((Just in case you haven't seen his profile yet, Leland has the ability to create tangible colors around his environment. It's briefly mentioned in here, though I think no one would actually notice. Hope it's good enough~~))
Since Leland had started working at his family's tavern, there had rarely been enough time for himself. No matter what he told his mother, he was almost always stuck with serving drinks; he had never been very personable and this particular occupation did little for his already lackluster personality. For a reason completely unknown to him, Leland's mother decided the entire family needed to visit her brother, and with that, the party of seven traversed to the port city of Cerenis. Since arriving late that night Leland had absolutely nothing to do, an unfortunate situation for the almost friendless boy. At first, his mother had insisted he stay with the rest of his family but Leland's desire to investigate the area, not to mention get away, finally won her over. An early breakfast and a promise to visit with his relatives later, Leland soon found himself at the edge of the beach.
Leland crept past the sand-covered grasses waving lightly, settling himself in the middle of the gritty shore. He simply stood for a moment, inhaling the crisp morning air and almost devouring the very breeze with his expression alone. How long had it been since he had seen the ocean? A painting come to life, tendrils of color and vibrant hues made manifest, right here before his eyes. Dark eyes searched the shoreline, taking in everything as if it were the Far past the ridge of rocks that lined the nearby port loomed islands shrouded in mist, some verdant green peeking above while others were much more foreboding, lurking in dismal brown-gray and tan. A furtive smile caught at his lips for only a moment, and Leland stretched his right arm forward with a delighted sweep. A brief flash of cerulean and seafoam green meandered along his line of sight, flickering for a split second from his conscious to the physical around him. Leland vaguely sighed, satisfied with his solitude as only he could be.
The young man stretched and flexed his feet in the gritty beach, filtering the refreshingly rough substance between each toe. Creeping waves lapped against his buried feet, filling the sandy holes and darkening the lower hem of his breeches. There was a certain delicious freedom in this, a delightful ability to discover whatever he wished. With that, Leland moved forward slowly, as if drawn by some hidden force or spirit to the frothy waters. Waves rushed towards the strange intruder as he continued, jerkin and breeches clinging to his skin in wet progression, until finally, he disappeared into the water.
The blue world beneath was anything but silent, filled with seemingly unending sound flourishing past his ears. It was the harsh dirge of the ocean, brushing its chilly fingers across his face, through his hair and everywhere along his bare skin. Though his eyes stung through the brine, Leland kept them open as he swam in the bitterly frigid waters. Through his blurred vision, he could see a few fish flitting about but nothing else caught his interest; it was merely the act of being beneath the water, almost a switching of reality, that made it so fascinating. Breaking the surface with his breath, Leland swept back his wet curls, treading water as his body gradually grew used to the cold.
Yes, there was nothing like the ocean.
