Road to Ruisea

❆ ❆ XXXIV. JAE ❆ ❆

Back on the Ocean again.

Jae's just about ready to collapse. Too much is happening too many days in a row — pirates, bounty hunters, shadow spirits! He wants a break.

But he's not going to get one — he has plans, after all. He's gotta get to Ruisea... He's gotta get Kumari and Chiro to Ruisea, too.

They slump down into the seats near the front of the train.

"Tell me whyyyy we're riding in economy, when we explicitly bought tickets for sleeper cars...?" Jae asks again.

"Kumari," is Chiro's simple answer.

Kumari smiles sheepishly, "I just wanted to see the sights."

"One, you can do that from your room," is Jae's reply. "Two, we're not even moving yet."

"We will soon," she argues. "And besides, Empress Kimiko said she's sending a doctor for you."

"Well then, the doctor better get here soon," Jae rolls his shoulder, frowning at it as it hurts. "Or the train might just leave without them."

"Another friend," Kumari kicks her legs excitedly from where she's sitting, looking out at Axeria. "I'm so glad this place is going back to normal. Look how pretty everything is!"

"All thanks to Jae," Chiro turns to pat Jae on the arm.

Jae winces from pain again, then rolls his eyes. "It was nothing."

But secretly, he really likes it when people thank him. And that's what Tadao took advantage of, too... His expression darkens, and he hopes the others don't notice.

"We're doing pretty good," Kumari says, talking more to herself than the others.

"What are you talking about!" Chiro sputters, and Jae can't help but nod in agreement.

Kumari turns to Chiro, confused by his outburst. "Huh?"

"How are things doing pretty good?" Jae asks, in both explanation and continuation. "Everything's going wrong, if you ask me."

"I dunno," she smiles, in that dumb way that makes Jae laugh despite himself. "We escaped Howl, Sho, Tadao. All the royals are nice—"

"Too nice," Jae scoffs, but lets her go on.

"You got a bunch of knives. I get to make new friends! And even Chiro's learning a bunch of spells."

"She's got a point there," Chiro admits, leaning forwards in his chair.

"And we just got a blessing from the Empress! So we haven't sunk so far, mashallah. And everything will be smoother sailing here on out, inshallah!"

"You're... Right," Jae amends, then slowly grins. "We're not doing half bad."

"Mashallah!" Kumari says again.

"Oh yeah," Jae remembers. "You were gonna tell me what shukur Allaha means, right?"

Kumari nods, but just as she opens her mouth to explain, they're interrupted.

By a shrill scream.

The trio are already at the ready, standing up, taking fighting stances. Kumari pulls out her book, Chiro flicks his wrist and the magic of a spell crawls up his skin. Jae pulls out his jambiya, as always.

Somebody enters the economy car, but it's not an enemy.

It's a woman.

The teenagers calm down, sitting back in their seats and putting their respective weapons away. Then look curiously towards her, to see why she screamed.