Laughter carried upon the air, warm and unrestrained, pure in its unabashed nakedness. That was the luxury afforded to a group of companions that had no walls between them, no shame, no secrets or ill will disguised with smiles. His heart soared, filled to bursting with pride and fondness for his team. Another mission, another celebration to revel in their success, to bask in the post-victory glow. He drank deep of the love and warmth that poured in from their presence, only to turn as a familiar touch nudged against his mind via the groups' psychic link, a smile on his lips and laughter in his throat-

His eyes flicked open as a sound disturbed him from above. A seagull's plaintive cry, a futile attempt to shake the silence from the air. He lay there in the darkness of his room, listening for even a brief refrain of the laughter from his dream. Nothing. An absence, both of sound and within his mind, the gaping chasm that had once been the mental presence of his friends, his family. He hated being alone in his head.

He rose, dressing swiftly in practical, elegant clothing, and made his way abovedecks, once again going over the plans and preparations that they would soon put into play. The first overt, concrete step towards his goal of forging a better empire. Years of preparation, of building a network of contacts, gathering resources and allies, creating a new life and reputation for himself. Soon, all of it would bear fruit.

Still, they had some time before they reached their destination, and he wanted the team relaxed and calm, centred before the trials to come.He stepped onto the deck, eyes thinning against the intensity of the sun, and surveyed the boat. A massive vessel, for what it was, it was nonetheless sleek and elegantly designed, easily one of the most advanced crafts in the world.


It also had a pool. R&R was important, after all. He set forth at an easy pace, strolling forward with the intent of tracking down his Knights to take stock of their current state.

seonnyeo zenith TRAUMA seraphim