Huh!?
Parry chuckled in amusement. “I’m sure it is an astounding term. Foreign, even.” It seems my interjection was made out loud, against my wishes.
“Um, King, uh, Parry, sir…” I mumbled. “Are you sure I should meet this Lord?”
“Why not, dear? Like I said, you are one of us, after all!”
“B-but!”
“Ah-ah, no buts.” He gave me a strong chortle. “I’m sure you’re giving it too much thought. Besides, you’ll get another trip overseas. How delightful!” I gave Victor a side glance across the room where he had been sitting quietly until now, and he offered me a half-hearted smile of consolation. Have I no choice? It seems King Parry took my silence as indifference and patted me on the back. “Lets get you ready, yes?”
Before I knew it, the all-too-familiar stench of sea wafted up my nose, as I braced myself on the opposite side of an unattended helm. It was like my body and my mind were having a lover’s quarrel.
Gross!
The ship this time was much bigger, like a pirate ship from the movies. Although, there was hardly anyone on board. Victor had claimed to visit the captain’s quarters around 30 minutes ago, and the miniscule amount of workers seemed to be doing less working and more lazing about. Not as if I blamed them. The wind was nice, and the deck was spotless. To be expected of a ship sent out by the King, I guess. Even so, the lack of commotion was eerie, and for the first time, I missed the loud chatter of the Market Square back on Rangga. Using all the will I had left, I got to my feet and waddled over to the edge of the deck and down some stairs, with another view of the sea below me. I’d feel bad if I got such a nice ship so dirty…
“Its better if you look out at the sea, instead of down, y’know.”
Uwa!
There was a small, nasally voice speaking to me. I whirled around in hopes to find who just scared the seasickness out of me. But the only thing I saw was an empty crate, where it had been before.
“Huh…? Who?”
“Hey! Down here, lady!”
“Eep!” A… child!? Upon looking down, the child had her hands on her hips all pouty-like and was donning a brown tweed hat that was all too big for her. “Ah… hello.” I said, weakly.
“Hmph. You people are all too narrow-sighted.” She complained. I could swear it was just because of her size. “Anyway! You! Stop moping about!”
I blinked at her in sheer surprise. Despite clearly being a child, her voice was loud and authoritative. “Uh. I’m sorry…” was all I could say.
“Don’t apologize. You’re clearly not from here. What I was saying was, look out to the sea, as far as you can. A nine-yard stare!”
“Nine-yard stare…?”
“Just do it!”
“Yes ma’am!” I turned around, back to the sea, and tried to focus on a cloud that was hovering just above the sea line. My eyes began to relax, and for a few seconds, my stomach did too. How nice… Tiny footsteps matched up next to me.
“One day,” she said, “Let’s hope you can properly enjoy the sea.” I turned, and she was looking out with me through the mesh that acted as the railing. Wide eyes, filled with wonder and joy. My heart warmed just looking at her.
“Thank you.” I replied. “I hope so, too.”
“Mhm! Can’t have a sea-sick bloke on my ship.”
“Ah, ye-“
What?
“I’m sorry,” I began. “Your ship?” She smiled with a toothy grin.
“That’s right! I’m Captain Chinami!”
“Captain...? But you’re only a child!” Her grin was once again replaced by a snotty pout.
“Maybe in age, but not experience, lady! My Papa was the best sailor to ever live, y’know! Not that you’d care.”
“Ah, so your father was a sailor, so now you follow in his footsteps, even at such a young age! That’s impressive, Chinami.” She winced.
“R-right. Well, you’re certainly smarter than you look.” This child certainly doesn’t spare any feelings, huh? “Either way, I assume you know where you’re going today?”
I nodded. “Ikigai.”
“Yessiree! You’re one lucky cookie, you know.”
“How so?”
“As you can see,” she said, gesturing towards the empty ship, “not many people even cross these waters. Victor told me about your status. A real tricky one.”
“Hm. Chinami?”
“Huh, what is it?”
“Where’s your Papa now?”
“Eh? Hey, don’t change the subject! He works at a parlor now, he’s retired. In any words, I’m lucky too. I’ve never come this far before.” I let my head fall.
