Reviews:
Quatermass: In the manga, The Idea of Evil is both canon and not at the exact same time, yeah, and since there are vague images as to what it actually looks like such as the lost chapter, Miura did seem to put the concept on hold until more of the world could be fleshed out and basically created out of humanity itself wanting an explanation and way to blame their hardships. As for Umbridge, I did have something in mind for her for all the trouble she's been.
Tero7323: They still have the pensieve, yes. I wouldn't quite say its a public viewing though, but trauma is coming.
Tom2011: Yeah, they're back in Midland and moving toward the final confrontation. Harry's got a pivotal role to play in it for sure.
FuryJoe: Thank you!
MorphCross: Seven years. Seven years...
OBSERVER01: Dumbledore's time was at an end, sadly. Every item they have has significance and Neville and Luna still have some story that needs to be wrapped up as well, Luna especially with her parallel to Sonia.
Guest: The giant squid always seemed the gentle giant. But given the situation the wizarding world was in, they really wanted to put themselves first and believe that their problems would just be solved magically as befits their world. The people in Midland can be much the same way with some of the noble families mainly. Snape could easily be a tsundere with his personality and true feelings.
Necrogod: Not a problem! Hope you enjoy this one as well.
Greer123: Back to Midland, alright and Dumbledore's time has come to an end. For all his faults, he tried his best to help when needed. Happy holidays to you as well!
Pyromania101: I wanted Dumbledore to have meaning for his death such as giving one last gift before he went as a means of providing aide where he had failed to do so in the past with his mistakes as you mentioned. While not everything was his fault, Harry still had it rough because of him and I did have an idea for a scene later on where Harry does reflect on what his life could have possibly been like if he had never ended up in Midland and later coming to a sort of understanding of his own about why Dumbledore made his choices. Without Dumbledore, Fawkes will probably end up looking for a new home. Great to hear from you again now that you have time.
Disclaimer- Harry Potter is owned by J.K. Rowling and Berserk is owned by Kentaro Miura. I own nothing.
The feel and smell of the fresh sea breeze assaulted Harry's senses after a particularly large wave sprayed over the side of the ship. Guess it would have been a little too much to ask for a smoother return, but he wasn't about to complain out loud. They owed Skull Knight a lot for all he had done and this was just another in the list.
From the bow of the ship, Skull Knight sheathed his sword which now looked like its regular sharpened steel as opposed to the behelit infused mass used to cut tears in the fabric of astral space. The skeletal knight looked as ominous as ever, the skull helm giving no indication as to what he might be thinking. Harry wondered if Skull Knight was still a human, would he feel a sense of pride or accomplishment at being back in his own world; or indifferent to all of it considering how the continent seemed to have divided since the fall of his once empire?
Harry supposed that it didn't really matter either way. Skull Knight would only give an answer along the lines of how it was all just necessary, and while that was true, he wanted to believe that there was still fragments of personality in that armor somewhere. Not just because they owed Skull Knight, but also for Guts' sake as well. If the worst happened and Guts lost control of himself within his armor, Harry wanted to believe that he would be able to somehow still retain more pieces of his humanity.
Up near the helm, Roderick grabbed hold of the wheel as if to steady the ship and to give himself a sense of comfort as well. "What's our reading?"
His grizzled old first mate pulled a spyglass from a pocket inside of his coat. "I recognize the stars, Captain," the first mate reported. "We're 'bout a weeks sail from the mainland, just about a day away from Solitary Island."
"Solitary Island, hm?" Roderick seemed to ponder that. "The winds are against us as of now. We should be able to reach there by midday tomorrow."
"You know the island well?" Serpico asked.
"Not well," Roderick replied. "About as any man of the sea knows, really. It's a small spit of rock, really. It doesn't really have all too many resources to it, save for fish, so the only village there is dirt poor."
"Hm. I see." Serpico nodded. "And I presume that their main source of income would be by offering shelter to seafaring vessels in exchange for resources."
"You'd be spot on," Roderick grinned. "Stopped there a few times myself. Never really stayed too long though, locals are pretty reserved when it comes to outsiders visiting."
