With the Funeral concluded, the two friends were travelling south on the eastern harbour, asking the captains if they could be taken to Solara.
Shin stood at a distance, silently watching while Kanah did the talking.
Four Hours Later.
All the captains had turned them down; although the captains felt bad, they had already made deals in advance and could not make a detour for Kanah and his family.
Kanah understood their reasons and backed off from the ship and towards the inn.
Shin approached Kanah, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, don't lose hope yet, some new ships will be coming to dock for the night. I have talked to a few buddies of mine at the adventurers' guild and asked them to look out for vessels heading for Solara."
It was sunset, and the hopes of finding a vessel to take them to Solara before nightfall were fading with the daylight.
"Thank you, Shin. I should have prepared in advance, but I did not know how long it would take to get to Marne. I thought many ships go to Solara carrying the respected Saints and Sages as well as the believers."
Shin nodded, looking around as he sighed. "You thought correctly, this is my first time, not seeing a ship headed for Solara."
The two of them sat on a wooden box, on the inner edges of the footpath, beside the inn door and leaned their backs against the wall.
Across the road and the cargo loading area, the sea shimmered just thirty meters away.
From the corner of his eyes, Shin could see Kanah, blankly staring at the sea before them.
"So…What will you do if you do not find a ship for a few days?"
"I have till tonight, I only brought the money to afford a one-way trip to Solara and to stay at an inn for two days."
"I was able to afford the suite yesterday and today, because of you, had it not been for your connection. We might have been in a small third-grade room."
Shin chuckled. "If you just ask, they will let you stay here for a few more days without pay. I mean, you have earned that much by saving the city."
Shaking his head, Kanah sighed. "No, I did not save this city to reap special benefits or to take rewards. I fought and protected it because that is what a warrior does. I may be a farmer, but I have been trained in the ways of a warrior. I will not accept anything in exchange for doing what was right."
For a moment, both sat in silence as the harbour grew quieter.
"The moment I accept anything for my actions. They will stop meaning anything and become a matter of give and take. I don't want to live that way."
He looked down at his ring. "As long as we walk the path of honesty and kindness. The One will protect us."
Shin hummed in response. "Hard to argue when you put it like that. But I have to ask, why did you accept my help and let me repay the favour?"
Kanah looked at Shin from the corner of his eye as he smiled. "You are my friend, and friends rely on each other. You relied on me to get to Marne, and I relied on you to find an inn for my family. We keep a score with people that we do not consider our own."
He then turned towards Shin, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I consider you a brother, just like you do, so there is no score between us. I consider the world as my family too, but not all of them feel the same about me, and hence I don't ask them for anything. Because they will give it to me in exchange for something."
Leaning his head on the wall, Shin sighed. "You are right. Do not fear, brother, as you have said. The One will look out for you."
"BROTHER!"
Both Kanah and Shin turned their heads to the first-floor window on their left.
Maya was sticking her head out of the window. "Stay right there, Father is coming down to talk to you."
Kanah sighed. "Great! Thank you, Maya."
The door to the inn swung open, and Peter stepped out, looking down at the two young men sitting on the boxes.
Shin stood up and bowed his head. "Hello, Uncle, I hope you are well."
Peter stared blankly at Shin, making him gulp. "Hmm."
He then turned towards Kanah.
"Did you find a ship?"
Kanah stood up, dusting his thighs. "No one is heading to Solara, I fear it was the same on your end." "Hmm."
As Peter turned to look at the sea, Kanah leaned back and whispered to Shin. "He is not in a good mood. Be careful."
Shin whispered back. "I was able to discern that, but thanks for the heads up?"
Keeping his eyes on the sea, Peter held his hands behind his back. "What are you two whispering?"
"Nothing, Father, it's nothing."
Peter turned around, heading inside. "Come back soon and bring Shin along for dinner."
He then entered the inn, leaving them outside.
"I would say that went fairly well."
Shin nodded and slumped down on the box. "Agreed. It has been a long time since I had a family dinner."
Kanah looked at him. "You came to this world two years ago. I am sure you must miss your family, and I am sure they must miss you too."
"I don't know, I was a pretty spoiled brat, talked back a lot, and I did not spend a lot of time with them when I was a teen. They might not miss me that much."
Kanah chuckled. "Oh, they do, regardless of what you did or how you acted, you are their son. Of course, they would miss you."
The two of them sat in silence once again.
"Maybe, you're right. I wish I could converse with them somehow, tell them that I am alive."
"What do you plan to do after I leave?"
Shin frowned as he puckered his lips. "Probably, head to Rine and meet Raghav."
Reaching inside his pocket, Kanah pulled out the ring that he recovered from Serna.
He held it out towards Shin. "If you do meet him, hand this to him. This is the device I removed from Serna's brain. I reckon the person responsible for making Serna attack Marne will not give up anytime soon. This might help Raghav track him down."
Shin took the ring and examined it. He then looked back at Kanah, holding the ring in his hands. "I will make sure he receives it."
The street lights flickered and turned on as the last of the sunlight faded into the night.
Yet the harbour maintained its liveliness.
"I remember how empty it was last night and this morning too, before dawn."
Shin chuckled. "That was due to the attack last night; a curfew was placed, and guards were roaming the rooftops, making sure everyone stayed indoors."
Kanah smiled. "I enjoy the night, it's quiet. I especially enjoyed the night travel, it was my first time travelling away from the city. The roads were empty, except for some patrolling soldiers."
