She shoveled her food around her plate absent mindedly as Agnes and Tiz conversed quietly beside her. Both held a soft smile and a light flush in their cheeks. It wasn't an exchange between lovers, but a conversation between friends with feelings for one another, whether they would admit to those feelings or not. She frowned even more harshly. Is that what she and Ringabel were? Or was this a lapse in emotion? After all, they had been through quite a lot together…but that logic didn't seem to hold either, as Tiz and she had also shared the journey. She stared at her water, beads of evaporation running down the sides of the glass as it warmed. He was Alternis, there was no denying that any longer, as the evidence had been in front of them only a few days ago. She didn't harbor any feelings for Alternis besides a sort of sibling affection, and frustration in the way he treated her at times. Maybe she was feeling a residual bond with Ringabel then? Even that seemed preposterous. Ringabel was not Alternis, only in looks were they similar. Ringabel was an entirely different man, a different soul.

He didn't wear the heavy black armor of the Dark Knight, he was light hearted and had a sense of humor. He made stupid jokes, chased after women, styled his hair precariously, couldn't shut his damn mouth, and…and…and he was lovely.

'No- what?! Wait, I didn't just think that, no, no no no no no. He's just Ringabel! That's it.' She huffed mentally. She was acting like a buffoon, like one of those girls at finishing school, a place she had vehemently denied, and instead took up instruction with Master Kamiizumi.

"Edea, are…you not hungry?" a soft voice interrupted her thoughts. Agnes and Tiz were staring at her with worried looks. Agnes had her hand on her shoulder.

"Oh um, I guess not. Actually I think I'm going to turn in early. I'm not feeling so well anyways." The vestal's brow wrinkled slightly.

"That makes you and Ringabel, I suppose. He hasn't come down for dinner either." Edea nodded casually,

"Well, you know…it's been an odd few days, you know?" She didn't sound very convincing, she realized, but thankfully the two nodded, agreeing.

"It certainly has…We'll join you after a while then." Tiz's eyes bore into her, as if they could read her thoughts. He did that frequently, probably without realizing it. He practically guilted everyone into spilling their thoughts. Edea averted her eyes, trying to ignore his persuasive gaze, and nodded, leaving her meal behind.

'Jeez, he could get anyone to confess their thoughts with a stare like that…' The cool breeze hit her face, like a silky embrace, as she left the tavern. It felt a little more like home when the cool evenings made their way to her. She stopped and looked over the edge. She could practically sleep outside, in fact. It would be more convenient to avoid Ringabel while she sorted her thoughts, but Agnes and Tiz would be worried and look for her in the middle of the night. Oh well, she would crack open a window, or something.

She slowly cracked the door of the cabin, hoping it would be empty. The lights were off, but Ringabel was already in one of the beds, seemingly asleep, his back to the door. She took in a breath and hoped he was as deep asleep as earlier, as she slowly tiptoed inside. Her bed was farthest back, so she would have to pass him. She held her breath until she reached her bed, and slowly turned towards him. There was only a bit of light from outside hitting his face, his mouth was slightly agape and his face was relaxed, signaling sleep. She let out her breath in relief and quietly pulled off her armor, and slipped into a nightgown. She slid into bed and laid down, her eyes stuck on his face, trying to search her thoughts, that were empty, only sleep on her mind now. In a matter of moments she slipped away and her eyes grew heavy with sleep, finally shutting.

He waited, only a few minutes, as her breath steadied and she stilled in her movements, giving way to sleep. His eyes flew open, and he studied her momentarily. 'Definitely asleep' he smiled, a small drool spot forming on her pillow. It was only one of many sleep habits that she had, one of which was sometimes punching the nearest object. Sometimes it was a wall, and other times it was someone's crotch. He hoped he could still reproduce…

He rolled over onto his back and pressed his palms into his eyes. Why had she kissed him like that? The answer should have been obvious, usually when you kiss someone, it's because you have romantic feelings for them. At least, he did. She had pulled away with, what could only be described as a look of horror and shock, and then ran away. He sighed softly, maybe it was only a moment of weakness within her, the timing and atmosphere just right. It may very well never happen again. But ah…it was good, so good. At least it had happened once, but now it left him longing for more. To taste those sweet lips again… He sat up,

"I need a bath…" he murmured to himself in the dark and gathered up his things. Tiz and Agnes weren't back yet, he noticed as he left the cabins, much to his surprise. If anyone was going to have a romance on this ship, it was going to be those two. He kept waiting for the day they would finally confess and share their feelings with one another. Intimately or not, it would be a joyous day. It was too much, watching both of them bumble over one another. He had almost locked them together in the cabins at one point, with Edea's helpful plotting of course. She was just as eager to see the two reveal their feelings.

