Chapter 3
Only one day had gone since the new gunners from Nasr had arrived, and already the mood on the isle was totally changed. A powerful enemy had emerged in the south. Nina felt torn. Previously, she had been hunted by both a nefarious syndicate and bloodthirsty pirates. Nasr was perhaps more powerful than either, would they also be more civil? Which one was the worst? The only way to find that out was if they would be caught, which would never happen. Never.
If anything else, Nina had a golden opportunity to show Vyse what she was capable of. Aside from scouting, she worked with Hans on the Delphinus to familiarize herself with the ship and its engines. She also took all chances to practice her fencing skills.
"I gotta take a break," Pacco panted. "I'm dying."
"You don't look so bad," Nina said. "For having a run-in with Vyse, that is."
"It was sparring!"
"I know, and who wouldn't lose against him?"
"Tsss, there you go again. Are you gonna marry him soon or what?"
"We'll wait and see," Nina said, smiling to herself. "Well, I'm thirsty so let's have something to drink."
The two siblings walked down from the catwalk that led from the Delphinus. They entered the little break room, and found it empty, except for one person. It was that mercenary guy Esteban. He sat on one of the couches, his back away from the door, having some tea.
"Hello," Nina said.
Esteban raised his head. As he was in the middle of a sip, he just nodded in greeting.
While Pacco sat down, Nina began boiling some more tea. When the pot was steaming, she poured the tea in two cups and put them on table for Pacco and for herself.
"Have you been practising?" Esteban asked.
That was quite a surprise. Very seldom had Nina seen him be the first one to open a conversation.
"A bit," Nina replied. "Everything that's been said about Vyse's sword-playing is true. I mean, he is unbeatable! Have you donned the cannons?"
"Yes."
He directed his attention to the tea. It seemed like that ended their talk, but Nina wouldn't give in just yet.
"Have you been on such a big ship before?"
"Not really."
Not really!? What kind of answer was that!? Either he had been, or he hadn't. He didn't even know how to use two sentences in a row! Plus, never did he even look her in the eyes. Was he angry at them or something? It didn't seem like he was reserved, more like aloof, without being high and mighty. Well, he had been a mercenary, after all.
"By the way," Paco started. "I was wondering about the syndicate. Didn't their leader explain she was playing double?"
"Obviously not," Esteban said, with a slight frown. "Dual identities are made for being secret."
Nina flinched. Okay that Paco didn't know much about shady underworld stuff; Esteban had neither excuse nor reason to be mean like that. She changed a quick glance with her brother. He looked back at her. No harm done, yet they both shared the same opinion.
"Sounds like tough business," Nina said, trying not to be angry with him. "How did you end up with them anyway?"
"By a mistake," Esteban said curtly, swallowed the last of his tea in a single gulp and began putting his cup away.
"Did they have scouts at Sailor's Island?" Paco asked. "I mean, that's where you came from, wasn't it?"
"I got to go back to work," Esteban said.
He left the room and closed the door, contrary to expectations he didn't slam it. They heard the faint sounds of his withdrawing steps.
"I guess it can't be helped," Nina said. "Some people are like that."
Outside, Esteban had his mind occupied with unkind thoughts about two particular siblings. He had told everybody everything he knew about the syndicate, except some more personal things. Of course he didn't know about the leader, or the council-member's, masquerade! Did they think he had purposely made them all wanted by Nasr's government!? Did they have any idea on how tormented he felt these days!? If something happened, it would be all his fault.
Actually, they could be thankful. Thanks to Esteban, they had got the opportunity to make the first strike in the inevitable conflict. Esteban had never liked the syndicate, but he had been forced to make bad choices. He had never wanted to do that, but the others didn't see that. For them, he was a cold blooded mercenary. So what? Why should he care? They were just interested in Vyse, Aika and Fina. The famous three. Esteban was nothing more than an accessory.
Esteban had been a loner for so long. The circumstances had shaped him like that, whether he liked it or not. What could he have been if his life had been different? What if he had had a… sibling to look after during his time in Lower City? He shook his head, knowing that he would've been the worst big brother in all Arcadia.
Well, it was time to get on to work with his ship. Maybe he could have a mast built to it? Moonstone consumption had always been a constant concern back in his mercenary days. Still, his ship wasn't designed for sails, and the deck was too small. One big gust of wind, and he could say farewell to his course.
Having changed his mind, Esteban took the catwalk up to the Delphinus. He could always find something useful to do to keep himself both busy and useful, and thus keep away from awkward company he didn't want to be participating in. Except for Aika. His lips twitched upwards at the thought of her. She would always have his back and be there for him.
xXx
A week after the announcement, and still nothing had happened. No unexpected visitors and no cause for alarms. But if it happened, everybody would be ready. Chloe had been through enough drills to know exactly what she would do. By now, she could probably handle a cannon while being blindfolded.