Harry listened to Roderick's explanation of their current location before he looked over to Skull Knight. "Any reason why you decided to drop us off all the way out here?" he asked.
"Ships do not fair well on land, Wizard." Skull Knight replied dryly.
"He means why didn't you just drop us off right by the coast," Guts backed the reasoning of Harry's question. Harry figured it was in Guts' restless nature to want to back on land and traveling compared to the lack of space a confined ship could provide. "You usually have a reason for doing all the stunts you pull, Bonehead."
"Your entrance to the other astral plane was unexpected." Sirius had a bit of decency to look a tad guilty for that, especially under Skull Knight's glowing gaze. "Events would have been quite different had you not been summoned. While the island you sail to may be but a rock, it is strong in astral energy."
Schierke perked her head up at the mention of that bit of information. "Are you saying that we would've had an ally there?"
"Just because things have been changed does not mean the loss or gain of anything or one." Skull Knight was back to his usual cryptic way of speaking, even to them. "Out here, there is time. Do what you will with it."
That seemed a bit more obvious, even for Skull Knight as his glowing gaze seemed to drift to Casca who held the mysterious boy in her arms. Was it possible that he no longer viewed the child Casca held as being the deformed fetus he had told Guts to kill after the Eclipse? While Skull Knight had announced himself as a foe to enemies of humanity, Harry knew that the child of Guts and Casca was something other than just human. All those apostles and monsters he must have killed as Gaiseric and then now as Skull Knight, he would have no problem killing something as seemingly helpless as the kid.
But more than anything, Skull Knight had also proved himself a loyal and valuable ally to their entire party. If he wasn't going to kill the child, it was entirely for their own desire. If that were the case, it cemented the idea that there was still fragments of humanity left somewhere in that skeletal suit.
The glowing sockets of the skull helm seemed to go to Guts next. "Take heed, Struggler. Nights such as these, the full moon, they are special. If you want to hold onto what you value, take that thought to mind. The Fighter as well."
Harry expected that to be it. The Skull Knight had said his peace of mind and would use that sword of his to disappear until he was needed again. But that wasn't the case this time, or so it seemed.
He still sat atop his steed but he turned his gaze outward toward the vast expanse of dark sea that lay before them. It was almost like they had gained a second masthead for the ship, one that would have struck terror into any enemy vessel and would have looked more fitting for a pirate ship. The crew eyed Skull Knight warily, still holding some superstitions to the heart which was only strengthened by the fact that they had been in a world full of magic and wizards, not even an hour prior.
"Captain," the first mate began as he cast a nervous glance to Skull Knight. "What should we do with him?"
If Roderick had any apprehension to an undead knight on his ship, he did very well at hiding it. "We don't make an enemy of him, for one. Second, we sail for the island. Maybe we can get some word of what's happening since our unexpected detour."
Seeing that Skull Knight wasn't going anywhere, for the time being, Guts approached. "Hey." Skull Knight looked down at him. "Got a snack for you."
Reaching into his satchel, Guts pulled out the emerald green behelit that he had been keeping for so long. The action didn't go unnoticed by Puck. "Becchi! You're giving him away? He's my friend."
"Make new friends," Guts dismissed the blue elf's concern as he handed the behelit to Skull Knight who gripped it in his bony grasp.
Instead of swallowing the behelit straight away, Skull Knight examined it first as if he were trying to determine something about it. With a few of his skeletal fingers, he undid the armor panel on the back of his left hand and dropped the bauble in with a small clink! to indicate it hit nothing but solid armor within before he snapped the armor plate back in place.
Guts' sole eye narrowed in suspicion. "What's wrong, Bonehead? Not feeling hungry tonight?"
"Do not mistake my action as unwarranted, Struggler," Skull Knight said, uncaring at the looks he was getting from Harry, Guts, Casca and everyone else. "I have told you before that you were like a vessel, a ride for this cursed trinket. Having it in your possession was how I was always able to locate you and your companions. Yet for all this time, it has remained stagnant, impassive, yet to wind up in the hands of whom it was meant. Keeping it in my possession is a gamble of sorts. Do you disagree, Wizard?"
