Chapter 32: Making up

Yami

20 Years Ago

Yami found himself on the stern of the ship again. It was an easy place for him to go when he needed to kill time on the long, arduous trip. Though he preferred exercising his mercenary skillset, he still found the act of bringing some of his food rations out and enjoying the view of the ocean to be an enjoyable practice, it hadn't been something he had experienced before, having been locked down to his small homeland. A few hours had passed since Zena had blown up at him about how she felt. They still hadn't spoken since, nor had they seen each other. Yami debated going down to cabins and apologising to her but…he knew he wouldn’t mean it. He was honest when he outlined his own reasons for how he provided. Though he failed to mention the reason he fought and killed was for his mother, perhaps that would have changed the outcome of their argument. Yami only shook his head as these thoughts and possibilities that rose in his head, dismissing them.

Night slowly began to creep in as the rich blue of the ocean subtly faded. The waves of the ocean stirred gently against the ship as Yami spaced out, leaning against the stern as he usually did. The cold of the night brought his senses back to reality however and urged him to head back into the cabins to resist the chill of night. He noticed how practically the whole of the stern was empty at this point. Still, even with the cold nipping at his arms, he strolled casually across the strong planks of the ship and into the cabins. The cabins were down a short flight of stairs that led into a hallway. A row of doors was placed on either side for rooms to let the passengers rest on the longer trips. As Yami made his way down the creaking stairs, he spotted about ten people idling in the halls, humans and ketans alike. However, he spotted an encounter further down the hallway. Some sort of fight, though, it looked one-sided. Yami couldn't make out their faces but he could tell it was a heated exchange. Though, he wasn't able to work out why no one was intervening. Yami advanced further down the hall and pushed his way through the other passengers.

As he neared the encounter, he could make out the situation with more ease. It seemed as if a ketan was pushing around someone who wouldn't fight back. He heard the man yelling towards his victim as he got closer. Why the hell is no one doing anything? Thought Yami, He couldn't understand why everyone was turning a blind eye. It almost looked like a play to him. Soon after, Yami got to the two men and pushed off the abuser gently. The abuser was a ketan at average height. He had brown hair and wore commoner clothes like everyone else. He wasn't anything out of the ordinary. While the victim was a taller human, also in commoner clothes but seemed to act far meeker and submissive. His head was hung low as he accepted the abuse without fighting back.

“Right lads, break it up!” he said firmly as he stood between the two of them. The crowd of passengers that stood in the hallway gave Yami a cautious look. The kind one would receive for committing a taboo action.

“What do you think you're doing?” Asked the abuser as he gave Yami a confused look. The sleeveless man stood in between the abuser and the taller victim.

“Why are you geing him grief?” Asked Yami. The victim only continued to stare down meekly at the ground behind Yami. The abuser only sighed and rolled his eyes.

“Could never understand you Dangai’s.” He said shaking his head as he pushed past to grab the taller victim by his shirt and pull him into view. “This magicless scum…got the nerve to step into me,” He said tugging the shirt he was wearing with no regard. Yami only gave the man a confused expression.

“So? Forgive him. Is bumping intae someone worth winging aboot?” Asked Yami

“When it's a magicless runt like this, yeah, it is.” The abuser then shot a dirty look at the victim. “Suprised they even let you on here…maybe we should just throw you off and leave you for the fish,” Yami as a reflex, pushed away the shorter ketan from the taller man.

“What’s Rang with you?! just because he hanae got magic you dinnae like him?” asked Yami confused. The abuser gave Yami a knowing look and shifted his head with a chuckle.

“Yes? Even a foreigner like you should know this guy isn’t worth keeping around,” The sleeveless man didn't take lightly being labeled and tensed his fist.

“You really think mana is all that? Let’s go up to the deck and we’ll see,” Yami said as he lowered his voice so only the abuser could hear.

“Oh, don’t tell me your manaless too?” he said with a smug tone that irked Yami. The taller man felt an urge to step into the abuser but as he did, Zena intervened.

“He’s sorry,” she said with a surprisingly submissive tone, stretching her arms out and splitting the two apart. “He forgot tae take his rations so he’s grumpier than usual,” The abuser looked down at the shorter woman as she spoke and gave a confused expression.

“Eh, another Dangai?” he said with slight disgust

“Again, we're sorry. Were all really shattered and I think that could be said aboot all of us, so why don’t we just forget this and head aff to oor cabins,” She asked as she raised her head and gave the abuser a warm if also nervous smile to win him over. The man only tutted, shoving aside his victim and retreating further down the hall, in tandem, the crowd of onlookers began to disperse. Zena turned to Yami with an irritated look plastered on her face.

“Wit was that Yami?! You could have gotten us in a lot of trouble,” berated Zena.