Even so, she still felt worried when she vaguely spotted the four ships at the horizon in the east. They were too far away to begin an assault, but they were coming this way.
"Fina!" Chloe called out from the lookout point. "You got to come see this!"
Already at the mention of her name, the blonde rogue had dropped everything she had for her hands and rushed up to the flag.
"What is it?"
"Ship coming in from the far east. They don't seem Nasrean."
She passed the binoculars to Fina. The Silvite looked in the direction Chloe had indicated, scanning the sky until she found them.
"That's true," she said. "Four ships towing a fifth. Oh, my. They are really from the east. Yafutoma."
"Which means… that our captain should really get to know."
"Indeed. Keep scouting for now."
Fina jogged down the hill. It wasn't without that she felt a bit excited herself. It was after all a new addition to their fleet, if she could call it that. She swiftly rounded the corner of the living-quarter, and almost bumped into Aika.
"Have you seen Vyse?" Fina asked.
"In his room," Aika said, with her finger in front of her lips. "For some bedtime."
"Bedtime?" Fina asked, confused.
"Yeah, or an afternoon nap. He's been working non-stop ever since we became wanted, plus he was up all night fixing with the Delphinus. So I gave him two options, either he go get some rest himself, or I'll conk him out. He'll be up in one hour or so."
"So what did he choose?"
"The non-boomerang option. Why do you ask? And why are you looking at me like that?"
Fina quickly told Aika of what she had seen coming. Both agreed Vyse would not want to miss this, so they went up the stairs and soon stood outside his door. Fina knocked lightly. When no reply came, she opened the door and they entered.
Vyse lay on the bed, having taken off only his waistcoat and boots. His eyes were closed, but the mouth slightly open, he whistled lowly with very breath he took. Aika and Fina glanced at each other and smiled. Such a sweet sight, almost a shame they had to awaken him.
Fina walked up to him and gently grabbed his hand. When that didn't work, she shook his shoulder. He grunted slightly, and blinked. Right then, Aika reached out for his foot. Her fingers quickly began her work on the spot where she knew it would have most effect. With a surprised shout, Vyse wrangled his leg loose and sat straight up.
"See?" Aika giggled. "That's the way to do it."
"Do you mind!?" Vyse sneered, sourly.
"You might thank us later," Fina smiled. "It seems our new ship from Yafutoma is coming."
As soon as the words had left Fina's mouth, Vyse flung up from his bed, all signs of sleepiness were washed away in an instant. His smile was so big and wide it could make Gordo look fit and agile.
"Alright!" he beamed. "Are they here now or are they coming or what?"
"On their way," Fina said. "It may take a while though, but they're coming."
"We got to prepare the harbour. Come on, let's move!"
Vyse quickly threw on the waistcoat, stepped straight in his boots and then left the room, all in one movement. Aika blinked to Fina.
"You're not surprised, are ya?"
Fina just shook her head.
xXx
Two Yafutoman ships lay in the harbour which was now crowded with both ships and people. Three of the Eastern ships lay outside to scout and defend if necessarily. They were out for escort, and nothing else. It had been a privilege in itself to just participate.
The first ship was a regular warship. The second one, though... It was a battleship alright, yet crafted elegantly, like all Yafutoman design. Two big masts, and one smaller in the front. The ship wings were blue and big. Six cannons lay on each side of the cannon decks. The quarters lay in the stern of the ship. In the bow there were windows through which the galley could be seen.
"She's beautiful," Fina said. "Almost like a crescent."
Vyse could hardly watch himself full at the sight. A new ship, and it was at his disposal. It would be sailed under his hands. He loved it already. His heart raced with excitement, and a joyful wind stormed through him. The only defect was that only the lower bulkhead was painted. The rest was plain.
"I know it's a gift and all," Kirala said. "But I had a feeling you might wanted to apply the last touch. And this way, you can choose the colour yourself."
Vyse nodded. In his mind, he could already see the ship on its maiden voyage, with himself behind the wheel. The wind was filling the sails as they sailed the skies with...
"Boys and toys," Aika said, smiling. "You never grow up, do you?"
"Not if I have to," Vyse said. "In itself, a ship is nothing more than planks, sailcloth and moonstones. But a ship's real essence is so much more. It's freedom and adventure."
"Wow, that was cheesy," Aika said. "True, but cheesy. Darn, now you made me hungry."
"So I guess you liked it, then," Kirala said. "Nice I haven't lost my knack. But, hey, why don't we take a closer look?"
