I SMILED AS MY EYES SAW THE MOUNTIAN AND THE PORT. It's the island, finally, we arrived at Nova Voxis Island. Von, who stands next to me looks so excited while Thompson can't help but jump and even wave his hand already. I saw the boardwalk filled with people; kids, a wife, mother, father, siblings. They must have waited for their loved ones to return.
"Don't worry Lady Vienna, you will be staying with us! We have an extra room to spare!" Thompson happily exclaimed. I  happily nodded and caress his hair. On my peripheral view, I saw Von looking at us. I smirked and patted his head though.
I saw him grin and even hugged me. Thompson saw him and did the same thing. Goodness, these kids are filled with too much cuteness. I will surely miss them when I finally returned to my place.
Minutes passed and we can finally see the port clear. The crewmen are already preparing the things that they are going to unload when we finally reach the port. There behold new different faces and different personalities, I am not sure if they will hate or will shoo me away from them. Just because I am part of a noble family, they may instill grudges towards me and my origin.
You never know.
"Look! Look! That's my mother! Mom!!" Thompson exclaimed and pointed at a brunette woman around her 40s happily waved back at him. Her eyes are filled with tears of longing.
But it's noticeable how thin the woman is. She wears a scarf around her neck to hide it. She must be sick. I stared at Thompson pitifully but he is filled with joy and excitement. I didn't notice that a single tear escaped my eye. I instantly wipe it off and regain myself.
"I'm sorry that I can't send you off in their house Lady Vienna. Uncle Regor and I need to visit my grandparents up in the mountain!" Von sadly stated. I shake my head.
"You don't have to worry Von. I am fine, after all, Thompson and are together as well as Samson." I stated.
"Yup, don't worry too much brother Von, I will protect Lady Vienna just like how I protect my mother." Thompson confidently said that made me laugh.
"See? Thompson already declared it." I concurred to what Thompson proclaimed.
"Ah, Thompson is such a cutie!" Marion interrupted and instantly back hugged me. "Hi, there my lady Vien!" She added. She's still as flirty as she always been.
As I was about to push her away from me, she was pulled by her father excruciatingly. She pouted because of that but still laughed. They both have a peculiar relationship with each other, I wonder what kind of woman Marion's mother is. I felt a hand tap my shoulder and saw Samson when I turned around.
He signaled me to stay by his side and to not go far away from him, not until we reached their house.
"In here, you are Vienna Watson, the daughter of a commoner fisherman in the Suberb of Shadense. You should not tell anyone that you are from a noble family." Samson stated and I nod in response.
That's reasonable.
"And oh, if they ask Lady Vienna why she joins us? What should she tell?" Thompson asked. Right. I almost forgot.
"His girlfriend of course." Said the Captain. I gawked at him in disbelief.
"Oh, that's fine!" Thompson happily exclaimed.
"Wait, what the hell?" I insisted and raised my eyebrow at him.
"That's quite an absurd captain." Samson disagreed. Of course, it's unreasonable, of all possible reasons to say why that?
"I disagree." Jake interrupted. I looked at him and saw how serious his face become.
"And why?" Drake stated and stared back at his twin.
I can't believe this two are siblings, a twin to be specific. Every time I saw them both together they either fight or annoy each other.
"Just because." Jake strongly stated. I faced palmed with his rusty attitude. Goodness.
"Okay stop, how about let's hear Vienna's opinion about it? I don't see anything wrong about it anyway." Lilian chimed in, thankfully the tension between the Maldice brother lessen, somehow. Both of them agree and stared at me. Now, all of them are looking at me.
I look at Samson who looks more stressed than me, then to Lilian who keeps smiling at me, and oh, by the way, she doesn't glare harshly at me now, I don't know why but that favors me too. Then to Jake who's pleading with his eyes and to Captain Drake who blankly stared at me. I breathe in deeply and touch my nape, trying to calm myself.
"I'm fine with it," I stated, and silence enveloped us. "Let's not complicate things more, it's not like something is wrong with it," I added. It's just a title for me to temporarily use.
"Then that's good." Leopard interrupted. Where the hell did he come from that I didn't notice him walking near us?
"Drop the Anchor!!" Regor shouted. Then the main deck started getting busier. I just felt that someone grabbed me by the wrist and lead me to the forecastle deck.
