We headed slowly down the hill towards the grey port city. The city walls were old and overgrown with moss, crumbling grey stone bricks that stared out with an expression as grey and dour as the landscape. There were no guards outside, and the city gates were rusted open, leaf litter blowing absently through the gateway.

“Wow. This is the first time I’ve seen a city gate unguarded.” Eshaan remarked.

I glanced over at him. “Is it really that uncommon?” I said, eyebrows rising in surprise.

He nodded. “Yes! It’s very unusual!”

“Are we sure that people live here?” Soriya commented.

I pulled open my mother’s journal and flipped through it. “Yes. Much reduced, prices through the roof, but mother’s journal says it’s a living city.” I shivered all over, feeling a strange chill sweeping through me at the words ‘living.’

“Well then! The logical place to start is towards the harbor!” Eshaan clapped his hands and rubbed them.

“Eshaan…” I reached out and tugged at his sleeve, halting him. I hugged myself and felt another shiver through me. “Don’t you feel… anything? About this place?”

“What do you mean?” He looked about alertly, placing his hand on the hilt of his sword.

“I mean… doesn’t this place feel creepy to you?!”

Soriya nodded in agreement. “I feel it too.”

Eshaan looked around again, then shook his head. “No… It’s a little cold, and there’s a mist… I can offer you my jacket?” He started shrugging out of it.

I glared at him, and shook my head angrily. “Forget it.”

We shouldn’t ignore this! Our intuitions are very good!

No! I’m not going to let you trick me like this, this is just the part of the story where the girls are freaked out by nothing at all!

I think-

NO! Otherme was quiet, but I could tell she hadn’t given up.

I stomped angrily past Eshaan, picking a likely looking street and heading down it with a determined stride.

The city slowly started to show signs of life. A potted plant here. A stray cat there. The faint sounds of life, and then a market. Once or twice I even heard the sound of a child’s laughter as they played, though I never caught sight of them. But there were no guards, no city officials. The city remained grey and overcast.

Soriya commented as we walked “It’s so eerie here! The houses are all in good repair, but they’re all empty!”

Eshaan looked around curiously “Maybe it’s just good construction?”

“But then why don’t people move in?! Free housing!”

Eshaan shrugged. “Well Lilyanna’s journal said something was off. Don’t worry! I’ll protect you!”

I glared daggers at him. I opened my mouth to give him a cutting remark, but otherme wrestled with me.

Don’t you dare! He’s nice! He’s kind! He’s trying to be decent!

We are not his property! We keep him safe more often than not!

Soriya hmmed thoughtfully and said “Oh? Do you not want us to protect you then?” in a studied casual way while I wrestled with otherme.

Eshaan blushed and ducked his head. “I didn’t mean it like that, Miss Soriya. Nobody doubts your competence!”

“Oh? So you doubt Lilyanna’s competence?”

Eshaan’s blush grew even brighter, and I felt a mingled shock of vicious satisfaction and cringing embarrassment from both halves of me.

“N-no! Of course not! I just…” He trailed off, unsure how to continue.

Soriya looked over at me, her eyebrow raised. I ducked my head feeling awkward. It was nice to have Eshaan confronted with his prejudice, but I couldn’t help feeling awkward for him. I shook my head at her, lips pressed tightly together.

Soriya nodded at me and then said in a much gentler voice “Be a little more considerate. We’re a group of adventurers, and we work together. We’ll protect each other. We’re not just objects to be put into a box and guarded.”

Eshaan scowled and nodded, clearly stung.

“You’d probably just blow up the box anyway.” I giggled at Soriya. She laughed and nodded in agreement.

“Oh probably, and then Eshaan would have to repair the box and do apologies for us!”

Eshaan gave a hesitant flicker of a smile, then nodded to himself straightening his shoulders. He stopped and bowed to both of us.

“I will protect you. Both of you. Because that’s who I am, it’s what I do. I did not mean to belittle your contributions.” He bowed to me. “Lilyanna… Lily. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply that you’re helpless or of no use. You have saved my life more times than any of my squadmates in the troopers.” He turned to Soriya and bowed as well. “Miss Soriya, you pack more firepower than my entire squad put together.”

