{"id":22009,"date":"2025-09-24T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/?p=22009"},"modified":"2025-09-22T15:51:45","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T21:51:45","slug":"midweek-excerpt-the-unknown-sea-chapter-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/midweek-excerpt-the-unknown-sea-chapter-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Midweek Excerpt: The Unknown Sea, Chapter 2"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There are two viewpoint characters in The Unknown Sea,<\/em> each of whom is a love interest to the other. Chapter 1 is where we meet Enoch, the seventh son of a penniless noble family who embarks as a sea mage to make his fortune. Chapter 2 is where we meet Celeste, the younger half-sister of Seraph, who is determined to leave her tiny little fishing village and make her own way in the world, out from under her sister’s shadow. Enjoy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The first rays of dawn slanted through the cottage\u2019s single window, catching the steam that rose from the porridge pot on the side of the hearth. Celeste stirred the oats with a wooden spoon and glanced over her shoulder at her mother Elara, who was busy kneading dough for the morning bread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTristan, set the table please,\u201d Elara called. Her silver-streaked hair was pulled back in a severe bun. Celeste glanced away before their eyes met, unwilling to see the wariness there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Celeste\u2019s younger half-brother scrambled to open the cupboard, standing on his tip-toes to reach. At eight years old, he was all gangly limbs and boundless energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe wooden ones or the good ones?\u201d Tristan asked, though there was no way he didn\u2019t already know the answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe wooden ones,\u201d Celeste and Elara said in unison, making both of them grin. The good bowls were four pieces of actual glazed pottery that had survived the family\u2019s various relocations. They only emerged for feast days, or when Celeste\u2019s stepfather, Gerard, brought in an especially profitable catch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Celeste stirred the porridge again, absently fingering the pearl amulet that hung from her neck on a silver chain. A parting gift from her older sister Seraph, it was one of the most valuable pieces in their humble cottage. But the feel of the cool metal against her skin only served as a reminder of all the adventures that she\u2019d missed and wasn\u2019t likely to have. Unlike her older sister, who wandered with her mother nearly halfway around the world, the small cottage was the only home that Celeste had ever known. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m going away for a while, and I don\u2019t know when I\u2019ll be back,\u201d Seraph had told her. \u201cBut if you ever miss me or feel a need to talk, use this amulet to summon me. I promise, I will come.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow?\u201d Celeste had asked. Her older half-sister had smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve woven a powerful summoning spell into the pearl at the center of this amulet. All you need to unlock it is to use your magic to complete it. As soon as you do, the spell will open a portal to me wherever I am.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo then I\u2019ll be able to come to you?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She still remembered the way her heart had sunk as her sister had paused before answering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, but I think it would be better if I came to you. It might not be safe where I am, after all. Besides, mother would be worried sick if you left the village without telling her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That, of course, was the crux of the issue. All her life, Celeste had been kept safe\u2014precisely because her older half-sister, Seraph, had grown up in so much danger. But where Seraph seemed to have all the adventures, Celeste seemed doomed to live a life tethered to her quiet and boring home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat if the spell doesn\u2019t work?\u201d she had asked. Her half-sister must have mistaken her tone for worry, because she\u2019d smiled and placed a reassuring hand on her arm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI promise, it will work. It\u2019s a complex spell, but I\u2019ve mastered it by now. We can test it, if you want.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Celeste had said, groaning a little inside. \u201cI trust you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seraph\u2019s effortless mastery of magic was enough to make her jaw clench. It was all a fulfillment of the sibyl\u2019s prophecy, of course\u2014that for good or for evil, Seraph would one day become the world\u2019s most powerful sorceress. Unlike her older sister, Celeste had no such destiny to look forward to. She was just a simple village girl with a modest gift for magic\u2014hardly remarkable at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ll show them all,<\/em> she thought fiercely as she flipped the eggs. I won\u2019t just be known as Seraph\u2019s younger sister.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCeleste, dear, would you bring the porridge to the table?\u201d her mother asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, Mother.\u201d Celeste used the hook from the fireplace to lift the pot, and set it on the hot pad at the center of the table while her mother cut up the last of yesterday\u2019s loaf of bread. Tristan got a plate of cheese slices from the cupboard and set it out next to the butter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got a lot of work today,\u201d Elara said as she served up the porridge with the wooden spoon. \u201cCeleste, could you help me with the washing and mending?