Chapter 6
It was the last day before they would set away for Nasrad.
It had become a routine now. Rise with the sun, breakfast and then slab paint on the ship. This day was no different from others, except for three things.
Paco had been assigned to scouting. Just when things were as calmest, he screamed for alarm. Everyone had dropped everything they had for hands, and prepared the Delphinus, all according to plan and drill. Fortunately, Fina had taken a look through the binoculars, and could constate that the approaching ship was just far away birds. Paco carried huskra ears for the rest of the day.
The second strange thing that happened that day, this was the most curious, was that Esteban no longer kept to himself or Aika. It wasn't to say that he was the harbour's middle point, but he was different from before. When he was not hearing, people talked about this among themselves. Most of them directly made the connection with the journey and, by extension, Fina.
Aika stood up the deck on the new ship, absentmindedly painting the hull while keeping her eyes down at the Dove. Esteban and Fina stood there, working together. Even when they didn't talk, it could be seen that they enjoyed each others company. It was actually a kind of a cute sight. Of course, the rumour-courier would work overtime during the coming weeks. Aika had already heard whispers of "joined by the hip" and such, before the gossipers in question turned and saw her.
It still wasn't easy for a guy and a girl to be just friends.
Right now they were approached by someone. It was none other than the person who, before Fina slid down the atmosphere, had been the sole carrier of the title "Aika's best friend and partner in crime". Captain Vyse. The three Air Pirates exchanged some words. Aika went down the gangplank to join her friends, but then Fina split and walked away towards the stairs. Whether she was gonna make some lunch, which Aika's stomach decided it would soon be time for, or just playing hooky, Aika would follow suit. At least for the hooky part.
She half-ran to the stairs. As Fina was walking, she didn't hear the sounds of Aika's steps, walking in perfect timing with her own. Having caught up with her blonde friend, the redhead stretched out her hand and poked her on the left shoulder, while she remained on Fina's right side. Fina turned, only to face thin air, then turned and saw the grinning Aika.
"Hello," Fina said. "Where are you going?"
"Along with you, if you don't mind," Aika said.
She didn't. Soon they had reached the top, and then took the first exit to the left. The dark busy harbour lay behind them, and the sunny tranquil Crescent Isle spread out ahead of them.
They had also left behind any and all listening ears.
"Does it feel sad to redo your ship?" Aika asked for starters.
"Not at all," Fina said. "It's still the same… I guess."
"Try see it as a camouflage," Aika suggested. "I mean, if he ever wants them back."
"Clever. But it'll be hard to explain about the Wave Line."
"Piece of cake… for me at least. I wasn't even there, so just for once it wasn't my fault. Nah, he would understand."
She added the last part simply because they were dangerously close to the fountain. Even if Fina wasn't famous for having angry outbursts, Aika didn't want to risk being thrown in and drowned just yet.
"Right-o," Aika said. "Before we go anywhere further, we got some girl-talk to do." She lowered her voice to a confiding whisper. "Just what exactly happened on Sailor's Island? What did you do, and spare me no details."
"Do you wonder that, too?" Fina smiled. "We simply got the occasion to talk and get to know each other better. We realised that we had a lot in common."
A lot in common, oh yes. Sure, Aika had been the one who had been closest to Esteban, but the two of them were a bit disfamiliar. Sometimes even like night and day. But they still had some common traits, just like Fina and Esteban seemed to have.
It was like all four of them in their group had traits of each other. As if they were the same person…
… which just sounded weird. Aika was content with her own mind and did not want to rent out her head for additional guests. Besides, it was no idea to get philosophical on a starving stomach.
"Whatever it was, you did a great job," Aika said.
"Thanks," Fina said. "But I'm not sure it was just me rather…"
"Yadda, yadda, yadda, come here you," Aika said and brought Fina into a hearty embrace. "It's nice that you've learnt the meaning of 'humble', maybe then you can teach me later, but this is so close to miracle you can come, so don't think I'll let you slip away."
