Baron paddled the boat forward, surprisingly enjoying the swim. The others didn't mind him staying out for long since his swimming was faster than a ship's.
Claudina had burrowed Anatole's veil as a blindfold lest the feeling of dread make her shiver right into the sea.
"...So…" Shulia began. "Whose child is this?"
Esme clung on to Claudina's side more, trying to hide herself.
"Hmm…well she's certainly not mine nor is she related to me anyway. Let's just get that out of the way." Esme snuggled even closer, tightening her grip on Claudina's bloodied clothes.
"And…"
Claudina looked down at Esme. "Do you want to tell them, or shall I?"
Her voice was quiet like a mouse. "Please tell them…"
"Ok…this is Esme Dalles, the future Saintess of Chronos. Her and four other boys and girls are taking the mantle as the 23rd generation of Saints while the 22nd Saints are acting as teachers. I did tell you about the ongoing war," she rapid fired leaving no room for argument. Though nobody noticed Claudina had gently pressed her hand to Esme's side. Esme understanding kept her mouth shut.
Sullivan leaned forward. "Oh is she now? Tell me how my successor is? Are they handsome? Or are they as cute as me?"
Esme blushed and tried to hide behind Claudina again. Sullivan still persisted by getting up from his seat and coming near. A hand stopped him.
"Please don't. She's already shy as it is and it took both Lord Chronos and I to get her out of her shell."
"Aww~ A shy little lamb~ That makes me wanna be her friend more."
Though Claudina wore her blindfold she could feel Anatole staring at her. She fiddled with her hands.
"... Introductions aside, the main question still remains," Anatole finally spoke. "How on earth did the kid get here in the past?"
"...Are you implying I bought Esme here?"
He scoffed. "Now when did I say that?"
Claudina narrowed her eyes under the blindfold in annoyance. "You didn't need to say it. Your actions speaks louder."
"Can you blame me? You have been vague about everything; how you came to the past and what not."
"I am telling the truth. I was in the academy when all of a sudden I was by the fountain in the square."
"Why were you in the academy when there is war going on? If we were to go by your words you should have been in the frontlines giving your all."
"I don't know what sort of commoners' lesson you are comparing with the nobles. As a noble and the only heir to the greatest duchy in Chronostis it is expected of me to keep up with my studies. And besides I had just come home from the battlefield with important reports to directly give to Chronos."
"Still seems suspicious. Don't you think?" he asked, turning to Shulia.
"Oh, no, no you don't get to bring me in your arguments."
"Miss Fairy, don't worry. We believe you. Ana's still bitter about giving up his sword."
"I am not bitter. I want a valid reason."
Esme softly voiced out. "Um…excuse me…"
Sullivan gasped. "What were we thinking, arguing in front of a child?!" He leaned forward. "Sorry. Were you scared? Grown ups have lots of things to talk about and sometimes we just run our mouths."
Esme shook her head, her side pigtails swaying with the motion. "It's fine. Mama and papa would argue lots…so Esme's used to it."
Shulia's eyes widened and looked at Claudina for clarification. Claudina held up five of her fingers. "...Took her in," she mouthed out.
Nodding she glanced at the small child in pity.
"...And Saintess Claudina didn't bring me here either."
"Then how did you get here?" Esme paled at Anatole's harsh tone.
"Ana you are scaring the lamb. I can tell you will be a horrible parent in the future."
"Esme," the girl in question looked up at Claudina. Though Claudina couldn't see her, Esme could feel her gentle gaze. "Speak up. It will be alright. I am here for you."
"...yes…well…I a-am not sure how Esme got here too..."
"Pardon?"
"Uh….I was…" she stopped and glanced at Claudina for assurance. She silently encouraged her to speak.
Taking a deep breath Esme started. "I was in the temp-temple that day when a bright light came from under-ne-ath me."
"And then, then I was on this island. F-for so looooong!" she sobbed and clung on to Claudina as tears fell anew. "Waaaahhhh! I was so scared!"
Claudina held her close. "Hush now. Everything's alright. I am here now aren't I?"
"I wanna go home! Home!"
She placed her on her lap, holding her close. "Yes, yes. We will go home soon. Very soon."
Esme sniffled in her hold babbling to go home. Getting tired and angry at her increasing tone Anatole put her to sleep using magic.
Claudina stared at him astound.
"What are you looking at?" he asked, annoyed.
"Using magic to make children fall asleep is a potential hazard. You shouldn't do that."
He rolled his eyes at her before taking out his compass and a map.
"Flu'er island is done for and judging by the direction we are going…we are thankfully going in the eastern empire's direction."
"We'll be lucky if we find a boat then."
He nodded at Sullivan's words. "Indeed."
Shulia touched his arm. "Sylvester, why are you so silent?"
It made him snap out of his thoughts. "Oh…uh it's nothing. Just…musing something."
She smiled sadly. "...Alright but tell us if something's wrong. We are here for you."
