Velvet pulled a rag to her mouth, shielding herself from the salty aftertaste. If there was one thing that really kept from having her taste back was the backwash of ocean salt. But this came with the type of boat they got.

Waves rose and fell against the wooden hull. Salt sprayed into the air as winds continued breezing between the ropes and sails.

Turning back to Amelia, she growled. "You had to be a cheapskate with this ride."

The brunette was appalled. "Hey, we don't have all that money!"

"Then about what these clothes?"

"That was a part of the budget."

Rubbing her temples, the former therion leaned into the ship's guard rail. "You're impossible."

"At least the Butterflies gave us tickets." She added defensively. "We would've been stuck for another week before heading off."

The trip was sidestepping just to get there. As the former Abbey ships were transferred to the imperial navy, most ships took at least twice as long to get to their destinations. Some special companies received a royal charter from the Emperor himself to receive former Abbey ships. But not this one.

It would take them to Eastgand and drop them off. Another boat would take them to the northern island junction. From there, they'd request for a special boat to get them to Eleanor's last known location.

And according to the Bloodwings, this was the same path they left her. The raven-haired woman's thoughts wandered. Between all the members of their 'menagerie' besides Laphicet, Eleanor was the closest thing she had to a 'friend'. All the ugliness she did. All the pain she caused.

Velvet Crowe would never go back on her actions. They were necessary to bring down Artorius.

But to see it all crumble to dust. A world, she hoped, would be better off without her. Was it really?

Dragging her feelings away, the daemon looked around. This vessel was a poor man's excuse of a ship. Sure, they provided a way to get around the empire, but these people were nothing like the pirates of the Van Eltia. The carefree and wild personalities of the crew that took from one corner of the known world to the other.

I still can't believe we've managed to complete that map of his. Velvet reflected on their spare ship. With two ships for the Van Eltia crew to roam, she wondered if the pirates would've band together.

But knowing Eizen and his crew, they'd never fall themselves under anybody's authority beyond their captain's.

"Amelia. Mind if I asked you a question?"

"Sure, what's up?"

"The Van Eltia pirates. Did they ever fight against the Abbey?"

The other woman scratched her cheek, "Yeah, actually it was our first mission to clear up some piracy along the trade routes. Eleanor's Abbey was commissioned a new ship called the Pridwen. Like Rokurou said, we've kept a blind eye on them unless the trade routes start worrying.

"They're a feisty crew, I'll give you that."

"How'd you even catch up to them?"

"Trickery, trapping. But really, luck. There were some other pirates within the area they were cleaning up. Not entirely sure what they were after, but they got what they wanted."

Velvet snorted. "I doubt that. Eizen's not exactly a gentle type."

"Eizen… Oh, you mean that Earth malakhim fellow?"

"Oh him!" Lailah popped out, standing before both women. "He's a diamond in the rough, but quite the gentleman."

"You're just saying that because you two were flirting!" Amelia accused.

"Oh my, trying to judge a flame malak?" She giggled. "You best be careful now or you might get scorched~"

Frustrated, Amelia threw her arms up and turned back to the ocean. Velvet, however, couldn't help but smile. "You and your puns."

"I'm glad that somebody enjoys my puns!"

Amelia flapped her hands, shaking against the wind.

Back to the ocean, the former therion gazed outwards. So long ago, she was so driven. So focused. Yet in all her dreams, she imagined worlds like this. Oceans spreading from one continent to another. An entire world opened to them, and it was all through the peripheral.

Velvet clutched her head. Her memories of those dreams felt incomplete. Some cycles felt like she lived a long, long time. From a little child to grandmother.

But…

That's the issue. How would she even know? She could feel her body weaken with age. But where it come from? From the various hunger strikes she sometimes did in prison? The hunger she had during her rampage?

Where did those thoughts and feelings come from?

"… Oi, if you're just gonna hunch over like that, get back to your bunk."

She turned to see Amelia and Lailah staring at her. Immediately, the former therion turned her head. "I'm fine."

"You sure? Just kinda staring off and –"

"I said, 'I'm fine'."

"Alright, alright, sheesh." The brunette scratched her head. "Just as prickly as ever. I'm getting something to drink."

