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nomercyforrafayel · 1 day ago

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Title: Till Sea Dries

Pairing: Rafayel x non-MC Childhood friends, fluff with angst, bittersweet

Summary: You and Rafayel were childhood friends, bound by a promise to remember and wait for each other. There were tear-filled goodbyes—because that’s just how life flows in the ocean. Don’t worry, they’ll totally remember each other… until the starfish decides to bail.

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3

Chapter 1

As you stroll through the castle halls, a mischievous smile tugging at your lips. No matter how many times your parents have scolded you, warning you to stay away from the southern tower—the tall, looming structure on the edge of the palace grounds—you can’t seem to resist its pull. Curiosity has always been your greatest weakness.

As the fourth child of a noble lineage, you are often overlooked. It doesn't bother you much; in fact, it gives you the freedom to explore without constant scrutiny. You’ve always loved visiting the palace. It is the heart of Lemuria, a place where history lingers in the walls. The coral-stone pillars shimmer under the soft glow of lanterns, and delicate seashell mosaics line the floors.

Even now, your mother still tells you bedtime tales of Lemuria’s golden age and the Old Gods of the Sea. You know the legends by heart—the mighty deities who shaped the ocean and the lost cities swallowed by the tides. Yet, nothing fascinates you more than the forbidden tower, standing silent and untouched.

And today, you finally decide to see it for yourself.

You chuckle as you sneak through the castle, carefully avoiding the guards. The thrill of slipping past them unnoticed sends a rush of excitement through you. As you wander, you take your time admiring the rooms, gazing at the grand statues and intricate paintings that line the walls.

But then—voices.

You freeze. From somewhere within the tower, you hear hushed whispers, sharp and urgent. A sudden jolt of panic grips you. If someone catches you here, they might report you to your parents. Heart pounding, you quickly duck behind a pillar, pressing yourself into the shadows.

Moments later, the door creaks open. You hold your breath, expecting a stern-faced guard. Instead, a young boy steps out, his expression twisted into a pout.

You nearly gasp. His hair is purple. Only nobles have purple hair.

Your mind races. You should know him—your parents have introduced you to every noble-born child your age in their desperate attempt to help you make friends. Yet, you don’t recognize him. He must be from a lesser noble family, one not worth mentioning.

A grin spreads across your face. If he’s here, sneaking around just like you, then maybe he’s different from the other noble children—the ones so strict with rules, weighed down by their endless lessons and proper etiquette.

Excitement bubbles up inside you. Finally, someone who might be like you.

Silently, you creep up behind him, your grin widening. Then, without warning, you leap forward and yell—

“BOOO!!”

A loud scream echoed through the hall. The boy jolted forward, stumbling as he tried to hide his face.

You burst into laughter, the sound bouncing off the walls. But just as suddenly, the boy froze. Slowly, he turned to look at you.

That’s when you saw them—his eyes.

They were unlike anything you had ever seen, caught in an endless battle between pink and blue, shifting and blending like the meeting of two tides. For a moment, you could only stare, mesmerized.

But your amazement was short-lived.

“You! You shouldn’t be here!” the boy yelled, his face turning as red as the sunset filtering through the high windows. “How! What… no.”

The boy murmured, his face flushed with embarrassment as he tried to hide his shame.

“Relax, I’m just like you,” you said quickly, trying to ease his nerves. He must be worried about being caught by his parents, you thought. “And don’t yell. What if someone hears us?”

“You’re the one who yelled first!” he shot back, his voice rising.

“Shhhhh!” you whispered urgently. “We’re partners in crime now. You can’t let them find us.”

“I-What?” he stammered, completely confused.

“Anyways,” you said with a dismissive hum. You glanced around, knowing you didn’t have much time. You needed to return to your room before your parents started looking for you. “Listen, I need to get back before sunset, so I don’t have time to waste.”

The boy blinked, still dumbfounded, trying to make sense of what just happened.

“You—partners in crime?” he repeated slowly, as if the words didn’t quite add up.

