When Leviathans Go Camping! (Private; TL)

The scorching hot sun beaming down on the Leviathan's skin, the waves crashing against the shore of the surface, the cool breeze brushing against their cheeks... they were here, Crescent Island!

Shohei had planned a vacation for his team recently... well, Zan planned it. Shohei had no choice but to cooperate this time now that his team was involved. He had never went on a tripe with his team... or with anyone. He had never went on a trip, actually. He leaned over the side of the boat the Leviathans were being transported on, driven by Zan himself. Despite the heat, he wore a red hoodie, the hood covering his head and his messy hair curtaining his face, shadowing his gloomy expression. The ship wasn't large, simply used for transportation. But it was comfortable, no less.

In the corners of his mouth was a sucker, the white stick poking out of his mouth from the edges. Shohei was the first to stock up on food and clothing for himself and the leviathans. He sighed and watched the waves pass by, the rays of sun glaring down at him, beads of sweat running down his forehead. "It's only a few nights.. Shohei... only a few nights." He tried to reassure himself, convincing himself that everything would be alright. He looked down at his reflection in the sea water with distant eyes.

Why was he here? Why was he in Lamia Scale? Ever since he joined the guild, the circumstances had been rising. Zuo... had passed, and Kihia had been promoted to Guildmaster. Ever since the events had commenced, he had never entered the guild hall since. The feelings he had when he heard the news... they were foreign. Those feelings, how was he supposed to treat them? Take them? Express them? He was confused, lost, more distant than he was before from people. Someone who had shown him generosity and kindness had died, never again would he bare the burden of death and the dreadful feelings that come with it.

Shohei shook his head, and glanced behind him. "I have other things to worry about." He smirked, the boat quickly approaching the shores. He wasn't sure about how he felt about the Leviathans, they were... pests, nuisances, brats he takes care of... but, they were his pests, nuisances, and brats. But that never changed how annoying they were, he hated them, but... that wasn't all. He harnessed other emotions, he just wasn't sure. But now, he had to focus on not miserably camping on this island!

The maid uniform did not allow Enola to feel like Enola. The uniform was her protection against the world, a wall against the harsh realities that plagued humanity. With the uniform, she did not have to look at those scars and burns, cruel reminders of her own stupidity and misfortune. With the uniform, she could be a different person, a happy one whom sorrow could not affect. With the uniform, Enola could be a fake Enola, a happy go-lucky woman. Enola had insisted with Zan that she would be wearing her maid uniform to the camping trip. In search of rational explanation to the absurdity, she stated that she was merely the help, a humble servant, and she must be wearing attire proper for someone of her social rank. Thankfully, he let up and allowed her to take the maid uniform with her. She would be fine.

The maid looked around on the passengers of their little boat. There was Shohei, the housemaster and the leader of the Leviathans. He was a young man who seemed upset by every little, but Enola enjoyed his presence as any servant would, but she had learned to be cautious around him. He was the only one to see her without her maid uniform, the only one to see those cursed burns on her arm. It was like being around someone who knew your darkest secret despite the fact that he seemed wholly ignorant of the source of her burns. He was also a man who was difficult to please. Enola took care of his manor, made him dinners, and brought him job requests from time to time. Nothing seemed to ever make him happy; he was like Enola herself as a teenager, minus the “other stuff.”

Seikatsu was the newest addition to Team Leviathan and Taraki’s replacement. In all honesty, Enola had some hesitation at first about welcoming the mysterious man into team, given that Taraki’s sudden disappearance was such a shock. Regardless, the maid did and would be trying her hardest to make him feel a part of the family. She just wished he’d take the dark cloak off. The inclination that he was hiding something underneath the cloak was strong in the maid. Yet, there was something humbling about his presence. He seemed distant and out of place with the Leviathans. It was a feeling that made Enola want to hold his hand and pull him closer to the Lama Scale mages. She resisted though, figuring he just wanted some space. The boat was cramped after all. Perhaps he would become more energetic and less cryptic once they hit the open island?

What could be said for Sinon? He was afraid of everything. There was little that could comfort him. The maid tried but failed to calm him down at times. He was like Shohei but with anxiety and sadness rather than with anger and pessimism. He was special though, even in a group as odd as Team Leviathan. He was the only one in Lamia Scale who had managed to persuade Enola into calling him by his first name rather by his last name. There was “Mr. Kirisagi” and “Ms. Nazu” but it would always be “Sinon” with the young man, not “Mr. Shibazeki.” It spoke volumes about how casual their friendship was.

Hakumi was a bundle of surprises. Enola had witnesses firsthand how someone so small could drop men larger than herself. Like with Shohei though, the maid had been trying to avoid her lately. Weeks earlier, Enola had ended someone’s life in front of the water mage. The maid had been reassured that Hakumi thought no less of her, but Enola did not believe her. To kill a man was one of the ultimate crimes of humanity, and it was difficult for her fathom that Hakumi did not have a single negative opinion of the matter. How Enola feared that the fact would one day haunt her.

