Chapter 96: Have a Good Adventure?

"Can't ye stay?" Sisi said. Leaning against the patched wall with her legs hanging off the bed.

The window panel cast a shadow on the floor. Though closed, the heat from the burning sun made its way inside the Lobby's infirmary, as the walls were mostly made with a plank of thin wood.

Wax scented the room, Lady Baba mixed some ocean herbs on the burning candle, to aide the recovery of Sisi.

Ned sat on a flimsy stool. Noticing the garments spread across Sisi's shoulders; covering her chest. Ned remained silent. Even if I wanted to, I can't. He thought.

"Ye know where to find us," Sisi said. "Lady Darcey told me, ye one of us now." She revealed a half-smile, handing back the tin cup; Ned gave it to her for drinking.

Ned took the cup and placed it at a side table beside him. Almost two weeks, the First Mana burn does hurt a lot. Ned thought. "How are you feeling, Sisi?"

Sisi nodded and smiled. This was better than before. It's been two days since she woke up. But this was the first time that she decided to talk to Ned. What could be the problem with her? Ned sighed. "Why?" he said. "Why talk with me now?"

"Captain told me," she said. Looking at the wooden floor with random openings. "Ye gave them Mana Stones, in return, us crew will take care of that... child." Her voice was forced. Tightened, not to show too much of her emotions.

"Let—"

"It's fine," Sisi interrupted Ned. She smiled, fingering her ocean blue hair that blocked her vision. She held her chin up looking at Ned. "I'll try to get along with her, it was... a request of one of our crew. So, as vice-captain of the Time to Loot crew, me respected that."

"Thank you, Sisi," Ned replied. Slightly bowing in response to Sisi's respect.

She paused, looking deep at Ned with her blue eyes. She made a pointing sign with her two fingers and fixed it closed to her chin and tilted her head closer to Ned. "No, it was us needed to thank ye," she said. "Ned, thank ye for saving us. That alone is enough to make ye a part of our crew. Once again, as Vice, I... Sisilia Lej Lailana Atalanta of the lost race of the mermaids. Servant to the Queen. Thank ye, from the deepest of the ocean. where our kingdom lies."

To Ned's surprise, Sisi has given him her real name. "Why did you?" he said. Perplexed. Ned forced himself to stand, and slightly bowed his head. He then waved a hand to dismiss Sisi. "Thank you too."

As if Sisi remembered something important, with a blushing face, she tucked inside the garment. Covering her from head to toe.

The room fell silent. It was awkward for Sisi, and awkward to Ned as well.

Ned stood, walked past the bed, and looked behind his shoulder to check at Sisi, still tucked inside the garment.

He closed the door. But before Ned could leave the room, she heard a sudden murmuring inside Sisi's room.

"Ahhh, why did I told him me name."

"Ahhh, why, why."

She was cursing herself too loud Ned could perceive her voice outside. Her voice wasn't angry, but more of shyness and a bit less modest.

Ned shook his head. I tried to not associate my self with other people, but it seems that. People tend to get closer to me. Ned thought. Walking a narrow alleyway.

It has been days since Ned did a battle with Cas'a. But after that, Cas'a insisted to fight Ned once more. Which led to the two fighting and trying different stances every night, whenever Cas'a was available.

Cas'a insisted and forced Ned to tell her how he could locate her weakness with ease. As Cas'a told Ned; that normally—if ever Ned was normal at all—to be able to locate the enemy's weak spots, one needed a keen eye, and a lot—maybe thousands—of life and death battle to exactly pinpoint it. But Ned was only fourteen, it was a great wonder for Cas'a how the lad did it. Without her speed, and honed 'Water Moon Stance', she was certain that she would lose against him.

As for Ned, he wouldn't just reveal causally his system, what would they think of it.

"Lad!" Cried Cas'a. Ned saw her maintaining her post atop the rook's nest.

Ned was inspecting Praha's Cube when he heard Cas'a's voice from the distance. Ned looked up the rook's nest and saw Cas'a waved a hand, motioning him to come at the top.