“Is it such a nice place?”
“Absolutely!” she exclaimed. “How come you seem so down about this?”
“There’s so much I still don’t know. I’ve only just gotten to this world, but I’m suddenly royalty and whisked away to a place where I’ll be living, with a ruler I know nothing about.” Chinami was quiet for a moment.
“Don’t be afraid. Everyone in this world has already experienced death. The one thing that makes men shiver at night. So, don’t worry, Marie!”
“Already…” I felt my stomach churn again. “Chinami, you…!”
“Don’t mention it.” she interjected. “I’m just fine. I’m happy to be on the sea, all the time. I think if I were alive, I’d have to go to school or something horrible like that.”
“Pfft…” I couldn’t hold back my laughter. “In the end, you’re still like a little kid!” She stomped on the floor excitedly.
“Am not! I’m captain Chinami! Fear me!” Chinami and I both ended up laughing, unable to be serious for too long.
We looked out at the sea, with nine-yard stares. Somehow, the solemn silence became more comforting to me.
The passage took another hour or so. Chinami took rounds yapping at her workers for doing nothing, and Victor returned to the deck. At some point, I even wished for the ride to never end. From Chinami’s point of view, I can see how she could do this forever. If only my stomach didn’t betray me so much… I quickly snapped back to the sea line before I could get sick again. Is the sea line supposed to move? Why is there a…
What in god’s name is that!?
A giant creature, with a snake’s body of pure white. I could see it only for a moment, but the size of it was enough to send me into a panic. I stumbled back onto the deck, running into the crate.
My legs won’t move…!
The creature appeared again, closer, this time, and even from this distance still, its appearance was of astronomical proportions. Its white skin was in fact not skin, but fur. Diving back into the sea, its tail whipped with the sound of ear-shattering church bells, slapping the surface of the water with silver barbs before slinking away for good.
I could do nothing but stand there, in shock, at what I had just seen.
“Land Ho!” Chinami shouted from the helm above me. Desperately, I ran up the stairs and fell to my knees in front of her. “Hey!” she exclaimed. “What do you think you’re doing!”
“Chinami… What was that!?”
“Get off the floor… What was what?” I quickly got to my feet and brushed the scuff off my knees.
“That… thing! It almost hit the ship! The snake!” Her pudgy eyebrows furrowed.
“Did you hit your head, lady? Hey, Oliver-!”
“No, no! I’m fine!”
“Then what is it you’re so upset about? Cool your head, lady!”
“I-“I took a deep breath. “There was a giant snake. In the ocean. It-it was coming right for us, Chinami.”
“Marie… there was no snake. Are you sure you’re alright?
No, that can’t be!
“But-“
“Hey, don’t you argue with me! We’ve gotten to the island, you’re gonna be safe, alright lady?” I clamped my mouth shut. Maybe she was right. Could I have been seeing things?
“We’re here?” I asked. Swiveling my head, we raced through fog and finally broke through.
“Uwaaaa, Marie, its Ikigai!” She grabbed my hand like she was watching a circus show. My other hand dropped to my side. Forget Rangga, this… Tears gathered in my eyes as I looked before me.
A flat island, with ornate buildings as far as the eye could see. But the beauty of it was godlike. Anything I saw, I couldn’t possibly describe with words. My heart hammered in my chest as we got closer and closer to the docks.
“Chinami…” I began. “This, is Ikigai?”
“Mhm! I can’t believe it, can you?”
“No.” was all I could say. While I’m sure she meant it figuratively, everything in my body was once again telling me this was a dream. That I shouldn’t be here. Right. Any second, I’d wake up. Wake up.
Wake up!
But I didn’t. The sound of music and chants grew louder and louder as the ship “thumped” into the docking space.
Ikigai.
Was such a place actually real? Compared to the tattoo on my wrist, it almost felt shameful to wear such a thing. I wish I could scrub it off. But I couldn’t. And now, arriving at this island, I felt as if a lot of things would soon become irreversible as well.
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thank you for reading. next time,
we'll meet the lord, i promise :)
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