Alan and Etia left the taxi. Before they stood a shipyard, their vacation would happen on the other end of the continent.

A land trip would be faster, but it would come with a lot of danger. Only the coast of Zhar is organized, and the rest is a slum-like place.

They made their way toward a big ship. Alan planned to get as far away from the capital, and now Etia saw he meant by far away.

— Tickets, please. — A man with the capital's logo on his suit was checking if everyone had a ticket.

Alan and Etia waited for a bit. There weren't many people in the queue, so after around ten minutes, they walked up themselves.

-Tic--

— Don't force yourself. Here. — Alan noticed the man's face and gave him the papers.

After a while, Alan and Etia left the building and made their way toward a ship. It looked like a normal ship from Earth, except for the fact that it swam in pink water.

— This will be the first time I'm on a ship.

— Me too. When I was born, they were already a relic of the past. — When Alan lived on Earth, no one, except rich people, used ships.

— You only got the better part of Zhar. Remember that the rest is filled with not-very-friendly folk. — Etia was once outside the city, and many terrible things happened.

— Don't worry. I will protect you. — Alan wasn't scared of them. He was a walking tank. People with muskets and revolvers won't kill him.

There was a very big problem with piracy in the ocean. Because of that, many people chose to stay enclosed in their cities.

— Let's stop thinking about it and just enjoy our trip. — Etia pitched the idea to Alan, and he agreed.

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Alan was in the ship's shop. The journey would take over six hours, and he didn't bring any non-emergency food.

— Two cups of that hot stuff they're drinking. — Alan didn't know what the coffee-like drink was called. — And some beer. And a few sandwiches.

— Uhh, ok. Anything else? — The barman replied.

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— No.

— That will be 60 kam.

— Here you go. — It hurt Alan to pay so much for a little food. This is around $15.

Alan took his drinks and snacks.

Making his way back to his room, he observed the beautiful decoration. They all felt soulless, like a robot made them.

What didn't feel soulless was a person kicking his room's door?

— Open up! Or I'm going to kill you. — A very muscular man was kicking the entrance into his room.

— May I know what's happening? — Alan very forcefully grabbed the assailant.

— What?! — He screamed and turned around. — Oh shit.

Alan sent a punch toward the man's face. Alan could hear his enemy's spine crack. There was no saving there since he was dead.

The door opened, and a crying Etia showed up.

— Come in, *sniff*, take him too. — Alan picked up the body and walked into the room.

— What happened?

— I wanted to walk around the ship, *sniff*, but a drunk man saw me and wanted to beat me. *Sniff,* He said I'm an abomination. — Etia started crying even louder.

— It's ok. Come here. — Alan hugged her and patted her on the back. — He's gone now.

Etia wasn't touched by the dead man. She didn't consider herself a zharian, so he was nothing more than an animal to her.

Alan picked him up and threw him through the window. There were no cameras outside the room, so no one should find out.

Alan led Etia toward their bed and lay down with her.

— Can we be like that for a moment?

— As long as you want. — Alan and Etia covered themselves with a blanket and “snuggled” for some time.

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The ship stopped moving, and people started walking out. At the back of the queue, Alan was sitting with Etia.

Everyone had to be checked for illegal substances, so it took some time.

— Ouch. — Etia stood up and grabbed her legs.

— Sorry. — Alan apologized. He couldn't control his strength when not calm. — I will try to be less rough the next time.

— Don't apologize. It was just a little accident. — Even if she felt pain, the happiness that being with him brought her was far greater.

— Next! — One of the security guards called them.

— Hello officer. — Alan came closer to him.

— I, I will check your bags. — The man stuttered. Etia didn't know if he was scared because of Alan's skin or strength.

— Is it good?

— Y, yes. — The guard answered.

— I'm very happy that is the thing. — Alan took his bags and left with Etia.

— We're finally free. At least for the next two weeks. — Etia already loved being here, in the city of Serrdic.

— Do you want me to carry you? I still feel a little guilty.

— Hmm. Ok. — After saying that, Etia was lifted off the ground, and carried to the hotel.