Kito walked from the tent as if he had a hangover. The sun seemed to be trying to attack him, and it was succeeding in its assault. Katy was standing at the foot of the hill, looking up as the sun was peeking out over the grass. She shot him a cheeky wink as he busied himself getting the tent furled and folded back up. He chuckled as she looked back up the hill to see Seiko come over the edge, making his way down. Kito was sliding the tent poles back into the cart as Katy and Seiko approached.

“The village is about twenty minutes walk.” Seiko said, taking the handle of the cart as Katy finished packing up.

“Good stuff, I take it there’s a harbour?” Kito said, buttoning his shirt back up as Katy started off ahead, leading the way.

“I already got us a ride.” Seiko said from behind him, causing Kito to look back with a raised eyebrow, “Not sleeping frees up a lot of time.”

Kito shrugged, he supposed that was fair. The hill wasn’t as treacherous as some he’d climbed in his life. In fact, it was rather pleasant. Especially when they got to the top and the salty sea air enveloped them. Kito inhaled deeply, smiling as they started down towards the village they could see quite clearly now. It was a latticework of wooden walkways and docks, the sign denoting it as 'Fille, Harbour Town'. Put together over the water mostly, with only a couple of structures actually built on the land sections. Kito inhaled deeply, smiling at the smell of the ocean as they made their way onto the first wooden street. Nets and barrels littered the walkway and his boots clattered against the wood loudly. Katy’s were even louder with their steel toes, while even with how heavy his boots looked Seiko made little to no noise as he strode over the decking. People gave them nods and smiles as they passed. Clearly a village accustomed to travellers. A few people had stalls very easily built and nailed into the already wooden structures around and beneath them with trinkets, clothes and - of course - fish for sale. Kito was enjoying the sound of the tide underneath him as around him people were trying to sell him things. Of course, this died down as they moved further into the town. What was evidently a main street of some sort. The wooden walkway they found themselves on was almost four times as wide as those they came in on, the lengths of wood nailed and fastened together with metal strips and brackets securely, and Kito noticed the wood was not only thicker, there were multiple layers to keep the weight of this busier area. He grinned as he looked around. Shops much like you’d see anywhere, just entirely wooden with netting and cloth instead of glass for windows and roofing. He assumed they had their ways of dealing with the rain. Here and there Kito even noticed weapons sheathed or attached to the belts of those they passed. They received polite nods from these stern individuals. Kito knew them well, he was one of them for a long time after all. Gatekeeps, they were often called, or guardians. Hired by village committees and elders for competitive prices to keep smaller towns and villages safe. Kito had received his ‘black knight’ title from doing that job in his thirties. He had an immense amount of respect for people who worked as hard as the gatekeeps he knew, so he gave them polite smiles and nods right back.

Eventually they came upon the transport Seiko was talking about. In a small area fenced off by netting there was what looked like a perfectly nice little cafe and bar. Stools against the bar itself and tables all scattered around thick decking away from the main walkways with people laughing and chattering, making merry after today’s catch by Kito’s estimate. The barrels he’d been passing looked pretty full to him. Fish of all kinds. What caught his eye most was the bartender himself. A huge man with an eyepatch and a frizzy beard, he had a good-natured smile as he talked with a patron even though he looked right off of a pirate ship. What caught Kito’s eye next was the octopus that was sitting on the counter next to him, listening seemingly intently to whatever he was saying. It was such an odd image that Kito found himself chuckling slightly. Seiko pulled up two chairs and took his own on the other side of a stout, dark skinned woman with a scar over her full lips. She gave him a nod then turned her smile on Kito and Katy.

“Out to the islands then, are we?” The woman asked, her voice gruff.

“Specifically the island our colleague went out to,” Seiko said, sitting forward with an arm on the table, “The one I told you about.”

“Armour, dark hair,” The woman listed off, “Eyes like this boy here, scar over her left eye. Carries a huge sword.”

“That’s her.” Katy smiled widely.

“Seems like she followed her target to a forested island about three or four kilometres out. I can get you there, if you spring for someone to watch that cart of yours. It’d tip the boat.”

“D’you know anyone who won’t,” Kito chuckled, “You know, steal all of our stuff and make us very sad.”

The woman laughed and took a drink before speaking, “Don’t worry, lad, you can hire someone to watch it for you. They have gatekeeps who help keep watch over the premises too. We’ll take care of it.”

Katy nodded appreciatively, “Your rates must be high if you’re this helpful.”

The woman shot Katy a grin and a wink, “You can cover it.”

Kito chuckled and stood, “That I can,” He said, and shook the outstretched hand of the gruff woman, “Let’s see this boat of yours.”

***

“It’s not much to look at.” Seiko said quietly when the gruff woman had left with Katy to lock their cart down. Kito was looking over what he had taken and packed into bags and packs and shrugged at Seiko.

“It’s… Rustic.” Kito said, getting a funny look from Seiko.

“When she said boat I expected a boat but not… This.” Seiko gestured at the rickety, worn wooden boat that was bobbing gently up and down with the tide.

“At least there’s enough space for all of us to sit relatively comfortably,” Kito said with a smile, looking the boat over, “We may need to put a few of the supplies on our lap, but hey.”

Seiko looked at Kito for a long moment before speaking, “You’re loving this.”

“What?” Kito laughed, shaking his head, “I have no idea what you mean.”

“You’re actually loving every second of this,” Seiko smiled slightly, “I see how you two lasted so long. Giant nerds, the two of you.”

“No clue what you’re even talking about.” Kito smiled, shaking his head as he fastened the straps of a large bag and tossed it to Seiko. He caught it easily and in a nice, fluid motion he slipped it onto his back. Kito did the same with his just as the wood of the dock creaked slightly. Boots moving over the rough walkway. Kito turned his smile to Katy and their sailor - Eileen - as they approached. Katy held her hands out and Kito tossed her a third bag. Katy nodded at the weight and slipped it onto her back, adjusting the straps to tighten it against her. Eileen saw there was another pack, containing a tent and other supplies and she tilted her head, observing it for a few moments. Eventually she moved into the boat, making it rock slightly as she moved her hand over one of the seats. She found what she was looking for and the seat creaked open, flopping over and clearing space for a door on the bottom of the boat to be opened. Eileen brushed her hands off and gestured for the pack as Kito grinned a little wider.

“Well look at that,” He said, throwing the camping pack to Eileen and letting her settle it into the compartment, “More than meets the eye.”

“We’re full of surprises.” Eileen winked, moving to the middle of the boat and beckoning them on. Seiko went first, managing to move past Eileen on the boat easily without rocking it at all. She raised an eyebrow at his agility and he shrugged simply, sitting at the front of the boat and crossing his legs as Katy got in next. She held her arms a little from her body to keep her balance and chuckled as she sat next to Eileen, facing the back of the boat while Eileen faced Seiko. Kito got on last, taking up the rear and settling into the surprisingly comfortable seat. He let out an appreciative sound, nodding. Eileen chuckled and Katy shot him a wide smile as the rope was gathered and Kito was tasked with pushing the boat from the pier. The rather pleasant village began to move from them as the boat moved over the water. Kito watched as Eileen held her hand out, fingers splayed. Elemental magic. Kito grinned. Manipulating the water below them to propel the boat at a quick pace. Simple with water already at her disposal, clever as well.