'The second option huh' Kreed thought.

Indeed it was a great choice. If Kreed could be given support and total privacy without questioning, he would be able to catch up to date with all the information that he had missed for ten years. But was that really possible?

Indeed Alden seemed to be incredibly strong. But to such a great degree? Kreed found it hard to believe. Perhaps he was in the high ranks of the city. Or perhaps people looked up to him. But either way Kreed didn't believe that Alden would be able to provide everything that he had spoke of or to a substantial degree at least.

"What, are you talking about? Relics that I possess?" Kreed was troubled by the fact that Alden seemed to know that he possessed relics.

Soon the comical smile on his face grew even bigger.

"Yes K, those two relics in your hands. Or perhaps I was mistaken?"

Kreed stared at him for a while before, looking down at his hands.

In his left was a black chain, and in his right was an unimaginable round silver ball.

"Ohh right."

'damnation, I completely forgot about those.

I had summoned them to fight or escape from the dark lyre. But meeting Alden threw me of my game.'

Trying to decrease suspicion Kreed decided to tell Alden the truth. Or a tiny bit of it at least.

"Yes these relics, I got them from a cathedral on the island. They probably belonged to one of the researchers that had been there."

Kreed had to get Alden's support whatever the case. Although he didn't believe his promises completely it was still better than nothing.

However revealing that he possessed a divine relic, two for that matter was tantamount to suicide.

So Kreed formed a simple plan.

"Am willing to tell you what they do only if you can keep your promise. But I also have another condition."

Alden reacted instinctively

"Go on"

"You cannot tell anyone that I came from Apostle island. That is all."

Alden scratched his head considering his options.

"Hey K, that's gonna be a lot harder than you think. How am I to explain your ordinance?"

'Right I smell of poison, sound like a demon and look like a wild animal.'

"Am not quite sure."

Alden's smile became a little forced.

"Don't fear kid I'll Handel it. But them does that mean you've chosen the second option?"

Alden asked in a jubilant tone.

Kreed thought for a bit before nodding.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"Great, great then let me get to work.

Soon Alden reached beneath his black jacket and removed a simple black pad. Kreed had seen many of these similar pads before but this one looked to be of a higher quality than those on the island.

Based on Kreeds understanding these pads were know as terminals and used for communication. He had never used one before since the islands curse rendered them useless.

So seeing one left him speechless.

It's black screen turned on emitting a soft blue glow. And after a while Alden was seen sliding his fingers across it in various motions.

After a short while of being distracted Kreed moved back to the bow of the grape and opened a hidden drawer beneath the throttle.

The grape was completely still as Kreed had disengaged the throttle after the eel like monster was killed.

After searching the drawer Kreed removed a small map that he had used to navigate so far.

On it he could see the complete south coast of Oben along with the notorious world wonder known as the world bridge. Said wonder was made by one of the great gods of the alliance.

Searching for a city named Alicia Kreed found it's location on the east coast of Oben.

If he wanted to reach it he would need to make a detour, traveling east for a couple hundred kilometers before continuing north.

'shit, that'll take over 10 hours to reach. Not to mention the grape is probably damaged. And we might get attacked again. Damnation, at least I have someone who can fight on my side.'

As he continued looking for the best possible route to Alicia he heard a ping.

Beep

Which was then continued by a muffled voice.

"Hello, Alden?"

Turning to see who the voice belonged to, Kreed spotted Alden holding the terminal to his right ear with his left hand, while checking the time from his golden watch on his right hand.

He looked quite peculiar, almost gentlemanly.

Answering the aforementioned voice Alden spoke.

"Ohh, Tista. Boi am I glad to hear your voice. Listen am gonna be a little late, but I should be there in around 12 hours."

Alden paused for a while as if expecting a reply.

And soon after the voice from before continued.

"Okay but make it quick, Mr.Ego is supposed to drop by. But is it ok if I ask why you'll be late?"

With a smile Alden answered. "I hoped you would, infact it's quite great news. I believe I've found it the missing part."

Kreed struggled to listen to the conversation but managed to make out the words.

'the missing part is he referring to me?'

