The Evernight Sea

By: Griffin Cobb

I’ve set sail once again on this accursed sea. What I search for, I cannot hope to find, but perhaps my fate will find me. These waves left me alive once before, I doubt they should be so kind a second time.

Felix closed the wilting leather journal, wrapping around it a ratty string with his quill tucked inside. Tossing it to the side he stood up and walked to the bow of the ship. It was difficult to find one small enough for a single person to man it, but through odd jobs and a disregard for saving up coin for the future, Felix managed. Once a skimmer for fishing off the coast, he made some slight, haphazard adjustments to turn it sea-worthy, at least for a short time.

Out on the bow, he gazed into the open expanse ahead of him. Fairly calm waters reached towards the invisible horizon, seamlessly continuing into the vast, star-filled night sky. For Felix sailed once again into the Ever-Night Sea, practically named for the odd phenomenon where night never faded. Littered across every inch of the inky darkness were bright stars, their light swirling between one another like the ocean waves that reflected them. The first time Felix found himself looking at the Evernight, he thought they had left the ocean entirely, and began sailing amongst the stars themselves.

Since then, his vision had clarified, and his wonder had been extinguished. Now, albeit reluctantly, Felix used the stars as his guide towards were, without a crew, he alone wanted to sail.

With a small sigh, Felix stepped back to his desk and rolled out the map, one of his own design. Tracing his finger across the weathered parchment, he approximated where he currently floated, and the distance toward his first destination of many. The Water Rise. I’m only about a day out, weather permitting. The Ever-Night sea, while strange in its own right, held a plethora of oddities in its waters. Magic abound but unpredictable, there was little that could explain them, and the dangers that needed to be overcome even to reach them kept away any thorough prodding.

Mavis and Morin had been the ones to tell him of this particular oddity. The Water Rise, as they called it, was supposed to be, quite literally, the opposite of a waterfall. From the sealine, the water rose from the ocean and soared straight into the sky, with no end in sight. If Felix hadn’t already been exposed to the surreal nature held within the Ever-Night, he wouldn’t bother believing in the Water Rise’s existence.

But here he was, sailing towards it in the name of two rascals who befriended him by getting them all in trouble. Felix looked back over to his journal, breathing shallowly for just a moment while he remembered one of the first nights he spent out on the Evernight and the damned twins that sailed with him.

Day 3

We breached into the Ever-Night Sea today. It’s equally terrifying as it is mesmerizing. Besides me, the twins were the only ones new to the sight, yet they seemed completely unphased by it. Both are constantly so aloof it seems, I can’t understand either of them. The girl, I cannot remember either of their names, seems smart, but conniving. I am on edge whenever she's around, like she’s a snake prepared to wrap around me at any moment. Her brother is crass, but incredibly nimble. He climbed up to fix a tear in the sail like he weighed nothing. I can see why Captain Yvonne recruited them, they’re useful.

Which strengthens my confusion on why I am even here. The nerves never cease, I can barely stand above deck for an hour at a time. It’s enough to chart the stars for now, but gods forbid a storm comes. I can’t handle it, but it's an eventuality. Maybe then Captain will see my incompetence, and return me to shore. One can only hope.

The first few days on the ship had been hell, Felix remembered. He wasn’t built for sea life, physically or mentally. The twins had seemed to be everything he couldn’t be, finding comfortability and familiarity on the ship in an instant. Their antics and pranks were a constant source of anxiety for him, but Felix couldn’t hold any anger towards them. They were the spark that made a family out of the crew. Although Felix wondered now if it would have been better had they all stayed distant.

Day 7

Mavis and Morin, that’s their names. The twins, Mavis is the sister and Morin is the brother. Devious though they are, by gods even I can admit they’re funny. I learned their names thanks to Captain Yvonne shouting after them.

I’m unsure of what exactly they did, all I know is that the Captain came out of her quarters with ink smeared across half of her face and missing one of her boots. The rest of us stifled laughs, hell, I even saw Hamish crack a smile. Safe to say that the deck was spotless the next morning, the twins looked like they’d seen death, and Captain Yvonne was back to her usual almighty self.

Each of us has been targeted by the twins so far, except for Hamish, which means there is some survival instinct still baked into those two brains of theirs. It’s odd, but at this point their antics bring the rest of us together more than anything. Frock, our gunner, talked to me for the first time after I helped him clean out one of our cannons they had filled with custard. I didn’t speak much myself, he doesn’t really give the opportunity to, but it was nice to feel, included? I’m not sure if that’s the word I should use, but I can’t think of anything better at the moment. It’s been but a week, and while I truly despise this sea, I’m aware enough to realize things could be worse when it comes to this crew.

Time will weather even the most land-loving folk. Here Felix was, alone on the Ever-Night sea, sailing with whatever life he had left in him. He’d learned much from his time with the Searching Merlin, not all in terms of seafaring. The twins could hardly be called knowledgeable, but Felix has them to thank for teaching him of the fun one can have while at sea. Even in the most dire of situations, either of them could be heard cracking a joke to one another, or nagging Frock for being too attached to his cannons.