Despite all the dysfunctions of group, Enola did was she felt obligated to do: smile. Her face was bright, her grin was wide, and her eyes were welcoming. She could not let the masquerade of blissful happiness end, even if she felt like a plastic doll whose expression was always set to joyful. That day, she decided to sit next to Sinon. She was certain the young boy wouldn’t like a boat ride and would thus need some comfort. Along the rid though, her mind drifted away and forgot about him. Nostalgia took its course as she recalled all the boats she used to ride. Every year, she’d hop on her family’s boat along with the other boys and girls and sail to school until, several months later, it was time to come back. She didn’t like swimming in the ocean though. Her mother had told that a sea monster lurked in the ocean, a leviathan rumored to swallow men whole. The maid still wondered if a leviathan lurked in the water…

Enola glanced over to Shohei and frowned at his hood. It was much too hot for one, prompting her to walk over to him, a daunting task given the crowdedness. As the young was glancing over the side of the boat, the maid reached over and snagged his hood down.

“Come now, Mr. Kirisagi, show the world your beautiful hair.” She teased. Enola hoped the slight humor would be enough to persuade him to keep his hood off. Maybe it was overprotective of her, but she did not want him to catch a heat stroke, even if the chances of that were slim to none.

Once the boat had hit the island, Enola beamed even more with a radiating happiness.

“Oh my, such a pretty scenery. Don’t you all agree?”

The fresh air, cool winds, gentle waves, and steamy hot sun was the first thing Shohei found notable about Crescent Island just from looking at it from afar. He had never been this far from home before, and he wasn't exactly open to new experiences, people, and places. He was a tad insecure. But that insecurity melted away as the boat crashed into the sands of the shore in the midst of Enola teasing him. He only clicked his tongue and pulled the hoodie off of his head, walking over to where Zan was, who was pitifully sailing the cramped boat.

He peaked inside, Zan was wearing a white T-shirt and black cap with tan shorts. He had been chipper this whole trip, perhaps it was because he was hogging up all the shade. While Shohei reluctantly sat in the heat for the longest time. He was angered already. But, deciding not to start a pointless disagreement before they touched the island, he poked his head back into the heat and walked on the deck. Everyone seemed to avoid one another, according to Shohei's observations.  Sinon and him rarely ever talked, unless he was ordering him to do something. And even then, they never truly had casual conversations. It was Enola who directly engaged with him in the first place.

Enola herself had been wearing her finest grin the whole trip. She always wielded the most optimism of the Leviathans.  Taking chances and creating opportunities best for everyone. And she was most notably the only Leviathan he really engaged with. May it be on jobs, chores, or occasionally when he came across her or vice versa.

With Taraki's sudden disappearance, Shohei had no choice but to turn the other cheek. He didn't have the capacity to go out searching Fiore for a guy like him. Or any guy, Shohei had officially decided. But, coming across someone who needed sources, Seikatsu joined the team. His name was the only information Shohei had really pried out of him when they first met. The mysterious man isolated himself from the quiet group, seeming lost in thought every time Shohei shot him a glance. He wore dark clothing and spoke little. And with his hood covering his face and curtaining his expressions with a dark shadow, he had never seemed as approachable like the others. It wasn't like Shohei held personal interest in the mystery man, but for his safety, something about him had to be revealed in the period of this trip. He was determined to at least get to see his face.

Hakumi was something else. He had seen her occasionally, and knows nothing about her. But he was certain that even if she was apart of the team, she had her distance with everyone if he has seen her so little. As shameful as it was, truth be told, it goes without saying.

But altogether, the Leviathans were distant teammates. Enola brightened the atmosphere at times but even the marks on her body told a story too dark to tell. It seems like everyone had secrets. Though the trip to Crescent Island was meant for a getaway for the Leviathans, it would also by the Island that flips the pages of this team's story.

Shohei stepped off of the surface, relieved to be surrounded by land rather than water. He was never seasick, but after a long period of time being on the waters, it was just flat out exhausting!

"Alright, kiddos! Off we go! Get your bags, and I'll tie the boat!" Zan had announced from the background, doing as he said he would. Grabbing thick rope and tying it to the nearest pole of wood he could find.

Enola, complimenting the scenery, he couldn't help but look at it too. In awe, trees brushed up against other trees, making a soothing rustling noise as a cool wind chilled his cheeks. "Nothing special." Shohei shrugged with lidded eyes, in response to Enola's question. It was a long, hesitating pause before he answered, so it may be that his lie was obvious.

A few minutes later, Zan came rushing over to the group with bags hanging off his arms and shoulders. He had planned the whole trip itself, so he would be leading the way... accordingly. "Ahhhh!~~ What a nice day, today! With the money you have, I am surprised we don't live here, Sho-cha- ?!"

Shohei and slammed his hand over Zan's mouth, not letting him finish what he started, "Don't call me that. And frankly, I dislike being around the open waters, and I think it'd be easier if were in a town." He explained with a glare. That being said, he removed his palm from the tip of his mouth and grudgingly followed him to the camp site, only expecting for the leviathans to follow. Of course.