AN: This is a continuation from the Interlude of Lucy's Story Captain Who during her first adventure. Don't worry, I'll post the main story chapters alongside just so none of you feel cheated or anything, but trust me when I say this side-story would have meaning in the later chapters to come. I don't do anything without a purpose even if it's spontaneous. Regardless, I hope you enjoy the ride I'll take you because I'm putting out multiple chapters!
Chapter 2
Our first adventure was the furthest I'd ever been with him in Ishgar.
The ship rumbled and groaned before falling silent and stopping. We didn't crash, we didn't tumble, nothing was burnt, and slowly the panic I had in me extinguished.
"That was fun, wouldn't you say?" Fun? How in the world was that fun! "Now, where are we?" The Captain turned to examine the numbers on the monitor and map, confirming when he took a peek outside before he then turned to give me a bright grin at me, which certainly caused a throbbing tick. He could have killed us for God's sake! I took in his happy, carefree attitude, stood still for a second, before subsequently kicking his godforsaken, danger-loving face.
He let out an indignant cry. My rage boiled over, I was mad —granted my anger was born from the fact I thought I was going to die. "You bumbling idiotic maniac, you could have warned me first! Or at least checked if we're safe riding your stupid ship!" His face of mock hurt morphed into one of slight annoyance.
"Hey! First of all, don't call TORRI stupid, that's uncalled for!" he yelled back as if he was the one being called stupid, "second, of course I made sure he's safe. I wasn't going to risk you getting hurt. Who do you take me for?"
I felt my cheeks flush in shame and embarrassment, I didn't consider that, I regretted kicking him. He was a person who made a ship that could transport us anywhere in the world even building it by hand himself, of course he knows what he's doing, of course he made sure we were safe. I should have had more faith in him. I was about to apologize, but then I remembered his words, "Wait… how did you know it was safe if you never did a test drive with it?"
"I had fail safes should anything unwarranted happened to TORRI - not like he will, he's perfect - Seriously, give me some credit here Goldilocks. Your doubt is starting to hurt me."
"Then why did you say things about us crashing?"
Captain then answered with a sheepish smile that he just wanted to mess with me.
I didn't regret the second kick by then.
The Captain made to move to the door, ignoring the sting of his injury, ready to push the door to an unknown place that was just waiting to be explored, "Outside this door is a whole new world we've never seen before. Are you ready for this?"
"No," I said, but even as I said that I could feel myself grinning.
He pushed the door open despite that, and if it was possible, my grin stretched further at the sight I was seeing.
It wasn't anything extraordinary, my dear Readers, no. Unfamiliar and new, yes. But nothing that would be awe-inspiring, for we had stepped out into an alley, overlooking a market place in the middle of town. It was crowded and bustling with people. They were either greeting, offering, or haggling with one another. There was a mix of people wearing casual clothes just like us and some wearing more traditional work clothes. It was a uniquely patterned cloth tied around his waist or above her chest depending on your sex. The air smelled different, it was a mix of sweet, cooked food, and various unfamiliar odors you wouldn't be able to find in Fiore. When we left, the sun was about to set, but here it was barely noon.
"So, where are we, Captain?" I asked. I had a sudden realisation that was the first time I called him by that name and the decision he made to christened himself with that name wherever we go with our beloved Red Box.
The Captain and Goldilocks, that was the start of us.
The Captain made a wide open gesture with his arm, "I welcome you, my Goldilocks, to the Pegrande Kingdom's Grand City, Sula."
My jaw slackened in disbelief. We had barely been travelling inside TORRI for ten minutes and already we were thousands of miles away, on the other side of Ishgar. I suspect The Captain relished my reaction as we looked upon the city as if he had given it to me himself.
And in a way, he had. Not by buying it outright and naming it as mine, but by giving me something to explore, something to learn, something to etch my presence here, I thought that was just as good as giving me the city itself.
I squealed and jumped to hug him, and he wrapped his arm around me in response as we laughed ourselves silly.
"Where do we go from here?" I asked again once I jumped down from him.
"Become one with the people I guess," he said. His eyes bursting with excitement that rivaled mine. "Wear their clothes, learn their livelihood, try out their foods, haggle some stuff, explore their culture together." he wiggled his arm in offer, and I accepted in glee. Hand in hand, we rushed through the streets just like a normal pair of kids would when they go out to play.