But, just like the rest of the crew, Felix found the joy and lessons they brought to the world swept away with the tide, along with their flesh and memories.

Without them, what joy can be found on this sea again?

Day 11

They’re lunatics, absolutely and completely insane. Morin slipped me a note earlier in the day, saying to meet him and Mavis in the storage hull after dinner. I was sure it was a trap, but you can’t really avoid those two and their antics. I figured I would rather walk into something willingly and aware than be surprised by something worse later on. But this was worse than I could ever expect.

They want to recruit me for one of their fiendish pranks. Already it's a strange and unnerving request, but then they told me it was going to be against Hamish. The only sliver of respect I held for them was their refusal to tamper with that ever-furious cook. Now, it’s gone. And they wanted me to help? There are a million terrors on this sea and Hamish is one of them.

They planned to simply rob the kitchen, small utensils to begin with but crescendo into a full haul before his weekly dinner preparations. They said they’ll pretend to ‘find’ all of the stolen supplies like they had been lost, and ingratiate themself to the man. It’s baffling that they think they could sneak under his nose for that long, let alone believe that he wouldn’t immediately conclude that they were the ones who stole it in the first place.

I promptly refused their offer, and now I’m back at my bunk terrified for the day when they try to enact this plan. I know they will, those idiots. Nothing has stopped them before, and I don’t believe anything will start to. All I can do is pray that Hamish contains his wrath towards the two of them, and he spares the rest of the ship.

Small winds whipped against Felix’s sail, gently pushing the ship while its hull carved through the rocking waves. The sky remained star-splattered, with a few clouds only visible thanks to the dark patches they created in front of the starlight. Fingers back to tracing over his map, Felix switched his vision back and forth between it and the horizon. If he was correct in his estimation – which he usually was – the Water Rise should be due east. The light from the sky, while beautiful, does little for looking into the distance. Eyes scanned what they could of the sea of stars before him. Felix thought to himself a giant spire of floating water should be rather easy to spot.

It turns out, it is easier to hear it first. Slowly overtaking the whipping of the sail was the sound of rushing water. As Felix followed the sound, pitch slowly rising, the direction shifted upwards as well. Before long, Felix could look out and see a singular, monolithic pillar of sea water, not floating, but rushing up into the sky. It was as if, well, a waterfall were to be turned upside down, and the closer his boat drew, the shakier Felix’s breath grew.

Day 16

Those damned twins. I would curse them until I stopped breathing if I didn’t believe myself to be as much of a fool as they.

As expected they went through with they’re half baked Hamish plot. Just like they’d told me, Mavis went to the kitchen to try to converse and distract while Morin snuck behind. They’d been at the small stuff for days but today was their final act, a detail I wish they had told me originally so I could have sat myself on the opposite side of this ship. Instead, I was traipsing my merry way towards my bunk when I heard banging from the kitchen, promptly followed by a sprinting Morin, skillet in hand, running directly towards me.

I swear it took but a second for him to, not only pass by me, but take the skillet and push it into my hand. The absolute bastard. And just as I started to put together what was happening, the sight that will haunt me for the rest of my life curled around the same corner. The squat, frazzled figure of Hamish marching towards me, red in the face and a trail of steam left in his wake. I froze. What else would I do?! I never agreed to this plot for many reasons but this was one. Whether it be in the face of adversity, of danger, of my crew- really any face there is, I freeze against it.

Hamish pushed up directly in front of me. It seemed like some anger faded to confusion when he saw me instead of Morin, who I guess he was expecting. None-the-less he still asked if I had been the one to steal it. Moments passed where I couldn’t bring myself to respond, the man- monster, whatever he is, kept staring at me. I’m unsure if it was the pressure, or the knowledge that I could have prevented all this, or maybe some kind of curse from this sea, but whatever it is, it has made me utterly mad.

I told Hamish I stole the skillet.

It truly hurts to even remember such an act of stupidity. It was obviously Morin, Hamish had probably known that already. I knew it, hell anyone on the ship could have guessed the culprit correctly. But for whatever reason, my mouth offered up my own skin.

It was odd though. As soon as I said that, and proceeded to question everything leading up to this point in my life, when I actually looked back at Hamish he’d… calmed down. In an instant apparently the entire world had chosen the most unlikely path. I’m sure if I could see the Ever-Night sky in that moment I’d find the sun and blue skies awaiting me.

The next hours all flew by in comparison to that sudden stop in time. Having admitted to the crime, Hamish talked to the Captain and they both agreed on my punishment. For the next two weeks I’m to make dinner with Hamish and clean the rest of the crews’ dishes. Truly it could have been worse, but I can’t say I’m excited for this unjust punishment.

Fortunately, while I was deemed as the skillet stealer, the rest of the thefts were promptly attributed to the twins, who are having to join me in these two weeks of cooking. It does mean my sacrifice was made in vain. I believed I had already dismissed the idea of me ever sacrificing anything, for any reason, but now I believe it doubly so.