He finally reached the deck of Grandship and looked out over the water. It seemed peaceful enough, and he was sure it was pleasant. The weather had been surprisingly cooperative as of late. He stepped down and peered inside the tavern, Tiz and Agnes were in a heated conversation, Agnes seemed incredibly focused, listening to every word that the man was stumbling over. Ringabel stared for a moment, both their faces were flushed, and each seemed to struggle with words. Were they drunk? Another presence caught his attention and he whipped around. Datz was leaning over the rail, a pipe in his mouth.

"How goes, Ringabel?" he smiled. Ringabel nodded in his direction, pulling the latched doors open.

"Well, Datz, and you?"

"Oh, just grand, just grand… just admiring the sea tonight. Listening to the two kids flirt and carry on over there." Ringabel raised his brows.

"Really? Anything interesting?" Datz's quiet laughter rumbled.

"Plenty, but I'll save the excitement for later. Going somewhere are ya?"

"Just taking the Eschalot out for a swim."

"A swim? It's colder than blazes out there, you'll freeze your johnnies off!"

"Well, let's hope not…" Ringabel gave a quick salute and descended in the ship. Grandship had plenty of clean water, though none of them could quite figure out how, but he preferred salt water. Besides, much easier to bathe when there's more room than a small wash tub, and one isn't in constant fear of being walked in on. The cool, salty sea was an added bonus, of course.

The Eschalot hit water and he smiled. It was a feeling of true freedom and tranquility being alone at sea. He stripped down to his underwear and dove in. It was cold, but not overly so, and the smooth salt water felt great on his skin. He needed a break from the others sometimes. Time to think, time to relax. The sight of Alternis still troubled him. It was him, it was his face, but they were not the same person. He knew this was his true identity, who he had been in another world, or perhaps another time, but he also refused to accept that knowledge. Alternis was a cruel, stern, abrasive individual. He treated Edea poorly, like a child, like someone he possessed. His untimely proposal to her was uncouth, and a bit disturbing to the group. Most of all, and Ringabel was unsure if this was true or not, being that he still had no memories, Alternis was a killer. He was prepared to kill the group, as well as Edea, when they made their intentions clear. He was obsessed with carrying out the Grand Marshall's orders and pleasing him. Ringabel was unsure why, whishing terribly that his memories would resurface. He had been having frustrating dreams since he saw his face in the Dark Knight's armor; flashes of people and events that did not correlate to the previous world. They had to be hints of his memory, but despite his concentration and hours mulling over these flashes, he still had no recollection.

He pulled himself back onto the Eschalot and scrubbed his hair with soap until he was sure all the previous day's dirt, blood, and grime had been removed, and dove back in again. This time the water felt warm, and he floated on his back effortlessly. He stared back up at Grandship's huge underbelly. Surely his memory would come back soon, but was he sure he wanted to remember everything? Would he go back to being Alternis Dim, or stay the same person? Edea seemed to like 'Ringabel', at least, more than she did 'Alternis'. Maybe, losing his memory was a blessing in disguise…

He clambered back onto the Eschalot and pulled the wench to ascend again. He ran a towel through his hair briefly, and then tied it around his waist. He wondered if Tiz and Agnes had finished their unusual conversation. He latched the doors back again and found Datz was gone, as were Tiz and Agnes. Seems as though they all decided to retire for the night. He pulled his loose shirt back on again, as well as his pants and walked back to the cabins. He heard soft murmurs as he approached their cabin and they silenced when he turned the knob. He supposed Tiz and Agnes weren't quite finished with their conversation when they went to rest, however now they both pretended to sleep, and Edea was just as she was when he left, only the drool spot was more pronounced on her pillow.

He laid down on the soft bed and thought of earlier. He had slipped into a deep sleep earlier in her care, now he was not sure if he would sleep at all tonight. Some nights he could sleep normally, and others not at all. Some nights, his dreams would wake him and he would stumble across the room to grab the journal, so that he could try to recall them. More than once, he had woken the others this way, as well as nearly injured himself. A few times, Edea had worriedly mentioned his sleeping habits, and he brushed them away.

'No use in everyone being concerned over my sleep. Let them sleep, I have things to ponder, perhaps even a ship to pilot, if we must move swiftly.' He thought to himself. Although, as he watched Edea's peaceful face, he wished sometimes he could join her in her dreams. If not in reality, in his dreams at least. He sighed and turned on his back.