(Amice POV)

Quite noise broke through my hazy conciseness. Why am I asleep? Opening my eyes helped little as everything is blurry. Slowly rising to the sitting position I rubbed my eyes in an attempt to focus them.

Memories came rushing back. Lave laying limply on the ground. A knight dragging her off into the city where I can't reach her. The water pulling me under as my strength left. I shot up looking around the room wildly. I have to go. I need to find Lave. Confusion and panic had me struggling to get off of the bed.

“I see your awake.” Came a cold voice in the distance. Looking around I spotted a woman wearing unusual cloths standing in the door way. Her brown hair had feathers braided in, cold blue eyes, and a light brown text tattoo that ran down one half of her face. “What no thanks for the one who saved you?”

I frowned slightly. “... Thank you for saving me. If you hadn't I would've drown. However I need to leave. Can you tell me what direction Vasa is in?” The more time I waste here the more time Lave is in trouble.

She raised an eyebrow at my question. “ Vasa is about 13 kilometers north west from here. If you wish to leave it may be a bit to difficult for you. However before that you need to answer a few of my questions.” The woman sat down in a chair against the wall. “Where did you get this?”

She held up a leather strap neckless with a swirling blue and red pendent. “Give it back.” I ordered calmly, annoyed that she had it.

The lady snorted. “Sure you can have it back after you tell me where you got it.” She dangled it as if teasing me. “Really it shouldn't be that hard of a question to answer. Unless you killed someone for it?”

I scowled. How dare she. “I didn't kill someone for it. It was given to me by my love. Now hand back my protection charm.”

“P-Protection charm?” She stuttered while looking amused. “Oh my dear, this is no protection charm. If anything it could be considered a curse. No mater where you go, who tries to take it, or even if you yourself try to get rid of it, that thing will always be near you.” She tossed my neckless back to me.

I sighed with it back in my possession. Its the only thing Lave has given me. “Good that means I can't lose it.” I said happily looking at the intricate carvings on the back.

“Yes, you won't lose it. Though it would probable be better if you did.” The lady sighed. “It is never a good thing to receive something from the supernatural.”

“I didn't receive anything from a supernatural. Lave is human.” I retorted while rewearing the neckless.

“If this Lave is human, then how did it make that? That neckless is a claim. It has claimed you when you accepted that neckless, for whatever reason. That means that it knows where you are at all times and it controls your fate.” The lady pulled out a rough pipe and started smoking. “What have you done to attract its attention?”

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

“Lave is not an it but a she.” I curtly replied. “And if Lave is not human what is she. She looks, walks, talks, and eats like a human. In what way is that anything like a supernatural beast?” Getting up from the bed I headed for the door. “Thank you for saving me but I really must go.” I walked out with the woman trailing behind. A small cove surrounded by an unusual fog greeted me.

“Gorgeous isn't it?” She asked while leaning against the wall. “Vasa is that way.” Her finger pointing out across the water into the fog. “I suggest you take a boat if you can find one. The water is rough.”

“...” I turned back to the lady “Are you serious?” She just watched me with an amused smile.

“To be honest I would never have saved you if you weren't wearing that thing. However what's done is done. It would be better if you waited for your 'human friend' to come and get you.” She turned back to the water looking out with longing eyes. “Of course I'm not sure how long that will be.”

“You are welcome to stay with me until then.” She said while turning around and walking back into the house. “Also your sword is in the room you were sleeping in. You mustn't forget your things if you are going to try and leave the island. I don't want your mortal junk.”

I watched her disappear into the building. “...Where the hell am I?” I wondered aloud while watching the waves crash against the shore. With every crash my hopes of leaving this island to save Lave dies. I don't know how to sail...

I sit down on the beach looking out across the water. Lave is human isn't she? I thought back to my time spent with her and all her cute quirks. Her ability to eat the Red Death fruit like it was candy. The fact that she couldn't speak Common when we first meet. Her fascinating ability to disappear without me noticing. Lastly her many unusual and interesting items. Fiddling with the neckless I thought back to when I received it.

[ 'Amice take this.' Lave said while handing it to me. 'Make sure to wear it all the time.' She turned back to cleaning off her daggers as if she didn't just give me a gift.

'Ah, its so pretty. Thank you Lave. I'm so happy you gave me this!' I said while putting it on.

'... Its a protection charm. It will help when your in a dire situation.' She mumbled while looking at Gran who was walking back with fire wood. 'Make sure you don't show it to anyone.' ]

I glanced back at the house suddenly very curious about what the woman had to say. Lave will be fine. She is strong and the Church wont kill her off after they went through all that trouble to get her. Plus there's no way I can get off this island. Standing up while dusting sand off I made my decision. Lets stay here until Lave comes to get me.