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Chapter 8 – Over troubled waters.

Wilson, the seasick.

On a boat.

I'm having a blast since I've taken off the manacles.

This ride is nice and leisurely. It is supposed to be a quick ride to cross the bay between the cities, but the water was wavy due to all the huge ships milling about, and the small boat we're on doesn't fair well with waves. Me? I love waves.

I'm really enjoying hanging off the back of the boat, puking away. I don't have the benefit of having no food in my stomach, like in all my sea adventures so far.

Anyways, puking is refreshing. It really gives off that oh-I-am-human-after-all sense.

I was worried there for a moment when the manacles came off. The immediate feeling of superhuman giddiness was something I wasn't expecting. Who expects something great to happen when they are expecting something bad?

It'd be like a killer coming up to you and turning themselves in... Come to think of it, maybe that's how Sav felt when he first met me.

Hahahahaha.

Oops.

I'm slipping again.

Back on track, I haven't seen much of interest, except for some dangerous looking creatures in the water below. 

I gave one a wink. I suppose it wasn't impressed because none of it's twenty eyes winked back. 

Fine, then.

I'll acquire another aquatic acquaintance if you're going to be a jerk.

I've only had the water to stare at since my seasickness began. Which was immediately after we set off. The man who is known as Rilan'o is currently yelling from the front of the boat to one of the Upper City Dock officials. They're on another boat nearby. The spot where we were supposed to disembark is currently occupied by a boat with a missing crew. I have no idea how they went missing in the Upper City, there must be only a few places to look, right?

In the meantime we're supposed to relax. I don't mind, I'm super relaxed. It's just my stupid stomach that seems to take issue with the wait. Err, waves.

Blegh.

I'm considering punching my stomach to see if it would help, but I shake off the sentiment and notice Sav is still spying on me. I had said something earlier that made him even more suspicious of me. Suspicion which I need just like I need this spoiled stomach. Because the massive grin on my face after I took off the manacles didn't already make him suspicious enough.

For some reason, since Sav doesn't want to know my name, nor seems inclined to ask, he wasn't sure how to get my sporadic attention once we got onto the boat. I was running around making sure it would float. He didn't want to spill any of his secrets and call me by whatever he normally mutters under his breath. So he called me something silly.

“Oi! Young lad” He had yelled.

I'm not really young looking, but I feel like I'm younger than before, so it's what came next that has him currently watching me like a Sav-hawk.

“Oh!? I'm a lad? So I'm young? Younger then what? How old do you think I am? No! Rather, tell me how old do I look?” I had bombarded him with questions.

Yup. I'll admit I might say stupid things.

But Sav, there was no reason to have had those wide eyes, okay? I just have no idea what my physical age is. Same with mental age.

My spiritual age is probably around 2 or 3 months, I think? Between all the things that have happened, and my spotty focus, I've lost the exact count.

That's a lie, I think I stopped counting around day two or three.

Hehe, my bad.

…

Ahem.

So Sav has really been watching me now. 

Must be boring for him, all I do is puke.

Oh excuse me, I've just received yet another appointment.

What's that saying? It's one of my favorite sayings, because I'm the one who is about to say it.

Hmm... ah, I've got it!

My stomach runs my schedule.

---

Sav

On a boat.

He be right trickin' me, certain. 

First he was messin' with me, takin' his time takin' off them Sealers, and now he has me spooked that he's a Spirit Stealer.

How else would a man get to be old while in a young man's body? It's not natural, certain.

He was barely hidin' how happy he was when I called him 'Young Lad', tryin' to get me to admit 'is thieving of Spirits has done a right good job of makin' 'im youthful. 

Blast him.

It's 'is fault I called 'im young. He ain't young lookin', I know, but after the Sealers were off his eyes lit up again. He had been boundin' around the boat just like a child. Until he started pukin', that is.

I was right happy about 'im pukin'. Blasted Magekin.

Where is all that comin' from? He's been at it a while now. 

Worse, He's givin' that grin again, this time down towards the water. Probably wants to steal some poor fish's Spirits. 

That grin of 'is leaves my spine cold, certain.

Oh, he's lookin' here. He knows I've caught 'im when 'is guard is down.

