"There was one thing I was certain of when I decided to study to be an inquisitor. It was that you need to be very understanding of death. Death does not pick favorites, it is merely chance and foolishness that grants death."
I opened my eyes after I finished speaking and saw an adolescent female in front of me. Not much older than myself. Those green eyes of her peered at me with fascination from my soliloquy. Her orange-red hair was slightly unkempt in its short form. She wore black studded leather armor, similar to myself. Around her waist were a flintlock pistol and a saber within its scabbard.
"Wow, Icarus when did you ponder philosophy during your training as an inquisitor?" She asked curiously.
I got up from the wooden stool I sat on as she stood up as well. Pacing around a small room, I began to hear the creaking of wood. The constant shifting of the ground was slightly nauseating. And to top it all off, all there was to light the windowless room was a singular lantern.
"Such ideas have always consumed my mind. To be frank with you, ever since I acknowledged higher concepts such as life and death, I wanted to piece as much together as I could."
The red-headed girl walked closer towards me as she extended her hand out.
"I know we never got to formally meet while at the college Icarus, but I'm pleased to be your accomplice on our first mission." She smiled with glee as I took her offer and gave a firm shake. Returning the smile with a small smirk on my face.
"I hope for both of our successes as inquisitors, Lucia."
She gave a confidant nod back as she moved towards the other side of the room where she laid down on an uncomfortable bed.
"While I do respect you Icarus, I do think it's a bit inconsiderate to room two novice inquisitors of the opposite sex in the same ship bunk. Wouldn't you say?" She sat back up quickly after, adjusting her gaze at me.
I gave a candid shrug back towards her.
"We're both members of the church, Lucia. I don't know about your convictions, but mine is to remain chaste as the church states for any of its followers." I walked closer to my bed, as I took off my sheathed silver longsword and my lever-action rifle. Placing both with great care right next to my bed.
"Well, I suppose that is a bit more comforting from you, Icarus. Although, you can understand my concern for such. Not many women are inquisitors of the church. At least in Spain. And I've heard stories that some are mistreated by the higher-ups." Lucia said with a relieved tone that slowly escalated to a more concerned one.
"I never really involved myself with the controversies or politics of the church. The only reason I became a huge follower was for me to be accepted into the Inquisitor Academy."
Adjusting myself to a comfortable spot on the bed was difficult. The constant shifting of the room made it hard to stay relaxed for so long. I soon began to get irritated as I just sat up in my bed. Lucia slightly chuckled at my struggle.
"Well, it is good you wanted to become an inquisitor. I don't think you'd be much good as a factory worker, plus some say that those buildings are more dangerous than the work of an inquisitor." Lucia stated in a more cheery tone.
"You aren't wrong at all. However, I hope that the Church never sends me to the British Isles ever again. I have a great distaste for seafaring if every experience is going to be as such."
"Well if you are lucky, you may be forever stationed in America. I heard they have some issues that need to be handled. Although for now, we are mostly going to be working in the Isles." Lucia said with a touch of optimism.
I reached for my longsword as I unsheathed the silver blade from its scabbard. The dark leather hilt of the blade fitted perfectly with its grooves as I went into my pack and pulled out a small grindstone and began to sharpen the blade.
"I just don't see why us Spanish inquisitors have to deal with the arcane beasts of the Isles. It was their King Arthur who blessed the world with mana. And in turn, the reason why those Isles have so many foul creatures."
Lucia giggled a bit more as she picked up her saber and began to brandish it.
"Well if you want my opinion Icarus. As one of the four Great Powers of the world, we need to obtain as much information as we can about the mysteries of mana. And the British have been very secretive about such. It's a blessing in disguise for our nation. The Order of the Inquisitors has been one of the most powerful groups because of the combination of our academic and martial abilities."
"You aren't wrong with any of that. The higher-ups must have a reason for sending us here. And with the possibility of war times coming, I can understand why they'd send an envoy composed of novice inquisitors to assist rather than master inquisitors."
She gave a simple nod in response. A few seconds later, we heard a bell ringing from the top deck. Informing us all that in half a day we'd be at our destination. I turned over to Lucia as I gestured towards the lantern near her. She picked up the lantern and blew out the candle. We both laid in our beds and tried to get the best sleep we could.