#xiaophros

They approached the shore long after sunset with the intention of clearing their mind and reconciling the growing dread which surfaced each time they remembered their deal. If they were lucky, they could come up with a plan. After all, only five days remained, now. 

But, as they took a first step onto the sand, it came as a surprise to Aphros to find the beach already occupied. Sitting alone by the shore was Xiao, unaccompanied by guards, silently watching the horizon. His shoulders were slumped, not held high and stiff like they had been previously. Aphros was shocked by how normal he looked: like a person, not a prince. Against the silver light of the moon, his silhouette was dark, and cast a long shadow across the pale sand. 

If this encounter had happened early in the day, Aphros would have immediately seized the opportunity to walk to him and prove themselves. But it was late, and they were tired, and the fairytale of falling in love with a prince felt merely that, and nothing more. 

They took another step along the beach. They were here for the ocean, not for him, and his presence wouldn’t hinder them. Xiao must have noticed their approach, because he glanced over his shoulder, briefly making eye contact with them. No hearts fluttered, and no sparks flew. He looked back to the horizon a moment later.

Aphros continued towards the shore until they were in line with him, at which point they sat down on the sand, some paces away. If Xiao disliked their presence, he made no indication of it. Aphros, too, turned their eyes to the horizon, and simply stared. It was odd to think that only a day ago, they had lived in this very same ocean, and from inside it had looked up at the very same stars, only now the sea felt as far away from them as the stars did. 

For a long time, there was only silence and the sigh of waves against the sand.

“A few months ago, somebody saved my life here.”

Surprised, Aphros turned their head to look at Xiao. He stared out at the horizon, not meeting their eye. His face was bathed in shadows, yet he looked much younger; like he was their age, not some young boy forced into maturity. (He looked younger, and much more tired.)

The prince’s eyes flicked in their direction. “What is your reason for coming here?” There was a brief beat of silence. Xiao shook his head and scoffed. “Of course. You can’t answer.”

Aphros was by now used to such disdain, and bore it with weary acceptance. By way of reply, they merely tilted their head towards him in what they hoped could be read as a return of the question. It was a moment before Xiao replied.

“I have nightmares sometimes,” the prince admitted with a sigh. “Of my time on the battlefield. I struggle to sleep afterwards, so I come here to clear my mind.” He chewed on his lip—an action Aphros wouldn’t have expected from a stern military general as much as a hesitant child. 

The next moment, he asked quietly, “May I… speak of them to you?”

The question shocked Aphros into staring. Something in Xiao’s expression seemed to fall, and he cast his eyes downwards. Hastily, Aphros composed themselves and nodded. With their affirmation made, Xiao spoke to them a little about his nightmares: things about his fallen comrades, about his guilt, about his regret.

Once he finished, he admitted, “I have not told anybody about that before. Not even my attendants. I suppose it is pleasant that you can only listen, without the danger of you relating my words to somebody else.” 

The comment may have stung if Aphros weren’t so tired. They only felt a distant prick of disappointment in its place. Yet any reaction of theirs seemed to go unnoticed by Xiao, who continued by saying, “I would inquire more about you in return, but you cannot reply.” Once again, Aphros bore with patience the disregard which they had recently become acquainted with by releasing a sigh.

Aphros mulled over his words, wishing they could express anything at all of their own thoughts. If only they were able to communicate with neither speech nor signing.

An idea sprang to their mind. Aphros looked pointedly at Xiao, raising their hand slightly to catch his attention. Once certain he was focused on them, Aphros performed the act of nodding once, then shaking their head. 

“You wish me to ask you ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions?”

Aphros nodded. Perhaps this was finally an opportunity to establish a connection with him. 

Xiao was silent a moment longer before asking, “Were you born like this?” 

Briefly confused whether he referred to their inability to communicate or their adoption of a human form, Aphros hesitated, then shook their head. The reply would be the same for either; but they expected he had the former topic in mind, for he had no way of knowing about the latter.

“Hm. Could you ever speak?”

They shook their head again.

“But… you could communicate in the past?” 

This reply appeared to intrigue Xiao.

“By… signing?”

Another nod.

“Did you have an accident of some sort, which affected your ability to use your hands?”

A shake of the head. He frowned.

“So how did this happen?” Aphros raised an eyebrow at him. Xiao realised his mistake. “No, you can’t answer that.” He clicked his tongue, reconsidering. “Did somebody else do this to you?”

Aphros nodded. Xiao considered this.

“Do you know who?”

They nodded again. A flicker of hope sparked to life inside their chest. 

