Dante approached the bar, “Hey, Conor, has anyone sent me any mail?”

“I believe so, it’s Dante, yes?” Conor asked, walking towards a side room.

“That is correct.”

“Let me see then.” Conor disappeared for a moment before returning with a letter in his hand, “Here you are.”

“Thank you.”

“Of course.”

Dante walked to join his friends in a booth. He looked over the letter, it was written on nice parchment, with his name and the destination on it. It had a wax seal stamped with a ship sailing on the sea. Dante opened the letter and began to read out loud.

Dante;

I am Captain Iris of the Morning Bird. I was informed you and your compatriots needed a ride to Eiselfang, luckily for you, I am heading in that direction, tomorrow an hour past the sun’s peak. If you wish to accept my offer, it will cost you 52 Chimes for the four of you. However, I could always use people to clean my ship. I've been told that you’re willing to work on my ship, if any of you know how to sail, I’ll drop the price to 26 Chimes. If none of you know how to sail, you’d be cleaning which isn’t quite as valuable, so I’d be charging you 32 Chimes. Meet me at the docks tomorrow morning, and I can get you set.

Best Regards,

Captain Iris

“Well, I guess we have a ride. We can afford it, but it’s cheaper if any of you know how to sail.” Dante said, looking around.

“I certainly don’t.” Jocelyn responded.

Dante looked to Haile, “I can do canoes and kayaks and stuff but not ships.” she said.

Then to Hudson, “Oh gosh no.”

“Well, we won’t have much left, but it’ll do.” Dante said.

“We’ll have thirty-six Chimes after we pay for rooms tonight, and our two behhlo is being spent on breakfast, leaving four extra.” Hudson added.

“So we each have one to spend.” Jocelyn said, “Anyone want to get a souvenir with me?”

“I’d be down.” Hudson responded.

Dante looked to Haile, “I dunno.” he said to the group, “I’ve spent a lot of time with you guys in the past week or so. I’d like a night to myself.”

Haile leaned towards him, “How about a night almost alone.” she said, winking at him.

Dante smiled, “Now that sounds like a fun time.”

“Well, while you two go on your date, we’ll look for a souvenir, want anything?” Hudson asked.

“He needs to get me a hoodie.” Haile responded, “So I’ll take my Chime, give him one, and he’ll buy me one.”

Hudson gave each of them a Chime, and they walked out of the bar. Hudson and Jocelyn sat there for a while, before they departed as well.

They walked for a while, looking near the docks, at the museum, the library, hoping to find a cool souvenir, but nothing.

“You’d think the place where they keep the helmets of the darkest rulers and greatest heroes would have something you could take home.”

“Yeah, but does anything really make sense in this world? We probably could have walked for another four months before we reached the witches.”

“I guess that’s fair, I was hoping there’d be something though.”

“What do we do then?”

“Dunno, wanna walk around aimlessly until we figure it out?”

“Sure why not.”

For a few hours they walked around, finding many things along the way, but never a gift shop. Eventually they found a park, where they sat for a while, talking about whatever came to mind.

“What do you think the other two losers are up to?” Hudson asked.

“Probably making out in an alleyway.”

“I dunno, doesn’t sound like a Dante thing to do.”

“What would they be doing then?”

“He’s more of a take it slow kinda guy, they’ve probably only just now begun holding hands.”

Jocelyn gasped jokingly, “Holding hands on the first date? He should be ashamed!”

“You’re the one who thought they were making out in an alley.”

“Fair enough. Slow is too boring for me, it’s never quite worked out.”

“Same here, it’s like how I learned to swim, just right into the deep end.”

Jocelyn laughed, “I guess that’s one way to put it.”

For another hour they talked. Eventually Hudson paused before he asked, “Jocelyn?”

“Yes?”

“Is this a date?”

“I thought it was.”

“Were you going to tell me that?”

“Why would I tell you, you seem to have figured it out.”

“I guess that’s fair.”

“Are we going to tell the other two, or do we let them figure it out?”

“We’ll give them a chance to guess at it, but we’ll tell them.”

“Then let’s head back and wait for them.”

“Sounds good.” Hudson said, taking Jocelyn’s hand and leading her back to the bar.

The sun had begun to set, painting the clouds a brilliant pink. Dante and Haile walked around the cobblestone streets, looking for somewhere they could buy hoodies. They talked, they laughed, they told stories. Shops lined both sides of the road, most had closed or were closing, but after walking for an hour, they had found a tailor.

“Oh,” said the man behind the counter, “I was about to close, can I help you?”

“Got any hoodies?” Dante asked.

He looked between the two of them, a look of recognition came across his face and he began to laugh, “She one of those girls? Take one, your choice, I love seeing these types of things.”

“How very kind of you.” Dante said, beginning to browse quickly. He found several with hunting imagery on it, “You have several of these, do you not?” Haile nodded. He looked more and found many that appeared to be of local bands or sports teams or something, still not what he was looking for though. Dante pulled back one to find exactly what he was looking for, Dante began to laugh.

