"WAIT!" Leona shouted as she woke up with her right arm outstretched as if trying to reach for someone. "Huh? Where…?"
Above her there was an unfamiliar wooden ceiling. She attempted to sit up, but the difference in weight on one side of her body made her lose a bit of balance as she caught herself against the couch with her right hand.
Looking to the left side of her body there was the confirmation of her worry. Her left arm was indeed missing and where the limb used to be, there was now a bandaged stump. However instead of despair, she felt strangely at peace.
The gentle sway of the ship was proof that they were indeed out of danger and the quiet sounds of cawing seagulls in the distance was yet another cue that the storm had truly passed.
A relieved sigh left Leona's mouth as she then began to look around. As she moved her body her right hand bumped against someone that was kneeling beside the couch.
"Kaeli?"
The high elf had her eyes closed with a hide blanket tossed on top of her back as she slept—seemingly tired from whatever she was doing. There was a bit of drool coming out of the edge of her mouth which prompted Leona to chuckle a bit.
"She saved you Lady Leona." A familiar voice came from the hallway to her left. Sylas was just bringing more potions in a wooden crate, when he noticed the tactician awake. "Good morning."
"Ah, good morning Sylas." She smiled weakly. "How is Krieg and Cecile doing?"
At first there was a brief pause as the chirurgeon asked himself if that really was the first thing she was asking after being unconscious for so long. He chuckled and with a smile, explained.
"They have recovered and both are outside at the moment. Do you wish for me to call them?"
"Oh no, no need. I'll head outside in a moment. It's just… I'm surprised and glad to be alive that is all."
She tilted her head down in order to look at Kaeli who was still sleeping, seemingly unaware of her gaze. Sylas followed her eyes and approached them with the crate of potions.
"Lady Kaeli did her best to stabilize your mana." He placed the wooden box beside the couch. "She spent three days and three nights treating you, my lady."
"I must have misheard you, three days, are you sure?"
He took one of the diluted potions and carefully dripped a bit on a cloth before rubbing against Kaeli's right cheek. Only after he pushed the hide aside her face that Leona noticed there was a faint cut on her skin.
"That I am. She refused to eat or sleep while she treated you." He put the potion away as he placed the used cloth in another satchel for disposal. "Now if you excuse me. I must tend to the stock of medicine."
He stood up and walked back to the hallway.
Leona was in disbelief. Their fleeting alliance was forged on the principle to take down Akamui and yet even after the beast was dead and gone, Kaeli went through the extra effort to save her life.
She brought her right hand over the stump of her left shoulder and squeezed it tightly.
"This is a small price to pay…" She stood up, stumbling to the right a bit from the different center of gravity. "Ngh…"
After regaining her balance, she looked around the room for her weapon and noticed the handle sticking out from the side of the couch.
'There it is.'
She knelt to pick it up only to notice a dismembered arm covered in crystals beside it. A revolting feeling came from beneath her stomach; her first reaction was to gag before she forcibly swallowed dry to keep the urge to vomit in check.
'What the… is that my arm?'
Her instinct was to reach for it. Once she got a hold of the limb, it felt cold and hard on the touch as if it wasn't made of flesh anymore.
A chill went down her spine as she retracted her hand and simply took the longsword with her.
'Dwelling about it won't do me any good…'
She stood up and turned to the exit of the dining hall where soft rays of morning sunlight came through.
'I better go see them.'
Upon sheathing her longsword, she made her way to the stairs. However upon lifting her left leg she felt a sharp pain come from her left thigh where she was wounded a few days before, only now she realized how much it really hurt. While wincing in pain, she used her right hand against the wooden wall to help her keep balance—once she was done climbing the stairs she was greeted by the cloudless blue sky and shining morning sun.
"Leona?"
A voice came from behind her and as she turned around, Cecile was staring at her with wide eyes and a half open mouth of surprise. The half elf's surprised voice made all the crewmembers on deck to face her, which in turn made them see Leona.
"She's awake!"
"It's Princess Leona!"
"Leona!"
Krieg's voice was the loudest of them all. Before Leona could utter a word, he closed the gap surprising her by enveloping her in a tight hug.
"Mhmph!"
She exclaimed as her face was squeezed against Krieg's chest.
"Leona… I'm so sorry… I-"
She patted his back with her right hand as if saying to let go. After a few light slaps, she was finally able to breathe.
"Ah!" She took a deep breath and looked him in the eyes with a smile on her face. "I'm back."
Despite being glad, his facial expression was of a man who had lost the battle. He couldn't tear off his eyes from her wounded arm as if it was his fault that she was that way now.
"Leona…"
"Don't look at me like that Krieg." With her head tilted up, she reached for the left side of his face and rubbed his cheek with a smile on her face. "I wouldn't be able to live off knowing I could've saved everyone but lacked the resolve to do so."
Other crew members approached her, namely Cecile and Luka, both of which had expectant eyes as they both asked in unison.
"Are you alright?"
She gave them a bright smile.
