They enter a store not far from where they are when she was with Elijah. Scanning the clothes in the shop, her eyes glistened as she started to roam the place full of beautiful dresses.
She takes every feature in, admiring every single detail. There are shelves that are filled with rolls of fabrics, each color that is displayed overstimulating her vision.
Naturally, the room is filled with many garments, unfinished or not. Everything is either being displayed in different hanging garments while the clothes that are still in the process remain at the stations in the depths of the shop. Many accessories spark in her hazel eyes, each and every gem shining.
At the sight of everything that continuously excites her without any awareness. Each dress almost triggers a memory she is not certain of. The way her hands feel against every dress she touches.
The softness of its fabric is almost familiar, as if her fingertips had known such a texture for a long time in her life. The obvious expensive and luxurious gowns that she admires, it all feels so familiar.
"How may I assist you today?"
A blonde lady approaches her, with the blue eyes that strikingly look almost identical with Elijah makes her gasp. Her sweet smile on her lips almost made the stowaway nervous.
Not being used to meeting strangers that is welcoming. In an abrupt and haste manner, she takes her hands off the expensive products. Apologetically smiling at the woman and taking a step back with her hands behind her.
" Oh dear, look at you."
The lady exclaims in a horrified tone. Her hands touch her in every part while she examines the state she is in.
[ Her greasy hair in the most unattractive bun, the obvious state is made by the poor effort of a man. It's a mess! Her clothes, for the love of god! What are these huge and ugly tunic and trousers? None of these fits her! ]
" What the hell have they done to you?"
She asks, her brown eyes staring at hers intently.
" I... uh..."
The stowaway is lost for some words, reluctantly walking backwards as the lady tries to invade her personal space.
[ She is smeared with oils! For heaven's sake, is this woman a slave?]
The lady's eyes then turn to the man next door, the most critical prejudice she has in her glare. Calev confusedly glared at the woman, not liking the way she grabs the stowaway by the shoulder and the way she looks at him like he is some criminal.
" We are to pick some garments for the lass, make it quick."
Calev nonchalantly said, still bearing the cold glare.
" Did he do this?"
She carefully asks, concerned in her eyes. Gently grabbing her by her arm and securing her behind away from the combatant.
" You might be a pirate, but you know the rules in Azure. One shall never start a fight, but leave this woman."
She bravely stated, her grip in the stowaway's arm is tight but it doesn't hurt.
[ This is... ]
The stowaway sight is blinded by the figure of the woman, however she can still see a little bit of Calev who is angrily walking towards them. Although she should explain the circumstance, seeing the lady hide her further behind her as Calev tries to grab her made her eyes swell for a little.
[ Even as a stranger, she is protecting me despite being aware that we are facing a pirate.]
She feels her chest getting heavy, the surge of emotion getting into her. Ever since she woke up with no memories, the first thing she receives from a group of strangers is hostility.
But this lady, her back looking mighty and proud in front of her. Like a woman she knows the power in her hand, the first woman she encounters in this life, she sees a brave and strong woman prepared to fight anyone to save a mere stranger without knowing anything at all.
" I'm sorry."
The stowaway apologetically mutters, touching the woman's shoulder tentatively gentle.
" Don't move darling. Tell me if this damn pirate kidnapped you, just tell me."
Her voice sounds frantic despite the strength and force of her voice. Her hands extended to her back to secure the stowaway from a now furious combatant.
" Let go of her. We'll find another drapery and leave you in peace."
Calev threatens, his eyes burning with a different sight that not anyone can recognize.
" If you are being held captive, tell me now. I know the mayor here, so I might be able to help you."
Stubbornness seems to be one of her powerful features, her glaring green eyes challenging the combatant that is no longer calm as he is running out of patience.
The two stare at each other with both frustration obvious from one another. Calev doesn't want to get angry and fight, not at least in front of the stowaway. However he finds it irritating to see that unknown stuck up woman touching her and accusing of something he knows he will never do.
" Stay down, you fuck!"
The lady curses, pointing her index finger to the combatant.
" I advise you to walk out of my store and the poor lady here will stay. I won't meddle with any vile pirate business you got but I don't condone slavery, you must leave."
" Actually, I am—"
" And why would I spend a fucking dime over a slave's clothes?"
Calev pressed, his voice quivering with anger while he closed his eyes in annoyance.