Fina did the only sensible thing: hugged Aika back. The Silvite seemed quite happy with the situation, just like Aika. They made a perfect match.
"If you don't mind, Aika, I'd like to ask you something."
"Anything."
"This whole trip," Fina said and pulled away a little bit, so that she could see Aika better. "Was it all a big ruse?"
And here she had thought her plan had been so flawless! No one was supposed to know, yet the whole darn Crescent Isle was apparently fully aware of Aika's scheming.
Aika swallowed, and looked down for a bit. As she looked up, she found Fina still was watching her. Not angrily or something, but scrutinising.
"Rose? You mean the flower?"
"N… no," Fina shook her head. "Let me put it this way; plot, scheme or set up. By the way, we never let the crystals run low. Especially not now."
Looking in your best friend's eyes and tell a lie was a perfect way for the inner Damion to pop out and bash you in the head with a glowing fork. Besides, she deserved to hear the truth.
Aika began to explain what had happened the night before the trip, how sad and worried she had felt and then her plans and motives behind it all, that she had deliberately stashed away very valuable crystals. Fina silently gazed her, neither condemning nor forgivingly. She just took in what she heard.
"… and the reason I didn't tell you was that, well, I didn't want to risk that you might accidentally slip your tongue or such. That means… ah, never mind. I wanted it to be as real as possible. I'm sorry, Fina. Are you angry?"
"Angry?" Fina said, as if she didn't know what that meant. "No way ever," she smiled. "I'm just glad I was right. But honestly, I had a feeling all along."
"Really," Aika scoffed, jokingly pouty, but inside she felt relieved. "And here I'm worried. Thank you so much."
"Don't be," Fina smiled. "I'm just so happy I got this opportunity… from you. It feels like we are going to be all four again."
In her usual gentle way, Fina had managed to perfectly frame Aika's intention and hopes. Before Aika had met Fina, she had wondered how there could ever be an any better friend than Vyse. Well, right now Fina got Vyse running for his gold. Fina could say whatever she wanted, but it was she who had given Esteban that little push forward Aika had been unable to give.
"Right back at ya," Aika smiled and hugged her again. "I'll let you go without a favor this time."
"In that case" Fina mumbled with her face pressed down against Aika's shoulder, "perhaps you could do a favor for me instead?"
"Name it."
Fina looked over her shoulder to ensure herself that they were alone. Then she leaned forward, so close that her lips almost brushed against Aika's cheek. She quickly whispered her request. Aika barely managed to hold back a shout of surprise.
"You want me to WHAT you?" she said, her chin close to touching the ground. "Do you know what that means!?"
Fina calmly stood by Aika's outburst. A coquet little smile played on her lips, and a certain blink pulsed in her half-closed eyes.
"You have to try everything sometime, don't they say?" Fina said. "And you have wanted to do this with me as well, right?"
"Yeah… sure," Aika said, a bit hesitant. "I just never thought you would agree to it. At least not... well, maybe if we both were really drunk."
"Don't need to. I want to try it out, see how it feels. Right now we got time for ourselves before lunch. If you want to, that is. But if I know you right…" Her words trailed off and ended with a smile.
Knew her right? Fina sure did. It felt good to have a friend who knew so much about her. Someone who was curious and cared a lot about her.
"We'll do it at my place," Aika said. "Come on."
Hand in hand, the two girls quickly ran to the living quarters. Up the stairs and then a turn to the right.
Aika's heart pounded with anticipation when she closed the curtains and locked the door. Finally, finally, finally she'd get to do it! Fina sat on the bed, eagerly waiting.
"Sure you're up to this?"
"Just try it. I'll not be the one who backs out."
Aika began by removing Fina's blue bandanna, running her fingers through her soft blonde hair and…
xXx
"… and surely we would've liked to pursue Baltor, but we needed to check up the convoy. But the captain, he was so grateful, he gave us the ships."
"Really?" Esteban exclaimed. "Just like that?"