He nodded his head before turning to the Esme.
"So the girl's name was Esme, hm?" Sylvester smiled. "It suits her; a lovely name for a lovely girl."
They reached the eastern empire, Carmadi with their flimsy boat.
Before they arrived Sullivan cast invisible magic on them so when the boat reached the harbor people were confused as to how an unmanned boat had paddled it's way to here.
"We need to find our people soon," Anatole said, hurrying them.
"Agreed. They need to know what happened to Flu'er island. Sullivan, don't lag behind! Claudina's faster than you and she's carrying a kid."
"I am sorry, Li-li but I am literally fighting with a curse that eats away my life here! Hey! Hey!"
Sylvester lugged Sullivan on his shoulder like a bag of potatoes. "Okay let's not fight here."
"...This is very uncomfortable."
"It's just for a bit."
"Oooh....All my blood is going to my head..."
They soon found the people from Nyxrif. Huddled in dark cloaks and animal masks they silently approached them.
Whilst they gave their reports Claudina had whisked Esme off with her.
Giving a nod to Anatole as she passed, she scouted the nice, homely looking inn Lord Nyx had paid for them.
As she went on her way she casually plucked off a cloak from the shops, a large brimmed hat for Esme and some sea sickness medicine.
"Saintess?"
"Yes, dearie?"
Esme touched her hat. "Isn't this st-stealing?"
"No."
"But we didn't pay for them."
"When we will escape I will blast off the treasury and make it rain. They will get paid."
"Oh."
Entering the inn she walked with queenly air at the front desk. Despite the blood and dirt she still looked regal. She rang the bell and the innkeeper came out. "Welcome to Travis's Manor! How many I help you to-"
Claudina interrupted him. "We have a reservation. It's listed for the five saints and one." Her clear voice betrayed her appearance.
Before the innkeeper could stammer out anything she snatched the keys from him and left before any of the patrons could make any attempt to talk.
The inn was better than all the rest but didn't compare to the Seven Crowns hotel. It had cozy wooden furniture, two beds with fresh linen and some complementary clothes.
"Esme, make yourself comfortable," she said, grabbing the towels and a robe. "I will be using the bath."
"S-saintess!..."
She looked over her shoulder, paused at the doorway.
Esme squirmed. "...What if they come back while you are away?"
"Shulia loves kids. If you act cute she will dote on you." With that she slammed the bathroom door.
Settling in the wooden tub she relaxed her muscles.
For once she was able to complement her thoughts.
"Oh gods…" she buried her face into her knees. "What exactly happened to you when you disappeared, Ophelia?" Water from her hair fell down in droplets into the water.
"...I will find you when you get back. No, I won't let you disappear from my sight in the first place." She looked up, eyes puffy and red rimmed. "I will go back to the time before we ever met. I will stop your downfall and won't let you leave. I will cage you in my house, chain you up." She gasped before laughing in her hand. "Oh, my! What am I saying?"
She smiled and stretched her legs causing water to splash out. "I needn't use force on her…I simply have to make sure she can't live without me. That way leaving will be the last thing on her mind."
She got up, water falling down her body. "Soaking any more than this will make me sick and affect my performance. And I," she threw on the robe. "Accept nothing but perfection!"
She opened the door to see Shulia sitting close to Esme, talking gently. She looked up and gave a weary smile. " We are to rest for today and tomorrow."
She nodded. "There is warm water left. If you wish to bathe, go ahead."
Shulia silently stood up and closed the door.
"Esme take a nap. The tears and curses of a woman will make you wish not to grow up."
"I have a suggestion." Early in the morning at breakfast Claudina stopped feeding Esme her food to look up at Sylvester.
Anatole lowered his newspaper. "Go ahead."
Claudina raised her brow. 'If I were to say something he would have shot me down.'
"First of all, we all agree here that Claudina is the strongest of all right?"
"...Why is my name coming up here?"
"Certainly, Miss Fairy is strong but where are you getting?"
"I believe Claudina can assassinate the emperor. Just her. Not us. We will give her back up if she needs it."
The newspaper crinkled under his grip. "Absolutely not."
Shulia put her cup down. "Why not? She's pretty strong and if we go, we will be nothing but baggage." She glanced at Sullivan. "Also…" she looked away sadly.
Sullivan's curse was spreading quicker now that they were out of the Void Maze. And he couldn't remain in his Sludge Pup form in a country that strongly discriminates people with monster ancestry.
"...Anatole, I want to go home. All of this…is making me lose my mind. Oriane's dead and now…" she took a heaving breath. "I don't care if you agree. I support Sylvester in his decision."
Anatole remained quiet for a long time. He grabbed his mug and emptied its contents in one gulp. "Does the person in question agree?"
Four pairs of eyes found hers. Esme shuffled on her seat and gripped Claudina's skirt under the table. She smiled. "Anything to go back home."
"Then it's settled. We will formulate a plan by tonight. Tomorrow we attack and then next day we leave."