"Here, take the scarf. You've earned it," Drimi said, passing it to Asahi.
"After saving Pladtioa, your resolve and devotion are evident to me and everyone in the nation."
Memories of the fight with Drimi returned to Asahi, mingling with recollections of their first encounter inside the Loops of the Forbidden Book.
The events ran together in his mind, chaotic but distinct—there was never a second fight, just the impression left on Drimi.
After a respectful exchange, Drimi strode toward the upper deck and said,
"Now, I'll steer. Ask if ya' need anything. If ya' need food, go to the second level. I'm sure we have enough rations for the sail."
As Drimi took the wheel, Asahi smiled, gripping the scarf.
Did he deserve it, or was Drimi simply kind, impressed by the battle with Tear?
Relief and uncertainty mingled, but at least the scarf was his.
. . .
The ship glided across the endless blue, its hull slicing through glistening waves that shimmered beneath the sun.
Asahi and Aletha leaned over the long wooden rail on the starboard side, their eyes wide as they watched vibrant schools of fish darting below.
Scarlet, sapphire, emerald, gold, and violet—just a handful of the dazzling colors flashing beneath the surface.
Fish of every shape and size swirled together.
Aletha was spellbound, shouting greetings to each passing creature or gazing at them as if they were treasures from a dream.
"Wow! Look at all those vibrant colors! Hi, fishy fishies!"
Waves thudded against the ship's hull as Aletha stretched her arms over the rail, her face hovering daringly close to the edge, eyes sparkling with excitement.
"HEY!"
Asahi quickly grabbed Aletha's arm and pulled her back from the railing to prevent her from toppling over. He raised his voice, but she seemed unfazed and kept looking at the sea.
"Don't lean too far on the railings! I don't want you to drown."
Aletha stuck out her tongue and waved her arms in exaggerated, goofy motions, teasing Asahi with playful defiance.
"Yeah… yeah… whatever."
Asahi sighed.
"Fine, don't blame me if you start to drown."
Aletha pouted.
"I won't."
Asahi took a deep breath, shrugged his shoulders in resignation, and walked away without another word.
(I'm not dealing with her anymore.)
. . .
Trying to relax, Asahi started walking to the other side of the ship. He heard sailors chanting in deep voices.
"Scrub the decks, up and down."
"Fixin'... the crates-- so we don't drown…"
Sailors bustled about: some tugged at ropes to adjust the sails, others scrubbed the decks until they gleamed, while a few stacked crates and barrels in neat rows.
Asahi kept to himself, weaving through the activity until he reached the far side, where benches and cargo crowded around the great steering wheel.
"There she is…"
A tall woman with long dark hair, purple eyes, and dark attire stood confidently behind a sizable circular steering wheel, grasping each edge as if it were a handle and coasting the ship to the right.
Her long, silky black hair whipped in the wind, and her captain's hat gleamed in the sunlight, casting a bold shadow at her feet. Drimi radiated confidence and command.
Asahi climbed the steps quietly, glancing at her, but before he could speak, she broke the silence.
"What's up?"
Asahi heaved a sigh, staring at the sea.
"Not much…"
She winked.
"That's expected. I mean, you did fight a large nation-destroying entity earlier, so I understand."
After a moment, Asahi turned to Drimi. "Say, Drimi. Do you know what Linuxinia is like? Do you know where we are?"
She let out a soft chuckle.
"You're asking me for that? Man, Asahi, you're silly sometimes. I have only been there once, and I can tell ya that the nation is chaotic. It's unlike any other nation. It's just the people and the environment itself; it's wacky in its own way."
Asahi arched a brow. "Seriously?"
"Yeah, seriously! Those people lost their minds. Well… at least most are kind though. I won't tell you much; you should experience it for yourself. Actually…"
Drimi peered ahead at the sea, checking her direction. She adjusted the wheel a bit, then slapped her knee. Drimi walked up to Asahi and patted his back.
"OKAY… we're on the right track. Usually, it takes days to reach Linuxinia, but somehow… I guess the wind felt nice today. Haha!"
Asahi remained silent, watching Drimi steer with practiced ease. Uncertainty twisted in his stomach about the journey ahead, but turning back was no longer an option. As he made his way down the steps, he called up to her.
"Hey, Drimi! You have my greatest gratitude! Thanks a lot!"
Drimi lightly chuckled and steered the wheel in the other direction.
"Nah, this one was on me. After all, you saved Pladtioa and all…"
Asahi couldn't deny it. Drimi was right. He scratched his head nervously and smiled.
"Yeah, I agree."
She interrupted.
"Then get some rest, dummy! While you still can! I know DARN well that you won't get any rest when you arrive in Linuxinia."
Asahi nodded and smiled lightly.
"O-Okay… I'll try to relax."
Drimi chuckled and patted Asahi's back.
"Heh… heh… Good. Now get your fine butt out to the deck and sit for a while. My crew won't bite cha'. Hurry up! Chop, chop."
