[[To give credit where it's due, "Those Left Behind" was Kj's idea – a collection of short stories regarding the people who didn't get to go to Sea with the main group. I'm not sure if she finished hers, but I wanted to get this one up before I went to bed.]]

[["The Goddess is in the Rain" takes place soon after the group's victory against Promathia. For those who don't know who he is, Aderyn is Draenen's nephew.]]

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It was raining.

The citizens of Bastok huddled in their houses, eyeing the storm warily. It didn’t rain in Gustaberg – it was too arid – and it certainly didn’t rain from a clear sky filled with stars and a full Lightsday moon.

“Witches are getting married.” One old gossip sagely told the crowd in the Steaming Sheep as the rain started to fall. “You best all get home and start hanging pieces of glass from every window. Don’t want anything evil to slip inside, huh?” Some laughed and brushed her off, some laughed and then quietly excused themselves to do exactly as she had suggested, others fled home and barred their homes.

But there was one who didn’t fear the storm. Despite all his grandfather’s protests and efforts, the curly black-haired boy rushed outside to frolic in the rain. He loved how the cool raindrops soaked through his hair and clothes, and he let out peal after peal of bell-like laughter. He was so happy, he felt like his little heart would burst.

“Aderyn!” Peb called from the doorway, his eyes narrowed at the little boy. “Come inside right now! You’re going to get sick!”

“Granpapa!” Aderyn laughed, spinning again. “Come play! The rain won’t make you sick; it’ll make you all better!”

Peb eyed the boy apprehensively as he stopped his spinning and stared at him. It was a trick of the light, he knew it, but he couldn’t help but repress a shudder as Aderyn’s gold eyes seemed to glow. He was an odd boy, even odder than his mother… if that was even possible. “Come inside.”

Aderyn sighed as he walked back inside. A warm bath, change of clothes, and a mug of hot chocomilk later, he sat at the kitchen table. “… She loves us all very much, you know.”

Peb looked up from his book. “… Who does?”

The little boy said nothing. He just smiled.