Heading off, Velvet looked at Lailah, as she decided to stay behind, gazing off into the ocean as well. "Lailah, right? If you don't mind me asking a few questions."

"Oh, me? Of course, please ask away!"

"You've been with Amelia for a while. Even during the original Abbey. How was it? The Abbey's attitudes towards malakhim."

"Oh that?" She cupped her chin. "Mhmmm, what to say. Well, I really can't stay what I've been doing in the years before Innominat's awakening. Anything before about say ten years ago, it's a big blank! But I remember being Amelia's malakhim in the Abbey's beginning. She was always kind. A bit of a flirty girl but she's got her heart in the right place."

"Anything really odd? Almost like treating you like a tool?"

"Eh? No, nothing like that."

"Nothing strange like blowing away her tears?"

"What? No." Lailah leaned in. "Saaay, you're not into Ms. Amelia, are you?"

Now it was Velvet's turn to look befuddled. "She's my lead to Eleanor, nothing more."

"Haha. Alright, alright~" She giggled, fluffing at her dress. "But what is Ms. Eleanor to you?"

"She is…" Her voice trailed off. "She is really the only person I can talk to."

"Because of your adventures?"

"Yes. And something more." Velvet admitted. "Why am I talking to you about this stuff? It's none of your business."

"Getting it off your chest might be the better thing!"

The former Lord of Calamity eyed the malak. To the few on the deck, they shot her quick glances. Either they saw her, or they didn't and thought she was crazy. She bit her lip, taking a deep breath.

"There really isn't a lot of people I can talk to about everything. Laphicet's now Maotelus, and there's absolutely no way I'd just be bumming around that place until somebody came around. Eizen's a pirate and he'd be going about the sea." She paused. "Do you know of a certain blonde witch?"

"Magilou?"

"Yes, her. She's probably off at the ends of the earth for all I know and that just leaves Rokurou."

"And he wants to be left alone for now." Lailah bowed her head. "So Eleanor's the only person left. And then what?"

"And then what? We fight these Morrigan Wings. If they're after her, then they'll be after me if they noticed."

"And then?"

She closed her eyes, leaning over the railing. "You are an incredibly nosy person."

Lailah haphazardly shrugged. "Sorry! Just curious. Everybody holds Eleanor so highly, so I was kinda wondering what her closest friends thought of her."

"Let me tell you something. Behind all that kindness and attentiveness she's got, Eleanor's an absolute crybaby."

"Ooh?"

"Whenever there's cruelty, or some form of injustice being done in the world, you'd see try to act all stoic. But when it starts getting to her, you'd see small tears leak from her eyes."

"Mhmm, I don't remember of that. Then again, I've been back-to-back with Amelia. Prime Lord Aoife is Eleanor's malakhim."

"And how's she?"

Lailah looked away, squinting at the deck. Scratching her cheek, she said, "Aoife is a difficult one. At times, she's charitable, lending a helping hand. At others, very vindictive, and sometimes would tell Eleanor to stop being so charitable. She's also the main malak in charge of finding a way to replicate Maotelu's purifying silver flames."

Velvet's hand twitched. She remembered Laphicet's words at the Empyrean's Throne well. "She can do that?"

"Last time I talked with her, she said it was a prototype. She and two other malaks were refining it, along with the Armatization arte." Lailah cupped her chin.

The former therion looked back to the ocean as Amelia returned, holding two cups. "I drank my full, what about you two?"

"Thanks." Velvet grabbed her's as Lailah did the same. "The hell took you so long?"

"Well, you know, there was this cute sailor so we chatted."

The former therion rolled her eyes. "Uh huh. Right."

"Don't believe me?"

"For being a Legate of Eleanor's Abbey, you don't act like –"

A low thud rumbled. Velvet looked at deck, stomping her foot. That didn't sound like it came from below.

Words deafened. The water nearby exploded with a thunderous clap, spraying the ocean about the deck.

"PIRATES!"

They turned left and right. On the far port side of the ship, another ship sailed onwards. Hanging above the mass was a black flag. A skull hatted with a tilted hat unyielding against the wind. Another thud launched, splashing not too far away.