“Exactly,” you said, brushing off his confusion. “Now, let’s get moving.” You started walking toward the tower, eager to explore more.

He hesitated, then finally caught up. “But… you’re serious?”

“Shh! We don’t have time for questions. Follow me if you want to see the tower.” You motioned for him to stay quiet, your excitement growing as you neared the entrance.

The boy looked at you, still unsure, but something about your confidence seemed to settle his nerves. “Just what happened,” he muttered, but he followed anyway.

You and the boy move quietly through the rooms of the tower, your curiosity pulling you deeper into its mysterious halls. You glance at the boy, noticing his eyes darting around, trying to keep up with you.

“What now?” he mutters, his voice low but tinged with a mix of annoyance and amusement. “This isn’t exactly how I imagined sneaking around.”

“You’re just following me, aren’t you?” you tease, not slowing your pace. “I thought you were the one who didn’t want to be seen.”

He rolls his eyes. “I don’t want to be seen with you,” he snaps back, but his tone softens as he follows you into the next room.

The walls are covered in old tapestries, and the scent of dust fills the air. You’re about to reach for an old book when the sound of footsteps echoes through the hallway. You freeze.

“Guard!” The boy hisses, grabbing your arm.

Without a second thought, you both sprint, weaving through the corridors, the sound of your feet echoing in the silence. You can hear the guard shouting in the distance, growing closer with every step.

Just as you turn a corner, you glance behind you—and to your shock, the boy isn’t there anymore.

“Hey!” you call out, but there’s no answer. The hallway is empty, and the only thing you hear now is your own breathing, heavy and rushed.

The next time you saw the boy, a week had passed.

You’d barely managed to slip away from your parents’ watchful eyes, but finally, you made it back to the tower.

You swam around the base carefully, scanning for any guards. The sea felt quiet—as if it was guiding you. With a breath of excitement, you slipped through the large doors and swam inside.

The moment you entered, everything felt… different. The water turned colder, the silence heavier. The deeper you went, the eerier it became.

Then suddenly—

“BOOOO!”

A sharp scream tore from your throat before you could stop it.

But then came laughter. Loud, familiar, and maddening.

You spun around. “YOU!”

The boy was floating nearby, grinning so wide it almost hurt to look at him.

“You should’ve seen your face!” the boy cackled, barely keeping himself upright in the water. “I swear, if I had a shell to draw that—priceless!”

You crossed your arms, cheeks burning. “You nearly scared the scales off me!”

“That was the idea,” he snorted, wiping a fake tear from his eye. “I told you I’d get revenge.”

You swam up closer, glaring. “You waited a whole week just to jump out and scream at me?”

He gave you a smug look. “Of course. What, you think I forgot?”

You huffed. “You have too much free time.”

“And you scream like a startled shrimp.”

Your jaw dropped. “Excuse me?!”

He grinned, spinning lazily in the water. “It’s a compliment. Shrimp are fast. Impressive reaction time.”

You rolled your eyes, trying to hide your embarrassment. “Whatever. I wasn’t scared, just… surprised.”

“Oh really? Then why did you flail like—what was it—some noble jellyfish having a meltdown?”

“I did not flail.”

“You totally did.”

You flicked a splash of water at him. “You’re insufferable.”

He chuckled, dodging easily. “And you keep coming back to find me. So who’s really the fool here?”

You tried to stay annoyed—but your lips twitched anyway. “Still you.”

“I came here for the tower,” you said coolly, flipping your hair back like it was no big deal. “I’m going to conquer it.”

“Puh-lease,” he groaned, floating on his back. “There’s nothing in there. Books, more books, and—guess what—even more books.”

“You talk like you’ve lived your whole life in this tower,” you replied, rolling your eyes.

He opened his mouth to argue, but you cut him off, “I’m going in to investigate. Are you coming or not?”

He gave a dramatic sigh and placed a hand over his heart. “Hmmm… I can’t just let you wander off alone. What if the little Starfish here gets lost?”

You blinked at him. “Starfish?”