I could feel my heart go a bit gooey, and shook my head rapidly to dispel it. “We work together!” I rushed out. “It’s a team thing!”

Soriya grinned and stepped up, linking her arms in Eshaan’s, motioning me to join her. After a moment of hesitation, I did, linking my arm with Eshaan’s other arm.

“Right!” Soriya said. “So that’s how it is. You’re going to protect us, and we’re going to protect you. So how about, instead of ‘I’ll protect you,’ try ‘We’ll face down whatever it is together!’?” Soriya smiled up at Eshaan.

I could see his face brighten at that. “Yeah. Yeah!” He nodded, some of his energy returning. “That’s how we’ll do it! Together!”

We headed towards the docks arm in arm in arm.

Finding the docks really wasn’t too hard, just a matter of persistence and following our noses. Though honestly, I wasn’t all that happy with that, the smell of dead things and rotting seaweed is never exactly the most pleasant, and the odor of rotting offal and the filth of a city was added to the slow churning sludge that lapped turgidly against the posts of the mostly abandoned and rotting docks. Here and there, a few boats swayed against their moorings, but the same grey dreary air that loomed over the city was equally prevalent here.

Soriya took the lead. “Eshaan? You’re the fisherman… any ideas?”

He looked slowly around shaking his head. “Well… my home village is a lot smaller than this! But… most of the gossip happens in the taverns, so…?”

“Right! So let’s head to the local bar and ask!” Soriya spun around slowly, then pointed. “There. That one. I can hear singing.”

“What’s the singing got to do with it?” I asked curiously.

Soriya shrugged and grinned mischievously at me. “Nothing, really, I just bet the lyrics are going to make you blush as pink as your hair, and that’s always fun to see.”

“Soriya!?” I could feel the blush heating my cheeks already. Now that she’d pointed it out… oh dear, those lyrics really were salty!

There was nothing for it, and Eshaan was already heading towards the door. He turned to me and smiled, holding out his hand. “So I don’t need to protect you, but if they get too rowdy, I’ll help you punch them, ok?”

I laughed and felt the tension break a little. He was right, I didn’t have to stand there blushing and stammering, I could just punch somebody if they got handsy!

That seems incredibly rude!

Did you hear those lyrics?!

Y-yes… I could positively feel otherme’s blush inside myself.

I gripped my staff firmly and headed into the bar. I really shouldn’t have worried. Every eye was already fixed on Soriya, and I felt an absurd surge of jealousy from otherme. I knew Soriya was pretty, that was obvious to anyone with eyes, but… I guess I’d forgotten just how pretty!

“Right!” she announced, hands on hips. “Who wants to buy a girl a drink?!”

The bar was silent for a moment, and then a raucous hubbub rose, with several male voices roaring out approval.

“Well, that’s one way to do it.” Eshaan murmured in my ear. Truthfully, it was more like a yell, the bar was loud.

I smiled back apologetically. “She’s certainly broken the ice!”

Eshaan nodded. We pushed our way towards the bar, while Soriya commanded center stage of the inn throwing back entire tankards at a time.

The bartender had his eyes on Soriya, but when I stepped up, his attention snapped to me. The way his gaze lingered on my chest made shivers crawl up and down my spine.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“I-is there something on my face?” I stammered out.

Not that you’re looking at my face, you pervert! It didn’t exactly feel… wrong. I could feel the soft protection of otherme bounce a bit. I was a girl after all. At least now. I knew I was pretty, but… the way he looked at me!

I could feel otherme’s sigh. It’s not just Soriya who gets looks like that; you know. They’re boys. They can’t help it.

Well he should help it! We don’t stare at others like that!

Well… not while they’re looking at us, anyway. Otherme said thoughtfully.

The bartender shook his head, and went back to smearing the bar with a dirty towel. “Nah. Thought you was somebody else for a second.” He scrubbed the counter harder. “Information’s money too. You want advice, it’ll cost you.” He grunted.

