"So, tell me about Elizaveta."
"Well, she…" Arthur was thoughtful. How was he to describe the most amazing woman in the world?
"Because what I know about love is that it's unconditional, aru," continued Yao as if he did not hear Arthur say anything. "It's not something you can buy."
"This wasn't about me buying her love," Arthur explained patiently. "This was a way for me to prove how I felt."
"And what's she doing to prove how she feels about you, aru?" countered Yao sceptically.
"Well… Look, you'll understand when you meet her, alright? Provided we don't get murdered by pirates first," Arthur added sullenly.
Yao chuckled quietly. "Murdered by pirates. Heart torn out and eaten. Meet Elizaveta. I can't decide which sounds more fun, aru."
"Don't be so negative!" Arthur chided.
Just then, the captain entered. "So," he began conversationally. "Th's is the p'rt where you tell me who you are a'd why you're swimming in da ocean."
Arthur gulped. "Well, I was trying to get home using a Babylon candle, and there wasn't enough for me to use, so we ended up in the middle of the ocean."
"And wh're may home be?" the captain queried.
"A place called Wall."
"G'd heavens!" exclaimed the captain. "W'll, ya say?"
"Um, yes, sir…"
The captain signalled for his first mate to untie Arthur and Yao. "Tino, untie th'm please."
"Yes, sir," Tino replied as he made his way to cut the ropes lose off Arthur and Yao.
"Bring th'm ta my quarters and get th'm a change of clothes – th'y're drenched," ordered the captain. "I will be th're in a minute."
Tino bowed to the captain and showed Arthur and Yao out of the lock-up. He led them below deck and into a rather large room. Tino opened a wardrobe full of fancy clothes. "Pick out whatever you like," he told Arthur and Yao. "The captain has too many clothes and never uses all of them."
Yao eyed the clothes warily. They were too fancy for his taste. "Do you have… anything simpler, aru?"
Tino laughed. "Clothes don't suit you?" He moved to the back of the wardrobe and pulled out a drawer. "Here're the simpler garments."
"Thanks," Arthur said.
Tino bowed. "I'll leave you two to change," he said before he exited.
Arthur picked out a blue shirt and a pair of long pants. Yao picked out a red shirt and a pair of three-quarter length pants.
Arthur had to admit, as he smoothed the shirt on his body, that the captain had pretty good taste in clothes.
Not long after, the captain entered his quarters. "H'llo again," he greeted Arthur and Yao. "I apologise for our h'rsh treatment of ya initially – ya c'n't be too sure wh't's out there."
"It's okay," Arthur smiled.
"'M Berwald," introduced the captain, extending his hand out to be shaken.
Arthur and Yao shook his hand.
Berwald pulled chairs for Arthur and Yao to sit, and pulled one for himself. "So," he said once he was seated. "Tell me about my b'loved England."
"England?" Arthur asked. "You know about England?"
"I do!" exclaimed Berwald.
"But you're not from England," Arthur commented.
"No, s'dly, no," Berwald shook his head. "But fr'm my earliest youth, I lapped up da stories. People always told me they w're nothing more than folklore, but my heart told me th'y were true."
Arthur nodded in understanding.
"Mind ya, I did my very b'st to fit in. Tried to make my f'ther proud. But my f'ther died. I always pr'mised him I'd take over the f'mly business – keep the old girl flying," Berwald smiled bitterly. "Ya have no idea the lightness it brings to my he'rt being able to confide in you charming young people."
"Glad to be of service," replied Arthur.
"So wh're are ya lads heading?"
"North," replied Arthur. "That's where the village of Wall is."
"Not a pr'blem at all – I'm heading North myself, and can drop ya off at the next p'rt," said Berwald warmly.
"Oh, that'll be great!" exclaimed Arthur. "Thank you so much!"
Berwald nodded. "Now, why don't we eat, and ya can tell me all ab't England."
Arthur and Yao's days on Berwald's ship were spent in good company. Berwald taught Arthur how to spar properly with a sword, and Arthur couldn't be more grateful. Now, he felt that he could probably beat Roderich in a brawl.
One night, Yao was on the deck, looking out at sea. Berwald approached him with a glass of wine in his hand.
"H'llo, Yao," Berwald greeted.
"Oh, hello, captain," Yao replied as he moved to make space for the captain.
"We are d'cking tomorrow, so ya and Arthur can be on ya way soon," Berwald told Yao.
"That's good," said Yao. "We'll probably make it in time for Elizaveta's birthday, aru."
Berwald remained silent for a while as he stared out at sea. "Yao, I know wh't ya are," he finally said.
Yao stiffened, and stared at the captain.
"No, no…" Berwald hurriedly said. "Don't be afr'id – no one on this ship will harm ya," he told Yao. "But th're are plenty who would."
"Don't I know it, aru," Yao muttered darkly.
"Ya emotions give ya away, Yao. Ya must learn to contr'l them. Ya've been glowing more brightly ev'ry day, and I think ya know why," Berwald said knowingly.
"Of course I know why I'm glowing – I'm a star, aru," replied Yao.
Berwald smirked at him. "Well, th't's one reason," he said. "Anoth'r's not that obvious yet."
