The Hero sat on the canoe as the wind pushed he and his companion towards their destination. It was day time, but the gods must have favored them, for the wind kept them on their path. From what the Hero could tell, the canoe had kept the same path all night, and he assumed that they were still heading to the location of the Fallen one due to the wind quickly altering the course of the canoe if it had altered its trajectory.
The Hero was currently more focused on his axe, diligently studying the simply tool to see if the markings that it had gained while in his use were still there. After some time, he had found the desired blemishes: a chip near the top of the blade, a chunk of rock missing from the center of the blade itself, and a dark stain on the wood where one would hold the weapon. Each of these scars reminded the Hero of when the axe had saved his life.
The Maiden who was forced to join him still held the oar to the water, altering the angle of the blade if the waters looked to be shifting to keep the canoe aligned with the wind. The sun boar down on her mocha brown skin, and made her curly light brown hair seem to glow. She had hesitated to speak with the Hero before, but now after being alone with him for the entire night, and now it currently being almost midday, she relented, releasing a sigh as she prepared to speak to him.
The Hero had beaten her to the punch, however, turning towards her unnaturally fast and hitting her with the question he had been dying to ask. "What is your name? You were there when putting the Serpent Squid Ink on me, did that not bother you? Why did the Shaman send you-"
She raised her hand to his mouth, properly shutting him up so she could actually say something. "My name is Kulana," She began, slowly removing her hand from his lips, "I am one of the Shaman's aids, as was my sister, who you were with last night, so you make sure you survive this journey we're on." Her eyes seemed like fangs piercing his soul as she waited for an answer. After a short moment, the Hero nodded, knowing that, as with his grand mother, it was not a promise that he could truly keep. She knew this, but never the less, continued after the nod. "The ink is rather potent, and I can feel some of it still on my finger tips, so yes, it is bothering me, but I suppose that it is the way it's supposed to be. I guess that it does not bother you one bit since you're 'The Hero' though, correct?" She asked sarcastically.
He wanted to confirm her assumption, but in reality he had not been able to rest one moment ever since they applied it to his body. The ink was suppose to increase his strength and ability, but all it did was burn like the fires of Pelocane, and he really wanted to take a long dip in the ocean to wash it all off. There was no way he felt stronger; if anything the ink was making him weaker. The Hero decided to answer her sarcastic remark. "In all honesty, Kulana, it is rather bothersome. I only allowed it because it was tradition, but..." He looked at the black markings on his body, the edges of the skin that made contact with the ink appearing slightly burned. "I have a feeling that this is gonna kill me before we reach any island. If you don't mind..."
The Hero then lowered himself down to the side and grabbed on to one of the jako holding the two pieces of the canoe together and lowered himself into the ocean. The water smacked him hard, making him grab hold of the jako with both hands instead of one. The cold water pressed hard against his body, and he felt the salty liquid grate against his ink spots. Groaning, he held on until he felt only the constant sting of the salt water.
Kulana had managed to slow the canoe down slightly, and the wind had stopped blowing in order for the Hero to climb back out of the water. Kulana helped him, grabbing one of his arms and pulling up. The Hero winced when she grabbed his arm and she could feel the fresh skin where the ink had been. He climbed back onto the canoe and the air burned, making him wonder whether that was a mistake.
The areas where the ink had been placed on his tan skin were now a bright red, standing out against his body. He breathed through the pain as his nerves were assaulted. Kulana simply looked upon his body in awe, reminded of one of the myths the Shaman had told her.
A warrior whose skin shall be marked with the blood of the gods will bring ruin upon those who threaten all life.
The Hero clenched his fists, still groaning as his skin grew accustomed to the stinging. It was not as bad as the constant burn of the ink, but it was still bothersome. "Kulana, do we have any soothing ointments?" He asked the maiden through gritted teeth.
Pulled out of her stupor, she thought for a moment, looking to the small removable surface of the canoe. "Ah, I believe so, one moment." She then moved and searched in the compartment in the canoe. Neither were concerned on how the canoe continued to sail true despite no one steering it.
Kulana pulled out a small coconut container, removing a dried leaf cover to reveal a white paste. "Sit down and I'll put it on you. It won't heal the burns, but it should ease the pain." Without speaking, he nodded, sitting down on the edge of the canoe. Kulana scooted towards him and grabbed some of the paste. She lathered it on the areas she had covered in ink the night before, causing the Hero to flinch. As the paste covered the markings, the Hero could feel the stinging fade away and began to breath easier.
Neither knew about the eyes within the waves watching them from afar.