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 a few 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?”

  Glad she asked, Crest snapped his fingers as if to signify he had their little trip planned out to a certain extent. Goes without saying, he did. “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.”

  “Why don’t we just buy a ship?” Cerra begged the question.

  Crest scoffed. “Because ships cost a fortune and require maintenance. We probably won’t need to buy a ship until further on down the road. Finding anyone that’ll take us directly to Al Spar Munda will most likely be near impossible, so we’ll need the funds to buy our own ship eventually. But right now, we need to focus on the smaller things. First, 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 for you. Got it gal?”

  Cerra giggled. “Sure. I understand.”

  Just then 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 one hour 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.”

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  “…. 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. Not that what we’re doing is safe either.”

  “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 people?”

  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 think Leo would be an interesting topic of conversation, 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, he’s the one who sentences the bad guys. Then the rest is handled by an executioner. Judging criminals isn’t for someone like me. Maybe not so much for Leo either.”

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

  “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. That’s how I’ve always viewed things and as years pass, nothing’s really changed.”

  Scrunching her face, Cerra cringed. “Y’know you could just say you have a conscience. Though if the king does the ‘dirty’ work for you, I’d say there’s an argument to be made that your hands still have blood on them.”

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

  “Really? I would say your hands are all over it. There’s nothing wrong with killing people who deserve it. You just aren’t that strong yet.” She laughed.

  Taking pause, Crest turned to look upon Cerra. She stopped too. He gave her a cutting stare, 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 myself. Never. Bunch of bastards.”

  Curious still and taken aback by his sudden vulgarity, Cerra pressed. “Royal…..family? Like the king’s family, right? Are they people you have something against?”

  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? All you need to know is that the king is a stooge and so are his relatives. To Hell with all of them.”

  Cerra frowned. Somehow, she figured she was right on the money. Crest must have had a history with these people. One he kept buried. Though she’d probably never know why. If he was as fickle about that as he was everything else, then there wasn’t a chance she’d ever get any real answers. Whatever reason he hated the royal family, she was sure there was a long story behind it.