The sound of catching wind pulled Lorel from his sleep. One moment he was caught in its tenebrous grasp; and then he was wide awake the next, staring up at the ceiling. He sat up, careful not hit his head- and promptly lay back down upon seeing the window he'd left open.

  Fuck, he silently cursed, raising both hands to his face and sighing through his fingers. I'm tired. That was hardly surprising, considering how late he and Aria had both stayed up last night- and the events of the day preceding it. And that, of course, led to an important question: how much of yesterday actually happened?

  Lorel could still remember every bit of it: school, his bouts with Loch at the DFH, the anxiety and fear their talk had instilled... Stop, he chided himself, pushing himself back into a sitting position and letting his feet dangle off the edge. There's no point in thinking about it.

  Everything that came after, too. Quarreling with Aria, stealing a skimmer to save the two strangers, dodging the Tideguard... And then their father's icy fury in the wake of it all. Those were the parts of yesterday that he had trouble reconciling. He could still remember taking action; tearing the spaceship in half, ferrying both pilots back to the surface, but against the morning calm, the memories themselves felt... Distant. Muted.

  Am I in shock? He wondered, bringing another hand to his face to inspect it. The flesh was smooth and flawless; just as it had been before.

  ... Nah, Lorel decided, pushing himself off the bed. He had no injuries to speak of, and whatever he felt was far too benign for such a label; it stemmed from discomfort, rather than from fear of death or harm. And that discomfort, in turn, stemmed from the dissonance of the day before.

  Yesterday had been frenetic. Emotional.

  Today was normal- so far, at least.

  Plenty of time for that change.

  He shivered as his feet landed on the cold, smooth far below. Lorel slept on a top-only bunk; small as their home was, he and Aria each had their own room- something both of them were decidedly grateful for. Not that either of them really had many belongings. The only other furniture in his room was a small desk set under the bet, with a chair to match.

  Though the closet set into his far wall was rather large, all things considered, he owned less than ten total outfits. And two of those were meant for formal occasions, utterly unsuited for the rigors and events of everyday life.

  Lorel grabbed his holo-watch from its glassy surface, slipping it on and checking the time as he stepped towards the window. It was the largest object in his room, taking up the entire corner and most of each wall, and had a ledge underneath; something he'd installed himself.

  6:45.

  What day is it? Wednesday. Too early to do anything meaningful, and too late to go back to sleep.

  Great.

  Stretching both arms above his head, he reached for the open window. But instead of sliding it shut, he flung it open, shivering at the swell of cool morning air that swept over him in response.

  Daybreak on Torrent was beautiful. The weak, early daylight of their neighbor star streamed down, glinting off the ocean's surface and mingling with the planet's blue-green glow.

  Lorel took a deep breath, savoring the cool air that soothed his lungs. He stood there for a time, just watching the mingling lights tones that spread out in front of him. It was like watching an endless battle between legions of living light: streams of warm sunlight from above, and the cold quiet of Coral below.

  Taking another breath, he hoisted himself up onto the window's ledge, sitting so that his knees were pressed up against his torso. Each heartbeat echoed against his own flesh, spurred on by the anxiety born of the day prior. He closed his eyes, hugging his legs, in an attempt to calm his racing heart.

  And, little by little.

  Bit by bit.

  The sounds of his homeworld washed away his fear; the sounds of rushing water and wind similar yet distinct from one another.

  He counted fifteen more seconds- and then opened his eyes. The splendor before him was certainly no different than before, but seemed all the brighter. That's better. Letting out another breath, he released his legs, reaching out to close the window. Enough of that.

  Lorel shook his head, chasing away the last few thoughts of yesterday before turning back into his room. The silence was nearly deafening, now, in comparison. He checked his watch again.

  7:00.