Harry thought his heart would skip a beat at those words.
"Me? You're saying that it's mine?"
Like Guts, Harry was also curious as to who the behelit might be intended for. He had always thought that if it was intended for him, he would either ditch it the first chance he got or try to find some magic seal that would prevent it from ever activating. He wouldn't be like him, he wouldn't throw away everyone he cared about for some lousy exchange of power.
Already he could see concern fill the eyes of Schierke and Farnese, Serpico appeared calm, but perspiration on his brow as he probably imagined how the outcome would look. Sirius, who had only a vague understanding of what a behelit actually was, looked between the two of them with a mixture of curiosity and concern. But for all the looks that he was receiving, it was Casca who spoke up first.
"You're wrong." Skull Knight turned his glowing gaze over to her. "You're wrong," Casca said again. "It isn't his. It can't be."
"Your concern is justified, but not accurate. I do not believe that this trinket of desire belongs to the Wizard. The Godhand originally intended to select him as a champion with such an item before I intervened, leading them to choose the other one instead."
Upon hearing Skull Knight's words, Harry felt an invisible weight lift off of his chest as the concerned-filled looks started to fade as well. Knowing that a cursed artifact belonged to him was one thing, having his friends look at him with worry like that was something else entirely. They wouldn't turn their backs on him, he knew that; it was more of knowing that he had some part to play in making them feel that way that was bothersome.
"So why keep it?" Sirius asked looking a bit relieved himself. If he was to join them, he might as well understand the grand plan of things.
Skull Knight's gaze lingered back out to the open sea. "I was reminded of something."
"Mind sharing what that is?" Guts asked, trying not to sound impatient or anything. He received a single word in response.
"Reflections."
"Of what?" Schierke asked, Ivalera sitting on the brim of her hat in anticipation.
The glowing gaze traveled once more over to Harry and then over to Guts before returning to stare at the inky blackness of the expansive sea. That was the only indication Skull Knight gave at hearing her question and let the rest go unanswered into silence.
The night air, while progressively getting warmer, still held a bit of a chill to it given the sea environment which they now found themselves. It wasn't too bad, but it was enough for Harry to close the window to his cabin.
"Not a fan of the sea smell?" his visitor, Sirius Black asked him. "There's a charm to help mask that, you know."
"Isn't there a charm for everything?" Harry rhetorically asked. After reading over some of the purchased spell books, it was apparent that wizards from that astral layer had discovered some very practical, as well as some overtly useless spells as well. That wasn't to insult their magic, but Harry just didn't really see any benefit in turning needles into matchsticks when there was already spells to cast fire or light.
"That's what makes the magical world feel, well, magical!" he gave a light-hearted grin, but Harry suspected that had to do with the matter they had been discussing previously. It had clearly been something that Sirius had been thinking about, but had not brought himself to say it out loud yet.
It had to do with the behelit.
While Sirius had seen many of the key memories that Harry had been through while in Midland, there was the biggest one he had purposefully omitted; the Eclipse. They had no right to have seen that memory and it wasn't one he ever wanted to see play out ever again.
"You wanted to know what behelits actually do, don't you?" Harry addressed the underlining topic which had been on Sirius' mind ever since he heard Skull Knight address him when talking about those cursed trinkets.
"Looks like I need to brush up on my occulumency skills. I don't think any of you have ever mentioned what those freaky little egg things do."
"They're... like a calling card almost," Harry thought of a good way to explain it. "Behelits are designed for specific people and can sometimes be used more than once if need be. They can wait for years to find the person they're meant for."
Sirius nodded, understanding it so far. "Well if they're made for a specific person, who makes them to begin with? And what exactly do they call?"
"Wherever they come from, it isn't a good place," although Harry had a pretty good idea that was more or less fact. "But for who they call, it-," he paused.
"Harry?" Sirius took note of his silence.
"They call themselves the Godhand," Harry continued, finding it near impossible to say the name without feeling a hint of anger and resentment. "From my memories before, you remember the one with the white hair?"