“What?! That’s outrageous!” Eshaan protested. I grabbed his arm and shook my head, giving him a warning look.

“Alright.” I said, pulling out a single zeni. “Here’s payment for the information you just provided.” I slid the zeni across to him. “Does the information come in grades, or is it just a flat rate?”

I could see the wheels turning in the man’s head.

Oh wonderful, I think I just gave him the idea…. Fine. Fine! My eyes narrowed, and I cranked up a {Persuade}.

He grunted in surprise, and his own eyes narrowed as he felt the aura hit him. “Price is tiered.”

I nodded, and settled in to haggle.

“We want a ship.”

“50 zeni’s the starting price-”

I waved my hand to cut him off. “Skip to it, how much for the actual legit information that doesn’t…” I stumbled and stopped, my brain suddenly spinning.

-that doesn’t get us shanghaied… or kidnapped. Clueless naive healer girl, pirate ship… oh honeysuckle no!

“Lily?” Eshaan looked at me worriedly.

“Your girl got the fits or something?” The bartender took a step back. “Don’t need a plague bearer in town! Got no info for you!”

I pushed away from the bar, grabbing Eshaan’s wrist and pulling him towards where Soriya held court.

“We need to go!” I shouted in Soriya’s ear.

“Why?! The party’s just starting!” Her cheeks were flushed and I could see the red flush of a really solid drunk was just starting to settle into her pale skin.

“Soriya! We. Are. Leaving!” I grabbed her hand.

She fumbled at it, trying to push me away.

“I think the lady wants to stay with us!” Several burly types stepped forward, pushing between Soriya and I.

Oh great, just what I wanted, a bar fight. This is looking worse and worse!

I pressed my lips together. “Alright, fine.” I muttered to myself, then raised my staff and called on Tower, shouting out the chant over the roar of the crowd.

The blossoming of the summons ripped out of me, and the explosion of silver white light rippled outwards, pushing the Soriya’s audience backwards. Tower didn’t even get time to give me her usual greetings, before I said “Wrap us in protection, please, we need to go!”

If a dragon could look surprised, this one certainly did. “As you wish, child of æther.”

I grabbed at Soriya’s hand, who blinked owlishly at the bright light of tower surrounding us. “Come on! I’ll bake you anything you want, but we’re going right now!”

“But… but the booze!” She protested, slurring just a little.

“Now!” Otherme protested, and I found myself adding “Please, Soriya?” with my hands clasped before me. “Just trust me.”

Eshaan looked at me, back to Soriya, then simply scooped her up in his arms and pushed his way through the crowd, Tower’s shielding pushing the crowd backwards around him.

Otherme felt a raging stab of jealousy, seeing Soriya ‘princess carried’ out the door.

Don’t let it get to you, he’d just whack our head trying to carry us through the door. I muttered to otherme, and hurried after him.

Tower’s protection never lasts too long, but it was long enough that we were several blocks away, and the confused muttering behind us had faded into a sullen quiet of lapping waves and an occasional bird call from the harbor.

“Alright, alright, we’re far enough away!” Soriya groused. “Do you mind explaining what’s going on now?!”

I gesticulated wildly, my voice perhaps a little too shrill. “This is a pirate town! That is clearly a hive of scum and villainy! And I am… who I am! I am not going to play kidnap!”

Soriya blinked owlishly at me, scrunching up her face in confusion. I let out a huff of exasperation and chanted a quick {Cleanse}. Her eyes widened as she felt the spell take effect, and she shook her head.

“Oh wow… I have got to ask you for a hangover cure next time we have a party!” She frowned thoughtfully. “Right, of course. You’re Lily, and this is a pirate town.”

Eshaan looked at both of us in shock. “It is?!” he asked in bafflement.