  He pushed off the ledge with a grimace. I hope Aria got some sleep. The bags under her eyes were much darker than last time he'd seen her; he wasn't quite sure how much his sister was sleeping, but he was sure it was very little- if at all. That's probably one of the reasons dad punished her, too. For all the trouble they got into, their father went out of his way to look after the siblings- perhaps more than they deserved.

  The lights came on as he slid the closet door open; a cold, white hue with the barest hint of pale green. Lorel selected his outfit with hardly a care- a pair of worn jeans and a dark blue shirt- before stepping out of his room.

  Their "house", if it could really be called that, was really a repurposed Tideguard outpost, built well before anyone in their home had ever taken their first breath on Torrent. On a very technical level, complete with terms and jargon that went far, far above his head, they didn't actually own their home: it was too close to the city's edge for that. The only reason they were allowed to live there was because of his father's position in the Tideguard- and his own honorary one.

  It had taken on a more homely shape over the many years they'd lived there, but some things were difficult to truly change- like the metal-and-glass construction that formed its foundation. They'd had rugs, for a while, but they seemed too out of place within the vaguely futuristic-looking lodging.

  Lorel found himself within arm's reach of Aria's room; one of the side effects of their decidedly odd dwelling. Reaching out, he slid it open carefully.

  Hers was much, much messier, but not really due to belongings. That implied ownership of some sort, and Lorel was fairly certain that his sister had no real claim to the expensive-looking equipment that sporadically appeared in- and disappeared from- her room.

  The door thumped open on the other side. Not loud, but enough to stir his sister from whatever fitful sleep she'd found atop her bed. "Lorel?"

  "Did I wake you?" He asked softly.

  "Nn..." Aria sat up straight, blearily rubbing her eyes with one hand. "I don't know... I was reading something."

  Lorel stepped inside, careful to avoid the loose papers scattered across every flat surface. Her bed was no exception. It was even worse off, in fact, entirely covered in small white sheets that were, in turn, covered with small black text. "Wow. You're really letting yourself ago." Those were yet another result of Loch's influence.

  She scowled. "Not helpful."

  "That implies I was trying to be." He leaned over to pick up the closest one- the top of a pile stacked haphazardly on her nightstand, intending to read it.

  He gave up after ten words. "I cannot make heads or tails of this."

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  Aria tied her hair into a messy bun before responding. "Are you sure you're my brother?"

  "Guess I'm not the only who asks myself that from time to time." Lorel handed the paper back to her. "Did you get any sleep?"

  His sister nodded, arching her back and stretching her arms out in front of her. "A bit... What?" She asked, confused, as he stepped past the papers to peer down at her face.

  "I'm trying to see if those bags under your eyes got any better."

  "... Why?"

  "Because you've been pushing yourself too hard."

  Lorel expected Aria to protest. Instead, she simply sighed. "Maybe. I think dad noticed."

  "Ah." He straightened, realizing that she'd come to the same conclusion. "You think so, too?"

  She nodded again. "Yeah. It makes more sense that way."

  "Does this mean that you'll forget about all of this..." Lorel gestured around to the various papers in her room- and to the somewhat intimidating piece of equipment in the center of her room. "While you're home?"

  "Maybe. There's-"

  "Because it should," he interrupted. "You spend more time over there than you do here. At home."

  Lorel saw the protest form on Aria's lips. He opened his mouth, intending to rebut whatever fanciful notion she spoke next-

  "Alright."

  -- Only to blink in surprise as she agreed. "That easily?"

  She scowled. "Did you think I would just ignore you?"

  "I guess not."

  Between them, she was older by nearly two years, but that had never stopped Aria from heeding his advice. "Does that mean you won't be going to the lab today?"

  Aria stretched her arms out in front of her again before responding. "Not until next week." She flopped back down on her bed with a sigh. "Promise." And then, after a pause. "I guess this means yesterday really did happen."

  Lorel laughed aloud at that, so suddenly that Aria stiffened for a moment. "Even in the face of national incident, dad's fury reigns supreme, eh?"

  "Yeah." She closed her eyes. "But he always has his reasons."

