Me and my wife came to her kingdom, Katharos, for a visit to her father, the king, two days ago.

Last night while we were in bed together, she mentioned someothing about a tavern above the water that was held _by_ the water.

I didn’t think it was possible.

You’d have to be a pretty powerful Neuro to hold up a whole tavern filled with people. Or did they have multiple people holding it up?

I was curious.

Anastasia said she wanted me to see it. She was smiling so dreamily as she talked about it. I wanted to see the smile she has when she sees it once again.

She walked into our bedroom this morning and tilted her head at me, "Why are you packing? We’re staying at Katharos for another week, aren’t we?"

I looked up to her and smirked, "You wanted me to see the tavern, right?"

Anything to see her smile.

And now I got to see it.

I gaze at my wife as she beams at the Tavern above the the waters — _Tavern of Neuron_.

Anastasia makes a small excited noise and drags me to the end of the land where a row of small row boats float.

I step onto it and offer her my hand. She takes it, lifting up her pastel green dress and stepping onto it. We both sit down and I start to row. Anastasia helps a bit with her water weaving skills, creating small waves to push the boat forwards.

"So, Bubbles.. How exactly does.." I gesture over to the tavern, "That. Work?"

She smiles. "There’s this woman who waterweaves the water to make sure it doesn’t drown the tavern."

I imagine a young woman. She must be pretty strong — maybe she has knight experience. Maybe that’s how Anastasia knows about this. "I see.." I nod as I continue to row.

"Would you like to meet her?"

"Yes, actually. I would."

She nods and looks back at her surroundings — seeming to take in every detail.

The earthy smell of the forest and lake takes over my senses, it fills my nostrils with delight. I can practically taste the earth at the tip of my tongue. I can hear birds chirping in the background. And I see my wife: sitting there, looking beautiful(as always) as she simply takes in the view.

When we finally reach it, we step off of them boat. I help her up and she dusts herself off before looking around.

"So," she looks back at me. "You ready to meet the lady?"

I nod and follow her into the tavern.

Anastasia looks around before grabbing my wrist and pulling me to the back of the tavern into a corner.

There sits a frail old woman that as her eyes shut and her legs crossed.

"Lady Sia?" Anastasia calls out gently.

Her glowing white eyes open. My eyes widen. I look at my wife, "She’s a royal?"

Anastasia nods.

"Then how come-"

"You can talk to me, y’know?" the old lady says.

I blink and turn to her. "Yes. I uh- Sorry."

"And to answer your question, I didn’t ask to be in line for the throne because I don’t want to be. Too much stress if you ask me. And besides, I like being here," she gestures around the tavern full of friends and families.

I study her intently as she shuts her eyes and goes back to.. whatever she was doing.

It must be nice — getting to choose if you’re royalty or not.

She got chosen by the gods to be it, she rejected it. I was simply born with the power and into royalty.

I wish I was able to reject it.

_(Anastasia and Eiran are characters from my series)_