Drimi placed both hands on Asahi's shoulders, guided him firmly down to the deck, and, with a playful swat on his backside, directed him toward the seating area. Asahi hesitated, startled, while Drimi returned to the steering wheel, calling after him.
"Come on!"
Asahi's face warmed in embarrassment, worried the sailors might overhear.
(That's harassment. Has to be. Is that a genuine compliment? Or is she messing around with me?
Asahi gritted his teeth in frustration but quickly relaxed. He reminded himself not to provoke Drimi, unsure of how she'd react if angered. While scratching his backside, he responded.
"Okay! OKAY! I'll relax."
. . .
Asahi trudged across the deck, each step heavier than the last as he reached the doors to the lower level. He started down the stairs, exhaustion weighing him down, when Aletha, brimming with excitement, bounded after him. Her voice rang out from above, eager and insistent.
"Hey, Asahi! Come here! You won't believe what I saw!"
Asahi tuned her out, too drained to entertain his sister's excitement. All he craved was a soft bed and a moment's peace. After the battle earlier, sleep was the only thing on his mind.
Aletha, on the other hand, buzzed with restless energy. She spun in circles and bounced on her toes like a child, delighting in the sudden, inexplicable burst of excitement.
"Hey Asahi, Asahi, Asahi! Come here!!"
Asahi replied with an irritated tone.
"Not now, sis. I'm…"
He made a loud yawn.
"...Exhausted."
Aletha whined.
"But… why?!"
Asahi stomped his foot on the ground.
"You know EXACTLY why!"
Aletha pouted and folded her arms.
"Pfft, whatever. It's broad daylight! You shouldn't be sleeping! Way to ruin the fun…"
"I'm not RUINING…"
He yawned again.
"....anything. Please, just let me rest."
Aletha reacted as she crossed her arms and turned her head away from Asahi.
"Grr... Fine, then sweet DREAMS!!"
She slammed the door in a rage.
Asahi pressed a hand to his forehead and sighed, then took in the room: a sturdy table to the left, colorful paintings brightening the right wall, and wooden cabinets framing a compact kitchen, with mysterious doors leading deeper inside.
Asahi pulled out a chair, sat down, and drummed his fingernails on the surface while fighting sleep.
Footsteps echoed to his right, prompting him to jump up and spin around to locate the source of the noise.
A voice emerged from the shadowy corner.
"Are people getting on your nerves, too?"
"Yes, they are," Asahi exhaled, resignation in his voice.
The masculine voice replied, his orange eyes beaming from the darkness.
"Same. People are getting a lot more hyper ever since the ship passed the border of Pladtioa Ocean to the Linuxinia Sea."
Phthonus's dark scarf fluttered as he settled beside Asahi, the ceiling light glinting off his tan skin. He looked thoroughly annoyed, scratching his head and drumming restless fingers on the table.
"I think it has to do with some side-effect. Entering Linuxinia's territory transforms you, apparently. Seriously, it does. Although I have been there twice, whenever I'm there, I always feel more… hyper than usual."
Asahi's eyes widened. "So, THAT'S why Aletha was acting that way. I knew something was wrong about her."
Phthonus cut in, his expression serious.
"Don't get cocky now. You could be JUST like her, too. It happens randomly, I noticed."
Asahi raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, really now?"
Phthonus reached for a stack of chairs, sliding each under the table.
As he started placing silverware and assorted items on the wooden surface, he continued speaking to Asahi.
"Yeah… anyways… let's wait until they calm down. I don't want to be caught in the storm too."
Asahi scratched his head nervously.
"Actually, I… WAS planning on getting some rest."
"Oh?"
Asahi released a soft yawn, shook his head, and planted his face on the surface.
"Y-Yeah… I can rest here…. if you're not noisy."
Phthonus nodded as he returned with plates.
"Okay… I won't make any noise. I respect that you saved the nation of Pladtioa. It's no surprise that you would want to rest."
As Asahi was closing his arms, Phthonus replied with an unsure tone.
"But if I were to make noise, it could be that 'side-effect' I was talking about."
Asahi responded with a soft smile of gratitude.
"Understood. Thank you…"
As his eyes started to shut, Phthonus quietly stared at a book. Slowly, Asahi drifted into slumber.
* * *
Two Hours Later:
Asahi blinked awake, stifling a yawn as the world came into focus.
Sleep still clung to him, but a spark of energy flickered inside.
His thoughts scattered when he spotted Sally, Phthonus, and Aletha deep in animated conversation at the table.
Phthonus' voice was heard first.
"Alright, so enough of this seriousness. Aletha, the nation you and Asahi are about to approach is unlike any other place you have ever seen before…."
Asahi made a quiet noise, but it was loud enough to alert Phthonus. He lightly chuckled as Asahi awakened from his nap.
"Did you sleep well? You don't look as tired. Anyways, you're just in time!"
Asahi scratched his head.
"I… guess so."
After several seconds of silence, Asahi tilted his head to Aletha. She turned away and crossed her arms. Sally tried to push her to turn back, but Aletha pushed the chair off the table and pouted.
