The morning sun bled through the fog as the ship groaned against its moorings. Crewmen hurried along the deck, tightening ropes, checking sails, and shouting over the waves. The sea wind bit cold and sharp — perfect for the quiet, focused departure Vael had planned.
Too bad Reider had other plans.
She found him standing near the railing, staring off at the misty horizon with that same calm detachment that made her question whether he even knew how to feel things.
Vael folded her arms. "You're up early."
Reider didn't turn. "Preparation is necessary."
"Yeah," she said dryly, "preparation like food, supplies… crew members not missing… oh right, and random passengers that shouldn't be here."
That finally made him glance her way. "Passengers?"
She squinted. "Don't play dumb. One of the crew said you came back from the village with an extra bag and a locked door in the storage cabin."
Silence.
Vael's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Reider. What did you do?"
Reider looked at her for a long moment, then said calmly, "She would've died."
Vael froze. "...Wait. She?"
Before she could process, a muffled voice thundered from below deck — sharp, furious, and very, very familiar.
"REIDER! I SWEAR I'M GOING TO STRANGLE YOU!"
Vael's entire body stiffened. "Oh. No."
She stormed below deck, Reider following with the unbothered patience of someone explaining a math problem. When she reached the locked cabin door, she could hear violent banging from the inside.
"Reider," Vael said slowly, "please tell me that's not who I think it is."
Reider stood beside her, utterly calm. "Mei wanted to stay. She would've been killed."
Vael's voice cracked. "So you kidnapped her?!"
He blinked. "Yes."
There was a long pause — long enough for Vael to rethink every life choice that had led her to this point. Then she exploded.
"WHY?!"
Reider's answer was flat, matter-of-fact. "She would've died."
Vael threw her hands up. "That doesn't mean you just kidnap someone!"
SFX: CRASH! — Mei's boot slammed against the door from inside.
"REIDER, YOU'RE DEAD WHEN I GET OUT!"
Vael buried her face in her hands. "…This is a nightmare."
Reider shrugged. "She'll calm down eventually."
SFX: BANG!
Another kick — this time, the wood splintered.
"I HEARD THAT, YOU BRAT!" Mei roared from the other side.
Vael stared up at the ceiling, muttering to the gods. "…I need a drink."
She rubbed her temples, pacing. "Of all the things I expected on this journey… kidnapping was not one of them."
SFX: BANG!
The door shuddered again.
Vael's tone jumped an octave. "Okay, okay! I think we should—"
SFX: BOOM!
The door exploded open, flying off its hinges as Mei stormed out like a demon unchained — hair wild, eyes blazing.
She hurled the broken door aside like a trophy. "COME HERE, YOU LITTLE—"
Reider stepped aside effortlessly, his movement smooth as a breeze.
SFX: SWOOSH!
Mei's lunge carried her straight into a stack of barrels.
SFX: THUD—ROLL—CRASH!
Vael pinched the bridge of her nose. "I'm too tired for this."
Mei scrambled up, pointing furiously. "WHO EVEN KIDNAPS SOMEONE LIKE THIS?!"
Reider blinked. "Someone who didn't want you to die."
"THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT OKAY!" she shouted.
Vael leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Honestly, Mei, he's got a point."
Mei whipped toward her, betrayed. "DON'T ENCOURAGE HIM!"
Vael shrugged. "Technically, you're alive because of him."
Mei groaned, dragging her hands down her face. "You're both insane."
Reider tilted his head slightly. "If you wanted to stay, you wouldn't have packed that letter in your bag."
Mei stiffened, eyes widening. "Wait—"
Reider reached for the satchel at her side and pulled out the folded parchment. "This."
Vael and Mei leaned in.
Vael muttered, "Mysterious letter from an unknown source? Yep. Totally safe."
Mei snatched it back. "THAT'S MINE!"
Reider's tone didn't change. "You were going to burn it."
Mei froze, caught.
Vael grinned and nudged her. "See? You weren't that sure about staying behind after all."
Mei crossed her arms, looking away. "I… I just didn't want false hope."
Reider stared at her, calm as ever. "Then why did you keep it?"
Mei didn't answer.
Vael sighed dramatically. "Alright, so now that we've established you're both hopeless—"
Reider interrupted, perfectly deadpan. "She's worse than me."
Mei's jaw dropped. "EXCUSE ME?!"
Vael laughed outright. "You gotta admit, Mei, the kid's got a point."
Mei glared between them. "I'm going to throw both of you overboard."
Vael smirked. "You'd have to catch us first."
SFX: CREAK…
The ship tilted suddenly as a massive wave hit the hull.
Mei stumbled. "Wha—WAIT!"
SFX: THUMP! She fell forward into Vael—who crashed into Reider.
SFX: CRASH!
They landed in a heap on the floor, tangled limbs and exasperation.
Silence.
Mei groaned from the bottom. "I hate both of you."
Vael chuckled, resting her elbow on Reider's shoulder. "Welcome to the club."
Reider, completely squished, blinked once. "This is inefficient."
TO BE CONTINUED…