Chapter 251 – Unexpected Guests

Chapter 251 – Unexpected Guests

 

When Lou asked if sailing hundreds of miles across the archipelago would grant them enough time to hear his story, the question hadn’t been rhetorical. They sat in the cramped cabin, the ship gently rocking towards their destination beneath them. It was the only place warded from eavesdropping.

Kai almost regretted deciding to talk about anything aside from Zervathi. His all-clear had opened the floodgates to an endless deluge of questions. He had spoken for hours till his throat hurt—quite an accomplishment given his grade.

From the geography of the Sanctuary to how Blood Crawlers hunted and what he had eaten to survive, there wasn’t a topic Lou wasn’t interested in. After the Vastaire affair, the bulky boy had worked exclusively for Valela and his oath was modified to avoid conflict of interest. So he wouldn’t need to share private information with anyone else.

Hmm, she was clearly interested in the Sanctuary. Why didn’t she just ask me more…

Kai was ever more curious about the oath between Valela’s family and the governor, but he had seen Lou cough blood for the briefest mention and didn’t want to put him in that position again.

“Sorry I let myself get carried away.” The overgrown teenager’s lost gaze refocused on him with an embarrassed smile. “It’s all so fascinating. I can’t believe the entrance to the Hidden Sanctuary had always been in our archipelago.”

I guess that’s one way to put it when you’re not the one being chased by a hungry wyvern.

Kai stretched his legs over the floor. Recounting his experiences in such clinical details made them appear more abstract and distant. He quite liked that. “What about you? Have you joined the guards?”

“The guards…?” Lou looked down at his blue uniform, sporting the hawk of the Republic on his chest. “Oh, no. This was just to pick you up.”

“What about the twins and Ana? Do they know I’m alive?” He couldn’t leave the archipelago without meeting them.

“They don’t know yet.” Lou’s forehead creased with deep furrows, looking gloomy.

“Did something happen to them…?”

Lou shook his head. “They’re doing well. At least they were, last they wrote to me.”

“Wait, where are they now?” Kai asked, already fearing the answer.

“Uli and Oli decided to join the army not long after you disappeared. Ana followed them in the mage support units.” The burly boy grabbed his short hair as if he wanted to rip it out.

What?

“You can’t be serious.” He vainly waited for the laugh of a bad joke, but the cabin was silent. For once, the scenarios in his mind hadn’t been bleak enough. “Why would they enlist?”

From his vexed look, Lou must have long wondered the same. “They signed while I was away on a job. They said they wanted to see the world and grow their professions.” He gave him a sour smile. “They’re on the mainland, stationed near a mountain pass on the northern border and complaining about the cold.”

Spirits, I’m going to strangle them. Is it… my fault?

“Did they enlist because they thought I died?” Kai choked on the words. If his disappearance had pushed them towards the foolish decision, he would never forgive himself.

“It’s not your fault.” Lou’s steel gaze didn’t permit objections. “They would have done it either way. You know the appeal of the continent. Once you learn about it, the islands feel too small. I had hoped they would settle for a journey, but they let themselves get roped into the benefits of enlisting by a recruiter.”

Dammit.

Kai rubbed his temples. It was the same thing he planned to do—minus the army part. And it wasn’t exactly shocking that the twins had done something reckless. “Can you let them know I’m alive?”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Lou shook his head. “Someone might be monitoring my correspondence. Even if I write a coded message, there is always a risk. And if the twins show Ana, I don’t know who she might tell. It’s probably best that they don’t know for now…”

“Hmm… if you think it’s safer.”

“I’m sorry, Mat. I don’t like it either.”

Kai cock an eyebrow at the name choice.

“You’ll eventually slip up if we use a different name in private,” Lou said. “Or if someone is eavesdropping when you don’t expect.”

“You do have a point.”

It’s just strange hearing that name again.

“Mat, I know it all looked easy, but we were extremely lucky to find this cover story. We won’t get another chance. Now that you’re officially Matthew, you should be careful about contacting people from your past identity.”

I wouldn’t say any of this seemed particularly easy, though I see your point…

Flynn had several channels to contact his family for him, so that wouldn’t be an issue. Getting in touch with Reishi was more complicated. People were already surprised he was friends with a merfolk merchant and took notice of it.

We’ll find an excuse, I’m still an alchemist.

“So, is my identity done already? I thought there was still an open case.”

“That’s just a formality. Once we get to Higharbor, Valela can pull strings to ensure the process goes smoothly.” Lou drummed his fingers on the coversheets of his cot. “She won’t tell you, but she took a big risk helping you. If the Republic finds out you’re alive, there will be no way to hide her involvement.”

“Right…” In the haste of the last couple days, Kai didn’t get time to consider the favor he asked of her.

Why didn’t she tell me, or use it to haggle in the sponsorship deal…

Lou studied him with a serious, pensive face. “To the risk of stating the obvious, you should lay low till everyone has forgotten about Matthew’s curious origins.”

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“I will.” Since they were on topic, there was something else bugging him. “Why did you point out my grade to those enforcers? I know it’s necessary for my official ID, but they didn’t need to know.” He could have gladly avoided the enforcers’ insistent attention.

“There are many reasons.” Lou scratched his stubble. “By revealing it then, they only saw you as a naive boy and a potential goldmine. They would have gotten more suspicious later if it looked like we were trying to hide it. Also, the governor won’t be able to pressure you into a deal fearing that you’ll run to the military.”

Guess you thought this through. Or was it Valela?

“Does the governor know already?” He was the ever-looming presence responsible for messing up his life and causing his dad’s death—albeit indirectly. Once he would have given an arm to stab the bastard, now he would settle for not hearing him mentioned ever again.

“Not yet, but his wife always catches onto rumors quite fast, especially in Higharbor.”

“Well, as long as I don’t have to meet either of them. Thank you for coming to get me, though you could have given a clearer sign why you were there instead of your frozen face.”

“You never know who’s watching.” Lou pursed his lips and avoided his gaze. “And maybe I was a little mad at you for not contacting me.”

Kai paused and then sighed, “That’s fair.”

“No, it was petty of me. You’ve already gone through enough.”

Not you too.

He wasn’t looking for more pity. The past was behind him. He was fine. “Just because I almost died in that place, it doesn’t mean I can’t be blamed for anything. I can have a thousand excuses and still be an asshole.”

“Mhmm…” Lou watched him with a strangely amused look.

“What? I said it’s fine.”

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but in the end, you were always a bit self-absorbed. Now look at you, all grown up.” He gave him a half grin.

When did they talk about me?

“Thanks… I’ll go stretch my legs.” With his ears heating up, Kai left the stifling cabin.

Damn him.

The salty night air buffeted his face when he stepped on the deck, the sky a vault of stars and pale moon slivers. A cluster of luminous flecks lit the coast a few miles on his right, some nameless town off the coast of Yanlun.

A group of sailors laughed, playing dice and paying him little attention. Kai leaned on the railing against his apprehension. Watching the dark waters cut by the prow of the ship, he caught a glimpse of silver sending shivers down his spine. An orange marine beast was swimming alongside the vessel.

Calm down. Not everything wants to kill you out here.