~

Crest and Cerra were headed down a dirt road, not too far off from the tavern. Though he had left on a sad note, Crest didn’t look back this time. Tears wouldn’t turn him away from what he wanted to do. Only those who stuck by their convictions ever got anything done and he’d be damned if he didn’t.

The duo had been walking for about twenty minutes before it occurred to Cerra she didn’t know where they were headed. Although she knew they were going to Angel City, she didn’t know exactly how they were going to get there.

“Hey Crest,” her sweet voice beckoned his attention.

“What’s up?”

“How are we going to get to Angel City anyway?”

“We’re taking a ship down at the Gaicise District. I’m sure we’ll find someone to take us up North to Teros Island. Before that we’ll have to buy you some essentials.”

“Essentials?”

“Yup. Clothes for one. As long as you’re with me, you’ll be wearing clothes from the current year. No more rags or you’re going to make me gag. Catch my drift?”

Cerra giggled.

Something else immediately struck her.

“So, Crest what do you think is waiting for us out there on the sea? I know you’ve never been, but what do you think it’s like?”

“I think it’s dangerous.”

Cerra looked curious. “Oh really? Why’s that?”

“Well we’re heading North. Everything North of here all the way to Al Spar Munda is called the Dark Waters. They call it that because it’s swarming with pirates.”

“P-p-pirates? Like killers and brigands, right? Then why don’t we go some other way?”

“The Dragtel continent is only about five hours away from Noctel going in this direction. Teros is the first island we’ll encounter entering the Dark Waters. Going South we’d enter the Calm Waters, but we’d miss one of our important destinations. And as far as our other options, nobody ever goes too far East or West on Unkar.”

“…. why’s that?”

“Because to the left and right of us is the Dark Cloud Sea. Strange black and purple clouds ascend in those directions and sailors who venture in those directions get lost and never return. So, it’s safest to travel in a straight line.”

“Ah. I see.” Cerra said thinking on what he said for only a second. “Hey Crest…” She called him again. Almost obnoxiously.

“Yes?” A slightly annoyed Crest regrettably asked. Another question so soon seemed like overkill.

“You said you don’t kill people. This Leo guy, does he kill them?”

Crest raised an eyebrow to himself. He didn’t expect her to be curious about Leo. He had only brought him up to her once and that was two nights ago. Surprisingly, her memory was a little bit better than he initially gave her credit for. After all, she was an amnesiac.

Crest shrugged. Though he didn’t find Leo a particular person of interest, he gave her the sweet details anyway. “Nah. Leo doesn’t kill people. Not exactly a gentle soul, but I trust him. He works for the king, that’s the guy who really does the dirty work. Judging criminals isn’t for someone like me.”

Bemused, Cerra dared to question him. “You mean killing them isn’t for you? You already judge them when you beat the crap out of them.”

“Ruffing them up a little isn’t a crime. But monsters like me shouldn’t prey on the weak needlessly. Fighting strong monsters like myself is the only thing that will give me a real challenge.”

Scrunching her face, Cerra cringed. “Y’know you could just say you have a conscience. Though if the king does your supposed ‘dirty’ work, I’d say your hands still have a bit of blood on them.”

Crest scoffed. “Criminals get what they deserve. Not all of them get punished the way they should. Some get away scot-free. But once I’ve done my job, it’s out of my hands.”

“Really now? I’d say your hands are all over it.” She laughed.

Pausing in the middle of their walk, Crest turned around to look at Cerra. She stopped too. He gave her a cutting look, then continued on his way. Cerra didn’t linger too far behind him.

“Say what you will,” he sneered. “Some people might find it humorous that a guy like me with all my strength not only doesn’t want to kill but actively chooses to believe in a motto that does him no good. But my father wanted to keep me on the straight and narrow. I’m not a weakling, that much should be obvious. But power isn’t just for going around showing off. When you wield unfathomable strength against your enemies, you have a duty to yourself to hold yourself accountable. Power without accountability leads to corruption. Leo isn’t just my friend I count on to do the right thing, he’s the mediator between me and the law, between me and the king. And gods’ know I would never work for the royal family. Never. Bunch of bastards.”

Curious still and a little bit stunned at his sudden anger, Cerra pressed. “D-d-do you have something against the royal family?”

An alarm went off in Crest’s head at that moment. He had said too much. That was a cue for him to shut up. “Li-listen that’s none of your business, okay? So never ask me that again.”

Cerra frowned. Somehow, she figured she was right on the money. Crest must have had a history with them. One he kept buried. Though she’d probably never know if he was as fickle about that as he was everything else. Whatever reason he hated the family, she was sure there was a story behind it.