He smirked. “Yeah. You’re tiny, kind of clingy, and scream when touched.”

You glared at him, deadpan. “Wow. I love that. So original.”

He gasped with mock drama. “The Starfish speaks back!”

You muttered under your breath, “This is going to be the worst expedition of my life…”

He just grinned. “Lead the way, Commander Starfish.”

And with that, their... friendship—or whatever it was between them—began to bloom. You found yourself sneaking away to the tower whenever you could, and, almost like magic, the sea always seemed to guide you straight to him.

One day, you couldn’t help but share this little miracle with Rafayel.

He raised an eyebrow, grinning. “Oh, really? The sea’s playing matchmaker now?”

You rolled your eyes. “It’s not like that! It’s just... weird, okay?”

But deep down, you were glad to have someone to spend time with, someone who made the time pass faster. There weren’t many children your age, and the ones you did get along with were always far from your house. More than once, you wished you could just live closer to them. But, as luck would have it, you heard whispers about their families coming to the capital for some kind of meeting.

You couldn’t contain your excitement. The idea of introducing them to him—to Rafayel—made your heart race.

Looking back, it was a little embarrassing that you didn’t even ask his name until the fifth time you met. He never let you forget it, of course, grinning like the cat who got the cream. He teased you relentlessly, and the only way to stop him was to bribe him with food.

“You’re lucky I’m so nice,” he’d say, before happily accepting whatever snack you’d offer.

One day, you found yourself sitting on the edge of the tower’s balcony, staring out at the sea. Rafayel was leaning against the stone railing, his arms folded.

“You know,” he said, breaking the silence, “this place really isn’t as exciting as you make it out to be.”

You rolled your eyes. “You’ve only ever complained about it. You’re just spoiled.”

“Spoiled?” He smirked. “And who’s the one who sneaks in here like it’s her second home?”

“Touché,” you muttered, but you couldn’t help but smile.

There was something about being with Rafayel that made everything feel lighter, easier. You didn’t have to pretend to be anyone else when he was around.

“You ever think about leaving?” you asked, your gaze still on the water below. “I mean, like, running off to somewhere else… I don’t know, somewhere far from all this?”

He didn’t answer immediately, his eyes fixed on the horizon. Then, with a quiet laugh, he said, “I don’t think I could ever run far enough to escape you.”

You turned your head, a little caught off guard. “Me? I’m the one who’s been sneaking around behind everyone’s back!”

“Yeah, but you’re fun to be around.” He grinned, then added with a mock sigh, “You’re also a troublemaker, but I suppose I’ll live.”

“Troublemaker?” You shot him a playful glare. “You’re the one who scared me half to death last time we met.”

“Ah, but you screamed so beautifully,” he teased, his grin widening.

You rolled your eyes, but the laughter in your chest was hard to hide. It was funny—everything felt so natural with him. There was no pretending, no hiding. Just the two of you, exploring, laughing, teasing... and sometimes, talking about things neither of you had the words for.

The day finally came. Your friends, Kaia and Tide, were visiting the capital, and you had to be on your best behavior. Unlike the usual rags you wore when sneaking off to the tower to meet Rafayel, today you were dressed in your finest noble clothes.

Your eldest brother stood on your left, his expression as serious as always. The second and third daughters were next to him, chattering amongst themselves, while you stood at the end of the line, your younger twin brothers at your right. They were only seven, but they were already running around, tugging at your sleeves and making noise.

Your parents, as usual, were fussing over all of you. Your mother’s gaze was sharp, watching for any small detail that might go wrong, while your father checked the final arrangements with a quiet, business-like air.

“Remember what I told you,” your mother said, her voice firm and commanding, as if the day’s events were a test you could not fail.

You gave her a small nod, but the nerves in your stomach twisted. Today wasn’t just about your family meeting your friends—it was about showing that you could be a noble, just as they expected.

Your father, barely looking up from his notes, added, “Stay composed. Keep your manners. This isn’t a casual gathering.”

