave a small, approving nod. "As instructed. You were following my orders as advised." She inspected his body, ensuring that all the cuts over his body were not too deep.

Riddle exhaled softly. Yes. That was correct. He was simply tasked to read and observe the shore and yet… His fingers twitched faintly against the damp sand.

There was a strange tightness in his chest. Not pain. Not fear. Something… unidentifiable. Irritating in its lack of clarity. As though he was forgetting something important. He shifted slightly and felt something press against the inside of his right trouser pocket.

Riddle stilled. Carefully, so as not to draw attention, he slipped his fingers into the fabric. There was a small and metallic object. There seemed to have been some sort of fabric attached to the backing of it. He did not take it out. For a brief moment, he hesitated. Then, silently, he withdrew his hand and folded it neatly at his side, posture straightening as if nothing had happened.

"Can you stand?" his Mother asked.

"Yes," Riddle answered immediately.

He pushed himself upright despite the lingering ache in his body. Sand clung to his clothes, damp and uncomfortable, but he ignored it.

His Mother observed him for a moment before speaking again. "This incident has made one thing abundantly clear." Riddle stilled.

“You lack the necessary and basic survival skills. Once you are fully healed. You will begin swimming lessons, immediately.” She stated.

Riddle's breath caught, just for a second. The crushing pressure of something he could not quite remember. A cold, dark, all consuming hold on his entire body. His chest tightened.

"…Yes, Mother," he replied.

"Additionally," she went on, "This proves that it is best to stick with Mother. Even when I trust you with independent time, I am proven time and time again that only bad things will happen when you are not by my side. You need constant supervision, not that this time was any fault of your own. But, it is simply luck that you were returned to us from the sea and back to safety.”

Riddle lowered his gaze. "…Understood."

"After all Riddle, Mother knows best. We simply want the best for you, your father and I. This was an unprecedented occurrence but your father and I will ensure to plan accordingly for any future possibilities. This only proves that listening to rules is for your own safety. If you had not listened to my instructions, you surely would have drowned or received more severe injuries”.

"Yes, Mother."

"Come now, we must place you immediately in a sterile environment. Away from this disgusting filthy beach. All brain functionality seems in working motion, but we must get it checked immediately.” she said, extending her hand.

Riddle placed his hand in hers without hesitation.

As they began to walk, his steps were shaky, unstable and disorienting. Once his hand drifted briefly toward his pocket, he felt weirdly calm.

How odd. He will have to check over what is in his pocket when he is alone in his room. He kept his gaze forward, posture straight as he could, expression composed as he followed beside his mother.

His chest heaves with exhaustion, his steps turning clumsy as his vision spins. Riddle’s chest aches as he thinks “I can’t forget.”

He turns sharply, gripped by the impulsive and sudden fear that he’s about to forget something important.

“Riddle?” His Mother held his hand gently, not pulling him along. She must be wary of his injuries. The head injury may be more serious than she is letting on.

Riddle felt an odd fascination seeing his footsteps in the sand. He stared at the unruly waves crashing against the sand, arriving in uneven intervals, dragging sand and white foam before retreating into the sea.

Seemingly as though there was never an overblot.

“Apologies Mother, I thought I had forgotten my book.” It was nowhere to be seen, most likely taken away to the never ending waters.

He turned his back on the sea and continued walking forward. Yes… Following the rules is absolute. If he did not listen to his Mother… then surely he would have been taken away, swallowed whole in a dark abyss never to be seen again.

It is good he followed his Mother’s instructions.

Riddle will never break the rules ever again. He’s been determined never to do that again ever since he was caught playing with Trey and Chenya. A strict adherence to the rules is clearly the correct path.

With each step towards land, quietening the noisiness of the sea as he moves farther away, steadied by the safe embrace of obedience and his Mother’s hand.

Riddle’s right hand strays to the inside of his trouser pocket, carefully inspecting the small metallic object in his pocket with his fingertips. A small action that oddly lessens the aching pain in his body and mind.

He vows never to break the rules ever again. But… surely keeping a foreign object isn’t breaking any rules.