"That's true," Fina replied. "Sure, we found it odd too, and we 'couldn't possibly' take them, but he was on his way home from his last trip and would settle down. Also, he said we were worth some spoils. That's how we got them, but before that, we escorted him the rest of the way."
Some persons sure were lucky, Esteban thought. Both getting two ships just like that and face Galcian in Air Battle and sail away victorious. Okay, it was well-deserved.
Not to mention running into a mercenary with a map, leading to a hidden treasure worth enough to rent the Imperial Palace.
As they worked with the Dove, Esteban thought over the last few days. He had started to like Fina more and more ever since Sailor's Island, which wasn't so hard, with her kind nature and mildness. At the beginning he had only thought that she was the 'least weird' of the Rogue trio. Now he understood how similar they were. Not to mention, earlier Fina had been the New Member, and now Esteban was.
History would repeat itself. One day, they would be a quartet.
"Hi, you two!"
The two Blue Rogues turned around, and found themselves face-to-face with their captain.
"How's the ship coming along?" Vyse asked.
"More or less finished," Esteban said.
"And I'm actually starting to like the new design," Fina said. "I've sailed her the most, and I can tell no one will recognize her."
"You've done a good job. I promise to think of you when we go through our next loot."
"Thanks. Now, however, I remember I promised to help out Chloe and Urala. See you later."
Fina then made her way to the stairs. Vyse smiled quickly, as if from a signal. Esteban looked over his shoulder, but saw nothing special. He turned back, and Vyse was still there. From the looks of it, it seemed he had some things in mind.
"You know we're all going out tomorrow," Vyse started. "Tairon is gonna check how Nasr really feels about us. But I want to learn how it really is."
"You mean the unofficial version?" Esteban said. "That's where you get the real truth, I know."
Just for once, Esteban was thankful and almost a bit proud over his "skills" as mercenary and experiences with the underworld. Each and everyone needed to use his or her own speciality, that's how they became a powerful crew that could dish out the little extra punch that could topple Black Pirates and bring down empires.
"Exactly. There's a guy in the city who I think we can trust. He knows Aika and Fina, and cares a lot for them. If there is something hidden, and if he knows about it, he'll tell us."
"But why would he… Tairon hasn't even been to Nasrad." He shook his head. "It'll be impossible for him to prove himself."
"Ah, I'm not ready to sign that statement just yet. It has to be possible in some way. If we just think together."
Aika had told him before how Vyse, more or less, refused to even acknowledge the word "impossible". It was a good attitude, but this case might've proved him wrong. As far as he saw it, the only way would be to send in Aika and or Fina undercover together with Tairon. But there was the danger of them being discovered. Additionally, if they had nothing to cover, why would they play sneaky? Sure enough, every Nasrean with something between their ears would get suspicious.
"I guess the only way… No, never mind."
"No, tell me."
"I was going to say they could send him a letter or message, something like that. But it doesn't take much of a genius to forge such a thing."
Vyse began to nod, then stopped. A smile grew on his lips as the idea was apparently taking form in his head.
"Yes," Vyse said. "Anyone can falsify a letter. But no one can write it like Aika, she's pretty unique in that way. And if she mentions the Great Porcelain Crash it will seal it."
"Crash? Is that some code or something?"
"Not really, but it will work like one. It's an event that only me, Aika, Fina, our contact and a clumsy waitress know about. Actually, it was just before we met you."
If anyone asked Esteban and Vyse where they had met for the first time, the answer unanimously would be Nasrad. But where in Nasrad? That question would give two entirely different answers.
"I haven't told this before," Esteban started. Now was a good time if any. "But we met even before that happened."
"We did?" Vyse said, interested. "You mean in the armada, or something?"
"No. It was in Nasrad, but at the bazaar. I stood in line after you, when you and Fina tried to get some antidote."
"Were you there too?" Vyse exclaimed. "Heh, looks like the world just keeps shrinking. By the way" His smile and voice sunk a few notes, and he took a step closer. "What were you doing there?"