As if to answer his question the voice from the terminal continued.

"What are you sure? Is it a relic? Or perhaps a ancient ruin that you managed to find?"

"Ohh no, no. Sorry to disappoint but it's a human. He was traveling on a small boat and would have died had i not been here. He's quite something." Alden turned to look at Kreed with a smile.

"A human? Are you sure?"

"Yes Tista in fact, am sure you wouldn't believe it but, he has no idea who I am. Like he's never heard of me, the great Retracer of Resurgence,

The Evasive councilor, the great tank of Alicia.

I mean am even know as the Worlds ultimate defense. It's quite something to be honest "

Kreed stared at Alden blatantly. 'Did this guy just boast about himself? I mean if am supposed to know him then the world really must've changed in 10 years. He doesn't even look that special well apart from his silver white hair, and those golden glasses. I mean those must be a pretty high ranked relic. I can't see his eyes at all not even from the sides.'

Alden continued

"So Tista, there's a couple of things I need you to get ready for me. Firstly prepare a first class room in medical center 2B, he needs a clean and check up. Also call the Apothecary from downtown to prepare a medicine for his voice. To put it lightly he sounds rather repulsive.

Then I want you to book a room for him on the top floor of the south quadrant. Ensure it has complete privacy that includes a Free booking to all the librarys and information hubs in the in the city."

After Alden paused the voice from before asked.

"Umm, sir I get all that your saying but do you trust this guy? If he's from Xeats or Debajio things could get complicated."

With a smile Alden answered.

"Don't worry Tista, this guy isn't from either place. But he also wishes to keep his origin place secret. And yes I do trust him."

Hesitantly the voice continued.

"Oh ok sir. If you say so. Is there anything else you would like for me to get this gentleman?"

"Oh Actually there is I would like you to brief him on the cause of our organization. And I would truly appreciate it if you would personally see to his arrival and comfortable settling."

After a little pause the voice spoke.

"Okay sir I will see to it. but I recommend you try to get here a soon as you can quite a lot has changed since you've been on your Patrol."

"Sure, sure. Goodbye Tista I'll see you in 12 hours or Soo." Said Alden before removing the terminal from his ear and clicking a button on it's lit screen.

Kreed was dumbfounded. He wanted to ask a lot of questions but didn't know which ones took priority.

So purely out of curiosity he asked.

"Umm Alden what was that? I didn't know terminals could be used to communicate in such a way."

After putting the terminal back into his pocket he looked a Kreed with a strange expression.

"Did they not have signal on Apostle island?

To be honest K am not sure how to explain it.

The terminal uses a radio wave to transmit data, in this case my voice."

'is that Soo? Then I guess the reason as to why no one made calls is because they could possibly be tracked.'

How peculiar.

Looking at Kreed Alden asked. "Say k, do you mind if I took a look at your map?"

Kreed took a glance at the map before tossing it to Alden.

"I'll set a course for Alicia. Based on it's location the grape should reach it in 8 hours. "

"The grape? Did you name this vessel the grape? How strange." Replied Alden

"This is quite an old map isn't it? Am afraid much of the terrain alongside the coast of Oben has shifted. So Alicia is a bit further away, it's also much bigger than what is depicted in this map."

Kreed listened trying to add this newly gained knowledge together with his past education of the geography of Oben.

"Umm Alden how did it change so much in ten years? " Kreed was trying to understand but everything Alden said seemed a bit to grand.

How could the terrain of a continent as large as Oben change so drastically in ten years?

Looking up from the map Alden spoke.

"It's quite a story K, don't worry we have at least twelve hours on this vessel together. I'll tell you as much as I can. Of course I won't be doing it for free. So we'll have to form a deal. For now let's start heading for Alicia."

Alden handed Kreed the map before walking to the back of the grape.

Without much warning Alden shifted the giant stone pillars extending from the ocean, and brought the dark lyre down to his level.

A spark of light appeared around his right hand and soon after a silver short knife with a rough oak Handel formed from the s

park.

Grasping the knife Alden plunged it into the Lyre, cutting through it's thick carapace with ease.

And shortly after he removed two round crystals from it's body.