It was a good thing we stopped by in a market where the most diverse people could still come together to trade. The streets we were on had stalls selling fresh and cooked food that was both familiar and unusual for us both. We explored more of the local food that we hadn't seen, even if some of the items we regretted eating.
The one food the city of Sula seemed to be famous for was their yam dishes, and they had a lot of it. There were yam noodles, baked yam, fried yam, yam pie, yam candy, even a yam drink which was surprisingly delicious. I was amazed by how one ingredient in another land could be treated so differently, and the many delicacies it could be made into. Especially this one small but nice bakery we managed to find.
The locals were nice too. Well, some did look like they were going to kidnap us, but we were able to avoid them.
We also bought many local souvenirs, like beaded necklaces, knitted bags, and we also went around watching the few street performers that were around like puppet shows and singers.
The main puppet show that caught The Captain's interest though, was one where they told the ancient story of Dragnoff Kingdom. A land that was once a place where Dragons coexisted with humans. They had learned, played, fought alongside each other until the dragons from the west came and waged war with them.
The battle had been bloody but in the end, the Dragnoff Kingdom won, and the proof of their prosperity were the ruins right next to this city where a place called the Inner City was rebuilt. It was quite an interesting tale, and people were still split on whether it was a historical event or a legend. I committed every word to memory, and my mind was driven off to what I pictured was a land from the past, the sky filled with winged dragons while the people below greeted them with a smile.
We were having the time of our lives.
Sadly, it couldn't stay that way.
It started when The Captain decided to use magic to store all our souvenirs away that the crowd of people around us froze, shocked round eyes lock on us. It made us extremely nervous, so we instinctively reached out for the others hand. It was for both for comfort and should the need arises for us to run.
It turned out we didn't need to. Not long after that, every person in the vicinity all but bowed. No, I'm not joking, they all bowed on their knees as if we were deities that deserved to be revered. For a brief moment, I found the situation amusing, but it quickly turned unnerving. Seeing as they were silent and unmoving, The Captain decided to take the matter to his hand.
"Uh, you...uh, Woman! Tell me why you are being...uh, being...you know what? I'm not good at this. Can somebody just tell us what the Freaking Gilgamesh is going on?!"
Okay, so The Captain may not be the smoothest person I know.
None of them responded immediately, but then one woman looked up, her eyes seemingly asking for permission to speak. The Captain responded with a nod and a pointed finger at her.
"Thank you for granting permission to speak. My name is Via, it is an honor to explain our culture to you," she said to us, "I am but a humble mother of three kids and had wished for nothing but a quiet evening shopping for our livelihood."
"Okay, I get that. Can you just get to the whole culture point." I shoved an elbow to his ribs and whispered 'rude' to him. He had the decency to look sheepish but strangely happy at being called out for. One of the children giggled at our actions, giving us a beaming smile, but that resulted in a harsh scolding from the man beside them.
"Hey!" The Captain called out the man, making him steel himself in fear, the man winced at the effect he made. "If they want to smile, let them smile. As long as no harm is done, there's nothing wrong in doing it."
The man bowed his head, "I sincerely apologise, I did not mean to cause you unrest, Sir."
"Of course not, I only speak of my opinion anyway. Doesn't make my word law."
I heard the people gasping at those words, but we paid no heed and returned our attention to Via. The woman still patiently waiting for our consent to speak.
"You don't need to wait for our permission," I said to her, "It's fine to speak when you're comfortable."
Via blushed and nodded, she then proceeded to tell us, "Pergrande Kingdom has always thrived from the work of mages that stood above us. They are blessed by the gods to give us enrichment and protection from the Inner City they resided. Which is why our countries only have the Royal Lineage and the Chosen Ones as those who are bestowed by the gift of magic. And it is of great honor to be given the great gift as means to heighten one's status in our country."
I looked to the side in time to see Captain stare in utter confusion from her words. I rolled my eyes and told to him that she had meant that mages are only those descended from the royal lines and nobles. Mages from normal families are called Chosen Ones and brought to train in the Inner City. I dub them the High Society, but I wouldn't have been surprised if they were truly called that way. I asked Via what kind of life usually entailed to the Chosen One and answered promptly, like she had rehearsed and was answering something out of a textbook, that they were then turned into knights, married a noble, or became priests. They can have a choice in choosing one of those positions, but they weren't allowed to stay with their non-magic family.
It wasn't fair at all.
But it had been like that for centuries in this country, and I found out the hard way how far ingrained their social system was into the people.
