I, Deniz, and Cairo looked around us, looking for solace from the awkwardness. I returned Wilhelm's gaze and shrugged my shoulders.
Wilhelm, apparently taken aback by our reaction, protested in a shocked tone, "You don't believe me?"
Wilhelm sighed, his fingers carelessly tracing the line of his brow. He thought for a moment, "I suppose you're quite insistent on needing me to furnish that proof, aren't you?"
He then took out a small blade and made a delicate cut on his palm. After a mere moment, his cut healed rapidly, leaving no trace of the cut.
"As you can see," he said, "I have a remarkable regenerative ability." I can regenerate completely as long as even a speck of my flesh or a single drop of my blood remains."
His explanation shifted us a step back. I knew Espers could heal faster than regular humans, but the sheer speed of his was mind-boggling.
"However," I thought to myself, "how is it possible to return from the brink of death?"
He replied calmly, "I didn't experience a revival; I simply refused to accept death."
He sighed again as he noticed my puzzled expression. "I suppose I'll have to provide the short version," he said with a laugh. "I'm cursed; I can't die. In theory, I might be able to if I embrace death, but it's a complicated matter. I'm not entirely sure why I'm telling you all of this. Nonetheless, you can't harm me unless you have concrete evidence of my secret. Consider my confiding in you a favor."
He continued, delivering the information in a single breath before walking away.
As Wilhelm prepared to leave, I couldn't help but wonder, "What about the sailors who went missing?" Were they present when your apparent demise occurred, and did you..." My question was cut short-
"About that," he said as he returned his gaze, his thumb tracing a suggestive motion around his throat. "I believe that clarifies their fate."
Wilhelm moved toward the lower deck with that. I tried to follow him, but he had already vanished from view.
The next day went on as usual, with no notable incidents to disrupt the routine. We awoke, ate breakfast, and engaged in games and conversations with other passengers, all while keeping our own stories hidden. We met with Marcos as needed, and Yang occasionally went up to the upper deck to supervise his guards.
Throughout those days, I caught glimpses of Wilhelm, but I refrained from confronting him again. His foreboding gesture, tracing death, left an unanswered question. Were they truly dead, and if so, was Wilhelm to blame for their demise? As I continued to observe him from a distance, the mystery deepened.
Wilhelm's words were true, and it became clear that I couldn't blame him in the absence of concrete evidence. Marco had also warned me not to get involved in such matters. So I decided to take his advice and refrain from delving too deeply into the matter, allowing the mystery to linger and enjoying each day as it came.
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Days slipped by seamlessly, one after the other—1, 2, 3, 4—but on the night of the fifth day, something unexpected occurred.
The three of us were fast asleep in the middle of the night, while the rest of the passengers slept peacefully. The peace was shattered by the sudden appearance of a group of guards wielding lanterns with an eerie glow. I struggled to make sense of the chaos that was unfolding around me after being startled awake.
"Down, down, down!" "Don't even think about anything funny," one of the guards yelled. I complied obediently, keeping my head down. I couldn't help but take a cautious look outside my quarters, where I witnessed a Chaotic scene. Every passenger on the ship was being apprehended by the guards, with some being restrained with ropes while others resisted and fights erupted in the dimly lit corridors.
The chaos continued until Marco, who appeared alarmed and befuddled, dashed down from the upper decks. His voice was concerned as he demanded answers.
"What's happening on my ship? Why are you detaining my passengers?" he inquired.
"There's been a murder, Captain Yang has been killed, and the murderer may be among these passengers," one of the guards said solemnly.
A group of Bramevaria guards arrived on the scene. The two factions, the Imperial Legion guards and the Bramevaria guards stood there, spears pointing toward each other. The tension in the air was palpable, and I found it fascinating to watch these two opposing forces clash from a safe distance.
However, I quickly set aside my curious musings and focused on what Marco's next actions would be.
Marco, his eyes wide with disbelief, "How did this terrible incident happen?" Tell me when and where it happened."
While the Imperial guards continued to detain the passengers, one of them took a step forward. "Captain, you need to see this for yourself," he said solemnly to Marco. Follow me and I'll show you."
When Marco heard this, he nodded, agreeing to follow the guard. He made a specific request before turning to leave. "I want you to release those three kids," he said, motioning directly at us. "Just them for now."
We hurried towards Marco as the guards untied our knots. "Stay close," said Marco
We continued toclimb to the upper VIP deck under Marco's direction, being led by a guard. Whenwe got there, we stopped in front of an elaborate gate. The door was swung openby the guard to reveal a lavish chamber.
Rich hardwood paneling and deeply crafted tapestries on the walls gave the rooman aura of elegance. A warm, golden glow filled the space as gleamingchandeliers hung from the high ceiling. Large windows were framed with soft velvetdrapes, providing a view of the starry sky.
A number of guards diligently searched the room for clues. . We saw Yang'slifeless body lying in a chair . A crystal-clear glass of wine was on displaynearby wooden table and was being held firmly by Yang's lifeless hand.