I looked over at him, feeling very low on patience. “Of course it is. There’s no steady trade. There are hardly any ships here. There’s almost no population, and everyone looks like they’d stab their father for a zeni. But they have alcohol, and lots of it. They have food, and plenty of it, at least for those patrons. Where are they getting the supplies if they’ve got no trade and no citizens?” I explained patiently. “Plus, this is one of those seer things.” I looked down and huffed angrily. “I’m… kind of a magnet for kidnap attempts.”

Eshaan looked at me, his eyes wide. “But why?”

I looked at him and gave a sigh. “Eshaan, you can be so charmingly clueless. Look at me.” I spread my arms and gave a twirl for him. “What do you think pirates think when they see somebody like me in a place like that?”

Eshaan’s eyes got wide with understanding. “Oh. OH!” He looked around nervously, putting his hand on his sword hilt.

“Exactly.” I nodded. “And I don’t want to do that stupid kidnapped princess routine!”

Soriya tugged on her lip thoughtfully. “Why not?”

I rounded on her in astonishment. “What do you mean why not?!” I said angrily.

“I mean, why not?!” She stared right back at me. “If we know it’s coming, it’s hardly going to be a shock or surprise. We need transportation, and a group of kidnapper pirates sounds like they’d have a handy boat. Plus, we’d be doing a public service, cleaning up the inner sea, at least this part of it.” She ticked the points off on her fingers. “Free boat, public service, and a chance to let off some pent-up aggression. Sounds like the perfect gig for us freelance heroes for hire.”

I stared at her; my mouth open.

Eshaan nodded eagerly. “That’s an incredibly good plan, Miss Soriya! And I know Lily can hold her own!”

I turned to Eshaan my mouth still open, feeling like my feet were slipping out from under me at this betrayal. Otherme’s giggling fits echoed inside my mind.

We did just make a huge fuss about how we’re independent, strong, and don’t need him to protect us, didn’t we? Do you really want to take that all back now?

I swallowed down a bitter sting in my throat.

I hate you from the bottom of my heart. I snarled at her.

Sticks and stones… she singsonged back to me.

“I hate you both.” I glared at them, and huffed angrily, crossing my arms. “Fine. Let’s bait some pirates.”

Eshaan said “I still don’t understand.”

Oh yes, there’s a surprise. I thought to myself.

Be nicer! Otherme chided. He’s trying!

“I get that this is more of that seer stuff, but does that mean that like… everything is predestined?” Eshaan continued.

I stopped, blinking in shock. That… was not an empty-headed question!

Soriya perked up and took on a professorial tone. “What an interesting question! Well, if my research for the Empire’s competition proves out, the transtemporal harmonics of a world metasoul…” she trailed off, seeing both of our eyes glazing over. “Ah heh. Perhaps I should simplify a bit.” She blushed.

“It’s not too very complicated. To simplify it… well, a lot honestly. Picture… picture a plank of wood. In the wood, someone has carved a lot of small grooves. An ant walking along the top of the plank can fall into a groove. Once it’s in the groove, it’s much easier to continue walking along it, rather than climb out. It could climb out, but it’s an ant, and in some of the grooves, there are tasty crumbs. So there’s no reason to climb out.

“The grooves with crumbs are our classes, and the grooves without crumbs are the storylines, the… the natural events that Lily and I can see. It’s not that a person can’t climb out of the grooves in the world, it’s that they often don’t want to, and it’s much easier not to. Because we’re aware that they are there, Lily and I can shove people into a groove, or push them up out of a groove, or simply predict where the groove is likely to be.

“In the case of a pirate town and two very pretty girls-” she tossed her long hair back with a hand. “It really takes no effort at all to predict it. That’s a danger that you’d naturally expect to find in a pirate town, yes?” She asked Eshaan.

Eshaan nodded thoughtfully, stroking his chin. “Yes, I see. So it’s like Lily said. If I disagreed with something she said, I could change my fate. But this groove makes it more likely for me to stay put!” He nodded. “Thank you, Miss Soriya! I think I understand much better now!”

He suddenly frowned. “But… but the church teaches that the classes were a gift of the goddess to the world. You think… the goddess carved these grooves into the world?”

