Vysard was disappointed that they would travel by sea as he wanted to go see more of the world, but this feeling only lasted until the boat departed, as the vast immensity of the ocean made him fall in awe.

-" He is quite the easy boy to entertain." Robert gave a puff on his pipe as he talked to THorin.

-" It's expected. Can you remember your first time seeing the Ocean? I bet that you acted the same way."

-" Of course, even after so many years sailing around I'm still in awe of the ocean." Robert laughed as he answered. " But, Thorin... Is something happening in the Sun Lands?" The Sun Lands was his homeland, and even after living in Whitelake City for close to 30 years he still cared deeply about it.

-" I hope not." Thorin shook his head. " The reason I decided to travel by ship was that I needed to go back as soon as possible, I fear that the Chruch may fall into inner conflict soon."

Rhobert face darneked. " Inner conflict? Don't tell me that the Cardinals aren't happy with the Pope?" The implications of what Thorin said were dire, even more in those trying times. " A civil war while those dammed Easterns are trying to swallow the whole world? What they are thinking?"

-" It isn't just the Cardinals." Thorin didn't want to tell the man too much, not because he didn't trust him, but, because it would draw danger to him. " The Sun God's Chruch is full of dark secrets, and sooner or later they all come out to the light of day."

-" This will be quite the hell of an era." Robert sighed in hopelessness. " It's been twelve thousand years since the last enemy army set foot upon the Gallia Penisula, maybe this will end soon,"

-" It's all in the hands of the new generation." Thorin showed a generous smile to his old friend, the situation was dire, but, Thorin was still filled with hope, after all, he believed that Vysard's appearance now wasn't a coincidence. " We are old and tattered, but, the young ones are full of spirit and drive,"

Robert remembered his conversation with Thorin in the Inn and gazed at the youth that was too busy admiring the waves. " Are you betting on him?"

-" I would lie if I said no, but, this isn't the reason that I'm trying to guide him." Thorin stood up and began to walk towards Vysard. " I just think that everyone deserves a life that it's worth being lived."

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Robert nodded, he knew Thorin very well, and this was a truth that he lived by.

Vysard was dangling on the side of the ship, staring deep down at the water. -" So many fishes!" Strong monsters habited every part of the valley where Vysard grew up, so the rivers there barely had any fish due to other monsters predating on them.

-" There are many more down the ocean." Thorin approched Vysard and observed the water.

-" Can we dive?" Vysard eyes shone, the allure of seeing even fish species was too much for him to hold himself.

-" Maybe another time, we need to hurry to the Northern Lands."

Vysard pouted, he didn't know when he would leave the valley again, so felt that he needed to enjoy every moment of this mission.

Vysard was about to beg Thorin for them to go dive, however, a ship appeared on the horizon before he could speak> Vysard gave the ship a look, but, he didn't pay much attention to it, however, Robert's shout made him rise his guard.

-" Prepare for engament!" Robert spat on deck as he looked at the incoming ship. " Everyone on position! Prepare the cannons!"

Vysard was puzzled, the ship was too far away to see it clearly, but, for some reason, he already knew that it was an enemy. " Thorin?" He quickly called Thorin as he wanted to understand what was happening.

-" They are pirates, think of them as bandits of the sea." Thorin spoke as he smiled at Baltsar who cowered as the man remembered his short career as a bandit. " No ship uses this route when coming back, so it is very likely that they want to sack our ship."

Vysard eyes flashed as he finally understood the situation. " Should we do something?"

Thorin gave Oppius a look and ordered. -" Oppius, you should deal with them."

-" I already dealt with the bandit the previous time." Oppius showed no care for the pirates and continued to read his book." Send Dillia instead."

-" Are you stupid? Why are you sending a girl like me to deal with a bunch of stinky men?" Dillia was bothered by his suggestion. " Let the ship crew deal with them."

Thorin sighed to himself, Oppius and Dillia were known troublemakers, and he could only blame his bad luck for having them on his team. " Tsk, I'm not asking, this is an order!" Thorin's tone grew serious as he gave the order one more time.

Oppius frowned as he noticed that Thorin had become angry, between Thorin losing patience and dealing with some pirates, Oppius always would choose to deal with the pirates.

But to his luck, Vysard jumped up and offered to go. " Thorin! Let me deal with them!"

-" No, it's better if someone else goes." Thorin remained firm and held Vysard back, as he knew that the boy would jump in action any moment.

-" THorin! Why?" Vysard felt bummed out, he wanted to take this chance to go diving around the ocean.

-" Vysard... Would you kill them?" Thorin's face darkened as he asked Vysard.

-" Can't I just scare them away? Even destroy their ship!" Vysard cowered as Thorin mentioned killing the pirates.

-" If you let them escape, they would just steal another ship." Thorin took a deep breath and calmed down. " Their next victim maybe won't be so lucky to survive, would you take responsibility for that? When dealing with scum like this, it better to wipe them out."

Vysard was engulfed in hesitation, he never killed another human being, but, he knew that this was inevitable. " It's better to get used to the feeling sooner than later, right?" Vysard playful nature completely vanished, and a serious gaze took over his face.

-" Are you ready for that?" Thorin was worried, he felt that it was too early for Vysard to have his first human kill.

-" Ready or not, this is something that needs to be done." Vysard took a deep breath and a small spear of light materialized in his hand, Thorin's words had weighed on his mind, he felt that having the blood of outlaws in his hands was better than being responsible for their next victim's death.