“Are you aware of how to… retrieve your ability to use your hands?” 

Another nod.

“Can you do so?”

Aphros hesitated, then shook their head. Xiao’s brow rose.

“So… you know how to solve your problem, but don’t know if you can do so?”

They nodded. He pursed his lips.

“And I suppose you cannot tell anyone how yourself, given the current circumstances.” 

Aphros was on the edge of nodding again before they paused. Perhaps he was wrong; perhaps there was a way of communicating their situation beyond this crude method. They walked to the ocean’s edge. Xiao’s eyes followed them, his expression one of mild confusion. Aphros stared down at the little lining of white foam forming on top of each wave’s crest. 

To their knowledge, it was only their physical body which had changed: the contract had mentioned nothing of abilities, or at least not of the mystical sort. Which meant that, if they were correct…

Aphros took a deep breath and ran their numbed fingers along the sea’s surface. Feeling nothing, they remembered that their hand was only being limply dragged by their wrist through the water; they wouldn’t be able to use their hands to dictate a message in the foam.

There was another way to do this, they recalled, but one they hadn’t used in a very long time. One which they may not still be able to do. One which required the perfect balance of focus, serenity, intent, and skill, and which required nothing but their own mind. 

Aphros took a deep breath and closed their eyes to focus on the water around them. The little waves drawing forwards and backwards over the sand. The tides further out in the bay, pushing and pulling to the call of the moon. The depths where no sunlight could ever reach and no being would ever venture, right up to the fine white bubbles swirling across the delicate surface of this dark, terrifying, beautiful expanse.

They seized the image of the foam in their mind’s eye and took a breath. Perhaps there was a chance that if they were very, very focused and very, very lucky… 

When they opened their eyes, the characters written in foam on the sea’s surface read ‘magic’.

The next moment Aphros’ legs buckled beneath them. They steadied themselves, but it took great effort to keep themselves from falling to the floor. Meanwhile, still sitting on the sand, Xiao looked unconvinced and tilted his head.

“Magic? Truly?” 

They nodded. Xiao narrowed his eyes in thought. Considering they had just shaped seafoam into words according to their will, the prince finally decided to entertain the notion.

“Is this some sort of spell, then? Or a curse?”

Aphros nodded. They could almost see the gears turning in Xiao’s head as pieces fell into place.

“And this… curse was cast by the one who took away your ability to use your hands?”

They nodded again. He frowned. 

“But if you know all of this, why can‘t you break it?”

Aphros flushed with embarrassment and gestured hesitantly in his direction. His eyebrows furrowed and he glanced behind him, over his shoulder. Seeing nothing, he turned back to them and signalled at himself. Aphros nodded. 

“…Something to do with myself? I don’t understand. How do I come into this?”

Aphros cleared their throat. At once the concept of romance wasn’t so enticing as it was unbearably awkward and humiliating. They raised their wrist to their lips, struggling to meet his eye. 

Xiao’s eyes widened with realisation. His expression shifted from shocked to embarrassed to affronted all within the length of one second. Aphros watched the whole process with an inwards wince.

“So…” Xiao rubbed his brow. “This spell requires me to… kiss you, in order to break it. Which I take means you have feelings for me.”

Aphros nodded, unable to look at him lest they cripple with shame. However, they could not resist shooting a hopeful glance in his direction.

Xiao pursed his lips. “Is there any time limit for lifting this spell?”

In the foam, Aphros wrote, Six.

The prince looked away with a sigh. “In that case, I apologise. I do not return the feelings you have for me.” Aphros had anticipated the reply, but the anticipation did little to soften the statement. “Neither do I believe I could fall in love with you in only six days, even if I wished to. Furthermore, I do not want to play with your emotions and pretend to love you when I don’t.”

Aphros lowered their head in understanding.

“Are there any alternative solutions?” he suggested. Aphros shook their head. He sighed. “I am sorry, then. Perhaps… perhaps you should have been more careful in allowing yourself to be cursed this way.”

Ashamed, Aphros averted their eyes. There was silence. The two sat together, a few paces apart, and watched the sea. 

They did not expect Xiao to speak again—yet he mused, a little while later, half to himself, “So you have had every means of communication stripped from you, and you are overlooked by everyone at the palace. That… must be incredibly frustrating.” Aphros hesitated, then nodded. He grunted. “Yet you have not lost your temper. That is commendable. I myself would be furious if such a thing happened to me.”

Their lips twitched in a half-smile. In the foam, they replied simply, I am used to it. Xiao looked away. 

“Oh.” 

Then, “What’s your name?”