If you think that's all that happened, that we would leave, dissatisfied and unhappy but not be in any trouble, think again. A course gasp went out, and we turned toward the new main attraction of the group. There, standing with their full arrogant glory and smug smiles, being revered by the people before they snapped out of their shock and bowed their heads once more. I immediately suspected they were part of the 'High Society' that Via had been talking about. Captain whispered to remind me to smile, and I understood immediately that I had to wear the 'I'm going to be polite but I don't know or like you particularly well and this is all business' smile.
Three people standing before us. First, there was the most ridiculous looking man who stood in the middle. He was wearing something akin to a black kimono with red and gold leaf pattern to its fabric. It looked bigger than a normal kimono and dragged on the ground, but he didn't seem to particularly care about that. Little curtain things adorning his hat, partially covering his face. He also had a dark blue eye shadow in a cursive and elaborate way. I turned to Captain who was stifling a laugh, I had suspicion he was sharing an inside joke with himself.
The two people beside him, guards I suspect, were both wearing hybrid o dark green kimono and a knight armor. One had a sword tucked on his hip, the other had a bo staff on his back. They both had metal helmets that covered their eyes, and the rest of their faces were covered in white makeup. One had a teardrop mark on his right cheek, and the guard on the right side from me has a white skull mark on his left cheek.
There was more snickering emerging from the Captain, and I shot him a dirty look to tell him, behave!
The Lead Man smiled warmly at us, causing me to almost scowl at him.. I know that kind of smile anywhere. I lived with it almost my entire life when people tried to gain favour with my father through me. "Children of Ethernano," he started saying, "we heard of your arrival and came as quickly as we could. For you to go unnoticed for so long, we apologized for neglecting you so," there was regret in his voice that almost sounded genuine and my heart caved at the man. Even berating myself for falsely painting him in a bad color from the first impression.
'Sure the culture is weird, but it's not like the High Society consist of bad people."
Oh, how wrong my thoughts were back then.
And as if to prove me, the man then looked back at Via, who had been standing upright since explaining about the social order of this kingdom was, and narrowed his eyes.
"Who allowed this woman to stand?"
Via seemed to realize what she had done and immediately went back to kneeling, but the damage was done. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I was just explaining to these children of our ways they seemed oblivious about and-"
Her response seemed to make him even more livid, his gaze hardened, his face flushed from anger, "How DARE you talked back at me! Guards seized this Heretic!"
""What?!"" both Captain and me exclaimed. Yet we were ignored as one of the knights took her arm roughly, Via with tears in her eyes, kept shaking her head, her desperate pleading was ignored by him and the other people around, keeping their heads down to avoid looking at the heartbreaking scene happening in front of my eyes. I watched, helpless to do anything, as her children began screaming and doing their best to cling to their mother only to be left on the ground as she was taken away.
I turned to Captain, desperately hoping he had some kind of plan, a way to stop this nonsense from happening and call out their false justice.
Instead, he stood still. Face pale and his mouth gaping like a fish. I've never seen him so frozen in shock, that even I was forced to be made speechless alongside him.
It was then I was harshly reminded that despite being a so-called prodigy, he was a kid just like me. I was so used to him acting and talking like he knows everything that I forget that he was only a year and a half older than me, that years of studying would have never prepared him from experiencing something akin to such cruelty. I turned back to the Prat Society and would have growled at them for how nonchalant they were acting if I hadn't had years of mannerism classes teaching me restraint.
"Stop that! She hasn't done anything wrong to anyone!" Captain finally finding his voice to protest.
"Of course she did, she tried standing as if an equal with a Mage. It's only fair if she were to be punished."
I decided that if Captain wasn't going to say anything, it was up to me to step up. "Fair?!" I cried out with as much venom I could muster, had I been strong enough I would have drawn blood from how tight my fist was clenching. "How is convicting an innocent woman fair?"
The man looked back down at us, his gaze softened, and the warmth reappeared. His expression was that of someone who was trying to form the proper answer to a child who was asking him what happened to a criminal with a Death Sentence. "She needs reminding that we are above them, someday you'll learn that. Come with us to the Inner City, and I'll show you what being a Mage is all about."
It was disgusting hearing his compassionate and soothing voice as if he had just done something noble and great. It sickened me that he had the audacity to ask us to follow his footsteps. The Captain must have been in agreement with me because he then slapped the offered hand away, and we both gave him a scathing glare.
