Later that day
~William’s POV~
I pay the docking fee to the shipwright and walk over to Pax, who’s waiting by the boat.
“C’mon,” I tell him. “Let’s go.”
We walk to the place I’m staying at. On the way, I start talking to Pax.
“Savaria’s the largest and most developed island in the First Sea, excluding Permafrost Island,” I tell him. “They also actively trade with the Arcane Government ever since, so there are AG soldiers here all the time.”
As if on cue, 2 soldiers walk by us. People move out of their way. Me and Pax do the same.
“So many people,” he mutters.
“Yup,” I respond. There are so many people here, it’s overwhelming.
We continue walking, leaving the docks behind and walking to the lodge we will stay at.
“Are there usually this many soldiers?” Pax asks.
I look around. There are more soldiers here than usual. I look up at the plaza.
Instead of the flag of the Savarians, the AG’s crossed hammers flag waves from the top of the flagpole instead.
I freeze in shock. And a patrolling officer runs right into me.
“Hey!” he yells.
“Shit,” I curse under my breath. I step back instinctively before another soldier comes up behind me.
“You ran right into me,” he says angrily.
“Sorry,” I respond. Best to resolve this.
“You fucking Savarians have no respect for us. We reestablish order after your king dies and this is how you treat us?” he spits.
“King Ramses II is dead?” I ask in shock.
“You fucking stupid or something?”
“No. I just got here.”
“Like that’s something I’ll believe. Pretending to be a foreigner. Take him away boys. And his companion too.”
“W-wait. Since when was my friend involved in this?”
“Shut the fuck up.”
“He did nothing wrong!”
“Take ‘em away boys!”
The soldiers pull out handcuffs and walk towards us. My heart sinks. We’re going to get arrested.
Me and Pax are thrown into the ground. Handcuffs restrain our arms. A crowd has gathered, but no one tries to help.
“Excuse me,” someone says.
The soldiers turn to a man who stepped out of the crowd.
“This is an Arcane Government arrest,” the soldier spits. “You have no right to interfere-”
“Interfere in what?” he asks. “I’m just here to find 2 customers who walked out without paying. And these two are the people I’m looking for.”
“That boy ran into me.”
“Yes,” he says. “Because they were a bit tipsy. I’m willing to bet that’s why he ran into you. Now if you please excuse me.”
Why is he lying for us?
“You still can’t-” the officer says.
“You must not understand,” the stranger interrupts. “If they don’t pay me, my boss will get angry, regardless of why they walked out without paying. And trust me, you will not like it if he gets angry.”
The undertone of a threat laces his words. The soldiers shift uncomfortably. The captain pales.
“L-let them go,” he says.
The guards uncuff us. I push myself off of the ground as the stranger walks over to us.
“Both of you, follow me,” he says.
We walk behind him as the crowd parts.
5 minutes later
~Pax’s POV~
2 mugs of something called beer are placed in front of us. The stranger sits across from us, his own mug in front of him. I get a good look at his face.
Light skin, with brown hair hanging messily from his head. His blue eyes catch my attention. They’re a deep blue I’ve never seen before. They dart around as if he’s analyzing everything around us.
“Now,” he says. “Since I saved your asses, I think you owe me an explanation for what the fuck actually happened.”
I look at him in shock.
“You don’t believe them?” William asks.
“Not a single piece of shit. They were obviously trying to paint you as the bad guys. Saved your asses ‘cause I hate it when that happens.”
William explains what happened. He tells the stranger about how he went to Doom Island 3 weeks ago, met me, and came back to see that the Arcane Government controlled the island and what happened in the plaza.
“Sounds a lot better,” the stranger says. “Fucking bastards came here after Ramses II died at Kairo. Entire army went down with him as well. No one knows what happened, just that a day before, a huge tornado tore through the First Sea and started wrecking havoc.”
He points up.
“A ship was sent flying to one of the sky islands, where it crashed. Then, out of nowhere, a few days later, Stratus Town’s residents started pouring in through the sky ships. 2 people went up there to check on the problem a week ago, but they haven’t come back.”
William gags on his beer. The stranger looks at him. Concern flashes on his face.
“You know someone from there?” he asks.
William nods.
“I’m from there,” he says.
The stranger’s eyes widen. He’s about to say something when a woman walks up to us.
“What are you doing now Avery?” a woman asks. “Annoying other customers again?”
“I just saved their asses from being thrown into jail,” the stranger, Avery replies.
She smiles at us.
“I’m so sorry,” she apologizes. “My husband has a tendency to ramble. He’s not bothering you is he?”
“No not at all,” I reply.
“Well, we have to go anyway, so we’ll see you around. I’m Arianna, by the way.”
The couple walks away, holding hands. Me and William exchange glances.
“How about we go to our lodge?” I say.
“Never agreed more,” William responds.
We leave, Avery having paid for us in advance.
A few minutes later
~Avery’s POV~
“What were you thinking?” I ask. “Giving them our names?”
“Don’t worry,” Arianna reassures me. “The transition is still happening. Our faces and names have yet to appear on the bounty boards.”
“Still…”
“Stop worrying, ‘kay? Cassius’ orders were clear. Observe the situation and wait for Castor and Alex to return from checking the situation.”
Just then, 2 people land next to us.
“Hey Avery,” says my friend, Castor. He nods at my wife. “Arianna,” he says.
“Castor,” she replies. “Hey Alex.”
Alex walks up to us, their face virtually unreadable. How the fuck can Castor tell what mood they’re in.
“How’s it going up there?” I ask.
“Really bad,” Alex replies. “Veridies is still pissed off. Another farm got looted. He’s going to get desperate soon. And we still haven’t found a way to evacuate the remaining residents. I estimate we have between a week to 2 weeks before he gets desperate enough to attack the town itself.”
“Well,” Arianna says. “Cassius’ orders were clear. We are to find a way to help the residents until we can’t afford to stay any longer.”
The 2 nod.
“Bye you two,” Alex says.
“Goodbye,” Arianna replies.
I look at Castor.
“Stay alive,” I say. “I don’t want to explain to Tommy why Uncle Castor didn’t come back from his mission.”
He smiles and nods. And the two fly away, returning to their post at the Cumulus Islands.
Me and Arianna walk out of the alley. I look to the sky, thinking about the two kids I saved. They’re young and full of potential. I wish them luck on whatever their future has in store.
We walk to our lodgings as the stars paint the sky above us.
End of Chapter XII