After a moment of silence, Klaus spoke up.
"So I guess the question is simple, how do you feel about these slaves, Commander?"
"What do you mean?" Alexander asked.
"If we assault that island, they're dead. If we wait, they'll be sold, and if Sparsia gets involved, they'll be executed."
Alexander flinched.
Another problem…
"How do you feel about it?"
Alexander turned the question to Martine.
She and Pierre were the only people Alexander knew who had contact with demon tribes.
"Me personally? I say ignore them. If anything, they'll provide a decent distraction for the pirates. Time your men can use effectively."
Alexander's jaw clenched.
"Seriously?" He asked, almost disappointed, "You'd let these people die?"
"Respectfully, they aren't people."
She replied, almost coldly.
"Besides, are you willing to risk the lives of your men? The same men who trust you to bring them home?"
Alexander hesitated, gripping his pant leg.
He turned to Klaus.
"You?"
"I'm inclined to agree with Martine, I doubt demons would risk their lives to save ours."
Alexander frowned, turning to Hans.
He looked at him, his eyes almost pleading.
Hans swallowed nervously.
"Sir, demons and ogres come and go. They've survived on the demon continent long before us, and they'll do so long after us. We have to watch out for ourselves."
"…Hinata?"
Alexander turned, looking at her through the rear-view mirror.
Hinata met his gaze.
And for a moment, Alexander prepared for the worst.
"You're my priority, Alexander. That's all that matters. The slaves aren't my concern."
And that was it.
Everyone agreed that the slaves weren't worth saving.
Alexander sighed, a tear rolling down his cheek as he thought back to his memories with Zara.
"Okay… we'll stick to the original plan."
Everyone nodded in unison, the mission was set.
"Let's just hope we get there before the buyers do."
Klaus tapped his chest, reclining in his seat.
— — —
The convoy rolled onto the docks, where Elizabeth's 'merchant' ship sat waiting.
Row boats hung off rails as sailors worked about the deck.
Marines began disembarking from the trucks, grabbing their gear, and boarding the ship.
Alexander sat at the edge of the docks, looking out into the vast ocean.
There was a quiet longing in his eyes, like he was hoping for something.
But it never came.
"Ah, my love, there you are…"
Elizabeth stood behind him, running her hands down his shoulder as she bent down.
"…you look troubled."
Alexander didn't turn, his gaze fixed on the water.
"I hate myself." He said softly, "I hate that I have to make choices regarding life and death."
Elizabeth's eyes narrowed as she pulled a hand under his chin, tilting up his head.
"Where is this coming from?" She asked worriedly, looking into his shimmering eyes.
"Alex, what's wrong? Why are you…"
Alexander's response was thick with self-loathing.
"There are slaves on the island, Liz. Dozens of them. The pirates captured them…"
Elizabeth's expression tightened.
"What about them?"
Alexander turned to look at her.
"They're Demi-oids, my officers don't want to risk lives trying to save them. We'd have to break through the fort, it'll put us in range of every weapon the pirates have access to."
He sighed, "dozens would die, and that's without the slaves turning on us… which is possible given how cornered they'd be."
He tightened his fist.
"But I keep thinking about what happens when the pirates realize they're under attack. They'll kill them, especially if they think we're from Sparsia."
Elizabeth's expression softened, her thumb brushing against his cheek.
"That's the fight you've chosen, my love."
Her voice was low and steady.
Alexander fell silent, his mind racing as he ate himself from the inside.
The faces of his men, fighting with the memories of Zara and her tribe.
He wanted to tell Elizabeth about Zara, about the love he had for a demon.
But he knew that was a terrible idea, Elizabeth didn't know he'd been to the demon continent.
And she especially didn't know about Zara.
He shook his head.
"Yeah." He said softly, "I can't save everyone, I just wish I wasn't the reason they'd die."
Elizabeth pulled him into an embrace, resting her head upon his.
"Difficult choices make hard men, hard men make good choices. You have a duty to bring these men home, and yourself."
She kissed the top of his head.
They sat like that for a long moment, before Alexander tapped her side.
"I have to go, Liz."
He stood up.
Elizabeth watched him, her expression softening.
"I know, but promise me one thing."
Alexander nodded, "Anything."
"You'll come back to me."
A small smile pressed on his lips.
"I promise."
— — —
The 'merchant' ship, Wandering Moon, departed from the dock with the hiss of its steam engines.
Smoke bellowed in the sky as Alexander found his spot near the bow of the ship.
He closed his eyes as the salty air whipped past his face.
He stayed there for hours on end, every day.
No one said anything to him, wanting to avoid upsetting him further.
For Alexander, his mind played the voices of his advisers over and over.
"They aren't people." Martine had said.
How could she say that?
"They'll survive long after us," Hans claimed.
How does he know that?
"You're my priority," Hinata affirmed.
How could she abandon the innocent, for me?
And finally, Elizabeth's words.
"Difficult choices make hard men, hard men make good choices."
Was this really a good choice, or am I a coward?
Suddenly he was ripped from his thoughts by a gentle hand sliding down his back.
"Alexander"
He looked over his shoulder and was met with a familiar pair of golden eyes.
"Hinata…" he whispered, his voice hoarse.
He cleared his throat, turning around fully.
"…you okay?"
Hinata nodded, then stepped closer.
"I should be asking you that."
She replied, bringing her hands to his chest, "You've been sitting here daily."
Alexander sighed.
"I'm just… tired. And sitting up here helps me relax."
Hinata frowned slightly.
"You know I can tell when you're lying, the secret is in your eyes. I see how dilated they are."
She leaned closer, "especially when they're golden."
Alexander chuckled softly.
"I wouldn't know, I've never seen dilated golden eyes." He joked, trying to fix his.
Hinata smiled. "Do you want to?"
Alexander felt his heart skip a beat at how eager she sounded.
"I mean, if you're offering, I suppose."
A slow smile crossed her lips.
She didn't lean in any closer, but her eyes did change.
Her pupils seemed to ignite as they expanded.
Like a firework against the night sky, a bursting star.
It was beautiful.
"Is that…" Alexander pulled Hinata closer, "…what my eyes look like?"
"Yes," she replied, "whenever you're saddened, frustrated… or lost."
Alexander almost couldn't believe it, but suddenly it made sense.
It's why Elizabeth always met his gaze.
It's why everyone could always read him like an open book.
His eyes were literally exploding like twin galaxies.
"So tell me, what's troubling you?"
Hinata's pupils retracted as her gaze sharpened.
Alexander sighed, looking down.
"It's the slaves, I can't stop thinking about them. Wondering if I was in that position, how scared I'd be…"
He shook his head.
"I know people don't see them as normal, and I don't blame them. Demons aren't exactly subtle, I know that more than anyone. I mean they could've killed me."
He looked to meet Hinata's gaze.
"But they also showed me a kindness I've rarely known. There was one… she…"
Alexander fell silent, blinking back tears.