The waves rocked against the hull of the ship, whooshing as it bobbed the ship up and down. The rays of the sun, trickling through the masts and casting shadow on the sailors below. And surrounding the ship all the way beyond the horizon was the sea, glimmering just like a gemstone.

Inside one of the cabins was a cat girl laying on top of a bed. The room was decorated normally with a few beds, a dresser, and a table with a lamp on top of it and a chair. The room supposedly prioritized living space instead of any decent furniture.

This is boring... "How many days has it been...?" The cat girl whimpered.

"It's only been four days you know?" A boy with white hair and blue highlights, cat ears, and a tail replied. His name is Royce and Lyrica's—the cat girl's—older brother, as well as being the second oldest sibling out of four with Lyrica being the youngest.

"But there's nothing to do...!" I can't even do anything, Anastasia and Rudz is helping out the sailors. Royce is helping mom and dad to budget our remaining funds. And here I am, stuck with nothing to do... Can't I help out in some way?

"Mm..." Lyrica audibly stared at Royce doing some arithmetic, writing down numbers in a wooden board.

"Hm... Perhaps Mr. Didzi needs some help?" Royce suggested to his little sister—knowing her all too well—to help her ease the boredom.

Mr. Didzi was a kind fisherman that their family met on this voyage. The family had embarked on this perilous journey to get citizenship from a small country across the sea, finally having saved enough money from their peddling days to buy citizenship for a family of six.

Luckily enough, old man Didzi had kept Lyrica entertained throughout the voyage by teaching her how to fish and telling her about products that existed from his homeland. Royce thought. I think the old man enjoys the company too.

"Oh! I just remembered something I need to do!" Lyrica ran off in a hurry.

"Alright, take care," he sighed. "What a troublesome little sister," putting down his quill and releasing a gentle smile.

Rushing into the top deck, Lyrica climbed the ladders with haste and ran to a nearby old man with a beard next to the railings.

"Uhm... um... I... I has't cometh to holp thee gudgeon!" Lyrica spilled, mustering her courage to try and appear dignified.

"Where did you learn that, some noble that you met?" Didzi laughs. "I will accept your offer Madam Lyrica," he says, handing her a fishing pole.

"So... What are we going to fish today Mr. Didzi?"

"We're catching mackerel today!"

"Muck err ale?"

"Mackerel! It's a type of fish that lives in every type of water cold and warm. It's also very delicious."

"Delicious?!" Lyrica's eyes lit up at the mention of the word.

"Yes, so get to work!"

"Aye aye sir!"

Hm, so this fish can be caught anywhere and it's delicious?! Fried, grilled, steamed! I can't wait...! Time passed by as Lyrica and Didzi fished for some game. Whenever Anastasia passed by she would always give Lyrica a gentle pat on the head, later on Didzi noticed that Lyrica was starting to get tired.

"Tired aye?"

"Maybe... A bit..." Lyrica yawned, still holding the fishing pole with both her hands.

"Well, it's almost nightfall anyway. Go get some rest, here," Didzi handed Lyrica two giant mackerels tied together and wrapped with cloth. "A present, now hurry on and give it to your big bro, Royce."

"O-okay... Thank you..." Lyrica replied sleepily, hugging the mackerels wrapped like a burrito, which was taller than her.

Sleepily walking down the aisle, she spots a stack of rowing boats covered by some cloth. Hm... I feel a bit sleepy... Lyrica thought, yawning. Setting the burrito down and letting it lean against the stack, she climbs up and gets into the rowing boat, nestling inside. Then she reached for the mackerel wrap and tightened her grip pulling it up, and stowed it inside the boat. She then pulled the covers and used it as a blanket over her body.

I guess I can... sleep here for a bit... I brought home some delicious mackerel... I hope mom and dad will be happy... She thought, nestling inside comfortably and drifting to dreamland.

"H-hey! We're... gon... si...nk!" Muffled shouting can be heard outside of the rowing boat, the cloth covering the stack muffling the noise.

"Thro...awa...th...car..go!" With a thud, Lyrica woke up momentarily, but the rocking of the rowing boat gently lulled her back to sleep.

♦ ♦ ♦

"She's not with you?!" Anastasia asked angrily, with tears streaming down her face.

"I... I shouldn't have let her go on her own..." Didzi lamented talking to no one in particular, taking off his hat and holding it next to his heart. "Damn it all!"

"It's all my fault..." Royce said in a whimper losing strength in his legs, with the rest of the family and Didzi crying. "Hey, the sea... it's the same color as her eyes..." Royce pointed out in between sobs.