Chapter 94
The sea wind hit the ship harder than expected.
Not calming.
Not peaceful.
Restless.
---
On the Ship
Wood creaked under tired footsteps.
Bandages wrapped around arms.
Blood still not fully cleaned.
Everyone was there.
Barely standing.
Barely breathing normally.
---
Marco stood near the railing, fists clenched.
Marco: "I shouldn't have left them."
Silence followed immediately.
---
esabell didn't answer right away.
She was still tightening a bandage around Chris's arm.
Guinevere didn't react at all.
---
Captain Bochy: "…Wouldn't have changed anything."
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Marco turned slightly.
Marco: "That's not the point."
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Guinevere slowly sat against a wooden crate.
Pain showed in her expression, but her voice stayed steady.
Guinevere: "It really wouldn't have."
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Chris shifted slightly.
Chris: "He wasn't something we could handle with numbers."
---
Silence fell again.
The words settled heavily.
---
Vendetta stood at the center of the deck, eyes lowered.
Vendetta: "The Sword of War…"
Everyone looked at her.
Vendetta: "That weapon… isn't normal."
Vendetta: "It belongs to Manasa."
---
Marco frowned.
Marco: "A goddess weapon?"
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Vendetta nodded.
Chris slowly looked up.
Chris: "…How does he have it?"
---
Vendetta hesitated.
Then answered.
Vendetta: "Only one way."
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Benedict: "Connection?"
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Guinevere: "Yes… a goddess doesn't simply grant that kind of power."
---
Vendetta nodded again.
Guinevere: "Maybe he was chosen…"
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Vendetta: "…Or he broke something higher than humans."
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A tense silence followed.
Captain Bochy finally spoke.
Captain Bochy: "First tell us—who are you people, and what is really going on?"
Everyone turned toward Vendetta.
---
Vendetta didn't respond immediately.
Then, honestly:
Vendetta: "There is a lot more going on than you all know.
But it will be better to discuss it later… once the Princess returns."
---
Silence again.
Then Marco asked the question everyone was holding back.
Marco: "Where is the Princess?"
---
The entire deck changed atmosphere instantly.
Chris straightened.
Guinevere lifted her head.
Captain Bochy stopped moving.
---
Vendetta looked down.
For a moment, she didn't answer.
Then quietly
Vendetta: "She will be here soon."
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Marco: "That's not an answer."
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Vendetta exhaled.
Vendetta: "There is no other way than waiting."
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Captain Bochy clenched his teeth.
Captain Bochy: "So she's—"
---
Vendetta cut him off sharply.
Vendetta: "Alive."
---
Silence again.
Heavier this time.
---
Vendetta lifted her gaze slightly.
Vendetta: "And she will return."
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Captain Bochy: "How can you be sure?"
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Vendetta: "At least… wait a little longer."
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Captain Bochy: "Wait for what? This nonsense?!"
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Marco: "Enough."
Everyone turned.
---
Marco: "We'll wait."
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Vendetta looked at him.
Vendetta: "Thank you."
Marco nodded once.
---
The wind passed across the ship again.
Colder this time.
---
Near the Ruins
Far from the sea.
Where stone was still broken.
Where dust still hadn't settled.
---
John walked slowly.
The Princess rested in his arms—unconscious.
Breathing faintly.
Alive.
---
His steps were steady.
But not relaxed.
He didn't look at her face for long.
Only briefly. Like checking something he didn't want to acknowledge.
---
A strand of her hair fell across her cheek.
He hesitated.
Too long.
Then carefully moved it aside.
---
His expression didn't change.
But his hand lingered a moment longer than necessary.
---
John: "…Stay stable."
No response.
Only silence.
---
The ruins behind them faded.
The battlefield disappeared into memory.
---
John adjusted his grip slightly.
Not too tight.
Not too loose.
Just enough.
---
The wind moved through both of them.
Cold.
Quiet.
---
And for a moment—
it didn't feel like rescue.
---
It felt like distance that still hadn't ended.
...CHAPTER 94ENDS...