"Griffith was his name," Sirius recalled correctly. "He was the one you freed after having been tortured. Then there was that gap and the next we saw of him he looked good as new." Realization dawned on Sirius' face. "He had one like that?"
"His was different. His was red."
"And he got a hold of these Godhand people with it? And they were able to - Harry?" Sirius called his name again as he saw what Harry was doing.
Much like he had seen Dumbledore do, Harry pressed the top of his staff to his temple and concentrated on that particular event. Even though a few years have passed since that fateful day, Harry still remembered it as clear as day. It was one of those events that managed to stick with a person no matter how much time has passed since. With the images and play of events flashing across his mind's eye, Harry started to pull his staff away, watching as a silvery string started to protrude from the side of his head in unison with his staff.
Once it was fully out, Harry dropped the silvery memory into the contents of the basin which began to swirl around making the once clear fluid look an almost bloody color that stained that day with the lives of all the Hawks that had been needlessly sacrificed to birth the fifth and final member of the demonic forces. It began with him leaving the princess and her handmaiden behind, a choice he should have never made in heinsight, and the activation of the crimson behelit. He had made sure to leave the more degrading aspects less clear as that had really been another aspect of evil that was equally unnecessary. It would end with Skull Knight rescuing them from being devoured.
"The memory you omitted?" Sirius guessed correctly.
Harry gave a silent nod and slid the pensieve across the desk toward Sirius. "If you wanted, I left it out of good reason."
Sirius' eyes traveled down to where the pensieve was, looking like he was about to gaze into it and see. But he rejected it. The pensieve was slid back across the desk towards Harry who glanced up at Sirius with a stunned expression on his face.
"Why?" he simply asked. "You chose to come with us here, don't you want to know as much as you can?"
"I was never really one for learning, anyone can tell you that," Sirius told him. "And I came because you are my godson. And as much as I want to be a part of your life, I understand that there are some things that you just might not be comfortable telling me about yet and... I don't want you feeling that you need to rush whatever memory it was that you put in there just now."
The reasoning was simple, but it was much appreciated.
Feeling a sense of relief almost, Harry put the pensieve back into his satchel. The contents continued to swirl around but never threatened to spill out thanks to the charm that prevented them from doing so. There they continued to swirl around like they were resisting the pull of gravity from an invisible drain into the bowls of the mind.
"He seems to like your hair." Guts observed from a distance as Casca had her hair pulled for about the tenth time that night. At least now he knew where their kid inherited that aspect from.
"I just got it cut not too long ago. How'd it get longer this fast?" The light provided by the full moon illuminated their figures as Casca sat on the end of the cot, the child in her lap looking aware but tired. Maybe he lost energy as the night came close to an end?
"He's looking a bit tired," Guts voiced that thought out loud.
"I suppose he is, yeah," Casca was looking tired as well. "Do you find it strange how he only comes during the full moon though?"
"Well it has something to do with magic and astral energy, doesn't it?" Guts recited what he knew. "When is that ever not strange?"
She looked at him like he was missing the point. "That's accurate, but it isn't what I meant." Casca waited for Guts to say something, but he kept quiet and let her continue. "He's tied somehow to Griffith. Not an ally, but being able to be here, that isn't just his doing. If we do manage to defeat him... there has to be some way to ensure that he-," she patted the child on the back, "doesn't die along with him."
"We fight him during a full moon, he'd be his own person then, wouldn't he?" Guts offered the idea. It was simple, but that was the best way he saw fit of ensuring that the boy would not be killed along with the disguised Godhand member. And as soon as he said it, Guts felt like an idiot. This was a war they were going into with an opponent that had more power and standing than they did. It was foolish and naive to believe that they could control all aspects of the battle like that, including the weather. From the look he was getting, Casca thought something along the same thing.
"The minute any of us enter that city, we're practically invoking a fight," Casca pointed out. "And there's still the wedding we need to prevent from happening, and assuming we get that far, a fight is guaranteed if we do manage to prevent it."
"And the only way we can prevent it is by entering the city," Guts recited. "Either way it's a risk."
Casca nodded, silence fell between them. "What about Rickert?" Casca asked. "He'd be willing to help, and that's something we can use an abundance of right about now."