"Yeah, here's the thing, Gaudy Man," Captain said, and I snickered at his chosen nickname, "We're not from around here, so we have no problem not following your crummy stick in the butt rules. Second, we don't like you. Third...what's third Goldilocks?"
The sudden shift of question threw me off that I just spouted the first thing in my head, "That you are a Mean Donkey!"
I blushed red, and I knew without looking that the Captain had to hold back his burst of laughter at my inability to create insults, "Yes, a mean donkey." Captain agreed, surely only to humor himself and I, "Meaning you are not just an idiot, but a hateful idiot. So, here's what's going to happen. You're going to leave us alone as we make our way back home and you're going to release that woman, or you'll regret ever making contact with us. You'll be forever cursing the name Captain and Goldilocks.
I nodded along with him but paused as I thought through the last few words, "...my nickname is really starting to sound unimpressive."
"Not going to change it," He sing-songed.
At that point, Gaudy Man —- as Captain dubbed him —- was visibly fuming and I could tell he was trying really hard not to wring his neck, if his white knuckles showed anything, my eyes turned to my surroundings and found the whole crowd were gasping at him, some were even holding back a laugh.
"And what," he almost spatted the word to us, "are you going to do if I don't comply with this demand after the blatant disrespectful act you made?"
Captain just shrugged as he reached out my hand and linked our hands together, "Disappear I suppose, everybody loves a good disappearing act."
Then what greeted me next was not the curious reaction of Gaudy Man, but the interior of TORRI's Control Room. As much as I was glad to be back here, I couldn't help but worry about the poor lady who went to jail because of us and asked Captain in concern, "Wait, what are we going to do with Via?"
The Captain closed his eyes in thought, silent with his arm crossed, before turning to look at me with a manic grin. Making me feel equally excited and afraid, thinking of what kind of idea he had in that head of his.
"Goldilocks, fancy doing a prison break with me?" he asked me in the same tone one would ask if they could borrow a doll from me and I gape at him. The horror overwhelming my excitement.
"You're mad!" I immediately said, my smile dropped that he would think that was remotely close to a good idea.
"Yes, but I'm being perfectly serious," he admitted without a care that he might be as crazy as I suspected, and then went on fiddling with the controls. A map showed on the screen and searched for what I suspect the nearest jail she could possibly be held captive in.
"You're just going to turn her into a fugitive!"
"Not with my plan, she won't!"
With a twist and a turn, and a flurry of movement. TORRI was placed, what Captain told me, on top of the bell tower. Another switched flipped, and I let my awe washed over me as the walls of the ship changed into a see-through glass and see the clear horizon of the City of Sula. Unfamiliar houses and high buildings gave an otherworldly sense to us. Say what you want how horrible living in a place like this, but you have to admit the place was beautiful to the point that living here might be worth it.
Captain then made another push of the button, and the glass walls became more of a see-through monitor as yellow pop-ups began to point out where all the famous landmarks of this city were.
"So, what's your plan, anyway?" I asked him again, eliciting an excited grin as he rubbed his hand to explain.
"My plan will involve my magic, a bomb, and an angry spirit to kick things off."
I snorted at his plan, "Good luck finding the last one, where will you conveniently get a spirit?" Instead of answering me, Captain made a long hard stare at me her before realization dawned at me, "You're going to use my spirit?!"
"No, I'm going to use your doll and replace her with it in prison."
"Uh..." I dumbly voiced out, not sure if he was serious.
"Of course your spirits! Who else here has a rare gold key celestial spirit in their pocket." he snarked with his eyes rolled and I couldn't blame him for that.
However, I knew him better than most and couldn't help but suspiciously eyed him, "You just want to meet Aquarius again, don't you?" I asked with accusing tone me.
He gasped loudly at me and made a hurtful gesture to his chest, "Goldie, I worship her beauty and her sass in all her glorious beauty of a mermaid. That does not twist my plan into some kind of ulterior motive to meet her." I didn't say anything and didn't need to before his facade fell and leaned close enough to whisper, "But can you summon her? Pretty, pretty please?"
You see Readers, once I had inherited my mother's keys, which Aquarius was one of them, I showed them off to Captain who eagerly wanted to meet them. I was only capable of summoning one spirit a day. I must admit Readers that Aquarius wasn't the most pleasant spirit I know. Something that would be all to clear once you read more further of this book.
I gave him a pointed look but sigh in resign and letting it go for now. Now wasn't the time for that, "So, mind telling me what's your plan is?"