"Well, I'm alive aren't I?" Both embraced her in a tight hug around her neck that she could barely breathe. "Oof! Not so hard!"
"I'm sorry I just…" Cecile was trying to hold back her tears, but failed to do so as the inevitable sobbing and hiccuping made it more difficult for her words to come out. "...when we all saw you in that state… we…"
"We're glad to have you back Lady Leona!"
Krieg smiled unconsciously as he saw them all over his liege. It was then when the butler Percival arrived from the stairs, at first he looked confused at the commotion but after seeing Leona being smothered by the two fellow crew members he also smiled warmly while approaching Krieg.
"I suppose a warm hug once in a while does wonders to one's well-being." He said while whisking the sides of his mustache. "I am glad she made a full recovery."
"Thankfully yes… though what of Phoebe? You mentioned she was-"
"I apologize for doing this to your companion but I believe it is unwise to let her out of that room." The butler's voice had a sense of worry. "After all, if she truly is the legendary royal assassin then she'll stop at nothing to kill Lady Kaeli. Despite what she did back in Astera, she still saved your liege and for that, my mistress is eternally grateful."
In truth, both Phoebe and her sister left a bitter taste in Krieg's mouth. Both could kill anyone on that ship if they wanted to and while he could certainly go against one of them, but the two were a bit too much to ask from the knight.
"Very well… has she eaten at least?"
Percival nodded.
"Despite appearances I'm a capable butler, Sir Krieg. I wouldn't have a guest of our esteemed captain to go hungry on a long voyage such as this."
"Right… thank you, Percival. When I came to be and found Leona collapsed without an arm I could hardly make a sensible decision, not to mention about Phoebe."
"What about Phoebe?" After being freed from the hug, Leona overheard their conversation and approached the two. "Is she alright?"
"Um…"
Percival was trying to find words to dissuade the young woman but Krieg simply shook his head while sighing under his breath.
"Save your attempts to fool her, Percival. I'll go ahead and show it to her myself."
"As you wish sir Krieg."
The knight offered his hand to lead Leona seeing how she was hobbling on the left side of her foot. When she placed her right hand on his, he used his left arm to support her from the waist so she wouldn't have to fear falling on the stairs.
"Thank you Krieg."
He nodded and they headed downstairs. Luka, Cecile and Percival were left on deck and the half elf glanced at the butler before discreetly asking.
"What did you do exactly to Phoebe?"
"I had to restrain her. If not she would've killed Lady Kaeli while she was in the middle of treating Lady Leona."
"Oh… how did you know she hated her?"
"I overheard a conversation she had with our captain the night before we set sail. She said something about finding her so she could personally end her life."
"That sounds dark…" Luka commented with some of the color leaving his face. "I wouldn't want to be in either of their shoes…"
"Hey!" Charlotte shouted from the helm seeing how they were just talking amongst themselves. "If you have time to chit-chat you also have time to work! Get back to it!"
"Aye ma'am!"
"Yes! Ma'am!"
"At once, my lady."
The trio spread out around the deck as they each went out to look for something to do. Charlotte sighed before focusing on piloting the ship.
'I just hope we won't have any more trouble…'
Once they went downstairs, Krieg still loosely held Leona around her hip as she took her time with each step. A fragrant smell of boiled leaves tickled her nose as she reached about halfway of the dining hall.
Sylas was offering some tea to a recently awoken Kaeli. She was sitting on the couch where Leona was treated with a blanket on her shoulders.
"Ah…" The high elf let out a satisfied sigh. She seemed cozy enough that it would be hard to think she was actually an enemy. "Thank you Sylas. Your tea is always very tasty even by itself."
"It's my pleasure, Lady Kaeli. I have to say, forgoing to use an anesthetic spell due mana shock unconsciousness was a smart idea."
She smiled wryly.
"It was my only option. If I waited any longer those crystals would've aggravated her situation even more." She rubbed her right thumb around the edge of the ceramic cup—her brows frowned in bitterness. "Though I can't help but feel responsible for her arm. If I was faster then maybe…"
"You need not burden yourself with such thoughts." Leona announced as she approached them. She raised her left stump. "Though I would prefer to have it back, it's not like it's my arm anymore."
Kaeli's eyes widened a bit before she averted her gaze.
"Leona…"
"Lady Leona, I see that you are faring quite well." Sylas was looking at her with a somewhat worried gaze. "However, do make good use of moderation. Your treatment was nothing short of a miracle. If not for Lady Kaeli I dare not think what would have happened."
"I appreciate your care and worry but I'm fine. I just need to see to this situation." She declared with a confident smirk. "Only then I'll be able to rest easily."
Kaeli's gaze followed the two as they walked past them which prompted her to ask.
"Where are you…?"
"Your sister." Leona answered. "I need to talk to her."
The high elf simply glanced at the floor between her feet as she mumbled under her breath.
"I see…"
Leona made it past the wooden arch that separated the dining area from the sleeping quarters. The air there felt heavy and while she had Krieg's help to walk, her left leg gave in as she stumbled to the same side.