Ned flicked his wrist, placing the cube back to his inventory. He then climbed the thick rope, hoping to hear some good news from Cas'a, and not ask him to exchange stances atop the rook's nest.

As soon as Ned reached the top, Cas'a gave him the Oculus. "What am I looking for?" Ned said. Placing the cylindrical tools across his eyes. The glass flashed as he eyed the horizon.

"North-west of ye," Cas'a said. Pointing her finger at a black dot far end the ocean. "See that?"

Ned frowned. Adjusting his wrists to correct the angle of his vision. "Yes, a black dot," Ned said. "What is it Cas'a?"

"Imbue ye mana to it, " Cas'a instructed Ned. Indicating him to expand his mana to his Oculus. "Now tell me, what do ye see?"

Ned stared the deep ocean for a bit. Realizing the dot getting bigger, he frowned. "A mountain? On an island. And another island—no. It's a landmass. Is that?"

"Aye, That's Bogblot Region," Cas'a said. "The mountain was a part of it. We've been there, once. But not very close, barely even to the shore."

Ned pushed the end of the Oculus, it then retracted to a size of not more than six inches. He then handed it back to Cas'a. "What did you do there?" Ned asked.

Cas'a gave a half-smile. And winked at Ned. "Trade," she said. Receiving the Oculus and putting it back by hanging.

I'm not sure about that, but. "Okay," Ned said.

The sky turned dark as the shadow hovered atop them. The evolved rook came from the distant mountain.

It circled the Lobby before it shrunk and landed on his master's shoulder. It gawked for a while and flew once again.

At the Captain's deck, Lady Darcey gestured Ned. Signaling the latter to come and meet her.

Ned jumped off the nest. Reaching Lady Darcey, he queried. "What was it, Captain?"

"Ye ready lad?" she said. Looking Ned with pitiful eyes. "Ye can stay here with us, ye know."

"It doesn't matter where I am, captain," said Ned. He was being accustomed to saying, captain. "As long as I have the Mark, my destination will always be the same; Bogblot."

Lady Darcey sighed. "I'll ask someone," she said. "Me know a friend, who knows a friend that knows a friend about... ye Mark, or any other history."

Ned nodded. "Thanks," he said. "So what now?"

"Ye wait," she said. "We can't drop ye off the Bogblot shores, ye can only sail by ye own starting the borderline. Ye can leave now." Her voice seems worried.

"Why? something wrong?"

"Aye, there is," Sisi mingled with the two. She walked, limping on her left. "That mountain—"pointing at the tallest mountain near Bogblot—"wasn't ye're ordinary mountain. It houses thousands of Magical beasts. And ye wouldn't want that at night while ye sail."

"Even at this distance," Lady Darcey added. Nodding to agree with her vice. "Wasn't even safe. So, us wait tomorrow, at dawn. And drop ye off the border."

"And by that; ye on yer own," Sisi said.

Master Will, hold on. Ned thought. Gazing the black dot at the end of the ocean, but he wasn't really analyzing it. Scenes of his past and his Master played on his thoughts.

"Lad."

"Lad."

"Ned," Sisi cried. "Ye okay?"

Ned narrowed his eyes; a part of him wanted to go and sail the shores of Bogblot. But, part of him wanted to stay, enjoy the crew's hospitality, listen to their songs, watch them fought, and laughed.

But there was a part of him. Telling him to leave—now. A part of him told him to go into the mountains of magical beasts, he must not care, for his only goal, was to devour.

It has been months since his last Devour, though wasn't feeling hungry, no stiffing muscles, or intolerable headaches. Ned was certain, that the feeling of bliss won't last long. That sooner, if not later, the feeling of burning flames inside him will give birth to a new monster.

A monster he wished to cease to exist. For if not, the people around him, will sure they wished, that knowing him was a bane to their very lives.

And Ned wasn't ready for that, not even to his present life. Somewhere inside him, the words Kamma left for him before she died—lingered in his thoughts: "Go out there, explore, make friends. Have a good adventure, and have a good life."