"I wonder what trick Winter needed to use to gain their acceptance so readily." He chuckles. "More importantly. We have short of two weeks to reach Deika before the auction begins. If the island locals have beasts to spare, we may make it should we travel with little rest. However, Sir Demelkas was meant to reach Deika on a mission as well. It may be prudent to inquire of his plans as well."
Aki nods in agreement. "Even after getting beaten so badly, you're still reliable, huh Dent?"
He shakes his head.
"Merely efficient cues you could have come up with yourself."
"Still, you got there first. Take the compliment, Dent." Aki offers him a warm smile. "I'll go look for Demelkas then. Don't worry about asking questions now. Get some rest first before you go trying to overextend yourself."
Aki presses down on his head. Somehow even matted with blood and sweat, Dent's hair still feels silken under her palm. He looks up at her with eyes like a beaten dog – or perhaps an injured bird of prey would be more accurate – and huffs before relenting under Aki's stern gaze.
"Since the Lady Acolyte insists," Dent pulls himself into his tent and peeks out, his sharp gaze glimmering in the dim light. "I shall rest for an hour. Return from your own task quickly as well to recover. We leave on the morrow, regardless of the circumstances."
The trek back through the camp is easy enough. Its layout is surprisingly intuitive using a curved grid system for everything's position.
Pain shoots through her head as virulent white noise screeches in protest to her thoughts. Empty memories blurred beyond belief flash by her mind's eye and dig deep into her psyche.
"Why now?" Aki presses a hand to her forehead and stretches her other arm out for balance.
She trips over her feet and falls. However, rather than a nasty faceplant, she feels a pair of strong arms under her shoulders and stomach catch her.
"I distinctly remember you being lead away to rest, dear lady." Demelkas' smooth voice rings overhead. He props her up again and tentatively lets go, though he keeps his arms up just in case she falls again. "Or is it youth that drives your fervour?"
Bandages cover him in neat arrays and his silvery hair is freshly cleaned. It reflects the red and yellow glow of the nearby light in a way that makes the elegant man glow. Only the red headband dims the ethereal presence of the noble.
Aki hums. "Lucky me, I was just looking for you. There's something I need to ask."
"I am flattered but I do keep my range over 200 years and of noble status, even for a hero Acolyte of Mune." Demelkas waves a hand between them and gives her a pitying look. "However, I do understand how stressful situations can affect oneself and do not blame you."
"Huh?" Aki shakes her head, about to respond but deciding it better not to engage in his process. "No, never. Nevermind that. I wanted to ask about your travel plans to Deika. I mean, the ship is totalled but maybe you have some type of plan anyway? Like a car–t or birds…?"
Heavily blurred visions of mechanical metal contraptions roaring over a black road flash through her mind.
She digs her heels in, refusing to fall a second time and shakes it off. Her eyelids flutter off-tempo but she retains a vaguely neutral expression.
Demelkas eyes her with concern and offers for her to follow him. He places a hand on her upper back and takes her to the bonfire in the centre of the camp.
Several islanders surround Demelkas' crew and Winter nearby, deep in an energetic conversation. A celovian breaks away from the crowd, bearing two meat skewers.
"Captain! Meat! Meat to heal, eh!" He laughs heartily. "To you too, miss Aki. Nothing heals ya better than meat and a full belly."
He retreats quickly after handing over the skewers. In exchange, Winter slips out of the crowd, passing the celovian to join Aki and Demelkas.
"Boy! Good that you could join us. This topic does concern you to a degree." Demelkas brushes his hair back and makes himself comfortable on a log facing the flames.
"Hm? That so?" Winter plops down on the sand directly in front of Aki and Demelkas.
"You may recall that Deika City was my goal as well as yours." Demelkas interlocks his fingers and leans forward where he sits. "However, the discovery of a Space Gate on this island changes things significantly."
Winter and Aki exchange quick glances.
"It is my understanding you wished to come here, yes?" Demelkas asks Winter.
"It is – was? Yes."
"Then let me ask this directly." He levels a piercing stare at Winter and Aki, scrutinizing every slight movement so deeply, yet not an ounce of mana can be detected in his inspection. "Did the two of you know there was a Space Gate on this island?"
"I definitely didn't know but Winter must've had an idea if this island is connected to his game's world. How do I answer??" Aki quickly looks over at Winter then back at Demelkas. "No."