  "He does." It was one of the reasons he respected their father. "Food?" He asked stepping back and half-out of Aria's room. That was the only real reason he'd risked rousing his sister- because she likely wouldn't eat otherwise. "It'll be simple, though. I don't know how much food there is in the house."

  Aria nodded, already half-asleep.

  "Hey," Lorel said, stepping back and sliding her door half-closed. "If you're not awake by the time I'm done, I'm carrying you to the roof- after thoroughly soaking you."

  Her only response was to raise one arm wordlessly.

  "I'll take that as permission."

  The same light as before followed his footsteps to the kitchen. The teapot still sat on the stovetop. It made for a strange sight; worn, faded, and in places, chipped metal against the sleek walls that formed their home. Picking it up, Lorel removed the lid. Half-full; he and Aria had gone through another pot and a half before turning in for the night.

  Lorel whipped the water into a frenzy first, scouring the sides clean of whatever debris found its way inside overnight before willing it to leave as a single twisting stream. Holding both ends of it, he dropped it into the sink before turning on the faucet to replace it.

  Tapping the heat on, he turned back to the cabinets. They were mostly empty- hardly surprising, considering the individuals that comprised their family- but always held a choice few items for moments like these. Stocked by him, for the most part.

  There you are.

  It took him a minute to find the loaf of bread, tucked away behind a stack of small plates. The bacon was easier, considering it was one of only a few items in the fridge. Lorel took that and the eggs from the fridge, retrieving a pan before thumbing another stovetop on.

  He flipped the first few strips of bacon before moving on to the eggs. Rather than cracking them by hand, Lorel reached over to turn the faucet on. He caught the water that flowed forth; with his hand, at first, and then with his mind. Twisting it into a small stream, he picked up all that remained; six in total.

  It wasn't really cracking so much as it was pulverizing.

  The eggshells simply burst apart. Adding the eggs themselves to the pain was a comparatively easy task; he simply pulled the water back, making sure to catch all the hard specks held within, and they dropped down into the pan. It was funny, in a way- small moments like these were when he was most grateful for his powers.

  He looked up just in time to see Aria step into the kitchen, woken by the sound- or perhaps scent- of food cooking. She'd traded her black sleepwear for a pair of shorts and a simple white t-shirt.

  "Can you grab a couple of plates? There's bacon and eggs. Give me a few minutes for the toast."

  "Alright." She sidled up next to him. The kitchen- if it could really be called that- was just barely wide enough for them to stand with their backs to one another. "Thanks for cooking."

  Lorel half-nodded, half-ducked under the cabinet as she opened it. "It's just bacon, eggs, and toast. Don't get your hopes up too high."

  "Still," she said, placing the plates by the stovetop before stepping out of his way. There were three in total, one large one, and two smaller ones. "Thank you."

  He said nothing more, opting instead to shovel a portion of food- more than half- onto the lager plate. This was a small price to pay if it meant Aria would actually eat. "Here." He handed it to her without looking. "Go eat at the table."

  By the time Lorel joined his sister, his own food in hand, she'd already devoured her bacon and a good portion of her eggs. "Here." He scraped more egg and a couple more strips of bacon onto her plate. "Eat more. I'll pick something up on the way to school."

  "Are you sure?"

  "Yeah. There's plenty of time left. Do you want any butter?"

  "Dry is fine," she answered, taking two slices of toast from the larger plate. "Again. Thank you."

  Lorel snorted. "All I did was heat up a pan and put some food on it."

  "Maybe," Aria responded, taking another bite. "But it beats what I've been eating." She swallowed. "Is there any tea left?"

  "I star-"

  As if on cue, the kettle let out a sharp whistle, interrupting him.

  "Speak of the devil."

  He stood to retrieve it, as well as the two mugs they'd used previously. "Same as last night?"

  "Please."

  When he returned, Aria had gone through the rest of her food, save for the second piece of toast. "What exactly have you been eating?"

