Chapter 1
Head or Heart?

Rollan sat in his small room on his bed. He tapped his fingers together, staring out the window. He watched the sea, the waves flowing and never stopping. Exactly how he'd like to be.

Never stopping, still moving. Forever.
But his heart felt like a sea, when no boats nor breeze shook the waters. The sadness in his heart made him get rid of the jumpiness. He only felt like sitting there, thinking.

He couldn't believe it. Just about a month ago, he'd found his mother. And only yesterday, she nearly killed him.
He tried not to blame his mom. It was the devourer, controlling her with bile. But his mind wanted to say that it was all his mothers fault. Head or Heart?

A small knock came from the other side of the door. Rollan ripped away his gaze, and looked at the door.
"Yes?" Rollan asked.
"Rollan, it's me," it was Tarik. He sounded more nervous than he usually was.
"You haven't come out for hours. Are you okay?" Tarik asked.

Rollan looked back at the sea. He did NOT want to talk. Maybe if he was silent, Tarik would just go away...

"Okay, if you don't want to talk, that's fine. But can you at least let me in? It's part my room, too..."

Rollan looked over. On the other side of the room was a small bed,
two blankets folded for pillows. A small sheet lay on it, as well as a satchel and pack.

Rollan had nearly forgot- Tarik shared a room with him. He was supposed to be sleeping with Conor, but Tarik insisted, until it had to be an order, for Conor to take the bigger room for the hope of more prophetical dreams- or at least not dreams about shoes.

"Come in." Rollan said.
The door slowly opened as Tarik entered. His hair was wet, as well as his clothes.
"Where have you been?" Rollan asked.

"I ran around the ship a few times,
then took a short swim in the ocean." Tarik said, sitting on his bed. His clothes were completely drenched.

Rollan nodded. Tarik jut sat on the edge of the bed, staring at Rollan.
Rollan stared back, with a raised eyebrow.
Tarik inhaled, and just smiled, without exhaling.
Rollan just looked at him, slightly annoyed and confused.

"Alright." Tarik huffed, exhaling. "If you don't talk soon, I'm just going to keep looking at you,"

Rollan raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Uh... no." Tarik said. He sighed and went about his business searching through his pack and satchel for things.

Rollan rolled his eyes, and looked back out the porthole.
"You know Rollan, you aren't alone. You don't have to be alone."

"Tarik, I really don't feel like talking." Rollan said.
"But Rollan, we can-"
"Tarik!"
Rollan looked back at their mentor, who was smiling, but it slowly turned to a frown, then to a sad expression. Tarik sighed and looked back down at his notebook.

Rollan looked back outside. He felt bad- he had disrespected his Mentor, and was actually surprised that Tarik hadn't scolded. Wasn't that what Mentor were supposed to do?
Either Tarik was too nice, or Tarik just felt like giving symphony, for something he knew nothing about.

"I'm going to the deck." Rollan said. He stood and walked to the door.
Just as he grabbed the doorknob, a voice came from behind.
"And may god forever be in your heart."
Rollan sighed, looked away, and then left, Tarik alone.