"Hmph."
Asahi knew the reason why she acted this way, but also knew that Aletha would not speak to Asahi for a long time. She seemed genuinely angry at Asahi for simply denying her request.
"Anyways…"
Phthonus kept explaining, pushing his long, dark brown hair back.
"The nation is rather chaotic compared to the rest. Everything is all over the place, but at least the landscape is beautiful."
Asahi and Sally exchanged uneasy glances, their imaginations running wild. Did chaos mean bombs? Weapons? Hidden dangers lurking around every corner?
Those questions were immediately impelled once Phthonus continued.
"Heh heh, when I mean 'chaotic', I mean it in a good way. Don't worry; the people are welcoming. It's just some… tend to be more… how would I put this?"
Sally finished his sentence.
"Hyper. That's the only word needed to describe the nation's people, landscape, and creatures. The region of Linuxinia is hyper, energetic, and cheerful."
Phthonus anxiously scratched the back of his head.
"Y-Yeah… what Sally said."
A hush fell over the room.
Aletha stubbornly faced away, Asahi brooded over the unknown nation, and Sally pondered what adventures awaited them.
Phthonus kept his silence, letting the others settle into their thoughts.
. . .
A few minutes later, the door creaked open, and a man descended the stairs. All eyes turned to him: a sailor in his mid-forties, with short brown hair, sharp green eyes, and a small cap perched on his head.
He strode in, clutching an armful of cooking utensils.
Asahi didn't hesitate to ask the man.
"Why are you here?"
The man walked up to Asahi, shook his hand, and greeted them all kindly.
"Drimi told me that you and the others are hungry. So she sent me down to cook something up for ya. You can call me 'Chef' if you want."
Sally, Phthonus, Asahi, and Aletha all replied with a nod.
. . .
'Chef' pulled out a box from the cabinets in the kitchen nearest to Asahi and Aletha, heaved it toward a counter, cradled it in his hand, and placed it on the surface.
He pried the lid open with a sharp knife, slid his tool belt on the counter, turned back to the wanderers, and asked with a kind tone.
"Would you like anything to eat, visitors?"
Asahi answered first. His tone and presentation weren't as exciting, but at least they were enough to convey that he was hungry. He raised his arm to the air and hollered.
"Yes. Could you get me a plate of those saltine crackers, please?"
"My pleasure." Chef turned to Aletha. "And you, Ms?"
She turned away with a huff, crossing her legs and squeezing her eyes shut, her pout making her silence loud and clear.
After a few seconds of silence, the Chef sighed deeply and walked back to the kitchen.
However, as he was about to make the soup, from out of nowhere…
(growl)
A loud, unmistakable stomach growl rumbled through the room, breaking the silence.
Asahi, Sally, Phthonus, and Chef all looked at Aletha suspiciously.
Aletha clutched her empty stomach, cheeks blazing pink with embarrassment.
The group burst into laughter, unable to resist the humor of the moment.
"Ha ha ha ha!"
As the laughter finally died down, Asahi answered Chef for Aletha.
"Just get her soup, please."
"Okay, guest," Chef replied while grabbing a scoop.
Despite Aletha being pouty, she couldn't help but give a small, quiet smile to Asahi. Her brother knew that soup was one of her favorite meals, but still, she turned away soon after and continued to ignore Asahi.
. . .
After a few seconds, the Chef pulled out a scoop and placed it on the wooden counter.
He reached for a slim, steaming canister from the box and heated it with a small, non-lethal flame. It cracked and chipped, but was protected by the steel that absorbed all the sparks.
The steam rose into the air, Aletha's stomach continued to growl, and the aroma lingered throughout the room.
Phthonus, startled, dropped his book. He leaned toward Asahi's ear and whispered, while Aletha glared at both of them.
"I guess the side effects have been removed. You should try to cheer her up."
Asahi smirked. "Not with that attitude," he said sarcastically.
Phthonus sighed and shrugged.
"Alright… but if she still doesn't talk to you when we get to the docks… which is nearly two hours away; don't blame me if your sister's still mad."
Aletha's stomach rumbled. Silverware clashed. Asahi sighed and mumbled.
"Okay…"
. . .
More time elapsed.
The chef finished cooking the soup.
He grabbed a shining wooden bowl from the cabinets, placed it on the counter, and poured the tasty soup inside it.
Asahi and the others watched as the chef sprinkled a few condiments and spices into the soup, then added a few vegetables to enhance the taste.
As the Chef approached Aletha with the bowl, Asahi grew curious. "Where did you get those vegetables?" he asked.
"Where did you get those vegetables?"
The sailor placed the bowl on the table, walked to the counter, and replied brightly.
"Oh, you're asking me? Well, these veggies were harvested on the vast farmlands of Obrus! Of course, Drimi, the crew, and I wouldn't have dared to travel to that nation… so they imported their goods at a reasonable price by using their shipping docks, trains, or carriages and spread them out to their deliveries."