“Oh no, what did you find?” Haile said.

Dante pulled it off the shelf and showed it to Haile, on it was someone in the position like he had thrown something, yelling “DUCK!” a man closer was turning around to see an actual duck flying towards his head. Haile began to laugh.

Dante held it out to Haile, “What are you doing, dummy?” she asked.

“Giving you the hoodie I just got you.”

“You’re supposed to wear it for a while so it smells like you, chucklehead.”

“Okay, you have to admit, that’s a little weird.” Dante said, putting on the sweatshirt.

“Maybe, but it’s how I like it.”

They began to walk out of the store, “If I hear that you two break up, I want the hoodie back.” The klerk said.

“That’s not gonna happen.” Haile said, taking Dante’s right arm.

Once they had walked out of the store, Dante reached into his pocket. He pulled out the Chime Hudson gave him, and gave it to Haile. “I don’t need that anymore, regardless of if I do: what’s mine is yours.”

“I’m so buying you a shirt that just says ‘I’m a dummy’ on it.”

“And I will wear it with pride.”

They continued walking around, after a while, there was a large pause in the conversation, “Do you remember the first time I told you I loved you?”

“I remember I was very emotionally charged, but that’s it.”

“It was when you broke up with Kayden, you had told me something along the lines of ‘I’ll get through it’ and I’m all like ‘yeah you will, but not on your own, that’s how I know I love you’ and I recall you told me that made you cry.”

“That was a rough one for me, you certainly helped.”

“I’m glad I could help. I remember, at some point during that conversation, you told me you loved me, but it was ‘a vague phrase used in several contexts’”

“I could imagine myself saying that, but I don’t remember a whole lot of that conversation.”

“I have a lot of strange memories about us, we’ve gone through some weird things.”

“Yeah, but isn’t that all behind us?”

“Not quite, you’ve done a lot of things that have hurt me, but I’ve also done a lot of things that have hurt you. I couldn’t see it before because I was being a moron, and I can’t quite forget about it now.”

“Dante,” She stopped walking and turned to face him, “you and I may never see it in its fullness, but everything that happens is for the best, every time you did something against me, or I did something against you, it caused us to grow and change in ways we wouldn’t have otherwise.”

“Well then, let’s leave that in the past with this: from the bottom of my heart, I’m sorry I’ve hurt you, that I made you go through storms of any kind.”

“And I’m sorry for the storms I’ve caused. It’s strange to think that every storm led us here, to this very moment in time and space. Where, after all this time, I can call you my boyfriend.”

“Those are words my heart has longed to hear for almost two years now. My heart is, and always will be filled with joy calling you my girlfriend.”

“Well isn’t that sweet. Now move your face down here so I can kiss you.”

Dante laughed, he reached his hand to the back of her head, and kissed her. The moment seemed to last forever, time itself bending for as long as they needed it to. It seemed an hour later they pulled apart.

Dante kept his eyes closed and smiled, “I’m going to cherish this moment for the rest of my life.”

“Darn right you will. C’mon, I have an idea.”

Dante and Haile returned to the bar, to find Hudson and Jocelyn sitting in the same booth as they left them in.

“Did you two not go shopping?” Haile asked, sitting down.

“We did, we couldn’t find anything though, I eventually figured I’ll just keep a Chime to remember this place.”

“I guess that works.” Haile responded. “Do you two mind sharing a room? I’d like to be with Dante tonight.”

“Is this your idea?” Dante asked, Haile nodded.

Hudson looked at Jocelyn, she nodded, “Strange you ask, we went on a date of our own tonight.”

“Well that makes this simple. Give me your key, I’ll go ask Conor if we can get new rooms.” Dante said, “And the Chimes to pay for them.”

Dante walked up and changed their rooms for ones with one, large bed, as well he paid for the night. He returned and gave Hudson the key to his new room. The night continued on, they talked and laughed together. Eventually tiredness overtook them and they went to sleep, both couples cuddling together.

The next morning, they gathered for breakfast, preparing for the day ahead. They walked to the docks, the sun shining in their faces. They asked which ship was the Morning Bird, and were pointed to a large argosy. Men were coming on and off, bringing crates into her hull. A woman stood watching, giving directions where needed. She was about as tall as Hudson, and very slim, she kept her hair underneath a tricorn. She wore a black cloak, with a rapier on her side.

“Ah, are these our passengers?” she asked when they approached.

“That would be us.” Hudson answered.

“Fantastic, I am Captain Iris of the Morning Bird, you will call me Captain.” She looked up to the bow of the ship, where a similarly dressed man stood watching. “That is my first mate, his name is Ivan. He’ll show you to your room, and then you can start by helping carry crates.”

“Thank you.” Hudson said, beginning to walk towards the ship.

Captain Iris drew her rapier, stopping Hudson, “Pay fist, then you get to enter my ship.”

“Oh, of course, terribly sorry, Captain.” Hudson pulled out a small bag, filled with the coin required.

“None of you are sailors, eh?” she said, weighing the bag in her hand.

