Chapter 16: Where to go next

“What was that about?” Kaylin said. I had rushed us out of Novel’Noah, just stopping once so Kaylin could buy some food for the road.

“You were quite loose-lipped back there.” Turning around to her, I exhaled, furrowing my brows. “I was told that soulcores are quite the taboo thing when they are removed from their bodies. Here you are, just blurting it out like it's nothing.” I said, biting my lips.

Her steps increased as she sped up, walking past me. Seconds later, she let her head hang low, slowing down again. It was fascinating to watch.

“Yes, alright, you have a point. I apologize. I got too excited. The accident of that girl piqued my interest, and I kind of just blurted it out.”

I glanced at her from the side.

“Why? I mean, why did it interest you so much?” I asked.

“It was always expected of me to be good at wild magic. But I was never excelling at it, I am mediocre at best. I tried to leave those expectations behind me by studying at Windbreak. Focusing on my becoming a scholar of history.’” She scratched at her missing arm. “ Still, every time I find some unusual event involving wild magic, I get invested. Maybe because I still hope to gain some hidden insight that could improve my own magic.”

“What about rota based magic?” I asked.

“I know quite a lot of rota and even some spells, but it is seen as impure by my home country. But I try and not let these expectations define me, sometimes I fail at that.” She said.

“Doesn’t sound like a nice home.”

“It really isn’t. It’s why I left,” she took a deep breath. “I couldn’t deal with the pressure from my parents anymore and decided to go my own way. They still expect me to rise to their expectations, but I am not planning to ever return there.” Kaylin said.

I nodded. “That would have made me leave, too.” Leaving Novel’Noah behind us, we walked together towards our new destination.

Inas’Gate soon came into view as the daylight started to diminish. To my surprise, the guards at the gate didn’t bat an eye at the condition of my armor, letting us through without question. I squeezed my hands tight as we entered the city. Throughout the journey here, I wanted to broach the subject of what we do after arriving, but was scared to do so. I did not want to be alone again, not after what happened. For that, I was ready to go with her to Windbreak. But did she want me around? Maybe I was overthinking it, but the possibility of a “no” terrified me. I was sure that if I was left by myself for long enough, eventually the madness would consume me again.

“Ieeep”, I let out a small yelp as I bumped into Kaylin, who had stopped walking. Looking around, I noticed that I had followed her into a small alley.

“Sorry,” I said. She had turned, looking at me with raised eyebrows.

“W-what?”

“You look like something has been bothering you for a while now. Out with it.” Kaylin said. I swallowed.

“I uhm, I was wondering if you are okay with me accompanying you to Windbreak.”

She blinked, and frowned. I closed my eyes, a shiver running down my back. She was clearly against the idea.

“I thought that was obvious?” Kaylin said. I opened my eyes again. Open-mouthed, I stared at her.

“But I never outright said where I want to go next?”

“I just assumed you decided to come with, seeing how you didn’t say otherwise. I apologize if that was rude of me.” Kaylin said.

“Then I can come with you?”

“Tepin, that is what I just said. That decided, I would like to check when the next ship sets sail. Also, I need to report what happened to the city guard.” My knees buckled as relief washed over me. My worries had been for naught.

“Alright, alright, in that case, do you know how expensive the journey will be? I intended to get my armor fixed.” I asked. Staring down at my clothes, I sighed. That will be expensive.

“It should be around 500 coils.” Kaylin said.

I bit my lip; that was a lot. There should be enough on my emblem, but depending on how expensive mending my armor will be, there might be nothing left. I let out a short breath. It was fine, it’s not like I have anything to lose.

“That should be doable.”

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Just like in Novel’Noah we decided to stay at the local Eventyr branch. In the morning, I gave Rayfin a visit, while Kaylin would go and secure passage to Windbreak for us.

The clanking of the wooden market stalls being set up by their vendors, made me reminisce about the weeks I had spent here alone. It felt like ages ago that I dedicated my mornings to jogging around the city. Yet it had only been a few days since then. Those days had been lonely without Dust and Olgore keeping me company, but a certain warmth once again filled my chest. Somehow, I had managed to find someone else who wouldn’t mind me sticking with them. I hoped one day I could introduce Kaylin to Olgore and Dust.

It did not take me long before I found myself before the leather expert's shop. The clear sound of a bell rang through the cluttered workshop as I opened the door.

“Hey, Rayfin, you here?” I said, while walking towards the many displays of armor in the room.

I heard a thunderous noise and turned towards it. There was Rayfin with a shocked look on his face. A toolbox lying on its side before his feet. Half its contents spilled across the floor.

