CHAPTER 63: BRAVE LITTLE GIRL

’Oh calm down will you. I’m not forgetting you.’

*Shrill owl noises continues*

’I meant my first human friend.’

*Animated angry bundle of feathers throwing a tantrum actions*

’Yes, yes you’re my first friend, you little nuisance!’

Minerva had woken up some time and had apparently been listening on, quite annoyed at feeling left out already when she sensed an epic betrayal before frying Noctis’ sound box from inside, rightfully so.

’Stupid critter. Ruining the moment.’

’Krr~’

"Are you listening to me or not?"

"Huh... oh yeah of course I am."

Cora furrowed her brows and pouted a little as she complained,

"Then say something. Why are you making that face, are you annoyed with me?"

"It’s not that, you idiot. I was just thinking about the earlier incident."

"Which one?"

"You know the strange ritual before setting off."

Cora hurriedly shut Noctis’ mouth with her hands, looking behind towards the ferryman.

"We’re still on the boat you bigger idiot."

She admonished him softly.

"Yeah, yeah I get it. What was it even for?"

Noctis freed his mouth with an irritated expression but made his voice softer as he said close to her.

Seeing as the ferryman wasn’t looking at them, Cora replied just as softly,

"It’s something almost all fishing tribes and sailing communities and settlements in this region do before interacting with, mostly any form of running water, but especially where they might encounter high seas. It’s sort of a good luck charm so to say."

"I see. So what did he have us say earlier?"

Noctis nodded, thinking nothing of it but asking anyway.

"I don’t remember clearly but roughly it means, Forgive those who stepped away, Forgive who make a step towards you."

"Stepped away... stepping towards... are they talking about us here or mankind as a whole?"

"Collectively, presumably."

"So what does it even mean to step away from the water or even the seas? Did we live underwater or something?"

"Underwater? Like a mermaid!? Oh that would be such a delight. Let’s go back to it."

"Are you sure about that? What if you become a siren; having to lure sailors into cliffs to eat them."

"No way! I’d be a mermaid."

"You wish. Trust me you’d do well in eating flesh and bone."

"Eww. You meanie!"

"We ask forgiveness for the sin our ancestors are accomplices in accomplishing. We pray for safe voyage from the primordial being."

While the two were messing around, a sudden gruff voice interrupted them, repeating something in a monotonous rough voice as if a mechanic radio had been turned on after years of slumber.

The two were startled, looking towards the ferryman, Noctis frowning intensely while Cora became horrified.

"I do not know what transgression you’re brewing, little ghost, but make me no part of it. The primordial being is benevolent enough to let us pass even after betraying its great gift, do not endanger our safety for your amusement."

The voice became more grating the more they heard it.

It was still the same monotonous voice, but the single old wrinkly eye staring at them while he continued ferrying without turning fully, made them feel as if they were being berated by a malicious torrent.

"I’m sorry, did something happen, sir? Did they say something wrong?"

Regina, who was feeling the soft breeze on her face with her eyes closed immediately became on guard as she heard this.

"I do not know what they say, nor do I care. But I feel the current.

It bemoans bad omen.

Stop lazing around and reign in your little troublemakers."

The old man stopped staring at them after Regina came forward but said his mind nonetheless, even admonishing Regina for not controlling them.

Regina looked towards the two and the old man alternatively and decided not to take this matter further.

"I appreciate your magnanimity."

While Noctis stopped and turned back to the front facing Regina, after the old man stopped speaking; Cora was still staring at the old man, her forehead featuring a deep frown.

"Cora?"

"I apologise for our childish folly earlier sir ferryman, but you shouldn’t be calling my friend like that!"

As Noctis called for her,seeing her still fixated she stood up suddenly and said towards the old man rather forcefully.

"Call what?"

The old man said without a care in his voice.

"That which you called him earlier. Little... that."

"Oh.. why is that?"

"Why? It is not nice, that’s why!"

"And why’s that?"

"Because.. because... people use that in a very mean way. Besides, he is not like that."

For the first time since they had met last evening, and even the previous morning for the girls, the old man was heard chuckling.

As if something extremely amusing had been uttered he kept chuckling for a long while, the grating sensation coming back the longer it went.

After going at it for a while he stopped and took a deep breath as if he had laughed so hard he became short of breath.

Before Cora could speak again after he had stopped, this time Noctis put his hands on her mouth as he whispered,

"What happened about we are still on the boat bigger idiot."

Adding the last part in a shriller voice.

"Mhmm-mmm-" (But he-)

"Leave it be."

Noctis sighed at her stubbornness, still clutching her tiny mouth; his arm wrapped around her shoulders as Cora looked pitifully at him, while being so close to his face that he couldn’t afford moving his face a little down, lest he wanted to take on the consequences of it.

Regina was surprised at the speed the two were bonding with, genuine too it looked to her; a rarity for the little girl, if her years of experience weren’t failing her.

The old man finally said something after dramatically sighing and gasping for a while.

"As far as being one or not goes, he is perhaps even bigger of a misfit than them.

But you don’t have to worry little lass, I do not say it the same as those ungrateful mongrels. Your friend’s dignity is safe here."

Cora looked at the old man with narrowed eyes but couldn’t speak as her mouth was still sealed.

Noctis similarly looked at the old man, as did Regina, both thinking about what he had said, more precisely at what he had casually mentioned about Noctis.