"Glad you ask Goldilocks." He fell away from his starstruck behaviour and was all business, "First order of business we need to get more information about Max Cemere. Ready to use your secret weapon?"
A grinned split on my face when I followed his line of thought. After all, if we're talking about my secret weapon, then there's only one thing, and it's not my spirits.
When it was around time before the sun was about to set, The Captain made us landed two blocks away from the prison. He then explored the place alongside me before marking our pair of guards who we overheard working at the prison that was at the time, in a tavern and drinking after the end of their shift.
I went up to them with a school bag on my back, and a notebook and pen on hand. My ponytail turned into pigtails, so I look the part of being the schoolgirl more. It must have been a peculiar sight for a small girl, alone, to be striding inside a tavern full of smelly, drunk, and mostly dirty men without manners. I ignored my discomfort from the reminder it was for Via's sake and approached the pair of guards.
"Err, Sirs, excuse me." I managed to squeak out. The eyes of not just two pairs but everyone who heard me turn and I became a lot more anxious but kept my breathing stable, or I might hyperventilate. "Sir, were you two working for the prison, Max Cemere?"
"And who am I speaking to Little Lady?" one of the pair of guards asked with a kind smile.
"My name is Irish, and I actually have a school project due next week, and I was wondering if you two nice guards could tell me about the prison in more detail."
The blond man was more than happy to share, but the ginger man kept his scowl. His light brown eyes made a soul searching gaze at me that made me bristled, "And why does a little girl like you want to know what a prison is like? Wouldn't you want to cover something that's less dreary than about prison?" He asked with suspicion.
Good thing Captain had thought of a reason if I was ever asked why and take note girls. This will help you. With teary eyes and mouth curved to pout, I looked up at them with big expectant eyes. "The truth is my...my mother was taken away to prison and...and I always wondered if the place is taking good care of her and...and…" my breathing hitched between hiccups, gasp, and sobs. The guards and all the other customer of the tavern melted by my performance.
Quickly, they soothed me and even showed me some cool weapons in the hope I would give a smile, which I did in the end, and the pair of guards happily informed me about Max Cemere. I won't go into details that would bore you. Instead, I'll tell you what kind of place it was.
The prison, Max Cemere, is a building placed on the edge of the city of Sula. It was a circular prison with a tower on top by the centre. The closer you were to the middle, the harsher their punishments were and the more dangerous the people being incarcerated. The tower itself had a calling of its own; 'The Tower of No Return.' The second worse punishment, other than execution; being imprisoned there with no light, no human contact, it was a prison of isolation.
Once I thanked them for the information, I dashed my way out, snickering all the way as I compliment my own act, and toward where Captain had parked TORRI. I froze in my steps when I saw nothing at the spot, and a slight panic attack would have hit me if TORRI hadn't materialized at the next second.
Scowling, I went up to him just when Captain jotted his head out, looking left and right and grinned when he spotted me, but it fell when he saw my expression that was highly unamused before slapping hard his arm.
"Ow, what did I do this time?"
"For disappearing on me! I almost got a heart attack when I didn't see TORRI, you Jerk!"
"Oh! Yeah...sorry about that. Should 've told you that I was setting up for the plan, so...why, don't you go and start explaining about the prison Goldilocks?" I compiled and told him everything I learned from the men. He listened carefully with his arm crossed, his eyes were unusually focused at my words, which makes me cautious of what I said as to make sure it was accurate.
When I was done, he nodded as if I had confirmed what he already knows and ushered me inside his ship.
"So, what's our next move?" He grinned and showed his bright white teeth clearly, making the first two words that popped in my head was "Oh dear…"
"That, my dear Goldilocks, is my favorite part of the plan," he said to me.
I sighed and proceed to pull out Aquarius's key. "Where do you expect we get the water to summon her?"
A few minutes later, I found myself bombing a water plant and using it to summon Aquarius for her to shoot out more water at the prison hold and flood the place.
I know, I wasn't expecting that either.
Not to mention Roy literally squealed seeing The Water Bearer Spirit again much chagrin, "Oh brightest and lovely Aquarius, you shining star that bright the dreary life of my life on earth."
I snorted, "That's so cheesy."
"Girls like cheesy lines. It's easier to tell if we guys are sincere or not from those, that's why it still being used."
Before me and Captain could get into a debate on the matter of pick-up lines after just blowing up a water plant more than a hundred feet on the ground, Aquarius cleared her throat and looking pissed off at us two.