“How?” he asked with genuine confusion. “That lad was clearly just pissed and taking it oot on that guy,” he said motioning to the somber victim as he meekly walked away. Zena took Yami’s hand. Her stern expression stayed firm as she took the sleeveless man by the hand into their cabin, shutting the door tight behind her. She walked further into the small cabin, lined with two beds and basic amenities.

“Yami, you need tae watch what you say tae Atlusians,” she said with a calm tone

“Wit do you mean?” Asked Yami.

“Atlusians arnae fond of magicless Yami,” Zena told him as if it were common knowledge. “They practically push them around like animals…you…didnae know this?” Zena asked with genuine curiosity. Yami only had a look of confusion and anger on his face.

“N-no, why? Why are they treated like that?” asked Yami with genuine anger. Zena had no answer for him and only shrugged.

“I’m…no sure. It’s no just Atlus Yami, Vholeria's treatment of magicless is…far worse, you really should know this Yami, your magicless are you no?”

“I am, and so wit? I winnae let them push me around while I dae my job,”

“Don’t Yami, it’s taboo for a magicless tae speak up against those with mana, you’ll only get both of us in trouble,” She turned to make for her bed. “Please, just keep your lack of magic tae yourself, I’ll talk through it if we're questioned,” she said with a small smile, as if to give reassurance. Yami had to stop to process his thoughts for a moment. He took a lean against the wooden wall of the cabin they stood in and looked at his open palm. How did I no know magicless were treated like this? He thought to himself as anger surged from his lack of knowledge. Folk without magic are treated like this…just because?! He looked up towards Zena who began to settle in her bed, facing away from him. And she wants me just to forget what happened. Tae turn a blind eye against people like me. Simply because it’s the way it is?! The thought of having to ignore prejudice against people which technically included him and his mother angered him, a feeling he wasn't used to. It was so easy for Yami to not take things personally, to be carefree about any situation and just go with the flow. Still, I need tae do finish this job. Get that coin so mum can be safe and dosnae need to worry. Yami felt conflicted about how he felt. Stepping up against discrimination or keeping quiet for his mother and Zena’s sake both felt like the right choices. Though, perhaps Zena was right. If he continued to feel strongly about this. He could make acts towards justice for their kind after he had secured his mother financially. That, felt like the right choice, for both his mother and Zena’s safety. Yami recalled his memory of stepping in to help the previously mentioned man who was harassed due to his lack of mana I surprised myself with that he thought to himself with a small chuckle can’t remember stepping in to help someone just for the sake of it. Cannae even mind a time I looked oot for others he thought looking down at Zena again.

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“That’s enough change for wan night,” he muttered to himself quietly as he staggered slowly to his bed.

Zena stood on the bridge of the ship as it neared the port just on the border of Atlus. The two of them had woken early. Zena for the obvious reason of arrival, but Yami, outside of accompanying her, felt an unnatural urge to express something to Zena as soon as he could. To get it off his chest and clear his head. So he could start feeling like himself again and act a bit more carefree. He opened the door to the deck, leaving the cabins promptly. The fresh sea breeze entered his nose and heightened his senses almost immediately. The air smelled so different from how it did in Dangai, though, he couldn't describe how it smelled differently. Most of the passengers had come out to the deck as the ship would soon dock. From the crowd, Yami spotted Zena and approached her nonchalantly. She turned gently as she heard him approach, before setting her eyes back on the ocean as they both leaned over the railing.

“We’ll be at Atlus soon, do you have everything together?” Yami nodded.

“Aye, all set,” he said with a smile.

“I never thought I would be this nervous,” Zena admitted “It’s so new tae me tae be so far away from hame, I'll be gone for so lang tae,”

“Aye, I get how you feel. You want to look oot for your family, right,” He asked. She nodded.

“It was the hale reason I trained to become a surgeon. The hale reason I'm gaeing tae this school. So I can provide for ma parents and give back tae them for everything they have done fae me,” Zena Explained

“Aye…same here,” Yami agreed. Zena turned to Yami with a slightly confused expression.

“You're daeing this job for your family?” She asked with genuine surprise.

“Aye, my da died fighting in Elden. Left us with the…relic” He said in a lower tone to not let garthener too much attention. Though thankfully Zena had been aware he wielded the Devil Relic and it came as no shock to her. “Oor hoose needed funding because it took some damage fae some bad weather. My mum was only able to bring in so much so…I started using this gift. Mercenary work, assassinations. Whatever I could find, I used this gift to get more coin for mum, found oot I had a knack fir this work and went tae pit it tae use,” Zena continued to listen to him as he explained the reasoning for his actions.

“Aye, you were right last night, maybe killing people isnae the right thing to dae. Maybe taking money from a family who had their daughter stolen by bandits after rescuing her isnae a nice thing to dae. I’m sorry for what I said the other day. The money I will get from this job should be enough to pay aff the repairs for my mum's hoose. After that, I’ll stop with this line of work.” Zena listened and was slightly taken aback by his honesty and apology. It felt so out of character, yet, refreshing to hear him speak like that. She took a moment to process what he had said before responding.