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That's right, you Blasted Magekin, I'll be watchin' you careful-like.

Now he's doin' the grin again. His aim isn't me but somewhere behind me.

His unfocused eyes are probably pickin' which of my Spirits he'll eat first.

Blast him, I won't give 'im a chance. If he tries somethin' he'll be sorry.

I'm no easy prey, certain.

---

Wilson, wonderful as usual.

Upper City Docks.

I'm keeping things under control. The things that make me strange. 

It's not as hard as it was before to stay even-keeled, since I'm off of the boat.

Okay, that was a pun, so that means I'm not totally fine. I'm keeping the things under reasonable control.

The puking had forced me to stay still and all I had time to do was think. I have since realized that if I severely limit my movements and focus on breathing deeply, I can get some clarity into my addled state. 

It doesn't really help because we're on the move at the moment. Wherever we're going next apparently needs us to guided by some guards.

Why doesn't this sound good?

All the ideas I had about what could go wrong in the Upper City are pushing into my head, and the clarity is being forced out to make room.

I'm starting to worry.

Why?

No, why?

What?

Why am I worried?

I can't imagine being worried when I feel great again. 

Bah, that bout of barfing was really bad.

I'm following Sav-hawk, which my new favorite name for him, but he's been talking to a strangely dressed man who was writing things down. We've finally been released from dealing with the dock managers, and now we have to deal with even more paper-pushers.. The dock managers wanted us to help confirm that the crew of that boat had gone missing, and we hadn't seen any of them as we came in to dock.

What does it have to do with us? I don't even care, go ask someone that would actually know.

Like those guards over there that are patiently watching us.

Hmm?

I spot a familiar face.

“Hello there!” I shout, happily waving my arm, walking over towards the face.

I'm happy to see this face, I'm even happier that I didn't trip over myself or stutter.

Why?

Because it's Lady Guard, she's here with another guard that I don't recognize. I wonder what she's doing here?  I wonder if she'll tell me?

Wait, how did she get here before us?

It doesn't matter, I'm really excited to see a familiar face.

It's the first time that I've ever seen a face again. I've seen faces, sure, but now I'm seeing a face that I've seen before. I'm feeling nostalgia for something of this world for the first time. It's a nostalgia that isn't underpinned by loss and self-pity. It's wonderful. It's beautiful! It's terrific!!

This kind of nostalgia is itself nostalgic.

Ah.

Now I'm sad again. I've felt this nostalgia before, but I'll never know when, where, how or why.

Ugh.

“Are you alright?” a soft voice questions me. 

She must be really concerned about me. I had stopped halfway to her but she had crossed the remaining distance and was currently looking at me with a slight tilt of head and a small lift of eyebrows.

On my side, I get to take a better look at her concerned face. She's a pleasant looking lady. That's all I've got. I've other problems.

Stopping midway to her was a happy accident. I've regained enough sense not to say what I was about to. 

I almost proposed to her on the spot. 

That would have been troubling. Even worse, it would have been embarrassing. I don't even know if I find her attractive yet. Rather, I don't even know what I find attractive at all. I know nothing about her. Why am I so stupid? 

I think it was just a random whim that the first female I found was the one that was fated for me. That seems like something my stupid brain would come up with on the spot, and this stupid body would act on without hesitation.

“Ahem.” she clears her throat to get my attention.

Right, I never gave her a response.

“Yes, yes. Of course I am alright.” I had to look away and pretend to have been called by Sav. It wasn't hard, he has been calling to me this entire time.

“Good. Then please wait with Sav while he finishes signing you both in.” She gave me a professional smile and a short nod then stepped back into her position beside the other guard.

I'm stunned. She wasn't concerned about me after all. She's just giving me a cool stare from   where she stands. The distance between us is now physical and emotional.

No! Give me back my would-be proposal! I regret calling you pleasant looking.

Did she hear me?

Did I say that out loud!?

She's slowly lifting her armored hand in the smallest of movements. Her index finger is unfurling from her closed fist. The tip of her finger reaches it's zenith for just a moment before she slices it through the air towards it's intended target.

It's pointing at Sav.

Her eyes are telling me one thing.

Get moving.

…

Yes Ma'am.

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