I would very much like to write out the conversation between us three, but I made a promise to Aquarius not to show any of her bad sides in my novel, (Which frankly, means most of her appearance), so sadly I have to cut this short or else I'll have a full blast of her water power, and I like to keep that hit at the minimum. Let's just say there was a few scolding from her at our actions, a hint of exasperation crossed her face, then began to verbally abuse us which Captain was oddly happy to take.
I think Captain has a thing on strong girls in general, but that's just my opinion.
Once the diversion part of our plan has gone underway, we went back to TORRI and gone to the coordinate where the most likely place the Key Keeper's post was. We got the place right on the second try, and both times, Captain warned me to stay since I'm useless without my spirits (and wasn't that hard to admit) and had to wait until the scuffle outside was over.
I didn't really hear how the fight started and ended, all I did hear was the cocky tone he crowed at them. Imagining how smug looking he must be that showed despite his age, making him look like he knew something more than people could admit and be way off. How I heard the cried of people, a pair I suspect, like they were dragged for a terrible joy ride and trapped by the end of it. Afterward, Captain had to go against the Key Keeper himself but with a hidden trick sleeve managed to wrap him up (literally) with the use of his anti-magic chain he had on hand.
It took me long enough that I had asked him what he actually doesn't have.
Once it was silent, I took that moment to pop my head out and asked: "Is it over yet?"
"Yup," he said, popping the 'p' in the end. He then rummaged inside the Key Keeper's pocket to find the Master Keys all round up in a bundle of chains used for all prison cells. One of them was the key that opened all the cells for the Outer Wall Prison.
Captain and I both exchanged eager looks at his findings, but before we rushed toward the cell where Via was kept. He came up to me with a manic grin eager than I've ever seen him with, our faces only inches apart, and his hand snatched mine to interlocked one another before he said one thing to me;
"Allons-y, Goldilocks!"
It had meant 'Let's go Goldilocks!' nothing special about the word itself. However, when Captain said it, he made the word meant something more. Like we were about to dash to our next adventure of great unknown, and the feeling caused me to grin like a loon as I nod at his words.
His mega white smile couldn't be any brighter at my response.
With the use of his rune, we were able to track down Via up to the third floor. We passed many cells where prisoners were banging on their metal bars and shouting something, but the cacophony made it all intangible to my hearing. Finally, we stopped at one cell and there, in her white prisoner gown that showed off her tanned skin with Chinese features, her long thick black hair looking disheveled from stress, was Via.
Captain began trying the keys one by one, "What are you doing?" Via asked, but Captain ignored her as he found the right key and opened the locked door, much to both her and her cellmate's surprise.
He then wore a cocky smirk before throwing the one master key he used to the burly woman next to Via and told her, "Free one, free all?" Her surprised face turned to one of satisfaction, and she began to unlock more of the cells around her, and before long, there was a mass breakout.
Off course, it shocked me because he did not tell me about that part of the plan or if it was even his plan from the start to free all the other prisoners. I trust Captain with my life, but the first few trips with him had made me cast some doubts on him, and it took some time for me to realize that Captain always has a plan.
Still, I nudged him hard with my elbow, and he looked down at me in question "Captain, I trust you, I do. But is it a good thing that we're releasing all the inmates here?"
"Not all, Goldilocks. Just the one from the Outer Wall Prison. They usually served here only for petty crime or talking back to the "High Society" nothing serious," I still looked unconvinced. Just because they were some who were put here unreasonably as Via, doesn't mean I want to risk putting out the people who deserved jail. "BUT!" he yelled out before I could voice my concern, "I put magic on the surrounding prison. If any inmates got out with the intention of harming anyone or anything outside this prison than they would not be able to get out from their cell, so those who deserved it gets a second chance, satisfied?" he asked me to which I grinned in satisfaction.
"Very."
Captain and I turned our attention to Via, who was had been listening to us, gaping all the while. It must have been surreal for her that a couple of kids would think of breaking her out of prison, not to mention succeeding it. I would have been at disbelief too and maybe, some part inside me at that moment still felt in disbelief at my own action was capable of.
"Now then Miss Via," said Captain, "I believe you have kids waiting for your return."
Readers I'm sure at this point you must be imagining the reaction Via must be making. Maybe cried in sheer gratefulness, giving us a crushing hug, thanking us excessively, or maybe just take the gift horse and ran out immediately without so much as a glance to us. Any of those possible reactions crossed my mind in a mili of a second.
Never did I imagine she would close her cell on us and refuse to escape prison.