“Got any plans after this job then?” She said moving on from the prior conversation. Yami was quiet for a moment but then answered.

“Aye, I'm gonnae raise awareness for magicless folk’s rights,” he said proudly. Zena spun her head around to Yami in pure shock.

“Yami you dae realize what you're saying right? You're practically gaeing to need to eliminate centuries of bias toward magics. You’ll practically need tae challenge all of Atlus and Vholeria,”

“I’m willing to do that Zena. I told you I was use this gift for what I thought was right and well...I cannae see folk being treated like that lad last night,” He said with his gaze fixated out onto the ocean as the land of Atlus appeared on the horizon. Zena only sighed in an exhausted tone.

“I can tell I’m no going tae change your mind Yami, I’m no saying what you're daeing is wrong but…just realize you might have mare trouble than you think you might,”

“Nah, It will be nae bother, It winnae be hard tae find like-minded folk who want tae fight for the same cause,”

“Maybe not Yami, a lot of people may agree with you but they have been beaten down, made tae believe they really are inferior. As someone who has visited Atlus before it’s… it's hard tae watch, but its life for these folk,” she said solemnly, accepting the fact there might not be a way to undo the tyranny.

“Well, you're welcome tae join if you want,” Yami said out of nowhere.

“M-me?!” she said and then stood speechless.

“Aye, A surgeon’s a good thing to have in a group of activists I think,” He said as if he came up with a great idea.

“Y-Yami, you cannae just ask someone that?!” she said with a small chuckle out of anxiety.

“Well…dae you believe magicless should have the same rights as you,” Yami asked turning to her.

“Y-yes but that dosnae mean I’m ready tae join an activist group?!” she admitted.

“Then talk to me when you finish your training, If I'm still fighting for their rights, then yer welcome tae join at any time,” Zena could only laugh lightly at how absurd his statement was. The fact she knew he was being serious by the change to a more serious tone compared to his more joking tone made it more surreal for her, though, she did find it endearing.

“You're impossible…you know that,” she said with a light-hearted laugh.

“How about this,” Yami said turning to her, “If I’m no dead in a ditch by the time you finish your training, you have tae join my group as a surgeon, deal?” he said reaching his hand out her for a shake. Zena looked down at his hand pondering the decision. A bit of anxiety rose within her at his serious offer. She instead turned and leaned against the banister of the ship.

“If you're no dead in the four years. I’ll pay for all the food you ever want, but I’ll consider it,” she said with a mocking tone. Despite the remark, Yami could tell she was genuine with her response.

“Good enough for me,” he said satisfied.

“You dinnae make things easy for yourself do you,”

“Nah, nae fun in that. Need a bit of danger in your life, keeps you on your toes, keeps you young and healthy,”

“I’ll stick tae veggies and lots of rest thank you,” she said with a small chuckle.

The bridge slammed down onto the port and the passengers slowly began to funnel out from the ship. Yami and Zena were surrounded by the sound of chatter all around them as they carefully crossed from the ship to port. The port was far larger than anything Yami had seen in Dangai. It was large enough for multiple ships and far larger vessels. Groups of tradesmen were seen transporting timber and crates of supplies all across the long boardwalks.

“Where'd they find the time to build all of this,” Yami rhetorically asked himself as he took in the Atlus port.

“Never been tae Elden country boy?” Zena teased him.

“Pot calling the kettle black lassie,” he replied quickly

“At least I've traveled ootside of Dangai a few times, have you?” she retorted.

“Never had to, got ate say though I like what I see,” he said as he glanced over at a group of women who passed by. They wore dresses that hugged their waist and billowed out at hips. Outlining their feminine figure. Something Yami had never seen women in Dangai wear.

“Mind your manners yami,” Zena said as she rolled her eyes, “Believe it or no but women wear more than robes ootside of Dangai. Yami nodded as she spoke while he took in the beauty of the women. He then quickly turned his gaze back to the path all the passengers took to leave the port. Yami felt a spike of fear as he crossed through the port. He and Zena were surrounded by hundreds of people however so he was unsure as to what was causing this fear to rise in him. Whatever it was, he didn't like it. What is this? It feels like a bell is going off in my body. The further He and Zena passed through the crowd, the stronger the pressure of this unknown force felt. Is it all the mana from all people? Is it too much for the devil relic? As he reached an opening in the crowd towards the end of the port, his mind finally realized the threat his body was warning him of. As the crowd opened, his view of the large gate sectioning off the seaside town from the port was fully visible. It was as if his eyes moved on their own. A man, tall, muscular, with dark hair, stood by the gate. The figure was locked in his vision. As Yami set his eyes on the man, the mysterious figure's eyes met his. They were sharp and resembled the eyes of a hunter. A menacing grin covered the man’s face. It’s the same feeling, It's just like the Mirage Blade!?