They walked up the gangplank. Tairon stood there already, going through the cannons. He seemed pleased with what he saw. Vyse walked up the mainmast. His stroke his hand against the strong yet polished wood. Taking a sniff, he felt the smell of oil and lumber.
"Ah, nothing like a real sailboat," he sighed. "To sail by nothing but the wind."
"Whoa there, two-timer," Aika said. "I think the Delphinus is listening, and she's not happy."
"Knock it off. Besides, that's another thing. Nothing bad about Delphinus, she's wonderful, but she's consuming moonstones just like Aika eats fruit."
"What's so wrong about that? I'll tell ya; fruit is tasty and healthy."
"I'm not talking about fruit, airhead. I said moonstones."
"Why ever would I eat those?" Aika said. "I swear, Vyse, sometimes you're really strange."
"Who are you to... You're the last person in the world I ever want to hear that from!"
"Relax, Vyse," Fina said in a soothing voice and laid her hands on his shoulders. "Just relax and count to ten... thousand."
"I've counting ever since the day I met her. You think that helped me?"
"He just sucks at math, that's all," Aika joked.
"You can't count to twenty without taking your shoes off."
Mother Fina went in between her two arguing children. And if that wasn't enough, uncle negotiator of peace arrived. It was the captain of the escorting ship.
"Captain Vyse," he said with a slight bow. "I hope the ship is as you please."
"Definitely," Vyse replied, straight and dignified, as expected. "Will you stay overnight?"
"Thank you for your hospitality, but as soon as we are done here, we will leave for the Valuan capital."
"Very well. Aika; gather up a group to supply our guests. Also, go get some blue paint. Lots of it."
Best friends as they were, things had changed. Vyse was captain and had to act like one, it wouldn't look good nor sensible if he were talked down to by his subordinate.
"At once, cap'," Aika said.
"I'll go with you," Fina said.
"Then I'll take your captain for a tour on the ship," Kirala said. "Be seeing you."
And so the little group parted. Vyse and Kirala entered the ship.
It was not as big as the Delphinus, but it had quarters well enough to last for the crew. There were big rooms with hammocks and small cabins with bunks and beds. They were not yet decorated, since it was all new.
The bridge was high-ceilinged and spacious. Vyse looked forward to steering his ship from up here. Just like on the Delphinus, two rows of panels ran through the room. There was no extravagant chair for the captain to park his hull on, although there was a slightly elevated platform in the back. It was up to Vyse whatever he wanted to put there.
The lower cannon-deck had room for several barrels of both gunpowder and different ammunitions. Even as they got progressively closer to the bottom, the decks were still large and wide. The cannons themselves were everything from the long-distance culverins to short-range carronades.
In the lowest part of the ship lay the food storages. It had a staircase which led directly up to the kitchen.
"How do you like it so far?" Kirala asked as they headed up.
"Getting better and better," Vyse said, more gathered together this time.
The galley was well equipped. Chloe and Urala would have a wonderful and easy time making food here. And the dining room wasn't bad either. It looked almost like a Yafutoman restaurant, without losing the distinct sailor flavour, with a touch of military to spice it up.
Finally, they went through the last storages. These ones were for cloth, ropes, and other everyday vital things that could be needed when things got rough, whether it was after a thunderstorm or a too close encounter with Black Pirates or some overgrown monster.
"And that concludes our tour," Kirala said. "I'm glad you liked the ship."
"I sure do," Vyse said. "Lord Mikado can say whatever he wants; I'm not sending you back."
The Yafutoman emissary had got his supplies, and was ready to leave. He was just waiting for Vyse's last words.
"Send my thanks, regards and compliments to the shipyard, and my best to Emperor Enrique," Vyse said and shook his hand. Then he leaned forward and whispered something.
"A good choice," said the emissary. "The Yafutoman people send their gratitude and well-wishes."
After a last bow, the emissary boarded his ship. Soon it had left the harbour. Outside they could hear the sounds of the other ships getting underway.
"What was it you said to him?" Aika said.
"Nothing special," Vyse replied evasively. He swept his gaze across the ship, calculating, not admiring. "Everybody, those who aren't set up at scouting will paint the ship. I'll soon have a sketch ready."
Aika and Fina traded a glimpse. Whatever secret hush-hush Vyse was up to, they would find it out, one way or another.
xXx
While the crew were busy getting paint on both the ship and their hands and clothes, Aika and Fina were out looking for their elusive captain. Last time they had seen him, he was heading inside the ship's structure. Thus they had him cornered.
"We might as well get a look too," Aika said.
"Of course," Fina said. "And I'm curious about the galley."
"Fina, Fina, Fina, relax! We got staff now, and you can boss them around as much as you want, at least when Vyse's not looking."
"Does that mean you don't like my cookies?"
