Timothy and Chiaki left Sennecroft Holm and boarded the public ship. It sailed for an entire week until it finally arrived at its location.
They stood outside on the deck and looked into the distance where the island stood. "This is it," Timothy spoke, "The Distant Refuge." Chiaki suddenly bounced on her feet and grabbed Timothy's right wrist, "Wait! Tim did you just say the Distant Refuge?!" She continued pulling his arm to draw his attention to herself.
"Yeah. I received a letter seven days ago and asked the ship's captain for any hints as to where these coordinates could lead. What got you so excited? Do you know this place?"
Chiaki's face widened, and she smiled, "Do I know this place?! Of course, I know this place! It's where I met Emma! I came here with Blythe when I was just a little baby!" She called, loving the wind breezing past her vision, swaying her hair behind her ears.
"That's right... I forgot." Timothy spoke, looking at the shore. "But... it looks so different! I don't remember there being so many buildings close to the docks. It's like it got renewed. You can't see the hills from here anymore." She pointed her finger far into the distance and behind the city.
"Yeah, no kidding. It's nothing like the islands I'm used to seeing across the Vast Expanse. It reminds me of a city made in 2015, six years before." Timothy explained while his duffle bag shuffled behind him. "It's been 12 years... So, I guess it would make sense."
The city didn't look anything like the islands they came across. "That's because you're on the completely opposite side of the region. You're behind the Vast Expanse mountain's east. Cities and Islands here are equipped with modern technology, unlike the people in the west." It was a masculine voice that neared them.
Timothy and Chiaki looked and spotted a man. He was tall and slim. His eyes were as bright as the bluest sky. He had his tortilla-brown hair tied into a ponytail, and he wore a black jacket with a golden zipper with a phone around his neck. He wore expensive sneakers.
"And... you have a phone... Would come in handy if my phone didn't get soaked and break." Timothy crossed his arms and became unimpressed. "Sure I do. I'm Kheer. And if I recall correctly, you're the white-haired pirate Timothy, are you not?" Timothy nodded in silence and grinned with a high ego. "Ah, it's so good when you don't need to introduce yourself." He laughed and suddenly noticed a man screaming and getting tossed over the board. "You were lucky, flattie!"
Timothy's eyes became down as he saw Alpha exiting the restaurant, wiping her hands. "If one more person calls me a flattie, I'm cutting all your balls to laugh in your faces and call you ball-less! Then we'll see how funny it is when you have nothing to show!" She sheathed her swords and met up with Chiaki and Timothy.
"Is there one day you don't throw people about, Alpha?" He questioned, unimpressed together with Chiaki. "Yo! I'm not the one insulting people for having small breasts. I'm not scared to kick their asses!" She complained, seeing Chiaki giggling. "Oi! Who's this dude? Is he bothering you? Cuz I'm not afraid to throw 'em into the sea." She called, pointing her thumb to the side.
"I don't need a bodyguard, Alpha. And no, he's not like other men. Speaking about those men. What the hell happened?"
Alpha raised her chin and shut her eyes, "They lost a game of cards, so they got pissed at me and called me a flattie. Is that good enough for ya?" She questioned, watching Timothy put his hands on his hips. "Seriously... How do you never get kicked off a ship or anything? You always cause trouble when you don't need to."
Alpha crossed her arms, grunting to the side. "One dude tried... But you saw what happened to 'em." She explained, revealing that the person she played cards against was indeed one of the staff on the ship.
"That explains everything..." Chiaki added and looked at Kheer. "But, sir. How do you know Tim?"
Kheer reached for his phone and opened an app, showing it to Timothy, Chiaki, and Alpha. "See here? He's a wanted pirate with $500 million bolts of bounty, so are you and the crazy girl." Hinting at Alpha.
"Oi! What the hell?! You're tellin' me I got a bounty on my head because I helped Tim and his friends?! I'm gonna kill you!" Alpha shouted, frustrated at Timothy. "I don't know what you expected. The world government puts bounties on anyone's head who opposes them." He explained, persuading Alpha to look at the portrait. "Lemme see. How much?" She clutched Kheer's phone and scrolled down, "Some manners, Alpha!" Chiaki called.
"You're kiddin' me! I gained a $350 million bolt bounty from that one confrontation?!" She inquired, upset and frustrated. "If we count the havoc you caused at la Isleta Cortada, the time you fought the foremost agents on the railway and saved the white-haired pirate from drowning, the number makes sense. Oh, and let's not forget the problems you caused at la Cadena de Narón's agents."
