South Ocean was a perilous place, though, and the ship upon which the three were stowed away surely would have been lost to the awful winds were it not for Ilchymis. A particularly nasty jostling of the Valuan ship bumped Domingo's head against a crate, and he awoke suddenly; squinting in the near-darkness of the cargo area he could see Ilchymis's silhouette near the grimy window, and he pushed himself up onto his elbows. "Ilchymis? Can't you sleep?"
He noticed that the Warrior's Heart ring on the mage's middle finger was gleaming a fierce red; Ilchymis smiled softly. "I have been casting a spell to aid this ship through South Ocean; without it, I fear we will perish on the way." "Really?" Domingo rose and crossed to the window, pulling his jacket closer around his shoulders as he approached. "It's so cold."
"We are far from the lands under the Red Moon to which you are accustomed, and not all the world is so warm - or so I've read. I have not left Valua until very recently." Ilchymis leaned heavily against the window, magically fatigued, and Domingo placed a hand upon his shoulder in concern. The mage waved him away with a weak chuckle. "I am alright - merely tired."
Domingo looked out the window again; it was dark, and little was visible in the gloom. "Ilchymis... does Valua really want to take over the world?"
He was very disturbed by the answer. "Let us pray that it ends at that."
The treasure hunter waited a few beats before asking his next question, afraid that perhaps he was intruding into the mage's privacy. "Why are you really looking for the Moon Crystals?"
"The girl to whom Cupil belonged... her dying wish was that I keep the Valuan Empire from obtaining the Moon Crystals. I did not know her, but..." Ilchymis sat down on a nearby crate, face saddened. "There was a kindness in her eyes, goodwill and... hope. I took her quest as my own, for I know the wickedness that corrupts Valua and know, too, what will happen if Valua obtains more power. No good can come from it; I will defy them in my turn, for I know that it is right."
Domingo didn't know quite what to say. In his twenty-six years of life, he had never seen such a blind act of selfless benevolence. "You're a good man, Ilchymis. I'm glad to help you."
The mage paused a moment to chant a phrase under his breath, ending with the trigger word "Quika"; the Warrior's Heart gem gleamed again, and Ilchymis looked back up. "You are very kind, Domingo; I am grateful to have fallen into your company. I only wish your friend was as you are."
"He's not as bad as all that." Domingo smiled sadly to himself. "He's really a good guy, I think - he just doesn't know how to show it. But you know something? I think deep down, beneath the smark remarks and rebel attitude... he's a hero."
"I think you are right," said Ilchymis, with that kind smile that made his eyes glimmer. "But sleep now - prepare for the battles that will inevitably find us tomorrow."
Domingo nodded and gratefully turned to sleep; Ilchymis returned to the window silently. Neither of them noticed Lawrence's dark eyes shining in the dim light from the Green Moon outside, or realized that he had heard every word.
Author's Note: I'm ba-ack!
MasterofShadows: Good to know I'm not going to lose you.
The Right Hand of Fate: Alfonso is going to be that unpredictable wild-card. I can already tell.
Kasysty: Thanks! You got your wish; enjoy this chapter.