Chapter 93: A Rare Peaceful Sleep
***
Receiving a confirmation to a previous question for the Fairy, the tour resumed with the host, Catherine taking the group to other locations of the island that showed lush and vast plant fields that could steal the eye of any nature lover, such as Titania who couldn't help but smile like a fool.
Vlad also couldn't help but get impressed by the show of wealth this woman was giving for them "peasants" with only one of those gardens of hers being worth hundreds of millions of bellies, but he kept it to himself, giving the chance to Dalyon to make an impression for the woman.
"Would it be better if you place some barriers in case ants like those pirates attack this island? It would prevent damage to the plant fields if some would bounce here."
Dalyon pointed out a point of discussion, further developed by Catherine with her own logic for not wanting to implement such a system.
"While I agree with you mister Dalyon, the funds would be rather spent on the development of Rosande instead for the protection of the plant fields that could or not be destroyed. However, I appreciate you worrying."
Seeing Dalyon's attempts at sounding interesting with Catherine, it almost made him roll his eyes, but with a straight expression, he continued admiring the scenes with his faulty eyes that started straining on him, tiring his vision.
Yet, he pushed ahead without showing his weakness to Catherine, only rubbing the right temple of his head, closer to his eye, in an attempt to soothe out the pain he was suffering.
Continuing on with the tour, Catherine takes the group toward a patch of land that was affected by the assault of cannons, whereas the townspeople worked towards patching the damaged area.
"Tch, those pirates sure are like moths or shit flies. Do they trouble you so often or once in a while?"
"It's something of a plundering season for the pirates of Migas Archipelago. But, their numbers have been dwindling since the biggest threats went to the Grand Line, and only the hyenas remained troubling Rósande."
"Migas Archipelago? Is it far from here?"
Dalyon's red eyes showed some murderous intent as some sparks of flames around his jet-black feathers bounced around, and Catherine noticing the intent of this youngster tried to pacify him, only for Vlad to tell him casually.
"Not really that far, about one week of travel from here if you go North."
"I see, then you better make sure to take me there so I can drown all of those ants in their misfortune."
"Can not. My journey is far more important than your impulses." commented Vlad coldly, which made Dalyon stop forcing him on this subject, and settle down on a visit of his own by flight so he could destroy most of the pirates in that region of Migas Archipelago.
Still, Vlad gave Dalyon a look which told a lot, and deep down the experienced man was mocking this Lunarian kid.
'This brat is so awkward with women that it annoys me. Hah, by night I got to tell him the interests of this woman, so maybe he strikes the iron while it's hot and gets to become a man.'
{You have too high of expectations for the Lunarian.}
The black hair pin tying down his long hair vibrated a bit, while sharing a thought with its current master.
'Do you know something, I should be interested?'
{Depends from what perspective you are looking.}
'If you are in the mood for gossiping, I am also in the mood, just so I can close my eyes further and ease up the strain on them.'
{Human, you should heed to my advice and use blindfolds on a daily basis and remove the folds when you are facing a strong adversary. There's no point in wasting the ability of sight for such banal daily activies, since you could perceive those plants using your Observation Haki.}
{Don't forget, you've found a way to see before you even awakened your Observation Haki, and you are no longer a normal person when it comes to its mastery.}
'Sure, sure, don't stress yourself about my own sight. Continue on with the gossip about the brat.'
{Is not gossip, but general information about the Lunarian Race. It's rare for a male Lunarian specimen to be proactive in a hunt for a female specimen, especially a human one. In general, Lunarians would run away from human women like running from plague for fear the purity of their race would be diminished.}
{The adults in the Lunarian Race would arrange marriages for their children, and thus not letting their offspring to pick who they might copulate with and spread their bloodline.}
'Sooo … They are a race of inbreds?'
{Genetically they are not inbred, because it's not encouraged in their culture for marriages between close relatives, however, clan marriages were a common phenomenon for them. A reason for why they might have been on decline as they have been so far besides… being hunted down.}
Vlad who heard Anathema couldn't help but ponder deeply about what was said, especially about the heavy lingo that shouldn't be something an spirit from Ancient Times should even be aware of.
