"I want to be a passenger," I said.
The crewmate standing in front of tilted his head.
A small crab peeked out from his shoulder, then crawled back inside.
"The voyage’ll end in a lil’ over seventy days," he said, his voice rough like waves crashing against old wood. "Ye gotta pay with seventy days o’ yer mories, mate."
He lifted a damp, webbed hand toward my head, intending to draw out my mories.
"Wait," I said. "I’ll pay with this instead."
I reached into my pocket and used the second special mana pattern.
The rune on my palm was linked to my pocket’s spatial inventory.
A golden slab appeared in my hand, heavy and warm.
"This works, right?" I asked.
The crewmate’s single good eye glead, and his lips curled into a grin.
"Aye, it works fine. But it be nine golds, not one."
"Nine? It’s seven gold bars. Who are you trying to scam?" I frowned.
I had only 899 left.
And this slimy sea Cursed Spirit wanted to rob blind?
Still, I knew how things worked here.
If I called him out too much, he would have a grudge against .
Then he’d make things harder for later.
Fighting wasn’t an option either.
The Captain of this city-ship valued his crew more than the voyagers.
If I caused trouble, I would be thrown off before I could blink.
So I didn’t argue to win.
I argued to show that I knew his ga. That way, I could earn a small favor in return.
"Ah, it be nine, mate. Maybe ye ain’t up to date with the prices," the crewmate said with a nervous chuckle.
I narrowed my eyes.
The sli on his skin glistened as sweat began to form.
He realized I knew he was lying.
Then I smiled.
"Alright, fine."
I handed him ten gold bars.
Inside, I was crying.
That gold ca from blood, sweat, and hours of hard work.
Watching it leave my hand hurt like hell.
He stared at the bars, blinking. "Ma–mate, I think ye gave extra."
I chuckled lightly. "It’s fine. Take it. Think of it as a friendship sign."
The crewmate grinned wide, his crooked teeth showing.
He stuffed the gold into a pouch tied to his waist.
"Good man, ye are. If ye be lookin’ for a place to rest, try the Driftin’ Whale Inn, down near the third dock. They serve warm grub and the rum’s not half bad."
"Thanks," I said.
He nodded, still grinning. "Pleasure doin’ business, friend."
I turned around and started walking.
The air ahead shimred faintly.
The mist began there, thick and white.
It wasn’t natural fog, it was sothing else.
Sothing alive.
Everyone in Nautilus knew not to step into it carelessly.
If you enter it, you would be trapped here forever.
Only other Exorcists could save you, and even then, chances of being saved were low.
As for what exactly happened upon entering the mist, let’s just say, so things were better not known.
My steps slowed as I neared the mist.
’Did I not give him enough?’ I thought.
I only gave him 1 extra gold bar, but it should’ve been enough since I showed I knew he was scamming and still gave him extra to be friendly with him.
’Should I go back and give him more?’
Before I could decide, the crewmate shouted behind , "Wai–wait, mate! Take this with ye!"
I turned around.
He picked up a thick piece of driftwood and held it under a bright blue fla burning in a nearby lantern.
The fire licked up the wood, like it was ant to burn forever.
He handed it to .
"Here, lad. This’ll help ye through the mist."
"The mist?" I asked, pretending I didn’t already know.
"Aye," he said, his voice lowering. "It be a ward, ye see.
"Keeps enemies away from the ship. That cursed fog blocks all kinds o’ trickery—spatial travel, ti magic, detection spells, ye na it.
"Many pirates tried crossin’ it without protection. So are still walkin’ in there, lost forever. Others..."
He paused, glancing at the fog.
"Others t worse fates. Ye best not go wanderin’ in there without that torch, mate."
I looked down at the burning wood.
The fla flickered gently, but it didn’t hurt to touch.
"Thank you for this, friend."
He laughed, a rough sound that echoed off the damp walls. "Think nothin’ of it, lad.
"Just don’t be doin’ stupid things. Keep that torch close, and ye’ll be fine.
"Now off with ye! Enjoy the voyage, and rember to leave the ship when it ends, eh? Or else, hehe..."
I nodded. "Got it."
With the torch in hand, I walked toward the mist again.
The air grew colder.
My breath ca out as thin white puffs.
As I stepped closer, the blue fog curled around my boots, but the torch’s light pushed it back.
A small space—half a ter wide—cleared around , like the mist itself feared the fla.
I glanced back once.
The crewmate had already turned away, counting his gold with a pleased grin.
"Onwards, I guess," I muttered, then stepped forward.
The mist opened slightly, swirling like a doorway welcoming in.
I took a deep breath and entered.
The torchlight flickered in my hand as the world behind disappeared into the thick haze.
When I glanced to my side, Yuna was staring at with an exasperated look.
"What?" I asked.
"You almost didn’t get that navigation fla because you didn’t give him enough money!" she said, throwing her hands in the air.
"Why are you such a money grubber, Lord of Shadows? You have so much gold, just use it!
"You do the sa with weapons too. You hoard them even though you don’t need half of them. Sell them if you like money that much!"
"I don’t like money," I said.
Then I paused. "Well, I do like money, but that’s not the point. I just like seeing my things grow. I don’t like watching them disappear."
Yuna looked at like I had said sothing insane.
But I was serious.
This habit had saved my life more than once.
You never knew when you’d have to hide, get captured, or end up trapped sowhere.
Could you make infinite food or weapons in a place like that? No.
That’s why you prepare beforehand.
Better to have too much than to have nothing when you need it most.
I lifted the navigation fla and kept walking.
The blue light shimred softly, keeping a small circle around clear of mist.
Shapes moved in the fog.
The dark silhouettes looked human, but not quite.
So whispered faintly, voices stretching like echoes underwater.
"Help us..."
"Stay with us..."
I ignored them and kept walking.
The torch humd faintly, guiding forward.
Not once did the mist, or building, or an object block my path.
That was the special effect of this fla.
It created a safe passage through the cursed fog.
I kept walking for what felt like an hour.
Then, finally, the mist began to thin.
A warm glow appeared ahead.
Soon, I could see it clearly, a large building that looked like a mix between a motel and a pub.
Drifting Whale Inn.
The sa na the crewmate had told was carved into a huge wooden board above the entrance.
Around it was drawings of strange sea creatures, half-fish, half-monster, staring with white eyes.
Blue flas — Navigation Flas — burned at all four corners of the building.
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