Chaos broke out as sailors scrambled. Sails fluttering up to catch the full might of the wind to throw their would-be assailants off. Lailah disappeared back into Amelia as the brunette moved to Velvet. "We better stay out of the way."

"And hide if they blast the ship apart?"

Another thunderous boom crashed into the water. As Velvet squinted to the ship, her eyes widened. A familiar silhouette with multiple triangular sails. A pointed tip with a beautiful figurehead. Multiple red sails flushed out like an arrow pointed at its target.

"The Van Eltia?!" Velvet yelled.

"What?!"

The pirate ship was closing in. They no longer needed to fire being this close without destroying the ship utterly. Finally, the crew lowered the sails. Sailors quickly armed themselves with anything. Some carried sabers, others with spears. Most only with cleaning equipment.

Velvet kept her arm-blade ready. Who knows what's going to happen when they jump on board. Amelia did the same.

A boarding plank smashed through the railing as the first of the Van Eltia raiders hopped on board. It seemed nobody on the transport wanted to fight them, shaking in their place. The Legate gazed at some of the crew members. Malevolence rose, a lingering taint of fear about them.

The pirates fanned out, armed with saber, sword and cutlass. Acting as a guard for their boss as he stepped onto the transports deck. Familiar birds nested in his hat.

"Glad to see ya'll didn't make this difficult for us." Benwick smugly smiled

He eyed the crew, noticing Velvet and Amelia. His eyes glowed for a moment before going right back to their victims. "Surrender any of your precious cargo… And we'll be taking those two fair maidens over there." He motioned over.

Already their pirate crew members hurried to them. A few gave winks to Velvet. They've seen each other enough times seven years ago. But their coy game disappeared when they turned to Amelia. Scowls and grunts as Amelia half-heartedly surrendered. Lailah stayed off the side, watching them.

From her eyes, taking away their few cargo and passengers was enough; the malevolence lessening as the Van Eltia crew sacked their items.

Maintaining their facade, the two women were pushed and shoved over the boarding plank and onto the Van Eltia. Lailah hopped herself across in between. Velvet looked to the ship's main mast, seeing another blonde man eyeing them. Minutes later, and several crates of goods on board, the Van Eltia left the transport ship in the water. No sabotage, no letting to sink to the bottom of the ocean.

Nothing until they were well out of visual binoculars.

When Benwick turned to them, the entire crew up roared. "Velvet Crowe, you damned landlubber! When the Bloodwings sent a sylphjay over, I thought they were pulling our legs!"

"And I thought the exact same." Commanded a voice from above.

An all too familiar face hopped down from the crow's nest with a solid thud. Clad in pirate attire, a reaper stood before them. The same fierce blue eyes with earthly blonde hair.

"Welcome back to the land of the living." Eizen smirked.

Velvet smiled right back. "Never thought I'd see the Van Eltia pirates from the receiving side."

"Good thing we were informed ahead of time. And lady Lailah." He smiled to the fire malak as she waved a simple hello. "A pleasure to meet you again. Still seeing you're with Ms. Amelia here."

"Come on Eizen." Lailah giggled. "She isn't that bad."

"And I thought I'd be tied up." Amelia sighed, "You didn't even take our weapons. Could've at least made our capture convincing."

"So where were you two heading off to?" The blonde malak decided to ignore her complains.

"An island where Eleanor was heading to. Said to house the Empyrean of Fire."

Eizen rubbed his temples. "Cuilthionn. Not the friendliest people."

"That's what I've been hearing."

"All of them have low or no resonance."

"They didn't like the Abbey knocking on their door." The brunette smirked at the pirate crew members, flicking their noses.

Eizen crossed his arms. "Last time I remember, the Abbey tried forcing themselves onto their land."

Amelia half-heartedly shrugged, poking her nose through some of the crewmen "Not like that now."

Groaning, he looked back to Velvet, then back to his crewmembers. It was the same old cycle and routine Amelia did before. The girl just loved her wiliest wit, poking her opponent for weaknesses.