And in such fashion, he would try to pull the metaphorical tongue of his sword spirit, in an attempt at unraveling the deeper mysteries surrounding him and the mastermind behind its creation Great King Atlas, only to fail miserably when getting into subjects regarding the ancient time.
Still, with half of his mind on what was going on outside, he noted down the information received with regard to Migas Archipelago, a chaotic place in the North of South Blue composed of 24 or more islands, where piracy was art taken to mastery.
As a Bounty Hunter, the thought he could enrich himself by slaughtering the entire Migas Archipelago was an interesting concept that he contemplated as he was traversing the flower fields, all but fronted by a serene appearance.
'I could gain easily half... around half a billion by exterminating all of those pirates in Migas Archipelago if what this woman says is true, about them infesting the lands like mushrooms after rain.'
'Then again, if I could get this much by hunting down those pirates, I wonder how much I could make by the time I enter in the Grand Line, considering how the average I concluded by reading the Global News would be of 50.000.000 𝔅 for the most pathetic Pirate Leader.'
Pondering about his side business which by itself generated far greater revenue than his scientific ways or his rational mind, he continued on watching the new environment draining on his eyes.
Watching the fields filled to the brim with medicinal plants and the workers of both genders watering the plants in a laborious fashion, he noticed something that could be improved in this energy-intensive system that focused mainly on the workforce of the serfs in this island as he liked to call the townspeople in his mind.
'Now when I look back at the previous information I knew, I was myself only a toad. The way I could have improved the agriculture of Wallachia or even the Metallurgy and Craftsmanship of the skilled workers, would be like placing wings of a pig.'
'Even a watering system would use the ideas of the Romans in building aqueducts, and then receiving the water into pipes which would be later on dispersed using an sprinkling system that would open up on intervals decided by the overseer.'
"Sir Dracul? You look to be bothered by something? Anything not to your liking?" asked Catherine who for the most part talked with Dalyon about various things, mostly the woman explaining to the Lunarian how the cultivating process worked.
'Should I tell her? … Well, maybe I set-up this Lunarian to get himself some rewards. A repay for what he did in Yehimal Mountain by protecting Titania, Eleine and Bonney.'
"All is good, lady Catherine. Still, impressed by the sheer size of your tea farm."
The whole tour of the island continued over an entire day that he was getting closer to the state Eleine was initially bored with, yet what about the black-haired beauty?
She was walking like a slouch, with a dead expression on her face as if she was absent-minded for the entire walk.
Even Vlad's presence wasn't strong enough to break her absent-mindedness.
Still, Titania, Bonney and surprisingly even Dalyon enjoyed their time, something that he couldn't bring himself to alter, going along with the group with an analytic mind, until by night Catherine returned to Rósande bringing them to her mansion for a small banquet.
Eleine instantly woke up when she saw the small town in her visage, and while yawning she was left impressed by the food Catherine had for them.
"You know what, Catherine. While this Island is small and doesn't have much to see, the food here is decent." remarked Eleine while standing at Vlad's left side, enjoying the food after settling down.
"My apology if the gardens haven't been to your liking. I am aware that for some people this tour might have been boring …"
"Not at all, it was alright, especially after you explained the various flowers and plants." mentioned Dalyon who was positioned closer to Catherine unlike Vlad and Eleine who were on the opposite of the table.
Eleine placed her black eyes on Dalyon, and instantly a shrewd smile propped on her lips, continuing on with some of her toxic remarks that made Catherine be on her heels because the reputation of Rósande was at stake.
Dalyon made sure to shut down any of Eleine's attempts at complaining about the tour, matching in toxicity and arrogance, and for Vlad who had a guess what Eleine was trying to do, he couldn't help himself but hold a laugh.
'You've got her blessings, just so it gives her the safety of believing I am not snatched away.'
