Chapter 260 – Troubling Conjectures

Chapter 260 – Troubling Conjectures

 

A breeze swept the prow of the Melenia. Kai stretched his hands over the hull in defiance of his fears. Blue motes swirled around his fingertips, creating barely a tingle.

Captain Karin had said they were in a Red-1 area—pitifully low by most standards. He still had to wrap his head around the idea that beasts could be everywhere around them and that it was considered normal.

How do they let their kids outside if an awakened creature could swoop down at any moment?

Perhaps that was why people chose to cross the Vanean Sea to relax in the archipelago. There hadn’t been a point in classifying the ambient density at home since every area outside Veeryd was Red-0—unable to awaken or sustain the weakest of beasts.

Mom was right. We were blessed.

Being born at the bottom of Red had always irked Kai, though there were clear advantages he’d taken for granted.

At least before the Republic extended their grubby hands…

The Spirits knew how the islands would look in a decade, or a century. It was strange to think he’d live to see it. Humans at his grade could comfortably reach a couple hundred years if they advanced young. He’d probably live even longer if he managed his… calculated risks.

Problems for another day.

The Melenia would dock in Varsea the next day. He knew nothing about the port town except it was almost one hundred miles north of Arphusa, where they had originally intended to land. All the plans, routes and contacts they had carefully arranged had to be scrapped—not at all the gentle landing he had envisioned with Reishi and Valela.

I must find a way to contact them.

“You don’t like the ocean,” a melodic voice mused behind him.

Kai turned to find Oraine studying him with a half-smile, his pale locks disheveled by the wind. Despite only wearing a plain cotton shirt and pants, he looked like he had walked out of a fashion show—at least he wasn’t that much taller.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.” Oraine leaned on the railing beside Kai. He looked so at ease it was hard not to share in his mood. “Flynn told me a lot of stories about you while you were recovering. I’ve been quite eager to meet with you.”

Great. I’ve got another stalker.

Kai fumbled in place, debating whether to dip with an excuse. “I wouldn’t believe everything, Flynn likes to exaggerate.” There were no whispers of warning.

They say curiosity killed the cat. Does having a magical link to a familiar count?

“I like the sea,” he blurted out in response to the earlier statement.

The stupidly handsome face tinged with puzzlement. “You do?”

“I grew up on an island by the beach.”

“Oh, I didn’t explain myself properly.” Oraine bobbed his head in sudden realization. “The shore is quite different from the deep ocean. It’d be like comparing corals and pearls. They’re completely different.”

Okay… definitely not from around here.

“I see. And how did you end up on this magnificent vessel?”

“Same as you. Boarded the wrong ship, got attacked by pirates and stranded by a storm. An interesting week altogether.” Oraine chuckled.

“What about before?” Kai gave him a once-over. “You look like someone who could afford better than the Intrepid.”

The only item of value Oraine wore was a bracelet of seashells—Kai bet it hid a cloaked enchantment. Either way, no one who reached Yellow ★★★ at sixteen could be poor.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t consider all the logistics when I left.” Oraine watched the waves with a rueful smile. “My mother already had the next seven centuries of my life planned out. Every day was like being smothered by the sun until I couldn’t stand it any longer.”

Powerful and loaded parents, check. Rebellious teenager, check.

“You ran away from home?”

“Something like that.” Oraine bit his lip. “Sorry, I’d prefer not to talk about my family. They’re a whirlpool of endless deceptions.”

Kai nodded, he could understand that.

Before he realized it, hours flew by, and he was swayed from his investigation. The two chatted about everything, from life goals to their shared love for seafood—they agreed that crustaceans were far superior to mollusks. Aside from a few evasive answers, Oraine was nothing but pleasant and easy to talk to. He laughed at Kai’s jokes, carefully listened to his responses, and respected his boundaries in return.

Damn, he’s good.

It was already self-evident the young man had an unconventional upbringing and might be from a foreign kingdom. Yet, despite a few strange sayings and experiences, Kai wasn’t any closer to guessing his identity. All places outside the archipelago were equally exotic to him.

Perhaps that woman had just misremembered…

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

 

* * *

 

“Yeah, I’m sure. He boarded together with my family.” The girl lifted her chin, lips pursed in annoyance at the repeated questions. “Oraine’s not someone you forget easily. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve chores to do. That witch is going to charge me silver if I don’t scrub the kitchens.”

Her honey hair swept over her shoulders as she marched below deck, cursing Captain Karin’s exploitative blackmails. The Melenia was perhaps a third the size of the Intrepid, and the fifty wreckage survivors had spilled into every free spot.

Kai and Flynn went to the taffrail around the stern to let the waves cover their words.

“That’s the fourth person to change their story. Something’s off,” Kai said.

They had waited for Oraine to retire to his cabin before continuing their investigation. The more passengers they talked to, the more people suddenly remembered seeing or talking to him on the Intrepid. Some even mentioned knowing him for months prior to embarking, adding details with every retelling.

If Kai hadn’t known better, he’d have suspected the entire ship was pulling an elaborate prank. He wouldn’t let anyone play with his mind, or Flynn’s. His friend was already known to fall for people fast and could be an easy target.

“Everyone was shaken after the pirates and the storm. They might have confused Rain with someone else when you first talked to them?” Flynn’s tone lacked much of his usual confidence. “I’ve chatted with him more than anyone else, but I still don’t remember seeing him before the wreckage.”

Rain…? You’ve already got a nickname for him?

Kai scratched his brow, looking for any bias in his own suspicions. It was technically possible everything was just a series of unlikely coincidences—the Fate Fulcrum had proven how far those could reach. “Do you think I’m jumping to conclusions…?”

If Oraine was some kind of mind mage, he would have had every opportunity to manipulate his memories during their conversation. The fact Kai didn’t trust him any more than he had this morning sowed some doubts.

Was it some elaborate scheme? Or does he just have ridiculously high social skills?

“No, you’re definitely right. Rain’s hiding something.” Flynn perused the sea with a lost gaze. “But it doesn’t mean he’s plotting some evil scheme. You should know better than anyone that people are entitled to their secrets, Matthew.”

Touché.

“He did slit the throat of a pirate when he pulled me out of the sea.” Kai drummed his fingers on the taffrail. The images of the man intent on strangling him were slowly growing clearer. “And he must have also killed other raiders in the wreckage.”