You wanted to roll your eyes, but you held back, knowing better than to show any sign of rebellion today. Today was about playing the part they expected.

Finally, the moment arrived. You could see the familiar figures of Kaia and Tide stepping out, their parents following close behind.

Kaia, a year older than you, stood tall and graceful, her dark hair flowing in waves down her back. She smiled warmly as she caught sight of you, though her expression was always composed—just like the daughter of one of the eldest noble families should be.

Tide, on the other hand, was a little less formal. At 11, he was already tall for his age, with a mischievous glint in his eyes. He waved at you excitedly, his usual carefree energy impossible to hide even in the presence of his parents.

Their mother, with her elegant posture smiled politely at your family, her eyes scanning the room. Tide’s father, tall and stern, gave a curt nod to your parents.

Kaia stepped forward first, her smile widening when she saw you. “I’ve missed you,” she said, her voice a little louder than necessary, but still polite.

Tide rushed up next, his grin mischievous. “Hey! I hope you didn’t forget about me.” His tone was playful, and you couldn’t help but laugh at his usual lack of restraint.

You smiled at them both, your heart feeling a little lighter. Being around them felt different.

It didn’t take long before your and Kaia’s parents disappeared into a room for a quiet, hushed meeting, joined by your older siblings. Meanwhile, the younger twins were probably causing more chaos for the staff.

You, Kaia, and Tide quickly slipped away to your room, eager for some time away from the formalities. The three of you whispered and chatted, enjoying each other's company.

Kaia stayed calm as usual, a bit more reserved than the others. But talking to Tide was easier—he always had a quick response, a joke, or a laugh ready. With him, everything felt natural, like you could say anything and he'd just roll with it.

You leaned in closer, lowering your voice as you whispered your secret to them—Rafayel. Both Kaia and Tide’s eyes widened with curiosity.

Kaia looked nervous, fidgeting with her sleeves. “Are you sure about this?” she asked, her voice tense.

Tide, on the other hand, was practically bouncing with excitement. “This is going to be so cool! A secret tower and everything!” His grin was as wide as ever, his enthusiasm impossible to miss.

And just like that, the three of you made your way toward the tower. Kaia was hesitant, her nerves clear.

When you finally reached the tower, Rafayel was already there, lounging near one of the windows like he had been waiting all day.

As soon as he saw you, he stood up straighter—but his eyes narrowed when he noticed Kaia and Tide behind you.

“You brought guests?” he asked, voice flat.

Kaia gave a polite nod, but said nothing. Tide, however, stepped forward with a grin. “So you’re Rafayel? The mystery boy in the tower?”

Rafayel raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “And you are?”

“Tide,” he replied, still grinning. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

You chuckled, tossing a glance at Rafayel before turning your attention back to Tide. The conversation flowed easily, with Tide keeping things light. But you could feel Rafayel watching you, his gaze heavy.

As you and Tide joked around, Rafayel’s eyes narrowed slightly. It felt like an unspoken competition for your attention, and it was clear he wasn’t too happy with how easily things were between you and Tide.

As Tide and Kaia moved ahead, you and Rafayel stayed behind, lingering near the wall where the paintings were displayed. Rafayel turned to face you, his expression unreadable.

“Really?” Rafayel muttered, his voice low enough for only you to hear. “You’re getting along with him now?” There was a hint of annoyance in his tone, though he quickly tried to hide it, shrugging it off as if it didn’t matter. But you could tell from the way his eyes lingered on you that it did.

You shot him a teasing smile. “What’s the matter? Jealous?”

Rafayel shot you an almost indignant look but didn’t say anything. Instead, he sidled a little closer, positioning himself just between you and Tide. “I’m not jealous,” he said, though the tone in his voice didn’t quite match the words.

“Oh, is someone jealous?” Tide teased with a smirk.

You could see Rafayel’s irritation growing, but before he could say anything, Kaia stepped forward, her voice steady and calm as always. “Alright, enough.” She looked at both of you, then at Rafayel. “Let’s not do anything we’ll regret, okay?” Her gaze softened, but it was clear she was trying to play peacekeeper. “We came here to explore, not fight.”

