Year 765 The Storm Crawler Charge

Rhea heard her husband the whole time he took to get up here, not thinking much about it. She knew he is going to react terribly to her being up here and yet this is the first she had ever felt to be her normal self before the pregnancy. All the damn rules have put her through the worst of moods, and she thought she can get used to all the changes. Right now, all she can barely accept that Connor’s worries are justified.

She kept a hand over her belly, she can sense something there for sure. If she concentrates, she can pinpoint the presence and control the mana. Right now, it is swirling against her own due to the influence of the emotions she had been through these last few hours. It’s a shock she hadn’t yet lost her meal to her anxiety again.

“Can you explain to me what’s going through your mind?” His voice is careful, as if he just had to be for her sake. Her silver gaze rakes over him, noticing how he is dusty from the cleaning. That building had been empty for way longer than they had been a couple and that worries her. How long will he be away each time?

She compartmentalizes that thought for now since it isn’t what bothers her right now. Speaking to Cid about his own mother that he never got to know reminds her about Connor’s mother who is now missing. The very same woman who Rhea aided to hide. Now she’s missing, and Connor hardly reacted to the news. Is Connor that distant with his mother that he truly does not care? “Were you ever close to your mother…?”

Connor didn’t respond, taking a seat beside her and looking towards the horizon next as if it will be too hard to look at Rhea. It is hard for Rhea to ever understand what he feels, Rhea’s mother was an entirely different type of mother. Rhea’s mother was not without issues, but at least Rhea can feel her mother’s love even in her absence. The silence did drive Rhea a little wild mentally, but she had to be patient. It is not like her mother married a monster.

“I want to say never. But that’s not true.” Connor finally admits but his tone isn’t soft from good memories, he didn’t let go of this anger towards the people that gave him life.

“But you have not even talked about her disappearance? I…. helped her hide that day, Connor, and now she is gone.” Rhea pries and that only had him snort with that scowl. Usually, he will try to lighten the blow of his responses to not stress her. This time is different.

“They are royals, all they are good for is hide behind a lot of money. They will show up when you least want them.” His words are cruel, but she can see something new hidden in his eyes, was it grief? Connor typically is aggressive in all forms of negative emotions, seeing him cry is rarer than the times he let himself be vulnerable. And this time she really thought he is being scornful to bury whatever surface. Even using this question to force a change in their conversation. “Why do you want to know?”

Brat. Rhea didn’t let his tone affect her; this won’t be the first he had grown rigid around her to throw his authority around. If she were any other person, they will drop the subject at once. She lets out a heavy huff, “Simply because I am going to be a mother. I worry how I will become someday so…. I want to know how some of my closest people felt about theirs.”

That had Connor shifts his gaze at her; this time he didn’t look like he is ready for an argument. What she said changes everything, she should have led on her intentions from the beginning. It didn’t matter she is still upset at him which is nothing new.

Then he pulls into a side hug, she didn’t push him away again bewildered by the affection during another one of their arguments. This seems so mental for her to be this way then again, it might mean she is going to have to gauge out what is more important to worry about. That is why I am up here to avoid this!

“You’re never going to be like her.” She can feel his breath tickle her scalp, and she wants to look at him but her desire to stay difficult overrides her. Instead, she just felt the warmth of this one muscular arm. Her fingers find its way to his Kroathik pendant to play with it; the smooth edges remind her of the calm ocean. The side of the ocean that made her love sailing with the crew, the endless wonders of the Erathea. She’s going to miss it just as she misses the Junxe Jungle.

“Nothing is ever truly out of the realm of possible with Anukrin on our tails.” Rhea mumbles, wanting to accept his words as fact. However, he had been not telling her a lot of things. These doubts start to seep into just her regular grievances. Do I trust him?

When it comes to his love for her and desire for her safety, he had proven more than once to ever doubt it. But when it comes to his own safety or if he is telling the full truth of things she had plenty of doubt. Her own love for him equally drives her insane but also gave enough strength to be patient. Connor is not a man that ever had the issue to overshare. Everything she wants to know will be answered but not by her own means.

