Luna looked away from her map to the island coming up. "No doubt about it that's Hama Island."
"You guys should be careful," Aline lectured.
"Do you think the Ichi Army will come for us?" Octavius asked.
"Beats me," Aline answered. "But all I know is that we need to hurry and stock up so we can leave."
"Shinzo give me money," Paolo said. "I'm going shopping."
"What for?" Shinzo asked with narrowed eyes, dropping the anchor into the water as the ship docked at Hama Island, a one town island with a wide stretch of sparse land away behind the town.
He grinned. "I want to buy books."
Shinzo sighed. "Fine, but you're only allowed to buy five of them."
"I'll come with you if that's fine," Aziz said. "I've always wanted to see other islands in our country."
Anisa jumped up, raising her hands. "I want to go too."
"Are you sure?" Aline asked.
Aziz nodded. "We'll be fine since we not only have Captain Paolo protecting us, but Cairo."
Cairo bleated, but the sound quivered. Luna laughed. "Your bodyguard doesn't sound too enthusiastic."
Shinzo handed Paolo a pouch of money and turned to Aziz. "Do you want some too?"
Aziz smiled. "If that's okay with you then I don't mind."
After a few preparations, Paolo and the royal family disappeared into the town. Aline came out of the kitchen.
"Oi Shinzo, let's continue our competition from last time and get ingredients."
Shinzo smirked. "You can't win."
"Don't act all cocky, idiot."
The two left the ship shouting insults at each other while Octavius and Luna watched them leave.
"Want to get some cake?" Luna asked.
Octavius grinned. "Yes please."
...
Paolo picked up a book from the shelf at the book store with the name, Albanian History.
"That's a pretty interesting book you picked, it's the book written by Erin in his history series," Aziz said from behind him.
"I was looking for one at Musk Island, but they didn't seem to have," Paolo said, scrolling through more books. "I'm collecting each book in the series from the places themselves."
"You really like books?"
Paolo smiled flipping through the book. "Isn't it cool, learning things about the world from such a small object." His eyes glimmered. "One day, I want to be able to inspire people like Erin inspired me."
Aziz stared at Paolo before asking a question he never thought he would. "Do you think I can do the same? Be a king that inspires my people."
Paolo hummed. "That's not something I can decide for you. The only one who can make their future and dreams is you."
"I'm bored," Anisa whined, interrupting their conversation from her spot on a chair.
Aziz flicked her forehead. "Don't act spoilt."
She pouted. "They didn't let Cairo in."
Paolo ruffled her hair. "Sorry your majesty, but a goat in a shop would be troublesome. To make up for it, I'll buy you some sweets."
She grinned widely. "Yay."
After a few minutes, they stepped out of the book shop. Paolo grinned, holding his pack of books to his chest. "I got some good stuff."
Anisa searched the front of the shop, but found it empty. She frowned, turning to Paolo and her older brother. "Hey… where's Cairo."
.....
Shinzo walked down the streets, holding a crate of vegetables with a satisfied smirk on his lips.
he thought.
Girls on the streets fawned over him and he waved as a form of getting them to stop, but they only fanned their flushed cheeks.
He sighed,
His body skid to a halt his brown eyes dulled, staring into nothingness. The fruity voice spoke once more, his head bobbing at her words.
He nodded, walking to the direction given to him.
.....
Luna caught sight of an alcohol vendor, separating herself from Octavius who stood not too far off. She looked through the collection of wines before finally buying a whole pack.
Before she could collect it, her body froze as a fruity voice whispered in her ear,
Her green eyes lost all life as she ignored her stuff and started moving towards the designated area. The shopkeeper called after her, but she didn't hear him. After she disappeared round the bend, Octavius turned to where she was.
"Luna?"
The shopkeeper pointed down the street. "Your friend left without her purchase."
"Huh!"
.....
"Luna has disappeared."
"What do you mean disappeared?" Paolo asked Octavius who met them in front of the book shop.
"She was behind me one minute and the next she was gone."
Anisa sobbed beside Paolo, the captain stroking her hair gently. "C-Cairo is gone."
Aziz frowned. "Wait, wait, let's calm down and assess the situation."
"If they only took Cairo, I would theorize that the Ichi Army is here, but they also took Luna, so it could be someone with a vendetta against us," Paolo said. "Worst case scenario, the Ichi Army know we have you with us and are acting on it."
"But only people that came for the exam know about this quest," Aziz argued.
Paolo stroked his chin, examining everything till now before speaking. "It's her."
"Who?"
"Ariel of the Sandstorm Adventurers was a spy, I'm ninety percent sure she's the one that leaked the information to the Ichi Army."
Aziz's eyes widened. "You don't mean…"
Paolo nodded solemnly. "If she had passed and taken your quest, you guys would have been as good as dead."