All the preparations were complete. Morvain was about to board the ship, Lady, and set sail for the Stormwatch province.
His ticket was ready, and his luggage consisted of a small bag with five sets of clothing (from both him and Eldric's.) and some essentials his father had packed for him.
The harbor was bustling with all kinds of people: the rich, the poor, the aristocrats, the beggars, and many more. Since this was the only harbor in the entire province of Ravencor, people from all walks of life gathered here for various reasons. From trade to voyages, all ship-based businesses in this province revolved around this rundown harbor, mirroring the state of the province itself.
Ravencor was a poor and corrupted province that only served to make the rich richer while leaving the poor struggling to survive.
Both Lavender and Gideon were there to send him off.
"You have everything you need for your journey?" Lavender asked, her face puffy and tired from all the crying.
Morvain couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. She looked so vulnerable and innocent. She was just a girl after all. A girl who was madly in love with Eldric and was mourning his death.
"Yes, everything is packed."
"And you're sure you don't want me to come with you?"
"I don't even know what awaits me there, and I do not wish to expose you to the dangers lurking around. We know how humans can be, no matter how developed a province is." He shrugged.
He did want her to come with him, if it were any other journey. He wouldn't be able to see her for the next few months, and the closest return would be in six months. The longest... well, years. He was truly worried about her. But there was nothing he could do. The old man had already spoken with her. She would stay in the house with him. Not to mention, if she found out the truth, he'd lose her forever. After his mission was successful, he could tell her another lie.
"That's exactly why I said I should accompany you. You are weak, Mor. A little fly can make you sickly and pale. You need protection, and I can provide that for you. And...and I would also like to see his parents."
"Patience, Lavender," he reached out and caressed her cheeks. She was so beautiful and charming that he couldn't stop himself from falling for her. "After I find and meet them and make sure they are indeed his parents, I'll come back and take you there."
"You promise?"
"I promise," he leaned in and kissed her forehead.
"Be careful, Mor. And you better come back alive."
"I will, Lavender," he nodded his head. "I'll definitely come back." 'At least for you.'
Gideon was looking at them with absolute disgust and indifference in his eyes. He was like 'Seriously, just after her lover's death?' He wanted to just get this over with. Nothing more.
There were larger plans he had to execute after Morvain was away. Though he was his dad, Gideon did not fully trust Morvain. He had trusted both Eldric and Lavender, but not Morvain. He was too crude and smart for his liking.
The only thing that kept him from not killing the boy was his feeble strength. There was nothing the boy could do to harm him in any way possible.
Suddenly, a group of people bumped into Morvain. His feeble body couldn't hold him upright, and he tumbled to the ground.
"Oh, sorry there! You alright?" one of the boys asked, offering a hand.
"Yeah, thanks," Morvain replied, accepting the help and standing up.
Lavender moved to assist, but the young man beat her to it. He took her hand instead.
"You're quite the beauty, aren't you?"
In an instant, the man's interest had shifted entirely from Morvain.
'Clearly intentional,' Morvain thought, gritting his teeth and brushing off the dirt.
"Thanks, but I'm in a hurry," Lavender replied, politely declining the man's advances.
"Come on, don't be like that, sweetheart," the man insisted, his grip on her wrist tightening.
Morvain could see that the situation was escalating, and his anger started to rise.
"Let her go," he demanded.
The four boys accompanying the main one burst into laughter, further fueling Morvain's frustration. The main boy's audacity was pushing him to the edge.
"I didn't mean any harm, miss. I just saw you and thought you might make a fitting companion for the next lord of Ravencor province," the young man grinned.
'Ah, so he's a young master from the Ravencor province? That explains his audacity,' Morvain thought to himself.
Morvain took in the young man's appearance. He looked every bit the part of a noble from the Ravencor province - raven-black hair neatly combed, deep black eyes, and an outfit that spoke of wealth and status. The silk shirt, the silver buttons, the fine black trousers, and the leather shoes all exuded affluence. A gold necklace adorned his neck, bearing the crest of the province - a raven.
What irked Morvain the most, though, was that the young man was undeniably handsome.
'They're not alone. There must be a dozen or so soldiers lurking in the shadows, guarding them without drawing undue attention.'