"Yikes! Don't even joke about that!"
Inside the ship, they wandered around, having eyes out for both their captain and the new ship. Vyse was right, they thought. A sailboat made out of wood certainly had a charm that the giant steel-behemoth Delphinus couldn't have.
On Fina's request, they did take a detour by the kitchen. It was aboard a battleship after all, which meant food was not a heckova big priority, but it was better than expected. It was even stocked with many ingredients and spices, several of them Yafutoman specialities, of course. Having checked it out, they took off for the storages...
... and found Vyse on the lower cannon deck. Apparently they must've walked past each other... again. He was going through the barrels, taking notes in a book.
"Hiya!" Aika said. "What are you doing?"
Vyse looked up from his writing.
"Just checking through the stuff," he said. "It looks like we got a load of grapeshot."
There were more types of ammunitions than just cannonballs. For example; chain shots, also called knipples, were a type of two balls chained together designed to tear a sail to shreds. Grapeshot were tiny, small balls, almost like bullets. Its sole purpose was to take out a hostile ship's crew. Each cannon loaded with grapeshot were like a dozen of rifles shooting.
Not the neatest weapon. But, as all three of them thought, now when Nasr wanted to play hard, they needed all weapons at their disposal. Better have it and not having to use it, rather than being in a tight situation were grapes could be the only way out.
"What were you and the emissary talking about?" Fina asked.
"... nothing special," Vyse said, casting a glance at the notes.
"So you said earlier," Aika said. "Come on, what was it? You want to tell us, or get my boomerang in your brain?"
"Can't argue with that. Alright, I told him the name of the ship. The name she'll get when we take her out for the first voyage."
"And that is?" Aika said.
Vyse leant forward, as if he was about to whisper something to them.
"My secret," he said.
"That's a strange name," Fina said.
Christening a ship was indeed no small matter. It was the captain's decision, and most captains didn't reveal the name of a new ship until it had tasted air.
But this captain was Vyse, their best friend. The three of them were more grown together than other friends ever were. They didn't use to have secrets from each other, knew each other through and through, and could talk about more or less everything that troubled them. That he now wouldn't confide in them the name might seem trivial, but it was still unexpected. Of course he was captain, but did he have to actually act like one... more than necessary? It was bad enough that they hardly saw each other these days, having their hands full everyday.
"Okie-dokie," Aika smiled. "Fina, you got the Cupil-mallet ready?"
"Why would I need that?" Fina giggled. "We've always managed to handle Vyse on our own, haven't we?"
"We sure have, so come on, Vyse, we won't tell anyone," Aika said.
"Are you sure?" Vyse smirked. "As the devourer of fruits you're bound to have a big mouth."
Aika looked at Vyse with a gaze he since long had learnt to recognise. Anyone who was at the receiving end of it thought Uh-oh. While cracking her knuckles she said:
"Just to let you know, glass-eye, no one will hear you scream down here. Fina, are you with me?"
"I always am," Fina said.
Two armadas were coming at Vyse, and he was all alone with no allies. The situation could've been better.
"Warm up the cleaning hands," Vyse said, putting the notes aside. "Cause you'll swab for the rest of the week for this."
Without listening to the empty threat, Aika and Fina flung themselves upon him, and the scuffle was started.
This was far from the first time they did something like this. Vyse usually came out victorious, but not if Aika and Fina stuck together, like now. Those times he had won, it had been through sheer luck.
Trip-ups were dealt, arm locks dished out, noogies were given. Both sides refused to give in. All for the honour and enjoyment. After a drawn-out fight, Vyse had managed to get them together, their arms pinned down along their sides. It was time for the last step. Placing left foot out, he prepared to trip them up. But at that moment, they tackled him, making him stumble backward while still holding on to them, like a clumsy cavalier.
A quick step to the side made Vyse regain his balance, and he pressed back at them. It was a locked stalemate.
"You've had it!" Aika said.
"I'm... not… giving in," Vyse said through gritted teeth.
In a last ditch, he jumped up at them. His sudden bodyweight was too much for them, and now it was their turn to stumble, but not for long as they fell backwards. Vyse's feeling of triumph was then quickly changed for shock when he saw that they were falling straight towards the very hard cannon, heads first!
Without thinking, Vyse shoved his hands up at the back of their heads. Just in time when they fell down... and his hands and fingers were smashed against the hard steel. At least the rest of him had landed soft, even though he had to grit his teeth to avoid screaming out loud.
"Whoa, that was pretty rough," Aika said.
"More... than you know," Vyse groaned.
If he could, he would've rolled off, but his hands were stuck in between the cannon and their hard heads. His fingers pounded with pain, and the wrists blistered. Fina looked to the side and then realised where Vyse's hands were. She sat up at once.