I saw Thompson grabbing me on my wrist while Samson is also holding Thompson's wrist. They started walking towards the wooden bridge the crewmen laid connecting towards the Island. The three of us waited a little more and let the men who carried something cross the bridge. I saw Leopard carrying a barrel while behind him is Von waving at me. I waved back at him. After he is Regor who's also carrying a box.
I never remove my sight at them and saw the three of them ride a carriage and go off first. They must be heading to the mountain where their grandparents live, according to Von. Marion and Gerald also bid goodbye to us as they also hit the road.
The Maldice twin and Lilian too crossed first. Lilian bid us goodbye as well as the captain but I notice that Jake didn't bother looking at us, at me, and just marched toward a horse and ride in it and pull up stakes. He must be upset.
"Then let's get going too!" Samson stated and both Thompson and I nodded.
But to my surprise, Thompson encaged my hand with Samson's hand.
"She's your girlfriend's brother and you need to take care of her!" He seriously started like a grown-up man that made me laugh. Samson just sighed and hold my hand tightly.
"Let me apologize in advance," he stated but I shrugged my head. "You don't have to really. It is me that needs to thank you in advance." I replied.
"So thank you," I remarked. I heard him chuckle. "You don't have to really." He imitated what I said that made me laugh a little. "But your welcome!" He added and smiled at me.
Thankfully that he and I are comfortable with each other and it is not weird or awkward for me to be with him. We both crossed the bridge while not letting go of our hands, I looked down and saw how deep the water beneath us is. My knees started to tremble as well as my hands. Bullets of sweat are racing down my face due to my nervousness and the hotness of the sun.
Samson lifted my face and hold me more tightly. He must have noticed how strong I gripped his hand.
"Calm down, you will not fall. Don't look below and just focus on me." He confided that somehow lifted my spirit. I nodded and focus on crossing the bridge.
This is shitty. How did I survive staying in that massive ship yet I can't even cross this bridge without help? Goodness me.
When we finally reach the concrete road, I let out a deep sigh of relief. I heard Samson laugh, I pinch him in his waist but he just laughed at me more.
"I thought you okay crossing it already, just like at the Consair Cave!" He beamed.
"This is different! My anxiety rose as I saw how the waves aggressively hit the road!" I belted but he just chortled at me. "If you say so!" He added.
We both started walking in Thompson's direction already together with her mother. I also notice the eyes of everyone that stared at us, especially the young ladies. Well, Samson is handsome so it's impossible that no one likes him. He has the beauty and the body the ladies dreamed of.
While still holding his hand, we approached his mother and paid our respect by bowing at her. She immediately hugged Samson tightly as well as Thompson. I smiled seeing how this family loves and cherishes each other.
"How I miss my sons. Thank God both of you are in good condition!" She marveled happily.
"We're good. Why are you here mom? It's not good for your health." Samson worriedly stated.
"It's fine, I'm fine. Let's go back home so you can rest." She replied and look at me. I gulped as she look at me from head to toe.
"And who is this fine lady?" She asked. Thompson giggled.
"M-my girlfriend." Samson nervously said. "She's my girlfriend mom!"
"You're what?" Her mom shouted that surprised me. "Oh my, how are you, my dear? I never thought my son will bring a lady back home. What's your name? Your age?" She asked mirthfully.
"Mom calm down!" Samson complained.
"My name's Vienna Ma'am. 24 years old." I replied and smiled at her.
"What a lovely name you have, as lovely as your face and as tantalizing as your eyes that is shine bright like an emerald!" She stated that made me smile.
"Thank you very much, ma'am!" I jocosely responded.
"Oh no no, call me by name, Mika." She stated. "I don't mind you calling me mom too!" She added that made me blush.
"Mom!!" Samson echoed.
"Don't be so tense brother!!" Thompson jokingly stated that made me laugh.
"I don't mind!" I claimed that brings Mika's face brighter. She must be that happy, I felt bad a little.
"Good. Very good dear Vienna, let's go and I will prepare my special dish just for you!" Mother Mika gaily spoke. "And for me!!" Thompson cheered.
Both of them started walking, leaving both Samson and me at the rear.
"Sorry about that," Samson apologized again. I took his arm and linked it with mine. "No worries, let's go so I can finally taste Mother Mika's specialty!" I stated and pulled him. He seemed surprised because of what I called his mom. I saw Samson as my sibling already.
I smiled as we are walking on an unfamiliar path. Samson said at the end of this road is their house located. The houses that we saw are not as grandiose but a simple yet cozy ones. A small house means a close relationship with each family member. But what caught my eyes is the person lying at those houses, at least I saw 6 out of 10 people lying in their young and old ones, looking so sick and thin. Just by looking at them from afar, you can already identify how bad their condition is.