As a street-smart urchin hailing from a thieving background, Lavender was no stranger to the name Ravencor. They had actively steered clear of Ravencor's castles and soldiers, knowing that crossing paths with them could be a death sentence. So, she allowed herself to relax just a little.
"I'm terribly sorry, young master. I didn't realize who you were. As you can see, I'm in quite a poor state. Do you know why?" A small, mischievous smile played on Morvain's lips.
"Why, my lady? At the snap of my fingers, I could summon the finest healers in this province to tend to you." The young master feigned a look of concern, though he seemed more distressed than sincere.
'Such earnestness from a handsome young master,' Lavender purred. "Learn something from him, idiot," she added, pointing an accusing finger at Morvain.
The other boys nodded in apparent agreement, eyeing Morvain with disdain.
"Please, my lady, share your ailment. Is it a cold, perhaps pneumonia, or a fever? I assure you, I can remedy it. You'll be good as new."
"Let me confide in you, my lord." She motioned for him to draw closer, and he eagerly complied. "I suffer from a severe case of diarrhea. Every morning, every evening, and every night. I mustn't get too excited, you see... because then... then it all becomes loose and leaks out. It turns into a wretched mess of excrement. You know, the wet, pungent, brown sludge that emerges from one's backside?"
Morvain fought to maintain a straight face. He was on the verge of bursting into laughter.
'Oh, he's horrified. That's right, boy. You've earned that,' he thought with a satisfied smirk.
The young master's face contorted in disgust, and he quickly took a step back, covering his mouth and nose with his hand.
Lavender continued to speak with a straight face, "I've tried everything – potions, healers, even magic, but nothing seems to work. It's a dreadful affliction, truly."
The young master's face turned a shade of green, and he took another step back. "I... I'm terribly sorry to hear that, my lady. I, uh, hope you find a cure soon."
"Yes, it's been quite the ordeal," Lavender replied, feigning a weary tone. "But enough about me. What brings you and your friends to the harbor today?"
Young Master Ravencor, looking rather uncomfortable, cleared his throat. "Ah, we were just passing through, enjoying the sights of the harbor before we continue on our journey."
Morvain watched the exchange, struggling to keep a straight face. He couldn't help but feel a newfound respect for Lavender's quick thinking and audacity.
"I see," Lavender said, nodding sympathetically. "Well, I won't keep you any longer. Safe travels, young master."
As the group of boys made a hasty exit, Morvain burst into laughter. Lavender joined in, the two of them laughing so hard that they had to lean on each other for support.
"That was absolutely brilliant, Lavender," Morvain said between laughs. "I didn't know you had it in you."
Lavender wiped away tears of laughter. "Desperate times call for desperate measures, Morvain."
A loud horn blared from the ship, and the captain's voice cut through the commotion. "All passengers, please board the ship immediately. We will be departing in ten minutes!"
Morvain glanced at the ship, then at Lavender, and nodded. She extended her arms, and he embraced her tightly.
"Take care, Morvain. Don't go and get yourself killed," Lavender said with a hint of worry.
"I won't," Morvain reassured her, "and if I do, I'll come back as a ghost to haunt you." He planted a gentle kiss on her cheek.
Lavender chuckled. "You better not. I can't handle that sort of thing. I'll see you later."
Morvain nodded in agreement and watched her walk away, leaving him with his father.
"Father..."
Gideon interrupted him with a stern look. "You better not be getting any ideas, Morvain. You're there for the task, nothing else. Do you understand?"
"Yes, father," Morvain replied, his gaze dropping to the ground.
Gideon was visibly irritated by his son's behavior, but he continued, "Here." He offered Morvain the stone he had taken earlier, the Gem of Eclipse.
He examined it for a moment, then shook his head. "You keep it, father. I'm good."
Gideon seemed surprised. "No, you wanted it, didn't you? You mentioned something about sentimental value. It's yours."
Morvain gave his father an appraising look. "No, just keep it. You wanted to experiment with it, right?"
Gideon scrutinized his son, then glanced at the stone. "You stole it, didn't you?"
Morvain struggled to contain his laughter.
Morvain patted Gideon on his chest, then whistled a cheerful tune. He turned around abruptly and snapped his head back to face his father. He repeated the motion, each time putting more distance between them.