Yuni stared at the sea with a thoughtful expression. Her hands gripping the railings, not too tight nor too soft.
Gurgling softly, Sticky sprouted a singular arm as he softly caressed Yumi's hair.
"You should really start easing up to the group, Yuyu."
Yuni could only scoff at Sticky's words. How could she ease up after what had happened in the past few days. She could only pat Sticky's head before smiling bitterly.
"If only it was that easy. You should go say that to Theo, that elf hasn't left his room in two days now." she said, walking away from the balcony and leaving the room.
The moment she left the room, her eyes locked with Aralia who had been standing in front of Theo's room. Before Aralia could open her mouth to say something a singular raise of Yumi's eyebrows stopped her.
Then, she turned, and left through the door. The sound of Yuni's footsteps echoed in Aralia's ears as she let a sigh out. Turning to the door, she knocked once more before leaning the side of her cheek against it.
"Theo. It's been two days since you left that room. I know how hard it has been, but you need to push through." she said, voice soft and shaky. Her hand grabbed the handle the door, grip tight as if to pull it away.
"We need you to lead us. You're the guy at the front, the one who handles the talking stuff. The guy who plans and makes the hard decisions, the guy who does everything to keep things afloat." her words slowly trailed off into a sigh as she braced herself.
Then, to her surprise the door opened as Theo exited from it as she took a step back. His eyes looked dead and so was he. Everything about him was exhausted, yet he still managed to muster a smile.
"You know..." he started, coughing into his hand as he weakly raised his head high. "You praise me too much. You praise everyone way too much, and honestly that's a great thing. But, it's also a terrible thing because Aralia. You're naive, you see everything in a bright light and think that everything can be fixed. That we can do everything as long as we are together."
Aralia remained silent, knowing full well what he had said was true. Everything that she had done up to this point, she always wanted to just see the world that she heard from everyone in her kingdom.
Traveling the world and experiencing the things she heard was her dream. However, she ended up having to be in so many near death experienced and even lost a dear friend. Something like that broke a part of her, yet she still wishes to see the beauty of it.
"Maybe, you are right Theo. I'm naive and too forgiving, but that doesn't change anything. I still wish to forgive, even if I have monstrous strength that can easily end someone. I still want to do things the other way because that's the kind way." her voice growing louder even as it shook, her fist clenched tight against her chest.
Theo could only scoff at her words before turning to his room. It was a complete mess, from the pillows and blankets cast aside to the sack of tools and scrolls half hazardly placed by the wall.
And his blunderbuss, it was barely hanging on as it was rested on the curtain of all places. Aralia grabbed his arm, her grip tight as she stared into his eyes.
"Think about what I said. We need you after all."
Theo looked up at the ceiling before walking back to his room. Without looking back, he closed the door before picking up pillows and blankets.
His hands gripped them tight before he called out to Aralia.
"Tell the others to meet up downstairs at the tavern. We need to plan our next move."
A smile curled Aralia's lips as she walked away from the door. As for Theo, he looked to his right at the torn fabric that belonged to Volhcard.
In the other room right next to his. Jae was listening to the conversation between Aralia and Theo. She moved away from the wall before sitting on the bed as she looked at her bandaged hands.
"I should go see Idol to see if they're doing alright." she thought, clenching her hands together.
In the city of Altissa was a club known as the Immortal Lust. A club owned by one of Kroma's five grand families none other than the Crossbells.
Yuni was walking down the road, passing the citizens and steam powered carriages. She stood right in front of the door to the Immortal Lust before letting out a sigh.
"It's me, the bitch's sister." she said, knocking against the metal door.
She could hear the door click and be pulled open by one of Anastasia's guards. A dwarf in a black tuxedo with a blue tie.
Raising an eyebrow, Yuni could only think of how cute the tie was. Well, with disdain of course, yet that mattered nothing to her as he moved on.
She felt the eyes of all her sister's bodyguards on her. Walking up the stairs, she turned a corner before seeing two guards stand by a door. Both orcs, one of them being Gulrok.
"She inside?
The two orcs looked at each other before nodding as they opened the door. Entering, Yuni was met with her sister rummaging through drawers with a panic on her face.
"The hell are you scared of to be this panicked?"
At the question, Anastasia raised her head up to look at her sister. Her expression one of fear and mocking shock.
"Why am I scared? You're seriously asking me that?" she started, voice raising as she stomped towards her sister. "Do you even remember what's happening in a three weeks?"
Seeing her sister afraid amused Yuni. She crossed her arms as she raised an eyebrow, clicking her tongue in the process.
"Yeah, I remember. I'm supposed to marry a noble that dear ol mom and dad chose for me."
Anastia's breathing came in gasps as she slammed her foot against the ground.
"Then why did you ask if you knew the damn answer?!" she screamed, panting as she paced back and forth.
"Yuni, if you don't come back. I'm done, my whole business is done. You're done and so is your friends. So if you don—"
Yuni placed a hand on her mouth, cutting her off as she pushed her against the desk.
"Shut up for a moment will ya. Listen, I'm going back with you, but you better leave those idiots out of this. You don't get to have a say in this and when I stand in front of mom and dad again. I'm going to the worse thing a noble child could do to their parents. Tarnish the family reputation." she said, a chuckle left her lips.
The last part made Yuni smile of pure joy. However, her smile was sinister, one of pure sadism as she pulled back from her sister.