"The whole reason why I haven't said anything until now. My mission was to get a potion called… formula twenty or something."
"Sounds familiar. Did he say what the effect would be?"
"No. Only that it would take two or three days. I took it back to her, and that's all I know."
Esteban had known already before that it probably wasn't ginger ale in that bottle. When he had received his mission he had just brushed it aside with a mercenary's usual reasoning. "It's not for me to know, as long as I'm getting paid". But indirectly, he had some guilt to whatever it had led to.
Hadn't he cared the slightest bit? Maybe, maybe not. More and more, it was hard to remember how it was like. It was almost like waking up from a deep dream.
"Try not to think of it anymore," Vyse said, as if he had read Esteban's thoughts. "You gave them back real good, and you never did your job for the fun of it, right?"
"Absolutely not."
Esteban had never felt it as if he did anything good. It was all for the money, and by length surviving. Pure egoism. Sure he was selfish. As long as he could remember he had only cared for himself. He hadn't had anyone else.
"We all make mistakes in life, but you have to learn from them and go on," Vyse continued. "And I've hope you learned from that day."
"I know!" Esteban shot back. "I've never said I liked it!"
"I didn't mean that," Vyse grinned. "It's just that even if Fina might look like the world's kindest and sweetest, never ever make her ticked."
"I see," Esteban said. "Do you think she'd be angry if I told her that was my first impression of her?"
"I don't know. But if you decide to tell her, promise me I get to see it. Maybe I can hold her so you get some running start."
"Better you promise to dig me out of the ground."
They both grinned at each other at the thought of that moment. It had been a sight to see, alright. Even though being far from humorous, Esteban greatly enjoyed himself. It was worth giving Fina yet another bouquet.
"We'll save that for later," Vyse said. "Now, we got some correspondence for her and Aika to get busy with."
Esteban looked up at the big ship, where Aika had stood before. Now she was gone.
"Looks like she bailed," he said.
"No worries. She told me before that if we get separated from each other, I shall look for her where the food is. Besides, I saw her go after Fina. Come."
They took the stairs up. Vyse felt his mood going to the top and still raising. It was clear that Esteban had improved… again. Not even had he learned to bicker and not be so serious, he had also come to peace with some stuff he had done.
Girls could mean both good and bad things. But for Esteban, it had been all good. No wonder, since this girl, after all, was Fina.
On the other hand, sometimes Vyse had wished that Esteban could live up a little more. Even when he had delivered the news about Sailor's Island, he hadn't been more than just amused. But it was in his nature to be laidback, that much did Vyse know. A hard life with though living filled with worries and uncertainty had learned Esteban the value of a calm and relaxed life. Being an Air Pirate, unfortunately, was neither calm nor relaxing.
But that didn't matter. Vyse knew that Esteban had it when it was necessary. He was a great asset to the crew, and a great friend.
At the tavern, they found Chloe and Urala occupied with the food. None of them had seen either Aika or Fina.
"It was a good plan for a second," Vyse said.
The living quarters were next. They made it up the stairs and soon stood outside Aika's door. Vyse knocked three times. On the second after, they heard the sound of commotion inside, and then silence. Light steps were approaching the door on the inside.
"Who is it?" Aika said, behind the door.
"Free guess," Vyse said.
"Ah, mister scarface. Anyone else?"
Vyse and Esteban looked at each other. This was starting to look weird. Then again, it was Aika after all.
"Just Esteban. Are you doing something shabby in there?"
They heard the steps retracting. Vyse crouched down next to the handle and put his ear against the door. He closed his eyes to the half, trying to concentrate as much as he could.
"What is it?" Esteban asked low.
"Sssh, wait. 'Let them in?' 'They can…' Fina's in there too."
The handle suddenly rattled, and Vyse quickly stood up. The door was opened, but only on ajar. He kept a convincing look of innocence as Aika waved them in.
