Hugo went outside alone to take in the fresh air of the sea. Meanwhile the rest of the crew enjoyed a hearty breakfast of fresh bread and grilled fish. After eating and cleaning up, they came to a realisation that there wasn't really much to do.
"Who's up for a game of poker?" Migs asked as he pulled out a deck of cards from his bag. "I'll get the gold we got for the chips"
As Migs ran back to the tank to fetch the bags of gold, he noticed Hugo alone, leaning on the railings and staring back at Dog Town.
"Oi Hugo! We're about to play some cards. Want in?" Hollered Migs.
"I'll be there in a moment." He replied. Still gazing out at the waters and the shrinking landmass.
The skies were a meek grey in the evening. The winds became chilly and the waters sank to a dark, great blue. The crew were now just chatting amongst themselves. Ehma brought her hammer and tools in to tinker more as she listened to the conversations.
"John-sama, what is life like in Keilah Londrus?" Asked a curious Kaze.
"I'd like to know too." Added Suki, "My uncle works at the mines near there."
"Well for starters, you could never fit the Stoat in the streets where I lived. It is quite cramped. Quite cold too. The tall buildings and tight alleys make for a menacing atmosphere. I would never recommend walking out at night there." Explained John.
"It can't be all that bad." Ehma said, "You told me you had to go out to buy stuff every night. You look fine."
"I knew those streets well. I knew who to avoid. But other than that, I didn't mind living there. The sisters of Deniah are great people. I wish to introduce them to you all someday." John grabbed another piece of bread and took a generous bite out of it.
"But, I had to leave for a reason. The central church had just appointed a new saint to lead the city. I cannot say that he is the best of leaders. He would persecute non-believers and non-humans if they lived in the upper districts of the city. Those unfair laws and scrutinising words made me realise that the church isn't what it's supposed to be. Since I was gifted with the powers of divinity, I was expected to study under them. Many saw me as the next saint but… I believed that my ideals would conflict with the saint. It would've put the sisters in danger. So I left with the knowledge I took from Deniah and searched for another way to continue my studies.."
"And that's when me, Midra and Malcom came in." Shouted Ehma.
"Indeed. It's been quite eventful but I'm glad to travel along with you all."
Later that night, when the moon shone on the glistening waves, the crew were all fast asleep. That is except for Ehma. John, Suki, Kaze and Migs were sleeping on the couches and bean bags in the ship. Hugo slept on the deck of the ship besides the Stoat. Ehma was laying on the roof of the Stoat, staring at the night sky.
Migs woke up for a drink and noticed Ehma outside as he peeked through the circular windows of the ship.
"Hey Ehms, something up?" He asked worryingly,
"I've got a bad feeling. It's with what happened before. When we fought off those bandits and when they attacked us. I feel like they aren't something to just push aside."
"Well, we took down the guy who was tracking us down.." Assured Migs
"But what if they weren't the only ones? If what he said was true, then there's more who could be far stronger than him." She said with a fearful tone.
Migs laid quietly next to Ehma for a while. He stared at the stars while in a deep contemplation.
"If there's more, then they're just asking for another beatdown." He said with confidence
Ehma gave a little smile, feeling a little more assured.
"It's great to have you besides me Migs."