"Are you okay?" Fina said, worriedly. "Aika, get off, his hands..."
"Yikes! You know, I kinda thought we landed a bit too soft there."
Vyse just nodded. With both hands free, he tried to move his fingers. They felt sore, but that was all. They'd be back in shape in no time. Fina gently grabbed his left hand and looked it over. Her soft handling and caring eyes were almost enough to cure it at once.
"That could've ended badly," Aika said.
"It did," Vyse groaned.
"For us, I mean," she said and stroked her hand along his arm. "Thankies."
With that sorted out, they stood up, and decided to go out and see how the painting was coming along.
The throbbing pain aside, Vyse felt quite content with himself. Sure it felt good to squash them, show them who was the boss and all of that. But also, Vyse coughed to get a reason to cover his mouth and his smirk, it sure had its advantages of having two girls as best friends. So what if he was closing in on his twenties, if he wasn't allowed to fool around with his two best and dearest friends in the whole world every now and then they could look for another captain.
"Rhea," Vyse said.
"What are you babbling about now?" Aika asked.
"That's the name of the ship."
"Nice name. Rhea." She rolled the word in her mouth as if it was a juicy grape. "I like the sound of it."
"I agree," Fina said. "Also, Rhea was the name of an ancient deity. It was said her two sons set out to build a giant city. Some assert it was the Valuan capital. But that would be a miscalculation of several hundred years."
But speaking of best friends, hadn't they been one person short there?
xXx
Painting a ship was very different from some regular house wall, but it had gone well. Several coats of blue and green lay upon both the structure of the ship and untold amounts of fingers and hands. It wouldn't take long before she'd be done for the first voyage.
Now it was past nighttime. Most, if not everybody, had retired to their comfy beds. Esteban sat all alone in the tavern with a cup of hot tea. It had become a sort of habit. It was all trying to get some peace on his mind after another day. He'd never been a night-person, and for good reasons. During the dark late hours his mind was assaulted with worries, remorse and feelings of not being up to mark. The walls of his mental fortress were crumbling, and he was the sole defender.
Esteban didn't mind being alone much. He was accustomed to it, and nowadays he didn't feel in the mood of company. Vyse could say whatever he wanted, but Esteban still worried about a possible attack on Crescent Isle. But as they didn't want him to worry, he just had to oblige. It was such a pain to go around trying to be optimistic, when his inside was screaming.
All to not disappoint the people who had taken him in, his friends.
Friends...
Exactly what did friendship mean?
Being together just because it felt good? Wasn't that directly selfish, even abusiveness? No, it had to be because of the friends themselves.
But to like someone for what they were? Then how come Aika had been on him ever since they first met, and back then he had been far from friendly. He had tried his best to dissuade her, even though he had screwed up a bit. Still, if he really had wanted her to stop... No, he couldn't do that. He had just wanted to be left alone, not be a complete bastard.
And what about now? Even he could tell he wasn't an ideal friend. Not that it was much time for such stuff anyway. By now he had lost the count on how many times he longed back to the first time with Vyse, Aika and Fina. A time when the kingdom of Nasr didn't want to paint the fountain plaza with their intestines and blood, a time where he had looked to his future with joy.
Or even... He'd never like working for the syndicate, but he couldn't deny to the fact that there was a certain charm in the freelancing work. Living alone only by his wits and cunning. Not that he had much of those anyway but...
"Hiya!"
Quickly Esteban swirled around. The door was open, and Aika stood there. It wasn't without that he felt a bit exposed. Here he had been, shrouded in his own private thoughts and now yanked up again.
"Whoops, I didn't mean to scare ya," she said and walked up to the cabinet.
"Sounds weird coming from you," Esteban answered.
"I mean it," she said, rummaging through the shelves. "Scaring is only funny when you do it on purpose."
"Like every time I turn my back?"
"What, got a problem with it?" she grinned.
"No," he sighed. "Or yes. My neck starts to hurt from looking over my shoulder."
Now Aika had found what she was looking for. After acquiring a small plate, she put up the biscuits and carried them to the table. She sat down next to him.
"Alright, alright. But if I don't get to frighten someone every now and then, I'd get bored."
So that's all he was then. An entertaining light-frightened... No. That wasn't true, and he knew it.
As much as Esteban liked Aika, and that was a whole lot, right now he just wished she could leave. She had been on him before to trying to make him melt in with the new ones, and he could feel her disappointment. But how easy was that when he wasn't appreciated? Maybe she just didn't realise how that felt?
"How do you like the new ship?" she asked, having just finished a biscuit.
"Good, I guess," he said. "I especially like the culverins."