"Ugh…"
"Don't you want to leave this for another time? You shouldn't push yourself too hard right after waking up."
"No Krieg, I must see to this." She winced in pain but still kept walking, albeit slower. "I won't be able to rest if I don't know how Phoebe is faring."
He quietly nodded and with a bit of time, they made it to the door just before the end of the hallway where Phoebe's room was.
In truth, Leona didn't know much about her other than the desire to get revenge, but after the lengths Kaeli went to save a life that she was meant to take—it bothered the tactician. Why would someone kind as her seek to kill their own mother? For what end did she do it? And was it really what happened? Those questions plagued her mind and left a bitter taste in her mouth.
As they stopped by the wooden door, Leona brought her right hand and knocked on the door.
"Phoebe? It's me, can I come in?"
A few seconds passed before they heard a quiet muffled reply.
"Curses…"
Leona shared a worried glance with Krieg for a split second before she announced.
"I'm opening the door."
She grabbed on the door knob and the door opened into the room. It was poorly lit inside, but with whatever light that came from the outside of the ship Leona was just able to make out the shape of a person on the bed. After spending a few more seconds in the dim room—her eyes adjusted to the darkness and she was able to see the high elf bound by ropes. Thick coils of cord were tying her wrists to her ankles.
"Phoebe." Leona's eyes were wide in disbelief. "What happened to you?!"
"Heh, come to think of it." Phoebe ignored the question as she was clenching her teeth in anger. "She is lucky that damn butler knows how to bind someone useless. I'd have gutted her open like a fish already if it weren't for these ropes."
"Wait, Percival did this?" She looked at Krieg who was frowning his brows as if he was hiding something. "Krieg, tell me why she is being held like this?"
The knight sighed discreetly before his eyes locked onto hers as he answered the question by his liege.
"I was the first to wake up after being knocked out and by that time Kaeli was already treating you." He looked at Phoebe with pity in his eyes. "But neither Luka or Sylas knew about Phoebe's relationship with her. When she tried to kill Kaeli on the spot I knew I had to protect her in order to save you."
"I see…"
"Let me out of this place!" Phoebe yelled from the top of her lungs which startled Leona as she never heard her shout like that. The high elf's eyes had a gloom aura to them. "I swear if any of you get in the way of my revenge again I will kill you!"
She tried to forcefully undo the rope but without tools or blades at her disposal, there was nothing she could do as her strength wasn't enough to rip through the thick cord. The skin around her wrists were starting to become red from the friction of her trying to get rid of the knot.
"Calm down Phoebe, please…"
Leona softly asked as she began to approach her with an outstretched hand before Krieg gently grabbed her forearm and shook his head as she turned to face him. With her gums bleeding from the excessive force she was exerting on them with her clenching mouth, Phoebe lashed out with bloodshot eyes.
"I'LL RIP YOUR HEART OUT! YOU HEAR ME?!" She screamed her lungs out filled with hatred. "I'LL KILL YOU KAELI!"
Her voice echoed throughout the hallway into the dining hall where Sylas stopped midway as he was walking away from Kaeli while holding her empty mug to wash it. He was taken aback by the screams.
"Is Lady Phoebe really your younger sister? Lady Kaeli?"
"Yes…" She had a bittersweet smile on her face despite the obvious threats. "My one and only little sister… but it's time I take responsibility for what I've done."
She stood up and made her way to the sleeping quarters. Krieg heard footsteps approaching through the clacking of soles against the wooden floor which made him rest his right hand on the handle of his weapon.
"What brings you here?"
He asked with his head slightly turned to the right.
"I'm here to see my sister."
Once Leona realized Kaeli was right behind them, she turned to speak to her but was interrupted by another outburst of rage from Phoebe.
"YOU BASTARD!" Her wrists were starting to bleed from the excessive exertion to free herself. "I'LL RIP YOUR THROAT OUT!"
Kaeli's pain was obvious in her expression but even with the endless threats hurled by none other than her sister—she decided to walk in the room, going past both Krieg and Leona. She stopped by the edge of the bed.
"Phoebe. It's no good for you to strain yourself like that."
She hunched over and reached with her left hand for her sister's face when Leona quickly warned.
"Kaeli you shouldn't-!"
"HNGH!"
With all her might, Phoebe bit down on Kaeli's thumb, drawing blood from it. Though wincing in pain, the older sister smiled nonetheless as she softly said.
"I'm sorry but… you should rest for the time being." Sparks suddenly shot out of her hand. "Fulgent lightning, grant rest unto this weary soul, Sleep."
With a short gasp, Phoebe's eyes slowly closed as she cursed her sister one last time before losing consciousness.
"I hate you, Kaeli…"
"I'm sorry, little sister." She straightened her back and held the wounded left thumb with her other hand. After taking a deep breath she turned around and looked Leona in the eyes. "I know you must be tired, but could I have a word with you?"