  "Ration bars."

  Lorel grimaced. "You know those don't really qualify as meals." The chalky grey bars were packed full of nutrients- plenty to last the average person for extended periods of time- but hardly filling.

  "I know."

  He poured Aria's cup first, seeping it just as he'd done the night before. "You need to eat actual food," he said firmly. "Even if it's just coming home a couple of nights a week so that I can make something."

  She took a sip before replying. "Just because I chastised you last night doesn't mean it's your turn now."

  "You know that's not why I'm chastising you."

  "... I know."

  "So?"

  His sister took another sip. "Alright," she finally acquiesced. "I'll be home a couple of nights a week."

  "Good." Lorel grinned. "I'll be sure to bring Loch around, too. I'm sure he'll be happy to see you."

  That comment made Aria sputter and then cough. "What does he have to do with anything?!" She asked, vigorously hammering her chest with one hand.

  "Absolutely nothing," Lorel said, grin widening, "but I said I'd bring him by, so I will."

  "... Seriously," Aria said, chasing away the last of her coughs with yet another sip. "There's nothing between us."

  "That doesn't mean that there can't be."

  "You know," she said, setting her mug down. "Most people would be upset if their best friend and sister became romantically involved."

  "Am I most people?"

  "... No."

  "Then I rest my case." Lorel picked up his fork. "And besides, you two are my favorite people in the universe. Why wouldn't I be happy for the two of you?" Just as he was about to take the first bite-

  "Lorel."

  Aria whispered his name.

  He stopped short, fork just inches from his mouth. It wasn't the sudden change of topic, or even volume, that made him pause. It was her tone- the same one she'd just the day before.

  "... What is it?" He asked, setting his fork back down.

  "Look at this." She fiddled with her holo-watch, pulling up a terminal and throwing it onto the glass table.

  Lorel finished his bite before doing so. It was a newsfeed of some sort, detailing the spaceship that crashed yesterday. "So?" He asked, taking another bite. "It's an international incident. A spaceship crashing on a planet that doesn't have spaceships. "

  "Not that. Look." Aria swiped to the next one, and then the next. "This one, too."

  "... What am I supposed to be looking at?" He asked. "That's it's on the newsfeeds? That's hardly surprising, either."

  "But you're nowhere to be seen," she said, hurriedly flicking through a couple more. "All it says is that a Tidal aided in the rescue. That's it. No name, no video."

  Lorel shrugged. "Sure, that's weird. But so what?" He picked up a piece of toast. "We live in floating cities made on a planet of water that endlessly radiates something called Coral. That we use to power spaceships. And fly to other galaxies. How's that for weird?"

  Aria frowned. "Why are you like this?"

  "I've always been like this. If you're still surprised, that's on you."

  She sighed.

  Rather than continue the conversation, Lorel picked up another piece of toast. "That's enough for me." He stood, scraping the rest of his plate onto Aria's before standing. "I need to get going."

  "Already? It's still early. Aren't you tired?" Schools started late on Torrent, but their house was further away than the city than most. Usually that didn't matter- you were hardly ever more than a few minutes away from a rail station- but given their relative seclusion, it took him longer to arrive than practically every other student.

  "A bit," Lorel admitted, knowing that the fatigue was plain on his face. "But it's far from the first time I've gone to school tired. And if I want to pick something up, it's better to leave early." He reached down to close the newsfeed. "There's still bread left, and there's some cold cuts and cheese in the fridge. Eat, even if it's something as simple as a sandwich."

  "... You do know that I'm the older sibling here, right?"

  Lorel chuckled. "I know." With that, he turned to leave. The morning light greeted him, as did the view of the ocean that he so loved. He took a deep breath. The anxieties and fear of the day before were still there, just... muted. At times like these, a dive would help him best. Failing that, physical activity was a somewhat distant second. Taking another breath, Lorel shook away the last of the early morning fog before setting off on a brisk jog.