Page 156 of Storm and Sea

“They all look different.”

“No, some look really different. Like that family,” he said, nodding to the black-haired group. On closer inspection, their skin was a different shade, and their eyes had a delicate curve at the ends.

“Sure, I guess.” Atreus finally said.

“Is it like the different species of Mer?”

“Maybe. But it doesn’t seem to bother them as much.” He pointed to the only curly-haired figure on the stage. The man was brown-haired and shorter than the others, and clearly the girl’s father by the way he spun her around with pride.

“Mixing must not be a problem,” Atreus concluded.

“Yeah,” Nyel said, his voice dipping at the end. “I wish we were more like that.” He stared at the family for a moment before shaking himself. “But change can only happen if we make it happen! Right?” Nyel asked with exaggerated conviction.

“Sure,” Atreus replied with a bemused grin.

Nyel punched his arm.

“Hey, what the⁠—!?”

“C’mon, more enthusiasm!”

“I don’t know what you want from me!” Atreus laughed. “And you hit like a guppy.”

Nyel gasped in mock offense. “Oh, that’s how you want to play it? You don’t know who you’re messing with.”

“Try it.” Atreus smirked, raising his arms in challenge.

The sireno lunged, aiming to grab Atreus by the neck and pin him. “Gotcha! Who’s the guppy now—hey!”

With a swift spin, Atreus flipped their momentum and locked Nyel into a headlock.

“Okay, okay! I give! I give!” Nyel squirmed, trying to wriggle free.

“Say you’re a guppy,” Atreus teased.

Nyel struggled harder, but keeping him in place was laughably easy.

“Ugh, fine! I’m a guppy.”

“Now say I’m a⁠—”

“BOYS!”

Both of them flinched. Atreus released Nyel instantly, hands snapping over his ears.

“Quit messing around!” Marina’s voice thundered through the loudspeaker.

“We can hear you fine!” Atreus yelled, rubbing his ears.

“Get to your stations!”

“Aye, aye, captain!” Nyel saluted.

As they trekked up the hill, a man shouted to Atreus. It was the same man whose engine burned out the night before.

“Signore, please, from my family as thanks.” He offered Atreus a parcel of sweet rolls. “My wife made, very delicious. Grazie Signore, grazie.”

Before Atreus could insist it wasn’t a big deal, the man was gone. Nyel watched him with smug, raised brows.