The boy's blue eyes widened as the charcoal drifted away from the page and floated off into the breeze. It was not a threatening magic, nor something like the light that he thought [I]could[/I] be threatening. Still, he wasn't sure what to make of it. Rohaan did not consider himself to be a magical being. He was...him. And there were others like him. Instead of magic descending upon him at birth or by some curse, what he was able to do was a part of his very physiology. Therefore, magic was a little strange to him sometimes. Not all of it--particularly the abilities of his crew. Uban's magic was very straightforward and obvious. What he could do with that ability ranged, but he could manipulate one element, and one only. Berlin's was subtle and hard to really watch or detect, but Berlin had been upfront with him about what he was capable of doing. Wheel also had a somewhat straightforward ability centered around combat. But Hanabaptiste...Rohaan wasn't sure just what she was capable of. And that troubled him. Sure, he looked relaxed and friendly, and for the most part he was. But Rohaan had not survived as long as he had by being unaware. "Letters have more than one name too??" He was both impressed and disheartened, or perhaps feigning exhaustion. It all seemed very overwhelming to him. But seeing as Berlin was giving him time to learn, he was going to take advantage of it while he could. "And they have two different forms? Are they shifters too?" This was a little joke he gave with a small smile as he watched her write out the letters. They seemed like a lot to get through, but he also thought to himself that he'd get to be up later if he was doing something productive. Not that Berlin really enforced a bedtime--From the beginning, Rohaan either would crawl off to some dark, inaccessible corner to sleep, or would nod off wherever he happened to be perched. Berlin let him. Rohaan nodded up at her. "[I]Te,[/I]...Miss Seuville." ---- Uban smiled. "Do I have Rum? Hah. Like that's a question." He pulled a flask from his pocket and handed it over--after taking swig for himself. He looked up at the stars. "So...you say the tats will open doors for me...I assume there are a lot of you...er...us? Out there?" --- Berlin was silent for a moment, brooding on the news. He didn't like it. Something about it made him uncomfortable--maybe it was because they rarely crossed paths with ships at night, or maybe it was something else. "Thank you, Wheel," he said formally, taking the pipe from his mouth. He then turned and, in a strong voice called, "Rheoaan." Rohaan knew the tone. It was the formal one he used when giving orders, and the boy snapped to attention, leaving Hana and their lesson immediately to trot over to the man and give him a small salute. Rohaan was an absolute nightmare to authority and he took great pleasure in spurning it when he could. But he took his duties on the Borealis very seriously. "Aye Ca-mm." "Wheel spotted a vessel off the port bow. Its impossible to even see a flag in the dark. Find out what colors they fly and see if you can guess their heading or intention. Do not engage." "Aye Ca-mm." The boy turned, heading for the gunnel. Berlin caught his shoulder first. "Rheoaan. Be quick. And don't be seen. I've got a bad feeling about this." "Well...should I sink it?" He asked this casually, as if he were asking where to place an item on a shelf. "No. Do not engage. Do not be seen. I just want a report back--you know the drill. Be careful, lad." The sobriety of Berlin's tone finally resonated with Rohaan. "[I]Te. A'ae tana holiaa.[/I]" ((Yes. I'll do as you ask.)) "[I]Na ithilii.[/I]" ((Be swift.)) Rohaan hopped back up onto the gunnel, this time getting his feet under him and then promptly swan-diving over the edge. There was no splash. Even the rush of displaced air under his huge black wings was hushed, sort of muffled like something kept it from making as much noise as it ought to. The cyradan was barely visible as a shadow while it was close to the ship, but his scales seemed to consume the light, making him melt into the darkness unseen. He returned to Berlin; the Captain had called Pieter over to inform him of the news and to hear Rohaan's findings. "No colors," he said, giving Berlin pause. "None? You sure there wasn't just a black flag?" "Aye. None. It's a small ship. Bigger than us, but still small. Two men on deck, both armed. The ship...it was...kind of different." "Different? How? What kind of ship is it?" Rohaan struggled to find the words and Berlin noted that he seemed less exuberant than usual. More sober. More withdrawn. It was a subtle change, but he knew Rohaan's moods very well and could spot the difference. "I don't know." Berlin's brows wrinkled. He knew Rohaan was not hiding anything, yet he couldn't help but feel like he was being...evasive somehow. Perhaps without even knowing it. "I taught you the different kinds of ships, Rheoaan. Do you remember?" His tone was gentle now as he squatted down to be at eye level with the boy. "Yes but...it's got...[I]she'ora[/I]," he said, making paddling motion with his hands. Berlin didn't know the word--he'd never heard it before. "[I]She'ora?[/I]" "[I]Te! She'ora ve radan.[/i]" Berlin blinked. Made of wood? Made of--oh. "Oars? Is that what you mean? How many, lad?" "Lots." "That's a galley, lad. Galley. And they're called oars." Berlin straightened. "Take your post aloft, Rheoaan. Keep a watchful eye and standby. All hands!" He raised his voice again so that it could be heard from nearly anywhere on the ship. "Standby at your posts. I'd rather not engage if we don't have to, and its possible that it could be a small naval ship...or something else. But they don't appear to be heading straight for us, as far as I can tell. Let them pass, if that's what they're after."