“By the tendril, what have you done with my armor,” he yelled. I took a few steps back as he rushed at me. Without asking, he took off the cape I had borrowed from Kaylin and took a better look at the damage.

“Lad, how are you still alive?” He asked, looking up at me.

“Luck, I guess?”

“That must have been some luck.”

“Things got ugly out there, but I got out in one piece. That is what counts, right? Never mind that, though. Do you think you can mend it, and for how much?” I asked. He circled around me, touching the leather here and there, mumbling into his beard.

“Depends,” he said, furrowing his brows. “How much time do you have? A complete restoration will take multiple days. Patching up the worst of it can be done by tomorrow morning. ”

I probably don’t have multiple days until we leave.

“How much would patching it up cost?”

“I’d take 150 coils for it.” That was doable, less than I expected, but still, it would leave me with around 100 coils.

“So, do we have a deal or what, lad?” Rayfin asked. I blinked away my errant thoughts.

“Yes, we do, but do you have anything I can wear while you work on it?”

“Yes, but that’ll cost you another 30 coils,” he said with a smirk. I rolled my eyes.

“Alright, I will pay it. That does mean I can keep the spare clothes, though, right?” He let out a belly deep laugh.

“Of course, lad, of course!”

And with that, I had acquired a new set of very basic clothing. Nothing more than long brown pants and a white shirt. It would have to do. Covering myself with Kaylin’s cape, I left the store.

As I made my way back to Eventyr, the large windows of a clothing shop piqued my attention. A round, pointy, dark-colored hat had captured my interest. I stopped and walked up to the window to take a better look. It had quite the large brim, and a bit of leather held by a metal ring was wrapped around it. Something about its aesthetic spoke to me, and before I knew what happened, I stepped out of the shop; new hat now proudly sitting on my head. I thought it would fit my armor rather well, not trying to think too much about my now nearly diminished funds.

The moment I entered the guild, someone yelled over to me.

“Hey Tepin, you are back! I bet the outside world wasn’t as bad as you thought, huh?” When I looked towards the source of the voice, I saw Luce behind his counter.

“It was alright.” The understatement of the year, but he didn’t need to know what happened.

Kaylin was poring over a book when I entered our room. She didn’t seem to notice me, too distracted by what she was reading. Curious, I walked over and took a peek at the page she had opened.

It was a book about the connection between body and soul, from what I could see.

“Trying to understand me better?” I whispered behind her. She jumped, almost knocking over a glass.

“T-Tepin, what was that for?” She said, straightening her clothes. “And yes, I am a bit curious.”

“Where did you get the book from?” I said, tilting my head.

“I got it at a bookshop on my way back from the harbor.” Why hadn’t I thought of going to a bookshop before? I could have learned so much more about the current state of things.

“Tepin, what is up with that hat?” She asked, staring at it.

“Oh, that? I saw it on my way back here.”

“That surpri… it fits you, I think,” she said, a smile appearing on her face.

“Thank you,” I said, reflecting her smile. “Did you manage to get us a ship?”

“Yes, and we will be setting sail by midday tomorrow. Does that work with your plans? Not that you have much of a choice.” Kaylin said, smirking.

“No, that works with me, my armor will be done in the morning,” I said, giving her a thumbs up.

Before I knew it, tomorrow came, and I found myself beside Kaylin, surrounded by the smell of salt and sweat. I was occupied with staring at a large ship that was clad in steel. The sails seemed to be retractable. There were two round bumps at the stern of the ship, housing two large magitek engines.

“Kaylin,” I said, looking at the monster before us. “Why does this beast of a ship look like it’s built to go to war?”

“That would be because of the storm. Once we get into the waters surrounding Windbreak, the wind and waves will be too strong for sails, and the magitek engines will be used. They are expensive to run, which is why the journey costs so much.” Kaylin said.

I swallowed, “and that is safe?”

“I did the journey three times, accidents have been rare on this route. Don’t worry, the crew knows what they are doing. I just hope you don’t get seasick,” she said. I shook myself. What did I sign myself up for?

Standing on the quarter deck of the ship, I looked on as Inas’Gate grew smaller on the horizon. This had been Dust and Olgore’s view not so long ago. Looking up into the light of the Tendril at the sky, I decided that as soon as I settled into Windbreak I should write those two a letter. They deserved to know where I was and that I wasn’t leaving Tendria anytime soon. There was a mix of anxiousness and a sprinkle of excitement within me for what would come next in my story.

Tearing my eyes from the diminishing coastline, I made my way to the small cabin where Kaylin was sure to be lost in her book.