"Haha, your crew is just as stiff as they were last time." She giggled, pulling away. Her finger almost dragging a sailor by the chin. "They complained so much on the way back to prison."

"Cost me a few good men." Eizen grunted, eyeing her harshly.

"Ah well, since we're on board, guess we've got no choice but to go on your merry wishes."

"Getting you three wasn't a part of our plan." He slowly turned to Benwick. "But for pay back, Benwick, sent sail for Mount Cuilthionn. We'll drop them there."

While Benwick nodded and relayed the message across, several of the crewmen scowled. An echoing displeasure rumbled the old ship, turning to Amelia.

The Legate and her malak companion got the message. Unlike Velvet, they were prisoners on this ship.

"Have a lady doing her job and she gets a cold reception." The brunette took a seat on the deck.

"Don't worry Amelia, I'll be your warm blanket."

But Velvet couldn't just let them be. "Come'on Eizen. She's a pain in the ass but tell your crew to lay off. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her." Though, Velvet also had some doubts about her too.

The blonde malak crossed his arms. "I have my reservations about her. She's a woman of the law. I remember her first words against my crew. 'Your freedom to swing your arms ends where my nose begins'.

"I can respect that." He huffed, looking around. "But the rest of them, maybe not. Not everybody can see or hear me."

Yet, the brunette cared little for their situation. Back on her feet, the brunette roamed about the ship, walking from starboard to portside, watching the waves crash into the ship. Lailah on the other hand, stayed in the middle, overseeing her contractor without getting into trouble.

Her feet caught a wet edge. Amelia yelped as she spun herself out and crashing into one of the crewmen. Crates fell on the deck. Thankfully, nothing spilled out. "W-whoops! S-sorry about that! L-let me help…"

But the grating annoyance between the members boiled over. Small streaks of malevolence growing between the crew as one of them shouted.

"Benwick! Let us fight this bitch!"

"Yeah! Revenge for Samuel!"

"The fox lady's gotta learn her place onboard the boat!"

Much to his chagrin, Benwick sighed. Turning to Eizen, the malak shrugged. Back to the young blonde captain as he shook his head. "As captain of the Van Eltia, I'm ordering all of you to stand down."

Sabers rattled in their hostlers and fists clenched at their sides. The brunette held her hand on the shaft of her hammer with Lailah holding small paper talisman.

"That's it everybody…" Benwick breathed, watching calmer heads prevail.

Amelia shoved her way through them, back to resting by the railing. Lailah followed right behind, childish pulling down the bottom lid of her eye and sticking her tongue out. Only a few members took offensive before looking at Benwick and getting back to work.

At least, the crates she accidently knocked over were stacked again.

Velvet looked over, dead staring at the woman. She stared back before shrugging.

"I mean, she's not as annoying as Magilou was before she got back Bienfu."

"Perhaps." Eizen crossed his arms. "She's the winner of the Galahad Ranking Tournament for a reason."

She looked up. "And that was?"

"Eleanor's ranking tournament for reorganizing the Abbey. She came out on top, beating the rest of them. I never saw it, but the reports from the Bloodwings were concerning. Then came our first few brawls against her. She's better with spears than a hammer."

"I've seen her use double swords once. Not like Rokurou's style, but she cut down one of those Morrígan Wings people."

A scowl grew on his face. "That's another problem we've been running into. The Morrígan Wings sect. They've been causing trouble on our usual piracy routes too. We've just been running into their scraps. Been getting us into trouble whenever Eleanor's Abbey comes by."

His eyes turned to Amelia, who was minding her own business. "Which meant running into her."

"If she's that much of a problem –"

"Why don't we just get rid of her? Out of respect for Eleanor trying to rebuild, I'm not headhunting her Legates."

"Would save you some time and a half."

"I think she enjoys these cat and mouse games. And with Lailah at her side, all they've been doing is arresting us."

Velvet frowned. "And so, you guys bust them out. Talk about a worthless prison."

"Eh, she takes it with pride." Eizen smirked. "I know Lailah enjoys our bantering."

Amelia snorted, leaning her head against the railing. "This trip needs to be faster…"

A flirt, an angel, a devil. So Are You Gonna Be My Girl?

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