He is doing his best to hold his temper. From where he is, he can see and feel the stowaway getting uneasy and scared—that is the last thing he wants.
" What?"
The lady's voice got smaller, confusion lacing over her tone while she looked appalled.
" No matter, what is important is that you must leave—"
" I'm not a slave." The stowaway is finally able to speak.
Her small and quiet voice lingering in the air like a thin layer of sound. You can't almost hear it but it's there.
" What?"
She turns around dumbfounded, her facial expression almost comical as she searches the answer in the face of the stowaway.
" What?"
" You heard what she said." Calev sternly said.
" I am not a slave or in captivity."
Although she is quiet as she speaks, the lady is still able to hear her.
" Then... Are you a pirate?"
She asks as if it's the only option, her eyes still holding the same expression of disbelief and shock.
" No, I'm jus—"
" Let's get out of here, we'll find somewhere else that is not a prejudiced store."
Calev, almost running off his patience, grabs the stowaway. Although he said it gently the stowaway grimaces at the way he speaks.
" No."
The lady composes herself, her voice coming back into that strong and opinionated tone.
" Explain why she looks like she has been doing heavy labor for months."
She grabs the other hand available, making Calev stop on his tracks with the stowaway.
[ This awful state. The dirt, the mess, the look of abuse. No explanation can justify this.]
" Just tell me if you need help."
She soothingly said to the stowaway, her green eyes immediately softening with concern.
The combatant groaned in annoyance.
[ Poor girl, she is probably scared of this man. She looks tense.]
The stowaway feels the tension between the two. In between two stubborn people, her hands feel numb while being stretched in both directions. She can't even look at their eyes, they both hold the same glare.
As if there is a huge war between them as they continue to not avert their eyes from anything but theirs.
She feels like slowly sinking in her feet, as being put in a tight spot. She doesn't want anymore of this conflict just because of her, and she certainly doesn't want to upset Calev by feeling like he has been incriminated of keeping her.
However whenever she glances at the unknown lady, she remembers how she is the very first person who she encounters with no hostility.
With that simple gesture of trying to protect her, wanting to know her situation and circumstance, shielding her from a man who is obviously stronger than her. The stowaway feels happy that even at one point of this unremembered life, she found someone who did not question her identity but chose to help her regardless.
" I'm not a slave or had been kidnapped." she repeated.
She put on her best smile, wanting nothing but to de-escalate the situation.
She slowly takes her hands off the combatant, then placing it above the unknown lady. Her smile, although not bright enough to convince anyone, the lady eventually gave up in her assumption. Seeing the hazel eyes that twinkle not only to persuade her, but a desperate attempt to stop what is going on.
She decided to give herself a state of tranquility instead of having a one—sided anger towards the pirate man. She understands that she did indeed went beyond the necessary reaction, especially to a complete stranger.
Given the fact that she lives in an island that welcomes the criminals and even establishes a trading system that can't be fathomable if it's legal or not, but certainly immoral.
Things like this are common to her everyday life. Facing inhumane pirates who know nothing but to walk with greed and evil in their steps. It is bound to happen that she will witness hell.
However, if there is one thing she dislikes the most in all these crimes that she forces herself to turn her eyes blind for the logical explanation that it is legal here in this godforsaken land, she doesn't like, not even the least—human trade.
Seeing the stowaway, that poor girl looks like the heavens and the world came crashing down on her with no mercy. At the state of unrecognizable beauty, the mark of unfortunate fate.
She knows she has to do something and take her away from that pirate.
[ But, ]
By just watching her smile at her like that, with the assurance she doesn't know she needed it. She doesn't want to believe it, there is no way that there is something that will make her believe that pirates can be good.
Yet, when that poor girl left her to talk to that pirate man. Her face lightening up with nothing but a look of security, she speaks to him with no hint of being under coercion.
There is no fear, no hesitation, she looks more comfortable with that man rather than with her.
[ There is no way that girl is a pirate, but why is she acting like he is the better option here instead of being saved. ]
" I...I'm fine."
She can hear her say, and despite the weak and low voice of hers, she doesn't sound like she fears the man.
[ I don't believe it. ]
Calev, regardless of his strong disapproval of staying in this shop and seeing the face of that irritating woman, takes a seat in the waiting area while giving that woman a glare. It is from the beauty of the stowaway's heart that stops him from giving that woman a piece of his mind.