Along with food, the spirits calmed down, and in the company of some interesting people Vlad enjoyed himself with wine, food and cigarettes, only to mention to Catherine when they were guided of to the Harbor.
"My Lady, if I don't ask too much, I wish to see a list with the plants available for sale, along with their prices, especially for Athelas."
"I will make sure to satisfy your request, sir Dracul. Hopefully, you'll see something noteworthy in my gardens."
"With certainty I can tell you, there will be something to my taste."
In an amicable conversation along the way to the harbor, a first day inside the Island of Gardens concludes itself on friendly terms with the leadership of the island, everyone in Vlad's group being left without points of complaint, aside from Eleine who couldn't help but remark while preparing herself for a bath.
"All in all, it's just plants and again plants. Give me a break, if tomorrow is the same, I will pass on the invitations.
Dalyon I am sure you can win her heart, just don't speak about dumb subjects with her and you'll be fine."
The white-haired youngster who was readying to get in his room to draw the line for this fruitful day, stopped in place and turned like a robot at Eleine standing on the upper level of the deck.
"Did you just poison yourself or something? Since when I am trying to win anyone's heart? Me? A God among humans. The Undying Flame of Lunaria."
"Yes, yes. King of Kings, Wielder of the Soul Spear, and whatever title you mentioned in the past. In the end you are still a brat who doesn't understand what a woman wants."
"What does a woman like you know?"
"Heh?? Really now, little Dalyon? You are talking with a professional when it comes to the art of seduction. Are you sure you want to anger me again?"
"... Hmph, you are just spewing nonsense."
The young Lunarian stepped inside his room, closing his door shut in a forceful manner, leaving Eleine to smirk, while the rest of the crew with Vlad at the head, were just spectators since Titania and Bonney didn't bother themselves with the petty squabbles that would arise between Eleine and Dalyon.
Vlad even more didn't bother himself with their childish arguing over the silliest subjects and followed by Titania to his Captain's Cabin, the Fairy forwarded a question to the black-haired man who closed his eyes with a large frown as he held on his glasses.
"You don't feel okay … I can tell from miles away. Even when we were given that tour, you were massaging your temples. How is your vision, right now?"
"It's fine. I didn't want you to follow me here, so you could worry about my health."
"How couldn't I not be worried? Don't forget that mister Patrick handed you in my care, and is my responsibility to watch over your health."
"Hah, take me easy since my head hurts like crazy."
Vlad walked to his bed and lay down after taking his shoes off, extending his hand to place a cloth fabric not far from a small cabinet over a cold bucket of water, later on doing a cold press over his closed eyes.
The Fairy who was flying in the periphery of his bed watched with a pained expression at the suffering man who was fighting against blindness, and she couldn't help but ask him, if she could be of any help in this situation, feeling useless for the most part, lacking direction.
"Tell me if you need any help."
"No, it's fine. Let me rest my eyes a bit. Why are you dejected, as if I am about to kick the bucket and go? In the end even if I lose it all, I have my Observation Haki and Echolocation Ability."
"No, we got to try and heal it, or at least slow it down until we get to the Tomb." added Titana who settled down on Vlad's open chest, placing her hand where his heart was positioned, feeling his steady heartbeat.
"And for this reason we have stopped at Rósande. There is a alchemical formula for a concoction that is described to have great effect for people who fatigue fast with their sight. Maybe, it can also slow down my deteriorating sight."
"Mhm, just tell me when you'll need me at the laboratory. However, you better don't play around with no hot-pepper. Understood?"
"Aye, madame. I'll be good."
"Good."
Titania, turned silent as she was caressing his chest slowly, while Vlad had the brown cloth fabric over his eyes soaked in cold water, and in that soothing moment that you wished it could last for hundreds of years, Vlad opened up, asking the Fairy.
"Titania, I've noticed that you've been absent minded at times, since the event that took place in the Underground Cave. Do you feel stressed about something that you wish to talk about with me?"
"I am okay, it's just, sometimes I remember those scenes, especially that ugly eye monster that you killed."