Rafayel looked like he was about to argue, but Kaia’s gaze stayed fixed on him, almost daring him to push back. Instead, he huffed and moved aside, though he still didn’t look pleased.

You couldn’t help but laugh at the awkward tension. “See, Rafayel? Kaia knows how to keep us in check. Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it.”

Tide, ever the troublemaker, winked at you. “I don’t know if Rafayel can keep up, but he’s welcome to try!”

Kaia let out a small sigh, but a smile tugged at her lips. “If you two don’t stop teasing him, I’ll be the one to drag you both back to the palace.”

Rafayel, who had been scowling at you both, shot a half-smile, clearly appreciating the back-and-forth. “Alright, alright,” he muttered, clearly annoyed but also strangely amused. “Let’s see who’s actually good at exploring, then.”

It didn’t take long for the four of you to become friends. Well—Rafayel was still a little cold to Tide, giving him side glances and pretending not to care whenever he made a joke. But still, you all got along well enough.

The tower became your secret playground.

You’d sneak in when the grown-ups were too busy talking politics or fussing over traditions. The guards were easy enough to avoid—you knew their routines by now. Sometimes Tide would distract them by knocking something over in the garden, while you and Kaia slipped through the lower gate.

Inside, the tower was like a forgotten library of secrets. Dusty rooms filled with old maps, books, strange tools no one could name, and doors that creaked like they hadn’t been opened in years.

“Look!” Tide once whispered loudly, holding up what looked like a cracked sea compass. “Bet this leads to treasure.”

Kaia raised an eyebrow. “It’s broken.”

“You’re broken,” Tide replied, sticking out his tongue.

“You’re both broken,” Rafayel muttered, flipping through a book as he leaned against the wall.

You laughed, pulling open another heavy door. “Come on, broken or not, let’s find out where this one leads.”

There were close calls, like the time a loose tile almost knocked Tide on the head, or when Rafayel accidentally set off a glowing crystal and swore he heard whispers in the walls. Kaia kept a steady head through it all, reminding everyone to stay quiet, be careful, and to not touch anything too cursed.

Even Rafayel, with all his sass and dramatic eye rolls, started to smile more—especially when he caught you laughing or when you dragged him by the wrist to explore another floor. He still glared at Tide a little too long, but sometimes, when he thought no one was looking, he joined in the teasing too.

Those days in the tower felt like your own little world, far from court manners, family duties, and expectations. Just four kids, chasing secrets, daring each other to go one room further.

And for a while, that was enough.

Kaia and Tide stayed for a little while longer, but soon it was time for them to return home. You knew you’d miss them—you always did when they left. But this time, you wouldn’t be alone. This time, you still had Rafayel.

The night before they left, the four of you met at the tower one last time. The water shimmered softly in the moonlight, lighting the stone walls with a gentle glow. It was quiet, just your voices and the sound of the sea outside.

Rafayel, like always, stayed inside the tower. He never came out. You’d asked him before, half-joking, why he never left. But he’d only given you a small smile and changed the subject. So you stopped asking.

That night, though, he looked different. Quieter. He didn’t make a single sarcastic comment when Tide poked around the shelves or when Kaia reminded everyone to be careful. He just sat there, his arms resting on his knees, watching.

You noticed the way he glanced at Kaia and Tide, like he was already missing them—even Tide, even with all their bickering.

“Are you okay?” you asked softly, swimming closer.

Rafayel looked at you, his eyes not as sharp as usual. “I just… I wish I could go with you all. Even just once.”

There was a small silence. Kaia and Tide didn’t say anything either. No teasing this time.

You gently bumped your shoulder against his. “We’ll come back,” you said. “You won’t be alone.”

Rafayel smiled a little, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. Still, it was something.

When Kaia and Tide finally swam off that night, waving goodbye and promising to write, you stayed behind in the tower for a while longer—just sitting next to Rafayel, watching the sea.

