Chapter 2

”What do you think you’re doing here boy?” The old man said deeply, his voice echoing through the room. Chrono turned and looked at the old man and stood in shock. The old man narrowed his eyes and begun to lead his one foot forward, then the other, each step causing a rumble.

“Th-” Chrono said slightly teary, “Thank you very much!” Chrono cried out as he launched himself at the old man in full sprint. The old man widened his eyes and looked at Chrono as if he was a sprinting tornado. The speed at which Chrono ran was inconceivable; with every step he took, a gust of wind followed behind him. Chrono finally reached him and leaped in a giants hug as he wrapped his hand around the old man’s belly. Well, you really couldn’t say wrap around as Chrono’s arm barely reached the old man’s back.

The old man felt his back sweat at the sudden hug and wondered if it was genuine or a hidden assassination attempt. Though he considered these, there was something else bothering him. It was after Chrono let go and smiled brightly at the old man that he loosened his guard and sized up Chrono. Chrono was smaller than most boys he saw and far more scrubbed. His overall appearance was a beauty that didn’t belong to people his age. His features were smooth and all in the right places, especially his eyes. They radiated a sort of brilliance that one could get caught into his silvery white eyes. All would be dandy and well, but the boy was naked, as to why the old man hadn’t shot the boy from afar.

“What’s your name boy.” The old man crossed his arm and towered over Chrono.

“Chrono! My name is Chrono!” Chrono replied enthusiastically. He wanted the same words to come out of the old man’s mouth.

“Chrono? That’s a name you don’t often hear,” The old man replied, “Here they call me Captain Cason (Co-son).”

“Captain Cason (Ca-son),” Chrono repeated with stars in his eyes

“It’s Captain Cason (Co-son) kid,” Captain Cason replied with a cringe.

“Captain Cason (Ca-son),” Chrona replied innocently.

This repeated five to six times before Captain Cason looked as if he was finished fighting a battle before finally succumbing to the horde. ‘It would be far easier fighting a band of demons than arguing with this kid,’ Cason thought. Cason then led the boy up the stairs and into another room. The room he led the kid in was a lounge that lied in the center of the ship. The lounge is pristine and clear of any dust or litter. On the side of the wall is a couch that reeked of cloud nine and on the other side was a circular shape that sat on a hollow oval desk. Inside the hollow oval desk was a clutter of items ranging from simple decorations such as a sculpture of a rising dragon, a flintlock pistol, and a purple lotus. In the middle of the desk and the couch was a pleasant rug made of nano-fiber. The last bit of furniture in the room was a bending machine that had an assortment of flavors and colors for drinks and a catalog of meals.

“You’ll be staying here until we get to a nearby town,” Captain Cason told the boy and pointed to the couch, “Stay put and if you want snacks just press a few buttons on that bending machine over there.”

“Here, wear this.” Captain Cason said giving a knock on a nearby wall and a compartment opened with spare clothes. A simple white t-shirt and blue jeans.

Chrono watched Captain Cason leave and found his smile slightly disappearing. He looked around the room and decided that leaping on top of the couch seemed fun. Tossing himself towards the sofa, he landed face first perfectly on the middle of the sofa before whiffing an intoxicating aroma in the air. It was a smell he had never smelt before, and he couldn’t help but continue breathing in the sweet perfume.

“Hey…” As he was busy, he could hear a faint hum to the left of his ear causing him to turn his head slightly. He saw a pretty young girl at his side. She had purple hair and delicate features that made you want to pinch her cheeks. She looked no older than him; in fact, she was a centimeter or two taller than him.

“He-Hello.” Chrono greeted shyly.

The two entered an awkward staring contest with both sides getting lost in each other's eyes.

“My name is Haisea,” Haisea replied “But you can call me Ise,” she said giving a small smile.

Chrono’s cheek turned to strawberries and sprang upright. He looked at the empty seat next to him and looked down shyly before patting down the cushion.

Ise fell on the couch, bouncing a little on the cushion before slumping down.

“How did you end up here?” Ise asked, “Did the old man pick you from the streets?”

Chrono was a little surprised at her sudden questions, but he still enjoyed her alluring monotone voice. “I was in a box!” Chrono answered.

Ise raised her eyebrows and said “A box?”

“Yup!” Chrono replied.

‘A box? He looks like a noble even without all the fancy clothing so how could he arrive in a box.’ Ise thought.

“So where did you come from,” she asked then added, “If you don’t mind.”

Chrono lowered his head, and Ise wondered if she asked too sensitive of a question. As she was about to say sorry, Chrono raised his head with a few shimmers in his eyes.

“I don’t know… I’ve lived in a box my whole life. I thought I would be stuck in it forever until it broke apart. Which is why thank you!” Chrono answered with his heart out.

“Thank you? I didn’t really do-” Ise replied looking quite shocked

“For being so pretty!” Chrono cried out before realizing what he said and heating up. “What I meant to say was being here and talking to me!”

Ise smiled at Chrono’s silliness and was about to continue the conversation before the door opened widely.

Captain Cason entered the room with a person following behind him. The man was lean and tall with stubbles on his chin. His hair was grey, and his eyes were black. If one were to exclude out his duster outfit and the many assortments of weaponry attached to it, he would appear to be an ordinary old man.

“It’s good to see you two are getting along. “Captain Cason said giving a small smile.

“Boy, come here, this man here is Auran. He’ll be showing you to your quarters.” Captain Cason said gesturing at Auran. “Ise, you’ll be coming with me for a second.”

Ise nodded and followed Captain Cason out. Auran looked at Chrono but didn’t say much as he gestured to the other door leading to the quarters.