Soriya’s eyes got even brighter, and she practically vibrated with excitement. “That’s what I’m in the midst of testing!” She pulled out Diaboli with a flourish and flash of light. “It’s my suspicion that if I can finish the groove I’m in, my natural affinity with Diaboli will pop me right into another class, which will unkink my ability to use staffs!”

Eshaan nodded again, his eyes widening in appreciation. “This is… really interesting.” He frowned. “I think… you may want to be cautious though. You’re dealing with religious matters, matters revolving around the gifts of the goddess. The church can be… sticky about such things.”

Soriya waved her hands dismissively. “Bah! Magiscience innovation doesn’t need to bow to outdated religion!”

Eshaan frowned. “Miss Soriya, I’m… deeply uncomfortable when you call my religion ‘outdated’.”

My eyes widened in surprise. “You’re a Crystalist?” I asked.

He nodded. “Well, not a good one, to be honest, but… well the notion that the crystal dragon and the goddess might just be… poked at like this. I don’t like it. And I especially don’t think you should just go around telling the church that it’s outdated and meaningless! People’s religions are important to them!”

“Hm. I suppose I hadn’t thought of it like that.” Soriya pondered, her fingers on her chin. “It’s something to think about, at any rate.” She clapped her hands. “Now, come on. Let’s work out our Lily-bait plan!”

I groaned.

The plan, such as it was, was simple. I would walk back to the tavern, very conspicuously alone. Eshaan and Soriya would follow stealthily behind, and wait for me to be kidnapped. Then, when I was ‘safely’ in the hands of the pirates, and the two knew which boat I was on, they’d row out and rescue me. At that point, I would summon Gate, and teleport all the pirate crew off the ship, and we would sail off.

“You’re sure you can handle a larger sailing ship?” I anxiously asked again.

Eshaan sighed. “Lily.” He turned and faced me squarely. “If I trust you to be kidnapped, can you please trust the son of a fisherman to know how to sail a boat?!” He snapped. He immediately looked ashamed, but the blush burning on my cheeks was much hotter.

“I’m sorry.” I said, looking down, fidgeting with my skirts. “That was rude of me. Of course I trust you. I’m just… scared.”

He smiled, reached up and squeezed my hand. “Hey. It’s ok. You’re Lilyanna of Breezewood! Your friends are right behind you! We’re not going to let anything bad happen.”

It was stupid, but his confidence did make me feel better. “Thanks.” I offered a tentative smile.

I took a really deep breath, and then let it out slowly, nodding. “Ok!” I announced, squaring my shoulders. “Let’s go get kidnapped.”

I headed back towards the pirate bar, my mouth set in a grim line.

I swallowed, and then pushed the door open. The room got quiet as I walked back in. The bartender scowled at me. “Back again?” He glanced over at some of the other patrons, then back to me. “I suppose if you can talk straight, I can at least serve you. Unless you start foaming at the mouth again?”

I glared. “I am not going to foam at the mouth!” I stalked forward to the bar and slapped my staff down on it. “Whiskey. Or whatever you have that’s pretending to be whiskey.”

His eyes narrowed. I could see the wheels turning in his head, but he shrugged and turned to pour me a fingerful of amber pain into a glass. I nodded, took hold of it, and slugged it back. It hit like a hammer and burned all the way down, and my head almost immediately started to spin.

Oh, this was not a good idea.

What did you expect?! We like simple things, not… whatever this is?!

They don’t sell wine coolers here!

My eyes watered. “There. Now I’m a patron. Just like a real person. Now how much for detailed information?”

The bartender stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Let’s call it… 200 zeni.” I nodded, and reached into my belt pouch to pull out the money, and then there was a crashing pain in the back of my head, the world swirled around me and grew dim.

Oh. This happened a lot faster than I expected… my brain stuttered over the thought.

The last thing I heard before the world flickered out was:

“Oy! She didn’t even get out the money yet! You owe me 200 zeni!”

“We’ll split the reward with you later, if she’s really the girl the church is looking for.”

And then everything went dark.