Now, Readers, you might be thinking how foolish her action was, or cried in disbelief, you might even be thinking she was pulling a poorly made joke on us. However, let me assure you first Readers that she was completely serious and that she purely believed that she deserved to be in jail.
"What are you doing?" I asked, confused, and distraught by her action.
Via looked away from us as she said, "I must not be released nor should you have released those prisoners. We are here for our sins, and we must pay for our crimes."
"You can't be serious?!" I cried out and couldn't keep down the incredulous tone I had from her action, looking at her as if she was stupid and wishing fervently I heard her wrong, "You were only standing, and they put you out, and you think you've done a crime. They should be the one being locked up!" I continued indignantly. Still, she looked no closer to convinced or even have the desire to see the blue and clouded sky as her roof or the breath of fresh air the wind would only blow outside. She vehemently believed she deserved no such privilege.
I turned again to Captain. Giving him a silent plea through my eyes to say something that would help convince her foolish thought.
However, once again, Captain was struck speechless, and I had to quell the urge to roll my eyes at how useless he was at the moment when he had been so gallant and confident before. I would have rebuke him had I not see his expression because I will tell you, Readers, it was one of pure horror mixed with shock. An expression I never think I would ever see on his face as they were little instant I saw anything that could scare or surprised him. Even after I wrote this, I could count on one hand the number that made him that speechless.
Via shook her head and gave us two a sad smile, "I appreciate what you did for me, a stranger you only met for barely any time and yet you-" she chuckled, "you tried to break me out of prison. I doubt anyone I know would have ever done that for me. However, don't blame yourself for that. It is my own doing that put me here for the crime against a mage, and I must pay for it. Do not worry about me, Children."
"Then what about your children?" Captain finally tried convincing. My eyes brighten with one with hope and turned back to Via, surely with her own children in mind she would be convinced out of this madness. "Is paying for your crimes worth leaving your kids to live without their mother, is that truly what you think?" Captain pressed on.
The hope I had breath in was squashed when she did not look like she was moved even at the prospect of her own children and with a certain and unshaken conviction tone said, "If that is the will of our mages then yes."
"But that's" I started, but Roy cut me off by placing his hand on my shoulder and shook his head slowly. "Wh...why? This isn't right. Why would you let this happen?" the betrayed tone I voiced out was obvious, making him winced. Captain didn't say anything but only gave a matching expression that had me quiet down. That he felt just as much or maybe even more devastated by the event. Slowly but surely pulled me away from the spot we were rooted before. Leaving Via behind to her choice.
It was a good thing Captain managed to lead me out even amidst the chaos fallen prison without getting into fights ourselves. I was too shaken from the outcome that I was out of it while I was being led around until we were back inside TORRI. Once we were in our ship, we stayed there quietly with our backs on the door until I break the silence first. "Let's go home," I quietly suggested.
How funny recalling now that I had wanted to go anywhere but home but at that moment, home looked like a better place than anywhere else.
Wordlessly, Captain set the coordinates for home. TORRI shuddered and quickly we held on the railings from the bumpy ride we're in. When he stopped, we looked outside and found ourselves back to the forest we had left on. The hill we were on gave us a perfect view of the sunrise, meaning we had stayed up all night, the fatigue finally hit us hard as we lay on the grass beside our ship, followed with an exhausted sigh from me. It would have been a great way to start or end our day, and in another time we would have appreciated its beauty. However, not even the rising sun that colored the sky in a mix of purple, red, pink, and yellow could cheer us up from our ordeal.
"Why…" I couldn't help but ask, tears began blurring my sight, "Why did she stay in prison, why would she even insist on staying and leaving her kids like that? It doesn't make sense."
I heard Captain sighed beside me, he must have been thinking the right words to say to me. "People don't make sense sometimes. She grew up in a world where everyone was told that Mages were better than them. It was normal and a well-known fact there, just like how you and I believe people should be free to practice magic. It's twisted and shouldn't be like that, but the world isn't simply black and white, good and evil, it's complicated and has so many different shades and patterns... It's hard, so, so hard to know that and yet..." Captain trailed off.
I didn't understand much of what he said, but his words were seared into my heart as I couldn't forget his words that day just as I couldn't forget the firm gaze of the woman who stood by her belief in keeping herself imprison.
It wasn't the word I wanted to hear, but now I believe it to be one that I needed to hear. But my point was to focus on one thing that day.
"We couldn't save her," I said as a plain as fact just like how I say the sky is blue and fire is hot.