"Most people avoid travelling at night due to fear of being attacked by monsters. But that was never going to be an issue for you. I mean, you took down a mythical beast. No monster was going to last against you."
Kanah laughed as he shook his head. "Last I remember, I had my brother by my side, helping me take down that beast."
They quickly turned forward as a cloaked figure approached from the other side of the road.
Shin frowned. "Whoever that is, isn't a threat. Their Mana is weak, yet it feels familiar." Kanah narrowed his eyes. "I think I know why it is so weak. We caused that."
The figure drew closer, the air becoming colder with each step. The people nearby avoided the figure. It stopped a few feet away, and a pale hand emerged from the cloak, holding a newspaper.
Kanah looked at the newspaper. It was today's front page with a picture of Kanah standing on Serna's head.
A woman's voice came from beneath the hood. "Is this you?"
Kanah took a deep breath and nodded. "That is me. What can I do for you?"
The woman pulled the hood off and revealed herself.
She had jet-black hair and a pair of blood-red eyes.
"You may not recognise me. But I am…" "Serna."
Kanah stood up and walked forward, looking at her from head to toe. He chuckled. "You turned into a human."
Shin stood up, pointing at Serna. "You're Serna? The big-ass fucking snake we fought yesterday."
Serna smiled as she nodded. "Indeed, I am. I must apologise, I was not myself."
"What brings you here?"
Turning towards Kanah, she smiled, tilting her head. "I wanted to see how you were doing. I am very exhausted, restoring the damage in the city and reviving the dead drained my Mana reserves. I am sad I was unable to bring back Commander Alber, as I said his soul went somewhere beyond my reach."
Gesturing towards the box, Kanah stepped to the side. "Have a seat."
She nodded and walked past Shin and Kanah, sitting on the box.
Shin looked at Kanah, gritting his teeth.
The two turned towards her as Serna looked at both of them. "I also come bearing an offering to you, My Lord." She delivered the last two words, looking at Kanah from the corner of her eyes.
Shin frowned and looked at Kanah, then back at Serna. 'Is this woman? Beast? Whatever she is. Is she flirting with Kanah?'
Kanah crossed his arms and smirked. "What sort of offering?"
Serna matched his smirk and raised her head, leaning it away from Kanah. "A ship, headed for Solara. It will be arriving here shortly. It is not a grand vessel, but it will take you across the ocean to your desired destination."
Shin scoffed. "How did you get this vessel?"
She narrowed her eyes as she looked at Shin. "After I left the harbour last, I took this human form to look at you from afar. This morning, I saw you looking for a ship to Solara and decided to serve My Lord."
"I raced south and met the captain; he sailed out of here yesterday, slightly before my attack. I told him about Kanah and that he needs a ship to head to Solara. He agreed without thought and turned the ship around. He is coming back to pick you up."
Turning back to Kanah, she chuckled. "The vessel is a Brig-class ship, called the Wailing Maid. She has three decks below, one for quarters, two for cargo holds. The crew is twenty-five strong. The captain is a good person who just wants to earn a living, not a fortune, so it will not weigh on your pocket."
Kanah smiled. "Thank you. Serna, I am pleased by your offering."
Serna bowed slightly. "However, there is a question I want to ask."
"Yes, My Lord?"
"Who planted that ring inside your head?"
Serna closed her mouth as she clenched her hands and her face fumed with anger. "MARK!"
Kanah's eyes narrowed. "Tell Raghav this detail as well." "Oh, I will."
The bells of a ship were heard as Kanah and Shin turned around. Seeing the ship arrive in the distance.
"Shin, could you get my family?"
"On it."
Shin ran inside the inn as Kanah turned towards Serna. "What will you do now?"
Serna leaned back on the wall. "Rest and sleep for a long time."
Kanah nodded as he turned towards the ship. "Take care of yourself, Serna."
She stood up, bowing to Kanah. "Till you return, I shall rest at the bottom of this harbour."
With that, she walked off, heading towards the sea.
The ship docked in front of the sea-house inn.
Kanah entered the inn and saw Geneva at the reception. "Hey."
"Hello. Shin, just checked your family out. Are you leaving?"
He nodded. "We are. A ship came back for us, and I would not want to keep them waiting. So I guess this is goodbye."
She smiled as she bowed slightly. "I will be waiting for the time to come, till then, Goodbye."
The two looked at one another for a moment.
Maya came down running from the stairs, followed by Mata and Peter. At the far back was Shin, who carried Benjamin on his back and the trunk in his hands.
Kanah ran forward, taking the trunk from Shin, and he paused for a moment, looking at Geneva one last time before heading towards the door.
Once outside, Kanah felt a drop of water land on his face as he looked up. "Hurry, it's about to rain."
The family made its way across the road and towards the dock where the ship's captain was waiting.
"You must be Kanah?" "I am and you are?"
"Will Peler. The Captain of this ship, welcome aboard."
The family boarded the ship, and Kanah's trunk was taken from him by three crewmen.
He then turned to the captain. "I will get on board, start the departure."
Will nodded and got on board the ship.
Kanah turned to look at Shin. "I guess this is where we part ways."
He then hugged Shin, and Shin hugged him back. "I have only known you for three days, but it feels like we have known each other for years. I will miss you."
"Me too."
The two then broke the hug as Kanah climbed on the Ship as it began reversing out of the dock and turned around to look at Shin standing on the dock.
Shin sighed as he watched the ship sail away.
Turning around as he pulled the ring out of his pocket. "Time to meet Raghav"
Then it began to rain as Shin was surrounded by a black glow and disappeared from the dock.