Chapter 74: That Fate.
After their meeting at the Historian’s old friend’s house, the crew left without a trace.
Although the elderly woman was dazed when she woke up, realizing that the scum Historian had tricked her again, she slowly came to her senses.
Her feeling of anger and annoyance vanished instantly upon seeing several stacks of Solaris on her table.
Still, she scoffed and hoped to never meet the Historian ever again.
So, the crew descended back down to the sixth layer.
Along the way, the Historian parted with them, saying that he has some business to attend to.
Of course, Skadi and the others offered to come but the Historian ultimately rejected.
He said:
"I wouldn’t want to be seen with a bunch of notorious pirates!"
How shameless.
Isn’t he the informant for these so called ’notorious pirates’
The crew looked at him with petty faces and left him in the midst of descending the stairs.
Upon arriving in the Sixth Layer, noon had already arrived.
"A Conceptual Zeal and a Forbidden, gotta hand it to you, Cetas.. You’re looking like a real monster in the future.." Reid complimented.
"I wouldn’t want to be a monste-"
Before he could finish, Elishia pinched Reid’s mouth.
"Not too loud! We’re in public, remember?!" She yelled.
"Your voice is the one that’s loud!"
Reid reached for her lips and pinched it as well.
Cetas had a sheepish look on his face. He could not help but awkwardly laugh at the banter of the two.
As the two fought with Cetas in the middle, they soon arrived at the docks.
Cetas saw the Schooner with 24 sails, its grandiose towered every ship in the harbor.
He looked at it from the front and let out a relieved sigh.
It didn’t look like a butterfly anymore! Moreover, the sails were imperfect, no longer forming a symmetry like the one in the dream.
Focusing on the conversation between the runt in the Harbor and Skadi, Cetas attentively listened.
"We also implemented a c-customized captain’s room below deck, so that you can have comfort while you sail! T-the cabins, too, were cleaned and catered towards your crewmembers!"
He looked at Galkan.
Galkan gave a thumbs up.
"O-of course, that’s not all! Since we modified the size of the ship, the areas below deck should be spacious now! It s-should be suitable for all of you! I-I’d have to say that we outdid ourselves with t-this! The ship should run at g-great speeds, it can even outrun a Great Leviathan!"
Skadi furrowed her brows.
"Is that true?"
"Y-yes! Our Harbormaster said so!"
"I see.." Skadi’s expression was as cold as ever, her voice even colder, "Then.. Good job."
She reached in her pocket and brought out a gold coin—a Solari!
She flicked her thumb and threw the coin towards the ship broker.
"T-thank you kindly!"
"Go. Scram now."
The ship broker held the golden coin dearly and scrambled away from the crew..
"Galkan, Jones, Elishia, inspect the ship and the rooms below. I, Cetas, and Reid will head to the Harbormaster to pay the other half of our payment.."
"Aye!" The three collectively nodded.
With that, the three of them headed inside the ship, inspecting its well-being, the kitchen’s state, and a room where Jones can reside to make a clinic.
After seeing them being engrossed on the new ship, Skadi gestured for Reid and Cetas to head to the office of the Harbormaster.
It was only a few distances away from the harbor so it didn’t take long.
Upon arriving, Skadi turned to the two boys.
"Wait here, I’ll be quick."
The two stood straight near the door of the office, looking like guardboys to an aristocrat’s official meeting.
Reid remained silent, still the same as ever.
As for Cetas, he observed the people in his surroundings.
There were some that bought from markets, there were others that slept on the ground, and there were people who looked very suspicious.
Out of all of them, a particular hooded, golden-haired figure piqued Cetas’ interest.
He then lightly elbowed Reid’s arm, "Hey.. Isn’t that the Prince?"
"Huh?"
Reid turned his head towards the direction where Cetas pointed at.
He focused his eyes, noticing the particular golden-haired man hiding his face under the shadows of a dark hood.
"I don’t know much about Heliosian Aristocracy.. I don’t know who that is.."
"Ah.."
Cetas made sure that the Prince wouldn’t notice his gaze. He constantly stared at the ground when the Prince would turn his head.
When Cetas peeked another glance, he saw the Prince facing straight at him.
Then, he averted his gaze once more, this time looking at the sky.
He looked at him again.
The Prince got closer! In fact, he was walking towards him!
Why is he heading towards this direction?! Did he catch me?
The Prince slowly walked towards Cetas, his face still hidden but his golden hair illuminated in the sunlight.
Upon being only a few meters away, the door besides Cetas and Reid jolted open.
Revealed within it was Skadi, who quickly addressed Cetas and Reid, "It’s been settled, let’s go back."
Reid took a step forward upon hearing her words, but Cetas.. he remained in place.
"..?" Skadi looked confused.
However, when she felt a particular presence within their vicinity, she raised her head to look.
Now only a couple of feet away, the Prince clearly aimed to enter the Harbormaster’s office.