Captain shifted so he would lay beside me, "People are weird that way. We couldn't save her because she didn't want to be saved and sometimes, sometimes we can't save everyone. This is just one of those days."
His words make sense in a way, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. I said as such to him, and he snorted in agreement.
Nothing was said after as we took in nature at one of its finest. Whether it was the warm heat of the sun brushing our cheeks, the sharp cold air of the forest followed by the smell of morning dew helped make our weary day a bit better.
The two of us perked up at the sound of our real names being called. We turned in synch when we saw Captain's maid, in this book I'll call Beth, hiking up the hill, smiling a wide giddy smile that stretched on her face. "Oh thank heavens, I finally found you. Come, come! It's almost time, and you've got to see it!" Beth didn't give us time to respond or ask questions before our hands were snatched and pulled alongside with her as we ran down the hill.
"Beth, you're not making any sense. Where are you taking us? What is it time for? Can you please tell us what's going on?!" Captain asked with as much as confusion as I had.
She didn't stop running and dragging us as she answered him, "It's almost time for the hatching!"
It didn't clear up the question I had, but it did for Captain as his eyes were round as saucer and his eyebrows shot up from her words, "You mean-" he began, and Beth looked back at him and nodded.
A genuine grin finally made its way on his face,"You're going to love this!" he said, laughing gleefully all the while we went down toward his mansion.
Once we arrived at his room, I immediately spotted his aide, Cole, hugging a giant egg on his hand that was shining dimly, and cracks started spreading on it. He put the egg, and all four of us circled it. Waiting in great anticipation before he shone brightly before exploding, and out came high up in the air was...an orange flying kitten.
No, I'm not making this up, it's an orange kitten with wings that lets it fly in the air.
Oh, and she could talk too.
What kind of species it was, I don't know. But after reading this book, you'll realize that won't be the strangest and unbelievable things I get to witness with him and that it was better not to question much because not everything in life needs answers.
All of us smiled at the sight. The dark cloud that had hung on us were cleared at the sight of the birth of a new life in front of us. The kitten flew down gently until it stopped on top of Cole. Making herself at home in his messy thick hair. Some of us cooed at the small cute creature that had immediately stolen a part of our hearts and nestled herself there. I poked Cole on the side and asked in anticipation, "So Nick, do you have a name in mind for her?"
Cole closed his eyes in thought, even making noisy groaned for a long while before he opened his eyes with a resolve kind of glint. I leaned in, waiting for his next words only for him to said this with a straight face, "I got nothing!"
All of us facepalmed at his statement and wasn't sure if we should have been surprised.
I rolled my eyes at the daft boy and nudge at Captain next,, "Why don't you name her Captain? You always have like giving things names, right?"
I've always had a feeling Captain like to name things, but that was more or less confirmed when his eyes shone excitedly at the prospect, only for a brief moment, before becoming somber, "It's Nick's cat though, he should be naming her."
"Then how about we named him Nono, or Peterpat, or Swirly or…"
"Never mind. I'll name her."
Captain took a long contemplating look at the sleeping kitten. You could practically hear the gears turning in his head and there's just something in his expression when he decides a name, knowing he doesn't name things just for the heck of it and took it so seriously with a meaning that might as well be a code he only knows despite the simpleness of it all.
Finally, he smiled, and all of us knew we would love the name before he even uttered it, and surely we weren't disappointed. "Hope, her name is Hope."
As if she concurred with the name, Hope took that moment to wake up and smile brightly at us, "Hope!" she repeated me.
The room was filled with the sound of laughter, and I couldn't help the grateful feeling I had for the Captain naming her that. Because after the harrowing adventure we had...being reminded of a bit of hope is just what we both need.
. . .
When the day was over, and my carriage was ready to take me home, I was about to climb aboard, but Captain took my hand to hold me back at the last second.
I turned to him, waiting patiently for him to say what he had been hesitant to say. Was it an apology? Or something else entirely? Whatever it was, I didn't discourage or encourage him to say it, but after a heaving out a breath so loud he looked solidly at my own gaze before he said this; "I'm sorry things didn't work out for us today. You deserve better than what you experienced today." Captain wet his lips before continuing, "For what it's worth, I wouldn't have this journey with any other person than you. Because you know why?" I shook my head, and the Captain grinned, "You were fantastic."
With that said, I mount my carriage and smiled the whole way home even when my eyes closed, and dreamland took my consciousness away.