Chapter 418 Seafarer (1/2)
CHAPTER 418
SEAFARER
She sat by the edge of the pier, her legs hung over the open ocean, somewhat chilly wind blasting away at her rather revealing clothes. A pair of mesmerizing eyes stared emptily into the distant horizon, the expression surrounding them downcast and heavy. She took a sip slowly, the blaze trailing down her throat into her innards, warming her up slightly.
The extensive pier stretching behind her all the way back to the mile-away shore was largely empty, only a few fishermen sitting with their hats hung over their foreheads, waiting patiently for the fish to bite. Well behind her, a grand city arose from the ebony cliffs and spiked ridges, cast in breathtakingly white, marble stone.
Yet, none of the sights she could enjoy inspired her. She enjoyed sitting, cast out of the everyday world, blended in the dotted distance. From time to time, she'd think about jumping into the turbid waters beneath, about diving into the high-strung waves that beat the shore repeatedly, day and night, without pausing even for a second. She held back, in the end, however. She wasn't much of a swimmer, after all.
Seya had spent months trailing along the coastal cities of the Holy Continent, seeking for anyone, a single soul, that would be willing to take her past the dreaded line over the ocean toward the Edge of the East. However, all she got for her asking were the looks of mockery and scorn, as though she'd suggested something obliviously moronic, something beyond comprehension.
Sighing, she shook her head and slowly heaved herself off the edge. A draped skirt fell over to beneath her knees, fluttering against the shape of her things as she spun on her heel, facing back toward the city. She reached and pulled a few strands of her hair back over her ear as she lifted her head up, looking forward. The step she was about to take came withdrawn as she froze. Standing there, merely a few feet in front of her, was a strange-looking boy.
He had a rather peculiar and unique dye of golden shrouding his short hair, his skin dark, occasional scar visible to the naked eye. A pair of gem-like twilight eyes stared at her in odd wonder, his thin lips parted in a slight shock. He was roughly her height, clad in a thin shirt and tattered pants, barefoot, seemingly somewhat underfed.
The two pairs of eyes locked with one another as silence befell them. Sounds of the crashing waves drowned all others out as faint rays of sun folded over them, painting a rather picturesque image.
”… what?” Seya frowned and asked in a somewhat annoyed tone, startling the boy awake.
”A-a-re you the one looking for the ship bound for the Edge of the East?” the boy asked, quickly recovering.
”Who's asking?”
”Oh, right. My bad,” the boy smiled sheepishly, revealing two rows of rather well-maintained, white teeth. ”My name's Ayar Wulvinsenseer Orston and I'm a sailor. Specifically, I aim to finally chart the world beyond the Eastern Edge of Terror.”
”… your name is Ayar what now—?” Seya mumbled unconsciously.
”Ayar Wulvinsense—”
”Yeah, don't. I don't care.” she quickly interrupted. ”How old are you kid? What business do you have thinkin' of sailing east?”
”—eh, uh… you… you don't seem older than me…” the boy replied awkwardly.
”Exactly,” she nodded quickly. ”That's the reason I'm looking for experienced sailors, not wet brats as knowledgeable about the sailing as I am.”
”Not to worry – I have plenty of experience in sailing!” Ayar quickly exclaimed, thumping his chest. ”You will be in safe hands!”
”… where's your crew?” she asked.
”Uh…”
”You don't have one, do you?”
”Not per se…”
”And you wanna sail east without a crew?” she arched her brow slightly, grinning right after. ”You're fuckin' with me, aren't you?”
”No, of course not! Though I may not have a complete crew—”
”—any crew.”
”—khm, any crew, it doesn't matter! I am more than enough!”
”Yeah, I really doubt that. Thanks for the offer kid, but I'm gonna say 'no'.” Seya said, shrugging as she began walking forward. Before she crossed the boy, however, she felt a grip on her wrist as he held her back.
”At least give me a chance to prove myself.” Ayar said in a firm tone, his expression one of determination. Seya exclaimed softly for a moment before smiling.
”Alright. I'll give you a chance,” she said, tearing her arm away from his grip. ”But, buy me lunch first. I'm starving.”
”Y-yes!!” the boy's expression suddenly lit up as his lips curled out into a fantastic smile, quickly racing after Seya and catching up to her. ”What would you like to eat?”
”Oong Fish.” Seya fired back immediately.
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”…that's… that's, uh…”
”What?”
”Nothing! Nothing! Let's go for Oong Fish!” he exclaimed after short contemplation, causing Seya to nearly burst out into laughter. ”Can… can I ask you something?”
”Try.”
”… why do you want to go to the Edge of the East?” he asked somewhat timidly.
”Ugh, as if I want to spend months on the open fucking ocean,” she groaned angrily, clenching her hands into fists. ”Those fuckers just up and left, you know? I expected a fun getaway, and I got shelled into a job nobody fuckin' wanted. Especially that smug-looking, ever-jerky jerkface and his fuckin' 'ooh you're doing a good job, keep at it' messages every once in a while. I'll tear out his fucking throat and feed it to dogs when I get the opportunity…” Ayar froze in shock for a moment, his heart thumping loudly. Seya stopped and glanced back, bursting out into laughter upon witnessing the terrified expression on his face. ”Relax, relax. Come on. Let's eat.”