I have no idea how to write anymore and I'm sorry -Aafje


It's silent. The boat that was meant to have three people, is now filled with seven. And the atmosphere around isn't the best either. Especially not when there's a long trip to come.

"So…" Reibun decides to talk as Reim's coast is slowly disappearing from their view. "Maybe we could do introductions? I'm Reibun and this here-" she points at Kadia, "is Kadia. We're both from Sindria and in Reim to pick up a girl named Noah."

Slowly a hand is raised into the air, followed by a short "That's me" from Noah.

"The real one?"Kadia grumbles. She doubts she'll be able to handle yet another 'fake Noah'.

"100%" Noah assures her.

Reibun's eye drifts off to the other four. Introductions are done rather quickly. It starts with a short "I'm Winter", the girl seems to avoid Kadia's glares, afraid that one wrong word will end up in a fight. Next is the cloaked figure who responds with a simple "Mariam", the one who wears chains around her limbs follows with "Lulu".

"Excuse me," Aafje speaks up after her turn for introductions. "Just where is this ship heading? I have to get back to Reim, I still have my job to do and I'd rather not get into any arguments with my supervisors."

"We're heading straight back to Sindria." Reibun says with a soft, well-meant smile.

"And not turning around either." Kadia adds. No way will she take any more delay on this trip. The time they had lost in Reim was already too much for her liking.

Sindria…

Of course they had to go to one of the most isolated countries around. An island in the middle of the ocean, hundreds of kilometers away from Reim or any civilization. She'd be away too long and thus fired the moment she returns. It was a quick 'bye-bye' to the perfect working spot.

"My life is ruined…" Aafje sighs as she watches her reality crumble down in front of her, "Thank you, Noah."

"No problem!" Comes the enthusiastic reply, surely the previous statement went past her ears.

Yes, this was going to be a long trip.

"Why did you save me?" Lulu asks when everything has calmed down around the ship. Lulu had dragged Mariam with her so they could talk. It wasn't every day that a slave got saved by a girl after all.

"Why wouldn't I? No one deserves to be treated this badly." Is the answer Lulu gets.

"You know you'd be killed if they found out you stole me, right?"

"It worked out fine. Don't worry about it and enjoy your freedom. As long as you don't return to Reim, I doubt anyone will find you." Mariam looks at the shackles that still bind Lulu's hands and feet and bits her lip. "We should get rid of those first. I'll see if there are any pliers around."

She stands up and returns not much later with pliers big enough to cut the chains.

"There, now sit still." She lets the chains flow through her fingers before she places them between the pliers and starts to cut them. It takes some time, but then a 'pang' sounds and the chains are cut in half.

"Thank you." Lulu mutters as she looks at the loose ends of the chains that hang down her wrists. It's so hard to understand. Surely this girl is around her own age and yet she could do things as rescuing slaves, something not even grownups would do.

"Can I ask you something? Why are you wearing that cloak? Isn't it hot in this weather." Lulu asks, tilting her head slightly.

"But it looks mysterious, right?"

Maybe she was just a kid like them after all.

"Ah, I'm glad this whole thing is finally over. We have our herbalist and we're back on our way to Sindria. I needed that."Kadia sighs as she leans over the edge of the ship. The soft sea breeze flows across her face, it's a nice feeling.

"Yeah, it could've been much worse. But I can't wait until we actually set foot on land again." Reibun complains as she slumps down onto the wooden deck. Seas weren't her things and right now, she'd rather get scolded by Ja'far. Then again, anything involving Ja'far seems great to her.

"LAND! Ah, it's great to be back in good old Sindria." Reibun exclaims as her feet touch the harbor ground.

The trip back to Sindria had gone by quickly. The seas had been calm and except for a few big trading ships, they hadn't come across anyone either. And so, the group of seven could use their time to get to know each other, which didn't go as easy as some had hoped. Many of them were distant, but as there wasn't much to do on the ship, they were forced to start talking with each other anyways.

"This is Sindria." Winter mutters as she looks around the bright town. Everywhere around them is the sound of happy chattering. People selling fish at their market stalls, young merchants trying to get the best deal for their goods and women wishing to find a new love walking around the streets.

"So what are you guys going to do now?" Aafje asks. For all she knows, it could take a while until the next ship back to Reim departs.

Kadia shrugs her shoulders. "I don't know what you want to do, but Reibun and I are going back to the palace with our Noah here." She says as she grabs Noah's arm and starts to drag her along with her.

"And us four? I still don't want to be here, you know. I was happy in Reim until you guys shipped me to SINDRIA OF ALL PLACES!" Yes, it had been Aafje's dream to travel, but not like this. Not when she had her life in order back in Reim. And why even? For a book and a slave rescue mission. Was that really worth it?

"Ah, Mariam, you have Noah's book right. About Sindria's herbs? She needs it." Aafje mentions, having forgotten that was the main reason she's stuck on the island now.

"Here." From under het cloak, Mariam grabs the book and hands it over. "What do you want to do now?"

That leaves her silent. What even was there to do in Sindria. Enough probably. But there were zero ideas on where to start.

Suddenly Reibun flares up, jumping in front of the others as she grabs their hands. "Just join us to the palace, I'm sure no one will mind."