Caspian
Caspian rounded the corner in his grandfather's estate and sighed. The man himself, Levi, had left the day before to fetch his student who was decades late to inherit and came back with the new merrow and his unconscious son.
Caspian was only at the Ulyian estate for easier access to the Merrow Library. As the only merrow halfling in his family circle's group of children, it could be difficult to study his heritage on land. Luckily, his Sire's sire Levi Ulyian was always willing to open his doors to his only grandson.
His grandfather had a small circle, only featuring the main triad with his grandfather himself as alpha, his submissive Eris Ulyian, and their beta Nina. They had only had one child nearly two hundred years ago in Caspian's sire, Vance. As the circle's only grandchild, Caspian was spoiled by his grandfather's circle.
Which was a difference from in his own family circle, where he was one of many kids and the only one to so far not inherit as a gheyo. When Caspian inherited a month ago and it was obvious he was a beta instead of the expected gheyo like the eight siblings before him, there had been some awkwardness as his family wasn't sure how to treat him. It had become suffocating so Caspian had packed up some things and fled into Merrow territory the first chance he got.
So far it had been a lot more relaxing under the water than with his family circle. Instead of being awoken at dawn for morning training, Caspian could sleep in as long as he wanted. He was allowed to just read if he wanted instead of earning his study time through physical training. And meals were so much more relaxed.
Everyone always talked about how vicious merrow were, but from Caspian's experience with his landwalking family circle versus his grandparent's circle, his family circle would win in viciousness hands down every time. But that may be a little unfair, considering his circle consisted of almost solely gheyos, other than the main triad and two lone gheyic pareyas. A pure military circle was maybe not the best measurement of landwalker viciousness but the Emery circle was the only point of reference Caspian had.
As the only child with a water affinity (even though his element was storm) Caspian had been trained practically since infancy by his Sire in water battle magics. Even though he was only a merrow halfling, his father had trained him to be at one with the water. Caspian hadn't been able to breathe underwater normally at birth. He had had to be trained for his magic to do it automatically. It was almost traumatic. Almost, because he was still an Emery, even if he hadn't turned out to be gheyo.
So Caspian was enjoying his break under the water, all things being told. The sixteen year old had liked his calm grandmother Nina, his sly grandmother Eris, and his mischievous grandfather Levi. They were a welcome break from his family circle's… well, everything about them.
So for his break to be broken after only a week underwater by the arrival of his grandfather's late inherited student and said student's son, he had been a bit put out.
But now it was the next day and he was curious.
Apparently from what he had gathered from his grandparent's conversation the night before, the boy was only a couple of years younger than Caspian and had had his inheritance sealed. The very thought of having an inheritance sealed was horrifying to the young beta. How would someone grow up with their instincts so out of reach? Emery's relied on their instincts even as children, so the thought of just-- not having access to them was terrifying.
Caspian creeped closer to the guest room that the boy was set up in and leaned against the door. Shuffling could be heard behind it, so apparently the boy was already up. Steeling himself and bringing a hand up, Caspian knocked on the door.
“Come in,” came the low call of a young boy's voice.
Caspian opened the door and took his first look at the boy. He was obviously a landwalker, so a halfling like Caspian. His black hair was swaying in the water and his bright green eyes practically glowed. His eyes were trained on Caspian's blue eyes.
“Who are you?”
The voice wasn't lyrical or musical or anything like that to match the mesmerizing looks of the teen, but it was nice on the ears nonetheless, with an accent that was obviously not Nevaraean.
“Caspian Emery, this is my grandparent's home. Who are you?” he asked back.
The boy shuffled closer, showing just how much shorter he was than Caspian, and Caspian was on the shorter side of average for a sixteen year old.
“I'm Harry,” the boy replied, before continuing hesitantly, “Harry Potter.”
“Nice to meet you, Harry,” Caspian said, holding out a hand for the other to shake. The other boy reached out with his smaller hand and shook it, green eyes evaluating him as he did so.
“I heard you're my grandfather Levi's student's son,” Caspian continued conversationally.
That was apparently not the right thing to say as the boy jerked back and practically hissed out, “I'm not!”
A few seconds passed before a shadow passed over Harry and he continued, “At least, I hope not.”
Caspian watched the boy attentively.
“Sounds like a tough situation.”
Harry's eye's brightened once more as he gave a considering look over Caspian.
“You don't know the half of it,” he finally said.
“I have time,” Caspian offered sincerely. Harry's eyes brightened further and he looked at Caspian with a new light.
Caspian had a feeling this was the start of a very beautiful friendship.