"We are forever in your debt, daughter of the gods! Please feel free to treat this humble island as your own." The elder, along with the other villagers bowed their heads before Freyja with Astrid and Aria both standing behind her. "I'm sorry too, for causing trouble. It's Aria who's been doing this, but he didn't really mean it. He's under the control of a monster. But don't worry, he's back to normal now. This island too."
Now that the curse has been lifted, they can freely roam around the island, hunt and farm without threats. Freyja called Astrid and Aria back inside her medallion.
"Thank you for having us with you too."
The four of them were escorted by the tribe's warriors to the airships' landing area, around ten kilometers from the village proper. A couple of hours after they arrived, the airship that Kirin rented returned to pick them up.
"I guess this is where we part ways." Ryli stepped back. "I'll go back to Riyada in a few weeks. I guess I'll go hang out with them for a while."
"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Freyja offered her to join them, but she refused. "Of course! I'll save up some energy and fly to the next island. I'll be fine." Then, Ryli turned to Alaric. Freyja subtly distanced herself from the two.
"Alaric, I'm sorry. It's my fault, and you still came to save me." She's trembled.
Alaric sighed and shook his head. "It doesn't matter now. Just take care of yourself alright? Say hi to everyone for me." Alaric gave the little girl a soft kiss on the forehead surprising even Kirin and Freyja.
"Take care of yourself Ryli!" Freyja waved at the little girl, who is still red in shock. The three of them boarded the airship. Freyja waved at the tribesmen, who were all shouting their praises and prayers for the 'daughter of the gods.' The airship soon took off, heading to their next destination, the Di continent on the south.
Freyja, as usual, is in the control room of the airship early morning. She enjoyed chatting with the mechanics and learning about the ship's machinery. Kirin, like usual, is out in the lobby, all by himself while Alaric is enjoying a hot cup of tea while reading a book in his room. So far, it has been a smooth and peaceful journey, until now. All of a sudden, Kirin and Alaric both felt a malicious presence. They both rushed to the control room first thing.
"Freyja, stay close to me." Kirin reached her first. Freyja, having sensed the presence as well, was already on guard with her short sword unsheathed. "They don't seem to have dark aura." Carefully, they walked out of the control room, meeting the rune master on the way.
"Yes, I felt it too." Alaric said. They confirmed their suspicions right after hearing a loud screech from not so far away. "Sky Pirates!" The airship's crew cried out loud as warriors from a nearby airship started jumping into their deck. One of the sky pirates held a lady passenger as hostage. "Get away from her!" Freyja, charged at the bandit right away. The bandit turned his sword to Freyja, but she quickly disarmed him before slashing him with the blunt side of her short sword. More bandits came, but they were all unfortunate to have faced Kirin and Alaric. In no time, they swept all of them away without even breaking a single sweat.
"I guess Freyja's been really good with her swordsmanship lately." Alaric even managed to praise her amidst the attack. "Of course she will be." Kirin replied as-a-matter-of-factly.
"Retreat!" The bandits ran back to their ships while Freyja, Kirin and Alaric turned their backs as if nothing happened.
However, as soon as the bandits' airship left, their airship began to sway, losing its stability.
"W-what's happening!?" Freyja rolled to one side as the airship suddenly tilted. Kirin saw the smoke from the control room. "The control room was attacked!" He shouted. "This is bad, we're crashing!" Alaric started preparing a spell to cushion the three of them, since he can't handle something big as an airship.
"I'll try to do something! I'll be right back!" Freyja rushed to the control room, hoping to help the engineers. Freyja was sweating heavily, trying her best to help re-wire the ship's control system. The two men stood there, unable to help with the technical details.
"Kirin, go and help Freyja!" Alaric panicked.
"How about YOU help her?" Kirin shouted back.
