Ivy, despite having eaten some semblance of food, decided she would remain in the galley. She should have walked back to bed, but at that point, she was simply too tired to go anywhere else. She inhaled a deep breath, and then she exhaled, finding herself in a state where she was half asleep. She would not return to sleep, but she would find herself relaxed regardless.

Eventually, Queen Lavender saw her and listed her head to the side. “What are you doing over here at this hour?”

“I couldn’t get back to sleep,” Ivy said softly. “And then I was too hungry to sleep, so I came here to find some food. But then I was too tired to go back to my bunk bed.”

Queen Lavender listed her head to the side, before gesturing. “Come on. We have a library where you can go. It has a small sofa, if you need somewhere to sleep, and it’s only a few steps away.”

Ivy followed the pirate queen. Once she found the sofa, Queen Lavender produced a blanket. Ivy took it, mumbling her thanks to the woman.

“I can’t imagine that stool was the most comfortable of places for you,” Queen Lavender said. She produced a small match and lit a lantern. “Do you like chess?”

“I do,” Ivy said. She noted a small board. “Care to play?”

“Fine,” Queen Lavender said.

Ivy had never been particularly good at chess, and not when she had been sleep deprived. But as she worked the board, there was enough spite within her. She wanted to get revenge on this woman, although this time, there was nothing serious about it.

In just two days, whatever anger Ivy had over the pirate queen had vanished. At some points, she had been angry with herself for it. In matching the queen’s energy, she hoped she would be able to win. But as the queen pulled her into a corner, Ivy put her king down after the final checkmate.

Queen Lavender took the board and readjusted it so it would be ready for the next people to play. “You play rather well.”

Ivy nodded, her face flushing. “Hey, you won that one.”

“But I can see what kind of strategies you were attempting to employ,” Queen Lavender said. “I rather enjoyed that part of it. “

Ivy squirmed, and then she turned back to the sofa. “I should be ready to go back to sleep. Thanks for the game. And the hospitality, really.”

“You’re a part of this ship now,” Queen Lavender said. “I take care of this crew, and I can tell you are struggling.”

“Yeah, being on the streets for a few days can be rough,” Ivy said. “I survived in my old world, but here in the new world, there’s something different about it.”

“The difference is that this kingdom is still feeling the effects of a dangerous regime,” Queen Lavender said. “Which might not seem that different from your world. But this took place over centuries. But I wasn’t talking about that. From the look on your face, it seems as though you are struggling in more ways than one.”

“I–,” Ivy still squirmed.

“There’s no shame about it,” Queen Lavender said. “I’ve had reports detailing who you were in your old world. Many pirates are such because they have a rough path. And they don’t believe they have anywhere else to go.”

“You sound like Captain Val,” Ivy said.

“Don’t compare me to her, though,” Queen Lavender said, her voice stern. “This is your one warning about it. Do not mention her, or Captain Peregrine, please.”

“Captain Peregrine betrayed me,” Ivy said.

Queen Lavender leveled violent glare at Ivy. “I just said.”

“I’m sorry,” Ivy said. She then turned back to the pirate queen. “In that case, good night.”

“Listen,” Queen Lavender said. “This world here is a mess. Even in long-standing kingdoms. It takes a lot to understand. If you want, you could read a book from one of the scholars. But just remember. The old regime was in power for five hundred years.”

“And dismantling it will take years, then,” Ivy said.

As she laid back to rest, she took the wool blanket and drifted off into a long sleep. In being back on the ship, the constant waves served to help her gain her sleep back.

As she slept, she would dream several times, most of those dreams turning sour. Captain Val would call out to her, telling Ivy she was a traitor. And then there was Peregrine, who had left her on the streets.

When Ivy woke up, she turned to her staff and moved toward the shelves. In picking up a book in Rathorian, she began to read on the couch. She should have felt guilty for it. But whenever Queen Lavender checked on her, she would nod, and then she would leave.

And such was the nature of Ivy’s journey aboard the ship for two weeks. She found herself at the mercy of other crewmembers–most of whom would pass her by, the disdain visible in their eyes. But whenever Queen Lavender passed, she would always make sure Ivy had food, and then some rum. Ivy always thanked her.

She read through the book on the old power systems in Rathos. According to the scholar, they had dismantled the old monarchy because there was nowhere else to turn. As Ivy finished the book, she put it back on the shelf, and she found another book. This time, it was on the great library of Asvene.

Since the catalyst, the great scholars of Asvene–one of the capital cities in the seventh realm–have done their due diligence to find books from every realm. In this realm, there are language teachers from every corner of the world. Each of them has only one goal in mind: making sure there’s a place where knowledge of the seven realms has been consolidated into one place.

Ivy would read that book through the night, only stopping at four in the morning before she would drift back into sleep. By the time she awoke again, the two week marker had passed, and the healer removed the brace from her foot.

“You should be good to get back to work aboard the ship,” the woman said. “And with good timing. We’re about to make it to another port city soon, and we will need your help there.”

“Good,” Ivy said, blinking. “I should be there.”

After leaving the medbay, Ivy found herself on the ship’s deck for the first time in weeks. She looked out at the open sea as mist kissed her cheeks. A weary smile crept onto her face.

Despite my initial problems, I think this ship is home to me now.