"Coming from you, that sounds good. I myself like the cabins. Not too shabby. Oh, but did you see the captain's cabin? Kirala has decorated it herself. Kinda tacky."
"He is the captain. And Yafutoma's own saviour."
"Yeah, of course. And he's captain alright." She sighed, suddenly downcast. "You know, as long as I've known him, he's always wanted to be captain of his own ship. I'm happy for him, but it's still such a pity. Right now we hardly have time to get together."
All that because he, Esteban, had gotten Nasr to declare war on them. Thanks for the reminder! But he knew better than to say it out loud. He just had to push it down, keep it inside.
For a moment, they focused on the biscuits. The problem was, Aika thought solemnly, that it was not only Vyse for whom she didn't have time. Esteban was more left out than before. It was for this she had wanted him to get chummier with the others. Perhaps she could ditch the others and spend all her time with Esteban. Maybe she should've done that instead?
No, that would not work in the long run. He needed to learn how to socialise. And she couldn't just ditch the others, they were important to her too. She hated to think of it that way, but she couldn't keep carrying him around like a child.
But perhaps...
"Talking about culverins," she began. "Do you think you could give some lessons about shooting?"
"Well," he said, his gaze to the floor. "I don't know if I'd be such a good teacher."
"Come on, sure you can. Heck, you're the most accurate gunner I've ever seen. They'd love it if you could help them."
Esteban seemed to ponder her suggestion. His lips squeezed together, his fingers supporting the chin.
"Maybe not," he smirked. "I don't want to make Rodrigo ruin his silk-gloves."
"Cut him some slack, will you?" Aika said, a bit annoyed. "He's not that bad. He had to fight through a lot of hardships..."
"He doesn't know shit about hardships!" Esteban said firmly.
That was too harsh, but Aika couldn't blame Esteban for thinking that way. Rod was after all a former upper citizen. Such persons and flamboyance in general was not something that rang well with Esteban.
"I didn't mean it like that," she said patiently. "Just that he's been forced to go through a lot to prove that he is just as capable as anyone else."
Esteban didn't answer, but his dark gaze told what he thought about Rodrigo's ability.
"You're right," he said. "I guess he previously couldn't even blow his nose without his servants."
"Maybe not. But now he's not an Upper citizen. He's a Blue Rogue, just like you."
"And formerly my oppressor. I'm not gonna lick his feet."
"What do you mean by that!?"
"Isn't it obvious? They sat idly by while we, in our town, starved. When I was happy for not being hungry just for once, he was choking from a banquet."
"Sure they did. But Rod left. He's not a bad person. I think he'd actually like to be friends with you."
True. Rodrigo had actually tried to get to know Esteban better. Unfortunately he didn't know him well enough to use the right methods. And also, Esteban hadn't been willing to talk about anything of the syndicate, or their victory against them. From an outsider, it could be taken as is he wanted to be left alone permanently.
"Really?" Esteban said. "Then he's doing a real bad job at it."
Those words sparked something in Aika. For all this time Esteban had rejected any and all chances he had got. She had tried her best to help him on, but he just shunned it all. The frustration pushed her sensibility away just enough for her to say:
"Well what about you! Why should I bother while you…"
Aika regretted those words as soon as they left her lips, but by then it was far too late. Esteban flinched, as if she had slapped him. He looked at her with a gaze full of hurt and betrayal.
"Oh, no I... I'm sorry," she stammered. "I didn't mean it that way. It's just... I like you, but you need to be with the others as well."
She reached out and grabbed his hand. He directly pulled loose with such force it almost hurt, and stood up from the chair with such speed it fell over. With eyes cold as a blizzard he said:
"Ask me if I care."
Having said that, Esteban promptly left the tavern.
Aika sat still, too shocked to even think. Was this another nightmare? Those words couldn't have hit her deeper or painful than one of his crossbow arrows. She knew that voice and gaze. Knew them all too well. Deep within, she felt a crumbling sensation. Slowly her thoughts came back, but all she could think was No.
Her efforts had all been in vain.
xXx
Having finished the last part of the mainmast, Vyse decided to call it a day. Muscles were aching, but he felt satisfied. It had been a good day.
"It's a good ship!" Hans called to him. "Those engines are just magnificent. It'll be wonderful to take her out."
"I'll second that," Vyse replied. "How is your apprentice coming along?"
"She's doing well," Hans said. Then, walking up to Vyse, he lowered his voice a little. "Although, she sometimes reminds me of that bouncy gunner... Belle. But she shows promise."
After some more words, they bid each other a goodnight, and walked off to their respective quarters.
Vyse crossed the fountain plaza, and headed up for the stairs. On a whim, he decided to check up on his friends. He knocked lightly on Aika's door. No answer, but he could hear some movements inside. And light shone through the gap under the door.