Alpha became unamused, and her face became soulless. "Y'know... now that you mention it, that does make sense." She returned the phone and put her arms in her pockets. "Lookie-lookie! The alpha girl has finally become a pirate! Kinda jealous you gained more bounty than me from just one confrontation while I had problems across multiple islands."
Alpha rammed her elbow into Timothy's nose and almost knocked him into the sea, "Shut up!" Timothy spun his arms, catching his balance, and breathed heavily in fear. "Are you insane?! You almost knocked me in the water!" Timothy called, breathing heavily. "Eh... Keep it in your pants. I'd go after you and bring you back to the surface anyway." She explained and looked toward the city.
"Jeez... If I'm not gonna die to my enemies, I'm gonna get killed because of you." He called, fixing his stance. "Um... Kheer. Is there anything new about my wanted poster?" Chiaki inquired, worried a little. "Let me see," He checked and declined, "No, doesn't look like it. The only thing that changed about your poster is your current alliance with the white-haired pirates. And apparently, the world government sees you as a threat, so they changed your wanted poster to only wanting you dead."
Chiaki's arms dangled in front of her knees, and she sighed, "Guess I can't change it now." She raised her arms in front of her chest and made fists, "Then I definitely need to learn more about soul-linking!" Chiaki announced, joyous and excited. "Whoa, holdup... Who even are you? Aren't you scared of the pirates?" Alpha inquired, locking his eyes on him.
"Nah, I know you're good people, unlike other pirates. Besides, why should I be worried? I'm merely a shipwright coming from Itto-Itto Lands. Came here to gather some supplies for the ship I'm planning to craft." Timothy, Chiaki, and Alpha looked at him bewildered. "Don't remind me," Timothy grabbed his head, "We've been needing a shipwright since the beginning. Mostly due to Ayuka destroying it every so often." He explained, taking a deep breath.
"Yeah... I know what it's like to be missing a sturdy ship. I had the same experience, so I decided to become a shipwright and someday construct the biggest pirate ship in existence. It'll take years of hard work, but I know I can make it happen." He lowered his gaze onto Timothy, "And what about you? Anything you want to do in your life sailing as a pirate?"
Timothy needed a second to think. "I don't have a dream in life. My first dream was to return back home, but I'm thinking that maybe there is something else I want to achieve. I haven't found the answer I'm looking for yet, but I'll get it eventually." He placed his hands on his hips.
"I bid you good luck with that. What about you two?" He looked at Alpha and Chiaki, but Alpha grunted and declined to answer.
Chiaki gently placed her finger on her lips and thought, "I want to continue the Yasuda family's heritage. It's what my mother asked me to do. So, I'm planning to do just that." She explained, "That's good to hear. Happy you have something you're looking for."
Chiaki crossed her arms, "But first, I need to become a professional link to empower Tim with everything I got. And I need to learn how to fight by myself, especially when he's not with me."
Kheer chuckled and attached the phone back to his necklace. "Since you're heading to Acropolis, I can show you around. It was once my home, but then I moved to Itto-Itto Lands upon wanting to become a shipwright." Chiaki interrupted politely, "Acropolis? I thought the city here was called Arkala Town." Chiaki wondered, crossing her arms and looking past her chest.
"Yes, that's what it was known in the past. But now that it was renewed, becoming more popular and even one of the biggest cities around the world, they renamed it Acropolis. Pretty cool, huh?"
Chiaki seemed impressed and fascinated, "Please tell me they continue selling the greens and fruits that could only be found here at the Distant Refuge." She hoped and luckily received an answer.
"Worry not. They kept their tradition for years. And nowadays the salary for those special fruits and greens became more prominent. Some people sail the eastern ocean just to get their hands on some good zibberind and other fruits or vegetables. In fact, nature became more versatile, and they even discovered new fruits and came up with new recipes. Acropolis is surrounded by plenty of restaurants." He introduced them to a piece of brand-new information.
"They even constructed a giant school in the middle of the city known as Central Valley Academy. And the academy doesn't even have restrictions. Anyone from the age of 5 to 20 can attend it. It has two special districts; one for children who want to develop their special abilities and even those who require schooling without any additional reasons. It's the first city you'll arrive in if you pass the mountain."
Timothy and Chiaki were both amazed, while Alpha remained unimpressed. "But the people around here struggle more than those in the west. There are many Sea Nobles and Emperors who control this east. So you should be careful sailing around here without a strong crew."
They became more intrigued and heard the information from the radio over the ship, "Everyone on board! We will arrive at the Distant Refuge in three minutes! Grab your bags and prepare to enter the brand new world!"
The birds flew from the ship's top and over our heroes' heads.
To be continued...