She is lucky that the stowaway still wanted to purchase something from her. Despite her black of manners to her patrons, Calev decided to say yes to the stowaway.
[ I really have no choice, going against her feels like I'm going against something.]
Without being aware, Calev watches her with a smile making its way to his face as she walk around the drapery like a kid with that annoying woman. Something he had never seen from her, not even once.
She follows that lady as they skim over the array of dresses. Touching and looking at everything as if she had forgotten her worries and fears. At that moment, Calev can clearly see that she feels happy after a long time.
" Take at least two."
Calev suggested loud enough for the two person inside the to hear, while he counts the coins, calculating how many dresses the budget can lend.
" Really?"
Calev looks away from the coins in his hand, his breath hitches at the sight in front of him. A big smile with the eyes of a kid given a pie of her favorite, she smiles at him widely, genuinely; like a kid.
If Calev can only just describe what he is feeling, however just like before—he has no explanation. Yet, he doesn't mind.
He can only smile back, without even being aware of it.
The sight makes the other woman with them gape in utter shock and horrifying realization swimming in her mind.
[ Could it be? This pirate...]
Only wild thoughts swirling in her mind, trying to process what she sees in the eyes of a mighty pirate while looking at the stowaway. Drowning in confusion and doubts, while the stowaway feels dreamy around the set of dresses and the combatant eyes never leaving the hers.
Nothing can fathom in her mind.
" Let's get this for you, I am certain lighter colors suit you."
She forces the thought out of her mind and carefully picks a beautiful dress for her client.
She then takes a careful look at the stowaway's full appearance, grimace and disapproval appears in her expression. Glancing at the waiting combatant in one of the comfortable seats, she is not even hiding the scowl in her face.
The stowaway feels somehow low while under the eyes of the beautiful woman.
" I'm so sorry for being dirty."
She choked on her own voice, unable to hide how badly she felt.
She thinks about how his facade of masculinity might have gone overboard as she has neglected her appearance.
She did not mind the way she looks, but seeing another woman who looks so far from her made her feel bad for herself.
Realizing that the pirates she has been with are probably mocking her for looking so bad and unpleasant, when they all look neat-courtesy to the quartermaster's obsession with cleanliness.
"No, no, I didn't mean to make you feel bad."
She said, trying to cheer up the stowaway.
" You look fine...but— "
She reassures the stowaway, when it is clear from the way she looks she is overthinking it.
"—How about, we clean you up. How does that sound?"
Her smile feels inviting, succeeding on taking the stowaway out of the combatant's radar. The woman guided her to one of the bathrooms and finally let her wash up, leaving the combatant alone as he waited in one of the seats.
The woman can't help but admire the stowaway. Regardless of how she looks with all the dirt in her clothes, her beauty remains obvious.
Her skin is not suited for being a pirate, too soft and smooth as if it has been taken care of with a maiden in heaven.
Her hair reminds her of those fancy ladies. She recognizes the elegance of the girl even in her dirt, she is one of these people in this low society.
Rich, sat up on a high ground, golden platter at her table, she is someone.
[ She is not a pirate. ]
" Now that we are out of that pirate proximity, you can tell me everything."
She suddenly said, determination is already in her blue eyes as if she is prepared for whatever she is going to do.
The stowaway stares at her for a moment before slightly bursting into her serene laughter.
" I am a stowaway." She smiled at her.
" On a pirate ship?"
She asks, horrified of all the things she can imagine that this poor girl must have endured.
" Unfortunately."
Despite there is sadness in her voice as she smiles at this woman that she just met, her smile did not falter. Confusing the woman further.
" Were they the one who did this?"
Motioning her hands reluctantly, the stowaway follows her gestures. In a matter of seconds, her emotion shifts as she sees what the woman is talking about.
The fading bruises in her body, visibly telling this stranger what kind of life she has lived. Although it is already healing. The purple patches turn into something yellowing or brown.
However it is still there, staying as a mark of her unremembered past.
" No." She softly said, unable to look her in the eyes.
" Then who—"
" I—I can't remember." She smiles, an effort to assure her.
" I don't have my memories."
Concluding the fact that she is a victim of slavery or kidnapping is nowhere seem to be a fluke. Considering the fact that she just told this woman she has no memories.
There are many potential possibilities that can align the current circumstance of this stowaway. In which sparks a strong feeling of wanting to help her.
" Are you certain you won't be needing my help?"