Skadi’s face remained blank as she noticed the Prince brushing past her.
Coincidentally, the Prince’s shoulder bumped into Skadi’s
But he didn’t say a word, only wanting to enter the Harbormaster’s office.
Skadi didn’t let it pass though, she raised her arm and grabbed him by the shoulder.
Then, she took a good look at his face.
Cetas, too, had the opportunity to study the Prince’s face.
His golden eyes were sullen, almost lightless underneath the black hood, his face was chiseled to perfection, revealing a handsome and alluring appearance.
"Shouldn’t you apologize first?" Skadi said.
The Prince merely gave her a fierce stare.
"You’re Prince Aurus, right? What are you doing all the way down here in the Sixth Layer?"
Aurus averted his gaze, seemingly annoyed by her presence. Then, he looked back at Skadi, "..and you’re Captain Skadi of the Aegir Pirates.."
"Yes? What does my identity have to do with anything?"
"It means you’re scum—well suited for a place such as this where shit and trash pile up."
Skadi found the scene amusing.
"Who taught you to speak like that, you’re a Prince, shouldn’t you be more.. dignified?"
"None of your business, pirate."
The Prince pushed Skadi’s hand back. Then, he headed towards the room.
Before he could enter, he turned around and spoke to Skadi, "One day, our Church will stop and capture you.."
Skadi let out a little giggle.
"Why not try it now?"
The Prince’s look grew darker.
"Because it isn’t destined yet.."
Skadi’s eyes narrowed.
"..so you believe in that Fate."
The Prince turned silent for a second, his eyes hiding a deep contempt. He bit his lip and then went on his way to enter the Harbormaster’s office.
Closing the door with a thud, the Prince vanished in a moment.
Skadi then looked at Cetas and Reid.
"Shall we go back?"
*
After the fiasco, Skadi’s face dimmed. Her once cold yet soft face now turned into something that seemed.. Solemn.
Or at least, something along those lines.
Cetas could not quite determine what expression she made.
Nevertheless, the three quickly made it back to the ship where Elishia, Jones, and Galkan had just finished inspecting their new quarters.
Lined up, each of them spoke one by one.
"The kitchen’s nice! I have more space than our previous ship and there’s even a room where I can store multitudes of ingredients..or maybe I should turn it into a cold room for preservation.."
Elishia raised her thumb and placed it under her chin, falling under a deep contemplation.
Next, Jones reported to Skadi, "I have no further complaints on the room utilized as a clinic. It’s charming.."
Satisfied with Jones’ report, she moved on to Galkan.
"The ship has a few minor issues here and there, but it’s nothing to worry about. If anything worsens, I can simply fix it up!"
His voice as loud as ever, echoing amidst the Harbor and garnering the attention of many.
Still, upon hearing their comments, Skadi was quite pleased with how the ship turned out.
If they wanted to, they could sail right now!
But there are more tasks at hand.
Cetas listened to the three as they listed furniture, essentials, and everything that needed to be bought. As the schooner didn’t have everything they needed, the three made sure that they could use their rooms to the best of their experiences.
"A medical bed, a few medical supplies, an additional gimbaled stove, a few ice boxes, some high quality lumber..."
As the list went on, Skadi approved of their needs and wants. After all, they still had some funds to be spent.
She took three pouches from her pocket, all of which contained many golden coins.
Then, she gave each one to the three of them to spend.
A mere glance at the amount inside would make a commoner drool in greed!
"Here, go get our essentials. Oh and Reid,"
Reid turned to Skadi’s direction.
"Do help Elishia out, she has many things that she needs to carry."
"Aye."
With a nod of approval, Skadi looked at each and every single one of them.
"Make sure to be back before sundown, you have about.." She brought out a golden pocket watch and read its hands, "A few hours, that should be enough time.."
She then pocketed the watch and spoke softly, "If there were any dangers to arise, just scream as loud as you can.. I’ll be there in a second."
"Aye!" The crew collectively approved.
After a while, each of them left.
Jones walked and climbed the layers with an elegant demeanor. Galkan remained proud and strong, heading towards the far edges of the Sixth Layer. Lastly, Elishia and Reid went out of the ship, arguing about the fastest route that they could take. In the end, they headed towards the 4th Layer.
Now, only Cetas and Skadi were left on the ship.
Skadi looked at him.
"Cetas, come here.."
Hearing her words, Cetas immediately headed towards Skadi’s direction.
"We haven’t had the chance to talk about it back at the table but you’ve unlocked your final two Flourishes, correct?"
Cetas nodded.
"Odd. The methods that I know of are completely rewritten." She shook her head, "Doesn’t matter, what we have to focus now is how you can ascend to become a low-level Acumen.
"Before anything, we have to determine your ritual. One of these days, you will suddenly jolt awake and realize what you have to do.."
She placed her hand on his head, shaking his blue hair gently.
"Don’t you worry, though, as an Unblemished, nothing will be too dangerous for your first ritual.."