Samson must have noticed me looking at them that he pulled me closer to him.
I bite my lips in annoyance and tried to ignore them but I can still see some in my peripheral view. How cruel, medicines must be hard to have in here especially since stealing is their main source of income here. I finally understand the desperateness the people here have that they do not have any other choice but to steal and voyage away from their families to seek the things they need. That must also be the reason why Samson joined but I can't understand why Thompson has to come too.
"We're here! Please feel at home!" Mother Mika stated that brings me back to reality. I saw a two-story wooden house filled with colorful flowers in the yard. There's also a large mango tree at the left side of the house giving it the shades to protect the house and the flowers from the sunlight. It has also a small tree house above.
We entered and on the inside, I saw lots of flower embroidery hanging on the walls. Mother Mika must have liked embroidery that much. She guided us in the kitchen and served us some freshly cooked bread.
"Your dad made that!" Mother Mika proudly presented. Love and affection are visible in her eyes.
"Mom, where is he?" Thompson asked while filling up his mouth with bread. The bread taste salty yet sweet, the combination that surely gives balance inside your mouth. It's also soft and fluffy and the aftertaste gives you a vibe that you need to eat another one.
"Do you like it that much?" Mother Mika asked me and I nodded. "Yes, this bread is amazing!" I remarked.
"Then that's good to know that you like it. It's worth the work!" A husky voice stated.
"Dad!!" Thompson exclaimed and hugged him. I stood up and bowed at him, he signaled me to sit back.
"So you are the girlfriend?" He asked. "Ah yes, I am!" I shyly replied.
"I thought my son is gay because he never brought any lady in this house, you are the first one!" He smirked.
"Dad! You're embarrassing me!" Samson demanded.
"Oh don't be! You already felt embarrassed just by this then how about being naked already?" He stated that made me choked with the bread. Naked? This old man is wild.
"Dad!"
"Naked?" Thompson innocently asked.
"Honey stop! Thompson is listening!" Mother Mika angrily exclaimed.
"Haha, you're still young for that Thommy!" His dad stated and Thompson nodded. I can't help but stare in astonishment just by looking at them.
All of us continued eating and Mother Mika and Father Erenz always put food on my plate. I'm so full already that Samson needs to stop his parents from feeding me.
After lunch, Mother Mika guided me upstairs and showed me the room that I will use temporarily. Father Erenz jokingly suggested that Samson and I should share one room and now Samson couldn't even look at me in the eyes not because he is embarrassed with the fact of him and I sharing but embarrassed with his father boldness.
The room she showed me is the guest room. Or more on an extra room but with the curtains still hanging in the windows and the bedsheet, it looks like this was owned by a lady. A king-size bed, a bookshelf but only half of it has books. A cabinet with a full-body mirror intact on it and a cloth hanger with a cloak hanging in it. I checked the cabinet and saw dresses. Also, Mother Mika said I can use this as an alternate for my clothes. So I did what she said.
After all, I need to take a proper bath too. Thankfully theirs a bathroom in here so I don't need to go down to take a shower. I choose a dirty white blouse with a dark green skirt dress and also a leather corset. This is the only dress that will at least fit in me, the rest are too big and some are too small. I'm glad that some undergarmets are not used by the owner since it still has the cover.
I entered the bathroom and do my usual routines then after that I wear the dress. I still have the golden dagger and since that night, I didn't let it stay away from me and just keep it in my boots. I sat down at the edge of the bed, letting my wet black hair untied and face myself in the mirror. And there I saw a green-eyed lady staring back at me. She changed a lot, her appearance, her attitudes, and her guts. I changed a lot.
Can I return home safely?
Ahh, let's stay positive Vienna, and let's keep ourselves safe. Sulking with the fact and keeping waiting for someone to rescue you will bring you to nothing.
I stood up and wondered my eyes in the surrounding, and there outside the window, I saw a hill at the center of the forest. Even this far you can see it. I can feel an aura and my emotions are driving me crazy, a surge of familiarity strikes as I keep staring in there.
My head started to hurt too as well as my eyes started to get hazy. Just what the hell is in there?
Dizzy and hazy, I forced myself to walk towards that hill. I pass through the back door and traverse in a bushy and narrow path not sure if it's the right way.
I don't know what's gotten into me. But I have to go there.
I must.