The sound of seagulls squawking above, the feeling of the ship rocking gently side to side underneath me as it was carried by the waves, the gentle breeze blowing through my hair. It’s been almost two days since we’ve left the port-town and...it was absolute torture! Whether it was because I hadn’t been on a boat in a while or this new life of mine had just suddenly decided it was fair to take away my sea tolerance, I was almost in constant pain! Each time the waves hit the boat too hard or the ship rocked just a little too much for my taste, I felt nauseous and absolutely disgusting...drinking was the only thing I dared to allow myself to do anymore, eating?
I would be signing a contract to make my own body hate me.
“God...” I groaned as I leaned over the side of the ship, my eyes shut tightly as I tried to focus on happy thoughts.
Bees on flowers, the smell of sweet roses in a field of butterflies...it helped slightly, at least until my collar suddenly decided to start vibrating.
‘What in Balerion’s name is the matter with you Eos?’ Ibis hooted with a mixture of annoyance and concern in her tone.
My eyes narrowed. “Haven’t you ever heard of seasickness? I’m suffering through it at the moment...” I said tiredly, another gag escaping me before I suddenly vomited into the ocean once more.
‘Seasickness? Is it a disease? If so, see a healer, I don’t wish to have you die just yet.’ Ibis cooed as her words made me scoff before I slumped back down into a sitting position.
Once more, I made sure to put my arm over my stomach while I tried to keep as still as possible. “Seasickness isn’t a disease, it’s a form of motion sickness...though, I didn’t have it when I was in my old world,” I grumbled, quickly slapping my hand over my mouth as soon as the ship suddenly rocked a bit too hard.
I closed my eyes. ‘Focus on the end goal...only two more days until we finally arrive to the Desert Continent...’ I thought with a small sigh, the feeling of something suddenly landing on my thigh making me crack one eye open.
Though I would never admit it to her outright, I always found her form when she appeared to me absolutely to die for! Her moon-shaped face, snow-white body, tiny little beak and her golden eyes! It was strangely cute.
“What can I do to help you fix this ailment of yours? Must I make you eat one of my feathers?” Ibis asked before she opened her wings a little, my brow cocking immediately at her words.
“Your feathers have healing properties? Not that it would help me that is.”
“Indeed, if you eat ten of them that is.” I cringed a little, there was no way in hell that I was eating this bird’s feathers, much less ten of them! I’d rather suffer than having to go through that.
“I appreciate the concern but I’m fine, really, as soon as we dock. I’ll be up and running again.” I said with a small smile, Ibis letting out a small coo.
She sighed. “If you say so my champion, do not come complaining to me if your illness gets worst however.” She huffed before she quickly faded away, the vibration of my collar ceasing as well.
Once again, there was peace and quiet...aside from the small conversations here and there coming from the sailors, though I was a fan of having an active atmosphere around me, in this case? I enjoyed the quiet time! It allowed me to think, to let my brain take a well-needed vacation while I simply let myself relax.
Though...as soon as I heard the clacking of hooves, I knew that the peace wasn’t going to last long. Once again, I cracked my eye open to look at Ares, the sight of him immediately filling my head with confusion. His hair was down...in all these few years, I’ve never seen such a sight! Though he looked just fine with his hair up or braided when it was down his back however? It was surprisingly bouncy.
Cascading down his shoulders and back before it stopped just at the part where his human half met his horse half...he looked regal, like a rugged king.
“Well look who decided to let their hair breathe for once in their life,” I commented with a chuckle, Ares rolling his eyes before he laid down next to me.
“I grew tired of having it in a ponytail, I much rather prefer it in a braid,” Ares said.
“Then why are you out here instead of being inside? Y’know, getting your hair done and all that.” I said.
“The whispers of the sailors mentioning you suddenly having a mystic owl perched on you made me come out here, I thought it was something important until...I see you like this, ill.” Ares said before I once again closed my eyes.
Curse these sailors and their blabbering mouths!
“I’m fine, I’m just sea-sick, I’ll be over it soon enough.”
“And what if there is to be an attack on this ship? You will be too ill to fight; you will be vulnerable and I refuse to have you in that state.”
I scoffed. “Oh please, there’s no one for miles and miles around Ares. No one is going to attack this ship.” The centaur’s eyes suddenly narrowed, the sight of crossing his arms making me already mentally prepare myself for some sort of scolding.
“We no longer have the protection of the port town's neutral zone anymore little girl...should a Paladin’s ship come to inspect us, we will all be taken captive and quickly beheaded.” He started.
“If such a situation were to happen, I would want you in the best shape to at least attempt at trying to escape.”
“I wouldn’t be able to go far, I'm a pretty crap swimmer and it's not like there’s any land nearby.” I joked, Ares’ growing annoyance only radiating off of him more and more before he suddenly got onto his hooves.
I nearly yelped in surprise as the guy effortlessly picked me up.
“Jest and laugh as you like, I am still going to try to help you get better.” He huffed; my eyes as wide as the sun above as he took me into the lower parts of the ship.
“Ares! Haven’t you figured it out yet that I’m not exactly a fan of being carried? Especially like I’m some sort of bride!” I huffed, my cheeks flushing in embarrassment before we soon arrived to a room.
It had a very Arabic sense to it, from colorful pillows and blankets bunched up into a corner to resemble some sort of bed, to seemingly gold-laced carpets that had intricate red and navy-blue designs in them to the overall decoration! Jewelry hanging from a nearby mirror, from all types of silky blankets hung to act as blinds or coverings. I almost stuck my tongue out in jealously at the centaur as he put me down!
“How come they didn’t give me this room? It’s gorgeous!” I said, my stomach immediately lurching at the sudden increased rocking of the boat.
“You don’t need as much room as I do,” Ares grumbled before he suddenly started to search through drawers around the room.
I snorted. “What are you doing?” I asked, causing Ares to let out a small sigh.
“My wife always had a trick when dealing with my son when he was injured...” My eyes widened immediately, though I somewhat figured he had a wife. He had a son?! The secrets that continue to unveil themselves with this guy.
“She would grab a cloth and dip it in cold water, placing it over the spot that troubled him. It almost always worked on him.” He sighed, his words nearly passing through one ear and out the other as my ears continued to fixate on the word ‘son’.
After all this time...though he’s mentioned some things here and there about having a child, he’s never outright talked nor mentioned him! However, once Ares had finally found a black cloth and left the room for a moment, allowing me to enjoy the scenery of the room a little more. It didn’t take too long for the centaur to come back with a bowl.
‘Good thing this new armor already shows my stomach.’ I thought with a huff as Ares laid down in front of me.
I refused to let the opportunity to ask him questions about his past slip.
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