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Celeste\u2019s shoulders tensed. \u201cBut Mother, I promised the fishermen I\u2019d help with their catch.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elara\u2019s brow furrowed, making Celeste\u2019s stomach sink. It wasn\u2019t hard to see the argument that was brewing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou know I don\u2019t like you going out on those boats. It isn\u2019t the proper place for a young woman like yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cProper?\u201d Celeste scoffed. \u201cSeraph got to leave home and study advanced magic at the Alynthian court. Why shouldn\u2019t I learn to use my powers by helping our village?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYour sister\u2019s situation is\u2026 different,\u201d Elara said carefully. Her answer made Celeste clench her fists in frustration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou mean she was more talented than me. More special.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not what I meant. Now, let\u2019s have our breakfast. We\u2019ll talk about it later.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the tone of her voice, Celeste knew that arguing with her mother was pointless, so she picked up her spoon and stared at her porridge and bread. Beneath her blouse, she felt the amulet dangling on its silver chain. Through the window, she could see the first fishing boats already leaving the village harbor, their sails catching the morning breeze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI bet Seraph\u2019s eating fancy meals in the royal court by now,\u201d Tristan piped up as he cut a large slab of butter for his porridge. \u201cWhen I grow up, I\u2019m going to be a famous mage too!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot without any talent for it,\u201d Celeste grumbled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHey! Just because I haven\u2019t felt it yet doesn\u2019t mean I don\u2019t have it too, just like you and Seraph!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you do, it\u2019s buried awful deep.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNow, now,\u201d Elara chided, eying them both sharply. \u201cNo arguments at breakfast. That goes for both of you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For several long minutes, they ate in silence, Tristan glowering at Celeste for bringing up his lack of magical talent. It was a sore issue with him, much like Seraph\u2019s power was to Celeste. Perhaps she had been too hard on him for it, but the looming threat of chores had been weighing on her mind. More than anything else, she just wanted to get out of the house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She waited until her mother\u2019s bowl was empty before she brought up the subject again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMother, please,\u201d she said, shortly after Elara had finished her last spoonful. \u201cI need to practice if I\u2019m ever going to get better. You know how important this is to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s dangerous out there, Celeste.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her cheeks flushed hot. \u201cI\u2019m not a child anymore! I can handle myself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCeleste\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy can\u2019t you trust me like you trusted Seraph?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The words burst out before she could stop them. She braced herself, expecting a major fight. Instead, her mother just sighed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou have your sister\u2019s restless spirit and your father\u2019s stubborn streak. I suppose it was foolish of me to think you\u2019d be content with a fisherwoman\u2019s life forever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tristan looked up sharply. \u201cIs Celeste going away too?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, darling,\u201d Elara said softly, ruffling his dark hair. \u201cYour sister isn\u2019t going anywhere. She\u2019s just\u2026 eager to spread her wings a little.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo can I go?\u201d Celeste asked, her heart beginning to race. \u201cI\u2019ll be careful, I promise. Please, Mother\u2014just for the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elara sighed again, her shoulder sagging. \u201cVery well. But I want you back no later than noon. I really do need help with the mending. Understood?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Celeste nodded eagerly, already pushing back from the table. \u201cThank you, Mother! I promise I\u2019ll be careful.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There are two viewpoint characters in The Unknown Sea, each of whom is a love interest to the other. Chapter 1 is where we meet Enoch, the seventh son of a penniless noble family who embarks as a sea mage to make his fortune. Chapter 2 is where we meet Celeste, the younger half-sister of… Continue reading Midweek Excerpt: The Unknown Sea, Chapter 2<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1806,1829],"tags":[474],"class_list":["post-22009","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sea-mage-cycle","category-the-unknown-sea","tag-excerpts","entry"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7iXK-5IZ","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22009","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22009"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22009\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22037,"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22009\/revisions\/22037"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22009"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22009"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22009"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}