I wrote my name in the wet sand that coated the oceans floor. C-H-A-S-K-A, then I punched it. I hated my name. I hated its meaning. Was it really the only name my mother could find that had the same meaning as my fathers?

I flung myself back into the open sea and just floated above the sand, my eyes fixated on what remained of my name in the sand.

She gave me the wrong name…That’s it. I can blame everything on my name. On my mother. I am no Star Goddess, nor am I like my father, star of the sea. I don’t want to shine, or be the center of attention, and you know what responsibilities really aren’t my thing either, given the choice I would much rather explore and discover what this life has to offer, not be told what my role is in it.

“I thought I would find you out here,” Kaius said, pulling me from the lecture I was giving to myself inside of my head.

My stomach twisted in knots, and my cheeks reddened.

“Why aren’t you with your family?” He asked, his deep green eyes studying me. “Today is a very important day.”

“For them maybe,” I shot back, fiester than I intended as I calmed the butterflies that raged in my stomach.

“For everyone,” he corrected me.

“Right,” I agreed, not really wanting to argue with him. Kaius had always had my back, and with that he always gave me the truth even when it was something he knew I didn’t want to hear.

“This is huge,” he said, swimming in front of me before reaching for my hands. “This, this could change everything. It’s all the Kingdom is talking about, you are all they’re talking about, Chaska.”

My stomach rolled, my breakfast threatening to escape, that’s exactly what I was afraid of. Everyone, every single one of them believe me to be the person that my family has portrayed me to be. They all cling to the prophesized words my mother has told them as if they’re already set in stone. The truth is, no one knows me, not the real me…Okay no one aside from Kaius, but only him.

“They’re already talking about opening the gates. The Merpeople in markets are already starting to prepare for travelers.”

Wiggling my hands free, I turned from him and began to swim away.

“Where are you going.”

“I don’t know. Somewhere… Anywhere that’s not here.”

“Why aren’t you excited? I thought that out of everyone you’d be the most excited. You’re always reading about the other realms, fascinated by how they differ from our own. I mean isn’t it your dream to explore them all?”