“If you need someone, I’m a fast learner.” Dante said.

“Maybe, we’ll see how useful you are. Get working for now.”

They walked up the gangplank onto the ship. “Did I hear her wrong or did she say ‘show you to your room’ as in singular.” Dante asked.

“What’s the issue with it, we’ve all slept in a one room distance.” Hudson responded.

They were brought into the dark bilge, there were a dozen doors on each side. Ivan opened a door on the right, “This is your room, drop off your stuff and get to work.”

The room was about ten feet wide and eight feet long. Inside was a single, rough looking bed. There was a window above the bed, showing them the docks.

“Who gets the bed?” Dante asked, placing his bag in the corner.

“There’s enough room for two, do you want it?” Hudson asked, looking at Dante and Haile.

“No, it’s fine, you can take it.” Dante responded.

“I assure you, it’s fine, have it.”

“Okay, we could continue with this all day.” Dante turned to Joelyn and Haile, “You two will take the bed.”

“How chivalrous.” Haile said sarcastically, placing her things on the bed.

They went back topside to carry crates around. They were walking down the gangplank when Captain Iris called out to them, “You four, come here. Before you start working, I need to know your names so I know who I’m bossing around.”

They each took turns introducing themselves before Captain Iris continued, “Very well. Dante, Joelyn, come with me, I’ll teach you to sail. Hudson and Haile, help carry in crates.”

“Ma’am, I work better with Haile, I’d like you to reconsider.” Dante said.

“I’m well aware, but I have made a decree and you will listen to it, whether you like it or not. Now follow me, and you will learn to sail.”

Dante and Jocelyn followed Captain Iris, Dante giving a brief glance back to Haile. Hudson and Haile were given orders by Ivan and they began working.

By noon, Jocelyn and Dante knew enough of sailing to help pull the ship out of the harbor. Hudson and Haile had been moving crates, and were told to clean the ship once they were on the open sea. The day began drawing to a close, Haile and Hudson were dismissed from work, but Dante and Jocelyn were kept for four hours after sunset, keeping them working the whole time. Once they were finally dismissed, they went downstairs to their room.

“How was sailing?” Haile asked once they entered,

“Exhausting.” Dante responded. He walked to Haile and kissed her on her forehead, before sitting next to her.

“Did you not use Thread-power?” Hudson asked.

“We did, but it didn’t help, we were working for at least twelve hours.” Joceln sat on the floor next to Hudson, leaning her head on his shoulder.

“Anything I can do to help?” Hudson asked.

“Water would be nice.” Dante responded.

Hudson reached into his bag and pulled out two waterskins, handing one to each of them.

“Here’s a good question:” Haile began, “we should have enough water for the journey, but I don’t know of any freshwater on Eiselfang, what are we going to drink?”

“We could fill up before we get onto the island.” Hudson suggested.

“Do we want to ask Captain Iris how they get water?” Jocelyn asked.

“From what I can tell of her, she may charge us for that information, or filling our waterskins for that matter.” Hudson said.

“She probably would, but I don’t think we would have to pay with money.” Dante said. “I think she’s taken a bit of a liking to me, I may be able to do a favor for her.”

“We’ll you’re mine, and she can’t have you.” Haile said, wrapping her arms around Dante.

“I wouldn’t let her take me.” Dante replied.

Thunder roared in the distance, some commotion was heard from above deck.

“I’ve never been on the ocean, but it was clear all day, where is that thunder coming from?” Hudson asked.

“I think storms can form quickly on the open sea, I may be wrong though.” Haile responded.

Another roar of thunder, closer this time.

“If this storm lasts, it’s going to be a rough night.” Dante said.

“Shouldn’t be all night, we’ll be fine.” Hudson responded.

Dante looked out the window, a bolt of lightning struck the sea in the distance, illuminating the nearby area briefly. For the moment the light was there, Dante saw something sticking out of the ocean.

“Hey guys, check this out, I think I saw something.” Dante said, motioning everyone to the window.

“What did you see?” Hudson asked.

“Something sticking out of the ocean. We have to wait for some lightning though.” Dante responded.

They waited, after a few seconds another bolt reached to touch the ocean. They all saw two, twisted silhouettes reaching into the sky. It was hard to get a sense of scale, but they looked massive.

Haile took off upstairs, everyone else following. She found Captain Iris near the center of the ship, pacing and giving orders.

“Captain Iris,” She began, “something is in the ocean over there, something big.” She pointed in the direction they were looking.

“It may be just the storm playing tricks, perhaps a partially sunken ship, it doesn’t matter, get some sleep.” She turned to give more orders.

“Captain, I don’t think it’s either, it looked alive.” Dante said.

“Go to sleep, it’s no concern of ours.” She responded, keeping her back towards them.

They paused for a moment, before Hudson spoke, fear riddled in his voice “Captain, I don’t think it’s a sunken ship.”

The other three turned to see what he was looking at. They all froze.

Captain Iris turned back to them, “For the love of-” She looked up to see two, massive tentacles reaching out of the sea, looming over them.