Hours after we left the Palace's port, I was leaning on a bench on the deck, my arms spread out next to me on the backrest of it.
Sighing from relief, I didn't even notice Lance approaching me, that is until he said my name, bringing me out of my happiness trance.
"Well you seem happy, definitely much happier then you were at Terra Palace that's for sure," He commented, handing me a flask containing beer.
"Pfft, thats because I am. Thanks for this," I smiled, sitting up and scootching over for him to sit next to me, then taking a swig at it, "For the escape and for the beer! Do you mind?" I asked, taking out my pack of cigarettes."
"Nope, not at all!" Lance smiled, taking his flask back and taking a sipp as well, "My old man used to smoke cigars, though he had to stop due to a sickness, so i'm used to the smell of cigarettes and such."
"Huh, well thats interesting," I commented, pausing to take light the cigarette and inhaling a bit for continuing, "A close family member of mine also smoked, that was at least until he died from long failure."
'Damn bastard deserved it to…though i think its best i keep that thought to myself.'
"Oh…I guess it happens to a lot, huh?...But, uh, if you don't mind me asking, if that happened to someone close to you, then why do you smoke?" Lance asked, causing me to pause and take the cigarette out of my mouth an sigh.
"That's a good question…And on that I do not have a very good answer for…Huuu, but maybe in the future i'll have a good answer for why i did," I smiled, making the young man's ears perk up and smile in return.
Lance and I chatted for a bit, it was awkward for a while, but I knew he was just trying to help me get comfortable with him and at least being in the parties presence.
"Well, look at you too chatting away!" Eveleen chimed in, walking over to Lance and I with Alexandria in tow.
"Ah, good afternoon, Madam Eveleen, Lady Andilet. How are the both of you?" I greeted, smiling at the two of them and putting out my cigarette.
"I am just fine, thank you for asking!...Oh, and please, no need for the formalities, you can just call me Alexandria," She replied, smiling and clasping her hands in front of her lap.
"I'm glad to hear that! And if that is how you wish for me to refer to you, then I shall do so!" I confirmed, still smiling, then turning to look at Eveleen, "And you?"
"Hehe, well I'm quite entertained! I can tell that this trip with you will prove to more than fruitful!" Eveleen teased, turning her lips up to match our smiles.
"It's nice to see everyone in such good moods!" Lance interjected before pausing, "But is something the matter? You two were having a conversation just a second ago before you disappeared somewhere."
"Hahaha, it's nothing serious at all! Evangeline just wanted us to come and tell everyone to get there tings ready, since we will be in the mainland soon, the party leader figured it would be a good chance for us to get some more supplies and do some shopping," Alexandria explained, shrugging and talking with her hands.
"Hm, alright. I suppose we'll also stay there for at least a night before heading out again?" I asked, reaching for the illusion stone in my pocket that Eveleen gave me.
"That's the plan! Oh, and feel free to wear your hood instead of using the illusion stone. I doubt no one will recognize you, or will know that you are Viscount Andraste," Eveleen advised, patting my head before turning around and waving over her shoulder as she walked away, "Welp, we'll so you guys once we dock!"
Then, she and Alexandria went below deck, perhaps to tell Miss Sylvia that we were about to dock. Next to me, Lance leaned back in his seat and sighed, making me look over at him.
"Is something the matter?" I wondered, puzzled at his sudden shift in mood.
"Oh nothing, it's just that I find Madam Eveleen a little scary to be around," He admitted, looking over at me with a tired expression and shivering.
"Why? She seems like a well mannered young lady to me, even if she is a sorceress. Of all the people I've met in this Kingdom, I thing shes the best i've gotten along with," I commented, leaning back against the bench as well, keeping my gaze on Lance.
"Ho? Do you not know?" Lance asked, immediately sitting up with surprise and looking at me with wide eyes. For a second, he reminded me of a high school boy eager to gossip with his peers about someone he disliked.
"Hm, know what? Is it something I should be concerned with?" I questioned, now genuinely worried that I chose the wrong move and put myself in danger.
"Hm, we considering how she is aware of you sexual preference, no…But you should still be very cautious around her," Lance advised, pursing his lips.
"...What does my sexual orientation have to do with this?" I replied coldly, my eyebrow twitching from the sheer amount of ridiculousness I was hearing.
"Well, you see, In addition to being a powerful and well renowned sorceress in the Alkmene Kingdom, Madam Eveleen is also a Rusalki. Which are known for their loath over men, due to how Rusalki are born," Lance explained, now fully turned towards me and using his hands to talk.
"Apologies, but I am rather unaware of the myths behind her species…But you shouldn't spread rumors about someone just because of the race they were born!" I lectured, now very much ticked off, considering that I was also now half a race that was often spoke badly about, though Lance was also the same race as I am.
"Ugh, I'm not trying to spread rumors here! The rusalki are woman who were initially in relationships with men who had betrayed them, then died by drowning or by water, in which they then came back as vengeful water spirits…at least vengeful towards men," Lance continued explaining, trying to save himself from humiliation.
'Haaa, this poor kid! Speaking from experience, huh?'