Guts agreed with that as well. Rickert wasn't the strongest or the fastest, but he had one of the most creative and sharpest minds that Guts knew of. "Once we reach land we can make for the mine where he and Erica were living." He didn't know if the two would still be there, but it was still their best bet as of where to go once they made landfall. "Or we could just have the Bonehead cut our way there and save us the time of walking. Assuming he's still around by morning." Guts spared a glance toward the kid in Casca's lap who looked back at him, an action which didn't go unnoticed by Casca.
"We should still talk about this with the others and see if they have any ideas, Harry and Schierke especially." Guts figured that would be the case. "There is one thing we can discuss and figure out now though."
"What is it?" Guts asked.
"I don't know if it's been bothering you the way it has been me, but I still wanted to bring it up at some point, maybe just for my own peace of mind than anything else."
"What is it?" Guts repeated his question.
"His name," Casca said suddenly, gesturing to the child on her lap who was reaching for her hair again.
"His name?" Guts parroted.
"Well I don't just want to be referring to him as, well, 'him,'" Casca defended her point. "It just... doesn't sit right with me not calling him by anything proper, don't you think so?"
Really, Guts had not really thought about something like that at all. He never really expected to have a kid or find a woman in his life to begin with. Taking the time to actually think of a name for another living thing was something so far out of his area of expertise that he wouldn't even know where to begin. Names like Jon and Eric were popular names, but nothing about them really stood out to Guts like his encounters with this child had been.
"What about your father's name?" Guts offered the choice to Casca. It was tradition to name family after the other.
"He looks nothing like how my father used to look," Casca said. "And I was already thinking of one."
"Then why even ask me?" Guts lightly demanded. She had to have known he would have no idea.
"Because I wanted to see if you would suggest it first," Casca said it like it was obvious.
"And what name would that be?"
She looked down at the being in her lap before answering.
"Gaiseric."
Guts wasn't really sure if he was surprised or not. "Why that name?"
"After learning about the past, I realized that despite being a king, he was still a fighter and a struggler much like most of us until the end and even after. His spirit has been helping us along this entire time as well." She paused. "If we really don't end up living through all of this, I'd want the Godhand to know that some resistance still carried on after all of us as well." Casca heaved a small sigh. "Not the most optimistic way of thinking, I know, but-,"
"No," Guts said before she could finish that thought. "Gaiseric sounds... it sounds good."
Casca looked at him like she was trying to determine if he was just saying that to say it or not. "Alright." Although he would be gone in just a few short hours, she at least had something to call him by now.
"So that's it?" Isidro asked midway from climbing a rope to look at the outcrop of rock on the near horizon.
Harry came over to look as well, taking in the sight alongside him. Daybreak had brought about a nice sunny lighting with a cloudy overcast that gave the feeling of a true seafaring environment. Without a spyglass, Harry was really only able to distinguish one very key feature of the island; a large, dark cliffside surrounded by many jagged looking rocks that would capsize any ship that dared to get too close. It wasn't a very welcoming sight.
At the very least, Skull Knight had stayed, remaining at the same spot near the bow of the ship as he was the night before. The crew looked especially apprehensive about their skeletal passenger and kept their distance, leaving the bow relatively devoid of any company.
"Have you ever been to this island?" Harry asked the astride horseman.
"There was very little reason to see it more than once. It fell without bloodshed during Gaiseric's sea campaign. It served as a resting port for the true point of conquest, this ship's captain's native island. But that was not the only reason for having minimal involvement here."
"What would that be?" Harry asked, keeping his green eyes on the island as it loomed closer, the current feeling strong with the ship's motions.
"These waters are home to a legendary sea beast that preys on all manners of creatures, getting bigger and with each life that it consumes and masses into its being. Gaiseric lost many a ship trying to venture farther out to sea because of that monster. For that reason, it was named, the Sea God."
Isidro's disinterest quickly turned to a mix of apprehension and anticipation. "A-and we're sailing straight toward it? You going to take it down finally?" He received no answer from the Skull Knight as the ship neared closer to the isolated island.