Confusion kept haunting me though as but two hours ago I found Mavis and Morin outside my bunk waiting for me. I was tired of the trouble they had caused me thus far so I tried to just dismiss them, asking they take whatever revenge for my incomplience the next day. But they said they were there to thank me, for shouldering the blame. I can’t understand why they would thank me for something that didn’t change their punishment, but I wasn’t going to argue with the current lack of pranks they seemingly had targeted at me.

Before the left as well, they each unclipped one of these odd earrings they wore. I’d never noticed them, but both had this matching set of strange, gold and red designs. It seemed almost too ostentatious a piece for either of them, but now I have one from either of them. They said it was a token of their thanks. I’d question enough of existence today, I just let them say what they wanted and responded in brief until they left.

The earrings are lying to my side currently. Looking at them, they are actually quite lovely, so I’m a bit glad to have accepted their thanks. I haven’t much use for them seeing as how my ears aren’t pierced. I’m sure the two of them should have noticed-

Oh gods.

They wouldn’t, right? Sweet stars I won’t be able to sleep tonight. Curse those bloody twins.

The roaring stream was deafening as Felix cupped his hands over his ears, ignoring the earrings pressing down into his neck. He’d dropped anchor only feet from the base, finally able to see the Water Rise was a full twenty feet across.. With only the destination in mind, he hadn’t truly considered the dangers a reverse waterfall might present, but he could now imagine it might be on par with the dangers of a regular waterfall, if not worse.

But he was here, as surprised as he was by that. Looking up into the Water Rise, his breathing quickened still and he found himself clutching his chest. It was a terrifying sight, but even worse was it was a sight he was supposed to be sharing with Mavis and Morin. Their ship, the Searching Merlin, had been tasked with simple star-charting and occasional cargo transportation across the Ever-Night. In that time, the crew had grown into a family, and they all agreed to, once work permitted, each choose a fabled sight from the sea and visit it. Before they could, however, the ocean did what it does best, and wreaked havoc, destroying the Merlin and taking the entire crew with it. Except for Felix, a miraculous survivor picked up by another cargo ship in passing.

Felix had not known a hell as scathing as survival. Out of all eight members of his crew, each one could have, and should have, made it back to shore before him. He never had a drive of his own. Life on this sea had only ever been bearable for Felix when his crew was there to give him direction. With them gone, the navigator was left directionless-

Until he thought of those sights they had all promised to see together.

Either to reach these sights for his crew's memory, or to die while searching, it was a final direction Felix took hold of. It was what he had left, and remembering that, he stilled his breath, as much as he could.

Paddling ever so closer to the rise, Felix brought his boat within arms length. The water directly outside of the pillar was unaffected by the geyser, a fact that would be strange if not for the already baffling nature of the rise. On his side, Felix reached into a satchel, digging around for a moment before pulling out two, round glass vials.

Mavis and Morin had found this particular phenomenon so alluring because the water from the rise was rumored to continue falling upwards, even if scooped out of the pillar. When their first attack on Hamish had gone awry, the successor plot became filling vials with this floating water and tying them to a sleeping Hamish. He couldn’t chase after the twins if he were floating up in the air, or at least that’s what they had imagined.

With his other hand, Felix reached up and unclipped each earring, palming them while he grabbed a final string of twine from the satchel. Hands slightly shaking, he tied each earring to its own small vial. There was little he thought about doing to try and honor the twins. Pranks were not meant to be played alone, so Felix was left with a clumsy floating-lantern-inspired ritual. They would poke fun at him for it, and that seemed to be as good a send off as he could muster. Looking back at the Water Rise, holding the vials down so they could catch water, Felix reached his hand out ever so slightly. Inch by inch, he brought the necks to the rushing rise, until they barely clipped into it’s surface.

Immediately he pulled back the vials, hoping to catch them before the flew off. Holding them in his arms he braced his body to try and hold them down, but nothing seemed to happen. Confused, he pulled both the vials up, seeing each about half full from their brief dip with seemingly normal sea water. Felix let out a sigh, a mixture of relief and disappointment. He grabbed quarks for each and placed them inside.

I won’t act like any of this is understandable in the first place, he thought to himself. But I would think, I don’t know. I should’ve known Mavis and Morin probably lied to me. Just another prank they thought to set so I would look like a-

All of a sudden, as Felix walked back to his desk, the flasks began shaking, slightly at first until two violent popping sounds rang his ears, the quarks falling to the ground and both flasks flying straight into the sky. The momentum of their sudden departure threw Felix onto his back, a spray of sea water splattering over him.

Now looking up into the sky, Felix could see the flasks rise up, nearly disappearing to view. He thought to himself; Those idiots, they knew this would happen, as a soft chuckle escaped his shaken breath.

In a moment, the flasks were gone from view, earrings in tow. It was difficult to tell whether it was left over sprinkles of seawater, a twinge of light catching the earrings high up, or just the tears in his eyes reflecting the sky, but Felix could swear that where the flasks disappeared from view, two stars now took their place.