"Nope, I did not know there was a Space Gate." Winter says evenly.
A spike of agitation rises from Winter but he does well to remain even-faced.
Demelkas leans into his interlocked hands, his eyes flicking between the two enough to make Aki feel so nervous, she almost confesses that she did know despite that being untrue.
Finally, Demelkas leans back into a relaxed pose.
"I believe you."
Both Aki and Winter quietly let out the breath they were holding.
"Now then," Demelkas clasps his hands, announcing the change in topic. "I am afraid there are no plans to continue to Deika City, lady Acolyte. Certainly re-establishing communication with the inner port of Abe-Vi is of the utmost importance but, the discovery of an undocumented Space Gate is of far greater value to Caalcia. Those old heads in Pilaris would agree with this judgement as well."
Aki hangs her head, not needing to hear any more to know this avenue of transport has evaporated right in front of her.
"So basically I have to find my own way, huh?"
Winter pats her on the shoulder gently, the awkwardness and uncertainty in his actions evident on his palms.
"That is not necessarily true." Demelkas takes a quick, elegant bite of his skewer.
Winter's expression lights up and he gasps in realisation as well.
"The Cosmites have a spell that their Outriders use to reach towns on the mainland called [Arbor's Permission]. I'm not sure if it'll reach Deika, but I bet I can get permission for you and Dent to make it part of the way there with an Outrider." Winter leaps up only to wince in pain from the sudden move. "I'll ask them in the morning, if that's okay. After a long work day, the last thing I'd want to do is wake them up."
Demelkas laughs. "What a mature take for a boy so young. Your parents must be proud of you."
Winter bears a sheepish expression in response to the praise and sits back down. At the same time, Demelkas stands up, having already polished off his skewer and patting his hands together in a way to say that the conversation is over.
"Hold on." Aki stops him. She clenches her jaw, already having an idea of what the answer to the question she asks is. "I just have to ask… how come finding out there's a Space Gate here important enough to derail your first mission?"
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[Tactician Lv. 2 -> Insight Granted]
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Aki turns her head away as the idea expands.
"Sir Demelkas. Don't colonise these people. I know that with so many outsiders on its shores, the Gate's existence is guaranteed to leak but… can't you vouch for them to be independent?"
"How did–" Demelkas starts, his silvery lashes batting in surprise. Clearly not expecting Aki to have made such a read on his unspoken thoughts.
"They saved your lives." Aki marches up to him and extends her pinky. "Could you promise me you'll at least try your hardest to make sure that doesn't happen?"
"I do not expect a child and a wanderer to understand the intricacies of politics." Demelkas stares back at her, then takes a look over at Winter and sighs. "However, it would be ignoble of me to disregard your point. Because of them and your actions, lives were saved."
He turns briefly to present a curt bow, placing his feet together and bending his left knee slightly and bending at the hip at a slight angle. His left arm is placed to his heart, balled into a fist save for the index finger and thumb which are outstretched. Meanwhile his right arm is hooked behind his back.
"I make no promises, yet I do vow to heed your concerns and express them in Pilaris. May my honour be tarnished should I fail."
Demelkas departs quickly afterward, leaving Winter and Aki at the bonfire.
"Can't say I expect much out of politics," Winter comments after he's sure Demelkas is out of earshot and no one else is close enough to hear him over the crackle of the bonfire. "But maybe it's just the cynicism I feel from my world even if I can't remember details."
White noise screeches violently in Aki's head as vague images of events from Earth pass through her mind. She squeezes her wrists and clenches her jaw trying to shake it away.
"Right. About your world, I remember you said that Cosm Island is important to Winter because of something. You won't be coming with me to Deika, huh?" Aki stares into the dancing flames and speaks flatly.
The pain from a lack of memories varies depending on importance they held to her, and these hurt far more than she expected them too.
"Sorry." Winter flicks some dirt into the open flames offhandedly as he digs into the dirt. "I thought about joining you guys after getting Winter's true power but… what happened with Necra made me realise I was being irresponsible in this other world."
He taps Aki's foot with his own. Winter's shoulders sag and his head sinks as he keeps talking.
"I think – even now – some part of me can't help but look at this world as a game. As if, any second now I'll wake up in my bed and realise this vibrant fantasy is just a dream. That my colourless world is all I'll have again. I've got responsibilities to meet, people that rely on me for a paycheque, and…"