"What in the hell happened here?" Harry heard Roderic's voice from the opposite end of the ship as they finally got within close proximity.
"Things have clearly changed since our departure," Serpico observed along with them.
"Take great heed, Captain," Skull Knight said to Roderick. "Much has changed in the sea as of late." Intrigued, Roderick moved down to where they were to listen in on what was to be said.
The large cliffside that Harry had easily spotted was also the resting place of a naturally made cave. But it looked like the entire mouth of the cave had suddenly exploded outward as something had escaped from within. Aside from that, the entire island itself seemed to have also deflated in a way. It was as if whatever was residing under there had caused the main body of land to cave in on itself.
"So," Harry swallowed a lump in his throat. "If no one's ever killed this 'Sea God' and with its lifespan, could it grow to be as big as an island?"
"You would be correct." Skull Knight's words brought him no sense of praise. The biggest being they had ever encountered had been Emperor Ganishka, but even then that had been a very brief encounter. This was a monster that had been a foundation for an entire island! No wonder no one had ever been able to kill it in the past. Skull Knight noticed the look of worry on Harry's face. "You are scared?"
"I'd be stupid if I wasn't."
"Hey! I'm not scared of some big fish!" Isidro tried to look more confident than he was at the moment.
My point exactly, Harry thought to himself. "This thing is free now, isn't it? How'd it even get under there to begin with?"
"The sea holds more than just monsters," Skull Knight said. "Creatures such as merrows inhabit the sea as well."
"The ones with the torso of a human and legs of a fish," Serpico recalled the myth about the elusive sea creatures.
"Oh, yes!" Roderick recalled as well. "Many a sailor claimed to have seen one at one point, some of the crew present as well. Their voices are said to have a magic to them that can guide ships through the most perilous of storms and they have been known to help sailors who have fallen overboard."
"You are well informed." Skull Knight kept his gaze forward. "It was the merrows magic that restrained the Sea God for all these centuries. The tear of the astral words which resulted in the World Tree has weakened that seal and the Sea God roams the sea once more, but you need not panic. The Sea God has moved on from here, searching for more life to devour."
"Well, that does seem a welcome relief," Serpico said with a hint of nervousness still in his voice. He seemed to be planning out how they could go about killing something as large and ancient as the Sea God if they had crossed paths with it. It wasn't an apostle, but they could still count on Skull Knight to assists them, couldn't they?
"So if we aren't fighting the Sea God, why are we even wasting our time here?" Isidro asked, pinching his nose. "This whole place reeks of fish."
Skull Knight's gaze rested just past Isidro, right near the rail. "There is your answer."
Isidro didn't seem to get it. "What? We're here for the fish smell?"
There was the sound of a light splash of water and a girls voice answered. "What's wrong with fish?"
The voice belonged to neither Schierke, Farnese, or Casca although both were present on the deck. This one was slightly accented and held more traces of playfulness and curiosity than anything. There, leaning over the side of the rail like she had jumped up from the ocean was a girl about his age with choppy chin-length blue hair and matching blue eyes. But what stood out the most was by far her most unique trait.
"T-t-t-t-," Isidro stuttered over himself in order to get the word out.
"Tail," Schierke finished, joining them. In place of human legs was a blue-scaled tail like a fish.
But Isidro shook his head, clearly not what he was trying to say. "T-t-ti-,"
The merrow girl seemed curious as well. "Hm? Oh, my tits? What about 'em?"
Isidro nodded, blood starting to leak from his nose. Well, she was technically indecent from the waist up by human standards. Harry had noticed it too, but he wasn't about to openly stare and ogle like Isidro was doing and it had nothing to do with the fact that both Schierke and Casca were right there. It did not seem like the merrow girl minded Isidro staring at her exposed chest, she wasn't flaunting it, but she wasn't really making an effort either and made no move to discipline the boy. That was up to Casca.
"Enough of that," Casca said, irate as she pulled Isidro back by the ear.
"Hey! Ow! Ow ow ow! That freaking hurts!" Isidro complained at the pain he was feeling and no surprise as to why. While Casca had always had a firm grip thanks to wielding a sword, it hurt even worse considering Casca had donned the armor that had been made for her by the goblins.