Vyse and Esteban entered, and Aika closed the door behind them. The curtains had been pulled before the windows, making the room go a bit darker than usual. Aika had a wide grin on her face as she nodded towards the bed. There sat a girl. She had the same outfit as Fina, the same silvite markings on forehead and shoulders, same blonde hair…
Braided in the style of Aika!
"Good day, fair stranger," Vyse greeted politely with a light bow. "Welcome to Crescent Isle. I was wondering if you have seen Fina around here. She looks just like you but... ah what the… Aika what have you done to her!?"
"Nothing!" Aika exclaimed. "If you're thinking of the braids, she wanted it herself!"
"You think anyone would fall for that?"
"It is actually true," Fina said and stroke her hand along with the left braid. "I wanted to try it out, see how it felt."
"You sure you weren't hypnotized?"
"Not to my knowledge. How do I look?"
Vyse and Esteban exchanged a glance. Both of them were equally stunned at the sight of Fina in Aika braids. It was thinner, not as long, but the resemblance was clear. And it sure looked different. The same old Fina, now framed with the weirdest braids ever.
"I've seen stranger things," Esteban said. "I just don't remember when."
"Beautiful you guys," Aika said. "That really swept her off her feet."
"Pardon me," Vyse said. "I don't know anything about girl stuff anyway."
"Nah, maybe not. What a shame really." She then lit up with a smile. "Hey, why don't you let me enlighten you?"
Vyse knew in an instant what kind of enlightenment she had in mind. She had used it to threaten him on occasion, but now she might actually do it for real.
"No way!" Vyse said, grabbed Esteban and shoved in front of himself. "Here, take him instead."
Esteban threw a vain glance over his shoulder, and then saw Aika approach on him. She tapped her finger against her chin, and with squinted eyes she eyed him and ran a hand through his hair.
"Nope," she said. "Too short. But if ya want, I got rouge if you're interested."
"What does…"
"Run!"
"Oh no, you don't! Fina, get them!"
An intense scuffle broke out. It took a while, but Vyse and Esteban broke away from the two horrifying amazons of nastiness. They made a tactical retreat out of the enemy territory to the free airspace outside. Fina, with her new secret customization, was bound to her room, and Aika knew better than to set out for an overpowering enemy without an ally. The battle was postponed.
"Are you angry I was gonna throw you to them?" Vyse asked, after closing the door behind him.
"No. I'd probably do the same. But don't think I'll lend out a scissor just yet."
"Doesn't matter," Vyse said, after he got Esteban's meaning. "They just make up another reason, just like with you. Sooner or later, we'll have to relocate to a new island, on a new continent, to another planet if we could."
"You haven't tried to deport them?"
"I've thought about it, but they'd be back in a foul mood, and I'd miss them. I wouldn't have them any other way, but don't tell them." Vyse hesitated. "And I'm glad to have you along. It also gives Aika and Fina something else to focus and target."
"Honestly," Esteban shook his head. "Being a mercenary didn't pay much, but I didn't have to deal with crazy Blue Rogues."
"Like Aika says" Vyse said with his hands on Esteban's shoulders, "you haven't seen half of it."
xXx
During the day, the last strokes of paint had been applied. The ship was finally ready. All that was missing was a name. Vyse would give it tomorrow, just before the first trip.
It had of course been reason enough to celebrate. The kitchen staff got a great culinary workout, making a three-course dinner consisting of toasts with sardis mash, barbecued steak with deep fried potatoes and fruit salad with melons, bananas, grapes and whipped cream mixed with a touch of lemon. Everybody rejoiced and had a good time, but made a point to take it easy with the loqua. Hangover and sailing was a bad combination. They also broke up a couple of hours earlier.
Right now, Fina sat alone with Vyse in his room, talking about tomorrow's journey. It was business before night pleasure.
"We'll just follow him to Nasrad," Vyse said. "To make sure he gets there alright."
"But we can't risk someone getting the connection between us."
"That's what you have Silvites and their lovely binoculars for, you know."