Hearing the things Lance was saying, I was suddenly reminded of a scene from the novel, involving him, and well…A female water spirit. Remembering the scene now, and hearing Lance talk about the Rusalki, I figured out that the water spirit he encountered then was a Rusalki, which made me suddenly feel sorry for the kid.
'Hm, thats right, it was before the party came to the Alkmene kingdom, back while they were in the Wade Kingdom.'
In that chapter, the party had split up to look for clues revolving around demonic energy that was interfering with the ecosystem. The party split up into groups of three, Evangeline and Alexandria, Lance and Sylvia, then Atlas by his lonesome.
While Sylvia and Lance were investigating near a river that lead into a deep lake, Lance was lured over by the figure of a young woman whom caught his eye. But as he drew closer, he was the tint to her skin and her long unkempt hair, and before long be was being drowned in the river by her.
'Even now, I still get a kick out of the part where Sylvia beat the poor woman with her staff the get her to free Lance…Poor kids….and I kinda feel bad for the Rusalki as well'
"Haaa, alright, I'll keep what you told me in mind…though I doubt she will try to harm me, since I am paying her quite a bit," I sighed, giving Lance a pitying smile.
"Hng! Thank you for being so understanding Viscount," Lance exclaimed, terming up and taking my hands in his, which made me cringe a bit.
I then quickly took my hands back, and was about the say something back, but was stopped when some shouted a warning.
"Hey, were about the dock, make sure your somewhere comfortable!" Atlas interjected from the bridge, where the rudder and Evangeline were.
"Ugh! Viscount, quick, stand up!" Lance insisted, jumping to his feat and pulling me up as well, "Evangeline is a good navigator and captain, but she is horrible at docking the ship!"
'Huh, he is speaking as if she is someone who can drive just fine, but is practically unable to come to a safe stopping speed.'
"She can't be that bad, it's not like she'll crashing to the harbor…right?" I asked worriedly, immediately being dragged below deck and into a room with everyone else but Atlas and Evangeline.
"Hehe, come sit next to me Viscount!" Sylvia called out once Lance let go of me and sat next to Alexandria, then pat the seat next to her, "I'll make sure you don't slide off when she stops the ship!"
'...now I'm really worried.'
***
A while later, after the ship was docked in the harbor and we were all off of it with our respected luggage for the next two days.
"Ugh, I think i'm going to be bloody sick!" I exclaimed, wobbling and then leaning over the railing on the pier.
"There, there. It wasn't that bad, I'm sure you will be fine!" Eveleen added from behind me, smiling and patting my back gently as i leaned on the railing and almost puked.
"Easy for you to say, at least you weren't almost thrown off your seat, then rocked back and forth while an 18 year old girl half your size tried her best to stop you from getting slammed into the other side of the room!" I shot back angerly, glaring over my shoulder at Eveleen.
"Sorry Viscount, I probably should've had you sit in between Alexandria and Lance instead of on the edge of the bench with me," Sylvia expressed, puffing her cheeks and looking down.
"Haa, It's fine. I'm sure you were just eager to have someone new to get to know rather than the same old group of people," I joked, looking at her with an apologetic expression.
"Heh, yeah, sometimes! Everyone is still really nice though! Even Atlas, though he can be a bit distant sometimes," Sylvia perked up and smiled, then joined Eveleen in patting my back.
"Well, everyone seems intact!" Evangeline announced, walking over to the rest of the group from securing the mooring lines from the bollards, "I'm glad everyone is alright and in one piece, meaning we can go into town now!"
"Huuuu, I swear-!" I exclaimed, standing up and about to go over to the navigator before I was held back by Eveleen.
"Easy there, tiger. I get that you are annoyed, but we don't want to start a fight," She smiled, rubbing my arm in a calming motion.
"Yes, you are right. As a nobleman, I should know better! Thank you for reminding me, madam," I replied, taking deep breaths before going to pick up my trunk.
"Anytime!" Eveleen sang, before clasping her hands together to get everyones attention, "Well, If we are all ready to head into the city to find an inn, I suggest we do it now. I know a good one, but they book a limited amount of rooms per night, so we should get there as quick as possible."
"Okay, thank you for the advice, Madam. As long as Lord Andraste is feeling better, then I think i can speak for the rest of us when I say we are good to go," Atlas responded, looking over at me.
"Hu, I am fine now, thank you for your patience," I claimed, though I was still a little dizzy, "Miss Sylvia, could I perhaps carry your luggage for you?" I asked, seeing Eveleen use sorcery to carry hers, and see Sylvias large trunk.
"Oh! That would be very nice, thank you!" Sylvia smiled, scooting her trunk towards me. I put my hood over my head, then picked up both trunks.
"Alright, since we are all good to go, Madam Eveleen, could you guide us to the inn you were thinking of?" Atlas asked, tilting his head and picking up his trunk.
"Of course, as long as you are willing to follow, then I shall be your guide!" Eveleen hummed, starting to walk us out of the docks and into the city.
'Seeing as the sun is about to set, I really hope the inn is close so that I can just properly rest for once.'