"Are you in there?" he called quietly.
Still no answer. Carefully he opened the door.
Aika sat on her bed, clutching a pillow to her. She had her head bent, as if exhausted, eyes closed, but the tear streaks told their clear meaning.
"What's happened?" he said, as he stepped inside and closed the door.
Aika looked up at him with sad eyes, her lips quivered a bit. She shook her head. Vyse walked up to her and sat down next to her.
"Come on, tell me."
Aika replied by leaning her head on his shoulder. Carefully, Vyse slid his arm around her shoulders in a comforting hold. Whatever it was, she needed time to regain composure first.
Not a good sign.
xXx
Away in his room, Esteban lay on his bed. His head stormed so hard that no thought could navigate through.
He felt sad over the fact that he had made Aika sad, but he was also angry over what she had said. Okay, so he wasn't as good as the others, but she didn't have to rub it in!
Honestly, he couldn't care less about the others. Esteban felt fine enough with only Aika and her friends. But she wouldn't accept that, and by extension him.
All at once, it felt as if nothing was good anymore. Stress, tension, and feelings of insufficiency. He felt like a burden, just a broken shadow of a human they had felt pity for.
But given all the things he had done, did he have any right to complain, or even to be happy? Was he meant to live alone and be pushed aside? And the most horrible was that it suddenly didn't feel bad.
Perhaps it was best to fulfil the plan he had considered that night. Go down to the harbour and sail away with his boat to... yes, where? Ixa'taka, Yafutoma or someplace else. The world lay open to him. Just as long as it was far away, where nobody knew him.
He'd be fine, but he could imagine how Aika would feel. Regardless, deep within she would understand, and as time went on she'd forget him.
It would be for the best.
Esteban quickly brushed away an escaped tear. It had to be like that. They'd all get over it in time. But not Esteban. Destiny was so cruel. It had stomped on him for all his life, then fed him the sweet nectar that was friendship and comfort, and now it had been snatched away. He'd live all his life knowing what he was missing.
But Nasr's fleets were after them all. As if it wasn't enough, it was all because of him. So he must stay, at least until they knew for certain.
He turned his head, and caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. He got up and stared at his reflection. The blue headband was in place as usual, covering the three ugly scars. The eyes were red and puffy. He glared angrily, but the reflection just glared back.
"What the hell were you imagining? You stupid bastard. You don't deserve this, you know."
A knock on the door interrupted his melancholy thoughts. Sighing, he walked to the door to open it, knowing all too well who it'd be.
xXx
Vyse had his steps set on Esteban's room. He'd told Aika that he'd go and have a talk with him. Aika was still too upset, and Esteban might not be ready to see her just yet. At least that's what Aika had said.
It had taken some minutes before Aika managed told him what had happened. And not just at the tavern. Ever since they heard that they were wanted... no, it was ever since they came back to Crescent Isle after the skirmish in Nasrad. Ever since then, Esteban had practically been walking on eggshells, been elusive, slowly returning to his old self.
Vyse sighed. He knew Esteban was a really good guy, but he had never wanted to socialise with anyone besides Aika. No, he had apparently never wanted to. As captain, Vyse had a lot of responsibility, and the fact that he hadn't been able to help Esteban get along grated.
'If this goes on, he may not want to stay,' Aika had sobbed. It was imperative that this issue could be solved. If not, Vyse would lose not just a gunner, but also a good friend.
He knocked three times. It didn't take long before Esteban opened. From the look at his face, it didn't seem he was any happier than Aika.
"Hello," Vyse said. "Do you have a minute?"
Esteban just nodded. Vyse walked in, and Esteban closed the door. They sat down on the bed.
He didn't look good, Vyse thought. The blonde hair was stringy, his face twitched, and he looked like he'd been crying. He watched Vyse with a gaze both cautious and slightly aggressive. Not surprising given that Esteban had just emerged from an argument with Aika, and now Vyse came to drive the point home and give him a bashing.
"What is it?" Esteban asked frankly.
"I've been thinking," Vyse began. "It's been some time now since Nicole and her crew came along."
That was a touchy subject, according to Aika. Right now Esteban didn't make any fuss about it. Maybe not a bad sign, but not all too good either.
"The others have asked me about you. It seems like they think you don't want to hang around with them."
"They don't miss much."
"Okay, perhaps as you are now. But I know you're different. We all know."
"Oh, really? To them, I'm only a former syndicate-hired mercenary. If I hadn't run into you, maybe I would've been sent after them."
"Are you still thinking about that?"
Esteban quickly glanced his way, and then looked away. He nodded. Even that gesture looked angry.
