Straining my arm, I try to lift myself from beneath the blankets. Finally, it was time to get the situation straight.
"Elisa, get up. We have a lot of open business to tend to before the waves hit in a few days."
Getting up with a frowned expression, Elisa adds to the situation,
"We need to go back to the holy city.
Although we've been having our fun in the northern region now, it's time to report back to the boss, so to say.", she says while letting out a perverted laugh.
"Is it because of the incident with Kuroda?"
"Oh you mean the Spatha Kid? I don't really know about that.", she dismissively spouts.
Interrupting the conversation, a knock can be heard on the door to the room, followed by Puddles making his way inside.
'He's as insensitive as ever, it seems.'
"I could give your answer to that. Additionally, I might be able to spare you that trip to the holy city.", he said void of emotion, yet to me, he looked like an angel, that had come to grant me my wishes.
"So? What's going on at the castle? 'The king get into trouble or something?", Elisa asks, keeping her guard up against the unwanted intruder.
"It's the two of you, that got into trouble. I doubt you'd have forgotten."
Ignoring Elisa's glare, he continues, "Thankfully, this matter could be settled by 'a certain matriarch', which your partner here should know enough about.
And although I had told your party member to retreat to the king, the situation in the holy city has changed. It should be enough if I go as your representative, since there are certainly more important matters you should tend to."
Understanding his intentions in telling me this information, I make my way past him. It's time to get an answer out of the old man. After that, we can make our way again.
From behind me, the guide adds one more thing, "Nevertheless, if you do find yourself the time to, you should go and visit the dragon hourglass."
And although I couldn't make sense of what this 'dragon hourglass' was, I made sure to keep it in mind.
But before we could meet up with the old man, I felt it was important to talk to Elisa about what Puddles had said.
"So what did he mean by 'a certain matriarch'? Is it connected to the thing Kuroda accused me of?", I ask, trying not to pry into private matters too much.
"Ah, he means my mother probably. Although she has remained hidden so far, I can feel her gaze on us. That's probably also how she was able to dissolve the situation as soon as it popped up.", she says, clearly uncomfortable with the whole situation.
"Although I don't know how to feel, knowing my mother could be watching us at all times..."
Deciding to drop the topic, I lay my hand on her shoulder and shamelessly use it as a crutch for my sore legs, "I'm sure she has a good reason for doing so, so don't worry."
Giving me a appreciative nod, we make our way down the wooden halls.
Then, finally meeting up with the old man, who I actually still don't know the name of, I patiently await his answer to my offer from the previous night.
And although Elisa looked confused, I figured she would find it out throughout the conversation.
"So? What do you think, uncle?"
"Takamura, I will join your party. Although I might be old, I have no doubt in my craftsmanship, so I will use it to aid you on your journey.", he said, followed by me slamming my hand on the table.
"Alright! What are we waiting for then? We already scouted out our next destination, so we should hurry up while we still have the chance."
Though the room went silent.
That was until Elisa spoke up, "You know, I don't think I've ever seen you show this much emotion before, haha."
And although it made me blush a little, I remained true to my excitement: 'The old man trope was always my favourite in shounen mangas, and now here he is. My very own old man trope.'
.
.
Having packed up our stuff for the journey, we finally say our goodbyes to the old mans house, that we decided to rent to a new owner. This would ensure a nice source of income in times of need.
Stepping forward I take a final look back at my two companions:
Although the pain of my failure still remained like a gaping wound, I was sure that it was soon to heal with my new party members around.
.
*In another part of the country*
.
In a creaking cabin, floating with the waves, a warm light illuminates the ship in the young morning dim.
"YA COLBY! Can a feller get anudder draff o'er 'ere, hmm? How lousy, t' keep yer captain waitin' like this! Though, ye can repent by beggin' on yeh knees, heh."
Facing the drunk woman, Colby retaliates haphazardly, "Captain, yeh're just drunk, hahahaha. Everyone, come look at Meredith, she's completely lost in t' draff."
"Yeh're right, lad. But what can yeh expect o' someone like 'er, eh? She deserves a rest or two now an' then, right, Merrill?"
"Cannae say I disagree. Yet she should watch 'er mouth now an' then. Remember t' last time she got drunk like this?", the young man says, a brutal shiver running his body to the ground.
Though following his words, the other two men follow suit.
After finishing up a big job, the ship never failed to blow up in celebration, drowned in drinks and tobacco.
Somehow noticing the dismissive mood, despite her drunken state, the woman speaks up again, hoping to motivate her co-sailors,
"No need t' worry, lads. Once we show up at t' port, that brat Reg'll be left lookin' old. Don't yeh also look forward t' his expression when we come back, despite all t' shite he spouted?", she said with a satisfied expression plastered on her face.
Before setting off to the seas, there had been a complication between them and another sailor named Reginald. Though you can't really fault Reginald at all for what transpired, he was simply worried for his fellow sailors- rightfully so. If they wouldn't make it back to land before the wave appeared, they would likely have been caught in the tumult.
The captain, whose name was Meredith, however, didn't take the words of warning too kindly. Considering their past with each other, there was also good reason for that: although the both of them shared the same mother, they had always been at odds with each other. The people in town would report not a single day, where the two of them didn't wage war on each other's pride.
They were the definition of mortal rivals according to any bystander, unfortunate enough to be caught up in their fight.