Even if he didn’t say it, you knew. He was going to miss them too.

Then he asked—so softly you weren’t even sure if he really said it or if your mind just made it up.

“Will you leave me too?”

You stopped. He was sitting on the cold stone floor, eyes tilted up toward the open window, watching the whales pass by in the distance. Their shapes moved like shadows, slow and calm in the deep blue.

You looked up too, then spoke quietly.

“My mother says we all say goodbye. To friends, parents, partners, even our children, sometimes. That’s just how life is. Like the ocean—it always moves. It never stays still. We meet others along the way, but most of them are only with us for a while.”

Rafayel didn’t say anything. You continued.

“Even the mother who gave birth to you can’t stay forever. So nothing can. But that doesn’t mean it’s the end. It’s just… goodbye. Not all goodbyes are sad. But they do hurt. And even if it hurts for a long time—maybe a hundred years—it won’t hurt forever.”

You looked back at him.

“So all we can really do is remember. And forgive.”

He sat there, thinking. Then he asked, almost in a whisper, “Will you remember me?”

“Till the sea dries.” You smiled. “Will you remember me?”

He looked at you, a small grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Till the starfish leaves the ocean.”

And then the day came.

You begged your parents not to go. You cried and clung to them, promised to behave, promised anything—just not to leave the capital. Not to leave him.

But you couldn’t stop them.

You were leaving for another city, somewhere far, for your parents’ duties. And you couldn’t even say goodbye. You were too afraid. Afraid to see his face. Afraid he’d be angry, or worse—he wouldn’t care.

Days passed. A whole week. The guilt sat like a rock in your chest. Until finally, you couldn’t take it anymore. You went back to the tower.

The moment you swam through the cracked stone arch, you froze.

Rafayel was there. Curled up by the doorway, asleep, arms crossed tightly like he was trying to stay warm. His body shivered slightly in the water.

You frowned, heart twisting. He had been waiting for you.

You rushed to him, gently shook his shoulder. “Rafayel… hey, wake up.”

He stirred, blinking blearily. When he saw you, his brows scrunched, and he snapped, voice hoarse and angry, “Where were you?”

But then he saw your red, teary eyes.

He stopped.

His mouth hung open for a second. Then he looked away, jaw tight, like he didn’t know what to do with your sadness.

You didn’t say anything either. You just sat next to him in silence, the water still and heavy around you.

And maybe that was enough—for now.

Rafayel didn’t look at you at first.

You sat beside him, close enough that your shoulders almost touched. The cold stone beneath you, the quiet hum of the ocean, the faint echo of distant whale songs—everything felt too still.

Finally, he spoke. “You left.”

You nodded slowly. “I was scared.”

He frowned again, but softer this time. “Scared of me?”

“…Scared you’d be mad. Or… not care.”

Rafayel let out a slow breath, bubbles rising gently. “I was mad.” He paused, then added quietly, “But I still waited.”

That made your chest ache. You turned toward him. “I’m sorry.”

“I know,” he said.

You sat like that for a moment longer. Then you turned to face him fully. “I have to go. We’re leaving tomorrow morning.”

He didn’t speak. Just looked down at his hands.

You reached into the little bag you carried and pulled out a small shell. Soft pink, spiraled, the one you two had found near the cliffs weeks ago. “I wanted to give you this. So you won’t forget.”

Rafayel took it, turning it over in his hands. “It’s just a shell.”

You smiled, though your eyes burned. “It’s our shell.”

He looked up at you, finally meeting your gaze.

“I don’t want you to go,” he said. Voice flat. Honest.

“I don’t want to go either,” you whispered.

A long silence.

Then he stood up, holding the shell tightly. “If you don’t come back, I’ll find you.”

You stood too, wiping your eyes. “Then I’ll wait.”

He didn’t hug you. He didn’t cry. But as you turned to leave, he called out softly—

“Till starfish leaves the ocean.”

You turned and smiled through the tears. “Till sea dries.”

And then you swam away.