In the sunlight, the armor would appear almost white in color but when in the dark would seem to gradually get darker. The real color was something of a silvery grey, a charm put in place was responsible for the sudden changes to the actual color itself. The design was of a plated mail, but was much less bulky than a standard knight's design and was more form fitted with separations between the plats to allow for more pivots and bending motions and making it more lightweight. Sirius had assurance from the goblins that any normal attack by a lesser blade or something not as strong as goblin steel wouldn't even make a dent and leave the wearer feeling nothing but a slight bump.
Sensing that Isidro had learned his lesson - for now, at least, they were able to divert their attention back to the merrow girl, with Casca making sure to cover Isidro's eyes.
"We're sorry for our companion," Schierke said to the other girl. "He tends to be a bit insensitive at first. We hope that he didn't offend you too badly."
The merrow tilted her head. "Offend me? For what? Clothes only weigh you down in the water and that's where I came from."
"Well, yes, but he really had no right to stare at you like that," Schierke said with a flustered face.
Like I said, can't really be helped with no clothes and all." She smiled like that explained everything.
It was rare to see Schierke speechless, but this was one of those times. Even Casca and Farnese didn't look like they had anything to say about it either. Even if they did, Harry doubted that it would make much difference to this girl who seemed far too carefree to worry about her appearance.
The silence was eventually broken by the mounted Skull Knight. "Where is your clan, merrow? One so young does not survive on its own in these waters."
Only now did she seem to become aware of Skull Knight. "You have a bit of a weird smell about you. It smells a bit like the cave back on my island. I can call the others if you want to speak with them." She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. At least, no sound that Harry could hear. She closed her mouth. "My names Isma by the way, my mum and the others should be here any minute."
From all around the ship, splashes of water were shooting up, revealing more merrow people, but none were armed which seemed to somewhat put Guts to ease but not fully. One merrow, in particular, swam over close the ship and looked up at the assembled crew.
"Greetings. I see that you have caught the attention of my daughter."
More like she caught ours, Harry thought as it was true. Isma had approached them first.
Skull Knight moved his horse over toward the rail. "The currents have changed here, why do you remain?"
If Isma's mother was bothered by seeing someone like Skull Knight she did not show it at all on her rather youthful face. With how long he had been around, Harry suspected he had other contacts aside from Flora from over the years.
"The Sea God has escaped, this is true. It is beyond even the full might of us merrows and our songs. The best we can do is to act as guides now, steering wayward vessels away from where the beast consumes creatures of the ocean. Although, not many ships have passed by as of late. The last one was a ship from the island north of here."
At that, Roderick's eyes widened. "Lith." He ran to the rail. "You speak of the Island of Lith, correct?"
The merrow nodded. "Yes, that is the name of the island. We only caught words of why so many humans left so suddenly. Much like what is happening in the sea is happening on land. Beasts and monsters long thought to have been gone have returned. The humans spoke of finding a safe haven somewhere on the mainland."
Yeah, only one real spot that they could go.
"That is the destination of these humans as well," Skull Knight told her. "But those souls will find only an imitation."
"Not exactly compelling," Puck said, still appearing sad over not having Becchi anymore.
"Why seek such a place if you know what dangers may lie ahead?" the merrow asked, interested in what they would say.
"We're not planning on staying there, lady," Guts called down to her. Talking to a fish woman hardly seemed the strangest thing he had done in his life. "If something doesn't get done about it, things like your little Sea God are only going to get worse."
"The Struggler speaks the truth. The blessings that you give need not apply to vessels. Provide safe passage and I will deal with your own affairs."
The merrows looked stunned, like fish gapping for water which seemed an accurate comparison. "You talk of killing the World Eater alone? How?"
Skull Knights hand rested on the hilt of his blade. "Even gods can be killed from within."
The following expression was one that matched that of her daughter's and Harry knew that safe passage was assured.
A/N: Happy Holidays! The return to the mainland happens next and some familiar faces return. Thank you for reading.