"It seems you're thinking about that more than we do. No, I don't think I can understand how it felt; only you know that. But you have to put it behind you, not for our sake but for your own. It doesn't matter what you could have done. The important thing is what you really did. You helped save them from the Crimson Fear, and bring down the syndicate. You don't have to shut yourself away."
"Shut up!" Esteban snarled and slammed his clenched fist into the bed. "Sorry," he said directly. "It's just... I have... P... permission to speak freely?"
"You always have. Shoot."
Vyse honestly didn't know what to make of Esteban. It was clear that something was wrong. Or amiss? As if he stood on a tight border and the slightest push made him cross over. He had a poor picture of himself, still holding an unswerving belief that no one would like him. Gone was the guy who had wanted to sign up with them. Right now he looked as terrified as a little child about to be beaten.
How could this have happened?
"It's easy for you to say," Esteban began. "You've had family and friends all your life. I've spent the last ten years trying to not get involved with people. I... have never learned how to live with others."
Having said that, he breathed out and sunk down a bit. It was as if he had opened an inner dam. At any rate, he had made clear what the problem was.
Vyse suddenly thought Esteban would fit in perfectly among the broken sailors they met in Esperanza. He stood in a storm, so concentrated on holding the mast that he didn't grabbed the hands which wanted to save him from the sinking ship. He was so locked into his problem that he just couldn't see the solution in front of him. It was both so frustrating, yet so sad. But concerning how things had been for him...
"You're right," Vyse said. "It is easy for me to say that. And as you said, it's all about training."
Esteban gazed Vyse sceptically, unsure if he had heard him right.
"What?"
"Training. I don't know what methods they used in the armada when they teach shooting. But I guess you did it over and over again until you had it in your spine. Socialising with people works the same. It's a skill, simple as that. Being with others takes practice. It's never too late to begin, but it's harder the longer you wait. But you have made great progress since the first time we met, and you can make more."
Esteban opened his mouth to say something, but then his mind maybe caught up with him, and he remained silent. Almost a bit pouty, but Vyse could see that thoughts were moving in his head.
"Do you like any of them?" Vyse asked.
"Dunno," Esteban said. "Nicole, maybe, even though I haven't talked to her much. And maybe Nina even if...Speaking of which, is she still like... not fawning but you know?"
Vyse directly felt like brushing it away and get on with Esteban. But on the other hand, what kind of friends would they be if they couldn't even hold a normal chat with each other? Wasn't this the exact thing he had talked about? And this time around, Esteban would get to be the listening and helping part. Only Vyse knew that he exaggerated the problem.
"Mostly in the beginning. But she's gotten over it now... at least some of it. Not to boast, but it can be a drag at times. We need to work together, and it can't be done if anyone is overly idolised."
xXx
Vyse had just left the room. Aika remained on her bed.
With her inner eye, she saw the scene from the tavern over and over again. That cold gaze and those harsh words. She shook her head as new tears wanted to crawl out of her eyes.
It wasn't fair! Esteban was really such a kind, compassionate person. Why would he have to go through this!? Wasn't it enough with all that had already been?
Aika grabbed the pillow and slammed it on the floor. It just bounced slightly, and didn't ease her anger and sorrow.
Vyse would just say nothing's impossible, she thought. But heck, he doesn't want to!
Or did he? She suddenly remembered their talk at the party. How he had said he didn't want to be a burden upon her, which could mean..., what? Was he alright with just Aika? Perhaps. Or even probably. But even so, the core of the problem still remained. If he would grow as a person, he needed to learn how to be with others.
She couldn't force him into something he didn't want to, it would only get opposite effect, but what if she could secretly push him on without him knowing it?
Yeah, and I could also make fruit rain from the sky!
Esteban was like he was because all the tragedy he had lived through. Like he had said before, he was not like others. It was, she thought, more or less impossible for him to cope with this new situation.
The best way to get a hold on a situation that had got out of hand was to restart. He had to get over the smaller obstacles first before he could move on. Strengthen his position before a battle. Take on the scouts before tackling the Battleships.
Having sighted a plan in her inner spyglass, Aika went through her options. If no occasion would arise, she had to create one herself. And she knew just the way...
Vyse was needed here, that much was clear, which left Fina. Should she tell her? Aika pondered for a while and decided against it. Sure, it didn't feel good to lie to her best friend. But if he would do it, it had to seem as real as possible.
Having settled her mind, she went out of her room and set the steps to the left cave entrance where they stored some important goods. She came back well enough in time to get yet another visit from Vyse. As far as he knew, she hadn't left the room. He had no reason to look under her bed, so they wouldn't be discovered.
"How did it go?" Aika asked.
Pretty good, I hope," Vyse said. "I think I gave him a push forward... maybe."
"Me too."
The die was cast, the ball was rolling.