“I don’t see an issue. You aren’t very good in obeying anyone let alone a God.” Connor’s comment had her slap on his chest.

“Watch yourself. I was about to forgive you.” Rhea’s warning didn’t do much but have him chuckle.

“I rather be not forgiven and have you in better spirits.” This is sweetness that she isn’t prepared for again, but he keeps saying strange things like this. Her happiness will always involve him. Instead of arguing him further she waits for him. He didn’t make her wait for long, “Just know, Jerold’s wife will be a better role model. At least she is available.”

Rhea peers up at him finally, “When we will meet her?”

“Not today. Lala seems adamant to have us over for dinner.”

Oh right. Rhea would mope but by the sounds of things dinner at this “farm” sounds better than sitting on this roof. Besides, she can go for more food. “Will you eat this time?”

“Of course. I can’t offend Gaia…. she’s….” Connor made a face, as if there is more to the story behind this family that his regret is obvious on his face. “Well compared to Gaia. Lala is more tamed when upset.”

“I like Gaia.” Rhea smiles, she is glad that these people aren’t so quick to please Connor. He tends to misbehave more if people always did what he wants.

“I course you would.”

The couple will eventually leave their spot on top of this roof. Connor insists he will go down first just so he can catch her if she fell. As a tree climber, Rhea did get offended, but he isn’t going to change his mind. She did as he requests this time. The sooner they leave this place the better, she really wants food. They walk together; their fingers lace together the whole way. Whatever annoyance she had towards him melts further. She is having a harder time keeping him away even though he still owes her so much. Then again, it did hurt her to push him away so much, she wants him all the same. It stings more her at the end because he is ready to respect her need for space so quickly, that it aggravates her. She knew space isn’t working, testing this method called patience might bear better results.

It helps to meet all these people who knew Connor before he ever became a captain or even as a boy. It helps her heal from her hurt that perhaps she can forget about the artifacts while they are here together. At least for the two weeks they crew will spend here.

The farm is impressive in size for a mere family to manage. She thought the soil will be too salty but here the land is fertile and much sturdier. The fields are already plowed with new seeds in them guessing by the mounds of dirt. It fences out some animals that she assumes are domesticated. There are four fluffy bovis, one looking like the bull. This herd lazily feasted on the grass with two older keldios. Then ten cuckoos freely saunter the front of the house pecking at the ground. The house is big compared to the other structures of this villa but smaller than the manor. It is tinted dark with darken green shingles. The front porch is recently done based on the fact the wood is new and not painted. Rhea is fascinated by how all the animals are not even reacting to their presence. A tiny part of her grew suspicious because she cannot believe any animal is truly without its wild side.

She didn’t get to think much more on it seeing another animal she isn’t fond of from her experience in living off the streets. This creature is a kreslupus, the Moarins use it to guard property, and they are extremely loyal to their masters. It is quadruped with sharp rows of teeth, eyes set forward because they are bred to. Its fur varies based on the breeder, but the ones used for the Empire are usually sleek to display each tense muscle. Smaller than most beasts she’s handled but fast, she barely avoided its drool covered maws when in a run. This one she hardly notices, crawling out from below the front deck. Its fluffy blue-black fur helps hide it well in the structure. Blue eyes pinpoint them and it starts to bark, wagging all three of its tails.

Berhusk! She didn’t recognize this bark as friendly, hiding behind Connor already with a stick in hand to point at it. This triggers the kreslupus to bark more, bending in this weird motion she’s never seen it do before. Its front legs are splayed out while its rear up in the air, it spins all those tails faster.

Connor only watches, and she can tell he had that face as if he is trying to fight the Gods not to laugh. She didn’t get it for a while until he takes her stick and throws it far towards the fields. This creature bounds after the stick, vanishing.

“What?” Rhea is beyond lost and Connor spurts out laugh he had been struggling to hold back.