Chapter 27: Father-Daughter Time
On the airship it would be about two days later when Nate would start to wake, groaning with movement of his head as his eyes slowly opened. Groggily he gazed about the room with some confusion. Slowly he sat up, starting to rub the sleep from his eyes to clear his vision. Where…am I? He thought silently as he heard the creeks and groans of the wooden body of the airship around him. He pushed his black bangs out of his face with a released breath and closing eyes as he thought over what he remembered.994Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MLAJUo4us
There was an attack from Natta, then nothing before an explosion of light… his thoughts trailed off as his eyes slowly opened to stare down at the sheets. Hearing a noise brought his eyes to shift over and they widened in shock. A girl, no, he recognized that face or at least felt like he did. Sniffing the air lightly it dawned on him who that was with hazy flashbacks flickering through his mind. “Alura?” he mouthed silently so not to wake her. Sniffing again he caught another scent he didn’t know which drew him to throw the covers back, slip his shoes on and headed out the door to the above deck area.994Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvWOSOWCtr
Once on deck his jaw dropped seeing the view. Marenzo looked over from his standing spot along the railing, spying Nate in the early morning hours. “Good morning sir.” The wizard greeted, drawing the demon to look over as his hair blew about his face some. “How are you feeling?” he asked as Nate started to approach, “you know Alura was worried about you.” Nate listened as he came to stand beside Marenzo who had now turned his eyes out at the endless horizon. “She checked on you often and even asked me at times to make sure you weren’t brain dead.” He chuckled and Nate smirked as he also found that thought humorous.994Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcm7ym03DVl
“Hmm…” Nate responded as he didn’t look at the wizard. After some quiet moments he decided to answer. “My name, to start, is Nate not sir. Next where are we going and how did you make sure I wasn’t dead?” he asked quietly.994Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5R46jzZOwv
Marenzo released a breath as he stretched his arms up over his head. “To start, we’re heading to Meldano for a short drop off. After that, we are going to Flora so Alura can take care of business.” He released a small groan with his arms lowering quickly, folding them over the other onto the railing before leaning forwards onto the structure. “I made sure you were alive by checking for any thoughts with my magic.”994Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDnvIPHLjf
“…So you are able to read minds? Interesting ability…” Nate said quietly before speaking up a bit. “What business is it my daughter has to take care of in Flora? Flora should be peaceful after all the enemies I killed.”994Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcyEJOQCQh
Marenzo sighed before starting to explain what he knew from both vocally being told, and what he learned by reading Alura’s mind. He explained about Flora being attacked by Natta some years past, how her mother was being kept prisoner for a crime she did not commit, and of how Alura felt he, Nate, could be of great help to her in rescuing her mother. At the end he took a breath and explained about their encounter with his mother during their first attempt to free him. He left out about her transforming. He had plans to ask Nate about his demon kind after the catching up was completed.994Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fxbRMEUEI
Nate listened closely, setting his eyes on the cloud line to see Meldano coming into view. A heavy breath released itself from the man’s nostrils which caused them to flare, his heart feeling heavy with this information. That bastard, attacking while I was unable to do anything… he thought as his jaw tightened, that coward. Silence lingered for some moments before he shifted his eyes to look to the young man at his side. “So…that’s all? She just came to save me to help her mother and country…” he trailed off before smirking with a small chuckle. “She has more guts than I thought that little spark of energy would have.” He explained in a pleased tone.994Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MYiBx4RSd
“Yea, she’s pretty awesome…and,” Marenzo dropped his voice as he leaned over on the railing to rest his chin on his folded arms, “scarier than you when she changed.”994Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLN2ZJEwjch
“Hmm?” the demon eyed the wizard, “did you say something?”994Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51HcKXpua2
“What? Um nope, so I never introduced myself.” He stood upright and turned, offering his hand to the demon. “My name is Marenzo, pleasure to meet you Nate.”994Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiGpA8YtBd
Nate smiled and took Marenzo’s hand firmly, returning the handshake. “It is a pleasure to meet you as well and thank you for helping my daughter.”994Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDVFvwXF15
“It wasn’t any trouble. I mean, why shouldn’t I have helped her out when she needed it? She has helped me out before.” Marenzo responded with a small chuckle in his throat.994Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB54EvZW85m
“Still, I thank you for doing what I could not.” Nate sighed as he released the handshake and turned to gaze up at the clouds. “I wonder what Sophia had later on…”994Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdMWpnNQff
“Huh?” Marenzo looked over curiously.994Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeE2GgqlyH
“You may already know this but when I went to fight…Alura was three and Sophia was pregnant with another baby. I wonder what it was.” Nate explained gently.994Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLp3gpNnpoj
“Why not ask Alura?” Marenzo pointed out as he pushed up off the railing, the air feeling stale as he also had picked up on waking thoughts.994Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUcqeE6XT5
“…I would but I don’t think I should yet.” He answered with a sigh, feeling unsure after so long a time passing of what she would think of him and how to even start a conversation with her.994Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc64hP51hic
Marenzo released a heavy breath with a sigh, starting to walk away as his hands went up behind his head with fingers laced. “Whatever it is your life.” He said with a shrug as he took his leave to greet Alura a good morning. Nate remained there as he hung his head, resting his elbows on the railing, watching the scenery as he let his mind become lost in thought.994Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡou9bfiN2R5
They made their stop in Meldano where passengers got off and new faces got on. The crystal of the ship was checked to ensure it was still in good service. The captain spoke to an official during the checks to learn of new security measures in Flora. During this Alura stayed in their cabin with Marenzo and Nate, reading what she could of her magic book. Once it neared dusk the airship was off, making its way to Flora.994Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtits2sHske
It would be nightfall before Alura would step up from their room to gaze at the stars in silence. She wanted a break from the uncomfortable silence between her and Nate. What was I thinking? I thought I’d be happy to find and free him but I’m not. She thought sadly with the twinkling lights reflecting in her brown-blue hues.994Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEL7W1FLqrw
Nate stood at the top of the stairs, watching Alura’s back silently for a moment before turning to head back down. He stopped when Marenzo crossed his arms shaking his head. “You have to talk to her at some point. Go do it now while the other passengers are resting.” He whispered sharply, pointing up the stairs to the deck.994Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6DasLWpoz
“But what if she doesn’t even want to speak to me after all these years?” Nate whispered in concern.994Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAUHlkiNIE
“You’ll just need to find that out but you aren’t going back to our room until you’ve tried.” Nate sighed in defeat at the stubborn wizard, finding it hard to believe that a twenty year old was telling him what to do. Taking a deep breath the demon stepped onto the deck to see if he could try and start some sort of conversation to catch up.994Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9Zty3VYoS
He silently watched Alura as the wind played with strains of her hair, nipping his bottom lip he fought back against the fluttering butterflies in his stomach. “What are you thinking about?” Nate asked quietly from behind her in an unsure tone that he tried to hide. Alura didn’t answer nor look at him, which caused the discomfort to remain and increase a bit. “Is it your mother? Perhaps maybe your brother or sister?” he inquired as he carefully stepped closer, aiming to come up beside her.994Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPr3joAyHC3
Alura stiffened upon hearing Nate’s voice, her breath sticking in her throat. Her eyes shift downward to the railing where her arms rested. “I don’t have a sister, only a brother. He’s eleven and doing fine but I’m not telling you where he is though.”994Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiMZu4vsrN
Nate made his way to stand at Alura’s side, nodding his head a little. “That’s fine.” He hesitated but rested one hand on the railing, turning to face her even though she still wasn’t looking at him. “So…how have you and Sophia been?” he inquired so not to get Marenzo in trouble if he wasn’t actually supposed to tell him about what he had missed.994Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ArJngBME6
Alura took a sharp breath before she answered quietly, reminding herself he had been sealed up and wasn’t aware of what happened. “Mother is in a prison cell in Flora so I’m not sure how she is. I ran for my life with my brother and have been living for a few years with three brothers, learning to fight and how to be strong to save you both.” She shifted her body some as she messed with her fingers on one hand. “I have saved you so now mother needs to be saved.” Nate sighed as he looked out to the sea of stars ahead of them. He heard tones of defense in her voice which caused his heart to hurt.994Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UwXCfDZJk
He waited a few more minutes to try enjoying her company and try to make small talk. After several failed attempts he simply bowed his head to her as he moved to make his way towards the stairs. “Make sure you don’t catch cold, goodnight and sweet dreams whenever you come down to rest.” He watched her incline her head then continued, disappearing below deck.994Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXHQLg7k85
Just hold on mother, please still be alive. Father, Marenzo and I are on our way. Alura thought as her eyes turned back to the dark blue sky.
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