Despite their best efforts the ship's tilt was getting worse. "Stop you two! Calm down!" Freyja shouted. "Don't worry, at least we can land safely!" She explained even with preoccupied hands. "We will glide to the nearest land!" The airship captain's orders are announced in the speaker system. "Ready for glide!" The chief mechanic shouted. And they all re-organized.
The ship's engine continued to burn, but they were able to open the gliders to glide in the nearest landmass. In no more than half an hour, they landed safe and sound, on an unknown land.
"We are alive..." Freyja and Alaric sighed. "Where the hell are we?" Kirin looked around, his brows furrowed. "Let's go and walk around. We have to look for a village at least." As Alaric suggested, the three of them left the ship and went on their way. As they searched for a settlement though, Kirin's uneasiness got worse.
"Kirin, what's the matter?" Freyja asked, noticing Kirin's troubled expression as he looked at the rather lively city. "That city. It can't be..." He mumbled with a heavy sigh. "This is bad." Kirin continued, "We are in Hawsdark."
"We're in... we're in Hawsdark!?" Alaric and Freyja chorused. "Wait, you mean this is Hawsdark? Then, technically, this is YOUR continent!" Of course, everyone knows that the entire Hawsdark continent belongs to the Aethelmaer clan.
"Tsh, of all the places, why do we have to end up here? Goddammit!" Kirin uttered a couple of curses before heading towards a ticket booth. He frantically searched for any airships available for immediate departure, but found none. The earliest flight schedule is more than a week from now. With this, they have to other choice but to stay in Hawsdark for a couple of days.
Alaric and Freyja wandered around while Kirin was even more quiet than usual. On the way, Kirin saw a mansion, which belongs to an acquaintance of his family. Freyja saw the bothered look on his face. And knowing Kirin's past and issues with his family, she could understand why he's been so uneasy ever since they came. They are about to head back to the inn, when they heard an old man calling them.
"Young master! Young master Kirin!"
A floating carriage stopped in front of them. Kirin was about to turn back when a grey-haired old man in a black suit shouted. "I knew it was you!" He looked harmless and rather happy.
"Young Master, I am much honored to see you. Do you have business with my lady?" The old man politely greeted.
"Don't be so loud, reveal my location and I'll kill you." Kirin threatened.
The old man just smiled, "Don't worry young master, my loyalty is with my lady and she's devoted to you more than anybody in the Aethelmaer clan. Disobeying you would mean disobeying my mistress."
"Lady?" Freyja thought, hearing a 'lady' as Kirin's acquaintance' for the first time.
"Please, I insist, do stay in the mansion, lady Kristril will be pleased."
"And what guarantee do I have that you won't betray us?" Kirin eyed him suspiciously.
The old man looked down, and Freyja noticed his sudden long face. He looked harmless and sincere to her. Nevertheless, she knows that the best one to decide regarding this would be Kirin. "Freyja, is that okay with you?" Kirin asked, throwing the decision to her all of a sudden.
"Well, I don't think he's lying." Freyja mumbled and Kirin suddenly glared at her. "I-I mean, Kirin is right, what assurance do you have?" Freyja sighed, getting his message instantly. "Kirin seems to hate the poor guy so much." she thought.
"Fine." Freyja's eyes widened, hearing Kirin's reply. "Whether we take your offer or not, we'll still be in Hawsdark, and the threats are all the same. Might as well have it under control."
"Young master!" The old butler's eyes sparkled, "Thank you young lady." He smiled at Freyja and Freyja awkwardly smiled in return.
"You heard him, let's go Freyja." Alaric too, was curious about Kirin's past and wanted to go.
Despite having Kirin agree, Freyja can still sense the anxiety in his face. He's unusually fidgety and restless too. But as Kirin said, whether they take the offer or not, they'll still be in Hawsdark. Deep inside, Freyja was hoping to know more about his past and the Aethelmaer clan. Although Freyja was having second thoughts herself, the best she can do is to prepare herself to support Kirin whatever it is that might happen during their stay.
~ o 0 o ~