Chapter 254 – Confessions

Chapter 254 – Confessions

 

Cold salty gusts buffeted Kai’s face, carrying denser mana than anywhere in the Shallow Sea. They weren’t sailing through a unique area like the Veeryd Jungle, just a random stretch of ocean. That more than anything made the realization sink in.

He wasn’t in the archipelago anymore.

No matter how much he boosted his senses with Body Augmentation and squinted, he couldn’t spot a speck of land. There were only churning waves, far darker than the aquamarine waters of his home.

Leaning on the starboard rail of the Intrepid, Kai pushed Mana Observer to its limit without coming close to brushing the seafloor. Occasionally a red or orange marine creature touched his perception. The beasts didn’t even notice the ship thanks to its wards.

Everything was so much different from what he was used to, the only thing that came close was the…

Nope! His fingers tightened around the railing. That stupid nightmare had thrown him off balance. Brain, we’re not going there. This is perfectly safe, the—

“Mat, my boy.” Captain Nathumeli walked up to him, curling his mustache. “Staring into the dark depths, eh? Just don’t look too deep, or something might stare back at you.” The man guffawed, holding his gut.

He’s joking, right?

“I’ll be careful…” Kai deactivated his skill; he didn’t need more fuel for his nightmares.

“Have you thought about my offer?” Nathumeli adjusted the feathered tricorn hat he wore today. “Nothing’s freeing like sailing the open seas. And there is plenty of experience and coin to be gained.”

“I can’t accept.” Kai said, not for the first time. “I’ve already made commitments in Arphusa when we land.”

“I see, I see. You’re a man of your word. That’s good.” Nathumeli peered at him with a cunning eye. “Let me know if you change your mind. I can always find a use for a young man of your skills in my crew.” The captain marched away, boots snapping on the wood of the deck.

Kai returned to contemplate the waves, determined not to avert his gaze till his guts stopped wrenching. If his subconscious thought it could be more stubborn than him, he was ready to take up the challenge.

I’m not going to be scared of what might or might not lurk in the ocean depths…

“Look at you, already making new friends.” Flynn sauntered beside him, casually leaning with his back on the starboard railing. A crackling static danced between his fingers. He was still in high spirits since raising his Lightning affinity by 6 points to 53 and Shadow by 4 to 58. “I’m so proud.”

“Thanks.” Kai set his gaze on the horizon, the wind whistling in his ears. “Though Nathumeli’s just looking for cheap labor.”

Last night, he had offered to fix the temperature enchantments of the dining hall and brewed a potion for seasickness to stop a lady from vomiting. Any novice alchemist and enchanter could have accomplished the same, but the man had been set on recruiting him.

I should drop the naive act…

He had been planning to gradually change Mat’s personality to fit his own. Looking innocent was a double-edged sword. It stopped people from looking too deeply, but it could also invite sharks. A journey to the mainland after a lifetime of isolation would provide an excellent excuse for the transformation.

Flynn twiddled with an enchanted disk that muffled the whistling of the winds and their voice from traveling far. “Nathumeli seems an alright guy as far as seamen go. He just has an eye for bargains. I would offer you advice, but you’re doing pretty well with your new identity.”

“Hmm… am I really?”

“Of course, young Mat. How could you doubt your master?” Flynn puffed his chest. “Even with an acting skill, most people would forget to respond to their name or blurt something they shouldn’t. But I’ve not seen you slip even once.”

I guess I’ve been channeling my old self.

Being often sickly and alone made him quite skittish in his previous life. He must have fallen into the old patterns to interpret Mat, the recluse alchemist. “It was quite easy.”

“From humble to boasting.” Flynn snorted with a crooked grin. “I wouldn’t accept anything less from my apprentice.”

“Hmm… it’s not that. I—” Kai let his eyes wander off the waters.

The muffling enchantment made everything appear distant. Apart from the sailors on duty, most people had taken shelter from the harsh winds below deck. The closest person was the Air blower, a withered old woman who seemed to stand only thanks to the gust she summoned. The white sails of the Intrepid were drawn tight, propelling the vessel at a swift speed despite its size.

It’s only going to get more awkward if I tell him in the future…

The matter had been on his mind since Flynn welcomed him back like not a day had passed. With one ear to heed any whispers of warning, Kai made his decision. “It’s not the first time I’ve used this name.”

“Huh? What do you mean? Have you already faked your identity before?”

“Not exactly. This isn’t the first life I remember…” Kai delved into the circumstances of his second birth and his past life.

The words came in a flood. Afraid that if he would stop he would never get the courage to continue, he rambled about every detail that came to mind till his thoughts were empty.

Kai looked at his friend, readying for his reaction. “Please, say something.”

“Uhm,” Flynn scanned him from head to toe. “That makes perfect sense.”

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

That wasn’t among the reactions he had considered. Kai searched his gaze for any distrustful look, but there was only his usual mischievous glimmer. “Does it…?”

“Yes!” He emphatically nodded. “How else could you become stronger than me unless you cheated? It also explains your weirdness and strange sayings. And I mean it in the best way possible.”

Thanks…

“I— I’ve not cheated. I didn’t choose for it to happen.”

“Right… Whatever helps you sleep at night, bud.” Flynn ruffled his hair with an irritating smile. “But you’re most definitely a cheater. I’m quite the expert on the matter.”

“You… You’re just envious.” Kai stammered, unsure how the conversation had gotten there.

“Is that the way to talk to your big brother? I thought I taught you better than that.” He covered his eyes with an arm as if he couldn’t bear to watch him.

“I’m older than you.”

“Are you though?” Flynn stood up to highlight his height advantage. “I’m older than you’ve ever grown.”

“By maybe a few months.” Kai rolled his eyes.

I rambled too many details.

“The difference is only going to increase. Besides that, have you ever held a job for more than a couple of months? Curse at the taxes you pay to the Republic? Got a girlfriend? And no, holding hands when you were a toddler doesn’t count.”

“I’ve—”

“Exactly my point. You’ve never lived as an adult, so I’m still your big brother.” Flynn concluded with a triumphant grin.

Understanding there was no point in arguing, Kai resigned to his logic. His worries about his confession already forgotten. “Fine. But I’m not calling you that.”

 

* * *