"I see, it will be fine. With time, those flashes of memory will pass."
"I hope so."
"... What about your past memory? Any success over this journey that you found something familiar?"
"No … still blank for me."
Titania didn't want to bother Vlad with her own problems, about how she would at times be tormented by nightmares, of shadowy figures that she had no idea of who they belonged to, apart from some names.
She kept it to herself, afterall the amount of work on Vlad's head was so high that adding a part of her problems would just fill a cup of water until spilling up.
The night passed with Vlad managing to calm his pulsating pain in the eyes but still continued on his local treatment, while Titania, reminiscent of their first weeks together, slept using his body as a pillow, while even himself went over the Emerald Dream, claimed by this secure sensation that no one would bother him.
.
The cries of the gulls that made his Caravel their home snapped him from a decent sleep that he rarely took, being able to drift into the dreamscape for 8 hours which for the man who was only sleeping 4-5 hours was abnormal.
When he opened his black eyes, he noticed Titania watching him from an intimate level, and with a yawn of his, it made the young woman beam with a smile.
"You should sleep more."
"My time is precious, I can't waste even a minute of it."
"Even though sleeping is good for your body and mind? Besides, you looked so peaceful when you were sleeping."
"..."
Vlad watched the autumn-haired Fairy straight into her golden eyes that reflected the rays of the sun in his cabin as she felt in a great mood after watching Vlad lowering his guard, and being vulnerable in his sleep, happening only with her.
"You will not tell anyone of what you've seen. I only allow you to stay in my proximity when I sleep."
"My lips are shut." told Titania while playfully mimicking the sign of a zipper being closed.
"They better be." chuckled Vlad as he extended his hand to pick the Fairy who was in her nightgown, making sure to shine like a star in front of her beloved.
"Do you have anything in mind for today?"
"I'll take a break from training, and look around the town. There's that list I inquired from Catherine with all possible medicinal herbs she could sell me."
"Mhmm, can we afford it? I remember you spent most of our money on buying plants."asked Titania who settled down on Vlad's clavicle area, touching his firm neck with her right hand.
"The last time I checked my funds, we have in cash 3.486.520 𝔅, without counting the amount Eleine pickpocket from those guys who were salivating after her in Everfall or Baterilla. It will be plenty since I intend of spending at most 3.000.000 𝔅 for noteworthy plants."
"Ahh, won't we run out of money to fund this journey?"
Titania had legit reasons for getting worried because she didn't know the value of the bounties those pirates Vlad killed were worth, and the moment Vlad started laughing amused by the found worries of his Fairy, she pinched hard his neck.
"..."
Vlad didn't feel anything because of how strong his body became over this journey, resulting in Titania slapping his ear, and even pulling on it.
"That's when and where you start crying in pain, you jerk. Tch, you mule, always making fun of me." complained Titania while pulling on his earring as if he was a bad child.
"Auch, don't pull my earring out, that jewelry piece is worth 10.000.000 𝔅 per Charles cries of lament."
*Slap*
"Shameless jerk! Even stealing others pieces of jewels."
"Is not as if Charles Vane owned outright the earring piece, and probably was stolen from some rich noble guy."
The couple composed of man and Fairy were having their morning talk in their unique style, and it didn't take long for Titania to jump up in the air when hearing how much he could gain from turning over the heads of the pirates he killed.
"WOOOW! Won't we be rich? Close to 100.000.000 𝔅, this is crazy. I remember you getting paid monthly by mister Patrick about 250.000 𝔅 for your work as the Cities Doctor and Alchemist."
Grabbing her cute nose after saying that comment, he also complained a bit with slight sarcasm.
"Don't rub salt to my wounds. Also, from whom did you find out how much I was making monthly back home?"
"It was mister Patrick who told me while accusing you of extorting money from him for lazing around most of the time inside the Market with Elias and the rest."
"Is it so? Okay, understood. Once we return home, I'll teach that cheap old man a lesson about generosity."