Anastasia could only gulp before walking back to her desk as she grabbed a quill and paper.
"You're actually serious..." Anastasia was utterly baffled by her sister's words.
"When haven't I been serious about cursing our parents, sis. That damned family, actually to hell with all the grand families, and to hell to our current king." Yuni was utterly bitter as she watched her sister write the letter.
Anastasia could only scoff as she finished writing the letter. She started rolling it before grabbing some rope to tie it and while she tied it.
She asked a question that made Yuni drop her bitter expression.
"Didn't think the death of your friend would affect you this much? Why is that?"
Yuni was speechless, a sinking feeling attacked her stomach. A deep breath left her as Anastasia raised an eyebrow.
"I guess I grown soft, sis. That's all."
Soft? Yuni? What a joke. Were the exact words that Anastasia thought. Cause how could the most cold hearted woman, who's never even shed a tear for her previous comrades be soft now.
Was it age? Was it the journey? She didn't know nor did she care, but to hear an answer like that come from Yuni was truly surprising.
Across the Immortal Lust, just right outside the gates of Altissa. Idol sat underneath the floating city that was Vyolmir.
Birds chirped as they landed on his shoulders, all sorts of little animals such as squirrels, birds, dogs, and cats stayed around him.
They were writing in a small red diary, writing all of his experiences on it. The notebook had been given to him by Volhcard when the group were in the ancient Altissian ruins under the ocean.
"Idol!"
Looking up, he saw Jae running up to him. As she abruptly stopped right in front of him, panting as she fell to her knees.
"Finally found you after all the confusing answers to the questions I asked the people where you were."
Noticing the animals that surrounded Idol. Jae giggled, amused at the sight as she said right next to him.
Immediately, two puppies approached her, playing right in front of her. She carefully picked up one of them, softly caressing it's back.
"I have been writing my thoughts and experiences. It has been warming to the heart if I had one." Idol said, giving the small diary to Jae who had the puppy in her lap and the other on her head.
She flipped through the pages, each one written in great detail. From the first time they met him to the present. It was thoroughly written with care and great detail as if Idol was writing a novel.
"This is beautiful, Idol. You've been writing this from the start, but didn't Volhcard give this to you only a few days ago?"
Idol pointed to his head as he spoke.
"My memories are stored here. I process words and everything at a faster pace. Thus, when I started writing, I wrote as if the world was about to end."
Jae just nodded, her mind engrossed in the diary that Idol had written. Page after page, it was canvas of beautiful prose and even small drawings he had made.
"I think when this is all over. Perhaps, I should become a storyteller, you know, inspiring others through our tales." they said, placing a large hand over Jae's head, softly caressing her hair.
She giggled, leaning into his hand as she looked back at the book. The two read it together, you'd think that they were parent and child at that moment.
Back at Altissa. At the docks of the city, Yuni stood at the edge and took in the breeze of the sea. The water before her suddenly swirled before Kadell flew from it and landed before her.
She looked up at him, eyebrow raised. He only smiled as he took her hand into his.
"You're worried. I can feel your emotions and from the depths of the ocean. I can hear your longing, and before you question me. We are now interconnected due to our engagement."
Unfazed, Yuni kept a cold expression as she pulled her hand away from his.
"Don't pity me. I'm merely thinking of what to do next. Everything has gone to shit anyways. What's the point of being with them if they'll just end up getting hurt because of me."
Kadell remained still, quietly listening to her.
"I've decided I'll go back to Kroma and this planned engagement of ours is done. Look, I want to get to know you, but if staying here risks my crew. Then, I can't afford that. Just, watch over them for me, they'll probably come and find me." she said, turning away from as she started walking.
"I may accompany them for the time being. To make sure your friends are protected and as for our engagement. It shall never be broken until you return and I know you will. I've seen a glimpse of us, a brief moment into the future."
Yuni scoffed, how laughable it was to hear that her fate was already sealed by the deities of the world.
"You know, when we first met. I felt something from you, not just love, but magic. Ethereal, beautiful, and powerful. Do you know what you are, Yuni?"
She turned around, clicking her tongue as she smirked. Arms crossed, except for one hand as she raised her middle finger at him.
"I've heard from Idol and Volhcard. Saying I was special, but I don't care what I really am. All I wish is to have a family. A family where I feel safe enough to remain calm and safe enough to ease up."
And then she continued to the city. Kadell smiled, looking back at the ocean before feeling the warm cool presence of his Mother.
"Mother, I think, I've fallen in love with a very wild woman just like you have with father." he silently spoke before swirling into a gyeser of water and falling back into the ocean.
Yuni found herself at the gates of the city where fine carriages. Rolling her eyes, she entered the one that was most grandiose.
Sitting next to her sister. Anastasia flinched before ordering the driver to start moving.
"I really can't believe you're going to come home. Honestly, never in my life did the idea that you of all people care for her friends..."
Her words bitter, but Yuni paid no heed as she leaned back. Arms crossed as she let out a sigh, a tense one as she closed her eyes.
Back at the inn, Sticky saw the carriages moving. And with Yuni not back, he knew immediately where she was.
Hopping frantically just as his door was opened. Aralia stood there grabbing him into her arms.
"What's gotten you so riled up?"
Right as she asked, Sticky sprouted one singular tentacle and pointed at the gates before gurgling lowly.
"Yuni, she's leaving, she's going back to Kroma."