Once I left the group, I headed back to the surface and shot myself back out to land on the surface. Once I was back on the water, I made my way to the shore.
The meeting with the Sahuagin and Barracuda went much faster than I had imagined. I figured that I would have time to pay my respect to Dack, Mex's son, who I was sure would be staying behind.
When I reached the beach, I walked over to the small village that was only about fifteen huts, give or take. Some more significant and few must be shed or small shacks for cleaning their catches.
I deactivated my Pact, but my shirt was soaked now, so I took it off. There was a line out with other clothes hanging on it, so I tossed the shirt on, having no real need for it.
"Kazz… or, I guess Zack! Good to see you again!" Dack called over to me from a group of people he was talking to.
The dark blue-skinned man strode over to meet me and offered me his hand. I accepted, shaking it, and Dack put his other hand over mine with a big smile as I did.
"You know, we here in the village are in debt to you for helping the Sahuagin and Barracuda settle their problems. Though, I could have never imagined just how amazing you are. I would like to personally thank you for the chance to meet my grandmother one more time. I would have wished to see the others, but having Noel show up was more than a treat!" Dack explained to me with glassy eyes.
I hadn't really thought about that, but I was glad that Dack got a chance to see Noel. It was too bad that I couldn't have brought the others over to visit, but we were stretched for time.
The other grandmothers had their own missions, but Dack didn't need to stay on this island.
"You know that you could come with us, right?" I explained to Dack, but he shook his head with a small smile.
"No, I have grown to love this little island, and I have no aspirations to become stronger. I will stay here, look after my people, and keep watch over the island while you are gone. Maybe you will come back to this island someday to visit us all, and when you do, I hope that we have become better people," Dack said, letting go of my hand.
"I don't know if you were ever evil people, Dack. You all just have gotten the short end of the stick as far as I have seen. I truly believe that you will become great people, and I look forward to the day in the future when I return to see how you are all doing!" I told him with a hearty smile.
I didn't know if I would ever return to this place again, but it wasn't impossible. Still, I knew that these people would thrive now, and the bubble of the island would keep stronger Demons away.
"Well, I think that you have a boat to catch, according to Noel. She told me to make sure and remind you of that, hehe. Thank you, Lord Zack, of the Demons, but I think you should get going now!" Dack said with a hearty smile, and I nodded, giving a final wave to the village before I turned and headed into the jungle.
Once I was on dirt, I activated my Tsunalily Bond and called vines to me, and they started to push me forward. This was how Kali had done it, so I had assumed that it should be something that I would be able to do, but after about twenty-five feet, I stopped.
"Do you need some help with that?" Kali asked from my shoulder as her face appeared there.
I was startled slightly, but I nodded to Kali's face. To use the vines, I have to connect to each tree as I go by them while tucking them back under the ground afterward.
I looked back, and the path was now just a sprained ankle waiting to happen. I don't think even using Veronica's Totem would help me out in this situation.
"Yes, please. How are you? You have been awfully quiet for a long time," I asked as the roots behind me settled back into the ground.
"Uncle Harold has been training me and teaching me how to control my body better, so I don't get too excited," Kali explained as I started to shoot forward again.
This time was much faster than I had been the last time I had gotten a ride from her. The training was helping, whatever it was.
Thinking back then made me grin, but I was curious about what kind of training Harold was having her do. I knew Harold wouldn't do anything I wouldn't like, but I was still curious because Kali did seem much calmer and more mature.
[I was having her help me while in the lab during the time that Marly was meditating. Kali had asked what she was doing, and I explained it to her and asked if she would like to join Marly. At first, she had trouble, but Marly explained how she slowed her energy to Kali, and she started to get it.]
'Is that something that you suggested to Marly?' I asked Harold.
[No. Marly started doing it on her own after I was able to siphon off some of the darkness. Though, it did happen after I had hypnotized her and got her name out of her. Regardless of the reason, Kali has significantly matured in the short time and has better control of all her powers.]
There was nothing wrong with that.
"I am happy that you are doing better now. How are you feeling? Once we get back to the ship, I will release you, then you can go help the girls and stay with them in the house," I explained as we reached Windorf's Plateau.
"I feel great, and that would be really nice to see the girls and see Clesh again," Kali said in a bright voice as I jumped off the vines to walk across the stone rise.
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