In the blink of an eye, it was already the next morning.
Life at sea is so boring, the space to move around is so small.
The weather is hot and humid.
Making Losa more willing to stay by Prajna's side.
The cool air continuously emanating from her is like a little air conditioner.
Furin doesn't have this ability.
Even though her body temperature is also quite cold, it takes getting close to feel the chill.
Their intimacy hasn't reached that stage yet.
However, no matter how much he doesn't want to go out, Losa must perform the social activities expected of a knight.
Like instructing the two attendants to train the male villagers; telling the female villagers to sew surcoats with his emblem for their male peers in the village.
Overseeing whether the crew is diligently taking care of their horses, and whether the horses are seasick or showing symptoms of illness.
Hans can handle most affairs entirely on his own.
But Losa can't simply become a hands-off leader; he must maintain his prestige.
He cannot delegate prestige or tools to others.
When stepping onto the deck, the sea was covered in a thin mist.
The crew diligently operated the sails, steering the ship.
The priest held a wooden cross, still preaching to the passengers.
Losa stood silently by, "devoutly" making the sign of the cross before him and praying earnestly.
After the preaching finished, Losa approached to chat: "Where are we now, Father Beckett?"
"We have already passed the Ionian Bay, we have completely left the Adriatic Sea."
Father Beckett paused slightly, pointing to the vague outline of the shore: "On a clear day, we should be able to see the lighthouse of Moria, where the land of the Eastern Empire is, having customs completely different from your homeland."
"The Eastern Empire, huh."
Losa couldn't help but feel a bit yearning.
"One day, after the battles in the Holy Land conclude, I must go to Constantinople to witness the splendor of the 'Queen of Cities' of the Seven Hills City—Vasileousa Polis."
Father Beckett teased: "Then you must be careful, a knight as brave and battle-hardy as you would certainly garner the fervent adulation of the Empire's noblewomen."
Losa jested: "If it were Empress Ragaya, I might truly be tempted."
"Who wouldn't be?"
Father Beckett lamented: "After all, she is the most beautiful and most powerful woman in the world. If marrying Princess Sibilla could make you the Crown Prince of Jerusalem, then marrying Empress Ragaya would make you the Emperor of the Eastern Empire."
The value of the two is on completely different levels.
Losa chuckled, saying nothing more.
He's not one for idle dreams; becoming the Emperor of the Eastern Empire is just a far-off dream, something to merely speak of.
"Knight Losa, did you know, just now while I was preaching, the crew were reminding me to beware of sea sirens today."
"Usually, we need to be wary of the Normans, Moors, and Berbers' pirates, but now we need to be cautious of sea sirens, which hardly anyone has ever seen."
The priest's tone was a bit mocking.
He's sailed between the Apennine Peninsula and the Holy Land more than eight times and has never actually witnessed any sea sirens.
To him, sea sirens were just a legend concocted by bored sailors.
Suddenly someone spoke: "Father, the reason few have seen them is that those who have are dead."
The speaker was the captain of the ship.
A middle-aged man with a weathered face.
"Just like you surely don't know what a miserable life Christians sold to African Chiefdoms lead."
"Nor can you know of the fate of those sailors who once glimpsed sea sirens."
"But not knowing does not mean they do not exist."
The captain gravely advised: "It is said that sea sirens tend to appear in sunless weather, luring people with their songs, then slowly tearing apart and devouring the enchanted victims."
"If you hear strange sounds, you must cover your ears!"
His tone was serious, and after speaking, he left somewhat anxiously.
Leaving the two of them looking at each other.
Losa nodded in agreement: "I do think he makes a good point—just because you haven't seen it, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I once slew a werewolf at the Lienz knight tournament."
"At least it proves that those creatures from folklore aren't entirely nonexistent."
"But a sea siren... that's a legend from pagan mythology."
Losa said nothing, just gazed deeply at him.
Father Beckett hesitated, then finally said: "I understand your point. I'll inform the ship's passengers of the captain's warning."
Having mingled in the Holy Land, the priest is adaptable in many ways.
After all, even in Jerusalem, trade caravans of the Fire Worship are welcomed.
...
By dusk, the fog grew even thicker.
The entire world seemed to darken because of it.
Furin stood on the deck, flaunting her graceful curves with abandon, as most people were asleep by now, she didn't have to worry about attracting too much attention.
She lazily leaned against the ship's railing: "My Lord, this life is really too boring."
"I spent the whole day with that woman Prajna, and felt as if my vampire life dimmed quite a bit."
Losa glanced at her, helplessly said: "Boring perhaps, but it can't possibly be more boring than when you're lying in a coffin asleep."
"When asleep, it's not the same, is it?"
"When you're asleep, you're unaware of anything, so you certainly wouldn't feel bored."
Furin clung to Losa's arm, her watery eyes full of expectation: "Please, let me find a man to suck from, I'll throw his body into the sea, the fish will clean up all traces, no one will know it's me."
"No."
Losa frowned: "Furin, you need to understand, I am human, and the ones you want to suck blood from are also human, so don't speak of it so lightly—and I've warned you, without my permission, you are not to harm anyone."
Furin huffed: "I'm just asking for your consent, aren't I?"
Losa seriously said: "My answer is already quite clear."
"Also, I've heard that in this sea area, there are sea sirens attacking passing ships. They are creatures dwelling in the deep sea, hating light, so tonight's weather is perfect for their activity. Be careful."
"Tch, just some mere sea sirens, those wanton creatures that love mating with humans, do they have any remarkable skills worth mentioning?"
Furin was somewhat disdainful.
If sea sirens were rumors of monsters in a schoolyard, then vampires at least were two levels higher, belonging to urban legends.
"Still, don't be complacent. Furin, your strength hasn't fully recovered, and is heavily suppressed; compared to this world's extraordinary beings, you might not be that much stronger."
Losa advised endlessly: "Pride is the first of the seven deadly sins. I've told you many times, this world is not much simpler than yours. I don't want to see you someday die because of your arrogance."
"Ah, alright, you sound like an annoying old relic with your ceaseless chatter!"
Furin showed a look of impatience.
Also, a hint of increased intimacy.
This stubborn child.
Losa's face broke into a smile: "Don't be so impatient, later in the cabin, would a story suffice for you and Prajna?"
"Fine."
Furin showed a reluctant expression.
In reality, she was extremely looking forward to it.
Losa, immersed in countless web novels, had his mind filled with endless interesting stories.
"Are you telling the story of that monkey again?"
"Don't you want to hear it?"
"Um—well, I can still listen."
Furin spoke in a somewhat unclear tone, bouncing and quickening her steps.
There was an irrepressible exuberance.
No one had ever told her a bedtime story.