"But of course. Just promise me I'll get to navigate, at least for the first minutes."
"Sure you can. But talking about your binoculars, did you ever found out why you're the only one who can see that well through it? You think it's the silver stone that does it?"
"Because I'm a Silvite? Yes, I've thought so too. But there are many more than I around here who are born underneath the silver moon."
"But only you have lived up there."
Fina nodded. In ancient ages, the Silvites had been the superior race, in form of technology and cunning. Were they any different in physics too, apart from her magic techniques?
If there ever was, she'd never know. There were no other Silvite to ask. She was the only one left.
"Could be," Fina said. "But there's another thing I'd like to know."
"What's that?"
"My braids," Fina smiled as she held out a handful of blonde hair, now back into its normal shape, to mimic Aika's hairdo. "Were they really that strange?"
Vyse glanced away and scratched the back of his head, probably stuck for an answer.
"When I said that, I was still very amazed. There was nothing weird about them… much."
"So, do you think I should let my hair grow a little longer?"
"No way! Ah, I mean… it's pretty the way it is." He smiled when he said it, but then frowned lightly. "But are you sure you weren't hypnotized or threatened, maybe blackmailed?"
"I don't even know what hypnotized means. No, I do. I really do, don't look at me like that. I promise and swear. I'm aware of what it means."
"Totally one-hundred? You know why I'm asking, right?"
Fina reached out and shoved Vyse on his shoulder. A friendly pat masqueraded as a punch which he just grinned at. Then the door opened up.
"Alrighty, everyone!" Aika chirped, as she entered with Esteban in her tow. "We got the drinks, the snacks, after-party starting now!"
They unloaded the two trays they had been carrying. On it, there stood some bottles with cider, bowls with snacks and fruits, and a small bottle of loqua. It was all the leftovers from the main party. Aika was eager for any party at all. Esteban seemed more expectant than before. It seemed he liked private moments like these. Fina did too of course. Living alone for so long, she enjoyed having people around, but especially her closest friends.
After everybody had been served and got a glass each, Vyse brought out the well-used deck of cards.
"Come on, can't we do truth or dare instead?" Aika said. "Just this once."
"Not with the loqua around," Vyse said sternly. "Not. With. The. Loqua."
"But that's where I get my ideas!" Aika smiled, and assaulted the snacks.
"That's why."
"Yeah, yeah. Esteban, you're in, right?"
"What does truth or dare mean?" Esteban asked.
Hearing that, Fina couldn't help smiling. She remembered very well how she had said those exact words some months ago. And the explanation she had been given, well, Fina had felt quite amazed and even a bit scared at the possible consequences of it. It was indeed a game that demanded full confidence of your co-players.
Aika began to explain it all to Esteban, lively and delightedly. As such, Esteban immediately joined the no-group, much to Aika's chagrin, and Vyse and Fina's relief. Vyse then quickly started to split out the cards.
"Okay," he said. "It'll be cruiser and lifeboat."
"What were the rules again?" Esteban said.
"Okay, open cards everyone," Aika said.
"Blast! And I had such good cards this time," Vyse said.
"Don't complain. If you just let me have my way, you wouldn't have this problem."
"If you always had your way, this world would be very, very weird."
"Not necessarily," Fina said. "But there would be a lack of fruit everywhere."
"Yep," Aika said. "Fruit, treasure and loqua, that's all I need. All for me! And if you don't like it, bummer for you, more confused people for me to look and laugh at. Esteban, you didn't have to start now."
"I have to hand it to you," Esteban said to Vyse. "Amazing you haven't broken down already."
"Who says I haven't?"
"Why you!"
Some remarks later, the game was on. The air lay thick with winning instinct, malice joy and downright fun. Snide remarks and accusations of cheat crossed the room, mixed with jokes and laughter.
Fina thought for herself that it didn't matter at all that she was the last of the Silvites. Not when she had three such wonderful friends, a loved family. She couldn't be happier.