Chapter Text
The sound of the water against the side of the ship was constant, rhythmic, almost calming in a way. It was a sound that foretold of travels, adventures, sights to see and people to meet. And the smell of the ocean, the briny air that seemed to cling to skin and ship deck was a heady aroma for the Warrior of Light.
Luka smiled as he leaned against the railing of the ship, squinting a bit at the sunlight reflecting off of the waves. Being an envoy for the Scions and Eorzea had its perks. One might call the constant traveling and moving around less of a perk and more of an unfortunate side effect to the life he had chosen, but the miqo’te couldn’t agree with the sentiment.
He had always been filled with wanderlust. Being the Warrior of Light just gave him an excuse to indulge in the feeling. A small, far off part of his mind whispered that they knew where that desire came from.
Azem, the Traveler.
It was not a part of him that he would deny, nor one that he would distance himself from. Ever since learning the truth of the Ascians, of Amaurot, the Ancients, learning about the whole piece that Luka’s fragmented soul belonged to…it wasn’t a truth that could be ignored. However despite, or perhaps in spite of that whole, Luka was his own person. He may share a soul and traits from the man he had been thousands of years and fragmentations ago, but he was not the same. He was no longer Helios. Though, he admitted to himself as a smile lifted the edges of his lips, that ancient part of him would take pride in Luka’s travels.
He was broken from his reverie by a set of footsteps sounding from the deck behind him. When a figure joined him in leaning against the railing, the miqo’te immediately had to focus on not falling apart, though he couldn’t curb the flush that rose to his cheeks as Erenville smiled at him.
“I figured that I would find you out on deck. Travel seems to suit you more than it does Alphinaud.”
That caused a chuckle to bubble from Luka as he looked behind them towards the door that led below deck.
“Is he still feeling ill? I know that it is a longer journey than others that we’ve been on, but one would assume he’d be fine. He was when we went to Kugane.”
The gleaner simply shrugged, his ocher eyes tracing the waves out at sea.
“While he battles nausea, you almost look as if you want to dive into the water. Are you perhaps wanting to add nymph to your already impressively long list of names and titles?”
Luka snorted, eyes straying to Erenville for a few moments before he joined the other in looking out over the water.
“I can’t deny that I’d love to take a swim, but in open waters like this, it’d be pretty dangerous, even for me.”
“What, you can slay gods, go to the ends of the universe and battle despair itself to save an entire star, but swimming in the ocean is too much for you? So stands the vaunted and courageous Warrior of Light.”
Erenville looked at Luka from the corner of his eye, a smirk causing his eyes to sparkle with mischief. But the miqo’te simply shook his head, grinning.
“There is a difference in courage and stupidity. And while I may not have the intelligence to rival most in the Scions, I am smart enough to know that currents out here are dangerous. And I am not about to die before we reach Tural.”
That caused the viera to loose his own laugh, gentle and warm as the sun that hung above them.
“I must admit that I would appreciate you not dying. I do like having you around.”
Luka’s flush returned in full force at the words as he looked back to Erenville, his heart fluttering in his chest. Travel was his lifeblood, yes. But travel with companions was always more exciting.
The Warrior leaned over to press the briefest of kisses to the gleaner’s lips, which Erenville returned with a hum. It was not to last as a voice rose above the din of the water.
“Land ho! Set your eyes on the New World!”
Excitement caused Luka’s eyes to nearly sparkle as he pulled back, looking around to spot their destination. As he moved to the front of the ship, Erenville’s eyes filled with joy and fondness at Luka’s excitement. He wasn’t but a few steps behind the Warrior as they made their way forward, eyes set on their destination and their new adventure.